Reyna swallowed the words she wanted to say—that she would never be at ease with Penelope anywhere near him. She also understood what hewasn’tsaying—that his cover was more important than ever. He couldn’t bring suspicion down on himself, which might compromise everything. It was easier to have Penny as part of his public image even if they were not truly together.
“What happened with you and Harrington after I was kidnapped? Obviously, if you retain your cover with Penelope, then he doesn’t suspect you?”
“He does suspect me. I was investigated after your disappearance. The penthouse was raided. But after I found out what happened, I knew I would have to go to Harrington and tell him you’d run away. He said he’d heard from one of his contacts—Everett, obviously—that something had gone wrong. I told him that I’d been drinking from Penelope and so I never knew you weren’t my blood type match.”
“Butcanyou drink from me, since I’m a universal donor?”
Beckham’s gaze went far away. “I don’t know. After the last time…I could barely control myself.”
“That might have just been the connection. You said so yourself.”
“Perhaps,” Beckham said, his eyes dipping to the vein in her neck, then sliding back up. “Anyway, Harrington wanted to pin something on me about your disappearance, but he couldn’t exactly tell me he had you in his clutches. And since I came forward immediately, he had to go on as if nothing had happened. The investigation wasn’t fruitful.” Beckham shrugged. “He might still believe I’m part of Elle, but I have been careful about my involvement. It was the reason I couldn’t come to you right away. I needed to be seen out in public when you escaped so I had an alibi. It killed me to wait.”
Reyna’s heart wrenched at the words. “So, what does this mean for us?”
Beckham responded by moving back into her personal space. His huge frame dwarfed her small body, but he slid his hands into her dark hair, tilting her head up to him. Her body responded instinctually, melding against his. He was hard and solid and strong. Then he brought his mouth down to cover hers and the world slipped away.
As everything with Beckham, he was not gentle or submissive. Once his lips were on hers, he commanded the kiss. His tongue breached the seam of her lips, opening her to him. She gasped as their tongues touched. He was coaxing and delving for more and more, and she gave him all she had.
Her head was light and dizzy. Her heart pounded in her chest. Nothing else existed outside of this moment. Not the rebellion or Penny or the consequences of their actions. She wanted nothing in the world more than this man. He was responding in kind, and she was not going to let him get away this time.
He pulled back, and she reached for him, keeping him close. He growled low in his throat. His hands skimmed down her neck, over her shoulders, down the curve of her waist, and to her hips. He dug his fingers into her skin, pulling her tight against his body. He backed her up into the footboard of the bed, and everything ignited in her core at the thought of how they could use that bed.
“Please,” she whispered against his lips shamelessly.
“Reyna,” he groaned.
“Becks.”
He held her at arm’s length. “You make it very difficult to stop.”
“Then don’t stop.”
“I can’t lose control with you again.”
“You won’t.”
“You said that last time, and it didn’t make it any more true.”
“It’s been so long, Becks.” Reyna reached for the waistband of his pants and tugged him back against her. “I had dreams about us.”
“Dreams?”
“Together,” she whispered. “Vivid dreams.”
Both of his eyebrows rose at that. “Incrediblydifficult to stop.”
Her eyes were wide and desperate when she met his gaze. “I was trapped for eight weeks, Beckham. I dreamed of this moment. Don’t you…want me?”
His shoulders relaxed. “Of course I want you.” His jaw flexed, and for a moment, she thought that would be all that he would give her. That he’d leave in the night with her heart in her throat, desperate for him. “I always want you.”
Then his lips landed on hers, and there was a hurried desire in them, as if the only reason he had ever held himself back from her was out of fear for her safety. It eradicated her doubts. Left everything else they were dealing with by the wayside. She would think of them later. Not now.
“I can’t stay,” he said, walking her backward toward the bed.
“Okay,” she said as she ripped at his tie.
His hands found the edge of her pants and shucked them to the ground. “I have somewhere to be in ten minutes.”
