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"He hates it," she said "And he really hates this case I’ the battered wo hate mail and phone calls over it"

"Have you seen any of the et plenty of my own It’s part of the job But that’s just it It’s ht for justice and that feels good I hope my ex stays with my father’s fir tons ofhe still works there?"

"My ex andpartners"

"I’d have kicked his ass and wiped the floor with him and then thrown his stuff out the door with him I can’t believe your father let hihtened "Not everyone has the kind of bond with their fa moment and then pushed the table away froainst the couch before pulling her legs over his lap Awareness rushed through her, and soht, like she’d never felt with another y," he confessed, his hands settling on her legs

"An apology?" She laughed "For eating ine what else you have to apologize about at this point in our short relationship"

"I judged you by a stereotype before I hter And now, more than ever, I not only kno unfair that was, I kno much it eats you alive"

"Thank you," she said, moved by his honesty "I appreciate thatfor your assuht you were an arrogant ladies’ , in your thirties, with two different women at two different functions I saw you at"

His chest expanded with an inhalation before he exhaled "I haven’t been ht when I joined the agency It was the wrong ti h on my job, and she wanted uy The deeper andon the wall You put bad guys behind bars, they becoo to the people you love"

"Well, I guess I’ve proven I’ a path up her spine "And I guess being alone is a s for the innocent"

"You’re not alone now," he said softly, brushing his fingers down her cheek, sending a tingle of electricity through her body "I’ to scare hed "Not even your father"

"We’ll see about that one"

"Yeah," he said "We will I’ anywhere unless you make me" He turned to his side to face her "I know I said this before, but I’ain I’m not here because of the threats If they didn’t exist, I’d still be here, if you’d have me I’ about you I can’t escape, and I don’t even want to try"

The rain pelted against the s, the fire crackled in the fireplace Electricity sparked in the air, intilad you’re here, and not because of the threats" She hesitated "Okay, lad you’re here because of the threats I’m rattled, Royce I don’t knohy; it’s not like me, but I am And I wouldn’t tell anyone else that, but I a everyone else’s knowledge"

"You knohat I think?" he asked, lowering his head slowly, his breath war her with the pro else to think about" His lips touched hers, a soft caress that traveled her nerve endings Her niles tightened, and heat pooled low in her belly

Nerves fluttered in her stoue, his hands, his touch, drew her deeper into the fog of desire She lost herself in thethe feel on hiue swept against hers He deepened the contact and she wrapped her ar her with heat,her closer She could feel the desire expand between them, consume them, and leave her with only him

Chapter Ten

Royce pulled Lauren into his lap to straddle hie of his erection He wanted this wo time Wanted in a way like he’d never wanted Her hair was soft on his face, and that da him wild So much of what she had told hi on her explained the insecurity he’d seen in her, the fear of inti love to her with his tongue, and vowing to be the man who showed her just how sexy she truly was