“It’s harder when they love you.”
Now it was her turn to frown.
“Because then when you lose them, it’s like someone cut into your chest. At least, that’s what I’ve been told.” His hand lifted, and those scarred knuckles of his brushed over her cheek. “My dad cut out on me when I was five, and my mom couldn’t wait to kick me out. I lived on the streets for too long after that, and by the time I finally heard that my mom had overdosed, I don’t think I felt anything but numbness.”
He was alone, too.
“But you knew that your parents loved you,” Saxon said. “That matters. You have to always hold on to that.”
A tear leaked from her eye. He caught it—on those scarred knuckles.
“Knowing that should make the memories easier.” Now his hand slid down and pressed right over her heart. “And I think in time, it should make you feel, I don’t know…stronger. Better.”
Her own hand rose and curled around his. “Thank you.”
“Getting easier to say that to me, huh?”
She shook her head. “I don’t…I don’t quite understand you.” There were so many layers to Saxon. Elizabeth had the feeling that she might never fully understand him. Talk about a man of mystery.
“That’s fair. I don’t understand you, either.”
And she realized she was holding his hand to her chest. She was still just wearing his shirt, and the bed was a few feet away.
Elizabeth hurriedly stepped back from him. “I, um…” Think. “Should you go check in with Victor? I mean, with Agent Monroe?”
“Not for at least another hour.”
An hour…he’d wanted an hour with her.
In an hour, he’d call Victor. Get an update. And then, she could be walking away from Saxon. She might never see him again. The thought left her feeling oddly…bereft. That didn’t make sense, of course. There was no point in missing someone that she’d just met.
But Elizabeth knew she’d never forget Saxon.
“What was it like the last time you had sex?” Saxon asked her.
She frowned.
He laughed. “Sweetheart, if you frown, then that means it wasn’t good.”
No, it just meant…she couldn’t remember. Had it been a year? Longer?
“Pity,” he said as his hand pulled slowly from hers. “I could have given you an hour that you’d never forget.”
She believed him.
He turned his back on her.
“Saxon.”
His shoulders stiffened.
“I’m not going to have sex with you because you saved my life.”
“Twice.”
“Twice,” she muttered. “I don’t trade sex for favors. I don’t trade sex for anything.”
He walked toward the window. “Message received.”
Her heart was pounding too fast and her palms had started to sweat. Saxon wasn’t like anyone she’d ever met and…no one else is here. No one to judge. No one to know. It’s just our time. “And the truth is…” Because she’d agreed to play this game. “The truth is that I’d give you an hour that you’d never forget, too.”
His hands flew up and grabbed the wooden frame around the window. “Don’t.” That one word was close to a snarl. “Don’t play games with me. I’m not the kind of guy who—”
“I won’t have sex with you because I’m grateful to be alive. I won’t have sex with you because I’m trying to trick you into getting my freedom.” She’d used that technique when she’d kissed him in the alley. “I’ll have sex with you…because I want you.” Because she kissed him and—Bam.
He whirled toward her.
Elizabeth took a deep breath. Her hands went to the hem of the t-shirt she wore and she slowly lifted the shirt up…and then she tossed it to the floor.
***
The FBI agents and the local cops were swarming the little motel on the edge of Miami. He watched from a distance, making sure not to get too close. Elizabeth had vanished, and he couldn’t have that. The woman was too much of a loose cannon out there.
He believed in tying up loose ends.
I should never have involved Taggert. But he’d been trying to keep his hands clean. He’d forgotten, though, that blood could wash off so easily. Getting back into the business of killing—it had been like riding a bike. I’ve still got the skills.
Elizabeth Ward was a piece of unfinished business that he would be eliminating. And when she was dead, he’d be able to go back to the life that waited for him. A life he’d been living for two wonderful years. Ever since he’d put Elizabeth’s parents into the ground.
But Elizabeth might have remembered me…I couldn’t risk her putting the pieces together.
His gaze fell on the swarm of cops around the motel. Really, why the hell were folks making such a big deal out of these kills? Those three men—Haines, Mayo, and Gustav—hadn’t exactly been innocent victims. They’d been at that motel with a mission to kill, too. Only they’d become his prey. He’d gotten there just minutes after Saxon and Elizabeth cleared out. Minutes. Taggert’s three bozos had still been in the room. He’d demanded information. They hadn’t given it to him, so they’d died.
Simple.
The young desk clerk at the motel…his death had been unavoidable. The fool had seen him when he went to leave. He’d chased the kid back inside the little office. Before he’d killed him, he’d tried to learn where Elizabeth and Saxon had gone.
The boy had remembered seeing them leave in an old, gray pick-up truck.
He’d shot the helpful fellow after learning that tidbit.
After all, he’d learned never to leave witnesses alive. If you did, well, those people would just come back to haunt you in the end.
The way Elizabeth Ward is haunting me now.
When Wesley Locke had called to tell him about the woman, when the guy had finally put two and two together and realized just who his new love interest was, the shit had really hit the fan.
Elizabeth Ward was infamous in certain circles. Circles that she probably didn’t even know about. And if he didn’t kill her, soon…then someone else would just do the job.
I won’t lose out on this payday. I can’t.
Because if he failed on this hit, there would truly be hell to pay.
***
Saxon fought the urge to pounce on her. Elizabeth stood before him, her body totally revealed to him, her breasts full and tempting, her sex—bare—and just begging for his touch.
Her nipples were pink and pebbled and he’d be kissing them first. He’d lave them with his tongue and make her moan and twist against him. Then he’d work his way down her stomach. Licking and kissing, maybe giving her a few bites, and when he reached her sex, he’d lay her out. He’d spread her legs wide and devour her until Elizabeth’s moans turned into screams.
“Uh, Saxon? You’re kind of just standing there.”
“Working out my plan of attack.” No, he was trying to keep his control. Because his dick was shoving against the front of his jeans and he wanted to pump full and hard into her—so deep that he owned her, but he had to hold back. Because…
This is Elizabeth.
And this hour, it might be their only time together. So he hadn’t been bullshitting when he said he’d give her an hour to remember. He’d give her an hour to make her forget every other man who’d come before—and any dumb assholes who were lucky enough to know her after he was gone.
Her hands twisted a bit nervously in front of her, moving down to shield her sex.
Saxon shook his head. “I like seeing every bit of you.” He forced his eyes to rise once more and meet her stare. “That hour is starting now.”
“It is? It—”
He was on her. He lifted her into his arms, holding her easily, and he put his mouth on her breast. Sweet fuck, but she was perfect. His tongue slid over her nipple, and her breath caught on a hard inhale.
“Saxon?”
He pulled her nipple deeper into his mouth. More honey. Everything about her was sweet honey. He lifted her higher and his mouth made its way to her other breast. He licked her. He sucked her sweet flesh, and her moans had him nearly coming in his jeans.
Saxon took a few fast steps, still carrying her, and then he put her down on the bed. He eased back a moment to just look at her. Her nipples were wet from his mouth—so pretty.