Free On Jason's Watch [Paladin Protection Agency 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Susan Hayes

reader. I think she had a pretty good idea how I felt about you by the time we were done at your house.”
    “Oh god, really?” She blushed again. The sight of her golden skin darkening made him itch to have her naked so he could watch that blush flow up her body. “So you think this wasn’t an accident? I’ve never even worn it before.”
    “Did I mention my favorite color is red? I think it’s safe to say she knew what she was doing.”
    “I’m never going to be able to look her in the eye again,” she muttered.
    “Trust me, she won’t pry. But if you don’t shield from her, she usually gets a pretty good idea of how you’re feeling. If you want, we can practice our shields together.”
    “I’d like that.” She arched a dark brow at him. “So how do you feel about me? I think it’s only fair that I know if Tara does.”
    “I feel that I really, really want to see the rest of that lace.” He ducked the question and deliberately tugged her dress down to her waist. As more lace appeared, he forgot about going slow and pushed the dress over the sweet curve of her hips and then let it go, watching as it slid down her legs to land at her feet.
    “You were wearing that at dinner?” He could barely believe the vision in front of him. “Holy gods, if I had known that, we’d have never made it to the restaurant.”
    He sucked in a long breath, trying to put the air back into his lungs. When he could speak again, he pointed to the bed.
    “Get comfy. I’ll be right back. And don’t you dare touch that outfit you’re wearing. I haven’t finished admiring it yet.”

Chapter 6
     
    She shouldn’t be here. She knew she should grab her clothes and hightail it to Jase’s spare bedroom before this went any further. So why aren’t I moving? She knew the answer to that question was blond, green eyed, and had just stepped into what looked to be a very spacious walk-in closet. She was staying because this was Jase. Because he wasn’t afraid of her, and because when he kissed her, he made her want more than she’d dared to try for in her entire life.
    Instead of leaving, she picked up her dress and laid it on the dresser. It was the only clothing she had at the moment. So if she was going to have to do the walk of shame back into Paladin tomorrow morning, she’d at least do it in an unwrinkled outfit. She heard Jase humming to himself from the other room, and she couldn’t help but smile as she recognized the tune. She would have never pegged him for a Nickelback fan. She curled up on his bed, facing the closet he’d disappeared into, and waited, feeling very underdressed.
    When he stepped back out again, the first thing she noticed was that he’d removed the shredded remains of his shirt. Every lean, muscled inch of his chest and torso was revealed to her gaze, and she couldn’t help but stare. She was distracted enough that it took her until he sat down beside her on the bed to realize he was holding several silk ties in his hands.
    “And what do you think you’re going to do with those?”
    “I’m going to make sure you feel safe,” he answered with a wink that did nothing to ease the knots that were suddenly twisting her insides.
    “How are your ties going to make me feel safe exactly?”
    “You’ll see.” He leaned down and kissed her, one hand molding to her breast as he moved her over, onto her back. She felt the warm weight of him shift above her, his leg resting between her thighs. She gave in to the need to touch him and ran her hands over his bare skin. Her eyes drank in every detail, and when she read the words imprinted on the skin of his right bicep, she couldn’t help but smile. “ Carpe Diem . You really do have that tattoo.”
    He lifted his head and glanced over to where her fingers rested against his skin. “I haven’t lied to you about anything, Jazz, and I’m not going to. There are times I have to lie for my job, but I never lie to the people who are important to