Page 17 of Cruel Ice

Lifted his head. “Thanks for saving my life.” Deep. Rumbly. Dead sexy.

She blinked. And her cheeks burned even hotter than they had before. “Did you just give me athank youkiss?” They were practically eye-to-eye.

The skin near his eyes crinkled with his smile. “No, I just gave you an I-want-to-fuck-you kiss. But if you’re confused, I can certainly do it again.”

Yes, yes, do it again. And again.

But…propriety. He was hiring her. Offering her lots and lots of money for her first big case. A case that could prove to everyone just how serious she was about pursuing a PI career. One did not jump clients.

Even if the client can kiss helluva well.

“You want me. I want you.” Again, he spoke in that deep, rumbly voice that seemed to sink right through her. “Good to know we’re clear on that point.”

Wait. Hold on. Marley scrambled away from him. “Just because I kissed you, it doesn’t mean that I intend to—that I plan to—that I want to?—”

“Fuck me until we’re both too tired to move?”

Marley sucked in a deep breath.

“Just know the offer is on the table.” He made a show of adjusting the sleeve of his fancy suit coat. The guy at the hospital—James something—had brought the change of clothing to his boss. Declan had ditched the paper-thin hospital gown for a crisp, white shirt, a gray suit coat, and matching pants. His black shoes had gleamed as they tapped over the tiled floor at the hospital. In record time, he’d transformed and appeared as if he was ready to pose on some business magazine cover.

Meanwhile she looked…

Oh, no.Her eyes widened. Her hands flew up to try and smooth what had to be some seriously out-of-control hair. She’d splashed water on her face in the hospital. Gotten a toothbrush and toothpaste from a kind nurse but otherwise, she was stillin the ever-so-rumpled clothing from last night and probably looking like the final girl from a horror movie.

“Why did your eyes go wide again?” His head cocked. “What’s wrong?”

“I look like death, and you just made out with me.”

A sudden bark of laughter came from Declan. No, not a bark. A full-on, wild roar of laughter. She frowned at him because his laughter was just rude. He could have at least said she didn’t lookthatbad. Instead, he had lost it.

The driver opened the limo’s side door. He poked his head in, and his stunned expression locked on Declan. “Boss?”

More laughter, but at least it was starting to sound a bit subdued. “Give us…give us a moment, will you, Andy?”

A quick nod. The door immediately shut.

Marley crossed her arms over her chest. “I am so happy to amuse you.”

“Most things don’t amuse me. Most things piss me off or bore me.” His laughter faded as he studied her. “You’re different.”

He needs to work hard on the charm. Very, very hard.“Yeah, because I’m not athing.I’m a person.” A person with feelings that he’d just hurt.

He studied her. “You understand…you couldn’t look like death if you tried?”

He obviously did not know her well. “Is that your way of complimenting me?”

“Do you need compliments?”

“No.” She didn’t.

“Because if you do, just know that I want you more than I can ever remember wanting anyone. I want you so much that I’d love to fuck you here and now.”

She slanted a glance his way. “That could be due to the drugging. Maybe you’re just not yourself at the moment.”

“I’m definitely not myself with you.” Softer. “And it’s not due to the drugs. The drugs have nothing to do with how big my dick is.”

“Jeez! Don’t say things like that!”

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