Page 52 of Whistleblower
She hangs her head and covers her eyes. I take a moment to soak up the visual of Eden dressed up tonight. She dresses differently at the office. Her clothes are flattering but modest. Tonight, however, she’s wearing a skin-tight V-neck, tucked into her high-waisted pants that show off her curves. It’s a clever move on a woman’s part—subtly seductive. A classy woman makes me weak and I don’t think I can keep my hands to myself a moment longer.
“I am so sorry,” she mumbles, as she splits her hand and peeks between her fingers at me. “Making assumptions and not communicating is the most disastrous thing you can do in the workplace. I preach this to corporations on my soapbox.” She lets out a small huff of laughter. “And now I’m a hypocrite.”
“You were upset,” I say, wrapping my hands around her waist. She rolls her eyes but then nods. “You thought I got over our kiss that fast? That I want anyone else but you?” I pull her against my body and my cock twitches to life. Eden nods again, this time into my chest. “You had no idea that I’ve spent every night thinking about you—wondering what you’re doing, excited to see you again. I’m not myself lately.” I kiss the top of her head and breathe in the floral smell of her shampoo. “And you’re the cause.”
She lets out a low hum of satisfaction as my hands sink from her waist to her ass, and I grab a fistful. Her dainty hand goes searching too, but instead of my hardening cock, she finds my holstered gun.
She flinches and folds her hands together. Dammit. Stepping backward I unfasten my holster while locking the bathroom door. The safety is on, she has nothing to worry about, but it still scares her. I tuck my weapon behind the toilet, out of sight. Then, I press my body against hers again.
“Better?” I mumble.
“Thank you,” she says. “I’m sorry. I know it must be annoying that you have to treat me with kid gloves.”
I touch my lips to her forehead, then her left cheek, then her right. I moan as I finally feel her plump lips against mine. “I’m happy to handle you with care because you’re precious.”
I kiss her again, and I’m trying to taste her tongue but she has more to say.
“Linc?”
“Yes?”
“Am I safe with you?”
“Of course you are.”
“You’d never hurt me,” she says, not asks.
“Never.”
She shudders as I duck my head and rub my lips up and down her neck. I feel her goosebumps rise.
Her lips touch my ear as she speaks. “Then right here, right now, I want you to kiss me like I’m precious, but fuck me like I’m not.”
EIGHTEEN
EDEN
Linc looks shocked, but the bulge that’s pressed against my lower belly is now a cylindrical rock, so he can’t be too turned off by my request. I just want to see what I can handle. Is that so crazy? I haven’t known him for long…but I trust Linc. I trust his strength, his tenderness, and his desire to protect me. Right now, I need a distraction. If I can’t solve my problems tonight, I want to escape from them.
And if I’m going to dance along this line of fire, I want it to be with Linc.
“You want me to do what?” he asks.
I hop onto the bathroom counter and wrap my legs around him and my arms around his neck. “Until we kissed the other night, it had been over a year and a half since a man had touched me. I’ve had a lot of time to fantasize about some boundaries I want to test. I’m not asking you to tie me up and hit me or anything….” I take a breath. How do I explain this? “I have to be in control all the time—of my reactions, of my emotions. It’s exhausting pretending to not be as scared as I feel. So, I just want to give up control of this. If you want me, then take over. Use me, however you want.”
I can’t tell what’s going on in his mind, but the gears are turning. The wrinkling of his forehead and the way his brows are cinched tell me he’s furiously debating as his gaze shifts rapidly between my eyes.
“Being controlled turns you on?” he asks me, with a tormented look in his eyes.
I plant my hands on either side of his face. “Opposites attract, Linc. Your strength turns me on… Is that okay?”
He doesn’t answer and I want to kick myself. Too far, I went too far. I think I’ve been alone too long. I don’t know how to read sexual tension anymore. I thought a man like Linc would love it rough and gritty, turns out I spooked him. I drop my hands and try to push against his chest, intent on hopping off this bathroom counter and fleeing from Martinis. But Linc, inhumanly fast, grabs both of my wrists in one of his large hands. His grip is so powerful that I couldn’t wiggle out if I tried. I’m not even close to being his match. The only way I could free myself is by telling him to release me; and that’s what’s making me wet.
The monster… At my command.
Linc tugs me by my wrists so I nearly fall off the bathroom counter. He holds his other arm out to brace me before he spins me around, planting my hands on the counter ledge. His body lines mine from behind, my back to his belly, as he growls a simple command in my ear. “Pick a safe word.”
“What?”