“Ditto,” Angus said absently.
“I think we should break up.” She looked at a bruise on his jaw.
His chuckle wasn’t what she expected. “No.”
Her gaze flew up to his face. “No? You can’t say no. It’s not up to you.”
“We just decided to actually date, even though we didn’t exactly say the words, and you want to break up? Of course I can say no. Especially when the reason you want to break up is asinine.” His tone remained slightly amused, but with a thread of steel beneath it.
Sometimes the guy was a freaking mind reader. “Just hear me out.”
“Sure.” He took another drink, and his muscled throat was too sexy as he swallowed. “Go for it.”
She took a deep breath. “Obviously, Lassiter will try for me if he gets the chance.”
“Yep,” Angus said congenially.
“So, let’s break up, I go back to work at the HDD and we create a trap.” Her stomach ached at the thought, but at least they’d control the situation, which would be something new.
Angus finished his glass of wine. “A trap with you as bait.”
She swallowed. “Yes. It’s not ideal, and it’s terrifying, but if we set the trap right, we’d finally have him.”
“He’s a genius. You don’t think he’d see a trap a mile away?” Angus asked, sounding merely curious.
“No. Well, maybe. But if he’s investigated me at all and found out about my problems with Vaughn and the HDD, he’d think I was a hothead.” She partially sat up, warming to the subject. “So my dumping you and returning to work with the new job Opal offered me, maybe even taking a couple of risks, wouldn’t be out of character. I could look like I was being very careful, but still give him some type of opening. Especially if I moved back to my apartment, which would be a great place to lay a trap.”
Angus thought about it, looking at his empty glass. “Well, it’s a good plan. Sure. Let’s do it.”
She sat farther up, surprise and anticipation lighting her. “Really?”
He turned his gaze to her, the green of his eyes the hard edge of a mysterious forest. “No, not really.” He swept out his hand. “Have you lost your fucking mind?”
She sank back down into the bubbles. “For a second there I thought you were going to be reasonable.”
“Jesus Christ, Nari. Don’t you know me at all?” He set the glass down as if afraid he might snap it in two. “Even if you dumped me, even if you returned to work at HDD, even if you went back and decided to date that moronic and now bruised Vaughn Ealy, I wouldn’t leave you alone for a second until we caught Lassiter. Use you for bait?” He stood, looking broad and dangerous in the soft bathroom light. “Not in a million years.” He leaned down and plucked her right out of the tub.
She yelped, plastering bubbles all over his bare chest. “What are you doing?”
“Taking you to bed.” Then he kissed her.
Hard.
* * *
Urgency drove Angus as he tossed her nude and soapy butt on the bed, following her down. The idea that she wanted to use herself as bait with the most dangerous serial killer in the world right now had Angus almost frantic to claim her. His hands cupped her soapy breasts and his head naturally dipped to her core.
He found her and sucked her clit into his mouth.
She gasped and stiffened, her nails digging into the bedspread. She tasted like sweetness with a hint of rose-scented bubbles, and he went at her, not giving her a chance to think. He settled in, sliding his hands down her body and popping bubbles to cup her smooth ass and lift her to his mouth.
She moaned, her head thrashing on the comforter.
He didn’t go slow or draw it out. Instead, he licked her clit and pressed a finger inside her wet heat. She detonated seconds later, crying out, her body undulating with the force of her orgasm. He let her come down and then placed one kiss on her clit before licking his way up her body and sucking a pert nipple into his mouth.
Her hands were frantic in his hair, clutching and pulling. Erotic pain shot down his spine. He nipped her other nipple, and her body trembled. “Angus,” she whispered, pulling hard enough on his hair that he had to look up at her flushed face. “Now,” she said, pulling harder.
He slid up her body, kissing her jawline and positioning himself at her entrance. This was different. She was different, or maybe he was. This was more.
