Free Illicit Intuitions: Sensory Ops, Book 3 by Nikki Duncan

open for him. To trust him, even if she only offered the gift subconsciously. As she relaxed into the mattress, releasing her body to his, he eased the ice to the bump on her head.  
    He was enjoying the feel of her moving against him, as much as he’d thrived on the feel of her in his mind. The illicit connection was profoundly erotic.
    Ava Sebastian had secrets he wanted to discover. Secrets she secured in vaults only she could open. Vaults she might open if she learned to trust him.  
    A first for him, he wanted to rush into those vaults to discover how much she knew about the contacts and his work with Channing. Had she been the one to bring attention his way? Attention he’d avoided since his release. Or thought he had.
    Rushing and pushing himself back into her mind wasn’t safe. Their now shared brain traumas weakened them.  
    He hadn’t fully replenished his strength from the earlier drain. Ava had too many blocks in place and her wounds were too severe for another exploratory intrusion. And Dana, who was no doubt lying on the couch in her dark office trying to replenish her energies, would filet him if he attempted another connection with Ava so soon after being pulled back from the ledge.  
    When he finally sensed he’d done all he could, including reducing the swelling on her head, he eased back.  
    She blinked up at him, dazed. As if she was moving through water, her hand sort of floated to her head. After a brief hesitation, she touched the knot. Her brows furrowed.  
    “What did you do to me?”
    “I distracted you long enough to minimize that lump.” He sat up and dropped the mostly melted ice pack to the floor. “You’re still going to have a headache, and I don’t think you should be alone when you go to sleep tonight.”
    She slowly straightened and edged away. “So, what are you diagnosing me with, Dr. H?”
    “I’m not that kind of doctor, Ms. Sebastian.” She wanted distance from what had just happened. Fine. He couldn’t deny the logic. “But you sustained a nasty hit to the head. One you yourself compared to the equivalent of at least one hit from Pudge at bat.”
    “Your point?” She pulled her knees to her chest.  
    He’d watched her in that suit and felt her body against his. He’d lie beside her without claiming her for his own. He’d shoved his desires into the darkest caverns of his being in an effort to help her. Her knees drawn up wouldn’t block the heat racing through his body now that the necessity to heal had passed. “Do you have someone to spend the night with you?”
    “No.”
    “You do now.” He stood and headed toward the door before she could argue. “I’ll leave you to get dressed and will see you tonight.”
    “Excuse me?” She got to her feet.  
    The rigid set of her spine was a blatant broadcast she did not like taking orders. This could get fun.  
    “It’s been a rough morning. Take the day off. I will be by tonight to keep an eye on you.” He scanned her scarcely covered body one last time before meeting her gaze again.  
    Rage flamed in her eyes and the flirty smile he’d come to enjoy was nowhere in sight. Her temper burned as hot as the fire required to wipe out the mythical bird on her leg, but she battled it back with her delicate jaw violently clenched and a rapidly thrumming pulse beating the satiny skin of her throat.  
    “I will be just fine on my own.” Her voice whipped harshly through thinned lips.
    “No napping until I get there. Understood?”
    “My job here does not extend to you inviting yourself to my home.”
    “Then call a girlfriend and make arrangements for her to sleep over.” He angled his chin forward, knowing her type well enough to know she would recognize the challenge. “I want to speak with her beforehand.”
    She advanced on him, looking more murderous than when he’d dumped her shot. That had been comical. This wasn’t. Allowing her to win this argument could endanger her health and even if she