Page 53 of Between Love and Honor

He angled his face toward hers so they were nose to nose again but with their cheeks resting on the mattress.

“Are you serious?” Reaching over he intertwined his fingers with hers. “Quinn Darby, I hate to tell you this, but I’m a little bit in awe of who you are. What you’ve become is a badass British secret agent.”

The tightness in her chest eased. Of course he would see the good in her. In what she was. It wasn’t in his nature to be judgmental. Yet another thing she cherished about Ben. The list of reasons why she adored him was growing longer and longer.

Her lips relaxed into a sly smile. “Just a little bit in awe, Mr. Bond?”

With a mischievous grin of his own, he rolled back on top of her and settled his hips between her legs. “Yeah. Did I mention I also find it very sexy?”

She wrapped her arms around his waist. “You haven’t seen the depths of my talents,” she teased.

His nostrils flared. “Perhaps a demonstration is in order.” He planted a chaste kiss on her mouth. “Because I’m going to need those talents if we’re going to get my AI back. Are you in?”

“Are you kidding? I need to pay Alexi back for trying to drown me. And I still need to find that list.”

“Mmm.” He was back to nuzzling her neck again, much to her delight. “I can help with that problem, too. I know exactly where the list is.”

“You do?” She wasn’t sure if the burst of pleasure was from his admission or the sensuous way his mouth grazed her flushed skin.

“The tux is Adam’s. When I put the micro card containing my AI in the pocket after the fiasco at the White House, I found your card. I figured it was his. Although, come to think of it, what would a sniper be doing with one?” He shook his head. “Hell, Adam would freak out if he knew you were as good a shot as he was.”

Her pride wanted her to argue that she was likely a better shot, but she was more concerned with the whereabouts of the particular card she’d been searching for.

“The other one? Where is it?” she demanded.

“I left it in my desk at work because I didn’t want it to get damaged at the dry cleaners.”

Only Ben would be so thoughtful. Quinn wanted to laugh with relief but she leaned up and captured his mouth in a kiss instead. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “Don’t worry, Brit. I do.”

* * *

BEN EXPECTED QUINN to demand they return to Washington immediately to retrieve the card. But once again, she confounded him by doing the unexpected. Not that his body was complaining. He relished the feel of her fingers beneath his shirt dancing along the skin on his back. The warmth of her toned thighs wrapped around his ass was drawing all the blood from one head to the other. Of course, he’d be enjoying all of this fondling a hell of a lot more if they were both naked.

Apparently she was thinking the same thing. “Does this thank-you of which you speak involve nudity?” she asked before grazing her teeth along his jaw.

“Total nudity,” he murmured against her forehead.

“The kind where you’re fully exposed to me. All of you.”

He tilted her head so their eyes met. Green eyes, shadowed with lust, were scrutinizing him carefully. Pondering.

Her hands stilled along with his breath. But he needed her to know he wanted the real Quinn Darby. Not the cover she hid behind to do her job. It was all or nothing.

Just when his baser instincts were about to give in and take what she might offer, honest or not, she unleashed a slow, generous smile. Much like the glory of dawn spreading out over the ocean, it made his heart skip.

“I meant what I said before,” she whispered. “You’re the only one who’s ever known me. All of me. That will never change, Ben. Ever.”

Swallowing was suddenly difficult as he tried to reconcile the emotions coursing through him. She was finally back where she belonged. With him. Here in this place that had meant so much to them once.

And she’s never leaving him again.

He didn’t realize he’d growled that last part out loud until she responded in a shaky voice.

“Not willingly. Never.”

And suddenly they were a tangle of tongues and limbs and clothing as they tried to get as close to each other as was humanly possible. Ben grimaced when he attempted to shrug out of his shirt. Quinn pushed him up onto his heels as she sat up in front of him.

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