It was the worst game of chicken I had ever played. Garrett and I used to play when we were kids. He would climb on his bike and I’d hop on mine. I loved how the yellow tassels would flap on the handlebars the faster I peddled. I’d start at one end of the street and Garrett would stake out the other end. When our neighbor Penny yelled, we’d dig into the pedals. Each one threatening the other we wouldn’t bail. I would ride so hard, I’d stand upright, urging my feet to move faster. But as I got closer and closer to my brother, the fear would start. What if he didn’t stop? What if he was willing to crash into me? How bad would it hurt when my body was splayed on the street? A thousand things rushed through my mind as I sailed toward inevitable doom. Ultimately, I never won chicken. Garrett was tougher. Or I was smarter. I didn’t know.

Just how far was I willing to take this with Vaughn? Underneath my new-found fearlessness, I was still that same little girl. I talked a big talk, but was I willing to crash to prove a point? I couldn’t make that decision until I had all the facts. I was going to work this like I would any case a client presented. I needed information.

I pulled the sheet against my hip and waited for Vaughn to say something.

He cleared his throat. “You already know Paul is the target.”

“Yes. That was made clear today.”

“He works for Mertech, a high-end research company.”

“And you also work there?”

He nodded. “I’m there as a temporary contractor. The problem is, the only position I could secure was in marketing. I’m nowhere near Paul in the building, and making a connection with him over the past few weeks hasn’t been easy. Everything has been too forced. Too obvious.”

“Because he’s some kind of scientist.”

“He’s not just any scientist. He’s the scientist. He’s leading Europe in bio-research. He has worked for Mertech for years off and on, traveling around the world. Aubrey just moved to join him for a more permanent position.”

“What is it he’s working on that’s so incredible?”

“It’s the reason I’m here. I need to copy his formulas and hand them over to Blackwing.”

“But what kind of formulas? What are they for?”

Vaughn sighed. I knew he didn’t want to tell me any of this. “The specific one I need to acquire changes body chemistry.” He paused. “It can eliminate all traces of any substance in the body during a test or an autopsy. Alcohol, vitamins, you name it. It’s like a masking agent.”

“But why would that be something Blackwing wants?”

Vaughn tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “It doesn’t matter why. What matters is that my assignment is to get a copy of the exact formula.”

“It does matter why. If something like this can hide chemicals in a body, then what do they want to hide? Drugs? Poison?” I covered my mouth. “You said autopsies. Is it so they can get away with killing someone?”

“Stop. This is why I don’t want to talk about it. You’re getting scared.”

I straightened my shoulders. “I’m not scared.” I could hear the shake in my voice. “Tell me. Why do they want it?”

“You’re right. It could be used to hide a poisoning. But this has to do with something a little more commercialized than assassination plots.”

“I don’t understand.”

“The client is Riker.”

“As in the sports manufacturer? The sporting goods giant?”

“Yes. That one.”

I pushed off the bed to sit forward. I didn’t care when the sheet hit the mattress. I wanted to put the puzzle pieces together.

“Wait. They do sponsorships.”

“They do.” Vaughn nodded.

“Huge athletes. Million-dollar contracts. Some of the most famous names in the U.S.”

“Keep going.”

My eyes narrowed. It was like the clues were there, I just couldn’t snap them in place.

“But why would they want to hide—” I looked at Vaughn. “No.” I shook my head.

“What do you think it is, babe?”

I folded my knees under me. “They want to cheat. They are going to give the formula to the athletes. If it can cheat any test, then they could use HGH, steroids, even drugs and alcohol if they wanted. Think how that would help in the middle of a scandal.” I looked at Vaughn. “You’re going to do this for them?”

“We are not going down that road. You know what I do. You’ve known. This is the job. This is who I am. You wanted to know the details. These are the details. I’m not about to start a morality debate with you.”

“You don’t care?”

“No.” His lips pressed together. “I am paid well enough not to care.”

“How much?” I asked. “What’s the price to make you not give a shit?”

“Eight million,” he answered.

I swallowed. “Shit.”

“Yeah. It’s a lot of money. I sleep just fine.”

I couldn’t start another argument with him. This was the only time he had given me access to answers.

“So what’s your plan? Have lunch with Paul in the lab and swipe the formula? Is it that easy?”

“No. It’s more layered than that. But lunch is a start.”

I kept pressing. “Eloise said you’ve been hesitant. What did she mean by that?”

“I don’t want to talk about her. All right? It’s late. We should sleep.”

“No way. You said you’d tell me. I want to know.”

His hand ran over my stomach and eventually cupped my breast. I tried to ignore the zing that rang through my body, but I was still floating with sensation. He made a circle with his thumb, bringing my nipple to a hard point. I moaned.

“Stop trying to distract me,” I whispered.

“Isn’t this how you distracted me?” He lunged forward, rolling me on my back and pinning my wrists over my head.

I felt the fire flickering under my skin.

“You said you’d answer my questions,” I pleaded.

“I will.” His lips crushed mine with a heavy kiss. “Tomorrow.”

