His hands come down on my arms, his lashes lowering, expression tightening before he opens his eyes and fixes me in a tormented stare. “‘I won’t let you,” he promises, his voice roughened by emotions, raw torment radiating off this brilliant, talented, good man because of me.
“Grayson—”
I never finish that sentence. He picks me up, throws me over his shoulder, and starts walking.
CHAPTER FOUR
Mia
Once we’re in the bedroom, Grayson sets me down at the foot of the bed, and his hand slides under my hair, his palm hot on my neck. “Next time you run,” he promises, his voice vibrating with emotion, “I swear to God, woman, you won’t run fast enough. Next time, I will catch you and I will bring you home and tie you to our bed.” His hand sweeps down my spine and my sex clenches, nipples puckering, this game of dominance he plays one I know well. It’s about control, about those times in his life when the pressure of being Grayson Bennett pushes his buttons. In this case, when I’ve pushed his buttons.
“Then what would you do to me?” I challenge, sounding breathless, feeling breathless. “Because if you’re going to tie me up, you can’t just leave me there unattended.”
His lips curve, his beautiful lips that can be both gentle and oh so punishing. “We both know I wouldn’t leave you there.” Oh yes, we do, I think, my only thought before his lips come down on my lips, a dark demand in the slide of his tongue that follows. I know this side of Grayson, and I know right now is not all that, unlike earlier this morning. This is all about burning fast, wicked, hot demand. He owns me right now, and I don’t fight that need in him. I think—I think it’s what I need, too.
He proceeds to strip us both naked, turn me over, and slide a finger along my sex, testing my readiness before he gives my backside a smack. I arch into the touch, and he drives into me. He fucks me then—rough, dirty, and an edge of urgency in every thrust of his hips that ends with us on our backs, staring at the ceiling, panting out breaths. At the same moment, we turn to face each other and my fingers curl on his jaw. “You’re still angry.”
“Not at you, baby.” He kisses me, then pushes off the bed, bringing me a towel, and then grabs his pants, clearly avoiding this conversation.
I sit up, but I make no attempt to dress. My clothes are the least of my worries right now. I scoot to the edge of the bed and study him, only slightly distracted by his perfect abs. “Grayson,” I say softly. He pulls his T-shirt over his head, his green eyes meeting mine for a piercing second before he answers my unspoken question.
“I’m fine, Mia.” He sits down next to me and pulls on his boots.
“‘Fine’ is a word women define as ‘not fine.’ You know that, right?”
He stands and takes me with him.
“I’m fine,” he repeats. “I promise. It’s you that I’m worried about.”
“I’m fine.”
“So fine is okay if it’s you, but not if it’s me?”
“I really am fine.”
“And it’s my job as your future husband to make sure you stay that way. Get dressed. I want to take you to eat and make another little stop before we head to the airport.”
“I thought Walker was sending men to pick us up?”
“We’ll meet them at the airport.” He cups my face and then gives my naked body a once over. “You’re beautiful.” He kisses me. “Now get dressed. I need to make a phone call.” He heads to the doorway and just when he would disappear, I call out.
“Wait.”
He turns and glances back at me.
“Do you know why I’m really fine right now?”
“Why?”
“Because I woke up with you. Because I’m marrying you. And because today, we’ve had two chances to get pregnant with our first child.”
His expression softens instantly, and he’s back across the room, enclosing me in his arms, molding me close. And even better, he’s smiling. “You know why I’m fine?”
“Why?”
“Because you’re going to be my wife and the mother of my children. And because the very fact that you might be pregnant is a good reason to rush the wedding. Now, get dressed.”
He turns and walks away, but not before casting me another look and a smile. I’ve made him smile again. I’ve made him happy again. At least for now.
CHAPTER FIVE
Grayson
I step into the kitchen, pour the last cup of coffee, and once it’s doctored to my liking, I dial Blake. “Grayson, my man,” he answers on the first ring. “How’s Mia?”
This is what I like about this man. He cares. And he knows what I care about. “She says she’s fine.”
“Fine,” he says dryly. “Fine from a woman makes me say, ‘oh fuck.’”
Another reason I like this man. He couldn’t give a fuck that I employ him and that I have loads of cash. He does him.
“Exactly,” I agree, running a hand through my hair. “I’m worried that I’m taking her back to the city too soon, but right now, that’s what she wants. That’s where she wants to be. Home is calling her.”
“She was away from home for a long time. I say let her go home. You’re one chopper ride from getting out of the city. I’ve seen a lot of these situations, the trauma effect, and sometimes routine and stability is the best thing for the person.”
“And when does the storm hit?”
“It doesn’t always happen. She’s back with you. She feels stable. But that counselor I told you about is excellent. She’ll come to Mia. And you. How are you holding up, man?”
“You tell me. How important is this meeting today? Where are we on ending this?”
“I just wanted to debrief you and talk through the press situation for the week.”
“We held a press conference,” I remind him.
“Which did nothing to shift their interest. They’re all over, looking for you.”
“Wonderful.”
“I can just drop by later tonight if you want, bring the wifey and shit, and make it more informal.”
“That works. What’s happening with the investigation?”
“The Feds are involved and since I have connections, I’m getting constant updates.”
Alarm bells go off in my head. “Updates on what Blake?”
“Ri is gone, but the degree to which he tried to infiltrate your company and use it for criminal activity is what matters here. Right now, we’re trying to pin down every person involved. And you want us to do that. Anyone helping Ri burn you might be willing to burn you for their own gain. And I want you to talk to that attorney I told you about, Reese Summer. You just did a big deal with his brothers-in-law, Reid and Gabe.”
“Right. I know who he is. I haven’t met him, but I know his reputation as talented and honest. But why would I hire him, Blake? I own a law firm. A very large international law firm.”
“You need a criminal attorney to deal with the Feds, and someone impartial.”
“I need someone loyal,” I counter, getting the idea he’s not telling me everything. “And I have plenty of criminal lawyers on staff. Where are you going with this?”