Page 87 of Untamed Sinner

Because Monday is coming too fast.

Because Ashford is waiting.

Because Clara is running out of time.

Because underneath all my jokes and swagger, there’s a tiny voice reminding me this plan could go spectacularly fucking wrong.

But none of those are the answer. Not right now.

Right now, I want the man sitting beside me so badly I can barely stay still.

So I unbuckle my seat belt and lean toward him. “Because I’m done thinking.”

His eyes darken. “And?”

Of course he makes me say it. Fucking Hendricks. “I want you.”

Something in his expression changes.

Then he reaches for me.

His hand wraps around the back of my neck, pulling me across the console. His mouth crashes into mine—hard, possessive, claiming. I kiss him back just as fiercely, my hands fisting in his shirt.

When he pulls back, we're both breathing hard. "I agreed to the plan," he says.

"I know."

"But you need to promise me something."

I tense. "What?"

"No crazy shit." His eyes lock on mine. "You follow the operational boundaries. You don't go off script. You don't take unnecessary risks."

I look at him suspiciously. "Define unnecessary."

"Mandy."

"I'm serious.” I sit back, but my hands are still wrinkling his shirt. “What counts as unnecessary when we're using me as bait?"

His grip tightens on my neck. "You know what I mean."

I do. He means don't be reckless. Don't throw myself into danger just because I can. Don't treat my life like it's disposable.

"I'm not going to be passive," I say. "Or helpless."

"I'm not asking you to be."

I tip my head, considering him. "Then what are you asking?"

"I'm asking you to stay alive." His voice drops. "I'm asking you to come back to me."

The urgency in his voice stops me cold. I hear everything he doesn’t say, and for a a second I don’t know what to do with it. Something in my chest cracks open, and I can’t find my words. Normally I’d make a joke, but I can’t do anything except whisper, “Okay.”

"Okay?"

I nod, swallowing thickly. "I promise. No crazy shit."

He studies my face, searching for the lie.