When He Defends (Protector And Defender Romance Book 4), page 10
“Nathaniel is a fucking ass, by the way,” Gray informed her. “Insufferable. Arrogant. And his voice is nasally as hell.”
“Agreed,” she whispered back. His mouth was inches from hers. Inches.
“What did you ever see in him?”
“I thought he could understand me.”
“Yeah, he can’t. Knew it as soon as he said that emotionally fragile bullshit.”
She blinked.
“Your body is delicate. Your mind and your heart aren’t.”
Her heart drummed.
“And even with a build one hell of a lot smaller than my own, you still do a damn good job of tossing me onto my ass so maybe I need to take it back and say your body isn’t even that delicate. Hell, you’re steel. Through and through. Better?”
She smiled at him.
He growled.
She’d never found growls sexy. Until Gray. Every time he growled, she sort of quivered.
The faint lines near his mouth deepened. “If we’re gonna play lovers, you have to get used to my touch.”
That would prove difficult. “Pretty sure I’ll never get quite used to it. Every time you touch me, fire races beneath my skin.”
His eyes widened. “Emerson.”
“How does it feel when I touch you?” She was truly curious.
“Like I’m coming to life.”
That had—that had almost been poetic—
“Fuck it.”
Okay, not so poetic.
But she didn’t care because his mouth was taking hers. He’d hauled her closer against him, and his lips took hers, and this was what she’d wanted. He was what she wanted. He was kissing her hotly. His mouth wildly passionate against her own.
Could they fake being lovers? Could she handle the undercover assignment? Absolutely. Because kissing him and touching him…easy.
Her mouth opened wider. His hands curled around her hips. The need flared brighter and harder inside of her. She wanted to yank open that perfectly pressed shirt of his. To run her hands over his chest. She wanted to let herself go and not care about the consequences.
Nathaniel—no, he’d never really understood her.
But she had the feeling that Gray did.
“Gray…” She pulled her mouth from his. “Gray, I—”
Her doorbell rang.
Emerson blinked.
His gaze swirled. Gold and brown. Darkness swallowing the light. The ringing doorbell seemed to echo around them. Neither of them moved.
The doorbell rang again.
Gray slowly pulled away. “You expecting someone?”
No, not at all, she was not. Hadn’t they already established that she didn’t have visitors? Gray had been dead-on target with that analysis. She never invited friends over. Mostly because she didn’t have a great deal of friends.
“This late?” Gray asked. An edge entered his voice. “Got a…friend you need to tell me about?”
She turned away from him. Grabbed her phone from the bag she’d tossed aside after entering her condo. “If that’s your way of asking if I’m dating someone, the answer is no. You’re the only man I’m interested in fucking.” Her fingers swiped over the phone’s screen. “For the record.”
“Good.” He peered over her shoulder as she used her app to see who was ringing her doorbell. And when they saw—
“Bastard,” Gray snapped.
Yes, indeed. Her visitor was a bastard.
Before she could even put her phone down, Gray was stomping for the door.
“Uh, Gray!” Emerson called after him.
“It’s almost eleven o’clock at night,” he tossed over his shoulder. “He doesn’t get to be at your place, at this hour. Dipshit.”
Dipshit?
The doorbell rang again. Gray hauled open the door.
The man who’d been ringing the bell—three times—blinked owlishly. Emerson caught a quick glimpse of him and his stunned face because, apparently, he had not been expecting Gray to answer her door.
“Uh, ah, Agent Stone,” Nathaniel Hadaway began. “What are you—”
“What in the hell are you doing at my partner’s door at eleven o’clock at night?” Gray barreled over Nathaniel’s words.
“I-I—”
Nathaniel wasn’t usually the type to stutter or flounder at all. Normally, he was overly pompous and in full know-it-all mode. But Gray’s voice had a lethal edge, and she could practically see the fury pouring off him. That fury seemed to have terrified Nathaniel.
“Emerson is not for you,” Gray blasted. “Your dumbass lost that chance long ago. I told you before, stay the hell away from her and get out of my town.”
