He didn’t want her holding anything back. “Emerson?”

  Her hands curled and fisted against his shirtfront. “I can do the undercover job. Don’t let this change anything. I can do it.”

  “I have zero doubt that you can do any job, and I don’t see why it would change a single thing.” But it had changed things. He was lying to her. It had changed things because…I don’t want to let you out of my sight. I want to protect you. I want to destroy the bastard who scared you. Correction, I will destroy him.

  Her lashes flickered. “Do you mean that?”

  “Why would it change anything?”

  “My mother and Owen didn’t find an intruder that night. There was no sign of a forced entry, and my mother’s home had a top-of-the-line security system.”

  Just like tonight. No sign of an intruder, and he didn’t set off the security system. “Just means the guy is good.” Which was bad.

  “They thought it meant…I did it.”

  His jaw nearly hit the floor. “What?”

  She dropped her hands. Took a step back. Another. One more. “I didn’t. I didn’t smash the mirror in my bedroom that long ago night. I didn’t injure myself because I wanted attention or because I wanted to be a victim.”

  What the fuck? Her mother had thought that crap?

  “I’m not delusional.”

  He sucked in a breath because he understood exactly where this was going.

  “I’m not,” she repeated with harder intensity. “My attacker that night was real, even if I’m the only one who saw him. And he was real tonight. I didn’t smash those mirrors.”

  A curt nod. “Never thought for even a second that you had.”

  “My mother made sure that incident never got out when I was seventeen. She was so sure I’d made it all up.” An exhale. “I never told anyone other than my mother and Owen what happened. Not until now. Not until you.”

  “You’re seriously saying that an assault on a seventeen-year-old was swept under the rug by your senator mother? The bastard could have raped you, could have killed you, and she did nothing?”

  Emerson flinched.

  Gray knew he needed to calm the hell down. He also knew that his rage wasn’t going to be cooling anytime soon. This is Emerson.

  Her gaze had fallen to the floor. “She was afraid I was like him.”

  “Eyes on me, Emerson.”

  Her stare whipped up.

  Calm the fuck down, Gray. Yes, he knew that he should get a grip. He also knew that wasn’t happening. His control was as cracked as those mirrors. “You aren’t your father.”

  “I don’t have delusions,” Emerson whispered.

  “No, baby, you don’t.”

  She wet her lower lip. “You just called me baby.”

  Yeah, he had.

  “Are you getting into your—our—cover story? That why you’re suddenly using an endearment?”

  He could lie, say yes. “Is that what you think I’m doing?”

  “I don’t know.” Her gaze started to fall away.

  “On me, Emerson. Eyes on me.”

  Her stare collided with his.

  “You’ve got a stalker,” he told her.

  Slowly, she nodded.

  “You’ve known he’s been in your life for a while, haven’t you?” Rage slithered within him.

  “Since I was seventeen. He’s been in and out of my life since then. Doing small things.”

  Trying to make you think that you were slipping into the same delusions that claimed your father? He locked his jaw. “How often does he leave you messages saying that you’re going to die?”

  Her breath shuddered out. “That was new.”

  “Was it.” Not a question. You should have told me what was happening. But he was figuring things out. Fast. The prick followed her all the way to Briar. Like that wasn’t hugely problematic. As problematic as say, threatening to kill Emerson. Damn red spray paint on the motel room wall…

  The paint had been a warning for him to get away from her. Leave. Why? Because her stalker thought Emerson belonged to him?

  The hell she does.

  And when Gray had stayed close, the guy had gotten mad, stepped up his sick game, and smashed her mirrors?

  “He’s trashed my room before. Broken valuables.”

  And it made sense. Shit. He’d read her wrong. Gray reevaluated. “That’s why you don’t have anything personal at your place. Because he just destroys what matters to you.”

  Her chin lifted.

  “You didn’t go to the police?” Keep the rage back, Gray. Hold it in check. “I get your mother wanted to cover up the first attack, but when the prick stayed around, you never told the authorities?”

