I told her that things had changed, that you werent a client, that youre my woman. Securing the house was something I did for you, because you still called this dump your place.

I felt my eyes go big. Everything he said made sense.

I dont know what the f.u.c.k is up with Nene, but after Osi reported what was on the tape, shes no longer in my employ.

You fired her? I couldnt help it, I smiled a little.

I thought that you were having a good time with your girl, Zoe, and I was happy for you. But it got late, and I asked Nene if youd called, although I knew youd call my cell. She told me that youd stopped in but had left. Something about her story didnt feel right. Rick and Osi came in when I was questioning her, and Rick went ballistic. He swore something was up.

I continued watching him as he told me his side of the story.

Nice move by the way, ditching your cell and your purse. We had trackers on both. It took us a bit to figure that one out. He flashed a little smile at my smarts. Didnt expect you to know to do that. We wont underestimate you again. The look he gave me made me feel certain that there wouldnt be another again.

I couldnt cover my smile at that.

Jenn was working the phones, and Zoe told me Nene had been a b.i.t.c.h from the start, unprovoked. The pieces started coming together. Rick and I hit the streets while Osi questioned Nene. It didnt take him long to get her to crack.

I didnt want to think what Osi did to get Nene to crack. He was tall and of slighter build than Forde and Rick. His chocolate skin was covered in tats. He favored skulls, dragons, and vipers. Id tried to study them on the day hed had babysitting duty. I was more than a little afraid of him. He looked at me with eyes that held no emotion. Hed spoken little and had spent most of the day tracking me anytime I moved. It was unnerving to say the least. I spent the majority of that time glued to the corner of the sectional.

You need to learn this about me. I wont lie to you, Lay. I said those things to you, made promises, because I meant them. His eyes had gone almost black in the waning light.

Forde, I dont think thisthis thing, is going to work out between us, I said, trying to get through to him.

He moved so fast, that before I could react, his mouth was on mine, kissing me. It wasnt a nice kiss. It was hard and angry. His hand went to the back of my head, and his fingers dug into my hair, hard. I tried to keep his tongue out of my mouth. He used one hand to press on the hinges of my jaw.

I had to open, or he was going to drill those fingers through my skin.

I got p.i.s.sed"mad that I was falling for him, and that it could make me hurt so much. Id promised myself Id never be stupid in love again. I went up on my knees beside him and grabbed a handful of his hair. I took over the kiss for a moment. I shifted my head so I had more access to his mouth, because I wanted to be the one taking for once.

He let me take over for a bit, and then he pulled me onto his thighs, so that I was straddling him. By this time, our hands were all over one another, and I was making noises deep in my throat.

When he gripped a fistful of my hair and repositioned my head, it stung. I liked it. Id never been manhandled like this before, and I wanted more.

We looked into each others eyes. The house was now dark, but there was moonlight coming through the new windows; the drapes were gone.

That wasnt a lie. You have to know that, Lay. His grip didnt loosen.

You cant be sure so soon. I told him as I tried to climb off of his lap.

Dont, he said, biting out the order. I love you. You have to feel it, in here, he touched my chest where my heart was pounding, and here. He moved lower and palmed my mound.

A small moan escaped. Forde, I breathed.

Love you, Lay. He kissed me again.

I surrendered to him. G.o.d, the man knew how to kiss. I showed him my appreciation by shifting closer to him. Rubbing my mound against his c.o.c.k and my b.o.o.bs against his chest, I was so hungry for his touch.

Id never acted like this before. I liked s.e.x, but Id never initiated it. Usually, it took me a little bit of time to get into it. Not so with Forde. I felt like my body was on fire, and the only way to quench it was for him to be inside of me.

I was kissing his neck when the worlds greatest idea popped into my head. Theres a bed upstairs.

I heard his chuckle. I pulled back so that I could see his face.

You want my c.o.c.k bad. He looked like he was feeling victorious.

I started to climb off of him. If you arent that interested I made it to my feet, and I put my hand on my hip. You can go.

Lay, Im so hard I hurt.