“But—” Nathaniel rose onto his toes. Even on his toes, he was still inches shorter than Gray. Nathaniel strained to see her. “Emerson, I just want to talk! For old times’ sake, just give me a moment. Tell your—your partner here to let me in!”
Um, how about no? Emerson tapped on Gray’s very broad shoulder. He turned his head to look at her.
“Please,” Gray said, voice softening just a fraction as he stared at down her, “let me kick his ass out of the building. It would bring me such joy, and don’t you want me to be happy?”
“Emerson!” Nathaniel’s near shout. A nasally shout.
She peered over at him. Then back at Gray. The two men could not have been more different. Nathaniel with his polo and khakis, his slightly rounded chin and slicked back hair. Slender, at least four inches shorter than Gray even when Nathaniel was on his toes.
Weak.
And Gray…practically vibrating with energy. Rage? Handsome face tense, body strong. Muscles ready to attack. Dressed in his expensive pants and shirt but poised to strike at any moment. Because while he might dress the part of the gentleman, the truth was that Gray held a savagery barely in check, and it was a savagery that had called to her from the first moment they’d met.
No, it was Gray himself who called to her.
“Dammit, Emerson! This isn’t personal,” Nathaniel suddenly snapped. “It’s a matter of life or death. So cut the dramatics, get your new partner under control, and let me in.”
Chapter Eight
“What do I think of Emerson’s ex? I think the guy is a freaking idiot. With a very punchable face. Some people have those, you know. Genetic quirk.”
– Gray Stone
His hands had fisted at his sides. It would be so easy to deliver a quick and brutal upper cut to Nathaniel Hadaway’s weak jaw. Super simple. One punch, and bam, done. He would get so much joy out of the act.
This prick fucked my Emerson? Gray’s fist lifted.
Emerson grabbed tightly to his arm. “He said life or death.”
Gray locked his jaw. Pretty sure the jerk will say anything to get in your pants again, baby. Only, that shit was not happening. The moron would be getting nowhere near Emerson. Or her pants.
“Let’s hear him out. It will take like, two minutes, tops.” Her head turned toward Nathaniel. “Did you hear that? Two minutes.” Icy words. “That’s all you’re getting from me. Because that’s pretty much all you ever gave to me.”
Whoa. Whoa…
Had that been Emerson making a sexual dig?
Nathaniel flushed, and Gray could not help but snort. Two minutes? That’s what this idiot had given Emerson? Oh, Gray would totally rock her world.
I’ll make sure she comes so hard that she forgets this dumbass creep. He would make her come in two minutes. But that would be the start. The start of one seriously long, hot night.
“We don’t need to get personal, Emerson.” Nathaniel sniffed. “It’s not my fault that you have emotional barriers that leave you unable to respond to a lover.”
First, Gray laughed. Hard. Because he was pretty sure he’d never been with anyone as responsive as Emerson, and he hadn’t even had her yet. Just kissed her. Touched her. But he’d felt the hunger in her body. She’d kissed him with a frantic passion. Her moans had made him crazy. Her nails had bitten into his shirt, and her body had twisted and pressed eagerly against his, promising him the hottest paradise of his life.
So, to say she couldn’t respond…bullshit.
Except, he realized Emerson had stiffened. He immediately turned fully toward her. She’d paled. Her gaze had dropped down. Her chin dipped low and—nope. Not happening.
Did she think he’d been laughing at her?
Never.
His fingers curled under her chin. He lifted it up, slowly, deliberately, and when her incredible blue eyes were on his—eyes that held the hint of tears—he smiled at her. “He’s completely clueless, isn’t he?”
Her lips parted.
He almost kissed her again.
“I can have you coming in two minutes.” He considered the matter. “Actually, probably in one. Shall we find out? Want to make a bet with me on it?”
Color came rushing back to her cheeks. She blinked quickly, and the tears vanished.
