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  Colt glanced at the house. Grace’s silhouette was clear under the moonlight. She was looking out at him, he imagined, trying to figure out if she’d gone from one dangerous situation into another.

  She didn’t know anything. Didn’t realize she’d just fucked the man who’d killed her papa. A man who murdered for the sake of money. People meant nothing to him. They were mere numbers. Figures. Money.

  Except her. Colt tried to imagine how he’d react if his boss asked him to kill Grace. He clenched his fists at his side. He’d lose it. All his protective instincts flared up at the idea of anyone harming Grace again. Misha had tried and he’d disposed of him and if anyone else tried to lay a single finger on her, he’d get rid of them, too. It didn’t matter that he hardly knew her. He wanted her bad and in more than one way. He wanted to hold her in his arms and keep her safe, like one of those unique, handmade porcelain angels his grandma used to collect.

  “Nona, why do you keep those angels? They’re weird.”

  His grandma smiled at him. She picked up one of the little figurines and gently removed the layer of dust that had collected over its face.

  “These strange little angels are representations of the angels that have walked the earth with us. Like your daddy and your momma. Do you remember them?”

  Colt shook his head. He did, of course he did, but he didn’t like talking about it. He didn’t like talking about the dead.

  “They were angels, just like you.”

  “But I’m not dead.”

  “Of course not, sweetheart. You’re an angel on earth and those are the most special kind. When you find one you must cherish and love it with all your heart because you never know when they’ll go back to heaven.”

  Colt rubbed his eyes. He hadn’t understood at that moment, but now as he looked upon Grace, he did. He yearned to protect her. To keep her safe and make sure no harm ever came to her. He ached to see her smile again and her eyes shine with happiness.

  He began to return to the house.

  Maybe if he sent her back home, they wouldn’t hurt her.

  Who was he kidding? If his boss wanted something, he’d find a way. No, the only alternative was to take down Grace’s brother and keep her with him. He climbed the three steps to Grace and stood before her. She tilted her head to look at him. Exhaustion marred her features, but also a serenity he couldn’t explain. His heart ached. He had been part of the reason she’d gone from beautiful angel to one whose wings had been painfully plucked.

  “I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I needed—”

  “You don’t need to explain, Colt. We hardly know each other.”

  Colt shook his head. He grasped her hands.

  “I know, but that doesn’t justify my behavior, angel.” He smiled. “The problem is I want to know you.”

  Grace smiled. His breath hitched.

  “I don’t see why that would be a problem.”

  Colt shook his head. Of course, she wouldn’t. She didn’t know him. Didn’t know who he was, what he was.

  “I’m not a good man, Grace. You don’t want to get involved with me. I have nothing to offer you.”

  “How can you say that? You saved my life.”

  “I did it selfishly because I wanted to fuck you. I’ve wanted to make you mine from the moment I saw your picture on your dad’s desk.”

  She bit her lip. Uncertainty danced in her gaze. It was better this way. If she didn’t like him, he could detach himself from her. Separate the fantasy from the reality.

  “I’m not a salesman, Grace,” he said slowly.

  “I figured as much,” she said.

  He smiled. “You’re a smart woman.” Colt curled a tendril of her hair around his index finger. “What do you think I do?”

  He held his breath, waiting for her reply.

  “I suppose you’re in the military or some kind of police force. I mean, the way you handled that gun.” She shuddered. “You were precise. You knew your mark and it was almost as if—” She chewed on her bottom lip.

  “As if,” he prompted.

  “As if you were detached from the situation, as if it meant nothing. It was just another duty you had to perform.” She stepped closer to him. “But you didn’t. You didn’t have to save me.” The urgency in her tone undid him.

  “I don’t know why,” he admitted. The shock in her face hurt more than he expected. “You have to understand, Grace. I’m not a hero. I don’t perform heroic acts. I don’t save damsels in distress. I’m actually a villain. The bad guy.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “What if I told you I kill for a living? That people contact me, offer me money in exchange for another person’s death and I do it. I don’t ask questions. I feel no remorse. I just do it and I enjoy it.”

