Page 20 of With You

“We spar once a week, there’s a leaderboard to encourage a little friendly competition.” I watched Baz scratch his beard, contemplating what I’d said.

“Ha! Friendly is not what I’d call it,” Roe mumbled.

“It’s been a while since I engaged in actual hand-to-hand. I remember Kane being a big mother fucker, he hold this number one spot?”

I smiled and Roe made a pfft sound. He knew that Kane wasn’t the real competition and I elbowed him in the ribs to keep his mouth shut. Big didn’t mean better and though Kane had giant muscles, they slowed him down, a weakness that I often took advantage of.

Baz narrowed his eyes at our reactions. “Then again, after watching you today, I’m thinking the real challenge is standing in front of me.”

“That’s sweet of you to say, Bazzie, but I’m more of a lover than a fighter,” Roe’s words had that same tingling sensation affecting other parts of me.

“Not you. And never call me that again. I’m talking about her, obviously,” he pointed to me and my smile grew. “Come by the ranch around five, I’m making pot roast.” Then he walked away, not stopping to talk to anyone else.

“I recognize that look. You like him.” Roe handed me my towel and we started walking out of the warehouse into the blazing sun.

I did, Baz was solid. I didn’t know much about his history or skills but I trusted Gray when he vouched for someone. “Don’t you?”

“I’m still deciding. Nobody moves alone to a ranch in the middle of nowhere if they don’t have demons. People with demons can be unpredictable.”

“Hmm, and what about Gage?” I reminded him that we had someone on our team already that had enough demons to fill Pandora’s box.

He waved his hand in the air. “Gage is different, we know his issues and he’s earned our trust a million times over.”

“You don’t think Baz could do the same? With Kane settling down and Gray probably not far behind, we could use the help. We’ve been turning down clients because there aren’t enough of us.”

We got in the car and I cranked the air conditioning down as far as it would go, hating the way my thighs were sticking to the seat. Then I turned to him and drew my finger down his chest, crooking it inside the waistband of his shorts. “Wouldn’t you like to be able to take a day off occasionally? Never leave the house and stay in bed all day?”

I watched his dick grow fat under my hooded stare and I licked my lips, wanting a taste of him. Roe gripped my wrist and drew my finger out of his shorts, he brought it to his mouth where he bit the tip playfully. “Sexy witch.”

I laughed as he sped out of the parking lot, an occurrence that was happening often. It felt good and I wondered how much longer I could lie to myself that this wasn’t already out of my control.

9

ROE

We’d fallen into a routine, a routine that I liked a hell of a lot.

After we woke up, if there wasn’t anything we had to do immediately workwise, I’d convince Sam to stay in bed, usually with my fingers or my tongue between her thighs. Then we’d spend some time at Baz’s gym, come back to the room and I’d fuck her in the shower until the hot water ran out.

We’d either head into town for dinner or join Baz at his ranch. Then when it was time to go back to the room, I’d fall asleep with her in my arms, even though she insisted she hated cuddling. It was a big fat lie considering she’d reach out for me in her sleep if I ever got out of bed.

She was doing it right now. I’d reluctantly left to check my phone. Her brow was furrowed in the most adorable way as her fingers drifted over the sheets where I’d been lying. I smirked, thinking if I called Sam ‘adorable’ to her face she’d have me down on the ground in two seconds.

I was contemplating the merits of a sexy sparring session with her when I checked the message that had woken me.

Dinner tonight, he’s willing to talk to you.

A cold sweat broke out on my skin even though the room was set to a comfortable temperature. This was what we’d been waiting for. Baz’s friend was willing to talk to us, hopefully give some answers that might help our investigation. I should be waking Sam, letting her know that we could probably go home soon.

I could practically hear the entire conversation we’d have in my head. She’d pull away from me more and more until things were as strained as before we came here. There was no way I could go back, not now, not after she’d finally let me in again.

“Roe? Is it Baz?”

Damnit, I’d been staring at my dark phone, worrying about how Sam would react long enough for her to wake up. It didn’t matter what I wanted, I couldn’t lie to her, this was her job, too, and the fastest way for Sam to want nothing to do with me would be to screw with her career.

“Yeah, he says his friend is willing to talk to us.” The words sounded hollow and Sam’s drawn in brows hinted that she was having the same thoughts I’d just had. She was readying herself to break up with me, even though she’d never agreed to a relationship in the first place.

I threw my phone onto the table and climbed into the bed, forcing her back onto the mattress as I plastered my body to hers.

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