“You’re fucking each other?” Nathaniel’s nasally voice was getting on Gray’s last nerve. “Well, that makes sense, I suppose. There is no other way that Emerson would have gotten the job. I mean, even with her mother’s clout, you would not have agreed to work with her unless you were getting something from the deal. I’d heard that you told the senator to go to hell at her first overture, but then you changed your mind and now this makes more sense to me. So much more sense. Fucking someone to advance up the ladder, eh, Emerson? I would have thought that was beneath you.”
“Usually I’m beneath her,” Gray drawled. “Or she’s beneath me.”
“Gray!” Emerson shook her head. Hard.
Fine. He’d play nicely. No, wait, he wouldn’t. The bastard at the door was her ex. And he’d just insulted her. “You were wasted on him,” he told her, very definitely, then he reached out, fisted his hand in Nathaniel’s pale green polo, and yanked the idiot inside. “Two minutes. Talk fast, then get the hell out. Emerson and I have better things to do than just piss away time with you.”
Emerson hurried back a few steps, as if she didn’t want to be too close to Nathaniel. Gray noted the move. Wondered a bit about it. He shut the door and watched his prey.
Nathaniel smoothed back his hair. His fingers trembled a bit as he glanced toward Gray.
“Agent Stone and I are not f-fucking,” Emerson began.
Oh, fine, so she was going to give the guy the truth, was she?
“Yet,” Emerson added. Then she nodded.
Gray blinked.
“But if we do, that’s none of your concern. And if we fuck, it has nothing to do with me advancing up any ladder.”
“Yeah,” Gray agreed. He cut a disgusted glance at Nathaniel. “It just has to do with us wanting to rip each other’s clothes off in a haze of passion. That happens to some people.” He had to force his jaw to unclench. “Insult her again, and I can guarantee, it will be the worst mistake you ever make.” He’d given the guy fair warning. What happened next would be on Nathaniel. Gray’s gaze slid back to Emerson.
Her arms crossed over her chest. “What is the big life-or-death issue? Why are you here?”
Nathaniel’s stare shot around her condo. Then his eyes darted to Gray. “I need to speak with Emerson alone.”
Was the guy serious?
Precious seconds ticked past as Nathaniel just looked at Gray.
Finally, Gray laughed again. He couldn’t help it. Nathaniel was being a bit unintentionally hilarious to him. “Dude, your two minutes are ticking past.” He stepped forward.
Nathaniel backed up.
“You don’t get to insult Emerson one moment and then ask to talk to her alone in the next instant. No way I’m leaving you on your own with her. Not happening.” And if you insult her again, my fist is flying. I did warn you.
“She started it,” Nathaniel was quick to point out as he sounded like an absolute two-year-old instead of a licensed psychiatrist.
“Nathaniel.” Brisk. Emerson did not move from her spot. “If you have something important to say, do it.”
“Fine.” He whirled toward her. Advanced fast in her direction.
Gray tensed.
“You need me,” Nathaniel passionately told Emerson.
Uh, the hell she did.
“Bring me on as an associate in your field work exercise at the FBI,” Nathaniel urged her. “You know that I understand criminals better than you do. I’ve worked in numerous prisons, I’ve interviewed serial killers, I’ve published two books on their psychopathy, and I have the option to write a third on the process of actually tracking down an active killer.”
Oh. Gray got it. He nodded. “You have a book deal on the table. Only you need a plot for said book. That’s why you were at my door earlier, trying to get me to ditch Emerson and replace her with you. That effort didn’t work out like you’d hoped, so you came here to beg and get her to bring you onto the team.”
Nathaniel’s spine stiffened. “I do not beg.”
“Whatever. It’s not working. Emerson doesn’t have the authority to bring you on. Only I do. So fuck off. It’s not happening. Pretty sure I told you that earlier.” He looked at his watch. “Longest two minutes of my life,” he muttered. “Even longer than the time when a serial killer jabbed an ice pick into my arm and started twisting it.”
Emerson gasped.
Nathaniel actually took a quick, almost eager step toward him. “That happened?” Interest lit his pale green gaze. The color of his eyes almost matched the sickly color of his shirt. “Can you tell me about it? How did it feel? What were your thoughts when the ice pick first went into your arm?”
