Page 22 of Securing the Odds

Tammy’s hand shifted down his abdomen. Her light fingers tracing over his abs had his muscles contracting. He grabbed her wrist before her hand could travel any lower, guiding it back up to his chest.

Her head shifted as she tipped it back to lean it against his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

Her face was mostly in shadow, but he saw a flash of hurt so said gently, “I won’t be touching you tonight, love. What we do, me and you, that’s only for us. I’m not letting that fucker have even a tiny piece of it.”

She got up on an elbow, her eyes wide as she looked down on him. “Love?”

Reaching over, he tucked a lock of hair that had fallen forward behind her ear then trailed his fingers down the side of her face. Stopping when they reached her neck, he continued around so his hand could grab her nape. “You really need to start paying attention.”

And then, even though he wouldn’t make love to her, that didn’t stop him from kissing her.

And even just a taste of Tammy’s lips was better than anything that had ever come before.

Chapter 10

After the eventsof the day before and the subsequent injury she’d sustained, Tammy wasn’t surprised Jake had left her at home while he went to go turn Kevin over to the bad guys, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t disappointed. She had wanted to see this thing through to its end, and bonus, seeing her asshole ex get his comeuppance.

A text on the burner phone had arrived at seven that morning while she and Jake had been enjoying their first cup of coffee. Well, Jake’d been enjoying his. Tammy had been suffering through hers as they still hadn’t stopped for milk.

They’d been told to meet at the Seaside Aquarium at nine a.m. by the shark tank—she was sure the pun was intended. Or maybe not, depending on the level of intelligence they were dealing with.

Since her point of reference was only cop shows, Tammy wasn’t sure how the handoff would go down, but it being in a very public place made her feel marginally better. Good enough, she was only pacing Jake’s living room and not scaling the walls.

She was a worrier by nature, but anyone would be concerned in her shoes. They didn’t know what degree ofbadthe bad guys they were dealing with were. And while Jake may be a professional and have military training, a bullet was a bullet, and aimed at the right spot, it could kill.

Tammy glanced at the phone held clenched in her hand. The screen was dark, indicating still no news from Jake. He hadn’t promised to call as soon as it was all over, but she was hoping he would.

She brought her phone to life and checked the display for the umpteenth time since Jake had walked out the door with her dipshit ex in tow. Only five minutes had passed since the last time she’d checked.

It felt like hours.

The key in the lock alerted her the wait was over right before the door swung open. She was on the move before Jake cleared the doorway. Surprising herself, and from Jake’s reaction him as well, by throwing herself into his arms.

He took a step back, bracing, his arms coming around her after only a second’s hesitation. “What’s all this about?”

Tammy buried her face in his chest, emotion hitting her unexpectedly and clogging her throat. She tried taking a deep breath, but it came out a jagged cry as tears hit the backs of her lids.

“Hey.” His hand rubbed her back in a soothing caress as he dipped his head and whispered words that hit her ear. “It’s okay. I’m home.”

Those two simple words,I’m home, were her undoing, and the sob that stretched her throat with her effort to contain it came pouring out.

He whispered, “Baby, I’m fine. The handoff went off without a hitch,” and other words she couldn’t understand but calmed her just the same. Little by little, she got herself together.

Strong hands took her by the shoulders then gently pushed her away enough to cup her face, tipping her head back to look at her. But he didn’t say anything. Words weren’t needed as everything he wanted to say came pouring out of his eyes right before his mouth landed on hers.

The kiss was demanding, forceful, and sent the message that Jake was done screwing around. He meant business, and she loved every second of it. His tongue parted her lips and pushed inside her mouth, stealing her breath but giving her his in return.

Yet still, it wasn’t enough. She needed to be closer. Needed to know not one single part of him was damaged or hurt. Her hands went on an exploration, diving under the hem of his shirt. She encountered warm skin, hard muscles, all intact.

His hands followed suit. One grabbing her ass and tucking her in close. The other finding her breast, kneading and shaping it, plucking at her nipple all the while keeping up the assault on her mouth.

Her world narrowed to only Jake—the feel of him under her hands, the spicy scent of him fogging her brain, the taste of him on her tongue, the need he created between her legs.

She knew if she had breath, she’d be panting, and if her mouth were free, she’d be begging. Instead, she conveyed her need by pressing closer, and his grip on her ass tightened, helping her get closer still. So close she didn’t know where she ended and Jake began.

She lost his mouth, her back arching as it moved to her neck, sucking at the skin there and tasting it with his tongue.

Mouth free, she made a noise. A broken whimper that she was sure revealed the need she was feeling.

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