Page 39 of Desperate Measures

Really smart.

Had the degrees to prove it. But her thinking she wasn’t worth looking at was just dumb. And I couldn’t for the life of me fathom what her reasoning would be.

I knew she saw her reflection in the mirror. I walked in on her, doing her face up, of which she applied very little makeup, and I found that so damn sexy.

Michaela had her own style, and she obviously had good taste.

Hell.

She was stunning.

We rode together in silence, and I observed slight changes in her demeanor as we neared Volkov Towers.

The driver stopped inside the underground parking facility reserved for employees and exited the SUV, waiting for my signal before he opened the door.

Behind us was another black SUV outfitted with the rest of my security team, sans the asshole I punched.

It seemed excessive, but my recent return from Asia was not without threats. There was danger everywhere in the kind of global business I was involved in.

More so than when I was a kid running guns for my father’s criminal organization.

Ain’t that a kicker?

Michaela inhaled a breath and nodded to herself. I frowned. It was like she was bracing herself for something, and I wanted to slap myself in the head.

Of course, she was nervous.

We were about to drop a huge bomb on her father, for fuck’s sake. She probably needed some assurance, so I gripped her elbow and pulled, waiting for those midnight eyes to flash up at me.

“Hey, we’re going in there together as a team, understand? You’re not alone, Michaela.”

I watched her visibly relax and was stunned by the small smile she offered me. My heart thudded beneath my ribs, and it felt like my temperature rose ten degrees.

“Thank you, Liam. That means a lot.”

Was that what it felt like to offer comfort to someone? To care about something other than myself?

How had I lived so damn long without experiencing something like that?

“Anytime,” I replied, shocked by how much I meant it.

She tucked a strand of hair that had escaped the bit of silk wrapped elastic holding it in place behind her ear. That tiny smile was still visible on her pretty mouth.

I couldn’t help myself, I cupped the back of her neck and turned her towards me, slamming my mouth to hers.

Fuck. Me.

I should have been ready for it. For the insurmountable tide of desire that swept through me the second I touched her.

She smells of lilacs. And tastes of home.

I wanted to deepen the kiss. But I forced myself to let her go.

I’d been stupid to stay away for the past week. Thinking space would quench some of the yearning I felt towards my own wife was a mistake.

I should have known better.

It was like being on a diet then being locked up with your favorite indulgence. Was I expected to resist? How?

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