Page 49 of Caught By Menace

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“I know I can ask for a separation…”

His stomach clenched painfully. Was she going to drop that bomb on him now? “But I want to give our relationship a try.”

A rush of happiness threatened to topple him. He lifted his head and gazed down into her beautiful face. She wore an expression of uncertainty. Wanting her to know just how much he appreciated her offer, Menace smiled reassuringly and claimed her mouth in a sensual kiss.

She cupped his face and swept her thumbs across his cheeks. “I don’t know about you but I could use a nap.”

“I could use a little shut-eye.” Menace tugged his pants up higher and slipped out of her slick heat. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her away from the wall. Capturing her lips, he carried her away from the entryway. He let his hand drift down to her bare backside and gave her plump bottom a good smack. “But first I think I want another round with you.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “Again? So soon?”

“What can I say?” He squeezed her ass before dumping her on the bed and crawling over her. “You drive me crazy.”

“Menace, I don’t know about—oh!”

Chuckling against her belly, Menace put a mental check in his column. He’d definitely won this round.

***

Curled in thecorner of Menace’s surprisingly comfy couch, Naya fooled around with the strange touchscreen tablet. She had seen similar devices used by Josef when she visited his testing site with Jennie. This was the first time she had ever had a chance to play with one and get used to it. Menace had spent much of the afternoon helping her learn to use the various bits of technology in his—their—quarters.

She had meant what she said earlier about giving her new life with him a real try. After seeing the way he’d jumped to defend and keep her, Naya believed Menace when he said he wanted her and only her. She had been burned so many times in the past but Menace seemed to be proving himself different than all the people who had betrayed her.

Listening to Menace move around in the bedroom, she couldn’t shake the nagging ache in the pit of her belly. She needed to tell him the real reason Terror had scared her. Menacewas no fool. He had picked up on her anxiety and had seemed so ready to help her but she simply hadn’t known how to tell him the truth. So far, he had accepted that she’d been arrested for theft and on suspicion of smuggling things like medicine but there was so much more to tell.

As a street kid struggling just to survive, she had done some truly terrible things. Things she doubted he would understand. Things that would probably get her arrested in his world. She had smuggled more than just medicine and tech. Her business had been seeded with the funds scraped together by her illicit activities for people who had absolutely nothing to do with the altruistic Red Feather.

“Naya?” Menace strode into the living area. “I’m going to head out for our premission briefing. I won’t be back until morning.”

Naya turned her upper body and got her first good look at Menace in full gear. The sight of him in all that harsh black and armed to the teeth chilled her. This was the boogeyman vision of her childhood. “Um…wow.”

His jaw clenched. “I’ve scared you, haven’t I?”

“A little,” she reluctantly admitted. Her gaze moved over his terrifying black form. She had never seen one man wearing so many weapons. “You think you have enough firepower?”

His face relaxed and he laughed. “You sound like Vicious.”

She gestured to the holsters strapped to his muscular thighs and the belt at his waist. “It’s overkill. Don’t you think? I mean, a vest, a belt, two thigh holsters and knives? Who the hell are you expecting down there?”

“I plan for the worst.”

“Clearly.”

Menace moved closer to the couch and brushed his fingertips along her face. He wore thick fingerless tactical gloves. The acrid scent of the fabric made her nose twitch.

“There’s food in the refrigeration box and the pantry.”

She grasped his hand and rubbed the underside of his bare wrist. “I’m not five, Menace. I pretty sure I can figure out how to make something to eat.”

“Sorry. You’re right.” He bent down and kissed her long and hard, leaving her wanting and filled with need. “When I get back, we’ll pick up right there.”

His promise sent ripples of excitement through her core. “If you keep this up, I won’t be able to walk by the end of the week.”

Menace grinned. “Is that a dare?”

She snorted and smacked him. “You’re incorrigible.”

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