Targeted Risk (R.I.S.C. #7) - Anna Blakely Page 0,27

swelled, its beat strengthening to the force of a kickdrum. But when he reached for her, she stepped back, out of his reach. “I shouldn’t be here.”

The hurt in his eyes was impossible to miss.

“We’ve been over this, Jules. I need you here. I need to know you’re—”

“Safe,” she finished for him. “I get that, and I appreciate it more than you’ll ever know. But what you don’t get is it doesn’t matter where I am. If they want me, then eventually, they’ll find me.”

“No, they won’t.” Jay shook his head. “I’ll make sure of that.”

Her heart ached because this sweet, loving man actually believed he could stop the men who were after her.

She needed him to listen. To really hear what she was saying. The only way she knew to convince him was to tell him the truth.

“You were right.” Juliet hugged herself as she admitted that she’d lied. “Aaron Schreiber did speak to me last night.”

Without any signs of judgement or anger, he asked, “What did he say?”

“That my father wants me dead.”

He does.

Jay swallowed hard. “Did Schreiber say why?”

“No, but it doesn’t matter. They’ll keep coming for me, and if I’m with you, you’ll be in danger, too.”

“I can handle myself.”

“You’re not listening.” Juliet’s voice raised. “I don’t want to put you in the position where you have to handle yourself. But if I stay here with you, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”

“You’re not the one putting me in that position, Jules. This isn’t your fault.”

“Yes, it is.” She walked over to where her bags were sitting by the door. “I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused, and I will never forget what you’ve done for me. But I won’t allow you to do this.”

He was by her side before she even realized he’d moved. “Not your choice, sweetheart.” He took the bags from her hands and set them back down.

Juliet threw her hands on her hips and glared up at him. “Are you saying you’d keep me here against my will?”

Without missing a beat, the infuriating man said, “If it means keeping you safe? Absofuckinglutely.”

“Yeah? Well, this is me keeping you safe.” She reached for the bags again, but Jay was faster.

Like a snake striking its prey, he grabbed the bags and tossed them to the side, well out of her reach.

When Juliet started for the overturned luggage, Jay stepped in her path. Then, with a gentle yet firm grip, he put his hands on her shoulders and pressed her against the door.

“What are you doing?”

He moved forward until his body was flush with hers. “I’m keeping you from getting yourself killed.”

She should be mad at the way he was manhandling her. She should scream and kick until he either let her go or one of his neighbors came to her rescue.

There were a lot of things Juliet knew she should probably do, but in that moment, all she could think about was how wonderful his hard body felt against hers.

“Jay—”

His mouth landed on hers. The kiss was hard, yet gentle. Needy, yet generous. And it ended much too soon.

“Let me do this for you, baby. Let me protect you.” He kissed her again. “Stay with me. Please.”

Juliet stared back into his dark eyes. They were eyes she’d always swore she could get lost in, and right now, they were filled with heat and determination.

Despite the situation and her resolve to not drag him into this mess any further than she already had, she heard herself saying...

“Okay.”

A hint of a smile was the only reaction she saw before he slammed his mouth against hers.

Part of her knew sex would only complicate the situation even further. She was well aware that there were things she still needed to tell him. One thing in particular that may very well change the way he looked at her.

The way he felt about her.

But in that moment, all Juliet could focus on was how good it felt to be back in this man’s arms again.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, her hands grasping the hair on the back of his head. Jay pressed his hips against hers, the hard shaft between his thighs rubbing against the ache she felt between hers.

Juliet moaned. Her tongue swirled and danced with his as he continued to devour her. As they devoured each other.

God, she’d missed this. The way he kissed. The way he tasted.

With a growl, Jay moved his hands down to her hips, his long fingers gripping her tightly as