Page 13 of Sentinel's Kiss

Chapter 4

Ashley was going to wear underwear just on general principle. However, after she got back into the studio and edited Stan’s interview, she had a lot of time to think about it. She decided that if Josh didn’t want underwear, she wouldn’t wear it. It gave her a little thrill to be naughty in front of him. Maybe they could grab a late dinner together and see if they could make it to a bed this time instead of the back of his car.

When security buzzed her that he was on his way, she darted into the ladies’ bathroom and took off her panties. Her bra was going to have to stay on, though. She didn’t want her nipples showing on national television.

“Thank you for making the trip into the city to talk with me.” Ashley met him at the door to her office. She held out her hand.

He shook it. “It’s going to be my pleasure.” And then he flashed her that smile that would have melted her panties off had she been wearing any.

“Before we start, are there any subjects that are taboo? I don’t want this to be an uncomfortable experience for you.”

“No,” he said. He filled up the small corridor with his bulk, and as he walked down the hall, he reminded her of a jungle cat stalking his prey. The way he was looking at her made her feel like he was about to pounce. “I might not answer or you might not like my answer,” he continued, “but you can ask me whatever you want.”

“Okay, but I’m not going to go easy on you,” she warned.

“I’m not going to go easy on you either,” he said. “From what I remember, you liked it the hard way.” He ran his hand down her arm.

“Is it going to be like that?” she asked, flushing from pleasure rather than embarrassment. She had dated a bunch of times in the last two years, but the sex was just okay. As much as she hated to admit it, Josh had gotten under her skin and she wanted more.

“I’ll be good about the sexual innuendos on television—as long as you followed my directions.” He dropped his gaze to below her waist.

Ashley looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was watching, and she unslung her purse and opened it. He peeked inside and smiled.

“I’d ask what you’re doing after the interview, but I already know,” he said.

“Oh yeah?” Ashley liked the wild desire in his eyes. “What am I doing?”

“Me,” he said simply. “Unless you don’t want to wait?”

Her eyes slid to her office and then back to him. “Not here.” Her heart was thumping as she considered it, though.

“I don’t have my Jeep. I took the train.”

“I don’t have any sheets in my Manhattan apartment. Everything got moved to my new place.”

“Don’t need sheets,” he said. “As long as you got a wall.”

Ashley bit her lip and looked into her office again.

“There’s no way I’m going to be quiet,” he said. “And neither are you.”

“I got walls,” she said, shivering in anticipation. “Four of them.”

“I think we can hit every one of them. The floor too.”

She wanted to kiss him. Just stand up on her tiptoes and wrap her arms around his neck. But she was afraid he’d use her office walls and she was trying to be professional. A few years ago, she’d have locked the door and had her way with him. But that was the wild and crazy Ashley, who was trying to live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking corpse. When, much to her astonishment, she survived to the end of her twenties, Ashley decided to get her shit together. Fucking her brains out at work wasn’t part of her new life purpose. Sadly.

Damn him, but her fingers were shaking when she pinned the microphone on him. He placed his hand on her hip and smoothed it down her ass.

“Just checking.” He winked at her.

They sat in the studio and went through the sound and camera tests before Ashley got the go-ahead from her producer to start the interview. She faced the camera.

“Welcome back. I’m Ashley Carver and I’m here tonight with Josh Lehmen, former Special Forces operator and the brother of Sarah Stevens, who was brutally murdered two years ago.”

She turned to Josh and was surprised to find the teasing, sexy man who had been flirting with her gone. In his place was the Green Beret captain who had earned every commendation he received. She swallowed and regrouped. “Thank you for being here tonight, Captain. I realize that these last two years have been an ordeal. I appreciate you coming here to talk about Sarah.”

He nodded.