Page 29 of Dangerous Protocol

“I love you, too, Jeffrey.” She stroked her hand through his hand, never breaking eye contact.

Jeffrey drove into her in one solid motion.

They both groaned, and he held himself there for a few seconds before beginning to take long, slow strokes in and out of her.

“Jesus, you feel so good.” He lowered his head to kiss her.

She met him halfway, their lips joined, and their tongues slid against each other as he continued his rhythmic cadence—in and out, in and out. Her nerves sizzled at the cellular level and her mind disconnected from her body, sending her floating up and up as he solidified his possession of her. She tightened her arms around him, and her heart roared in her ears. Maya thought she might blow apart as the most powerful orgasm ever slammed through her in wave after wave.

Jeffrey pumped into her four more times. His body tensed, and he threw his head back and ground out her name between clenched teeth. He collapsed atop her and buried his face in her neck.

They lay there, connected in the most intimate way, only the sounds of their heavy breaths hanging in the air. Maya stroked her fingers up and down his powerful back as he placed soft kisses to her ear, her neck, and she knew there was nothing Al-Mansoori could do to her that would make her forget this moment or her feelings for this incredible man.

“Are you okay?” He raised himself up on his forearms, a look of concern on his face.

“Of course, I’m okay.” Silly man.

What woman wouldn’t be okay after having the best sex of her life?

“I’m just concerned that I rushed you.” He looked down at their naked bodies. “Rushed this.”

“Doyouthink we did?” Her heart sank at the thought of him having regrets.

“No, I absolutely do not.” He shifted his weight off of her and lay along her side, bent his elbow, and propped his head on his hand. “I have zero regrets, Maya.” He flattened his hand across her tummy. “And just so we’re clear, we will be doing it again, once we’ve taken care of Al-Mansoori.”

“I’m so glad to hear that.” She reached up and combed her fingers through his hair. “I don’t want to lose one more minute with you.”

Their lovemaking might seem ill-timed, but she would never regret it.

“Good, that’s settled. Once we’ve got Isla back, the two of you will move in here where I can watch over you.” The man couldn’t help himself; he was a born protector.

“There’s that bossiness again.” She smirked.

“I am what I am, babe.” He gave her a quick kiss. “You need to eat something, and we need to talk.” He patted her thigh, threw his legs over the side, and pushed up off the bed. “I still have questions for you.”

“I had an inkling you might.” She held the sheet to her chest and sat up.

She took a moment to enjoy the view of him walking around, gloriously naked as he gathered up their clothes. He handed Maya’s to her and tossed his on a chair in the corner, then grabbed a T-shirt and pair of sweats from a drawer and put them on. Nothing as handsome as a man confident enough to go commando in a pair of loose sweatpants.

“I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” He leaned down, gave her another kiss, and left her to get dressed.

“I’ll be right out to help.” She washed up in the adjoining bathroom and put her clothes back on.

By the time she headed to the kitchen, Jeffrey was at the stove, his back to her, tending to the chicken.

“How can I help?” she asked.

“Why don’t you grab that bag salad out of the fridge.” He placed the lid over the chicken, bent to grab a large bowl out of a lower cabinet and tongs from a drawer, and set them on the counter. “You can toss it in this.”

They worked together in a comfortable silence, moving around each other like they’d done it a million times.

“What would you like to drink?” He pulled the fridge open. “I’ve got a couple different kinds of soda, orange juice, beer, wine.” He gave her a questioning look over his shoulder.

“Actually, water is fine.” She hadn’t had alcohol in years, and the one glass of wine she’d drunk earlier went straight to her head.

“The glasses are in that cabinet right there behind you.” He grabbed the plates he’d set out on the counter earlier. “Grab one for me, too, will ya?”

Maya selected a couple of glasses and moved over to the fridge. She filled them with ice and water through the automatic dispenser and set them on the large table adjacent to the great room.

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