“I was thinking how you still had seven and a half weeks of leave left. You’ve only been here four days.”

“Feels like four weeks already,” she agreed wryly. “Facing my batshit-crazy ex-mother-in-law, reuniting with my stepfather, and being shot at by my evil ex-husband is kind of a lot.” She sighed. “Then I think of the lives DJ and Ephraim have stolen and feel selfish for worrying about myself. And don’t tell me that it’s not my fault. I know it’s not. But I still feel responsible.”

He kissed her temple. “I wouldn’t respect you so much if you didn’t care about the lives Ephraim and DJ have taken. And I do. Respect you, I mean. I don’t think I’d be handling this nearly as well if I were in your shoes. You’re stronger than you know.”

She looked at him, gratitude in her eyes. “Thank you. I’ve been considered fragile by so many people for so long. It’s nice to be seen as strong. It’s good for my ego,” she added with a self-deprecating grimace.

He gripped her chin gently, needing to wipe that grimace from her face. “I don’t think you have much of an ego.” He kissed her the way he’d wanted to do since they’d left the apartment that morning, long and lush and full of all the emotion he was afraid to put into words. Stay. Stay with me.

Turning in to the kiss, she slid her arms around his neck, making a sound that was part purr, part growl, and his body woke up. He wasn’t tired anymore. Not at all.

When that kiss ended, she drew his head down for another, fluidly rising to her knees to take control, and he couldn’t hold back a groan. Didn’t want to hold back. He wanted her to know what she did to him, exactly how much power she held over him. Restlessly he ran his hands up her sides, skimming her breasts before sliding down to her waist, tugging her closer.

He wanted more. He wanted everything. But he didn’t dare take any more, tamping down on his impatience. She’d had a rough day. He wouldn’t make demands.

But if she did, he sure as hell wasn’t going to say no. And if she didn’t, he was more than satisfied. He could kiss her like this all night long if that was all she wanted.

When she lifted her head, they were both panting and her green eyes had grown dark and slightly dazed. Her lips, shiny and plump, curved. “Oh yeah. I do,” she whispered huskily.

“Do? Do what?”

She brushed her lips over his. “Have an ego.”

He blinked up at her. “Huh?”

Her dimples appeared and he wanted to lick them. “You said that you didn’t think I had much of an ego, but I do. And you’re really good at . . . stroking it.”

His cock lurched and he grimaced because his pants were now uncomfortably tight. Closing his eyes, he groaned as his head fell backward to the soft sofa cushion. He managed not to buck his hips, but just barely. “You’re mean, Mercy. So damn mean.”