“Don’t,” she sobbed, “ever do it again.”
Desperate for her, he found her lips, his tongue meeting hers. Hands sliding down her cheeks and around her shoulders until their mouths tore apart, and he wrapped his arms around her. “I won’t. I promise. Never again.” He kissed her temple, her hair, anywhere he could find. “The safest place for you is with me. I’m sorry I forgot that.”
For a long moment, they stood there hugging each other fiercely, and he wished he never had to let go. She was so fucking precious to him.
“Will you leave me again?” Her voice was muffled against his shirt.
“No.”
“Then I forgive you.” Her cheek lifted against his chest, and he knew she was smiling.
The lump forming in his throat tightened at how easily she’d moved past his fuckup, without hesitation or conditions. She deserved to know everything.
“I’m…nervous,” he admitted. “You going to New York, working in a city I’ve never seen, where I have zero control, is driving me crazy. I need to know you’re protected, because—” Slowly, he drew away, jaw clenching as the memory twisted in his gut. “He got inside your apartment. On my watch. He could’ve attacked you, or worse. I can’t let him get that close again. I can’t let anything happen to you.”
Frowning, she said, “That wasn’t your fault.”
“But it was. And the thought of something like that happening again is driving me crazy. I needed to clear my head, let off some steam before we left. That’s why I called Sean to meet me here this morning, not because I wasn’t coming with you.” Communicating his thought process better was something he’d have to work on, but years in prison had made it hard to share his feelings. “Being apart from you isn’t an option anymore.”
She released a breath. “Okay then.”
Less than two hours later, they were in the air. Five and a half hours after that, they landed in New York.
Vanessa had been quiet for the entire journey, but she’d stayed close, and so had he. Even now, on the ride to thehotel, her head rested on his shoulder, his hand on her thigh, their bodies pressed together.
At the hotel, unloading the mountain of luggage turned into a full operation. Dex and the bellboy were left with that problem while Jordan checked the three of them in.
The event organizers allowed for Vanessa to have two private-security personnel, which was why he’d worked through the night preparing. Organizing security when you had an army of people at your disposal, like he’d had in Portland, was easier than trying to keep the most important person in your world safe with only two bodies.
That left him and Dex, and honestly he wouldn’t have picked anyone else. The guy had no fear, a steady aim, and an eye he’d sharpened in prison while watching both of their backs. Dex was as good as three bodyguards.
After checking in, Jordan guided Vanessa through the quiet, polished lobby to the elevator, his hand on the small of her back the whole time.
The show venue was at the art gallery across the street. Close, exactly how he liked it.
The elevator let them out on the twentieth floor. He’d booked the corner suite for her, with a perfect view of the gallery below.
He tapped the key card and held the door open for Vanessa. Their luggage was already inside, and he trusted Dex had already done a sweep for hidden cameras and bugs.
“Your suitcase is here too,” she whispered.
“Yes, my single suitcase, containing everything I need for the next three days, is here.”
Her jab to his ribs was harder than expected, and he wheezed out a laugh. It faded when he caught the shimmer in her eyes.
“I’m serious, Jordan. You’re staying?”
Never breaking eye contact, he edged her backward, toward the wall until he pinned her there. “Yes, Vanessa, I’m staying. In fact, I don’t plan on leaving your side unless I absolutely have to. Every minute you’re not working, I intend to have you naked, in this room, on any and every surface.”
Her throat rose and fell as she swallowed.
“Against this wall.” He pressed his hips against hers.
Her breath hitched, breaking in to short, ragged pants.
One hand wrapped around the nape of her neck as he tilted her face to his. “In the shower.”
Her palms flattened against his chest.
