Rewarded by Jo Davis Read Free Book Online

world knowing the dangers. Even Rio warned me, and I didn’t listen.”
    “And I came here knowing them,” she reminded him. “There’s nobody to blame but Santos, and he’s going to prison for a long time. Now, are you going to hold me so I can sleep?”
    He smiled. “I’d like nothing better.”
    Well, that wasn’t exactly true, she thought as he spooned her from behind and his erection pressed into her through their nightclothes. For a moment she let herself enjoy the feeling of him there, his firm muscles surrounding her, his strength. Maybe she could let go, give in and make love to him. Let him take away the fear, replace it with something good.
    But no, she just wasn’t ready, and he didn’t push the issue, sensitive enough to know she needed comforting tonight.
    “Good night, Anna.” He kissed the top of her head.
    “Night, sexy.”
    His quiet chuckle followed her into a dreamless sleep.
    ***
    Alone in his room, Gray tossed, in agony at the knowledge of Delacruz and Anna. Reunited. In her room, probably making love right this second. He wanted to die, the pain was so bad.
    It was a long, long while before he finally slept.

4
    Anna hadn’t wanted to make love. Not last night, and not this morning, either.
    Joaquin told himself to give her time. That Grayson Sloane riding to the rescue like the Lone Ranger atop Silver, the good guy wearing the white hat, had nothing whatsoever to do with her reticence. That once he and Simon King left this morning, all would return to normal.
    And he could pick up where they left off, romancing his lady and giving her the world.
    Wistfully, he remembered making love to her in Aruba. He’d been so happy to bring her home, to have time for them to get to know each other. Then Santos, damn the fucking asshole, had to make his play. But he hadn’t ruined everything, had he? Joaquin couldn’t stand to think that.
    Leaning against the kitchen counter, he was sipping from his mug of coffee when Sloane walked in, fully dressed and seemingly ready to go.
    “Mind if I grab some coffee before we leave?” the agent asked.
    “Suit yourself.” His answer was sharper and less polite than he’d intended, and he instantly cursed himself. Sloane zeroed in on his mood like a hawk spying its prey.
    “Seems like you ought to be pretty happy this morning, considering you got Anna back and you’re no longer a wanted man. What gives?”
    “Nothing that concerns you. And for the record, I am happy.”
    Sloane’s laugh pissed him off. “Yeah, you sound real overjoyed. What’s the matter? Was Anna’s homecoming not all you’d hoped for?”
    Carefully, Joaquin set his mug aside. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Sorry, I don’t kiss and tell.”
    “No need. If there was much kissing going on, you’d be wearing a big smile instead of that scowl.”
    His temper slipped several more degrees. “You don’t know a thing about my relationship with Anna. If you weren’t so arrogant, you’d see how content she is with me. I can give her things you never will be able to.”
    A smirk spread across Sloane’s face. “Want to know what I gave her in the warehouse? A big wet kiss, and she kissed me right back. If she’s so content with you, she wouldn’t have been so happy to see me,” he goaded. “Given her reaction to me, I’m going to fight with everything I’ve got to win her back. And I’m going to succeed.”
    Joaquin’s temper snapped, and he lunged, grabbing Sloane by the front of his shirt and delivering a blow to the man’s jaw. Unbalanced, both of them crashed on top of the counter and sent mugs and coffee flying. The agent regained some leverage, shoving him back and getting in a good shot of his own, snapping Joaquin’s head back.
    They traded blows, each intent on pummeling the other. A couple of chairs and a barstool were tossed aside, one of the chairs in pieces. Sloane pulled back his fist and was about to punch him again when King rushed into the kitchen and