Page 66 of Secrets in the Deep

Emily cried out as she hit the bed, the mattress bouncing beneath her back, then Ryan was suddenly over her.

“You think I didn’t see through that smile?”

“Ryan—”

He kissed her neck, that day-old stubble running over her skin. “You can fool the rest of the world, Emily Prior, but I see you.”

I see you.

She closed her eyes, letting those words sit inside her.

He kissed her again, higher this time, grazing her jawline.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she pushed.

“Liar.”

“You know me so well? Tell me if this is fake.” She pulled him down and kissed him. Not gently. Her tongue pushed past his lips and curled against his.

He gripped her thigh, yanking it to the side before slipping between her legs.

Yes. She needed more. To hell with work and her future.Thiswas the only place she cared to be.

His hand was skimming across her thigh, so close to her core, when he suddenly tensed. Not subtly. This was his entire body turning to stone in an instant.

“What—”

His hand covered her mouth, silencing her.

He turned his head, a deep crease forming between his brows. “Someone’s in the house.”

What?

Silently, he rolled away and grabbed a sweater from his dresser. “Put this on.”

She took it with shaking fingers and pulled it over her head.

He only yanked on jeans before opening the second drawer of his bedside table. But instead of reaching inside, he slipped his hand beneath it and pulled out a small gun.

Her mouth dried.

His gaze hit her, hard and intense, a completely different person from the man she’d been kissing just a moment ago. “Stay here.”

She nodded. Even though she didn’t want to be alone, and she certainly didn’t want him to go out there and face God knew who.

But she didn’t voice any of that. She watched him walk out of the bedroom and into the hall.

He was focused. Controlled. His gaze sweeping every corner, quick and calculating, as if nothing could escape him.

She only moved to the doorway when she heard his light footsteps on the stairs.

Who was in the house?Whywere they in the house? For her? For Ryan? Were they armed?

She had so many questions.

Fear for Ryan had her stepping out of the room.

Before she could process what she was doing, she was at the top of the stairs, watching Ryan as he reached the first floor, weapon trained toward the living room.