Passing His Guard

Either he wasn’t listening or wasn’t convinced she meant it, and in truth, neither was she. He released her nipple, dragging the tip through his straight white teeth. His spicy masculine scent filled her senses as she inhaled a surprised gasp. Her sex clenched, a direct co

“Damn, Rya

White-hot desire rocketed into her as his finger slipped deep inside her. Rya

“You’re so fucking tight . . .”

When he slipped in a second, her breath caught at the unexpected stretch. Her muscles clenched, quivering on the edge of something magnificent—something magical. “Aiden . . .” She meant his name as a protest, but it came out more like a broken plea. “Stop . . .” But even to her own ears it sounded like a desperate petition for relief from this delicious torture. A shudder wracked her body.

“Shhh . . . don’t be scared.”

Oh, Lord, he thought she was frightened of him. He mistook her hesitancy for fear.

“I won’t hurt you, baby.”

Maybe not physically—and by the size of his erection, even that was debatable—but could he make that same promise where her heart were concerned?

“Aiden, this isn’t right. What about your fi—”

“Fuck ’em . . .” he growled, claiming her mouth in another soul-searing kiss.

Seriously? That was his answer? Here she was wrestling with her conscience, and all he had to say was Fuck ’em?

Now Rya

He reared back as if she’d slapped him. The frustrated look on his handsome face was a mixture between surprise and anger. “What the hell is your problem, Rya

“My problem? Do I seriously have to spell it out for you?”

“Yeah, I guess you do, because you’re sending me a lot of mixed signals here.”

“You’re engaged, Aiden! Obviously that doesn’t mean anything to you, but it does to me, all right? Your mom didn’t hire me to fuck you. She hired me to find you.”

He laughed, not a ha-ha chuckle but a snarky, humorless bark. “That’s what this is all about? You’re ru

“Are you telling me you’re not?” she challenged, and God forgive her for praying he would deny it.

Aiden held her stare, seemingly caught in an internal battle before he exhaled a frustrated sigh and roughly dragged his fingers through his hair. “It’s not that simple, Rya

Not that simple? Oh, it was very simple. “You either are or you aren’t, Aiden. It’s not quantum physics we’re talking about here. So which one is it?”

“Technically, I am engaged.”

Oh, my God! She couldn’t believe he just admitted it! Rya

She lunged for him, but Aiden caught her wrist before her palm could co

Unbidden, the threat of tears burned the back of her eyelids, but she refused to give them quarter. This was ridiculous, she barely knew this man. She would not cry over Aiden Kruze, dammit! But lack of sleep and sheer emotional exhaustion was working against her. This was not her proudest moment. Oh, hell . . . who was she kidding? This was fucking embarrassing.

Exhausted, she stopped fighting, hating the way her body responded as her quickened breaths rubbed her chest against his. A tingling current of erotic energy made her sensitive skin feel hot and too tight. As she struggled to quell her unwelcome response, Aiden remained silent, seemingly unaffected as he watched her with that impenetrable glower he gave his opponents in the cage.

After a moment, he bit out a nasty curse. “Are you quite done yet?” When she didn’t respond, he growled, “Holy hell, you try my patience. Right now I can’t decide what I want to do more, throttle you or fuck you.”

The vulgarity of his profanity should have shocked her more, and it definitely should not have rekindled the ache blooming between her thighs. What in the hell was wrong with her? She thought she knew herself better than this. Playing it safe had always been her MO. The kind of guys she gravitated toward were predictable and well . . . boring, though she preferred to think of them as safe. There was nothing predictable about this MMA fighter/lawyer who seemed to be the epitome of contradictions.

“Do you honestly think if I had any intention of getting married next week that I would be in bed with you right now?” The offense in his tone told her the question was rhetorical. “What kind of a piece-of-shit prick do you take me for, Rya

Exhaling a frustrated sigh, he dragged his fingers through his hair again and pi

“Why are you doing this?” he asked her.

Surprised by his question, she blurted the first answer that came to mind that wouldn’t give away her internal struggle. “Because you’re insanely hot and apparently I’m an idiot.”

He chuffed, a grunt that equated to Figures, not looking at all surprised or pleased by the backward compliment. “That’s not what I meant. What I want to know is why are you here? Why are you working for my mother?”

Oh, that . . . She shrugged, going for nonchalance but failing miserably. “I have my reasons.”

“Which are?”

“None of your business,” she replied, notching her chin defiantly. “Why are you engaged to someone you have no intention of marrying?”

He scowled. “It’s none of your business.”

So they were at an impasse. Neither of them willing to show the cards they held so closely guarded. For one insane moment, Rya

Time seemed to stand still as he hovered over her. His mesmerizing amber stare, torn and conflicted. Then, as if decided on something, he scrubbed his hand over the back if his neck and muttered a growl that sounded a lot like defeat.

“Eighteen months ago, when my father was ru