even bigger and darker.
Gorgeous.
“Why don’t you ask her?” Sebastian invited.
Dex immediately put his hands on his hips and spun toward her. “Do you have any idea what you’re taking on with him? You’re prepared for the fact that he might have enemies who show up, gunning for him?”
Sebastian tensed.
She sighed. “You’re trying to scare me.”
Dex nodded. “Maybe you should be scared. Isaac found out the truth. Others could, too.”
“Yes. And if that happens…” Alyssa walked straight to Sebastian. Her eyes lit up as she approached him. “If that happens, we’ll deal with it. Together.”
Together. Yes, that was exactly where he wanted to be—with her.
“Life is full of risks,” Alyssa continued quietly. “If you let those risks stop you from living, then you’ll miss out on some pretty important things. The best things.”
Sebastian’s hand lifted and curled under her chin. “I will do everything I can to protect you.”
She gave him a slow smile. “And I will do the same for you. I kinda have a vested interest in watching that sexy ass of yours.”
He laughed. God, she made him feel good.
“You two…you’re trouble. Like, seriously, do you know how much trouble this is going to cause me?” Dex groused. “You have skills that I need Sebastian! It’s not like I can just replace you at the drop of a hat.”
Sebastian glanced Dex’s way. “You still have Antony.”
“For the moment.” He heaved out a frustrated breath. “But what’s he gonna do? Fall in love, decide he wants to give up the spy life, and then screw me over, too?”
Now Sebastian shook his head. “You know, it’s not always about you.”
Alyssa turned toward Dex. “It’s not.”
He frowned. “Are you sure?” Dex tapped his chin. “I thought it was.”
Sebastian almost smiled at the guy. Yes, Dex could be a pain in the ass but, deep down, Sebastian liked him.
Dex studied them both for a moment. Then he nodded. “I will do everything I can to erase you from the system. I have a lot of pull, so…pretty soon, you’ll be like a shadow there. It will make it a whole lot harder for your enemies to find you. Harder, but not impossible. Like I warned you before, quitting isn’t the way it works.”
But Sebastian understood what Dex was saying. Every precaution would be taken. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you. Thanks for your service. And good luck. I mean that.” His attention shifted to Alyssa. Sharpened on her. “He loves you more than anything. You get that, don’t you?”
She nodded. “I do now.”
“How do you feel about him? Because he’s not a prick. Or at least, not always, and he deserves someone who cares.”
Aw. Dex sounded like he cared. Now Sebastian did smile at him.
“Stop that shit,” Dex immediately snapped.
Sebastian laughed.
“Don’t worry,” Alyssa assured Dex. “I more than care.” She faced Sebastian. Gazed up at him. “I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I’m ready for risks. I’m ready for adventures. I’m ready for everything that will come our way.”
From the corner of his eye, Sebastian saw Dex slip away. The door clicked closed behind him. Sebastian waited a beat then gruffly asked, “You even ready for marriage? Maybe those kids you talked about?”
“I don’t know…are you asking?”
He would be asking. Very soon. He had plans. Hopes. Dreams—dreams that had started the day he’d first seen her.
“Say it again,” Sebastian urged her.
“Say…I don’t know?” Her dark eyes warmed with a teasing gleam. The gold flecks flared.
Sebastian shook his head.
“Oh, you mean the part where I said I love you?”
He pulled her even closer. “Yes.”
“I love you.”
He kissed her. Took her mouth with all the fierce hunger and need that roared through him. She kissed him back the same way. With need, wild desire, and…love.
He loved her so much. Dex had been right. There was no one in the world Sebastian loved more. For him, Alyssa was it.
“You know,” she whispered against his mouth, “there is a perfectly good desk about two feet away.”
“And there’s a perfectly good bed upstairs.” He kissed her again. He loved her mouth. Loved to nip her lower lip then sweep his tongue inside her mouth and taste all of that sweetness.
I just love her.
“How about we start here…” Alyssa sensually invited. “Then work our way up?”
Any plan she wanted was perfect for him.
But Alyssa pushed against his shoulders. “Give me just a second.”
I will give you forever.
She walked away from him. Went to the door. Turned the lock. Alyssa glanced back at him