“Why did you warn me about having sex with you then?”
His jaw clenched. “I’m not doing any of this lightly. No one gets in my life. Ever. Once I let you in, you’re mine. I own you, and there’s no going back.”
Her pussy flooded with warmth. She should hate those words. Her entire life was devoted to her independence and personal power. But Shadow didn’t want to hurt her. He wanted her as his woman, and nothing could have been more flattering to her. The feeling of being chosen was new and addictive. She didn’t realize how desperately she needed his reassurance, confirmation he wouldn’t walk away like all the others.
“What about you? Will you be mine, or do you get to run around on me?”
Shadow frowned. “Why would you say that? If you’re mine, I’m yours. Ever since that night in your backyard, I knew you were the one, but I fought it.” He ran the pad of his thumb along her lower lip. “Tell me you want to be my woman, Riley.”
“I like the sound of that.”
He kissed her lips, soft and gentle. “I’ll never let anyone hurt you.”
“That’ll take some getting used to. No one’s ever stood up for me before.”
He stared at her, no humor in his eyes. “If anyone fucks with you, I’ll kill them.” His words took her breath away, not just because of the way he said them, but because she knew he was telling her a fact.
“How about we start with that real date you owe me.”
He smiled. “This weekend. I promise.”
Weekend? The sudden realization hit her hard. “The bakery! I forgot to set my alarm.” She glanced at her night-side clock. It was almost eight in the morning, and she should have been baking hours ago. Riley jumped out of bed and raced to the bathroom.
Riley poked her head back in the bedroom a while later, a toothbrush in her mouth. She was going to tell Shadow he could stay in bed and let himself out, but he was already dressed and checking his cell phone.
“I’ll drive you to work,” he said.
She shook her head. “You don’t have to do that. Besides, I have some supplies I need to bring in the trunk of my car.” Should she ask about his day? Something along the lines of, who are you going to kill today? She was never going to get used to dating a hitman.
Once they were finally outside, she pushed her purse up higher on her shoulder, and locked the front door. As soon as she turned around, Shadow pressed her against the door, no space between them. He cupped her face and kissed her hard on the mouth. She felt his hard cock against her stomach, and she wished she had another hour of time to spend with him. In fact, she was tempted to let him take her right there on the front stoop.
“The neighbors will talk,” she said against his lips.
“Let them talk. I don’t care what the neighbors think.” He reached down and cupped her ass. “I want you in my bed tonight, Riley Church.”
Her words came out breathless. “Your house?” She’d never seen inside his house besides the times she’d peeked in his windows. It felt like being invited to his private, forbidden lair.
He nodded, and gave her a final kiss. “Call me if you need me.”
Riley sat in her car and watched Shadow walk over to his garage, the door rising up automatically. A minute later, his black SUV backed out, the windows too heavily tinted for her to see his face. And then he disappeared up the street. Her curious mind wondered where he was going. Was he off to kill that man from the restaurant? Would he even come home in one piece?
****
Shadow had left Riley’s house in the middle of the night for a couple hours. He had to crack the cell phone and dig up intel on his mark. He’d taken a cold shower and loaded up his truck with his arsenal before returning to Riley’s bed. Everything was ready to go. Now that he had a location, the job was as good as done.
He hit the highway. There was a boat coming in the old harbor in an hour. Thanks to Riley, he had all the information he needed. His mark was meeting with a buyer and then a new plastic surgeon. In their underground world, there was a network of medical professionals willing to do just about anything off the books. Shadow’s mind was focused on the task at hand, but that girl still played in the back of his head.
My girl.
He’d spent his life in a numb state, refusing to get close to anyone. After his mother, the man who’d mentored him and introduced him to Boss had also died of cancer. At that point, Shadow decided it was better never to get emotionally involved with anyone. He’d lived alone, focused on work, and put on a mask that hid the pain. Now he’d transformed into some lovesick schoolboy, unable to think about anything but one woman.
He called Killian as he drove. “Hey, how are things settling out for you?” Since they’d been on assignment together, taking down part of the Dead Angels MC, they hadn’t spoken. Killian had reunited with the mother of his son, and they were supposed to be starting fresh. Shadow wanted the best for them, even though family life wasn’t in the cards for him.
“We bought a house on the water, about ten minutes from Viper.” Killian laughed out loud. “Can you believe that shit?”
“The kid getting on okay?’
“Yeah, we have Killian Junior enrolled in school, and I’m keeping on top of him. So far, so good. I can’t complain.”