Free Final Surrender by Jennifer Kacey Page B

you, I took your virginity too. I must be insane or just determined to go to hell.”
    Angela poked him in the ribs, smiling as he caught her hand and brought her fingertips up to his mouth, kissing each one in turn.
    He shook his head and pulled Angela closer. He was getting hard again just thinking about her naked body pressed against to his.
    He had wanted her for so long that he was nowhere close to being sated tonight. Shaking his head, he desperately tried to erect the wall that had kept him separate from her for all this time.
    Her body he would treasure, but her heart? He didn’t know what the hell to do with that. Nothing but break it. Just like his parents had done to him. To themselves.
    Love, honor and cherish. Right. ’Til things get hard. Then you just bail—
    “Clay?” she questioned in a sleepy voice.
    “Mmm…”
    “Love you.” She slipped off into unconsciousness in the abject silence that followed. She had said it before, but he knew it meant something completely different coming from her tonight. Now. After he had taken her.
    What in the world have I done?
    He suddenly felt the need to flee, but with her body plastered against his, he couldn’t do anything without waking her. Do I really want to walk away?
    Damn , was all he could think as he grabbed his two bags. Heading toward Angela’s conference room, he followed behind the woman he never stopped wanting and the best friend that stood in the way.

Chapter Eight
    Angela took a seat at the head of the conference room table, sipping on a cup of coffee she couldn’t taste. Her mind was too focused on Clay. Not to mention, she needed the jolt of caffeine seeing as though she got no sleep the night before.
    Damn her brother for putting her in this situation, and double damn herself for not taking care of it months, weeks, or even days before Mark decided to ride in on his white horse to fix it for her.
    She eyed him as he sat next to her, and tried to keep the screw you mask from taking over her face. “I know you aren’t gung ho about this, Angela, but after talking to Clay you’ll be as sure as I am that he can protect you.”
    Not wanting to waste any time, she set her cup down, turning her attention to Clay, who sat on the other side of the table. God, his eyes. He looked calm and unaffected by their reunion and she wanted to accidentally kick him in the shins, but she tightly crossed her ankles instead.
    “And what do you think, Mr. Waters? Can you protect me?” she said through gritted teeth, not caring at all about his response.
    Mark ran his fingers through his hair. “You’re being rather…formal.”
    “Quite,” was all she admitted to.
    Clay stared back at her, strategically maneuvering her with his response, she was certain, or counting sheep for all she cared.
    “Yes I believe I can, my reputation speaks for itself, and the name is Clay if you don’t mind,” he added nonchalantly. His attention so focused it unnerved her. His mouth quirked into a crooked grin before he could hide it. The slight blush filling her cheeks did nothing but piss her off.
    Cool, calm, collected. Just a few more minutes of this inane chitchat and you can tell him where to shove it.
    “My military service has allowed me to hone my skills in training scenarios and full combat. I’ve been back in the public sector for several years and any of my clients will speak for me on my professionalism and work ethic. I don’t shy away from threats or danger easily—”
    “Why come here, why take this job so far away from home, Mr. Waters? I’m sure there are people in Texas worth protecting?” She stated it as a question instead of a comment. Curious to know what he left behind, but couldn’t come right out and ask about his personal life. God forbid he think she showed any interest in him…since she didn’t care. At all.
    “Nothing my partner can’t handle,” he asserted, with a shrug. “And again, it’s Clay.” He never got ruffled, never