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But yesterday, she’d broken a huge rule. Several rules. She’d disobeyed orders and made out with Hunter. And she couldn’t forget their amazing night together.

“You can take a seat.” Hunter glanced at her as he set up his workstation. “Anywhere is fine.”

“Sure. Thanks.” Cleo was already in so much trouble with High Command. She’d messed up big time. What was one more tiny mess to add to the whole crazy equation of broken rules?

Her gaze traveled over Hunter’s broad thighs and his hard chest. She bit her lip. Did she dare do this?

She strode over, grabbed him, and smacked a kiss on his lips.

He pulled back, surprise in his eyes. “What are you doing?”

“Breaking the rules again. It’s a new bad habit I’m developing.”

Desire hit her like a freight train as a sexy smile spread across his lips. “Are you sure it’s not my Apexian magic making you misbehave?”

“Possibly. But are you going to turn me down?” She brushed her tongue against his parted lips.

Hunter groaned and pulled her close. “I almost lost you to the Siblet. I can’t stop thinking about that.”

“Don’t think about it. Think about this.” She kissed him again, her tongue meeting his.

Their tongues tangled, and Cleo wrapped herself around Hunter, wanting to forget about everything, just for a few minutes.

“Fuck me, Hunter. I want you deep inside me.”

He sucked in a deep breath and stilled. “You want that now?”

“Yes! Let’s forget everything.”

“You want to screw me to forget your problems?”

“Is that so bad? I know you want me. You’ve told me enough times. You should be happy. You’re getting what you want.”

A frown crossed his face. “Not like this.”

Cleo pulled back, her mind fuzzy with lust, not sure she’d heard him right.

“You know what I really want.” Hunter pressed his hand against her chest, his thumb chasing across her hard nipple. “I want all of you. I want your heart. I want you to love me. And sure, I want this hot body, too. There isn’t a night that goes by when I don’t think about coming to your bed, stripping you naked, and tasting every inch of you.”

“So what’s the problem?”

“That’s not what this is about.” He stroked his fingers down the side of her face. “I want more from you. I want everything, not just a fast fuck up against the wall when you have a problem you can’t run away from.”

Why did he have to make this difficult? “I can’t give you that. It’s too complicated. You say you want me, I’m right here.”

Hunter shook his head. “Not like this. Not when you’re stressed and not thinking clearly. I don’t want to be something you’ll ever regret.”

“This isn’t something I’ll regret.” She stepped back and jammed her hands on her hips.

“I think you will. You’re about to face High Command, and you’re panicking. I won’t be a quick distraction so you don’t have to focus on what’s about to hit us.”

“I never panic.”

Hunter stepped closer and caught hold of her face in both hands. “Cleo, I know every inch of you. I know how you’re feeling better than you do most of the time. I see when you desire something. I know when you desire me, but you never say anything. You tuck away your feelings so you can help other people. How about helping yourself for once?”

“I thought that’s what I was doing.” She stroked a hand down his chest. “This will help me. Please, just let me be happy.”

A soft groan slid from his tempting mouth. “I want that for you. So bad. But this won’t make you happy. We’ll fuck, and then you’ll feel bad because you should have been filling in paperwork, or running through answers to possible questions from High Command. I don’t want to be your temporary high.”