Page 44 of Criminally Yours

He gritted his teeth and forced the robot to take over, but it wouldn’t.

His heart thumped and his vision blurred as he fought to keep memories of his last manoeuvres in the SAS buried.

“Surely, a bodyguard always carries tweezers,” Millie said. Her tease was like a life ring as he drowned. The softness of her hair skimmed his skin as she ran her nails up and down his neck. He sucked in a breath and immersed himself in her.

Light flitted through the darkness, and he could see clearly again. His chest eased at the release.

“How shall we get him home?” she asked, her nails still against his neck.

“Climb on my back.”

“The fuck? How will that help? I could just walk.”

“Nope. I’m carrying Jeff home. With my hands busy, I can’t protect you in the way I’d like.”And I want you close. I want your heart beating against me so I can keep the darkness at bay.“And it will just help me, okay?”

“But you can’t carry me and the dog. He’s a freaking labrador, and I’m hardly a feather.”

“Doc, I’ve benched double you. I’ve trained for this moment all my life. So get on my back before I toss you over my shoulder.”

Her blush was the perfect reward. As she climbed on, he added, “Hurry up, then.”

“I’m already on your back, dickhead.”

“And yet I don’t feel a thing. Maybe you’re a feather, after all.”

“Just get us home,” she replied, her lips against his ear.

With a thickening dick and covered in mud, he lifted Jeff and walked toward the house with Roy by his side.

“You’re going to need to talk to me so I know you’re safe.”

And because I need to hear your voice before I say goodbye forever. Even if I have to face your questions.

“Millie?”

CHAPTER 19

Millie

“Sorry. I was distracted,” Millie replied from her throne, aka Strike’s broad back, his shoulders flexing beneath her.

She rested her head against his neck, her lips casually pressing against his skin. Why did he think he would ruin her life? He kept skirting her questions until she was too tired to ask them.

Was she some sort of masochist in trying to get his secrets while also pushing him away?

“Tighten your legs. I don’t want to drop you,” he demanded with a gruffness that caused a pulsating between her thighs. “I need you to really grip me. Make sure your arms are secure around my neck.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I’ve got muscles in places you can’t imagine. You can’t hurt me,” he growled.

“So why is your voice all gruff and raspy like I’m gripping you too tightly?”

He cleared his throat. “Must be the air.”

She breathed in his orange-tinged musk. His muscles weresolid as hell, and the friction from each step played havoc between her thighs. Heat built slowly. She wasn’t used to having any man close. And Strike wasn’t just any man.

“I told you to keep talking, Doc,” Strike grunted. “What are the first things you’ll do when you get home?”