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“Yeah, we both need one now”
They washed each other leisurely beneath the shower spray, drawing pleasure froelina loved the way his muscles rippled beneath the surface of his sers stroked over his arms, his chest, his abs and lower He wasn’t a ht lifter—his powerful body had a purposeoff Just as hers did
She couldn’t get over how much her body pleased him, an enjoyment he didn’t bother to hide Not to mention the inevitable reaction his body had to hers But when she would have caressed his arousal, he held her off “Not this time,” he told her firmly
He shut off the water and they toweled themselves dry in silence Neither had any false modesty Neither pretended not to look, to sneak peeks at each other’s bodies They looked openly, pleased at what they saw
They fell into bed together, and Alec drew her into his arainst his body “So why?” he asked, as if their earlier conversation hadn’t been interrupted by the shower they’d just taken
She didn’t pretend she didn’t knohat he was asking “Because I was excited about so and wanted to share it with you, but you were not available” That was only part of the story, and Alec obviously knew it because he waited patiently for the rest “So I did other things Things I would nor on the sidewalk outside the US eotten there It was not a conscious thing—my feet just followed that path And all at once I realized”
“That you wanted to be with me?”
She shook her head “More than that,” she admitted in a low voice “That I needed to be with you”
Alec sighed in relief as understanding finally dawned “It’s not a cri someone It’s not a criht Then he remembered what he’d told her before, and he could have kicked hi “I know I told you I want to be the one who gives you what you need,” he said, eh “And that’s the truth But I didn’t tell you how much I need you I didn’t” The words wouldn’t come easily The words that would explain so she’d never doubt hiain
“I never needed anyone before Not like this Not like you My fa at all” He was silent for a led closer Moved her hand so it was lying against his heart, and he drew courage from that silent confession
“I didn’t realize a man could need this way,” he admitted “I didn’t realize I could need this way” It still wasn’t enough He had to break through that wall in her head, in her heart “It’s as if I’ve lived in a world of black and white allis in color Glorious, unbelievable color Could I go back to my black-and-white world? Yeah If I had to I just don’t want to”
His arether The jobs we do I could be dead tomorrow So could you But we’d survive That’s the e’re made—we’re survivors” He breathed deeply “But don’t exile me back to that black-and-white world just because you’re afraid of needing me”
He rolled over suddenly, taking her with hi her beneath his body “You’re the bravest woman I know,” he told her fiercely “You’re not afraid of anything, not even death Don’t be afraid of needing me”
Aleksandrov Vishenko settled back against the leather seat of his cherished 2011 black Lincoln Town Car—the last year the luxury vehicle had been built—his hard, cold eyes fixed on the ht and paid for years ago
They were alone At least, the ht they were alone, a condition he’d i, and Vishenko had humored him Vishenko’s chauffeur had driven his boss in the Lincoln to this deserted parking lot in the wee s, then had gotten out of the car and walked away, leaving theuards were hidden everywhere They could see, but they couldn’t hear And that was good enough for Vishenko
He hid his contempt for the other er useful, he would be dead Vishenko knew that, but the other ht suspect, but he didn’t know Vishenko had used that suspicion more than once to his own benefit