Dominance Never Dies (Masters and Mercenaries #11)(3)

And then she was surrounded by twinkle lights.

She smiled because she was in one of the most romantic settings she’d ever seen.

To her left was what looked like a gorgeous outdoor living area complete with a fire pit. A pergola wound with the soft white twinkle lights covered the space.

“This is beautiful.”

Case walked over to the side of the building. The top was lined with sturdy walls that he leaned against as he looked out over the city. The taller buildings loomed over them, like giant trees in the middle of a concrete forest. “I like to come up here to think. It’s quiet at night. I don’t have a balcony at my apartment.”

“I don’t either.” She kept a small place in Austin, but she was on the road for her job so often she was rarely there. She’d rented an apartment here in Dallas and she’d brought up her favorite keepsakes. She’d told herself it was all about her cover, but she liked the city. The last six weeks she’d felt more settled than she had in years. “I have to admit, the older I get the more I think about buying a house.”

Case groaned as she joined him. “I don’t know about that. Theo bought a place and immediately had to replace all of the damn plumbing…well, Erin did. After…”

“She still lives there?” She asked the question in a quiet tone because he didn’t usually mention Theo.

“Yeah. I think she’s going to stay.” He stared out over the city. “It’s good, though we’ve got a bunch of legal stuff to deal with. Apparently dying brings up lots of stuff you need a lawyer for.”

“It should be simple. If he didn’t have a will, you would be his next of kin. You can sign everything over to her.”

He turned, a surprised look on his face. “That’s what I’m doing. Everyone outside my group thinks I’m crazy to do that.”

“From what I’ve been told he loved her. He would want you to take care of her and you’re the kind of man who would do it. I don’t think it’s crazy at all. It’s admirable.”

“He hadn’t paid off the house. Erin can afford it but I put everything I had into it so it’s easier for her. I’m pretty much back where I was before I joined the Navy. No savings.”

She would have next to nothing without her brother. Was he trying to explain that he wasn’t a great catch on the financial side? Because she couldn’t care less about that. She’d learned so long ago that money didn’t make a man. She reached out and put a hand on his arm. “You don’t need much, I’m sure. I know I don’t. I like a nice pair of shoes every now and then, but money isn’t everything, Case. Sometimes knowing you’ve done the right thing is worth all the money in the world.”

“I’m just trying to explain that while this club is beautiful and my brothers have made something of themselves, I’m kind of a work in progress.” He reached out, his hand cupping her cheek, thumb tracing the line of her jaw. “I’m not worth a lot and I understand that sometimes women want more than I can give them. I like you, Mia.”

She smiled because he was saying all the right things. Had he been burned before? Was that why he was being so forthright? “I like you too, Case. I’m not looking for a man to take care of me. Not financially anyway. I’m very independent. At least I try to be.”

“I’m making things awkward.” He didn’t move away though. He simply kept stroking her. “I want to kiss you but I also want to be honest. I don’t have a lot to give right now.”

“Then maybe you should find someone who doesn’t need to take from you. Why don’t you kiss me and we’ll go from there?” She wanted so badly to take some of his pain, to give him some peace.

“I knew from the minute I saw you something good might happen to me.” He stared down at her. “Is that silly? You walked out of the locker room and you smiled at me that first day of the training class and I thought maybe I could have one good thing.”

Sometimes one good thing was all a person needed to survive. She felt herself tearing up, the moment turning into something important. “I could use something good, too.”

He lowered his lips down to hers and she leaned into him. When he kissed her, she felt like melting in his arms. He was gentle, those sensual lips soft on her own. His hands held her face, framing it as he explored her mouth. He was so slow. So patient.

“Touch me, Mia.” He whispered the words on her lips. “Put your hands on me.”

The words were said in a soft tone, but she couldn’t mistake them for anything but a command. That soft place she’d found inside herself at Sanctum responded with glee. She let her hands find his chest and move down to his lean waist. So much warm skin, so masculine. Touching him made her feel alive.

She relaxed against him, letting his heat flow into her. Their bodies nestled together like they’d been made to fit. His hands moved down so he could wrap them around her.

All that mattered was being with him. Nothing in her life had ever felt as right as kissing Case Taggart in the moonlight.

When she thought he would deepen the kiss, he broke it off with a shake of his head.

Disappointment sparked through her and all her insecurities rose to the surface. “Is something wrong?”

He groaned softly and put his forehead to hers. “Nope. It’s all way too right, darlin’. I don’t want to start this the wrong way. And I have to have you downstairs in fifteen minutes. I’m too emotional right now. I’m sorry.”