Minka presses her palm to his face and pushes him back. “You know what I mean. I just want to make sure we have the clothes and stuff we need for now. We’ll decide the rest later.”
“Mmhm. I’ve taken care of it. Are you done harassing Steve yet?”
“I’m not harassing him! I’m just?—”
“Because I was hoping I could talk to you in private.” I allow my eyes to turn deadly serious. “It’s important.”
“Wait.” Cato stiffens. “Everything okay?”
“Archer and Minka private. Notwhole familyprivate.” I pinch Minka’s chin between my thumb and fingers, forcing her around and her gaze to mine. “Please?”
“S-sure,” she stammers. “Is something wrong?”
“I’ll tell you in a second.” I bring my gaze up and lock with Mary’s. “There’s a car waiting outside to take you to the house. Your luggage has arrived, and a room has been prepared for you. I have men there already establishing a safe perimeter. Felix and the rest of them are staying tonight, too. Garth is leading security for that, so don’t fret.”
“You seem to think I’m concerned.” She takes a step forward and straightens my tie. “I am not.”
“Of course.” I release a soft chuckle and look down at Steve. “She’s gonna have you up and dancing a jig real soon. You’re in the best hands money can buy.”
“We’ll be at the house in about twenty minutes,” Minka adds. “I’m not sticking around here a minute longer than I have to. Not when I know I have a comfortable bed in a quiet room waiting for me.”
“Take your time, Miss Minka.” Steve grabs her wrist and gives it a gentle squeeze. Then he glances back at Mary. “Just as soon as I’m on my feet again, I promise to open doors and wheel your chair around.”
“No need to worry, Mr. Morris.” Mary situates herself behind his wheelchair and disengages the brakes. “We’ll see you in the morning, Detective.” Then she casts a pithy look Cato’s way. “I expect you’ll behave yourself, young man.”
Offended, he lays a hand over his chest. “Don’t I always?”
“Let’s go.” I drape my arm over Minka’s shoulders and tug her away, hugging the outer perimeter of the room so the only thing between us and the wall is Felix’s guards.
“What’s wrong?” Minka practically jogs to keep up. “Archer?”
I hold her tighter so she doesn’t stumble. “Move faster.”
“Archer!” She attempts to drop her weight and dig her heels into the carpeted floor. “What the hell is going on?”
“Private.” I swing her past Cordoza’s men, even those who stare, and through a set of heavy wooden doors until we emerge into a brightly lit hallway with two guards following close behind—does she even notice them?
Glancing left, then right, I decide which way I’m taking her and drive us toward the swinging kitchen doors that servers pass through. Dinner has already been served, and dessert long ago arrived at our tables. I drag her through the door and draw half a dozen sets of eyes, white coats—not the same as Minka’s when she’s working—and a server delivering a tray of empty wine glasses.
I hook a thumb toward the door. “Get out.”
“Archer!”
They go, fast as rattlesnakes, half of them bolting through the door at our backs, and the other half choosing the second exit across the kitchen. When the last of the cooks is gone and the swinging doors move in and out, I catch sight of a muscular, suited set of shoulders of a soldier now on guard.
“What the hell is going on? Archer?—”
Alone.
Thank fuck.
I take her face in my hand, digging my fingers and thumb into her cheeks, then I slam my lips to hers and swallow her surprised gasp. My cock rages with an ache only she knows how to soothe. My belly rolls with a heavy dread only she can calm. And fuck, my heart pounds out of control, relaxing only as her tongue comes out to play and her arms come up, draping over my shoulders without me lifting them for her. “I hate being here with these people.” I crush her against the wall, the rattle of pots and pans on the shelf above creating a tinkling threat that could end with them raining down on our heads. “I hate not being attached to you,literally, while these people are in the same fucking building. The same city.”
“Archer—”
I fist her dress and drag the heavy material up. Silky fabric seems to go on forever, filling my palms, and still, there’s more to come. But I discover her thighs eventually, releasing a shaky, shuddering breath the moment her flesh touches my fingertips. Desperate and hungry, I slide my palms around and palm her ass in two heaped handfuls. I drag her cheeks apart and earn her breathy gasp of surprise.
“I can’t stand the idea of being away from you, even for ten minutes. Not when these people are around.”
