“You don’t hurt women orcivilians, right?”
“Never.”
“So what if I went to the cops with what you just told me?”
“I’d deny it.”
“And if they believed me anyway?”
“Then I’d take the punishment,” I growl. “That’s what I meant when I said I’m taking a risk. But you’re worth it. Theo is worth it.”
She buries her face in her hands for a moment. “God, Rafe.”
I smile. She lowers her hands.
“What are yousmilingabout?” She snaps.
“You called me Rafe.”
Her lip twitches, then she disciplines her mouth. “This is… a lot. I don’t even know if I can believe you.”
“You can. I’m telling you the goddamn truth.”
“Don’t get angry at me about it. Jeez.” She leans back, shaking her head. “Can you blame me for being skeptical? This time yesterday, I thought you were a one-night stand called Michael who ghosted me. Now…”
“I know. But every word since then has been the truth. I gave a fake name out of habit. I always do with civilians.”
“But why leave me, then?” she snaps. “Why sneak out?”
“Men came for me,” I tell her. “Your apartment is in Hungarian turf. You’d never know it, but it belongs to them. They didn’t like me being there. You were asleep, a heavy sleeper as you know.”
Another guilty smile. “Yeah, I’m aware.”
“I had to leave or put you in danger. I swear, Ava, I didn’t want to go. I wanted to cook you breakfast, be there for you. I wanted to make love to you all day, then take you on a date you deserved.”
Her cheeks flush, but then she abruptly stands, chair squeaking on the floor. “This is a lot to think about. I need some time. But…” She walks around the table, staring at me. I stand and look down at her. “Promise me all of this is true. If I’m going to sort this out, I need to know I’m dealing with facts.”
I take her hips in my hands, loving the small, breathy sound she makes as I do.
“I promise. Every single word.”
I wonder if I should mention Adrian’s possible involvement. But she seems happy in her job. And, if Adrian were going to hurther, he would’ve done it by now. No, I can’t upend her life. Not yet. Not until I have proof.
“Okay then,” she murmurs, moving to turn away.
But I can’t let her go. My hold tightens on her ample hips, a hungry instinct punching through me. She makes a soft gasping noise, shock mingled with desire and something else.
As I lean in, she shakes her head, but her eyes can’t lie. Her lips, already parting for me, tell the truth.
I crash my mouth against hers, and suddenly, time has stopped again, just like it did last year. The mob, Nico, my responsibilities, my past, my pain—all of it ceases to matter.
It’s just her taste and her muffled moan and her hands clawing at my shirt against my chest. She pulls herself closer to me. Then she flattens her palms and pushes away, leaning back in my grip, staring up at me wide-eyed and electrified.
“Don’t do that again,” she whimpers.
“Say that like you mean it, then,” I quip.
“Rafe…”
