Page 42 of Redeeming Meg

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to get rid of me.”

His fork stopped midway to his mouth, but he still didn’t look at her. “We’ll need to be sharp come morning. We find Tommy, we go home.”

Again, no hesitation, no doubt. In his mind, they had a mission, and they would complete it.

“I can take the hint.” She slid her chair back and stood. “But you’re giving out mixed signals, and I’ve had enough therapy to know it’s because you’re covering. One minute, you’re flirting with me, the next, you’re pushing me away. Why?”

“Because I want what you aren’t willing to give, and I keep hoping you’ll change your mind. That you’ll realize how much you mean to me and let me be there for you. But, right here, right now?” He finally met her eyes. “You’re struggling to keep it together, and you’ve just come down from the adrenaline high.You’re exhausted and not thinking straight. I’m not going to take advantage of that.”

She placed her hands on the table and leaned toward him, nearly nose to now. “Maybe I want you to.”

“Why, so you can hate me again in the light of day?”

That remark hit too close to home. Was that what she was doing? Putting him in a no-win situation so she had a fresh reason to be angry at him again?

She straightened and rubbed a hand over her face. “I’m going to bed.”

She lay down on the mattress, staring up at the ceiling. Sleep felt impossible. Everything was smothering her again, and she didn’t know how to let it go. She willed her racing mind to quiet, but everything was tangled together, a web of emotions and responsibility that she couldn’t seem to escape.

Declan slipped into the room on his way to the bathroom, and she turned on her side. He shut the door behind him before flicking on the bathroom light.

He was a beast in the field, but he was always considerate. Another thing she admired. So many men in his position lost their ability for compassion and simple, decent manners in their unwavering pursuit of duty.

Closing her eyes, she forced herself to take a deep breath.Go to sleep, she ordered herself. Dawn would bring more challenges, more questions, and she needed to be ready.

When she heard the shower come on, her imagination drifted to Dec’s chiseled body, covered by the tattoos he’d acquired—one for every successful mission. Did he have any new ones?

Great, now she had a new reason for not being able to sleep.

Her body craved his.

Memories of their time together played in her head like a movie reel. Undercover ops, the adrenaline, the sheer highit gave her. The after-mission weekends in places around the world.

Her nipples were hard, the spot between her legs aching. It had been over a year since the last time he’d stripped her bare. Pushed her against the wall, pinned her under him, let her ride him…

But it felt so much longer.

The devil on her shoulder egged her on. She flipped back the covers, too hot now. Her core pulsed, desperate for relief. Her fingers ached to touch him, stroke him. Her tongue wanted to taste his muscles, her mouth wanted to gorge on his hard, thick shaft.

She slipped out of bed before she could find any more arguments to the contrary.

In the bathroom, she removed the T-shirt and sweatpants. He poked his head around the shower curtain, his eyes going wide. “What are you doing?”

“I thought you might need someone to wash your back.”

She climbed in, running her fingers over his wet skin. He froze, except for a certain body part that came to full attention.

She slid her hand over it, sighing at the familiar feel of it.Yes, this is what I need.

“Just sex,” she said against his skin. “Okay?”

He started to speak, stopped as she stroked him. “Just sex,” he croaked.

And then he grabbed her, hiked her up by her ass cheeks, and pinned her against the shower stall.

SIXTEEN

Their coupling was quick and dirty, hard and fast. Not exactly how Declan intended their reunion to go, but he’d take it.

---