The Devil's Daughter (Hidden Sins #1)(76)

She’d never been taken down quite in the same way before, but she didn’t think he was talking about that. She lifted her chin. “Being with the BAU comes with risks. Every type of law-enforcement job does.”

But he was already shaking his head. “That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it.”

“What the hell do you care?” Anger made her voice sharp, but she didn’t try to temper it.

“Do you push everyone away, or am I just special?” He downed the second glass and set it on the counter with a clink. “Who am I kidding? There’s a wall between you and the rest of the world. You even hold your partner at a distance.”

“That’s none of your business.” Why was he forcing the issue? Especially now, when there were so many other things on the line. Who cared if she didn’t have much in the way of close friends? It was just how she operated. She knew the hard way that there were no guarantees in life, and letting people within arm’s reach was just asking for a knife in the ribs.

“I can’t pretend that I know what you went through growing up, but living your life without roots isn’t the answer.”

The pressure in her chest got worse. He was putting into words things she barely allowed herself to think of. “I don’t remember signing up for a therapy session, Zach. Back the fuck off.”

Instead, he circled around the island and stalked toward her. “There are people who care about you. Your partner. Your boss.” He stopped in front of her, too close, and slid his hands up her arms to cup her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Me. I see you, Eden. And you matter, no matter what you seem to think. If something happens to you . . .” He growled, the sound so low she felt it more than heard it. “It won’t. I won’t let it.” Then Zach kissed her.



Zach didn’t know what he was doing. He meant to keep things simple between himself and Eden until the rest of the world became sane again. But anger seared through what was left of his self-control. He’d never had much when it came to her.

He needed her to understand that she was worth something, at least to him. In the back of his mind, he knew that was a thing she had to decide for herself—it couldn’t come from the outside—but with her going soft in his arms and her mouth against his, he didn’t give a damn. He laced his fingers through her hair, tilting her head back to give him better access. She tasted of cinnamon—a little bite, a little sweetness—and he craved more.

This time they weren’t going to stop.

He pulled back enough that they shared breath. “Say yes, Eden.”

“I . . .” She blinked those big dark eyes at him, looking vulnerable and all too human. “This is a mistake.”

“Almost definitely.”

She laughed softly. “I’m still very angry with you—and this conversation isn’t over.”

“We can fight later.” He kissed her again, slipping his tongue into her mouth. She opened to him immediately, her hands clutching his shoulders. Pressed against her like this, it was almost astounding to realize how small she was. When they were talking or fighting, Eden seemed larger than life. In reality, she topped out at maybe five feet six inches, and while she had muscles, she was still petite. Anything could happen to her. It doesn’t matter how capable she is. She was laid out today and helpless.

She could have died.

That last thought spurred him on. He backed her up and lifted her onto the kitchen island. They were separated for precious seconds while he slid off her shirt and dropped it on the floor, but then she was in his arms again, kissing him with all her might. She yanked his shirt over his head and tossed it behind her, then ran her hands up his chest. “Damn, Zach.”

He knew what she was seeing. The scars. They weren’t anything like what some of his squad had come home with, but shrapnel left its mark all the same. He didn’t talk about it with people in Clear Springs. What was there to say? He’d made it home alive, which was more than many could say. No one knew about it except his parents, and that was only because the military had called them when he was hospitalized. “It was a long time ago.”

Her fingers stopped on the curved cut across his left pec. “Not long enough.”

No, not long enough. Maybe in another ten years he’d have left the nightmares behind, but he didn’t think so. Some things just stayed with a person.

He didn’t want to think about that right now, though.

Zach jerked her to the edge of the counter and unbuttoned her jeans, needing to have her, needing as much of her bare skin pressed against his as possible. There was no telling if either of them would make it out of this unscathed, let alone alive. That was becoming readily clear the longer this case went on. “I need you.”

“Good.” She lifted herself up so he could pull her pants off to join their shirts on the floor. “Because I’m tired of talking.”

It wasn’t over. It might never be over. He didn’t care right now. Zach ran his hand down from her neck, between her breasts and down her stomach. She had scars of her own, scars that he doubted had anything to do with the line of duty. And she still came back here to face her demons. “You are so fucking brave.”

Eden shook her head. “Come here.” She hooked the back of his neck and kissed him, the move pressing his hand between her legs. He nearly groaned at how warm and welcoming she was there. For him.