Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
E aston was quiet as they drove the Norcross SUV back to his place. She felt a weird vibe radiating off him.
She now had a bandage on her arm and was the proud owner of two stitches.
“You okay?” she asked.
He didn’t look her way, just gave one curt nod.
Ryder had given him a quick once-over as well, and proclaimed him fine, with the exception of a few small cuts on his forehead.
He’d cleaned up a little, but there were still blood smears on his temple.
That dark vibe seemed to swirl around him, getting denser.
Once he parked inside his garage, Harlow felt some of the tension drain out of her. She felt safe here. Easton was still quiet as they headed up in the elevator.
He turned on the lights and they walked into the kitchen. Harlow dumped her bag on the island. Her bloodstained coat was long gone, and she looked down at her white shirt. It was ruined. It looked like something from a horror movie set.
She turned, and saw Easton just standing there, staring at her.
“Easton?”
He pressed a hand to the back of his neck. “I said I’d keep you safe, and you got shot.”
“Nicked. You know I’m okay.”
“We were in a high-speed car chase, you got shot—”
“None of which is your fault.” It was like a light bulb going off in her head. All this dark brooding was guilt. “It’s Antoine’s and Rhoda’s fault, with a side helping of blame for my father.”
She strode to Easton. He stared at the blood on her shirt.
“I need to send you away,” he said. “Somewhere safe.”
“ No . I’m not leaving. I’m not the main target here. Really, I almost got you killed.”
“What?” His brows drew together.
“I dragged you into this. Your car is wrecked. You’ve been shot at, you had to shoot at people. You should run, Easton. Far and fast.”
“Hell, no.”
She pressed her hands to his chest. “Then I guess we’re stuck with each other.”
“Which is lucky, since you love me.”
Harlow’s lungs stopped. A roar started in her head. “What did you say? Why would you think that?” Man, was that high and squeaky voice hers?
“You told me the other night. When you were drunk.”
Oh, God. She wanted the floor to swallow her whole. “Oh. Well, drunk people say…things.”
“You telling me that it isn’t true?” Emotions swirled in his deep blue eyes like smoke.
She looked to the side. Hell . He wanted to crack her open, strip her bare.
Easton gripped her chin and forced her to meet his gaze.
“I hope it’s true,” he said quietly, “because I’m in love with you.”
Harlow’s world stopped. Her mouth dropped open and she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. She tried to talk, but no words came out.
“Oh, God,” she gasped finally.
He pulled her flush to his chest. “I love you, Harlow Carlson.”
“How is this even possible?” she whispered.
“Because we’re perfect for each other. Because in such a short time, you’ve become my everything.”
She felt a prick of tears, emotion alive in her chest.
“And seeing Hugo shoot at you, seeing you fall and not knowing—” His voice cracked.
She cupped his cheeks. “I’m okay. We’re both okay.”
“I’ve seen a lot of people get shot who weren’t okay.”
Oh, Easton . He carried such weight.
One of his hands slid into her hair. “You have to be okay.”
“I’m right here, Easton.” She took his hand and placed it flat against her chest. “Feel my heart beating.”
Fire ignited in his eyes. His hand curled around her breast. He pulled her up on her toes and kissed her. The kiss was hard, raw. There was no finesse, his tongue thrusting into her mouth. She moaned.
One of his strong arms snaked around her, then she found herself whirled and lifted.
Harlow gasped. He carried her to the dining room table and set her down on the edge. Then his mouth was on hers—hard, demanding. So good, but with an edge. A desperate, greedy edge.
He reached down and undid her pants. He dragged them down her legs, taking her panties with them. Next, he pulled away her ruined shirt. Jaw tight, he balled it up and threw it away. Her bra followed.
She sat there naked, his gaze burning into her.
“Easton.”
Intensity pumped off him. He pushed her flat on her back. His gaze locked on the white bandage on her arm. Then he bent over her and kissed it.
Oh, boy . She quivered.
His mouth traveled lower, then he tugged her nipple into his mouth.
She arched into him, her hands sliding into his hair.
“I shouldn’t touch you. You’re hurt.”
“It’s just a nick,” she panted.
“I should take care of you—”
She tugged his hair until that intense blue gaze met hers. “You are. I’m not made of glass. You need this. I need this. Take what you need, Easton.”
With a groan, his mouth took hers again. Harlow kissed him with everything she had, taking, giving, wanting more.
She felt his hand between them at his belt. Then his knuckles slid between her thighs. He stroked her, sliding through her wet folds, then his hand was gone and she felt the head of his cock.
