Page 57 of Property of Spike

My breath hitches as he places a soft kiss on my lips. His lips are warm, but it’s the gentle press of them against mine that catches me off guard. He pulls away almost immediately, giving me space to breathe, to think.

I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t this.I want you all to myself. That part hits me harder than anything else he’s said. I want to say something, anything, but I can’t find the words.

Spike doesn’t rush me, though. He just watches me, his gaze steady but patient. “So, yeah, baby,” he says, his voice low and commanding. “That type of love is possible.”

I’m still processing what he said, trying to make sense of it all. His words are heavy, and for a second, I feel like I’m drowning in them. It’s too much, too fast, but then again, it feels right. I feellike I’m standing at the edge of something big and terrifying and beautiful and I have no idea what comes next.

Spike watches me carefully, his eyes never leaving mine. He gives me a moment, waiting for me to say something, but I can’t. My mind is spinning, my heart racing. I don’t know how to respond.

He shifts his weight and clears his throat, breaking the silence. “Our room is just over here,” he says, his voice softer now, easing the tension in the air. “That’s where I’ll sleep every night. And no matter how long it takes for you to decide on us, I’ll be there waiting for you. Now, I’ll let you get settled in. I’m gonna make us dinner, and we can relax and watch a movie. Come down whenever you’re ready, baby.”

He’s giving me a choice.No pressure. He’s saying all the right things, but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to this than I’m ready to handle.

I stand there for a moment, my mind racing as I try to figure out what to do next. I look at the bed, at the life Spike is offering me, and I wonder if I’m really ready to give in.

Spike walks away without another word, but I can feel his presence in the room, like a constant pull, as if he’s a part of me that I’ve only just started to realize I need.

I glance back at the door, then at Asher’s small bed, and then back at the hallway leading to Spike’s room. I feel torn in two. One part of me wants to follow him, to take the next step, to see where this goes. But the other part of me is still holding on to the walls I’ve built around my heart, unsure if I’m strong enough to let them fall.

I take a deep breath, push the doubts away, and move to the baby bed.

One step at a time, I remind myself. And for now, changing Asher and laying him down for a nap is the only thing I’m capable of doing.

Even still, I feel myself being pulled out of the room and down to the kitchen, where I know Spike is standing at this very moment.

I want you to be so in love with me that you’ll go insane without me by your side.

Yeah, I have a feeling that type of love is possible, after all.

Chapter Seventeen

Spike

“Foster, what do you have for me?” I ask as I enter the war room. Riley and Asher have been safe within my walls for four weeks now, and we haven’t heard a damn thing from Chuck. It’s making me antsy.

“As of last night, Charles Landry has put in for retirement,” Foster answers, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he pulls up the official paperwork.

“He’s not old enough for retirement. The bastard is up to something,” Bones says, leaning forward, arms braced on the table. “We need to act before he does.”

I nod my agreement, but my gut is already telling me this is more than just a career change. Men like Chuck don’t walk away unless they’ve got a plan. A backup strategy to keep their hands clean while still pulling the strings.

“Anything else?”

Foster’s screen changes, pulling up recent bank transactions and flagged activity. “He’s moved large sums of money offshore in the last three days. Whatever he’s planning, he’s making sure he’s got an escape route.”

“He’s getting ready to disappear,” Crusher mutters, arms crossed over his chest. “Question is, does he run first or finish the job before he goes?”

My jaw clenches as I process the possibilities. I don’t like either damn option. If he runs, that means he’s a loose end. But if he stays? He’s biding his time, waiting for the right moment to strike.

“He’s not gone yet,” I say. “Which means we still have a window to hit first.”

“What are you thinking, Prez?” Bones asks.

I drag a hand through my hair, my pulse steady despite the storm raging inside me. “I want eyes on him twenty-four-seven. Track his calls, his movements, everyone he comes into contact with. If he so much as sneezes in the wrong direction, I want to know about it.”

Foster nods, already working on something.

“And Riley?” Bones asks, his voice lower now.

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