tapped in her code, signaling the end of the session. Nathan knew and approved of the safety features, another reason why he liked Hooded Pleasures.
He blinked as she froze, her eyes wide as she studied the screen.
Nathan tensed.
Something was off.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing.” She put the phone down and reached for the drink. She took a deep swig before handing it to him.
“Bullshit.” He enjoyed the flash of surprise in her eyes at his curse. “Something upset you. What is it?”
“Nothing,” Danielle repeated. “I’m fine.” She entwined her fingers and placed her hands on one knee.
He saw the tension in her muscles and the trace of a tremble.
Hell, no.
Nathan drained the can and crushed it in his hand as he tried to quell his rising temper. “Damn it, I’m a cop. I know when someone’s upset. Your body language tells me as much as mine tells you when you’re dominating me.” He deposited the mangled can on the table. “I know you’re upset. Something freaked you the fuck out, and I want to do whatever I can to not have that happen.”
She flinched at his strong language.
Nathan hid a smile. He tried never to swear unless the situation called for it, and this was the first and second time she’d heard curse words from him.
“Look.” He took her hands in his. “I know I’m pushing my limits here, but I care about you.”
Way more than I should.
“I saw your eyes. I saw your reaction. Whatever it is, you don’t need to carry this weight alone. I don’t want you to if I can possibly help it.”
Danielle bit down on her lower lip, gnawing on the delicate skin.
He saw the emotional shell begin to crack, pulling apart under his gentle interrogation.
“Please.” Nathan ran a finger along her cheekbone, turning her to face him. “Please let me help you if I can.”
Her lips parted, and for a second, he thought about moving in to kiss her, push away the fear with the raw emotion he felt for her.
“I’m fi—” The stoic response started.
She stopped.
She sighed, giving up the battle. “I’m not fine.”
He felt a surge of relief at her confession. “What I can do?” Nathan picked up an energy bar and bit off a small part before offering her the rest. “There’s got to be some way I can help.”
She took the bar and nibbled on the edge.
He waited, not wanting to push her.
When you’re ready, I’ll be here.
They sat in silence for a full minute.
Nathan didn’t hold his breath but he didn’t move, afraid anything he did or said would tip her over the edge one way or another.
Danielle pressed her lips into a straight line. “I’m not sure if it’s against the rules or not.” She finished off the energy bar and balled the wrapper in one hand. “Technically, I guess it’s on the line.”
“I won’t tell,” Nathan offered. He drew an X on his bare chest. “Cross my heart.” He gave her a flirty wink. “You know I can keep a secret.”
She tilted her head to one side and laughed.
Nathan felt the tension ease away, as much as she was prepared to give and he was willing to take.
Gotcha.
She rubbed the back of her neck. “Okay. I guess you’re the right person to talk to this about because you’re a policeman.”
“I’m not fixing your parking tickets,” Nathan deadpanned, keeping the smile on her face. “And don’t ask me about concert tickets. I’ve got no pull in that department.”
She cleared her throat as her cheeks turned a light red. “I guess if we’re doing this, I have to be honest with you. My name isn’t Danielle. I mean, it is, but only when I’m on HP business.”
Oh.
He wasn’t surprised at the revelation. In his line of work, people switched names all the time. Work names, play names, street names. Didn’t matter which side of the fence you were on, whatever name people knew you by carried power.
Telling someone your real name was like giving away a small piece of yourself.
Honesty was a gift no matter
He blinked as she froze, her eyes wide as she studied the screen.
Nathan tensed.
Something was off.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing.” She put the phone down and reached for the drink. She took a deep swig before handing it to him.
“Bullshit.” He enjoyed the flash of surprise in her eyes at his curse. “Something upset you. What is it?”
“Nothing,” Danielle repeated. “I’m fine.” She entwined her fingers and placed her hands on one knee.
He saw the tension in her muscles and the trace of a tremble.
Hell, no.
Nathan drained the can and crushed it in his hand as he tried to quell his rising temper. “Damn it, I’m a cop. I know when someone’s upset. Your body language tells me as much as mine tells you when you’re dominating me.” He deposited the mangled can on the table. “I know you’re upset. Something freaked you the fuck out, and I want to do whatever I can to not have that happen.”
She flinched at his strong language.
Nathan hid a smile. He tried never to swear unless the situation called for it, and this was the first and second time she’d heard curse words from him.
“Look.” He took her hands in his. “I know I’m pushing my limits here, but I care about you.”
Way more than I should.
“I saw your eyes. I saw your reaction. Whatever it is, you don’t need to carry this weight alone. I don’t want you to if I can possibly help it.”
Danielle bit down on her lower lip, gnawing on the delicate skin.
He saw the emotional shell begin to crack, pulling apart under his gentle interrogation.
“Please.” Nathan ran a finger along her cheekbone, turning her to face him. “Please let me help you if I can.”
Her lips parted, and for a second, he thought about moving in to kiss her, push away the fear with the raw emotion he felt for her.
“I’m fi—” The stoic response started.
She stopped.
She sighed, giving up the battle. “I’m not fine.”
He felt a surge of relief at her confession. “What I can do?” Nathan picked up an energy bar and bit off a small part before offering her the rest. “There’s got to be some way I can help.”
She took the bar and nibbled on the edge.
He waited, not wanting to push her.
When you’re ready, I’ll be here.
They sat in silence for a full minute.
Nathan didn’t hold his breath but he didn’t move, afraid anything he did or said would tip her over the edge one way or another.
Danielle pressed her lips into a straight line. “I’m not sure if it’s against the rules or not.” She finished off the energy bar and balled the wrapper in one hand. “Technically, I guess it’s on the line.”
“I won’t tell,” Nathan offered. He drew an X on his bare chest. “Cross my heart.” He gave her a flirty wink. “You know I can keep a secret.”
She tilted her head to one side and laughed.
Nathan felt the tension ease away, as much as she was prepared to give and he was willing to take.
Gotcha.
She rubbed the back of her neck. “Okay. I guess you’re the right person to talk to this about because you’re a policeman.”
“I’m not fixing your parking tickets,” Nathan deadpanned, keeping the smile on her face. “And don’t ask me about concert tickets. I’ve got no pull in that department.”
She cleared her throat as her cheeks turned a light red. “I guess if we’re doing this, I have to be honest with you. My name isn’t Danielle. I mean, it is, but only when I’m on HP business.”
Oh.
He wasn’t surprised at the revelation. In his line of work, people switched names all the time. Work names, play names, street names. Didn’t matter which side of the fence you were on, whatever name people knew you by carried power.
Telling someone your real name was like giving away a small piece of yourself.
Honesty was a gift no matter
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