Yes . With a jerk of his hips, he thrust deep, filling her.
“Easton!” She wrapped her arms and legs around him.
He drove into her, finding a hard, unforgiving rhythm. “Take me, Harlow.”
“ Yes . You feel perfect inside me.”
“Made for me. So tight. Fuck .”
He slammed into her and she held him tighter. She heard the table scrape on the floor.
“Easton, I—” There was no time to finish. Pleasure hit her in a hot rush. With a sharp cry, she reared up and bit his neck.
He growled, his hips bucking faster, then he lodged his cock deep and groaned through his own release.
They stayed there on the table, both panting. It took a while, but finally their breathing slowed.
Harlow ran a hand down his back.
“Is your arm okay?” he asked.
“What arm?”
When he pulled her up to sit, she smiled.
That earned her the faintest tip of his lips. “You’re okay.”
“I told you that.” She licked her lips. “You’re really in love with me?”
He would never realize that it was the hardest question she’d ever asked.
“Yes, Harlow Carlson. I, Easton Norcross, am in love with you.”
Her chest filled with warmth, then she blinked. “Oh no, when people ask about when we both shared our “I love yous” it can’t be when we were naked on the dining room table.”
He smiled and she was glad to see it. The darkness was sliding away.
“Well, you’re naked,” he said.
True. He was still mostly dressed.
“And really, the first time you told me that you love me was when you were drunk.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Shut up.”
His phone vibrated and he pulled it out. “There’s someone at the front door.”
“Who?”
“Ace.” He tilted the phone to show an image of Ace at the front door on the security camera.
She frowned. “Why?”
“Get dressed, baby.” Easton helped her off the table. “I’m heading out with Vander. Ace is going to stay with you.”
She straightened. “Heading out? Why?”
Darkness licked his eyes again. He shrugged off his shirt and wrapped it around her. “Durant shot you. He hunted you. I won’t let that stand.”
“Easton—” Fear was like snakes in her belly.
“Go up and shower, get ready for bed. I’ll let Ace in, and then get ready to go.”
She grabbed his arm. “Promise me you won’t get hurt.” She reached up and stroked the cuts at his temple. “That you’ll come back to me.”
“I’ll be here when you wake up, baby.”
He kissed her, and it was soft with something she’d never felt before. God, was this what love felt like?
“Now, go and change,” he said. “I have no desire for Ace to see you naked in only my shirt.”
“You come back safely, Easton.”
He lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. “I promise.”
* * *
When Easton let himself into the house, the sun was just starting to rise over the city.
He’d spent the night out with Vander. There’d been no sign of Hugo Durant, or Charles Carlson.
They’d pressed Armand pretty hard, but the man had claimed he’d cut Durant loose.
“I would never hurt Harlow, Norcross.” Antoine shook his head. “Hugo crossed the line.”
Easton had hated the guy even saying her name. Only the knowledge that she was safe, and tucked up in his own bed, had stopped him punching Armand.
But he had used his interrogation skills. They’d followed Durant’s trail, and Easton had questioned some of his “friends.” As he headed up the stairs, and he curled his hand into a fist, his newly torn knuckles stung.
He found Ace in the formal living area, laptop open, kicked back in an armchair.
“Hey,” Easton said.
“Hey.” Ace straightened. “Any luck?”
Easton shook his head. “Durant is a cockroach.” He’d slithered into a dark hole somewhere.
“He seems pretty fixated on Harlow.”
Easton’s lips flattened. “He’s not going to get near her.”
“Sick fucks like him don’t give up easily.”
“Armand’s cut him loose.”
“Makes him even more volatile.”
Easton felt his gut tighten. “Thanks for looking out for her.”
“Easy job. She’s sweet, funny. She was wired when you left, made me some coffee. She was worried about you. Then she crashed.”
“She still asleep?”
Ace nodded, then rose. “I’ll get going.”
“Any sign of Carlson?”
“Narrowed down some options. We’re getting closer, I can feel it. We’ll bring him in soon.”
Easton scraped a hand through his hair. He’d need caffeine to get through today. “I want this over, and Harlow safe.”
Ace slapped his back. “Hang in there, amigo .”
Easton let Ace out, then headed upstairs.
When he entered his bedroom, he didn’t even look at the view.
His gaze went straight to the woman sprawled in the center of his bed.
She’d half kicked off the covers. She was on her stomach, one long leg hitched up.
That drew her pajama shorts up, giving him a beautiful view of her panty-covered ass.
