20. Millie
Millie
Liss hugged her hard, filling her with a warmth she needed after the last hour. Millie straightened her glasses, which had slipped off-centre at the force of the embrace.
Bear and Cam helped pack the black four-by-four as they said their goodbyes and the dogs wove between them barking.
“You’ve got my number, so we can meet once you return to London. I’m there for work a couple of times a month,” Liss said, holding her stare.
Millie nodded, refusing to let Strike’s massive body and thick thighs distract her as he walked around the car.
“If you end up in Cornwall with Strike, call me and tell me how much of a dickhead he is.”
Millie giggled. She’d developed more laughter lines from the last couple of days around Liss and the lads than the past year alone.
“I heard that,” Strike growled, his deep voice making her gut spin.
“I won’t make it down the road without calling you at this rate. He’s a massive dickhead,” Millie replied, side-eyeing his sour face.
“Oi,” Strike hollered. “I still know where your most ticklish points are, and I’m not afraid to go there. I can get a reaction out of you.”
Millie’s eyes widened, and her tongue swept across her lower lip as she stared at the muscles she’d had between her thighs. He was so fucking gorgeous.
“You still like Strike,” Liss whispered, but Millie shook her head. She couldn’t like him, because then she’d have to revisit the past. Why hadn’t she received his letter?
Strike neared her. His fingers brushed her swinging ponytail as he eased her rucksack off her back. She shivered, and Liss smiled broadly. “You do.”
“She does what?” Strike asked.
“None of your business. Women are talking about women’s things,” Liss replied, although her eyes danced as Strike lurked.
“About how they need agency?” he asked. Millie turned to find him wearing a proud smile. Her chest lifted as her bad ass bodyguard added, “It’s important for women to have agency, and I must ensure Millie gets a say in everything.”
Bear choked on his coffee.
“Ummm, sure, we were talking about agency,” Liss replied, her brow furrowing.
“That said, you need to get in the vehicle in the next ten seconds, or I’m throwing you in,” Strike added, making her skin tingle.
“There’s my man,” Bear replied.
Liss pulled Millie in for another hug. “Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me,” Liss murmured in her ear. “But you need to know that a year ago, Strike told me something about why he went into the army. I shouldn’t, but he didn’t say it was a secret and—”
“Time’s up. I warned you, Millie. We need to get going.” Strike stalked her. She turned, and he cocked his eyebrow as if he was scared she might hurt him rather than the other way around.
“I need five more seconds,” Millie replied, hopping between her feet. She should just ask Strike why he left, but where Strike seemed anxious to say, Liss was buzzing. What was happening?
Strike locked her gaze. He appeared scared to act on his threat.
“You wouldn’t dare.” When they were teenagers, if she dared him to do something, he’d always do it. She’d consented for him to pick her up!
“I really fucking would dare,” he replied with a smile so devilish a coil of need bloomed in her belly. He tilted his head and counted down from five, but she didn’t run or tell him to stop.
He grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder. Her legs dangled down his chest as he held her tight against him. She was terrified of the police station and the risk, but this wasn’t just a distraction.
She craved it.
Craved him.
As he carried her to the car, she stared at Liss, whose eyebrows knotted.
“What did he say?” Millie asked as covertly as possible.
Strike opened the backdoor, and as he was about to throw Millie in, Liss shouted, “He said he did it for love.”
Strike tucked Millie in the car, slammed the door, and turned to Liss. His face was hidden from Millie’s view, but as Millie eased open the door, she heard Liss add, “What? That’s what you said.” .
For love.
Millie closed her door as Strike got in the car and slammed his. “Get in,” he grunted at Cam, who stood with Bear, his mouth wide.
Cam scooted into the driver’s seat.
Millie lowered her window, expecting Strike to shout at her to put it back up.
“Call me,” Liss shouted as Cam started the car. “And good luck.”