  “I did. When I was in college. Then med school. In college, the campus police told me it was just a prank. Probably some frat guys having fun.”

  He growled.

  “In med school, I, um, hired a PI. My mother wouldn’t hear of me making a public charge, so I went on my own to the PI. He didn’t find anything. Never figured out who’d come into my room and destroyed everything.” A soft sigh. “I’ve contacted other local cops over the years. See, something always happens, wherever I go. Sooner or later. He’s been a ghost, always dodging me, leaving no trace, and it’s not like you can get a restraining order against a ghost.”

  He needed to breathe. Hard when he just wanted to fight. “Name.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “What was the PI’s name?”

  “Daniel Stewart. He was in Boston.”

  Gray filed the info away. He would be reaching out to the PI. “How many times has this shit happened in your life?”

  “Hard to say…because sometimes, he doesn’t destroy things. Sometimes, I’m pretty sure he just slips inside, and he takes things.”

  “Fucking fuck, Emerson!” The rage just exploded.

  She nodded. “Yes, exactly. Fucking fuck. I’m sick of it. Of him. I’m sick of getting security systems that don’t keep him out. I’m sick of calling cops or getting a PI to investigate and having them turn up nothing over and over again.”

  He remembered how shut down she’d been when the cops arrived. Her stilted responses. No damn wonder. She’d been through this routine too many times.

  “He’s played with my life for years. All I want is to find him. To stop him.”

  “Done and done,” Gray vowed.

  Those incredible eyes of hers widened. “What?”

  “You think I’m going to let some jackass get away with tormenting my partner? Hell, no, sweetheart. Hell, no. We’re finding him. We’re stopping him. We’re becoming his absolute worst nightmare.”

  Hope flashed across her face. “You’re truly going to help me? You believe me?”

  “Yes.” He eliminated the distance between them. Cupped her chin. “Yes.” He wanted to rage at the fools who hadn’t helped her before.

  “But we have a case. The perp who is killing the couples. It has to be the priority. Not me. I can wait.”

  The hell she could. “I can multi-task.” In his sleep. “You’re a priority. Know it. Understand it.” Absolutely, she was. His top priority. “Besides, it works.”

  “Uh, say again? What works?”

  The extra-close proximity she was about to have with him. The way he’d be her freaking shadow from here on out. “You’re not staying on your own until I have the jackass stalking you locked away. He made a death threat in Briar.” Sure as shit, Gray believed the bastard had been the one leaving the spray painted messages in Briar. “He was in your place tonight. That’s two encounters in a very close span of time.” Talk about acceleration. And he knew that acceleration equaled dangerous trouble. “You’ll be staying with me from now on.”

  Her lips parted.

  “Until we catch him,” Gray hurriedly amended. Don’t come off so strong. Tread with caution where Emerson is concerned. “Us staying together will fit the cover for our case, and it will also allow me to make certain my partner is safe. Two birds, one stone and all that.”

  “He’s never left evidence behind. Not even a fingerprint. I, uh, insisted on a full scene check a time or two.”

  He was sure she had. “Just means the jackass wore gloves. I’ll find him. It’s what I do. Find monsters. Lock them away.”

  “I had cameras up in my places, too. He’d just disable them. No video footage of him was ever taken.”

  “I’ll get him, Emerson. Believe me.” A pause. Then, rougher, “Trust me.”

  She stared into his eyes. Her lips began to curl. A smile. Slow, big, real, the smile spread across her full lips. Her expression warmed, as if a weight had been lifted from her delicate shoulders. “Thank you.” Emerson threw her arms around him and held on tight.

  She was warm and soft and…fuck me, she is precious.

  His arms closed around her. He was enraged that she’d been dealing with a stalker since she was seventeen years old. And had she let the stalker intimidate her? Change her? No. His Emerson had hauled her ass into prisons and psych wards as she faced off against monsters and tried to figure them out…

  All while she’d been battling her own monster.

  “Thank you, Gray,” she whispered.

