Page 12 of Highest Bidder

Even when his phone starts buzzing like crazy, vibrating on the nightstand. “Fucking hell.” He pushes himself off me and a sense of loss takes his place. Damn it. Of all times for somebody to call.

It’s the way his eyes find mine once he sees who’s on the phone that makes my already racing heart thud harder than ever. “It’s your father.”

Chapter Eight – Beckett

That’s one way to instantly kill an erection.

I sit up, my back turned to her, before answering the call. “Sir.” Fuck it, I’m still a little breathless.

For once, he’s not in the right headspace to see through me. “You have her? She’s with you?”

“Yes, sir.” And I can still smell her on my fingers, so wet she soaked through her panties and dampened my skin.

“Let me speak to her.” There’s no room in his voice for argument.

I look over my shoulder. She’s sitting up, eyes wide, and I don’t have to wonder what she’s thinking. There’s nothing like timing. Naturally, we’re both feeling the same guilt.

I extend the phone. Her eyes bulge, but I only thrust the phone closer to her. She takes it, drawing a deep breath before raising it to her ear. “Dad?”

When I start to get up to give them privacy, her head swings back and forth as she grimaces like she’s in pain. Very well. I’d rather get an idea of what they’re talking about, anyway.

She nods slowly. “I know… No, I’m okay. Really, I am…. No, I didn’t get hurt or anything. Beckett kept me safe.” Our eyes meet before hers dart away. Embarrassed? Maybe. She’s no more embarrassed than I am. If it hadn’t been for that call, I’d be fucking her with my tongue at this very moment. Getting her ready for my cock, which I was very much prepared to give her.

I can’t. I shouldn’t. She deserves to be with a man who’ll be more than a one-night stand. A man who can offer her things I can’t even conceive of. I call her a princess to get under her skin, but that’s what she is. She’s royalty in our world, and I’m nobody.

Until her life is in danger, that is.

“I will. And I’m sorry for scaring you.” She covers her eyes with one hand, lowering her head. “Can we talk about this when I get home? Please? There are things I want to talk about, too, but I would rather be face-to-face.” She murmurs a few responses before handing the phone back, then rolling onto her side with her back to me.

“One of our safe houses is roughly an hour drive from where you’re waiting.” He’s trying to overcome the emotion in his voice, but he’s failing. He just spoke to his daughter for the first time in a year. It’s only natural he’d feel something, but of course he can’t show it. Especially not when we aren’t out of the woods yet.

“Sir, about not picking up the tail—”

“We’ll discuss it when you arrive. For now, keep Olivia safe. We’ll send you the location shortly.”

“Understood.” My heart is heavy when I end the call. I stand, placing the phone in my pocket before going to the window. So much for getting any rest.

When she doesn’t say anything, I speak up. “We’re heading to another location closer to home. You might want to get yourself together, get changed, whatever.” The bedsprings squeak so at least she’s not going to drag her feet and give me shit. That’s the last thing I need when I know I’m in for it once we get back.

“Beckett?”

“Yeah?”

“Look at me.”

I turn slowly, reluctant to start in on a deep conversation about what just happened, what shouldn’t have happened.

The sight of her floors me. Naked, standing beside the bed. “Put your clothes on,” I grunt, looking at the floor though what I want more than anything is to indulge in her. How much of this am I supposed to endure?

“I want you. I’ve always wanted you. You asked why I’m still a virgin? Because nobody could ever live up to you.”

My cock surges, but I clench my fists and my jaw. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m a grown woman, and I know exactly what I’m talking about. You didn’t trick me into anything just now. I wanted it just as much as you did, and I want more. If we’re going back home, that’s it. This could be our only chance. And I’m not leaving this motel room until you claim what you bought earlier tonight.”

It would be easy to force her into getting dressed and coming with me—she can threaten me all she wants, but we both know who’s stronger.

Right now, though, I’m not interested in denying her. I see her point. This could be our only chance because I don’t know what my life looks like once I deliver her to her father. He could fire me, demote me, I have no idea. I only know we might never be alone again.

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