Notcapablehands, I notice. But it's still better than removing me from my position.
All these bitter thoughts are too sharp a contrast with the sweetness of my time with Darian, and I want so much to go back to his room, bury myself in him, and forget about everything.
Instead, I start replaying the security footage from the grounds.
Just past five in the morning, a soft rap at the door pulls me from my brooding. I rub my sore eyes and look up to find Darian hovering in the doorway, a tray balanced in his hands, the scent of coffee filling up the security room.
"I thought you could use this." His voice is soft as he sets the tray on the edge of my desk.
I stand up, torn between dragging him into my arms and dragging him back downstairs to lock him in his room and keep him safe.
He solves the dilemma for me, wrapping his arms around my neck to hug me with a shy smile. "You look like you needthismore than the coffee."
The tension leeches out of my body as I inhale him. How did I get so lucky? This has been a shitstorm of a weekend, but there's one amazing thing that's come out of it: him.
"I don't want you wandering around with no protection," I mumble into his neck.
"Oz wouldn't leave my side; he's literally outside the door right now. And I have to be able to do my job, Raffi. Just like you have to do yours."
I glance at the door. Still shut. So I tip his chin up for a kiss, letting it get more passionate—a little too much, as I pull him hard against me, hunger taking over for a moment.
He's the one who has to break it off, pushing me back a little with a regretful sigh. "You're trouble, Raffi DeLuca," he says, but there's no bite to it. Only warmth, affection, desire.
"You wouldn't have me any other way."
He smiles, slow and sweet. "No. I wouldn't."
The admission sends a flare of heat and possessiveness through me. I seal our mouths together again, pouring all the things I can't say into the kiss.
Mine. You're mine.
A knock at the door is the only thing that breaks me away. Oz, checking on Darian. "All good, Raf?" he asks, keeping his eyes a little to the right, like he doesn't want to see my reddened mouth.
"All good, Oz."
"We got nothing yet on Chops." He nods at the security cameras. "Anything?"
"Not yet."
He gives a nod of acknowledgement and backs out of the room.
"Nothing at all?" Darian asks, frowning a little.
"Disappeared into the fucking ether," I mutter, taking up the coffee eagerly. "God, Ididneed this, D. Thanks."
"I hate to say this, but did you check on Mr. Andretti?"
I smile a little at Darian's investigative instincts. "I did. Guy's been asleep all night."
"You're sure?"
"I'm sure." I don't want to tell him, but there's a camera in the guesthouse. Checking on Nero Andretti's whereabouts was one of the very first things I did.
But now Darian is tapping his mouth, frowning a little. "Raffi…you work security."
"Uh. Yeah."
"So do you know about…"