  His fingers dropped to her waist. Tightened. “I don’t want your gratitude.” She didn’t need to thank him for a damn thing. This was what he did. His job was to stop the predators.

  Emerson eased back.

  His fingers lingered on her waist.

  “What do you want?” Emerson asked, voice breathless.

  Oh, she was not ready for what he wanted. And he could be a gentleman—or pretend to be one—and not just act like a lustful bastard where she was concerned. His gaze cut away from her.

  “Gray…”

  “You can sleep in my bed. I’ll take the couch.”

  “Gray.”

  He should stop touching her.

  “Eyes on me, Gray.”

  Surprised that she’d just tossed his own words back at him, his gaze whipped toward her. Emerson stared directly at him. No fear. Eyes so blue it almost hurt to look into them.

  “What do you want?” Emerson repeated.

  You. No way did he say that. He would not. Because he was not gonna make it seem like the price for his protection was sex. It wasn’t. He could want Emerson physically and want to protect her at the same time. He could multi-task. Hadn’t he just told her as much?

  “Not gonna say?” she murmured. “Fine. Then I’ll tell you what I want.”

  The den felt hot. Nah, he was hot.

  Emerson did not look away from him. He could not look away from her as she confessed, “I want you.”

  Fuck. Then…yes!

  “I want you to finish what you started at my place. Kiss me, Gray.”

  Chapter Ten

  “I will not be afraid of the monster in the dark. I will not be afraid of the monster in the dark. I will not be—know what? Maybe I am the monster in the dark.”

  – Emerson Marlowe, a very, very long time ago

  The drumming of her heartbeat filled Emerson’s ears as she stared into Gray’s gleaming eyes. He believed her. He’d stood by her when the cops were at her house. He’d insisted on taking her to his place when they left.

  He believes me. He wants me.

  I’m desperate for him.

  “Partners,” Gray rumbled.

  She flinched. Yes, yes, that was what they were, but Emerson wanted so much more.

  “Lovers,” he said.

  She nodded. They’d be both. For the undercover mission. But in reality, too. “Doesn’t change anything.” She needed him to understand this. “I’m not asking for some undying commitment from you.”

  “No?”

  “No.” She would go into this with her eyes wide open. “I get that you’re not into forever.”

  “And how do you get that, sweet Emerson?”

  Simple. “Because I’ve profiled you.”

  “And you think you know so much about me.” His lips hitched into a mocking half-smile. “Don’t be so sure of yourself.”

  Emerson did not think she knew everything, certainly, but she did know enough. “You don’t want forever. That’s fine. That’s not what I’m looking for, either.” Truth be told, the possibility of forever terrified her. What if I did become like my father, and Gray had to watch me break apart before his eyes? “Not forever.” Harder.

  “What is it that you’re looking for, besides, of course, two unforgettable minutes?”

  Two unforgettable…Oh, crap. She felt heat sting her cheeks. “I shouldn’t have said that about Nathaniel.” Even though it had been true.

  “He’s a fucking idiot. Say anything you want about him. He had no business saying you were frigid.”

  The heat left her cheeks in a rush. Suddenly, her face just felt cold. “I…” Emerson didn’t know what to say. Because the truth was… “I didn’t, ah, climax with Nathaniel. I’m not the most responsive…” Her words trailed off. How humiliating was this? But if she was asking him to be her lover, he needed to understand everything. “I’m too guarded. I can’t let myself go. Being in the moment is too hard for me, and I—” An exhale. “I think things can be different with you.” She hoped they would be different. Wasn’t that one of the reasons she wanted this so badly? Wanted him so badly? “I touch you, and I need. I want. I’ve never felt so much desire for someone.”

  His mocking smile vanished. “Are you this honest with everyone in your life?”

  “No, but I like being honest with you.”

  A muscle flexed along his jaw. “What in the hell am I supposed to do with you?”

  Well, if he was going to ask, she’d answer. “Fucking me would be a great start.”

  His lips thinned. But his eyes gleamed even more. Then, “You do need to have practice for when we pose as lovers.”

