“But,” I said, figuring this would be the case, because why would either of us have condoms on hand while fleeing henchmen? “I am on birth control, and I haven’t had any partners since I was last tested like … five years ago.” I nearly muttered the last part as my face heated.
He looked at me with his head tilted in interest and a hint of surprise.
I shyly shrugged. “This life doesn’t really lend itself to intimacy.”
The look on his face softened into one of warmth and vulnerability. He shyly twisted his lips. “Well, I am healthy too, and in truth, I haven’t, um, been with anyone since before my injury, so.” His flushed face grew even pinker, and it pumped my heart full.
I stroked my hands through his messy hair again and smoothed my thumb over the cut on his swollen lip. “Well, then I think we owe it to ourselves to end our respective droughts.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” he said with a little breath saying he’d been waiting for me to take the lead.
And so, we did end our droughts. Twice before showering and ordering room service, and once more before we fell asleep. Having been deprived of physical intimacy for so long, I found myself both ravenous and insatiable. Or maybe it was just him. The way he explored my body with intention and care, as if studying all my seams to know how to unstitch me just so he could put me back together and make me come apartagain. The way he held me, during and after, like he wanted to sink his fingers into my soul and feel the very essence of me. The way someone so big and strong could come completely unraveled at my touch.
When I woke in the morning, wrapped in the soft linens and nothing else, he was still asleep next to me. I studied his long lashes fanned over his cheeks, the scar on his chin, the way his already full lip puffed out from being split last night. The scruff on his jaw, which felt positively divine against my throat, my chest, my thighs.
I didn’t know where last night left us, but I’d have been content to stay in bed forever.
Bray stirred with a deep breath, and his eyes fluttered open. When he recognized me lying inches away, he softly smiled. “You’re awake.”
“You’re asleep.”
He reached out and placed his hand on the curve of my lower back. “I was awake earlier, but you were asleep and looked so peaceful.”
“Hmm, thank you for leaving me that way,” I hummed and nuzzled into his neck when he pulled me close.
“I actually slept great, which is … rare for me.” The note of surprise in his voice floated above my head.
“Me too. Told you we’d cancel each other out if we slept together.”
A warm laugh rumbled in his chest. He flattened his hand against my lower back and pushed his hips into mine. A small gasp snuck from my lips. “Looks like you were right, but I think I’m ready to move on from that kind ofsleepingtogether.”
One part of his body was fully awake and the feel of it hotly pressing into my belly had me really,reallynot wanting to leave the bed.
“How long until we have to check in with Ramesh?” I asked as he pulled me over on top of him.
“Hours.” He tucked my spilling hair back and kissed my neck. The promise in his voice had me ready to use every last one of those hours before we returned to reality.
CHAPTER26
We flew back to the Bay and headed straight for the station. With our only lead a dead end, and no way of knowing if the ghosts were still following us, Bray both wanted to be someplace safe and to talk to Ramesh in person. We’d shopped for a change of clothes before our return charter so we didn’t have to wear what we’d fled the henchmen in. I was back in jeans, a tee, and a hoodie, and he was in a pair of slacks and a button-down. We hadn’t said much about our night together once we left the hotel, perhaps because we both knew we were operating underWhat happens in Houstonrules. But I caught him glancing at me, and I’d glance back. And when our eyes would meet, suddenly, we were in a sweaty, naked tangle again, and I didn’t know how we were going to put it behind us.
“Stay close,” he instructed me as we entered the station lobby.
“Gladly,” I muttered and shot him a coy grin.
He tried and failed to fight grinning back.
When the elevator dumped us out on his floor, Ramesh popped up from his desk at the sight of us like a prairie dog. He began walking toward us like he was trying to be discreet while flicking his eyes side to side. He gestured at us to hurry closer.
“What? What is it?” Bray asked and glanced around the room like there was a threat.
“You are in deep shit, my friend,” Ramesh muttered as we fell into step and walked down the aisle between cubicles.
“What? With whom?” Bray asked.
“Your mother. She found out about … everything, and she’s pissed. She already handed me my ass for helping, and she’s just waiting for you to—”
“Agent Bray?” a stern voice called from the end of the aisle. A woman leaned out from the hallway where I’d sat while Bray had begged for my protection. She didn’t have the harsh bob I’d imagined, but rather her brunette hair, the same color as her son’s, was pulled up into a tight bun. She stood tall and slender in a smart skirt suit and heels, which made her look like the headmistress of a very fancy and strict boarding school.
