work loose. “I will do anything to keep you safe.” His gaze was dark as it held hers. “Even from yourself.”
“Is that really how you want it to be?” He was setting up parameters she couldn’t have even considered until a day ago.
Until she realized they weren’t so different.
Until she realized he was as human as everyone else.
Just a man.
A man that might still be above almost all others, but a man no less.
“That is how it has to be.” Even with his suit undone and his hair unkempt Pierce still carried an air of power.
Of control.
But this was war. A war he started. One built on misconceptions. Both hers.
And his.
“So you’re just going to leave me here all day?” Mona swept her eyes around the room. “Alone.”
“I would hope you’re not considering burning the building down.”
She was not, actually. “Is that something you think I would do?”
“At this point I believe you could be capable of anything.”
Why did that make her warm inside?
“I guess you’ll find out.” They both would, because right now she wasn’t sure how exactly she was going to handle this.
“I think we both know this is temporary at best.” Pierce tugged at the lapels of his jacket. “It’s only a matter of time before your army comes to set you free.”
Her eyes dipped to his hands as they worked the waistband of his pants back together, fingers gracefully restoring the polish he worked so hard to present. “Then what?”
“Then I suppose I will have to come up with something else.” Pierce tucked one hand into the pocket of his pants. “He will kill you, Mona. Don’t doubt that for a minute.”
She shook her head. “It won’t happen.”
Pierce came toward her. “Why can you not understand the very real danger this man presents?”
“I do understand he’s a danger.” She watched Pierce’s eyes, unable to look away from them, from all they told her. “Which is why I want to do this. I can’t let him ruin Alaskan Security.” Mona swallowed down the tinge of fear trying to clog her last words. “Ruin you.”
Pierce froze.
Maybe that was too much. Maybe she should have held that bit back. Kept it close for a while longer.
“There’s only one person in this world that could ruin me, Love.” Pierce stepped in close enough his front almost touched hers. “And that’s you.”
And then he had her again. Arms pinning her body to his, mouth hot on hers.
It was as if a part of him came unleashed, springing free from the restraints he used to bind it.
And the first thing it wanted was her.
Mona wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on as Pierce walked her across the room and down the short hall.
“You ruined my bed.” He pushed her into his room, backing her toward the center where his bed was stripped, the sheets and blankets piled on the floor. All that covered the mattress was a fitted sheet and a single blanket. “All I could smell on it was you.”
“You shouldn’t have made me sleep in it.” It was almost impossible to keep her spine with him under normal circumstances, but now that he was here, the Pierce she wanted, it took everything she had.
But it was the only way to keep him here. The only way to keep him from remembering he was supposed to be something else.
Someone else.
“I will do it again.” He took her down, arms holding her as they dropped to the mattress. “Only this time I intend to be right beside you.” His lips skimmed down her neck. “Under you.” His teeth caught the lobe of her ear. “Over you.” The tip of his tongue flicked across her skin. “Inside you.”
Sweet mother of God.
Her thighs clenched at the thought, pressing at the ache between them.
“What’s wrong, Love?” His tone carried a smile. “Is it something I can help you with?”
“Now you want to help me?” She gasped as he gripped her tight, dragging them both over the smooth sheet. “Because it seems like that’s the opposite of what you’ve been trying to do.”
“Keeping you alive isn’t being helpful?” His lips locked onto the spot just under her ear as one hand gripped her leg behind the knee, pulling it away from the other, stealing the friction that was keeping her sane.
“Keeping me alive at the cost of everyone else isn’t helpful.”
“I disagree.” Pierce’s hips wedged between her thighs. “I think keeping you alive at any cost is helpful.” He pushed against her, dragging the length