The worry in her eyes increased. “And that’s what I have a bad feeling about. I can’t shake it no matter what.”

“I’m going to be fine, baby. I’m not your father.”

“I know. I just… I need you to be all right. You know?” Tears glistened in her eyes, but she blinked them back. He had to give her credit, she rarely gave into them so he knew whenever he saw her tears just how deeply she felt. “I love you too much to lose you now. I couldn’t stand to bury you.”

God, her words never failed to weaken him. “Same here. It’s why I have to do this tomorrow. Not just for the cause, but for you. I want to make sure no one ever threatens you again. You’re wearing the tricom I left for you, right?”

Leaning back, she lifted her shirt to show that she had it clipped to her waist. “Thank you for this, by the way. I’m not sure how it works, and I haven’t tested it, but I have faith in your abilities. No one makes better tech toys than you do. What caused you to think of it?”

Darling’s throat went absolutely dry at the sight of her exposed skin.

She scowled. “Kere? Are you there?”

“Um, yeah. Sorry. I was momentarily distracted by the flash of your breast you just inadvertently gave me. All the blood has now left my brain and I really can’t think. What did you ask again?”

Laughing, she tsked at him. “You’re so bad.”

“Can’t help it. Have you looked in a mirror? Damn, woman, the things you do to me.”

She wrinkled her nose at him before she playfully started unbuttoning her shirt.

“Ah, now that’s just wrong.”

“What?” Her tone was one of complete innocence as she stopped at the last button that held her shirt closed right between her breasts. “Guess I need to go then… Last thing I want to do is torture you.”

“Nuh-uh. You can’t leave me now. That would be cruel.”

She flicked her finger back and forth over the final button, tormenting him with expectation. “You told me it was wrong.”

“Wrong is what you’re doing to me right now.”

“Boy, you need to make up your mind. You don’t want me to show you anything. Then you do… I just can’t figure you out. After all, I’m not in your head.”

No, she was some place much worse.

His heart.

“You know what I want, baby.”

Biting her lip, she popped the last button and opened her shirt.

Darling’s entire body erupted with fire at the sight of her bare breasts. If that wasn’t bad enough, she lifted her legs and propped them up on the desk. Oh yeah, he was so hard now, he could barely think straight.

She ran one hand over the top of her breast, circling the nipple, which puckered instantly. “You still alive, baby?”

“No. You’ve killed me.”

She laughed. “Have I told you today how much I love you?”