“No.” I shook my head. “Tonight.”

He continued to kiss my neck and throat. I twisted against the hold on my wrists, but he only held me tighter. His mouth met my nipple and inhaled it between his teeth. I rocked into him, wanting more.

“I think that’s enough information,” he growled, raising his head from my chest. “You know the target. You know why. You know the payout. Ok?”

I wiggled my hips back and forth as his hand spread my legs. “No. I want you to tell me everything. I have to know.” I could keep pedaling. I knew I could.

“Em,” he slid a finger between my velvet folds. “This is getting too dangerous.”

I bit my lip. “I’m not going to back down.”

“Good, baby. I’d be disappointed if you did.” I could see his devilish grin.

“Vaughn,” I let out a long moan as he slid a finger deep inside me. My eyes closed and for a second, I forgot what I was supposed to do other than let him take me under.

“You’re mine, Em. I don’t want to lose you because of Blackwing.”

I shook my head. “You won’t.”

I was sore and exhausted. Emotionally drained. Reeling from facts and lies. But there was still an ache inside me. An ache so deep I needed him again.

His finger pumped in and out as my back arched, pointing my breasts to the chandelier over our bed. He kissed my throat.

“It’s what they want. They want you.”

“No,” I moaned. “They can’t have me. I’m yours.”

He worked faster, flicking my clit with certain strokes. “Then let me take care of this. I need to keep you safe. I have to protect you.”

The ache for him made my thighs slick. My knees fell open wide as I swiveled my hips, trying to stave off the orgasm.

“I am safe.” I could barely get the words out. I tugged against the restraint, only feeling more turned on. “You do protect me.”

“What do you want?” he groaned, pulling his fingers from me. I cried out from the emptiness.

“Fuck me, please,” I begged. “I need you.”

He moved in between my legs as his cock pushed inside me, stretching me, filling me.

“Ahh,” I whimpered, feeling the fullness of him buried inside me.

I didn’t want him to let go. I didn’t want to be free. I wanted to be his. He moved in and out, fucking me with the kind of certainty I knew only existed between us. I was his.

His lips met mine in the dark. Ravenous kisses. Insatiable kisses that kept us up for hours. Every time I thought I’d come, he’d back down and make me beg for more.

“Please,” I whispered, knowing the exhaustion would knock me out tomorrow. I’d be lucky if I made it across the street for my usual cup of coffee with Marie. Instead, I’d be curled up on the couch with a cozy blanket and French movies, napping off and on while my body recovered from Vaughn.

“No,” he growled. He plunged inside me again and I tried to twist my body. I wanted more pressure. More friction. More everything.

My breath came in short pants as he slid his cock from me and kissed me slowly, deeply.

“Please,” I begged again.

God, this game had gotten dark and dirty, but I wasn’t backing down. I wanted it. He would never leave my unsatisfied, but I had no idea how long he wanted to play. How long he would want me to beg and to writhe.

“No.” His teeth grazed my nipple and I bucked toward him. I’d take the pain with the pleasure, if he would give it to me.

“Oh shit,” I whimpered when his teeth clamped against it. He sucked hard, drawing tiny cries from my throat.

His fingers swathed through my slit and I jerked from the contact. “Please,” I pleaded again.

“You’re so fucking wet, baby.”

I nodded. “Fuck me,” I groaned, with a new sensuality in my voice that I kind of loved.

He positioned his cock at my entrance and I hissed with want. I was a quivering mess. My clit was throbbing. My pulse was racing.

“I want you to come,” he commanded.

“Yes,” I nodded as he plunged into me. “God, yes.”

It was an explosion of color and darkness at the same time. He steadied his body over mine as his hips thrust repeatedly. His grunts were primal as I cried out with the glittering rain of my release. The last quake echoed in my core and I sighed exhausted and sated.

Vaughn’s body stilled as he pumped his last wave inside me. We watched each other in awe.

His fingers uncurled from my wrists. I slowly pulled them over my head, making tiny circles in one direction and then the other.

“I think you made your point.” I rolled to face him. I traced the sharp angle of his jaw. He kissed my knuckles.

“What was the point?”

“I’m always going to be yours. I’m not leaving. I’m not working with Blackwing behind your back. I’m yours.” I stopped when my finger hit the bottom of his cheek. “But we have to do something.”

“I know.”

I studied him. How were we going to break through this impasse? I knew he was a thief. I knew his work was dangerous. I knew fleeing the country with him had cost me everything. His eyes closed and I stroked his dark hair.

Maybe I could learn how to handle working with Blackwing, but Vaughn couldn’t. Maybe this time the client wanted a secret formula to cheat and make money in sports, but what if next time it was assassinations? Was I really going to be able to roast chickens, hang custom drapes and pretend I didn’t know I was helping murderers? Could I shake hands and spend time with smugglers and thieves? People who planted seeds of chaos in the world? Help orchestrate coupes and political upheaval?

“Vaughn?” I whispered.

His side rose with a heavy breath. He was asleep.

I didn’t have the answer, but we had to find it. Together.