He swallowed a groan and sat on the edge of the bed. He reached out and stroked her thigh.
She made a cute sound and rolled over. Then she peered at him out of sleepy eyes.
“Hi,” she murmured.
“Hi. You got some sleep?” Damn . He looked at the bandage on her arm and his gut went tight. Last night could’ve been much worse.
He could have lost her.
She rose up on an elbow, her blonde hair in a tangle. “I did. You didn’t.”
“There’s a pot of coffee with my name on it somewhere.”
She sat up, and stroked his stubbled jaw. “Any luck finding creepy Hugo?”
Easton shook his head. “He can’t run forever.” Easton slid a hand under her tank top, and cupped her breast. He thumbed her nipple. “Time to shower and get ready for work.”
She licked her lips, her nipple beading. “Right. You have some important meetings today. And your charity director wants to talk to you today about the Veterans Picnic, and she wants a big masquerade charity ball this year. So brace.”
“Harlow, you aren’t coming into the office today.”
She blinked, her sleepiness gone. “What?”
“It’s too dangerous. I want you protected—”
“I’m not staying here doing nothing. I’ll go crazy.”
He cupped her shoulders. “I know. I’m taking you to the Norcross Security office. You’ll be safe there. I’m sure Vander can find something for you to do.”
She sighed. “When will this end?”
He slid his thumb along her cheekbone. “Soon, baby. Hang in there.”
He hugged her and she held on tight.
They showered together, and ate breakfast. Exhaustion was an old companion that Easton had learned to deal with in the Rangers. But he was a little out of practice. He sucked back a second cup of coffee, then locked the fatigue down.
Harlow rushed in wearing jeans. Dark ones that hugged her body. She’d tucked them into knee-high, brown boots and she was wearing a gray sweater with a draping neckline. She looked gorgeous.
“I have something for you,” he told her.
She raised a brow. “What?”
He held open a small box and saw her go still.
Harlow stared at the sapphire-and-diamond earrings. “No.”
“Yes. It’s just a little gift.”
“I can tell that they’re expensive.”
Shit, he wasn’t going to tell her about the matching necklace yet.
“I want you to wear something of mine.”
“Easton—”
“Please. Seeing you get shot last night—”
“Nicked!”
He cupped her cheek. “Please?”
She sighed. “Oh, fine.” She snatched the box.
“You are so fucking hard to give things to.”
Her face softened and she lifted one earring. “They’re beautiful, Easton. Thank you.”
They drove to the Norcross Security office in the X6. He pulled into the garage beside a row of other SUVs.
“Will you borrow this SUV until you get a new Aston?” she asked.
“No. I have a driver coming to pick me up. And I have another car, remember? The R8.”
“Oh, right.” She waved a hand. “You billionaires always have a spare sports car lying around.”
As they headed for the stairs, he swatted her ass. “I hear that sarcasm, Ms. Carlson.”
She grinned.
He was happy to see her smiling. And he really liked seeing those pretty sapphires on her ears.
They walked into the main office. It was busy today, with several people sitting in offices, or walking through the central open space.
Harlow raised a brow. “Who are all these people?”
“Vander subcontracts on larger cases, and he has a few extra employees for specialized jobs. Like surveillance and security.”
Saxon strode out of an office and spotted them. “Hi. Harlow, how are you doing?”
“Okay.”
The man reached out and gave her a quick hug. “You gave us a scare.”
“Well, as I’ve been told numerous times, it was only a nick. How’s my sister? She hasn’t driven you crazy yet?”
Saxon grinned, lighting up his handsome face. “She must save that for you.”
Vander appeared. “I hear I have an extra employee today.”
“You paying me?” Harlow asked. “Maybe you could lure me away from my current boss. He’s a workaholic dragon—”
Easton tugged her so she collided with his chest and then kissed her. It took two seconds to have her melting against him. “Be good.”
She nodded. “Be safe. Don’t freak poor Gina out. She’s terrified of you.”
He kissed her again, then he met Vander’s gaze over her head. His brother nodded, getting Easton’s message to keep Harlow safe.
“Watch out,” Easton warned his brother. “She’ll have your office organized and alphabetized, if you aren’t careful.”
Harlow poked her tongue out. Easton felt the urge to kiss her again, and decided why the hell not? He left her breathless.
“Go make some millions,” she said.
“I’ll pick you up this afternoon. Remember, be good.”
“Go.” She shooed him out.
Easton strode out to meet his driver. He hated leaving her, and made himself drag in a deep breath. It was time to focus on work, but for the first time, he was finding that impossible.