She shifted one of her legs out from under me, only to hitch it over my hip and lay it across my ass so my crotch was pressed against hers. My body reacted immediately to the intimate position. I gulped and scooted down slightly so that my groin was pressed into the bed between her legs rather than onto her. She didn’t need to know just how freaking crazy she drove my body. The girl had some talent, that’s for sure; she could turn me on just by looking at me in the right way. It was ridiculous. I’d never felt anything like this attraction for her, it was almost animalistic, and if we were dating for real, I’d probably want to make love to her for twenty three out of the twenty four hours in the day, only allowing her time off for eating and bathroom breaks.

My brain was like mush as I struggled to remember what we were talking about before she moved and made me think of other things.

I cleared my throat as I finally composed myself. “Here’s the deal. You come with me to LA if I can get them to agree to it, or if I can’t, then we both stay at the lake house,” I offered. “Either way, I’m spending my birthday with you,” I tagged on the end.

She sighed sadly. “Ashton, I’m not gonna be able to go. It’s not fair to pull Dean and Peter out of a weekend off. Dean’s going home to stay with his mom; he said he hasn’t seen her for almost a year.”

“Is it a deal or not?” I asked, grinning slyly. I was pretty sure I could convince them to let me take her, but even if they refused, it was a win-win situation for me. Whatever happened, I would get to be with the love of my life.

“Okay, deal,” she agreed dejectedly. I could tell she was disappointed; clearly, she wanted me to see my friends and was feeling bad that it wouldn’t happen now. I bent and kissed her lips lightly just for a second, pulling away before I wouldn’t be able to. She whimpered unconsciously as I pulled away and I couldn’t help but smile. I loved that she wanted me, even if she wasn’t interested in a relationship.

I climbed out of the bed, being sure to keep my back to her so she wouldn’t see my painful arousal. That was another thing she did to me, she made me so damn hard that it hurt. I was literally stiff as a board, and probably spent a solid three to four hours that way every day. Not that Anna knew that, of course, I did well to keep it from her. I pulled on a pair of jeans, arranging my erection so it wasn’t too noticeable.

“Where are you going?”

I turned to look at her over my shoulder and quickly looked away because she was doing the face. The pouty, pleading, hurt face that made me want to throw myself at her feet and beg her to take me, to let me spend my life making her happy, to give her any damn thing in the world. I’d known her for two months now, and in that time I’d fallen so in love with her, it was ridiculous. I would do anything for her, absolutely anything.

“I’m going to see if I can get us to LA for the weekend,” I replied, smiling to myself as I imagined her waking up in my tiny apartment.

I walked out of the room and pulled the door tightly shut, unlocking my phone and dialling Maddy’s phone number. “Senator Spencer’s office,” she answered immediately.

“Hi, ma’am, it’s Agent Taylor. How are you?” I asked, being polite. I needed to get her on my side; hopefully if this went well, she would need to rearrange a lot of things for the trip tomorrow.

“Oh, Agent Taylor, I’m very well. How are you and Annabelle doing?” she asked cheerfully.

“We’re both really good. Actually, I was hoping to speak to the Senator, is that possible?”

She tapped away on her keyboard. “Well, according to his schedule, he’s free for the next fifteen minutes. Let me buzz you through,” she chirped, putting me on hold.

I waited a few seconds, heading over and boosting myself up onto the kitchen counter. “Agent Taylor, is everything okay? How’s Annabelle?” the Senator asked as he came onto the phone.

“She’s very good, sir. I just wanted to talk to you about this weekend.” I mentally crossed my fingers that he would say yes.

He laughed. “Ah, she’s finally told you.”

I smiled. “Yes, sir, she did.” I winced, praying he’d consent. “Sir, Anna and I have been talking and we wondered if it would be possible for her to come to LA with me.”

“To LA?” he repeated.

“Yes, sir. Anna really wants to go. I think it would be good for her, she’s doing so well here.” Anna was actually doing brilliantly at the moment; she loved school and was settling in really well and making friends.

“Agent Taylor, that’s not possible. Your far guards have been given the weekend off, as have you. You should make the most of it. It’s not a scheduled school break, but I won’t ask the far guards to give up a weekend that’s been promised to them,” he said sternly, his tone implying that I was crazy even to suggest it.

“Sir, I wasn’t asking for the far guards. I could take Anna to LA on my own. She would stay at my apartment with me. I live with another agent, his name is Nate Peters. He graduated second under me at the academy, and I know that he would be willing to protect Anna with me if I needed him to. She really would like to go,” I persuaded. I had no doubt in my mind that Nate would protect her if the need arose.

“Agent Taylor, are you seriously asking me to let you take Annabelle to LA without a far guard? Do you understand what you’re asking of me? Carter Thomas’ organisation has been threatening her constantly and the trial is only three months away,” he replied condescendingly.