Page 13 of Reaper

Reaper:

Room 412. Don't make me wait another 5 years, Agent Mitchell.

A smile tugsat my lips despite everything.Even now, even with lies hanging between us like storm clouds, he can make my heart race with just a text.

Me:

ETA 2 hours.

Try to stay out of trouble until then, Road Captain.

"Mitchell."Handler's voice carries that tone I've learned to read like warning bells."Remember why you're here. Remember what's at stake."

"I know my job." I swing onto my bike, grateful for the helmet hiding my expression.The leather seat is still warm from the chase earlier, reminding me of how naturally Reaper and I had fallen into sync."Timer trusts me, Reaper trusts me, and soon we'll have enough evidence to shut down three terrorist pipelines."

"See that it stays that way." He turns to go, then pauses."And Mitchell? Don't let those feelings for Hunter blind you.Men like him... they don't forgive betrayal easily.Especially not from someone they love."

I watch him leave, his words echoing in my head like accusations.Because he's wrong about one thing--Reaper isn't just another mark to manipulate for me.He's the man I never stopped loving, even when duty forced us apart.Even when I threw his ring at his feet and walked away to save his life.

And tonight, I'm going to tell him everything.About Timer's years of betrayal, about the deal I made to keep the Saints safe, about why I really came back.Then I'll pray that what we're rebuilding is strong enough to survive one last lie.

My phone buzzes one more time.

Reaper:

Counting the minutes, Rebel.

"Me too,"I whisper, gunning my engine."God help me, me too."

Because in five hours, I'm either going to save the man I love, or lose himforever.Again.

And this time, there's no walking away if it all goeswrong.Because this time, I'm not just protecting Reaper from externalthreats.I'm protecting him from the betrayal of someone he trusts likefamily.Someone who's been playing both sides so long, he probably doesn't even remember which side he startedon.

I point my bike toward the hotel, toward Reaper, toward whatever future we might salvage from thismess.Behind me, Handler oversees the prisoner transport, Timer's photos burn a hole in my jacket pocket, and seven years of undercover work race toward a conclusion Ican't control.

But ahead of me? Ahead of me is the only man who's ever made me want more than thejob.The only person who might understand why I did what Idid.

If I can just find the right words to make him see that sometimes love means lying to protect what mattersmost.

I arrive at the hotel,my heart pounding in time with my racing thoughts.The lies I need to confess tangle with the truths I'm desperate to share as I make my way to room 412.

I barely have a chance to knock before the door swings open and Reaper yanks me inside.His mouth crashes against mine in a kiss that steals my breath and silences the chaos in my head.There's no gentleness in the way his lips devour me, his tongue delving deep to stake his claim.

I moan into the kiss, my fingers threading through his dark hair to pull him closer.He groans, low and needy, as he walks me backward until my shoulders hit the wall.

"I've been waiting five years to do that again," he rasps against my throat, his teeth grazing sensitive skin.

"Worth the wait," I manage, gasping as his hands find my hips and lift me like I weigh nothing.I wrap my legs around his waist, grinding against the hard edge of his arousal."Though you're a little overdressed for this reunion."

He pulls back just far enough to flash me a wicked grin, his eyes molten gold in the low light."Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you."

His fingers find the zipper of my cut, tugging it down with deliberate slowness.I shrug out of the heavy leather, letting it fall forgotten to the floor.Reaper's hands skim up my sides, taking my tank top with them until I'm bared to his heated gaze.

"Christ, you're perfect," he breathes, his callused palms cupping my breasts like he's handling something precious."I'd almost forgotten how good you feel."

"I haven't." The confession slips out, raw and honest."I never could."

Something flashes in his eyes, too quick to name.Then he's kissing me again, deep and dirty, his hips rocking into mine in a primal rhythm that makes my toes curl.I fumble with the buttons of his cut, needing to feel his skin against mine.

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