Page 421 of A Matter of Time

“Jor—”

“I’ll see you at home, okay?”

“No, it’s not okay! I need to⁠—”

“I’m not gonna fly.” I was thinking out loud. “They might be looking for me at the airport, so I’ll drive or take the bus or⁠—”

“No,” he said flatly. “Just meet me at the hotel. Dane and I got two rooms, and I’ll⁠—”

“I don’t want you to get in trouble for harboring a fugitive.”

“Love, you are not a fugitive. The only thing Agent Calhoun wants to do is hold you for questioning.”

“The way he talks… He scares the shit outta me. And whatever he wants to do, it’s out of your hands at this point.”

“He’s not going to⁠—”

Aaron Sutter suddenly popped into my head. “Shit, I just thought of something.”

“Baby, just please, meet me at my hotel. Dane and I are staying at the airport Hilton. I’m in room nine-twelve. Please, just be there.”

“I think I have a better idea.” Aaron had a private jet—he could send it for me, and would, I was sure, if I asked him nicely enough.

“No. Don’t call anybody else. Do not turn to anyone but me right now, it’d be a mistake.”

There was no denying that the man knew me well. “But, Sam, I⁠—”

“Baby,” he said, and his voice was like honey. “Please.”

I let myself take a breath, and as I did, the sound of his voice seeped into me.

“Don’t leave without me. I need you.”

There could never be any doubt that Sam Kage knew how to talk to me. I basically puddled into goo right there. “Okay. I’ll go get my stuff and meet you at your hotel.”

“I’ll get your stuff. Just go to the hotel. I’ll call and tell them to give you a key.”

“Are you sure you won’t get⁠—”

“Jory, just go to my room and wait for me. Please, I’m begging you.”

I was useless when it came to saying no to Sam Kage.

“Tell me where you were staying so I can grab your crap.”

I told him, then hung up after he extracted another promise to meet me at his hotel. The man was determined to see me, and as always, my stomach fluttered just thinking about him. I wondered vaguely if that would ever change.

I smelled bad and I felt grimy, so I took a shower after I’d been in Sam’s room for an hour. When I opened the bathroom door a while later and stepped out into the room, I found him standing by the window. He still had his coat on, like he had just gotten there.

“Hi.” I smiled over at him, and I couldn’t keep the sigh out of my voice.

He didn’t answer, just crossed the room and grabbed me, yanking me forward, crushing me against his big, hard body.

I felt myself shaking, but I was powerless to stop it. It felt so good to finally be safe. He was warm and solid, and his lips on the side of my neck felt like heaven.

“Look at me.”

When I lifted my head, his mouth was on mine. It was a devouring kiss, nothing gentle about it, his tongue tasting me, claiming me. He lifted me off my feet and carried me to the bed, where he fell down with me still wrapped in his arms. I expected to be ravaged, but instead he straddled my hips and sat up. He pulled off his coat and scarf and threw them on the floor as he looked down at me.