Bulletproof Bride. Diana Duncan

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      “Yes. There’s a small music store on the ground floor but it closes at four. I live in the loft above.”

      He shifted into “doing business mode.” Body taut, his alert gaze scanned the area. With his right hand tucked under his black leather jacket, he escorted her into the elevator. There was no amusement in him now, only deadly purpose. She shivered. Under his carefree exterior lurked a competent, dangerous cop.

      The elevator doors slid open. A massive gun appeared in his hand. He preceded her into the one-room loft. “Uh, Tessa? I hate to tell you this, but unless you’re a really messy housekeeper, somebody tossed your place.”

      Her possessions lay strewn about the apartment, everything viciously rifled, and then discarded like worthless trash. Tessa’s knees wobbled and she clutched the kitchen counter for support.

      “Easy, sweetheart.” Gabe grasped her arm to steady her, his eyes dark with concern. “It’s okay.”

      “Those criminals were in my home. They pawed through my things—”

      “They’re long gone.” He squeezed her arm reassuringly. “I’ll make a call and have this cleaned up in two hours.”

      “But—”

      Something thudded against the window.

      Before she could turn, his foot swept Tessa’s legs out from under her. His arms wrapped around her waist and took her down. Holding her on top of him, he hit the floor. In a split second, he rolled her beneath him, the back of her head cradled in his palm. “Don’t move,” he whispered.

      Heart hammering, she lay under his taut body. His clean, male scent assailed her senses. She fought to gasp in air, but her breathlessness had nothing to do with his weight on top of her and everything to do with his nearness.

      His gun edged past her cheek. He pressed her face into his shoulder. “Shh. Don’t move.”

      A chorus of plaintive meows shattered the tense silence.

      Relieved laughter burst out of her. “Andrew, Lloyd and Webber.”

      He glanced at her, disbelief etched on his features. “Andrew, Lloyd and Webber?”

      “The music store owner’s cats.” She grinned. “When she leaves, they climb the fire escape and beg for snacks.”

      “Cats.” Gabe breathed out a sigh. His body relaxed.

      Intimately joined from shoulder to hip, Tessa stared up at him. The golden afternoon light gilded the planes of his face, emphasizing the cleft in his chin. Her gaze roamed over his sculpted mouth. Remembering his brief, exciting kiss, she licked her suddenly dry lips.

      He groaned. She jerked her gaze up and saw his smoky green stare fastened on her mouth.

      “Relax, sweetheart,” he urged, his voice a hot, husky whisper as he touched his lips to hers. His fingers lightly traced her cheekbones, caressed the curves of her ears. No one had ever touched her with such gentleness, such aching tenderness. Her body melted like warm honey.

      His moist breath feathered over her temples, and her lashes floated down in languid surrender. She was rewarded by a soft kiss on each eyelid. His lips journeyed along her jawline, nibbled behind her ears and down her neck, heating her body, heating her blood. She basked in the delicious sensation. Her mouth parted in a sigh.

      Gabe teased her lower lip with his velvet tongue. He bit gently, then suckled the sensitized flesh, wringing a moan from her. His mouth tempted, enticed, seduced—and she wanted more. She opened to him and his tongue glided inside, stroking slow and gentle against hers, inviting her response. Her stomach fluttered at the minty taste of him, cool, and yet at the same time, unbearably hot. Fire scorched her nerve endings, every inch of her alive and quivering. More alive than she’d ever been.

      Tentatively, she returned his kiss, her tongue meeting his in a seductive duet. His breathing quickened, and he explored her mouth with a sensual, thorough expertise that shattered her control.

      She wanted, needed, like she’d never needed before. She couldn’t get enough. Her arms slid around his neck, urging him closer. She moaned into his mouth, and his low answering murmur vibrated through her.

      Reality slammed into her with a jarring crash. Her heart stopped, then kicked into painful, irregular thrusts. She was kissing a man she barely knew—while engaged to another! She tore her mouth from his and shoved at his chest. “Get off me!”

      He frowned in confusion. “Tessie? What’s wrong?”

      Dazed, and livid with herself, she lashed out with the only weapon she had. “Maybe everyone was right to question me about you after all.”

      He froze, his eyes darkening. “I didn’t force you. You wanted that as much as I did.”

      “I most certainly did not,” she lied. If she admitted it, that would make her like Vivienne, and she would not go there.

      He was trembling. Had she done that to him? “Baby, your brain might be clinging to denial, but your body sure as hell knows what it wants.” He jumped up and stalked to the other side of the room. “Get packed.”

      She clambered to her feet. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

      He prowled toward her, all lean muscles and dangerous grace. “This is not an optional exercise. Pack, or I’m hauling you out right now without whatever you need.”

      “I won’t—” she started, then thought better of pushing him. He looked furious enough to follow through, and she had no doubt who would win. Provoking a confrontation was foolish. Pivoting, she marched to the closet and grabbed a new suitcase, purchased for her honeymoon. She threw it on the bed, and began flinging in clothing at random.

      An echoing note from her baby grand piano made her jerk her head up. He was seated at the oak bench. “What do you play?”

      “Music,” she snapped.

      “Don’t be mad.” Looking as lost and bewildered as she felt, he gave her a shaky smile. “I couldn’t have stopped myself from kissing you right then if my life had depended on it.” He cleared his throat and his gaze slid away. “I was out of line. I apologize.”

      Confusion swirled through her, her muddled feelings tangled in a knot. She shoved a taupe sweater on top of the growing pile. “I’m promised to another man. A good man. You can’t just kiss me whenever you get the urge. I need to be able to trust you.”

      “You can trust me, Tessa.” He returned her gaze, his jade eyes dark with suppressed emotion. He held up a two-fingered salute. “I won’t kiss you again. Scout’s honor.”

      “You were a Boy Scout?”

      His gaze sidled away again. “Not exactly.”

      He looked so much like a little boy with his hand caught in the cookie jar, she couldn’t help herself. She chuckled. “You are something else, Bond, Gabe Bond.”

      “I believe you used the word nice?” He wiggled his brows at her.

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