Of course, I had to look, and that made me think about a naked Forde inside of me. I made a frustrated sound.

He stood. Lets go to my place. Beds bigger. He moved closer to me.

What, you dont want to do it in a twin-size bed? Even I laughed at that thought.

No He didnt get to finish his thought.

I heard gla.s.s breaking, something hit the wooden floor, then a whoosh sound. I whipped around and stared.

Forde went into action hero mode. He grabbed my arm and gave it a yank to break my stupor. Layla, weve got to move before this place goes up in flames.

I looked at the fire that was now surrounding the object that had come through the window. I asked stupidly, Whats happening?

The other new window broke, and now, I could smell the gasoline. My nose immediately started to burn. Somebody was trying to burn the house down.

Forde yanked harder on my good arm. Babe, come on. Dont let go of my hand, but if I tell you to run, you go. Hear me?

I watched Forde pull a gun from the holster he wore at the small of his back. But"

s.h.i.ts getting real. I dont know whats outside. You do what I say.

He didnt wait for my answer. We started moving, hugging the wall toward the back of the house. Its incredible how fast the house was filling with smoke. My eyes were watering from the burn, and I kept blinking trying to clear them. It was getting hard to breathe.

At the back door, Forde moved my hand to his waistband at the back of his cargo pants while he unlocked the deadbolt. When we get out, stay with me. He took my hand again and threw open the door.

We paused at the side of the door. It took everything I had not to push through, out into the clean air. My lungs were burning. It hurt to breathe.

Come on. I dont know if he actually said the words or if I imagined them. I held onto his hand tightly as we ran across the meager backyard area and into the alley. Forde turned left and kept to the shadows. Two houses down, we cut through the side yard and paused, leaning against their front porch. I bent over at the waist. It felt like I couldnt get enough air into my lungs. My ribs rebelled, but I didnt care.

I felt his hand run up and down my spine. Easy breaths. Try to take easy breaths.

I was shaking all over and freaking out, still choking on every deep inhale of air. Wed almost been burned alive.

Forde spoke into his cell. Yeah, somebody just firebombed Laylas rental. Send fire and an ambulance. She needs some oxygen.

I straightened and leaned against his side.

He pulled me in closer as he finished his call.

That wasfire. Oh my G.o.d, we couldve been burned up in there. I wasnt making sense. I was terrified, and yet, I felt safe in his arms.

Were fine, babe. He curled me into his front with one arm. He held his shooting hand along his thigh at the ready.

If wed gone upstairs I started to freak out. The house was old and burning rapidly. The flames lit up the night. We would have been trapped.

Shh, we made it. Thats all that matters.

I tried to take a deep breath and coughed hard and deep.

He loosened his hold on me. Medics will be here soon.

No" I coughed. Hospital, I tried to tell him.

Just let them check you out, please? He started moving us down the sidewalk as the sirens sounded in the distance.

I was sitting on the hood of Ricks Escalade, which hed parked on the sidewalk beside Fordes SUV. Id been seen by a nice medic named, Joy. Shed listened to my lungs and given me oxygen. Id checked out okay, and was now wrapped in a light blanket watching Forde and Rick talk to Det. Eames and a fireman.

My throat hurt and my eyes were swollen, but I was alive. The house had gone up like kindling, and next door neighbors on both sides had to be evacuated because of the chance of the flames jumping.

I heard a commotion behind me. Wheres my niece? Dear G.o.d, was she in there? Aunt Nora had arrived.

I watched Forde break away from his conference and stride down the street to the area behind me. I didnt try to turn around to see what was going to happen. I knew Forde would handle Nora. I was beyond exhausted and wanted to go home to his soft bed.

Oh, baby. Nora jogged to me with her boyfriend following in her wake. She reached up and hugged me. I was so worried when I got the first call, and then more kept coming in.

Im fine, Nora. Forde took care of me. I tried to calm her, but it was no use.

Youre so lucky to have that boy.

A boy, Forde? That made me choke out a laugh. He is pretty amazing, I agreed.

