The Dom Who Loved Me (Masters and Mercenaries #1)(80)

“I wouldn’t be in a situation where I had a sub who refused to obey me.” Ian’s voice held the surety of a man who knew his own limits.

Eve shook her head. “Grace isn’t doing this to be stubborn. She isn’t doing this because she wants revenge. She’s doing this because she knows she won’t be safe until this man is taken out, and Sean will do anything to make sure she’s safe. Sean’s in danger, too. You are misreading her, Ian. You’re doing it because you can’t see past what that woman did to you. Grace loves your brother. Oh, she might not admit it because he acted like an ignorant ass, but she does. I can see it in her eyes.”

Ian’s jaw had tightened the instant Eve had mentioned the woman from his past. He straightened up. “Just see that she doesn’t f*ck up this op, Sean.”

He turned and walked out, every muscle in his body tense.

Eve’s shoulders fell. “Well, I screwed that up. I think I’ll go to bed, too.” She turned to Grace. “Give Ian a little time. Sean is all he has. He’s very protective.”

Sean paid no attention as Eve walked out. His eyes were steady on Grace. “Is what Eve said true?”

Grace had no intention of going there. It had been too long a day to make that decision. She needed time and sleep. “I just want to go to bed, Sean.”

He nodded slowly and followed her out. She felt him behind her and wondered if he really intended to sleep on the floor in front of her door. She couldn’t stand the thought. She opened the door to the bedroom and turned to him. He looked as tired as she felt. “Come to bed, Sean.”

He had his clothes off and was under the covers before she could change her mind. Grace crawled in beside him. Despite her hesitations, she was happy he was beside her.

“I love you, Grace.” He made no move to touch her, but his words were caress enough.

“I can’t right now.” She couldn’t. She couldn’t say it yet. She might never be ready to say it.

“I love you enough for both of us. I’ll say it until you believe it.” He rolled onto his back. “Will you let me hold you? Nothing more, little one.”

Grace fell into his arms. “You’re the only one who calls me that. I’m not exactly little.”

His chest moved as he chuckled. His hand stroked her hair and the strong beat of his heart was a lullaby to her ears. “You’re small compared to me. You’re just right for me.”

Grace let the warmth of his body sing along her skin and sank into sleep.





Chapter Eighteen


Evan Parnell, formerly Patrick Wright, watched the bitch walk through the door. He sat on the sofa in the small outer office that served as Matt’s reception room. The door swung open, and she breezed in as though he hadn’t tried his damndest to murder her not twenty-four hours before. A man in slacks and a dress shirt followed her speaking animatedly. Adam Miles. Grace Hawthorne dumped her laptop bag on her desk and smiled up at that queer who always seemed to be around her. Something about that fellow and his lover had made warning bells go off in Parnell’s brain, but he quickly let it go. They moved well, but they probably took Krav Maga classes because it was trendy. They also weren’t as demonstrative as other gay couples he’d met, but it still offended him. He didn’t like queers, and he certainly wasn’t afraid of them. If they were dangerous at all, it would be because someone had trained them. Most agents came from the military. The army tended to weed those pansies out fast.

Sean Johansson was another story, and he was back just in time to really f*ck things up.

Johansson strode in carrying a cup from the coffee house that stupid friend had been on her way to. The knot in Parnell’s gut tightened. If Grace had just followed her daily routine, he wouldn’t be so worried. She would be on a slab in the morgue, and Evan wouldn’t have to put up with his brother’s whining. First Matt was okay with killing Grace because she was a faithless bitch. Now Matt loved her and couldn’t imagine a world without her and why, oh why, did they have to kill anyone?

It was enough to make him want to wrap his hands around Matt’s throat and squeeze until he couldn’t whine anymore. Couldn’t his brother see how close he was to the prize? He just needed to hold it all together until Friday night.

Parnell had tried to get a hold of his contact. Something was wrong. He felt it deep down. He needed to move the drop, but the damn Chinese weren’t answering. Those f*ckers played a deep game and didn’t like to have the rules changed on them. If he didn’t make the drop at the appointed time, they would more than likely decide he’d sold to another buyer and come after him. He would have two governments out to kill him and no twenty million dollars. He had to make that drop no matter what.

“Mr. Parnell?”

Grace’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. He looked up. The secretary had finally stopped staring at the men around her long enough to realize she had someone in her office. Those big hazel eyes pulled at him. It was when he’d looked into the other one’s eyes that he’d realized his mistake. He could still remember the thrill of hunting her down, shoving the knife in and turning her body around so she would know who had killed her. He had so looked forward to the shock in those pretty green and gold eyes. The brown eyes that had stared back at him had been a terrible surprise.