"Ido."
Crashingmy mouth against hers one last time,Ideliver a hard, intensely territorial kiss.
"WhenIfinally take you,"Iswear, the gravelly vow vibrating between us, "Irefuse to settle for a hurried fuck on a desk while anticipating another digital attack.Acareful, excruciatingly slow claiming comes next.Andit happens only when you're completely secure."
Forcingmy spine straight requires every ounce of willpowerIpossess.Myaching balls throb in vicious protest.
Snatchingup the heavy cut from the back of the desk,Ihaul the leather over her exposed chest.Yankingthe lapels tightly together hides her swollen breasts from view.
"Workawaits,"Inote, clearing the grit from my throat. "Kevin'ssignal continues bouncing.Stabilizingthe trace before sunrise remains priority one."
Shesits entirely still, her chest heaving heavily beneath my club patch.Swollen, reddened lips and disheveled dark hair paint the picture of a thoroughly fucked woman, despite leaving my pants zipped.
Staringup at me, the hazy lust in her dark eyes slowly morphs into crystal-clear understanding.
"You'rea stubborn ass, you know that?" she whispers.
"I'maGunnar,"Ireply, pivoting back to the glowing monitors to prevent myself from throwing her on the floor. "Stubbornruns deep in the marrow."
Droppinginto the spare rolling chair,Iforcefully regulate my oxygen intake.
"Daniel?"
Glancingover my shoulder,Icatch her clutching my leather around her throat like a shield.
"Thankyou," she murmurs.
Alow grunt rumbles in my chest asIfixate on the cascading code. "Saveyour gratitude.Wehaven't extracted him yet."
Myheavy fingers hit the keyboard.Theburning phantom heat of her skin remains permanently branded across my callouses.
Burningthe entire town ofPineValleyto ash suddenly seems a reasonable price to keep the devotion blazing in her eyes.Themutual knowledge of zero retreat anchors us both.
Mine.Thenext time her back hits that particle board, absolutely zero fabric will survive my blade.
Logginginto the encrypted comms channel, a green message bubble fromAustinimmediately flashes in the corner.
Perimetersecure.Shanefound tracks near the north ridge.Wolf.
Ihammer out a rapid response.
Copy.Keepeyes open.Costasare hitting the digital fence.Desperationmight push them toward the physical perimeter.
Shiftingmy focus back toKaila,Ifind her knees pulled tight to her chest.Wrappedsafely in my leather, her dark eyes track my every keystroke.
"Getsome sleep,Ghost,"Iinstruct. "I'vegot the watch."
Shestubbornly anchors her chin on her knees. "Irefuse to sleep while you work."
"Stubborn,"Imutter.
"Ilearn from the best."
Thewheels of her chair squeak over the carpet as she rolls closer, closing the distance until our forearms press firmly together.Asilent sentinel settling firmly at my side.
Forthe first time in an entire decade, the quiet lacks its usual hollow ring.Asolid anchor replaces the void.
Returningmy attention to the glowing screen, violent strategies dominate my thoughts.