“Baby.”

He groans and pulls out, then thrusts back inside. Oh. Yes. He starts slow, working my body over with his, his hands are fisting in my hair, his mouth is consuming mine and his body is taking me over the edge. Then he quickens his pace, until our skin is slapping together, our pants are desperate and we’re both making sounds that have my skin prickling.

I find my orgasm right before he finds his, and it’s perfect. My body explodes and I cling to him as pleasure rips through me.

Raide grunts when he finds his, and his lips practically bruise mine with the brutality of his kiss as he releases into me. Then he rolls off, and lands on his back beside me. He’s sweaty, I’m sweaty, and it’s exactly how it should be. He pulls me into his arms and we lie like that until we can breathe normally again.

Then I decide to break the silence by asking, “What was it like in there?”

He sighs. “Boring, mostly. I kept to myself.”

“Oh.”

He chuckles low. “What did you think it would be like?”

“I don’t know, the movies?”

His body shakes with laughter.

“What?” I cry.

“You’ve got an overactive imagination. It was low security. We had rooms that could be locked, we had a break room, we showered, we slept. There wasn’t much more to it.”

“Did you drop the soap, Raide?”

With that, he bursts out laughing so hard, my body shakes with his. I can’t help it—I giggle, too.

“Fuck, I’ve missed you,” he says, rolling so he’s facing me.

“Me, too,” I say, dropping my eyes to his chest.

“I’m sorry I did that to you,” he murmurs, and I meet his eyes once more.

“It’s what I wanted, right?”

“Doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.”

I shrug. “It’s finished now.”

“Your job? How’s that going.”

I smile. “It’s okay. Don says I can go back to small cases after my suspension.”

Raide frowns. “Small cases?”

“It’s better than losing my job.”

He purses his lips but nods. “Why a bounty hunter?”

I nestle into his chest and tell him about my dad and how I grew up. Then I tell him about becoming a bounty hunter and how hard it was being the only girl.

“I thought it was strange when you took Terry down that night. Wait—he’s not your cousin, is he?”

I chuckle. “Gosh no.”

He snorts. “Good, because I was seriously questioning the quality of your genes.”

I shove his shoulder. “Hey!”

He grins and murmurs, “You’re badass, Gracie.”

“I know.”

Silence.

“Raide?”

“Mmmmm?”

“My job … does it bother you?”

He’s quiet for a minute, then he leans back and stares down at me. “Shit no.”

“You don’t care that I’m chasing people for a living, people like … you.”

“I did the wrong thing by running, Grace. You had every right to chase me. I know that now. Can’t be mad at you for doin’ what you do. My biggest concern is your safety.”

“Don wouldn’t give me any case that’s overly dangerous.”

He studies my face. “You ever been shot at?”

I bite my bottom lip.

He groans and rolls to his back. “This is goin’ to kill me, isn’t it?”

“Probably,” I say, pushing up to my elbows and looking down at him. “But I love it, Raide. It’s who I am.”

He reaches up and rubs his thumb over my lower lip. “Yeah, you’re right. It is.”

“Don’t worry,” I say, grinning. “I’m badass with a gun.”

His smile gets big, making those dimples pop out. “My girl is badass.”

His girl.

Wonderful.

Chapter Thirty-four

“We’re going on a date?”

Raide is standing before me, dressed in a tuxedo that makes my mouth water. He’s got his arms crossed and he’s trying to explain to me that we’re going on a date, because we’ve never had the chance to do it properly.

“You’re taking me on a date?” I say again.

“Jesus, lady,” he mutters. “Yeah, I’m takin’ you on a date.”

“You,” I repeat, “Raide Knox, are taking me on a date?”

He huffs and stares up at the ceiling for calm. “Go, put a dress on, and stop askin’ questions.”

“Are you ill?”

He growls and steps toward me. He reaches out and takes a lock of my hair, tugging it softly. “Dressed. Now.”

I smile and turn, skipping off down the hall. I dress quickly, slipping into one of my favorite black dresses. It’s low-cut at the back, showing a good deal of spine. The front has a goodly amount of cleavage, but nothing too … adventurous. I leave my hair down and run my straightener through it. Then I touch up my makeup and hurry back out. Raide is standing against the counter when I come out. He’s still got his arms crossed impatiently.

He goes to open his mouth, no doubt to ask what the hell I’ve been doing, but he quickly shuts it when he sees me. Instead, his eyes grow dark and he stalks toward me. I swallow and lift my hands, placing them on his chest to halt him when he’s close enough. He looks like an animal about to pounce. His eyes travel the length of me, then he murmurs gruffly, “Turn around.”

“Pardon?” I say, my eyes getting big.

“Turn around, put your hands on the counter.”

“Raide,” I breathe. “What are you doing.”

“Turn around,” he orders, and I do as I’m told.

I turn and put my hands on the counter. He comes up behind me, pressing his chest into my back. He leans down and murmurs into my ear. “Don’t move your hands. If you scream, I’ll spank you.”

Oh. Boy.

“Raide—”

“Hush.”

He lifts my dress, revealing my thong. I tremble as he hooks his fingers into it and moves it to the side. Then he presses against me, all while running his finger down past my ass and into my sex. He curls it up and slowly pushes inside me. I cry out and his other hand slaps my ass, hard. My cry becomes a whimper and I bite my lip to stop from screaming in pleasure. He rubs his hand over the stinging mark while his other hand tortures me.

He thrusts his finger in and out slowly, driving me over the edge. I can feel his cock pressing against my ass cheek and it’s hard as all hell. I want it. I want him to fuck me right here, just like this. “Raide,” I plead. “Fuck me.”

He slaps my ass again. Holy shit. Yes. “Don’t talk,” he growls. “I’m making the decisions here, lady.”

He’s torturing me with his finger, he’s not working it fast enough, yet at this slow pace it feels so damned good. I bite my bottom lip so hard, I’m sure blood is about to pop up to the surface. In and out, in and out, God dammit, he’s killing me. I close my eyes and concentrate on my orgasm. I’m building higher and higher, nearly there … Oh yes, nearly there—

Raide pulls his fingers out.