sorry.”
Her arm tucked into his, she burrowed closer, the hair of her wig whispering over his cheek and he missed the blonde that was so vibrant and alive. “Let’s get back to the hotel before anyone sees us.”
They walked quickly back to the hotel, going in through the side and avoiding the photographers camped at the front. The four of them took the lift up to the fifth floor and exited.
“I’m sorry, Astrid. I thought this guy would come through.”
Astrid let him go and moved to Bebe, gripping her upper arms. “This isn’t on you, and I love you for helping me.” The two women hugged, and he waited as Reid went back towards the room they were using as a base, to no doubt update the rest of the team.
“I need to find out what happened to him. He didn’t deserve to die for helping us, plus I need to figure out how he was made.”
“My men will help you with that, and reach out to Will. He can help you.”
Bebe looked at him and nodded. “Thank you.”
“But for God’s sake, update your boss first. I don’t want her breathing down my neck accusing me of trying to steal her team members again.”
“Yes, I will.”
“I should probably check in too.”
Astrid wouldn’t meet his eyes now. It was as if she finally realised there’d be repercussions for her actions, but he had no intention of causing a scene. The Royal Suite was four rooms away from where they were, and Blake and Dane stood outside the door watching them quietly.
“That can wait. We need to talk.” He gripped her upper arm and steered her towards the room he was using, pushing her inside before closing and locking the door. With a deep breath, he turned to find her standing in the middle of the room, her back to the bed, her foot-tapping, her arms crossed.
“You can’t push me around, Jack. I’m not scared of you.”
“Oh, you should be, but not because I would ever lay a finger on you in anger, firefly, but because by the time I next leave this room, you’ll be so exhausted from the pleasure I give you that standing long enough to get into more trouble won’t be an issue.”
Chapter Sixteen
Astrid faced down an angry Jack knowing there would be blowback for keeping things from him but never in her wildest dreams had she expected the words that came out of his mouth. Her breath hitched and her heart began to pound as desire and need so strong it felt like a physical touch hit her, almost buckling her legs. But they never got a chance because the second the words left his lips he was prowling towards her, and she found herself retreating until the backs of her knees hit the bed and he was on her.
His big, solid body took her down to the bed, one hand cupping the curve of her ass, the other shoving the wig from her head as if it offended him. His fingers flexed on her scalp as he gripped her, his lips slammed into hers, hard and angry and desperate. She got a taste of the man she knew was underneath the veneer.
A moan pushed past her lips as she held on to his hips which he pressed against hers, the evidence of his desire hard and unrelenting like the man himself. His mouth moved to her ear, and she arched her neck, wanting his hands on her everywhere. His fingers dug into her ass cheek before smoothing up her belly and over her collar bone to her throat.
He wrapped a hand lightly around her neck, his thumb rubbing over her pulse, which was wild, starving for his touch. “You scared me, firefly. I don’t scare easy, but the thought of you out on the street with no back up fucking undid me.”
“Jack.”
“No, you had your chance to speak, and you didn’t take it. You kept things from me, and I won’t tolerate it. I can’t do this if you hide and lie. I just don’t have it in me, Astrid.”
Guilt was warring with desire now, making her regret the burden she’d added to his shoulders and the already heavy load he carried. He was responsible for everyone and was being betrayed by people who should love and protect him, and she’d added to that for her own selfish reasons.
His eyes met hers, and she saw the storm, the demons he fought and the hunger for her