Page 36 of Rhys

Vanessa took the dagger from him and studied it closely. “I used to have one similar to this, but I lost it.”

“That sucks. Where’d you lose it?”

Eyes that weren’t really hers stared back at him unapologetically. “Inside the chest of a very bad man.”

Christ Almighty, he shouldnotbe turned on by that. But damn if he wasn’t.

Sliding the dress’s long slit to the side, Vanessa expertly clasped the black strap to her bare thigh. Rhys watched her every move, his fingers itching with the urge to slide his own hand up the length of her smooth and silky skin.

Just as he’d done countless times before.

With the weapon in place, she repositioned her dress and straightened her spine. This time, instead of hiding the fact that he’d been watching her, Rhys didn’t bother looking away.

God, he wanted to kiss her. Wanted to pull her into his arms and take what he’d been missing for two long, torturous years. But now wasn’t the time.

“Don’t take any chances in there, you hear me?” He reached up a brushed a strand of black hair from her eyes. “Stick to the plan. Get in, upload the program to Austin’s laptop, and get the hell out.”

“I don’t have a death wish, Rhys.” Vanessa’s heated gaze kept with his. “I’ll stick to the plan.”

“And then you come back to me.”

“Rhys?” His name was spoken as a soft, sensual whisper.

Maybe just one kiss.

He leaned in, his focus falling to her plump, luscious lips. Placing one hand on the curve of her hip, he did exactly as he’d imagined earlier and pulled her body flush with his.

Her breath became shallowed, the swells of her breasts moving up and down at a suddenly rapid pace. Though he’d kissed this woman an endless number of times, Rhys knew this time would be different.

This time, there’d be no secrets between them.

Their lips touched, his feathering ever-so-lightly against hers. He didn’t care that he’d soon be wearing her lipstick, or that she’d have to reapply. The only thing on Rhys’s mind was…

I need to taste her.

Vanessa closed her eyes, and he let his fall shut. Rhys wrapped his other arm around her waist, and just when he was about to get that first little bit of heaven…

Someone knocked on the door.

“It’s me,” the deep voice announced itself from the hallway.

Rhys recognized the voice and found himself wishing he could throat punch the man it belonged to.

Fucking Collins.

He pulled back, dropping his arms back to his sides.

“Guess I should probably answer that.”

Vanessa nodded slightly, a tiny smile tugging at her lips. “Guess you probably should.”

Turning to leave, she reached out and grabbed his forearm to stop him. “Wait.”

“What?”

Without a word, the sexy as sin woman lifted her thumb to his mouth and gently wiped the evidence of their barely-there kiss away.

“Better.” Her face lit up with a smile.

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