Lured (Team Zero #1) by Rina Kent

“What else did you pray for?”

“To burn any French lawyer interested in you.”

I laugh. “That’s not very angelic of you, Dom.”

He shrugs. “I need to eliminate any competition. I’m sure even angels get a pass for that.”

“I’m sure they do.”

He brushes his lips against my forehead. “For security reasons, you can’t return to England with me, but I can come here.”

“Why can’t I go?”

“I want you nowhere near those dangerous people.” His face is closed.

“There are more dangerous people than you?” I had meant to tease, but I can see the strain on his face.

“Yes, and they’re the violent type.”

My breath hitches. “Dom… you’re okay, right?”

“I will be.” He winks. “I’m smart, remember?”

“I’m worried. What have you gotten yourself into?”

“Something I can get myself out from, don’t worry.” He palms my cheeks. “You know that I will do every fucking thing to keep you safe, right? I don’t care who I have to burn in order for you to live.”

“I do.” He seems like he want to hear it.

“And you will be with me, anyway?”

“I don’t think I have a choice.” I smile, melting into him. “There’s something of me in you.”

“And something of me in you, baby girl.” His punishing eyes soften. “Only death will stop me from protecting you.”

“Hey, don’t say that.” I tiptoe and plant a quick kiss on his mouth. “Don’t let Eloise hear that.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Eloise?”

I grin and place his palm on my belly. “That’s our baby girl name.”

His expression turns affectionate. “I don’t get a say in naming her something that’s not so French?”

“Don’t be xenophobic, Dom.” I roll my eyes. “What’s so wrong with Eloise?”

“Nothing.” He smiles in full charming fashion. “I just want to see that fired up expression when you’re annoyed.”

“You’re such a sociopath, Dom.”

And I love him for it.

“Your favourite sociopath.” He leans in and captures my lips in a ravenous kiss.





Epilogue





Three years later,

The summer air ruffles my hair as I lie in a chaise longue. I’m wearing a simple summer dress and trying to focus on a law book.

It’s hard.

No. It’s impossible.

Eloise is giggling while running along the beach. Her dark brown hair flies all over her face. She got her father’s hair and some of his stubborn personality, but the bright green eyes are mine and Papa’s.

Dominic sweeps her in his arms and she laughs so hard until she snorts. I can’t help smiling like an idiot. My book lies forgotten. Dominic is only in black shorts. The view of his well-defined muscles brings the memory of when I held on to his waist this morning.

A throb starts between my legs. The physical thrill with Dominic never withered away. I still defy him to be punished senseless. He still binds me and wrenches one shattering orgasm after the other. But other times, when he seems like he’s struggling with work, he just lets me hold him while he falls asleep.

He never tells me about his research now, but he doesn’t need to. I know he’s involved with wrong people. He said he’s doing his best to get out while protecting me and Eloise and that’s all I need to know. I’ll always be proud of how genius he is despite the wrong path his research took.

He still flies between France and England, but that’s a lifestyle I agreed with. We all live in Papa’s huge mansion. My parents are raising Eloise as much as Dominic and I. Since both of us work, she finds lots of sanctuary with her grandparents. Papa is spoiling her shitless. Living in the mansion was Papa’s only condition when Dominic asked him for my hand in marriage.

We had a small, family wedding before Eloise’s birth and it was the best wedding I could dream of.

Dominic and Eloise are the only things I want from life.

Eloise gets busy in building her sand castle. Dominic tells her he’ll bring water and then saunters my way.

I trouble my bottom lip as I watch the way his agile body moves with. All of that is mine. He’s mine.

He sits beside me and whispers in a husky as hell voice. “If you continue watching me that way, I’ll claim you in public.”

“What?” I feign innocence. “I’m focusing on my book.”

“Uh-huh.” He reaches for my hair and strokes a strand behind my ear. “How do you feel?”

He’s been asking that the whole time since our reunion. He makes me take complete health checks every month. He’s even sketchy about me having another child because it can hurt my health. He says Eloise is everything for him, but I’ll be able to convince him to give her a sibling soon enough.

“Stop going all doctor OCD on me, Dom. I’m fine.” I smile and run a finger down the stubble on his cheek. “But I will be terrific if we can find someplace private.”

He glares at Eloise who got bored with the castle and is splashing water with her tiny feet. “You mean there’s a place where that little demon won’t cockblock me?”