Page 75 of Dangerous Intent

“Of course.”

“I won’t leave the house. Ricardo can stay with me. We can shop online, watch movies, and order in.”

“Baby…”

“I’m trying to tell you that I’m going to behave.”

“I appreciate all of this.” I brushed my lips along hers. “The fact that you put this much thought into keeping yourself safe makes me proud.”

“You’ll only be a couple days, right? I can manage.”

“I can’t.”

When she gazed into my eyes, a flicker of confusion sparked in hers.

“I’m not changing our plans.” For all I knew, whatever Angelo was threatening might have been a tactic to get me to leave her behind, vulnerable and unprotected. “You’re coming to Miami with me. I need you with me.”

“Really?” Her confusion switched to elation. “We’re going together?”

“There isn’t anywhere else I need you to be.”

“Oh good, because I couldn’t really promise that I wouldn’t have followed you.”

“So much for your maturity and growth.” I laughed. “But thank you for trying.”

“I promised you I would try.” She ran her fingers through my hair. “I’m glad I didn’t get blown up today.”

“Me too.” I backed her against the counter and pressed my lips to hers, speaking against them. “I can’t exist without you.”

“Show me.” She slowly licked the seam of my lips. “Kiss me.”

“I want to do a lot more than kiss you.” After lifting her onto the center island countertop, I settled between her legs and tangled my fingers in her hair. “I want to show you how much I love you. I was so full of rage on the car ride here.”

“I saw it in your expression and in your body language as soon as you stepped out of the car.”

“I forced myself to suppress my fury before I got here because I wanted to console you and be who you needed.” I kissed the corner of her mouth. “I wanted to be here for you.”

“I only need you to be who you are.” She trailed her fingers along my jaw. “That’s who I fell in love with.”

“There’s something you need to know.” I hated having to tell her this, but how could I expect her to be honest with me if I couldn’t do the same with her? “I told you I would tell you things about my business if I thought you needed to know them.”

“What do I need to know?”

“I lost track of Collins.”

“Oh.” She frowned. “It was probably him who planted the device.”

“I can’t be sure about that, but I have a feeling Angelo was sent as the diversion for whoever planted the bomb.”

“What are you going to do about Angelo?”

“I’m going to handle him, but that’s not anything you have to worry yourself with.”

I brought her mouth to mine, kissing her with the force I had wanted to since learning about the device inside the car. She hitched her leg around my waist, pulling me on top of her as she rested her back on the countertop.

Letting go of her hair, I ran my hands up her sides and to her breasts. She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed my jaw, making me harder than I should have been in the middle of the kitchen of her dead father’s house.

“Lissia. Not here.” I pulled back, but she tightened her hold on me.

---