Page 68 of Crave Me

“They’re all virgins aren’t they?”

His tone drops an octave. “Perhaps, but I’m not.”

“No, you’re not, big boy.” I glance around as the infrared lights dissolve into the vehicle. I think I read that if the software senses a crash, the police are alerted. “Okay,” I say slowly. “All this Robo Cop tech is fascinating and all, but if Darth Vader pops up in my passenger seat and starts swinging his light saber, I’m going to freak out. This is a little much, don’t you think?”

“No,” he rumbles. The ding in the background alerts me Evan is at the elevator. “It took me years to find you and I’ll be damned if I allow some manky bastard to harm you.”

This is the part where the Wren who busts heads and kicks ass interrupts and tells Evan that she’s fine, that she doesn’t need protecting, and that he’s coming to her. But that Wren is too busy laughing at the Wren melting into a pile of goo with sizzling lady parts. “You’re all sorts of hot right now, you know that, bossman?”

His voice drips with sex. “I told you, there’s only one place you can call me bossman.”

“I know,” I whisper, my body heating another notch.

“You’ll be safe and in my arms soon. I swear it.”

He releases a breath, appearing to fumble with something. “According to Alfred’s message on my phone, you’ll arrive at my house twenty minutes before I do. He’ll allow you in and secure you inside. Make yourself at home. Should anything happen, Alfred will alert both me and the police.”

“Okay,” I say, well-aware of my quivering tone.

“Wren, don’t be afraid. I’m with you.”

“I’m not afraid,” I tell him. Not anymore.

Again my voice trembles, but it has nothing to do with fear and everything to do with Evan.

Alfred chimes in, hauling me back to the moment. “Curran calling. Accept call?”

“Oh, no,” I say, urgency replacing those warm feels. “Evan, I have to go. I left Curran on hold and now he’s calling back.”

“All right. I . . . I’ll see you soon.”

He seems to want to say more, and maybe I do, too.

“Accept call from Curran O’Brien?” Alfred presses when Evan disconnects.

“Yes, accept call, Alfred.”

“What the hell, Wren?” Curran chimes in.

“I’m sorry, Evan called and didn’t take what I had to tell him well.”

“Is he pissed?” he asks.

“He is, but not at me. He wants me to spend the night at his place.”

“Okay. Good,” he says.

“Okay?” I smirk, the lingering tension in the pit of my stomach lifting. “When did you get all soft on Evan? Shouldn’t you be telling me not to have sex with him or some crazy shit?”

“Damn it, Wren. I meant ‘good’ that you won’t be alone. Did you have to go there?”

“Aw, come on. You and the others kept the key to my chastity belt too damn long. I would think you’d be happy Evan bit that lock free with his teeth.”

“God, Wren. Shut it already.” I don’t have to see him to know he’s making a face.

I laugh as I follow Alfred’s directions onto the Blue Route.

“He’s a decent guy,” Curran admits, catching me off-guard. “Different from those asshats you wasted your time on.”

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