Page 26 of When He Protects

She waited. With brows expectantly raised and everything.

He didn’t speak.

This man.Shaking her head, she politely inquired, “Do you have a problem with being called Ty?”

“It’s not my name.”

Playing with him was too fun. “It’s a shortened versionof your name.” The man was precious. “Do you not have any friends who call you Ty?”

“No one calls me Ty.”

“Well, all right then. Jeez. Don’t have to get all growly,Tyler.” She was still stroking his arm, but since he was being bitey, she pulled her hand back. No strokes should be given when someone was being rude. “I was just trying to get into my new role. As your loving wife, I would think it would be okay for me to call you by a nickname. But if you don’t like Ty?—”

“I don’t.”

So huffy.“Then I’ll just call you something else. Darling. Sweetheart. Love of my life. Best sex ever.” She shrugged one shoulder. “I’ll think of something that works. No worries.”

“Is everything a joke to you?”

“Are you saying that you will not be the best sex ever for me?” They were the only ones on the plane. Well, other than the two pilots up front. She and Tyler were the only onesin the backof the plane. So it wasn’t as if she had to worry that they were being overheard. “This news greatly disappoints me. I had very high expectations where you were concerned. Especially when I woke up, and there was a giant cock so close to my face.”

He sucked in a breath. “My job is to protect you. Not to fuck you.”

She made a distinct point ofnotlooking down at his giant dick. “But you want to fuck me.”

“It is aphysicalresponse,” he gritted.

“Well, yes, lust is very physical.” As if she’d argue that point. “You don’t have to get snippy about it.”

“Snippy?” Tyler seemed to be choking.

She hadn’t stuttered, so Esme knew he’d understood. Itwas time for him to understand something else. “I want you, too. Or do you think I just go around kissing every man I meet?”

Silence.

“Oh, bad form,” she whispered. Her chest ached. “You do think I kiss every man I meet.” Very insulting. And hurtful. “You are wrong. I happen to be very choosy about my partners. I like you. I was simply being honest and telling you how I felt.” She rose.

He immediately threw out a hand to block her path.

She looked at the hand. Then at him. “Is there a problem?”

“Where are you going?”

“Well, considering that I am trapped in mid-air with you, I’m obviously not going far. Not like I plan to jump out of the plane. I seem to be without a parachute.” She sniffed. “But your kind FBI frienddidbring me a bag.” One that was currently in the overhead compartment. “I assume it has clothing inside it. I was going to change out of this fabulous dress and into another outfit. That way, I’d be less likely to attract attention when we get to our mystery destination.” Because he hadn’t told her where they were going.

Probably for the best.

His gaze could not get harder. Or hotter. That blue seemed to blaze.

His hand lowered.

She maneuvered past him. Tried to, anyway. Their bodies brushed a great deal because he was unnecessarily large. At one point, she basically straddled him. A fun position for another time.

“Stop.”

Her hands came down on his shoulders. “It’s not my fault you’re so big.”

“I’ll get up.” His hands closed around her waist. He lifted her up as he rose. Turned and a moment or so later, she was in the narrow aisle. Tyler even reached up and snagged her bag for her.

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