Free Charity's Secrets by Maya James Page A

in their
pants so that it wasn't an obvious setup, and then we got everyone out. That
night, three known drug addicts burnt up in a fire they started during a gun
fight they had with each other."
    "Holy
shit!" I breathed. "I'm amazed everyone was okay, and that poor
girl."
    "She's
fine, took a while to recover, but she's fine now. They all are," he said,
sounding more eager to talk about who he saved rather than who he killed.
That's probably a better part to focus on, even for someone as strong as
Justin.
    "You're
still in touch with them?" I ask.
    "My
buddy, he developed the code for all of our surveillance applications, and he's
our current director of IT. The cop is now a chief, and on our payroll. The
girl, I keep tabs on her through her father. Turned out he was an extremely
wealthy man that was doing everything in his power to find his daughter. He was
very curious to know where she had been, and exactly how she got away.
And he had the means to satisfy his curiosity."
    "I
can't say I blame him," I said, tossing in another mouthful of cheesecake.
    "No,
not at all," he said, suddenly fixing his burning eyes on me. It's like
they rip away every protective layer I have, every shield, and leave me exposed
and natural. He sees me .
    "If
someone took you from me right now," he started, "there is nothing I
wouldn't do; no place I wouldn't go, no stone I wouldn't overturn—no one I
wouldn't threaten or kill to find you."
    I
believe him, every fucking word of it, and a single tear drops from my eye from
the ferocity of his love. I wipe it away, upset at my lack of control. I'm usually
tougher than this.
    "I
was green back then and vulnerable, so he found me easily. I knew right away
that he didn't pose a danger in knowing the truth, so I told him exactly what
happened. He was impressed and grateful. I made a friend that day; he became
the first investor in Panther and our longest client."
    I'm
amazed and getting stuffed. I drop my fork into the box.
    "I
don't know how I got on that subject—on Christmas Eve," he laughs lightly.
"I think I was just telling you how I learned to cook." He puts his
fork down next to mine.
    "I'm
glad you did," I say with a smile. "I'm proud of the way you started
this."
    My hand
moves to his forearm, gently playing with the rolled cuff of his sleeve.
"Today you did great. It truly was a wonderful Christmas Eve."
    Justin
smiles oddly while the lights of the tree gently reflect off his skin and in
his eyes.
    "What
was that look about?" I ask.
    "Today
was only half of the holiday. I'm not done yet, and this evening it isn't over
until I say it is."
    The
rolling thunder in his voice captivates me. I know what's coming next, and I
welcome it. Fuck it, I'm not just going to welcome it, I'm going to reach out
and get it and bring it to me.
    My
deliberate hand moves from his sleeve to the collar of his shirt, balling it up
in my fist as I pull him toward me. I feel him resist. "I'll rip your damn
shirt," I growl.
    "I
don't give a shit," he laughs. "I'll get more. I love the way you
look in these lights. I love the way you look when you know I'm about to take
you. That wanting hunger so full of frustrated desire. I love to hold you right
here on the edge and watch your beauty explode, taking over my mind, my world.
Go ahead and rip my shirt, I don't care. You're under my tree, so clearly you
are my Christmas present, and I'm going to take my time unwrapping you, opening
you as carefully and deliberately as I feel like."
    A throb
deep between my legs demands attention and I tug at his shirt wickedly. The
fabric threatens to give, but I do manage to pull myself close enough to hook
one of my legs around one of his, guiding his thigh into my begging crotch.
When I feel the pressure of his leg, a breathy, uncontrolled moan ruptures from
my throat.
    Justin's
hand falls on my cheek as he kisses me, softly at first, a gentle press of his
lips to mine. They slowly part and I feel just the tender tip of his