Heat pooled low in Kara’s belly and rushed through her body, proving this man was dangerously in control of her in ways she should be, not him. He had torn down her mental shields, made her vulnerable in ways she swore she never would be with anyone. “I hate you right now,” she whispered, only she didn’t hate him at all. In fact, she felt more for this man, this dangerously wrong man for her, than she had any before him.

He laughed low in his throat, a sexy rumble that made her sex clench, a moment before he kissed her again, stroking his tongue against hers in several deep, luxurious caresses. “If that’s how hate tastes,” he murmured against her mouth, “I’m addicted.”

“I bet you say that to all the FBI agents before you—”

“Don’t say ‘kill them’ or I might seriously have to—”

“Spank me?” she challenged, before she could stop herself from her deep need to challenge this man. “You can try but you won’t succeed.”

Chapter Seventeen

CHAPTER

SEVENTEEN

Kara had barely issued her challenge when she was flat on her back with Blake on top of her and her hands pinned over her head. “Don’t tempt me, Kara,” Blake warned. “That would be a hell of a lot better than killing you, which is what every one of the cartel would do if they heard you were FBI. What the hell were you thinking coming in here alone?”

Alone was dangerous. Alone made her disappear too easily. “Who says I’m alone?”

“I know you’re alone. Why, Kara?”

Kara squeezed her eyes shut and fought her urge to trust Blake, but the fight lasted all of two seconds. She was alone. She was alone and she needed his help. She forced her gaze to his. “I was desperate.”

“Why would you be desperate?”

“It isn’t just me on the line here, Blake. You have no idea how much trust I really am putting in you to tell you this.”

“So you’re not alone?”

“I am. I’m alone.” More than she ever had been in her life. “It’s…my sister disappeared two months ago. Officials came up clueless and while they promised they were still trying, it wasn’t enough for me.”

“And your investigation brought you here,” he supplied.

She gave a nod. “She came here for a job as a merchandiser for a large retailer, but it was eliminated when she arrived. The last I heard from her, she was waitressing and trying to find something better. Then…she just went silent.”

Understanding registered in his face and he released her hands, settling his weight on his elbows on either side of her. “And she was working for one of the cartel’s restaurants.”