  “No,” she shook her head. “I don’t believe you. That would make you a murderer.”

  “I prefer the term hitman.”

  “It can’t be.”

  Colt captured her chin and forced her to look at him.

  “It is, angel. As hard as it is to stomach, it’s the truth. I’ve killed more than twenty people, no questions asked, just done it.”

  “You’re lying.” She pushed him and turned away from him, covering her face with her hands. “It can’t be.”

  “But it is. You just fucked a killer for hire.”

  “I want to go home.”

  “That’s not going to be possible, angel. I might be a killer, but I’m not heartless, especially when it comes to women I’ve just fucked. Your home is probably not safe. They're out there for you.”

  “So what do I do, Colt? Stay here with you?”

  He grinned.

  “Why not? I promised I’d make you forget. And if you want to, I can still fulfill my promise.”

  Grace stared at him for long seconds. What alternative did she have? Stay here with him? Or go back, find the police and then … what? He knew those bastards weren’t to be trusted. Most of them were bought off, and the ones who weren’t always ended up in messy situations. But she didn’t know that, did she? She might want to go back to the city, try and get help and all for what?

  Just when he was about to give up, she nodded.

  “Make me forget.”

  Chapter Seven

  Colt led her to the en suite bathroom.

  He turned on the water spray, regulating the temperature to a pleasant heat. He kicked off his shoes, took off his shirt and pants, and placed them in the laundry basket. He glanced at Grace. She stood at the door, eyeing him. His cock hardened to half-mast under her hungry gaze.

  “See anything you like?”

  She licked her lips.

  “Everything.” Her husky voice touched him deep, desire spiked down his spine. He offered her his hand.

  “Come on,” he said.

  “We’re showering together?”

  Colt slid the dress down her shoulders. The tantalizing strap of her bra called to him. He kissed the smooth skin.

  “It’ll be quicker. We’ll save water and the environment.”

  “You care about that?”

  He slipped the outfit lower, skimming his palms across her breasts and the tips of her hard nipples.

  “Yes. Nature is the future. We must care for our resources.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Colt unsnapped her bra. Her breasts spilled into his hands. He weighed them, thumbing the hard pink nubs. His mouth watered.

  “What don’t you get?”

  He latched onto one side, sucking hard. Grace grabbed his shoulders and moaned low. He switched to the other breast.

  “How killing people and caring for the environment is compatible.”

  “People are just people. Nameless. Objects. Numbers. Money. There are good people and there are bad people, but none of that is relevant in my line of work. Nature, however, is always there. It was there before we arrived and unless we destroy all of it, it will continue to exist long after humanity becomes ext
inct. It is in a way what keeps us alive.”

  He slid his fingers across her slit, finding her wet. “The other thing that keeps us going is sex.”

  Colt circled her clit with his thumb. Grace arched against him.

  “I still don’t think I understand,” she panted.

  “That’s okay, angel. You don’t need to understand. You only need to feel and forget.”

  He lowered himself to his knees and pressed his face to her pussy, inhaling her musky scent. Pressing the flat of his tongue, he licked at her seam. Grace held onto him, her fingers digging into his scalp. Colt licked and sucked, tasting her delicious cream.

  “Colt.”

  Her legs quivered and her gasps and mewls encouraged him further. Colt pushed two fingers inside her, pumping fast. He sucked in her clit, pressing the flat of his tongue against it. Grace screamed, shattering into an orgasm.

  Slowly, Colt got to his feet. He kissed her softly.

  “Come on,” he said at last, “let’s shower.”

  He followed her inside the shower space, adjusting the spray so it’d hit both of them. Grace leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.

  “This feels so good,” she mumbled.

  Colt wrapped his arms around her from behind. His hard cock nudged her ass. He bit back a groan.

  “Doesn’t this feel better?”

  Grace sunk into him, nodding. He nipped the space between her shoulder and neck. She whimpered.

  “It’s perfect.”

  “Good.”