  Um, sure, practice. They could call it that.

  “But more than that…” His head lowered toward hers. “You need to understand that I can make you come in less than two minutes.”

  Admirable goal, but, no, he couldn’t. Nice try, but⁠—

  “Emerson?” His mouth was right over hers. Maybe an inch away.

  “Yes, Gray?”

  “Stop thinking. Just feel.” His mouth took hers. Open. Warm. Passionate. His tongue dipped into her mouth. Teased and tempted.

  Her hands curled around his shoulders as she held on tight. Happening. This is happening. Gray was happening. He was kissing her, his hands were snaking down her body, and he was—wait, lifting her?

  Her hold tightened on him as Gray lifted her with seemingly effortless strength. He carried her though the house. She lost her high heels along the way as he moved perfectly through the darkened rooms and soon she was in his bedroom. Not so dark in there. The overhead light poured down on them. He lowered her to stand right next to a massive bed with dark covers. His hands slid over her body. Her clothes seemed to melt away as he stripped her, falling in a pool at her feet until she stood before him, completely naked. Utterly exposed beneath the light.

  While he was still totally dressed.

  That was wrong, wasn’t it? Shouldn’t Gray be naked, too? It would certainly speed along the process and make her feel a whole lot less vulnerable.

  “On the bed, Emerson.”

  She backed up. Her knees hit the bed. Her hands rose to cover her breasts as a wave of uncertainty filled her. “I’m not coming in two minutes.” That was not a fair expectation to set.

  He smiled at her. “Wanna bet?”

  Then Gray was on her. Kissing her. Only, this kiss was different. Not as tempting. Not as controlled. Hotter. Deeper. Wilder. As she stood there with her legs hitting the back of the bed, his strong hands swept over her body. Pulled her hands away from her breasts so that he could touch her. Skimming those big fingers over her breasts. Teasing her nipples.

  She gasped into his mouth.

  One of Gray’s hands dipped lower. Slid down her body even as the other plucked her nipple.

  Her legs parted for him.

  That seeking hand dove between her thighs. Pushed at her core. His fingers slid over her clit.

  “Baby, you are gonna be so wet for me.”

  She was certainly getting there already.

  Gray slid one finger inside of her.

  Emerson rose onto her toes with a gasp, even as her fingers flew up to clamp around his upper arms.

  “So tight.”

  Well, yes, it had been two years so…

  “Emerson, baby, you’re still thinking.”

  She was. Her mind seemed to be spinning at a hundred miles an hour. He was still dressed. She had to get him naked. She had to make sure he enjoyed what was happening. She had to⁠—

  “Time to feel,” Gray rasped His hands moved in a blink to cup her waist and he pushed her onto the bed. He came down on top of her. No, not fully on top of her. He leaned over her. His hands dropped and spread her thighs. Wide. He stared down at her exposed core, and her hands dove to cover her sex as another wave of vulnerability surged through her.

  Only for Gray to catch her hands. To push them to her sides. “No more hiding.” His body shifted. He eased down beside the edge of the bed, crouching. Her legs dangled off the bed. He was between her dangling, spread legs.

  His head lowered.

  His breath rasped over her clit. Emerson’s breath choked out on a wave of longing. “Gray?”

  He put his mouth on her. Her hips jerked. No, jolted. He clamped his fingers around her waist and pinned her to the bed as he suddenly just feasted on her. Lips, tongue. Tasting and taking and plunging that wicked, wicked tongue into her body. He went from zero to consuming in a blink.

  Her hands grabbed the bedding. Fisted it. Her hips surged up against his mouth.

  He licked her again and again. Growled and savored her and seemed to get hungrier, more frenzied with each swipe of his tongue.

  She looked down at him. Thanks to the light, she could clearly see Gray. Right between my legs. Grayson Stone is going down on me.

  One strong hand let go of her waist. His fingers slid between her thighs to join his mouth. He was stroking and teasing and licking and nothing had ever felt so good in her entire life.