I climbed onto the bed, straddling David and forcing him backward until I could stretch his arms over his head. My top gaped and his eyes were locked on my breasts, which was fine with me, as I was able to tie his hands to the headboard with no fuss at all. I made sure the knots in the silk were tight.

It felt strange, and more empowering than I wanted to admit, to be the one in full control of a sexual situation. I remembered the harrowing attack by Stephen Avery months ago and how powerless I’d felt. I’d learned a lot about my own sexuality since then, learned it could be one of the most useful weapons I had—though using it as such still left me feeling scared and uneasy.

Sitting back on my haunches, I could feel proof that David was way into this. I unbuttoned his shirt and had the brief, wayward thought that it was too bad this wasn’t real—he was a good-looking guy who obviously took good care of his body. I guessed him to be in his late forties.

“I’m afraid I have to be going now,” I said, climbing off him. He was tied up. He couldn’t get me now. Relief flooded my bones. Please, God, let Kade have gotten away.

“Wait—what? You’re leaving?”

“I did what I came here to do. Time to go.”

“It was a setup,” David said, his voice no longer friendly.

“Afraid so,” I confirmed, more cheerful now that I felt safer.

“Who do you work for?” he asked.

“In a roundabout way… you.” I smiled at his confusion and a bit of pride made me say, “When you hire the best to do a job, you should expect the unexpected. And Kade Dennon is the very best of the best.”

Understanding lit his eyes. “So that’s what this is about.”

I nodded. “I’m guessing he’s hacking your company even as we speak. Which reminds me, I’d better get going. Thanks for the drink. The maid will find you in the morning.”

“Tell Dennon he can try all he wants, but he’ll never hack into my system.”

Gone was the affable British gentleman. David was heading toward seriously pissed.

I shrugged. “I guess you’ll find out soon enough.”

“Find out what?”

“Kade never fails.”

With that parting shot, I left the bedroom, only to be grabbed and hauled against a man’s chest.

“So I’m the best of the best, huh?” Kade’s eyes glittered with an emotion I shied away from identifying. The breath caught in my chest.

“This is new information to you?” I asked, twitching an eyebrow upward.

“It is that you think so.”

My stomach twisted, surprised and glad that Kade cared what I thought about his competence. “I’m not wrong, am I?”

His smirk made heat curl low in my belly and I was acutely aware of our bodies pressed together.

“Not about this, you’re not.”

I wondered what he did think I was wrong about.

He released me and took my hand. “Let’s get out of here before he gets loose.”

“He’s not going to get loose,” I insisted. “I tied him well.”

Kade snorted. “Of course he’s going to get loose,” then he headed out of the room before I could retort.

Ten minutes later we were back in our room, and I was watching over Kade’s shoulder as he typed on his laptop. It was gibberish to me, but it amazed me what he could do. His fingers flew over the keyboard.

“So what did you need from his room?” I asked.

“His fingerprints.”

Kade did something with a little device attached to his computer, and more lines of text appeared on the screen.

“Aren’t you tired?” I asked. It was getting late and the time change was catching up to me. “Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow they’ll have changed the algorithm,” he said. “Besides, I don’t quit when I’m tired. I quit when I’m done.” He said this matter-of-factly and I knew he’d work all night if he had to, which actually made me admire him even more.

I decided he probably didn’t need me hanging over him, so I retreated to the bathroom and showered. After wrapping myself in one of the hotel’s satin bathrobes, I went back to the couch and lay down. Kade was still working.

He hadn’t turned on any lights other than the little floodlight above the minibar and I didn’t, either. It was easier to see the neon skyline this way, with the room darkened.

A while later—I must have dozed off—Kade woke me with a “Done.” Yawning, I pushed myself up. “You got the money?” I asked.

“And sent your cut to your bank,” Kade replied, coming to sit next to me on the couch.

I snorted, bending my knees so he could sit. “I hope it wasn’t much. I didn’t do anything but screw up.”

Kade unfolded my legs to rest them on his lap. “You kept him occupied, kept him from calling his security down on our heads. Dead bodies left in my wake are bad for business.”

I laughed. “I can’t imagine why that would be,” I teased.

His mouth curved in a half smile as he leaned back against the couch with a sigh. His eyes slipped shut and I knew he must be tired. It was really late. And yet…

“Kade,” I said softly. “About earlier, I’m really sorry.”

