Page 70 of Zero Hour

Slow, reverent, like they were memorizing each other. Like the world outside didn’t exist.

It should have felt absurd, making love to a woman he’d known for less than a week. But it didn’t.

It feltright.

Pat exhaled and sat up, carefully shifting so as not to wake her.

The sky outside was streaked with pink—the sun rising in the east. Jasmine had forgotten to pull the blinds before they collapsed into bed, tangled in each other.

She stirred, her lashes fluttering before she opened her eyes.

“Mmm.” She stretched languidly, the sheets slipping lower, exposing one perfect breast.

“You sleep,” he murmured, resisting the urge to kiss it. Instead, he pressed his lips to her forehead.“I’m going to take a shower and then I’ll make coffee.”

“I like that idea,” she said sleepily, snuggling deeper into the sheets.

Pat lingered a moment longer, watching her, then tore himself away.

Setting the water to near-scalding, he stepped under the spray, letting it burn away the lingering heat still thrumming through his veins.

Focus.

There was work to do.

Today was a new day. His team was waiting for his briefing, and he still hadn’t heard from Thorn about whether she’d gotten Ryan to the safe house. Plus, they had to figure out the target before it was too late.

Thatwas the priority.

He scrubbed a hand over his face, then down his body, rinsing away the sweat, the scent of her, the remnants of last night still clinging to his skin. But it didn’t stop his mind from replaying every moment. Every sound she’d made. Every time she’d gasped his name.

Fucking hell.

His body stirred, heat curling low in his stomach.

Not now.

He turned the taps tocoldand bit back a curse as the icy water slammed into his skin.

He had to get Jasmine McCarthy out of his system before he couldn’t anymore. But even as he thought it, he knew it was already too late.

Pat stepped back into the bedroom, towel slung around his hips, water still dripping from his hair. Jasmine was sitting up in bed, the sheets pooled around her waist, her skin kissed golden in the morning light.

Her gaze flicked to his chest.

Heat flared in her expression, dark and unmistakable.

Fuck.

So much for the cold shower.

“Good morning.” He forced his voice to stay even.

Her lips curved into a slow, satisfied smile. “Morning.”

“You sleep okay?”

She gave a throaty laugh, eyes gleaming. “Not in the slightest. You?”

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