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"That was the only safe way"

Nothing safe about it "You expect e you on that?" Determined to be honest, too, he put his hands on her shoulders "I’ve done the sao after her rejection

"Most think it’s okay for a guy to--"

"But not for a wo the scent of her skin "Would I be that sexist?"

"Yes"

He hugged her tight "Okay, I admit it But could we call it protective instinct?" Another kiss, this one just behind her ear "It worries me to think of you with some nameless assle that may or may not be respectful of you as a woman"

Drolly, she said, "Yes, well, I wasn’t exactly after respect"

Shit, she kne to turn him inside out "Respect comes in all shapes and sizes, honey, and you know it It includes caring about boundaries, about desires and deames myself, but only when I know the woman I’m ill enjoy it, too That’s respect" With his chin on top of her head, Dash emphasized the differences in their sizes "Without that respect, you could end up seriously hurt"

"I can take care of myself"

He continued to hold her, his long arently because of her splint "You have more ability, definitely better aim when it comes to a shoot-out, than"But one-on-one, th alone would overpower you--if I was ever intent on har you"

Defiant, she whispered, "Don’t you see, Dash? That’s part of the thrill"

Never had he had a conversation like this He loved sex He loved the antics of fehed and driven him crazy in bed Some were kinky, some traditional All of theht their own inclinations, or suffer shaile wo physically weaker"

"Yes"

"You liked having your weaknesses exposed Being just a woman with a man, not a superior, not a boss" He turned her to him "But that was before you knew me"

She waited

"Before you let me in" He didn’t want her to deny him

"Yes Before that"

He hadn’t even had her yet, but he wanted things to be exclusive "Here on, for as long as it lasts, anything you want, anything you need, you get it fro?"

"That I don’t want you with anyone else"

For the longest ti his audacity Then her chin went up "That goes both ways"

Hell, he hadn’t wanted another wo her He’d only played the field in an attempt to cleanse her fro she was in his head, in his heart, for good

"No probleaze She touched his chest, trailed her fingertips down to the waistband of his jeans "All right then" Stepping closer, she stretched up to kiss his chin "Gao--but she still had a workday to get through

Dash kissed her, a sweet kiss that felt aaiven the circu to be ined

Hard to believe she’d once discounted hient need to experience hireed

"Until then, what’s next on the agenda?"

"I’ain, at least a couple an will do the sa, or that a puzzle piece ht fall into place You just never know"

Adreed "I had no idea how heinous your workload could be"

Might as well be honest with hily far too often Children row a thick skin to do this job" Only her skin would never be thick enough to keep the brutality froht her job home with her

Far too often, she tried to drive it aith strangers in seedy motel rooms

But for now at least, that was over Who needed a hotel room when she had Dash in her hohtwhat exactly are we doing?"

"I was thinking I’d run towith a few other necessities while you do your thing Maybe ivethe video she had some phone calls to answer, some emails to catch up on

"Whatever works for you" Dash toyed with one of the short curls at the nape of her neck "Then we can head hoether She liked the sound of that more than she should have "Okay"

Both hands framed her face "Even tomorrow, after you see the doctor, I’d like to stay with you"

Her pulse tripped "Dash"