Page 16 of Time to Bounce

At least, if she was okay with it.

I’d blow my cover trying to get her out if she didn’t want this—want me.

I squeezed her hip, hoping she’d get the meaning, and was relieved to see her turn to Madman and say, “I think I’ll keep this one, thanks.”

She caught my beard in her hand and twisted, placing her lips on mine.

I wasn’t proud when the feeling of intense need started to rocket through me.

And, because I couldn’t stop myself, I deepened the kiss, pushing my tongue between her lips and ravaging her mouth.

By the time I pulled away, both of us were breathing hard and Madman was gone with an annoyed huff.

“What’s going on, Gable?” she whispered hoarsely.

I was proud of the way I’d made her lose control.

There were people all around us, some dancing. Some making out. Others doing… other things.

Things that I didn’t think Athena realized they were doing, or she’d have probably left the dance floor.

I caught her hip in my hand and pulled her closer to me, bending down so that I could speak right into her ear, hopefully keeping most of our conversation private.

In quiet tones, I laid out what I was tasked to do.

She pulled back with huge eyes and said, “Absolutely not.”

Stomach twisting at her automatic refusal, I said, “We don’t really have a choice. You have three options. One, you let me fuck you, right here and right now. Two, you leave and let Madman fuck you outside, and his way is going to be a whole lot less careful and consenting. Or three, we both leave, and I have to blow my cover.” I once again cupped her chin. “I’ve been on this job for six months, honey. We’re close.”

Her eyes closed. “Will you tell me why you’re here?”

I tucked a stray lock of her deep brown hair behind her ear before saying, “I’m betting the same reason you’re here right now.”

She sucked in a breath. “Shasha said that I might find a missing girl—now likely a woman—here.”

I gritted my teeth, pissed as hell that Shasha would give Athena that kind of information and not expect her to act on it.

He probably expected her to obey him, since that was the kind of behavior he expected from people. But he’d never met Athena before.

He should’ve known better.

“Ready for the show anytime now,” I heard Wizard call.

I gritted my teeth. “I need your answer, Athena.”

Her eyes studied mine for a long few seconds before she once again fitted her body to mine. She wrapped her arms around my neck she spoke next.

“Is that a flashlight or are you happy to see me?” She batted her eyelashes at me.

I caught her chin in my hand, turning her face so we were eye to eye. “I’m deathly allergic to bees. I have to carry an EpiPen with me everywhere I go.”

She deflated. “Oh. I have bees in my backyard. Don’t ever go back there.”

I twisted my hips and let her feel my erection—which I’d been carefully keeping away from her before now. “Yes, ma’am.”

Her breath caught, and she blinked at me with those warm brown eyes.

I loved her eyes.

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