Page 48 of Rhys

“If you did, I didn’t notice.” Vanessa sighed with a lazy smile. “We should definitely do that again. Soon.”

He’d done that.He’dput that look on her face. And damn if that didn’t make him want to puff out his chest and howl at the moon.

“Give me a few minutes to recoup, and I’m down for round two.”

Vanessa laughed, the jovial movement causing her breasts to bounce. “That’s the second-best thing I’ve heard you say today.”

“Second?” He stared down at her inquisitively. “What was the first?”

Bringing herself to him, she leaned in and kissed him slowly. Thoroughly. And when she was finished, she whispered, “When you said you loved me.”

His heart became so full, he thought it would burst. And when he took her for the second time, Rhysdidgo slow, making sure she knew just how deeply his love for her ran.

11

The next morning,Rhys woke to find Vanessa’s side of the bed empty and cold. A familiar panic returned, the fear that she’d left him again as real as the love they’d shared the night before.

Tossing the covers to the side, he hopped out of bed and grabbed his boxers from the floor. Slipping them on, he hastily made his way across the bedroom and into the living area. At first glance, it appeared empty, but as he rushed toward the second bedroom’s open door, something caught the corner of his eye.

He turned, the air in his lungs leaving in one big woosh of relief. Vanessa hadn’t left. She was still with him. And she was sitting at the dining table…asleep.

Her words from last replayed through his mind.

I’m not going anywhere this time.

Rhys smiled as he went to her. From the open computer and scattered papers beneath her resting head, it was obvious she’d fallen asleep while working on something. He just wasn’t sure what.

“Hey.” He leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

A low moan reached his ears as she opened her eyes and found him. “What…” Vanessa sat up, her hair mussed and her eyes not quite fully awake. “What time is it?”

He glanced down at his watch. “Almost eight.”

“Any word from Greyson or Parker?”

“Not yet. What were you—” Right on cue, Rhys’s phone began to ring. “Hold that thought.” Jogging into the other room, he unplugged it from the charger and answered the call. “Hey, man,” he greeted Greyson. “What’s up?”

“I found something.”

“Perfect timing.” He went back out to where Vanessa was still sitting. “Hold on, I’m going to put you on speaker so Vanessa can hear.” Pulling the phone away from his ear, he tapped the screen and said, “Okay, go.”

“I was finally able to get into those files. I gotta say, the man’s encryption abilities are no joke.”

“What was in the files?” Vanessa kept Grey on track.

“Right. Sorry. Anyway, one included the missing plans, but the other…Rhys, Austin is meeting with someone at seven tonight. I’m not sure who, but there are enough buzz words that I’m pretty sure it involves the nuke.”

“Tonight?” He shared a look with Vanessa. “Where?”

“I’m sending you the address now. Once we’re off the phone, I’ll call Trace and fill him in.”

“Good. We need to get the team together and formulate a plan.”

“Copy that. I’ll let Trace know what’s going on and then head your way.”

“Sounds good. Thanks man.”

“Yep.”

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