Rick and the two men joined our group. Nora peppered Det. Eames and the fireman with questions. She was upset and loud, and kept repeating the same questions. I zoned out.

I felt a hand on my thigh. Ready to go? Forde asked.

I felt relief wash over me. I cant wait to get home and into the shower.

His hand tightened on my thigh for a second, and then he gave me a pat. Lets go.

He helped me down, taking my weight and lowering me like I weighed nothing. He walked me to his SUV and helped me in, even buckling my seatbelt. He then shut my door, said something to the group, and Rick walked with him to his side.

Set up the meet. Im done with this s.h.i.t. I heard Fordes voice. It was ice cold, and I felt a chill pa.s.s over my body.

Will do. Rick waited until Forde shut his door and he crossed back to the group.

I feel bad, leaving Rick to deal with Aunt Nora. I watched her turn to him and say something.

Forde started the engine and pulled away. h.e.l.l be fine, and if hes not, h.e.l.l disappear.

I glanced at him. The muscle at the side of his jaw was pulsing. I decided to keep quiet, giving him some peace.

During the fifteen minute drive he took and made a few calls. I listened, but had trouble following since he seemed to speak in code. No names or locations.

Forde pulled into his parking place and killed the engine. Sorry about the calls. I needed to touch base with people.

I shifted so that I was facing him. Its okay. I mean this is my new life, Id better get used to it.

I saw the corners of his mouth turn up.

I rushed to continue. I mean without the firebombs, me going rabbit and all. I finished with a shrug.

Lay, you make me laugh. He leaned closer, and I knew he was going to kiss me.

I told him after he finished kissing me, I need a dictionary or a guide to learn your special lingo.

He chuckled. Ill work on that. Come on, lets get inside.

I couldnt begin to say how good the shower felt, although I took it alone. Forde didnt think even multiple washings would get the smoke and gasoline smell out of our clothes, so I said goodbye to my last bra, and he bagged everything and took it to the outside trash receptacle.

I was in bed, in another of his T-shirts, listening to him shower. He didnt close the door. Forde was comfortable being naked in front of me. I was not and still closed the door, even when I brushed my teeth. He usually found a reason to come into the bathroom, and then the door stayed open.

I heard the water shut off, and within a minute, he was walking out with a towel wrapped around his hips. It was a good look.

Gonna do a final check. Do you need anything to drink? Maybe a Sprite? He paused in the doorway.

G.o.d, he could be so sweet. No, hon, Im good. My throat was still irritated, but that was supposed to clear up in a day or two.

I relaxed back into the pillows. My shoulder and ribs were still a little tender, but Id gotten used to the feeling. I could roll from side to side if I wanted to. Although that meant Forde had to readjust"he was a contact sleeper. That had been a bit of a surprise. Id thought that a bada.s.s would only do what he needed then move away. Forde touched me, a lot. In private, as well as when we were out. I allowed myself a little smile. I liked that too.

He returned and whipped the towel off his hips, checked his phone that was now on the nightstand and then turned off the light. I felt the mattress depress as he climbed in.

He moved close to me. Neither of us said a word.

Im sorry, I blurted a little louder than I intended.

No need, its forgotten. His voice was quieter than mine had been.

I turned in his arms to face him. No, really, I could have gotten us killed. If it hadnt been for me, you wouldnt have been there. I wished he had left the light on so that I could see his face more clearly.

He let out a sigh. Im not sure that the Cancerberos knew that you were in there. Im guessing that they didnt. They torched the place to keep up the pressure, the intimidation.

I was impulsive and stupid today, I said, drawing my legs, my knees bent so tightly my heels touched my a.s.s. I ignored the pain in my knee.

I dont like that you slipped away, and that you did it pretty d.a.m.n well. I shouldnt have underestimated you. His hand covered my hip, and I felt fingers dig in. I didnt foresee Nene being a problem.

Did you and she ever What did I want to say? f.u.c.k, have s.e.x, get involved?

Christ, no. I dont s.h.i.t where I eat, he said with some heat.