Page 22 of Crown of Smoke

But I see that glint in her eye, the same one she had following O’Brian into the alley. My stomach knots. Getting her involved is a mistake. If anything happens to her because of me…

"Hey." She touches my arm, jolting me from my thoughts. "I'll be careful. Promise."

I cover her hand with mine before I can stop myself. "You have to understand. These people… If they catch on to what we're doing…” The image of her bleeding in that alley flashes through my mind again. Only this time, I'm not there to save her. The thought makes me sick.

“I understand, Flynn.” This time her eyes are soft, reassuring. “I’ll be careful.”

"I won't let anything happen to you." The words come out fiercer than intended. "But you have to trust me. Follow my lead. No improvising, no going off-script."

She studies my face. "You really are worried about me, aren't you?"

I pull my hand back, not liking how vulnerable I’m starting to feel. "I'm worried about my operation getting blown because you can't control your curiosity."

It's a lie, and from her small smile, I think she knows it. But she lets me have it, nodding seriously. "Understood. Bored party girl, not investigative reporter. I can play that part."

I feel like I need to give her more to keep her safe. Something so she can protect herself if I can’t reach her.

“Do you know self-defense?” I ask.

“I took a course in college.”

“How about a refresher?” I rise and move to a small open space in her living area.

She joins me, and I give her a few tips on how to defend herself. She’s intent, her brow furrowed as she follows my instructions. She moves through the basic defensive stance I showed her. Her feet are too close together. One solid push would topple her.

"Wider base," I say, stepping behind her. My hands find her hips, adjusting her stance. The heat of her body radiates around mine, and of course, my dick responds. I try to ignore it. "Like this."

Her breath catches as I nudge her feet apart with my boot. I'm too close, breathing in the vanilla lavender scent of her. Images from the other night flash unbidden, Lucy in her bathtub, head thrown back as she brought herself to orgasm, my name on her lips.

I clear my throat and step back.

"Now show me how to break that hold you used earlier," she says, her voice slightly breathless.

I give my head a shake as if that will rid it of my dirty thoughts. "Right. When someone grabs you from behind…” I demonstrate the position, wrapping my arm around her waist from behind, careful to keep space between our bodies. "You want to create distance first."

Lucy nods, but instead of executing the move, she leans back against my chest.

Christ. My grip tightens involuntarily. "That's… that's the opposite of what you want to do."

She turns her head, looking up at me through her lashes, her cheeks flushed with pink. “Oh… right. Sorry.”

But she doesn’t move. And I don’t either. Because what I really want to do is kiss her. I burn with the need to taste her, to be the one touching her and making her come. For my name, Flint, not Flynn, to escape her lips as I bring her pleasure.

“Are you trying to beat me off by distracting me?” I ask, embarrassed by how rough and needy my voice sounds.

She clears her throat and starts to move away, but I keep her close, turning her toward me.

"We… we should focus on the mission. On bringing down the Keans."

"Is that what you were focusing on the other night?" The words slip out before I can stop them.

Her brow furrows in confusion. "What?"

Shit. Fuck. I nearly revealed that I’d seen her in the tub. “You accused me of following you, but I think you’re following me. Am I your story, Lucy, or perhaps you’re ready for that date?” I lean closer, my lips a breath from hers.

Lucy's eyes flutter closed, her body swaying toward mine. "We need to focus on the investigation.”

"The investigation can wait." My hand cups her jaw, tilting her face up. "Just for a moment."

---