“Sorry for what, for telling the truth?” He didn’t open his eyes.

“I don’t regret anything, Kade,” I said. “And most certainly I don’t regret us being friends. But I hate it, more than anything, that you’ve lost Blane because of me. And if there were a way I could turn back the clock and change that, I would. In a heartbeat. He’s all you have. You need each other.”

Kade finally opened his eyes, their penetrating blue pinning me in place. “What do you know about what I need?”

I swallowed, wanting to look away, but I didn’t dare. “I’m not trying to say that I do…,” I backtracked.

Kade closed his eyes, so I shut up. After a moment, he spoke.

“All I need is right here.”

A lump grew in my throat and Kade’s form blurred in my vision. Reaching down to where his hands rested on my bare knees, I took one hand in mine and laced my fingers through his. He opened his eyes again and lifted his head from the cushion.

“You’re all shiny, you know,” he said quietly.

I gave a little smile, chagrined. “Stupid glitter wouldn’t wash off,” I replied, my voice as soft as his.

“I like it. You sparkle like an angel on Christmas morning.”

His words rendered me speechless, but he didn’t seem to mind. With another soft sigh, he turned and lay down between my legs, resting on his side and nestling his head on my stomach. His hands rested on the curve of my waist in a loose grip as I leaned back against the arm of the couch. I was reminded of that night in the crappy motel room in Chicago, so long ago, when Kade had assumed a similar posture.

I wasn’t wearing much underneath the robe—but Kade seemed to be behaving himself. My fingers combed through his hair, the dark strands as soft as silk. I didn’t know if he was sleeping or just looking out the window at the lights. I did know it was quiet and peaceful, a moment to be savored, and made all the more special for its rarity.

Kade—letting down his guard.

“Do you want to know why I started this new business?” he asked after a while.

“Hmmm?” I was still idly combing through his hair.

“I did it for you.”

My fingers stopped, my brows drawing together in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“When you and Blane broke up, again, I had this stupid, idiotic hope that if I changed, if I could make a life someone could share with me, that maybe… you would.”

I was stunned. “Kade, I—I don’t know what to say.”

He shifted, turning so he could look up at me. “Don’t say anything,” he said. “Not yet. Just think about it. We’re good together. We have fun, make a good team.”

All that was true.

“You wouldn’t have to worry about money anymore,” Kade continued. “We could travel. I can find jobs anywhere and everywhere. You want to see the world, princess? I can give it to you.”

“We’re friends,” I said. “You don’t have to give me anything.”

“I need you,” Kade said. “I’ve never needed anyone the way I need you. You and I have something, and if this is the only chance I’m going to get to convince you of that, then I’m going to take it.”

“Kade—”

“Just… think about it. We could be good, really good, together. And we could be way more than friends.”

I went quiet as he settled back on my stomach, my mind spinning with what Kade was offering. Then I inhaled sharply. Kade had turned his head more and was now pushing between my legs, sliding aside the satin fabric of the robe.

“Don’t—” I began, squirming backward. I didn’t get far, though. His hands tightened on my hips, holding me in place.

Kade’s mouth fastened to my inner thigh. His tongue traced warm, wet circles over my skin. Taking my legs, he hooked them over his shoulders and nuzzled the silk triangle at the apex of my thighs.

He groaned even as I let out a gasp, heat flooding the core of me.

More heat as he pressed his tongue flat against the thin fabric. My legs trembled in reaction, every sense acutely aware of the brush of his jaw, the warmth of his breath.

He nuzzled me again, inhaling deeply, and I felt my face grow hot.

“I thought you didn’t want to be the rebound guy,” I managed to say.

“I changed my mind,” he growled. “I’ll take whatever you’ll let me.”

There was the sound of fabric tearing, and then I was bare to him. Frantically, I reached down to cover myself, but he caught my wrists. Then his mouth was on me, his tongue inside me. My eyes slammed shut as rational thought flew out the window.

I felt like one of Kade’s Moon Pies—no part of me was left untouched by the warm invasion of his lips and tongue. Fire licked at my veins the way Kade licked my body. Blood thundered in my ears as he teased me, my heart racing. My hands clenched into fists and Kade released my wrists, but instead of pushing him away, I buried my fingers in his hair.