Her hands worked the buckle of his brown leather belt, heat filling her cheeks when she fumbled a bit. Without a word, Ivan covered her hand with his, slowly moving hers to the side so he could finish the task himself.
When he was done, he dropped his hands to the side and waited.
If that’s not a blatant green light, I don’t know what is.
Cera lifted her hands to the small metal button. She pulled the thick denim of his waist apart with a jerk. All that was left was to pull down his zipper.
Her fingers pinched the metal clasp, but she paused at the last minute.
“What’s the matter?” Ivan’s large hand raked a slow, gentle trail through her long brown hair.
“Nothing.” Cera looked up at him. “It’s just…should we be doing this? I don’t want to get you in trouble with your boss.”
“If you were an official Monroe Investigations client? No.” Ivan shook his head. “But since you’re not paying me…”
“I told you I was going to pay back every—”
He cut her off with two fingers pressed against her lips. “Listen to what I’m saying, sweetheart. If you’re not paying me, I’m not technically breaking any rules.”
Cera considered this a moment, really mulling his words around in her lust-filled—still slightly aching—brain. The longer she thought about it, the closer together her brows became.
“Wait a minute.” She searched his gaze for clarification. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“Depends on what it is you think that is.”
God, he’s going to make me say it. Out. Loud.
“Okay, fine.” She drew in a deep, cleansing breath and blew it right back out. Stealing herself for the answer she really, really did not want to hear, Cera pushed her fear aside and looked him square in the eyes. “Ivan, are you offering up your investigative services in exchange for sex?”
When he’d misunderstood her regarding that very same topic at the motel parking lot the day before, she’d been certain he’d taken offense to such an offer. But now that they were here, now that he had her in hisbed, she couldn’t help but wonder if he was—
Ivan tossed his head back and laughed. It wasn’t some small, polite chuckle, either. No, this was a full body, shoulder-shaking, opened mouth bark of a laugh.
It was one of the most beautiful sights she’d ever witnessed and also added to her confusion where this man was concerned.
“What’s so funny?”
“Swear to Christ, woman. You are the most adorable thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.” Ivan’s eyes were still lit with humor as he brought his lips back to hers. “No, Cera. I’m not offering my services in exchange for sex. What I’m saying…and not very well, apparently…is that I never intended on taking a dime of your money.”
“What?” She dropped her hand to her lap. “Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to find the person terrorizing you simply for a paycheck. I want to find him…I want tostophim…because I feel compelled to do so.” Ivan sat next to her, tucking some thick locks behind her ear. “Don’t ask me to explain it because I can’t. We’ve known each other less than twenty-four hours, for fuck’s sake. And yet—”
“A part of me feels as if I’ve known you my whole life,” she finished for him.
The nod of his handsome head sent a wave of relief throughout her entire system.
“Exactly.” Ivan brought his mouth to hers in a sweet, chaste kiss. “That’sexactlyhow I feel, too. To be honest, I was hoping you had an explanation. Because I sure as hell don’t.”
“Me, neither.” Cera’s hair swished around her shoulders and back as she carefully shook her head.
She wasn’t sure she even wanted to try.
“It doesn’t really matter, though, does it?” His gaze implored hers to agree. “We’re two consenting adults. If we both feel the same way, then what’s stopping us?”
He was right. Cera knew better than to dream of anything beyond this moment. To wish for anything more than tonight. But she needed this. She neededhim.
Not just to keep her alive, but to remind her what it felt like tobealive.