Page 71 of Built of Illusions

The rest of her sentence was swallowed by his kiss. She dropped the bag and wrapped herself around him before she remembered she’d been painting. “Wait. Your suit.”

“Don’t give a flying fuck about the suit. I want you exactly the way you are. It’s like your creativity exploded out to cover your shirt.”

Well, his shirt, to be technical about it. She’d snitched one from his room before they’d flown back to Sacramento.

Nico’s hands reached beneath the hem of the shirt and brushed over her thighs. He growled again. “My shirt and sexy panties and not another damn thing. I’m both pissed and relieved I didn’t know about this while I was working. I’d have never made it through the day.”

Josie laughed and tugged at his tie. “This charcoal grey might be my favorite spiffy suit. You look like you’re ready to take over the courtroom and send all the assholes to jail. But it still needs to go.”

Their movements were frantic and intense and it wasn’t long before they lay side by side on the hard floor, staring up at the ceiling and trying to catch their breaths. She wore only his tie while he was spectacularly naked.

Nico chuckled. “The things you do to me, Josie. We didn’t even make it to the bed like civilized people.”

That made her laugh and she rolled to her side to run her hands over his chest. “I like the uncivilized side of you. Actually, I like all sides of you, from your spiffy suit persona to the real you in your jeans and tees, to your very sexy naked self.”

His eyes softened and he reached up to play with her hair. “I like all sides of you as well. The creative artist. The woman who sees beyond the surface. The woman who gives so much more than she ever takes.”

He tugged on the tie she wore loosely and she slid over top of him again. He palmed her ass and ran slow circles over her skin, making her shiver and arch into him. “Can I ask you something?”

She grinned and wriggled against him. “If you’re ready for round two, the answer’s yes.”

He grinned but his eyes were serious. She started to sit up, but he held her there. “What is it?”

“Nothing bad. I’m thinking of leaving the FBI.”

Her heart stuttered in her chest. “Seriously? You love what you do.”

“I do. Or I did.” This time he did sit up, but kept her in his lap.

Instead, Josie scooted to her feet but kept her hand in his and he stood as well. “Sounds like a conversation for a soft surface.” She tugged him into her bedroom, which had the only soft surface in her house.

Nico leaned up against the headboard and she sat cross-legged beside him. She kept his hand in hers. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

He nodded. “I want to. I’ve been thinking about this since Sam talked about opening Midnight Security. At first it was an idea for years in the future, but after spending so much time up there over the last while, I’d like to move toward that more quickly.”

She’d seen the signs of burnout on him, known he was looking for a change. She swallowed hard to keep her voice level. “I could see how much you loved it in Vermont. You fit in so well with the team up there. You’ve done amazing work with the FBI, but it’s okay to want something different.”

Her heart trembled. They’d just found each other and now he wanted to move away from her. She’d be fine. She’d been on her own all of her life.

Nico squeezed her hand. “How would you feel about moving to Midnight Lake with me? I know you just bought your house and the art gallery you sell with is here, but we could mail your pieces. And find other galleries up there. I’m sure Tansy will let us renovate a cabin into an art studio for you. Or we could find a place in Phail. I’m getting nervous here. Say something.”

“I thought you were leaving me.” Oops. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

His arms wrapped around her and held her close. “Hell no. If you don’t want to move, that’s okay. I’ll figure out my end.”

Her heart jumped again and she leaned back to look him in the eye, to see the truth. “You would stay for me?”

“Of course.” The answer was immediate and honest.

Tears filled her eyes and she swallowed hard again to keep them at bay.

Nico cupped her face. “What is it, Josie? Talk to me. Tell me what you’re feeling.”

“I’m completely overwhelmed.”

He frowned and his thumbs caressed her skin while he waited for her to continue.

“I love you so much and I’m overwhelmed. No one has ever wanted me to go with them before. I don’t think anyone has ever wanted me before. My heart is so full, I think it’s going to burst.”

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