Free Protecting the Enemy by Christy Newton Page B

that one coming. Taken aback, she crossed her arms. “Good. I’m glad we got that out of the way.”
    “Me too. Maybe we should just put everything on the table tonight. Get it all out in the open.” The hurt in his voice betrayed his indifferent expression.
    She uncrossed her arms and leaned back on the upholstered headboard. “Fine.”
    “Fine, let’s start with where you were for the past six months.”
    “The day I woke up my head was empty. I didn’t know my name, or anything else. A few weeks later, Brandon Voss checked me out of Mercy Hospital. He told me I was destined to do great things.”
    His eyes widened. “B. Voss? The same man that ordered our hit? Shit! Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “I’m telling you now.”
    “Mercy hospital? Where’s that?”
    “New Jersey.”
    “ New Jersey? How the hell did you end up there?”
    She laughed dryly. “If I knew I’d tell you.”
    Reid grinded his teeth. “I don’t like this.”
    “He gave me a new identity, named me Julianna Fox and sent me to Boss.”
    “Wait, named you? Julianna Fox was already your name.” He rubbed his eyes. “We should have had this talk days ago.”
    She fidgeted with the fluffy duvet. “I didn’t trust you then.”
    “And you do now?”
    He’d saved her life more than once, he confided in her and he gave her unpoisoned chocolate. “Yes. I do.”
    He laughed. “You are a complicated woman. So you start to trust me, then break off our engagement?”
    “Before now, I wasn’t sure there was truly an engagement to break.” She felt tears welling up in her eyes. She blinked them back.
    He rubbed the slight stubble on his chin. “We weren’t supposed to fall in love… we definitely weren’t supposed to get engaged. But it happened. You wore your engagement ring on a chain around your neck. We were careful, but now I wonder if Boss found out somehow.”
    She swallowed the lump in her throat. “You think that’s the reason he’s put out a hit on us? Our engagement?”
    He licked his bottom lip. “I know it sounds crazy, but what else can it be?”
    She hadn’t betrayed Boss, she doubted Reid had either. “I don’t know.”
    “Is there anything else you need to tell me? Anything at all?”
    “No. You seem to know enough about me now.” She crossed her arms. “Tell me about you.”
    Reid looked up to the ceiling. “Not much to tell. You know I grew up in foster homes, had a foster brother that was willing to stick out his neck for me, but not invite me over for holidays or even to dinner. I’m a great shot, was from the moment I picked up my first gun.” He paused his eyes seemed to be staring into her soul. “And I’m very hungry.”
    She pursed her lips. “Hungry? We just ate.”
    “Food is not what I’m hungry for, Jewels.” His voice was no more than a sexy whisper.
    He shifted over closer to her and put his hands on her thighs. The warmth spread through her body like wildfire. As she looked into his eyes she cupped the back of his head and laced her fingers through his soft hair. His fingers slid the silky fabric upward and found her naked. Her breath caught. She didn’t wear panties to bed and tonight was no exception. She tilted her head back and looked up to the ceiling.
    He took her hand and placed it over the bulge in his thin boxers. “I want you so bad. Can you feel how much I want you?”
    The hardness of him in her hand was more than she could stand. She wanted him more than anything she’d ever wanted. She stroked him through the fabric and felt him grow even more. His mouth claimed hers. Rough at first, then gentle and so sweet that his kisses touched her very soul. Like she was home, like she belonged.
    They only stopped long enough to remove the little clothing they had on. Reid gave as much love and energy as he took. He was an amazing lover and she never wanted their love making to end. She belonged in Reid’s arms and couldn’t deny it any longer.
    After they were both breathless