  Keeping her hard against him, Colt grabbed the liquid soap and poured some on his palm.

  “Relax, angel.”

  Gently, he massaged her shoulders, dipping down her back and over the curve of her ass, kneading the flesh. Grace sighed. He traveled lower, taking care of her thighs and calves.

  “Turn around,” he said.

  She did. Starting from the bottom up, he cleansed her legs, her knees, her thighs, up to her cunt. It glistened with water, enticing him once more. Reaching between her legs, he teased her slit, pleasantly surprised to find it hot and lubricated.

  “You’re still wet.”

  “I’m still horny,” she admitted.

  Colt snapped his head up to look at her. Twin red blotches painted her cheeks at her confession.

  “I’ll take care of that, angel. Don’t you worry.”

  He rose to his feet, sliding his soapy hands over her stomach, to her breasts. He massaged the plump flesh, rubbing his palm in circles over the turgid nub. Grace hummed in appreciation.

  Finally, after playing with her other breast, Colt reached her face. Carefully, so as not to hurt her, he ran his fingers over her forehead, her cheekbones and nose, leaving a white trail of soap.

  “Stand beneath the spray.”

  She obeyed, the rivulets of soapy water traveling down the drain. Meanwhile, Colt washed himself. He pressed himself to her and also got rid of the scented wash.

  “Wait here.”

  Stepping out of the shower, he quickly dried himself. Wrapping the towel around his waist, he went back to Grace.

  “All right, angel. Come here.”

  She stepped into his open arms and the towel he held for her. Gently, Colt patted her dry. He wrapped her in the fluffy material and for a moment held her. She was soft, sweet. He shut his eyes. She belonged here, in his arms, protected, cared for. He forced himself to release her. What was he thinking? He was traveling down a dangerous path. This was a one-night stand. Seduce, Fuck, Forget. Grace couldn’t stay with him. It wasn’t right. Not for him and not for her. He couldn’t be with someone in his line of work. It would only lead to heartbreak.

  “Come.”

  He brought her back to the main bedroom. Opening his closet, he picked out a big t-shirt.

  “You can wear this.”

  “I’ll grab my undies—“

  Colt grinned.

  “Forget that. No undies.” He squeezed his cock which had dropped to half-mast. “I’m not done making you forget, angel.”

  Grace smiled.

  She reached for the t-shirt he offered her and promptly slipped it over her head. Colt’s breath hitched. The material reached her mid-thigh, revealing just enough skin to entice him. How was it possible for a man’s shirt to look so good on a woman? Or was it that the woman was Grace? His erection rose, persistently throbbing. He grasped it, running his hand from top to bottom and back again.

  “That’s hot,” Grace said.

  Colt raised his eyebrows. He repeated the motions, keeping his gaze on her face. Her tongue darted between her lips, wetting them, increasing his desire as he imagined it on him instead. His strokes turned shorter, his breaths more shallow.

  Grace leaned back against the bed, spreading her legs. She gave him a view of her cunt. Dripping wet, red and swollen.

  “Fuck me, Colt,” she said.

  He didn’t need to be asked twice. Hurrying to the bathroom, he picked out a condom, opened the wrapper, and rolled it on. When he returned, Grace had moved to the center of the bed.

  “Turn around. Scoot to the edge of the bed and get on your knees.”

  She complied. He positioned himself behind her, the head of his cock at her welcoming entrance. He teased her, circling it. She pushed back, moaning.

  “Please.”

  “When I saw you at the bookshop I imagined something like this. You on your knees, me taking you from behind, my hand wrapped around your hair.”

  Inch by inch, he entered her until he was fully seated inside her.

  “Fuck me, please,” she tried to move against him. Colt grabbed a fistful of her hair. She gasped.

  “Not yet, angel.”

  He pulled out until only the tip was inside of her, then he slammed inside her again. Grace cried out. Colt set the rhythm, slow and steady, controlling Grace by her hair.

  “Touch yourself,” he ordered. “I want you to come again.”

