Free Want Me by Cynthia Eden Page B

pen. A damn fountain pen. Clark looked down at Phil. The lawyer was shoving his fingers against the hole in his throat, a hole that still heavily pulsed blood.
    “Told you…” Duvato said, “I don’t need protection. I can take care of myself .”
    Shoot him.
The words were on the tip of Clark’s tongue. He knew he was staring at evil. At evil that had to be stopped. Only…
    Duvato dropped the pen. “I still want that deal, ADA. I’ve got plenty to stay to you about Ethan Barclay. Plenty.” He laughed and he put his blood-covered hands up as more guards swarmed into the room.
    He just killed a man. An officer of the law. And he thinks I’ll still deal with him?
    The world really would be better off with Daniel Duvato dead.
    I should have given the fucking order.
    ***
    When Sophie opened her eyes, Lex was beside her. His blond hair was mussed, tousled from her fingers, and his eyes were closed. He looked peaceful in sleep. But then, most people did. She was one of the few that nightmares always haunted.
    Sunlight trickled through the curtains. Another day had come. But this was the first day she’d ever woken with a lover beside her. She didn’t usually let anyone sleep with her because Sophie was just always worried. Afraid that she might let the wrong words slip during the night.
    Thanks to Ethan, she’d learned that she talked in her sleep.
    The things she said in sleep could incriminate her.
    Another reason not to let a lover get too close. But Lex was close. So close that his arm was wrapped around her stomach even then. So close that her hip touched him. So close that she felt totally protected by his warmth and strength.
    So close that she knew it was time she slipped away. So Sophie pulled in a careful breath and she began to inch to the left side of the bed, the side that promised freedom. She was completely naked and that just made her feel even more vulnerable. She’d slip away, go find the bag of clothes that they’d picked up from her place the night before, and then she’d face him feeling far more
normal.
She would—
    “I don’t want you to leave.”
    His eyes opened. There was none of the drowsy confusion that should have been present. He just opened his eyes and focused completely on her.
    Unnerving.
    Dammit, sexy. Why did she find so much about him to be sexy? Was it because he’d saved her life—twice? And now she had some kind of hero issue going on with him?
    “You’re even more beautiful first thing in the morning.”
    Okay, so maybe he had woken confused. She was sure her hair was a crazy tangle. And any makeup that she’d had on the day before would be long gone.
    But he was still staring right at her and he made her feel beautiful in that moment. Part of her wanted to smile at him. To roll back toward him and sink fully into his embrace.
    But her world didn’t work like that. She’d given in to her need the night before. The day had dawned. “I need to get to work. I have clients who’ll be waiting to see me today.” Did she sound suitably in control?
    In control.
That was the role she always had to play. Even when she wanted to give up the mask, just for a little while.
    Screw control.
    She lifted his hand off her stomach. There were calluses on his fingers. She’d felt them when he caressed her last night. Those caresses had been so thorough. Inside and out.
    She pretty much quivered thinking about some of them.
    Lex definitely wasn’t a selfish lover. The guy was so sensual. So fierce. So wonderfully focused.
    He was probably the best lover she’d ever had.
    “Running?” Lex asked her as she rolled from the bed. Sophie pulled the sheet with her, wrapping it around her body.
    “No, just slowly walking…heading to the bathroom and then to find my clothes.”
    He sat up. Lex didn’t seem to care that he was completely naked. With the sunlight hitting him, she saw the scars on his chest. White ridges. Red lines. From his time in the military?
    Lex watched her, his