Page 95 of Criminally Yours

He laughed because it was true. “I trawled the internet and found you. Luke used weird hacker shit I don’t understand to confirm it was you.”

“You stalked me.”

He winced again and looked down.

“That’s such a turn-on,” she rasped. “Are you BaseballManUK?”

Strike nodded and bit his upper lip.

“You like all my posts.”

“And read all the books you recommend, which also fuelled my darkest fantasies.”

“You sneaky fucker. I wondered who it was. I presumed it was someone who really liked baseball romances, but you picked baseball because your name is Strike.”

He smirked.

“Shit,” she said, leaning back. She nibbled her thumb, and he drank in the sight of her lips wrapped around it. “That means you know my other favourite book.”

Strike nodded. “And your favourite tropes. You announced them in April last year.” He grinned. “Your favourite book isThe Soldier’s Temptation, which has a blond soldier as the love interest, and your favourite tropes are second-chance romance, friends to lovers, and men in uniform, like you said before, although in your post you specified soldiers.”

“You knew that book was about you.”

He cupped her face. “I hoped, dreamed, it might be about me.”

She sucked her lower lip. “You smug fucker. It was a coincidence.”

But his smile wouldn’t abate. “Are you annoyed?”

“No. I love that you’ve always been in the background of my life. Maybe not everyone would be into this brand of obsessive stalker, but it makes me want you more.” Her palm grazed his cock as she kissed him. It juddered against her, and she hummed at his groans.

“But how’s this relevant other than it’s turning you on while proving you’re perfect for me?”

“I’ve got a copy ofThe Soldier’s Temptationwith me.”

“Okay,” she said, drawing out the word.

“And you know I like to take charge and I’m solution-focused.” His voice was stronger now, more authoritative. He gripped her thigh and slid his hand higher, waiting for a safe word. She opened her legs wider.

“I have a plan. I reckon it’s worth a try if you’re game.” He licked his lips as he fixed her gaze. “But if you’re not, I’m cool with that.”

Lines appeared on her forehead. She wasn’t rejecting him or telling him to stop, but she held her hand against his, stopping him from moving higher. She took a deep breath, and he kissed her forehead.

“It’s okay to be scared. I’m scared, too.”

She shivered. “What if we try this and it doesn’t work and makes it worse?”

“What if it doesn’t?” She thumbed her forehead. “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to, but if you let me, I’ll take control.”

He held his breath and waited.

She dropped her head before lifting it and meeting his gaze. “I want you to make me come,” she stuttered.

His eyes darkened, and he growled. “That’s exactly what I’m going to do, but we’re doing this together and in a way that makes you fucking needy.” His fear fed him like it had in the past. “While I prepare?—”

“Prepare?” she squeaked.

“Making you come is a military operation I’ve been planning since we discussed your app. And something I’ve imagined since I licked your pussy as you ground it against my mouth ten years ago.”