  One of her hands flew between her legs, plucking her clit. Sweat dripped down his back. Their bodies slapped together. His breaths and Grace’s cries filled the air around them. Until finally, his balls tightened, rising against him. He squeezed his eyes shut.

  “Angel, you need to come now.”

  He gave her ass a sharp smack. Grace let out a keening cry. Her body convulsed around him. Furiously, he pumped into her, two, three times and then exploded, gasping out her name.

  Chapter Eight

  They didn’t speak about his job again. After a homemade dinner, they settled into bed, where they interspersed sex with sleeping. Colt checked the reflection of his clock on the ceiling. It was 7:00 AM. Grace rested tightly in his arms. Her hair tickled his nose, but the warmth of her body was unlike anything he’d felt before. He wanted to keep her tucked away forever. Make her his forever. It was ridiculous. Insane. He hardly knew her. He knew the basics, the simple facts, but he didn’t know anything beyond that. What made her the person she was? And what made him so damn attracted to her? He still couldn’t pinpoint it. Yes, she was smoking hot and fucked like a goddess, but this was more than just sex. He didn’t just want to fuck her and forget her. He wanted to fuck her and keep her forever. His heart jolted. He couldn’t, could he? She wouldn’t want to, would she? What madwoman would want to date a killer? He wouldn’t. It was a liability. A profession which didn’t allow people to love, because one moment you were doing the killing and the next you found something you weren’t supposed to and you were the one being pursued or you were put behind bars indefinitely. It wasn’t a life. He was a killer. Damn it. He’d killed her father. What would she think of him if she knew he was the man who had murdered her father? Remorse ate at his gut, an unwelcome emotion he hadn’t felt in years.

  “It seems you’re the one who’s overthinking today.”

  Her husky voice traveled over every pore in his body, making it sing. Colt glanced at the woman in his arms. Those blue eyes were his undoing. They held such kindness, such sweetness, he’d never be able to find an
ything quite like them.

  “What were you thinking about, Colt?”

  “Us,” he admitted.

  “Oh.” She dropped her gaze, lazily drawing circles on his chest.

  “We can’t stay hidden here forever, as much as I would like to.”

  “I suppose not.” Grace sighed. “But what do we do? Do we go to the police?”

  “No.”

  Colt sucked in his cheeks. He ran his fingers through Grace’s hair. What did they do? He only knew one person who would be able to help him.

  “I have an idea. Wait here.”

  Colt rolled out of bed, grabbed his cell phone, and stepped out of the bedroom. He dialed the last number on the phone’s memory. It rang twice.

  “Colt. I’ve been waiting for your call.”

  “Sir.”

  He clenched his fist at his side. His boss had been waiting for his call? What the hell? He never called. He wasn’t supposed to. He hadn’t even known if this would work.

  “You have the girl, don’t you?”

  It wasn’t really a question.

  “Yes.”

  “She's safe, I assume.”

  “Of course.”

  Colt moved to the living room. He sank on the couch. Nerves tingled down his spine. Where was this going?

  “What has she told you?”

  “Told me?” Colt echoed.

  The voice on the other side of the line chuckled.

  “I didn’t take you for a careless man, Colt, but I guess, sometimes, a hot piece of ass can do that to you.”

  “Sir—”

  “Talk to her, Colt. There’s much more to Grace Moretti than meets the eye.”

  “What do you mean?” Colt asked.

  “Talk to her. And Colt, don’t ever call me again or I’ll set the dogs on you.”

  The line went dead. Colt stared at his phone until the screen turned blank. Talk to her. Was Grace hiding something? It couldn’t be. He’d investigated her. She was an ordinary citizen, nothing fishy. A nice young girl. Right? Or had he made a mistake? He reactivated his phone and deleted the last few calls on the registry. It was an unnecessary precaution, because if anyone ever called his boss’s number, he knew it would no longer exist. But he needed a minute to piece his thoughts together. Why did his boss want him to speak to Grace? Was there anything out of place? She was sweet, sexy, smart. Perfect. Maybe that was the problem. She’d always been too good to be true. This had all been too easy.