“That doesn’t help,” she said in a hoarse voice. “Not when we were just talking about men passing me around.”

He pulled her close. “That won’t happen. Ever. I won’t let it.” He kissed her temple and motioned to the door. “Let’s get this over with.”

Luke pushed the truck’s door open and walked around to help Julie out. Once he brought her into view, she sat there for a minute not moving. He held out his hand in encouragement. “Come on,” he said softly. “Who cares what these guys think?”

She inhaled and let it out before sliding from the vehicle to stand by his side. He took one look at her swollen lips, now lipstick free, the whisker burn on her delicate skin, and knew no one would doubt what they had been doing.

With a sigh he stepped forward, pulling her coat tightly around her, and brushed his lips over hers. They walked toward the stairwell to find Blake waiting, and he wasn’t kidding about not being alone. Murphy and Hendrix were with him, which was expected, considering they’d known his plan. That made his losing control in the truck all the more out-of-character.

“Both from the task force,” Luke told Julie when she cast him a questioning look.

She gave a barely there nod. “Nothing like making an impression.”

“They need to worry about that far more than you do.”

“You don’t like them?” she asked softly.

“I don’t know them well enough to say.”

They stopped several feet from the group and Luke quickly introduced Julie. “Why don’t I meet you all in the office after I take Julie upstairs?” he suggested. He didn’t want her in on this talk. These guys wanted to catch Arel. He wanted to protect Julie. Those two things didn’t necessarily coincide. Talking through the evening’s events with Julie present wasn’t going to work either. She’d put herself at risk, when he wasn’t going to let that happen.

She shook her head and crossed her arms, clearly digging in her heels, and proving Hendrix and Murphy were the least of Luke’s worries.

“Forget it, Luke. You aren’t going to play bodyguard and send me on my way.” She let her gaze scan the other men. “Luke was given an invitation to a party on Friday night we assume is to meet Arel. The condition is that I go along with him.”

Blake cursed and ran a hand through his hair. “No. That’s not happening.” His gaze collided with Luke’s. “Tell me you didn’t agree to this.”

“I didn’t even consider it,” Luke confirmed. “She’s not doing it.” He cut his attention to Julie. “You aren’t doing it.”

“You had a tail tonight,” Hendrix said. “You’re being followed. You’re being watched. You’re both in this and there isn’t an easy exit. You might as well do what you can to save a few innocent kids’ lives.”

It was a taunt, a way to manipulate Julie, and Luke lost it. He lunged at the son-of-a-bitch, grabbing his coat. Hendrix’s phone flew off of his belt and hit the pavement.

“Luke, no!” Julie screamed.

Blake grabbed Luke and shoved him back, getting between him and Hendrix.

Blake pointed at Murphy. “I suggest you get Hendrix out of here before I help Luke beat his ass.”

Hendrix grabbed his cell phone from the ground and glared at Luke. “My ass is on the line for letting you in on this. Stop thinking with your dick, man. My ass isn’t going down for you.” He headed for his SUV in a slow saunter that only had Luke ready to go after him again. Murphy saw it too, walking backward and watching Luke, while Blake stood in front of him, his hand on Luke’s chest.

“Don’t, Luke,” Blake said. “He’s a tricky bastard who might just get you thrown in jail.”

“He needs me too damn much for that.”

Julie stepped up beside Blake. “Don’t go after him,” she said softly. “Please. I’m begging you, Luke. Don’t do it.”

That plea wore him down and all the adrenaline pumping through his veins evaporated. His shoulders slowly relaxed. Blake stepped away and let them have space.

“Let’s go upstairs,” Luke said softly.

“Yes,” she said, holding his stare. “I think that would be a very good idea.”

It was an announcement of war, but this one war he intended to win. The minute she was inside his apartment, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, taking her mouth with a hot demand, and when she whimpered, he picked her up and carried her toward the bedroom.

She must have sensed how on edge he was and how out of control he felt He was certain that the only way to feel better was with her, to be inside her, and a part of her, because she didn’t argue. She didn’t try to talk through what had just happened in the garage.

He stripped her na**d and barely remembered undressing himself. He just knew he took her down onto the bed, unable to stop kissing her. He spread her legs and pressed his fingers inside her, craving her soft sounds of pleasure. Craving her. And when she came, when she moaned with release, he only wanted more. He needed more.

Luke pulled her beneath him, settling into the slick, wet heat of her body. And then he was inside her, with her. Her skin was soft, her kisses sweet and sultry, her responses to his touch intensely erotic.

She moaned and arched into him, clinging to him, as if she felt what he did, as if she was standing on a ledge with him, the only thing keeping him from falling.