Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
“Isn’t going to bother you again tonight. I’m making sure of it.”
“By standing here and…”
“Protecting you. He’s not getting past me. I promise.”
Matt meant that. She saw the resolve on his face, and his watchful streak did wicked things to her heart. He had talked her through an explosive climax mere hours ago, and she wanted him desperately again, so badly that her lips tingled and her sex ached. God, this man made her fall deeper in love with him every day.
“Go back to bed,” Matt growled as he gripped the doorframe, his eyes darkening. “Now.”
He wanted her, too. And his restraint was running thin.
Reluctantly, Madison nodded. Shutting the door between them felt a hundred kinds of wrong, but she did, returning to bed despite the fact she didn’t feel sleepy. But she dozed again, secure in the fact Matt would keep her safe.
When she finally opened her eyes, half the morning was gone. Quickly, she tossed herself together, then rushed from her room, only to find Matt’s bedroom door across the hall shut. She stifled her disappointment and fought not to press herself against his door like a lovesick teenager. Or to barge into his personal space, removing her clothes along the way, like an over-eager lover.
Her one consolation? Her husband’s door was closed, too. She could steal a bit more peace before Typhoon Todd tried to destroy her day.
Madison let out a deep breath and headed down the hall. The closer she got to the living space, the louder the low-level chatter from the TV sounded.
When she rounded the corner, she found Ethan pouring himself a cup of coffee. He looked too put together not to have showered already. Dressed in a tight black T-shirt, he showed off his tatted sleeves and large, veined hands. His ripped jeans fit like they were made for him, but seemed at odds with his big, bare feet. He also didn’t look even slightly intimidated by the luxury trappings of Todd’s apartment.
“Morning, sweet pea.” He grinned. “Or should I say Sleeping Beauty?”
Madison tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear self-consciously. She’d brushed it…but hadn’t made any other effort beyond throwing a little cotton robe over her pajamas. Next to Ethan, she felt underdressed. And though she’d lived in this apartment for more than two years, it no longer felt like home. “Morning. It is really almost nine thirty?”
“It really is.” And he obviously thought that was funny.
“What time did you get up?”
“Four.”
She blinked at him. “In the morning? On purpose?”
“Yep. I hit the gym downstairs and grabbed a shower, then relieved Matt of duty at five.”
“He’s asleep now,” she said inanely.
“I sure hope so. He’d been up over twenty-four hours. He looked like dog shit when I passed him in the hall.”
Madison winced, feeling guilty as hell. Even if Todd was paying Matt double his usual rate, how could that possibly make up for the odd hours, the abuse from her husband, the months away from home, and the disruption to his life?
And he was enduring all that for her.
“I’m so much hotter.” Ethan grinned. “You sleep okay?”
“Not my best, but I’ll live. You?”
“Not much of a sleeper. So what’s on your agenda today? Your calendar is my calendar—at least until five p.m. Then you’re Matt’s problem again. Unless you just want to say fuck everything and spend the day in bed with me?” He winked.
Despite how much she hated being back in DC, Ethan made her giggle. “You’re only twenty-one.”
“I’m almost twenty-two.”
“You’re a baby.”
“A baby?” he parroted, mouth gaping. “Listen, sweet pea, I’ve got game. And a whole lot of moves.”
She raised a brow. “Do you? By your own admission, you lost your ex-girlfriend to your father.”
“Hey, Havana and I dated when we were in high school. By the time she and my dad got together shortly after graduation, she was already my ex. And she’s with Dad, not me, because they’re perfect together, age-gap BS aside.”
“Still, how is that not weird?”
“We were never serious. We were more friends than anything. Besides, there’s something to be said for having the hottest stepmom around.” Then Ethan winced. “Except my dad seems determined to keep her pregnant. I have a two-year old brother, and she’s about to pop out another boy. Dad is already talking about a third. Havana just wants a girl. And to finish vet school.”
“Well, that charming story aside, you’re still too young. I’m not a cougar.”
“But I’ll bet you’re an animal in the sack.”
Madison laughed again. “No comment. Where did you come from before you hired on at EM Security?”
“I grew up with this business. My dad and my uncles are all former military intelligence, CIA, that kind of shit. They own a similar firm, based out of Dallas.”
“Really? I heard your dad was a mafia assassin.”
“Undercover for a couple of years in Vegas, along with my Uncle Ridge. When I got old enough, they asked me to join their team, but I wanted to do my own thing, you know? I became a Marine. During my years in the service, I attended sniper school. All those guys talk about One-Mile Walker like he’s God. So when I had a chance to meet him at an intensive, we started talking. Turned out that my hitch was up about the same time EM Security needed a new guy.” He shrugged. “Here I am.”