The One Who Got Away (Wilde Ways #12) - Cynthia Eden Page 0,36

He was going after you. Everything seemed to move in slow motion for me. I couldn’t get to you fast enough. My body was shaking, and I swear, I have never been that terrified before in my entire life.”

What was she saying? “Ella?”

“I knew right then that I was taking your case. There was no way that I was going to leave you on your own.” Her hands pressed to his chest. “We have issues.”

“Doesn’t everyone?” Her touch burned through him.

“You’re a dirty liar.”

“Okay, um, dirty? I was—”

“Never lie to me again. Never.”

He wanted to promise her that he wouldn’t. But lives were on the line. People she didn’t even know existed. It wasn’t just about him. “Whenever possible, I will always give you the truth.”

“That’s not exactly the whole-hearted agreement I was hoping to hear.”

“It’s all I can give right now. There are people who count on me. I can’t betray them. Their secrets aren’t mine to share.”

She absorbed that. Gave a slight incline of her head. “Then let’s start with the basics, hmm? Let’s focus on what’s happening right now.”

Right now, she was close to him. Touching him. His body ached for her, and he was getting drunk on her scent. He’d been honest before when he told her that it was hard to think clearly when she was near. He could focus with laser-like intensity when Ella wasn’t near. But when she was touching him…

She’s all I think about.

“Right now…” Ella said, “Someone is after you.”

He nodded.

“And you’re trying to send me away.”

Another nod. Yes, he was. “I want you safe. You don’t know the stakes here. The potential players. You have to leave.”

“Not happening, Antony. Like I told you before, we have a two-week contract. I’m not going anywhere. Not yet.”

Was that relief sweeping through him? Yes, it sure as shit was.

“Axel said something before he died. A last whisper.”

That news caught Antony by surprise. “What? You didn’t say—”

“Cops were swarming at the scene. Wasn’t sure if we wanted his final words making the rounds with everyone.” Her hands slid over his chest. A careful caress. Did she even realize what she was doing? Her voice was cool, thoughtful, as Ella added, “I’m not so sure this whole deal is related to your spy world. I think it’s about your business.”

“Shark Gaming and Design?”

“He said ‘Shark.’ He could barely speak and was using all of his strength to get the words out, but he clearly said ‘Shark.’ And then he said ‘Don’t trust…’”

“Don’t trust who?”

“That is the question, isn’t it?” She held his stare. “As your former head of security, as someone who knows your company inside and out, I can assure you that I will discover the answer to that question. We’re going to find your enemy, Antony. I’m going to do the job I was hired to do. I will protect you. I will unmask whoever is out there. And—”

“And then you’ll walk away?”

She slowly pulled her hands from him. Turned her back on him and headed for the door. “What other alternative is there?”

“Oh, I don’t know…” Stop talking. Stop. He couldn’t, though. “We could try again.”

She paused.

“We could see if things are still as explosive between us. We could see if two years of wanting might transform into something more.”

Ella looked over her shoulder at him.

“We could see if we could be something more. Think about it, Ella. Think about the night we had. Think about what it could be like again. I want you even more now. And I think you still want me.”

“Confident, huh?”

“Kiss me right now and prove me wrong.” A dare.

She blinked. Twice. “Excuse me?”

“Kiss me and prove to me that you don’t still feel the same way.”

“I don’t have to prove anything. I’m going to bed.” But she didn’t move.

So he did. Antony strode toward her. “You kissed me at the office. You were the one who made the first move. You said you wanted to see how I tasted when we were in that elevator.”

He could see the rapid rise and fall of her chest.

She didn’t storm away. She did turn toward him.

“One kiss.” His stare was on her mouth. “Because I want to see if we will still go crazy when we’re—”

She grabbed him. Yanked him toward her. Ella’s mouth crashed into his.

Holy hell. Her lips were parted. His tongue thrust into her mouth. Thrust and took and her taste was even sweeter than before. He could feel her nipples—tight and eager—as they pressed against