Was the creep serious? It sure looked like he was. “Can I tell you about it? Just did. How did it feel? Like an ice pick was being shoved in my arm. What were my thoughts?” Gray tilted his head to the side. “That the killer would have to work one hell of a lot harder because I was not easy prey, and the second I was free, he would be a dead man. And I would be sure to make his death hurt.”
Silence.
Nathaniel swallowed. “Fascinating.” But he looked a little squeamish. One hand fanned toward his face.
Gray rolled his eyes. “Not really fascinating. Just facts. But story time is over. The door is waiting. Next time, don’t lie to get your way back in Emerson’s life.” You actually won’t be getting back in her life at all. He advanced and clamped a hand around Nathaniel’s shoulder. “Do I need to walk you the seven steps back to the door?”
“But I can help! I’m better than Emerson when it comes to killers! I can figure them out!” He locked his legs. “Tell me about the new case you’re working.”
Unease slid through Gray. “Who said I had a new case?”
“I—” Nathaniel backed away. “I have my sources. And I know that something big is happening for your team.”
Gray smiled at him. “You can’t help on this particular case. I’m afraid that Emerson is irreplaceable to me.”
“I can do anything she can!”
“Doubtful. Don’t think people are really gonna buy you as my blushing bride.”
Nathaniel’s eyes got very big. Then very small. “What?”
“Oh, didn’t I tell you the good news? Sorry, probably didn’t have time with you busting in and being all life-or-death dramatic. Emerson is going to be my wife. And it’s time for you to get the hell out.”
“She’s not really your wife. It’s a cover.” Nathaniel talked fast.
“No shit, Sherlock.” Gray followed on the guy’s heels. He’d decided the prick needed a personal escort out of the building. He’d also wanted a word alone with Emerson’s ex. Who the fuck told you about the new case? He’d just ordered the team in for the 0600 briefing not even forty minutes ago.
“Emerson has never done undercover work.”
They were heading down the stairwell. Their steps seemed to echo around them.
“I’m aware.” The top of Nathaniel’s head showed his thinning hair. That would explain why he kept his hair slicked back.
“She will crumble under pressure,” Nathaniel warned ominously.
“She will not.” But you will crumble beneath my fist.
They reached the landing.
“Emerson should be in the halls of academia.” Nathaniel reached for the door handle. “She won’t be able to maintain a false persona for long. She’s no chameleon. Social situations have always been awkward for her. That’s why she has few lasting relationships. Only surface friendships. It’s why she watches instead of speaks first.” He hurried outside.
Gray followed, his steps slower.
And Nathaniel kept right on talking. “She’s constantly trying to understand criminals because she thinks there is something wrong with her, deep down, and if she can unravel their deviant behavior, then Emerson believes she can understand herself.”
Enough. “Hey, asshole.”
Nathaniel spun around.
“I don’t need you to tell me anything about Emerson. I understand her perfectly. And, honestly, dude, say less. Because you know jack shit.”
Nathaniel glowered. A nearby light fell clearly on his angry features. “I think I know her intimately.”
“Two minutes? Nah. Not really. You don’t. You barely know her at all after two minutes.”
Nathaniel sucked in a breath. “It’s not my fault that she’s frigid.”
Gray’s hands fisted at his sides. “Weird. To be frigid, she sure burns me alive every time I touch her.”
Nathaniel lunged forward but seemed to catch himself at the last moment. Maybe because he realized Gray could—and would—lay him out in an instant.
“Are we going to have a problem, Agent Stone?” Nathaniel asked. “Because I thought we could both be professional.”
“Fuck professional. And, yeah, we are going to have a problem. We do have one, actually.” Then, because he was pretty sure he knew just where Nathaniel had gotten his inside information, Gray fired, “Senator Marlowe.”
Nathaniel’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “What about her?”
“She likes controlling Emerson’s life. She’s also a major donor at the university where you work.”
“It’s…her alma mater.”
