Page 96 of Between Love and Honor

“Quite successfully, obviously.”

That was it. He didn’t care if they both self-combusted.

No way he couldn’t touch her now. He snatched her shoulders and pulled her flush against him.

She winced beneath his touch and he suddenly felt guilty as hell.

“You’re hurt?”

“Just my shoulder. It took most of the force when I hit the water.”

Relaxing his grip, he leaned down and nudged the strap of her tank top down with his nose before brushing his lips against the already darkening skin.

“Mmm.” She arched into him.

He traced is fingers down her arm, alarmed when she jumped again once he reached her wrist.

“Just a little sprain,” she whispered.

Gently, he lifted her wrist to his mouth and kissed it.

He was pretty sure the sound that came out of her throat was a purr.

“Any place else?” he asked.

She seductively trailed a finger along her jaw. He obliged her by nipping at the soft skin there.

“How come you don’t smell like the Potomac?” he murmured.

“Oh, didn’t I mention I borrowed your shower?” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “It was nice, but not quite as fun as our shower together yesterday morning.”

With a growl he hauled her up by the ass until she wrapped her legs around him. He carried her up the stairs.

“You better not have used all of the hot water.”

“I’ll keep you warm if I did.”

Five minutes later, they were naked and slick beneath the twin sprays of water. With their hands and mouths, they worshiped each other, whispering promises of more to come.

“I told you I’d never leave you,” she panted when he’d pinned her to the tile wall.

He chuckled. “Yes, but how many lives do you have left, Agent Darby?”

Ever so gently, she cupped his face. “It’s just plain old Miss Darby from here on out. I think I’ll try my hand at photography full-time. It’s definitely a lot safer. And that line of work should leave enough room for me to spend quality time with the other people in my life.”

Ben swallowed roughly. He liked the sound of that.

Well, all of it except the “plain old Miss Darby” part.

There was nothing plain about her. And he had a few suggestions about the Miss Darby moniker, as well. But that could wait. Right now, he was too busy demonstrating his own concept of quality time to her.

EPILOGUE

BEN TUGGED AT the tie of his morning suit with one hand while juggling a glass in the other.

“Is it just me, or does it feel surreal drinking shots in the White House Rose Garden?” Adam was still wearing the same bemused expression he’d been sporting since Josslyn strutted down the aisle an hour before.

Ben, Adam, and Griffin were staked out in a corner of the garden, their backs to the Oval. Each of them held a shot glass of whiskey between their fingers, the amber liquid seeming to wink back at Ben. Wedding guests milled about around them, their attention so focused on nibbling appetizers and enjoying cocktails they largely ignored the groom and his two best men. The former roommates grinned as they clinked their glasses together before downing the contents.

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