Chapter 5

FIVE

K ira swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way her skin tingled where he had touched her. She needed to stay focused, to remember this was just a temporary arrangement. Once the case was solved, she and Rex would go their separate ways. There was no point in getting attached.

But as they drove back into town, the sun setting behind them in a blaze of orange and pink, Kira couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment. For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel so alone. She had a purpose, a mission, and someone to share it with.

Maybe, just maybe, letting Rex in wouldn’t be such a bad thing after all.

As if on cue, Rex’s stomach growled loudly, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them. Kira glanced over at him, raising an eyebrow.

“Hungry?” she asked, trying to hide her smile.

Rex grinned sheepishly. “Starving, actually. I haven’t eaten since breakfast. Hey, I know a great little pizza place not far from here. What do you say we grab a bite to eat before we call it a day?”

Kira hesitated for a moment, weighing her options. She knew she should probably just drop Rex off and head home, keep things strictly professional. But the thought of a hot, gooey slice of pizza was too tempting to resist. And if she was being honest with herself, she wasn’t quite ready to say good-bye to Rex just yet.

“Sure,” she agreed, making a split-second decision. “Lead the way.”

Rex directed her to a cozy, family-owned pizzeria tucked away in a quiet corner of town. The smell of garlic and tomato sauce wafted out to greet them as they walked through the door, making Kira’s mouth water.

They slid into a booth and ordered a large pepperoni pizza to share. As they waited for their food to arrive, Rex launched into a story about his childhood, regaling Kira with tales of his misadventures with Nash. She found herself laughing along with him, charmed by his easygoing nature and self-deprecating humor.

When the pizza arrived, they dug in with gusto, savoring every cheesy, greasy bite. Kira couldn’t remember the last time she had enjoyed a meal so much or felt so at ease in someone else’s company.

As they ate, Rex’s flirting intensified, his gaze smoldering as he looked at Kira across the table. “You know, Kira,” he said, his voice low and alluring, “I’ve been thinking about you a lot since our first meeting. There’s something about you that just draws me in like a moth to a flame.”

A shiver ran down her spine at his words, her body responding to the raw magnetism in his voice. “Is that so?” she asked, trying to keep her tone light and playful. “And what exactly is it about me that has you so captivated, Rex Stone?”

He leaned forward, his eyes never leaving hers. “Everything,” he growled, his voice rough with desire. “Your strength, your intelligence, your beauty. The way you don’t back down from a challenge. It’s like you were made for me, Kira. Like we were meant to be together.”

Kira’s heart raced at his bold declaration, her lioness roaring to life within her. She knew she should put a stop to this, should remind him that they were just working together, nothing more. But the way he looked at her, the way his words ignited a fire in her veins, made it impossible to resist.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Rex,” she warned. “I’m not like the other women you’ve been with. I won’t be tamed so easily.”

Rex’s grin turned feral, his eyes flashing with a primal hunger. “I don’t want to tame you, Kira,” he said, his hand reaching out to brush a stray lock of hair from her face. “I want to claim you, to make you mine. And I always get what I want.”

Kira shivered at his touch, her skin erupting in goose bumps. She was treading on thin ice. If she let this go any further, there would be no turning back. But the temptation was too great, the pull too strong.

“And what makes you think I want to be claimed?” she challenged, her eyes locked on his. “What makes you think I won’t just walk away and never look back?”

Rex’s hand slid down to cup her jaw, his thumb brushing across her lower lip. “Because you feel it too,” he said, his voice a low rumble in his chest. “The connection between us, the fire that burns in our veins. You can try to deny it all you want, Kira, but we both know the truth. You’re mine, just as I’m yours. And nothing in this world is going to change that.”

Kira’s breath caught in her throat, her body trembling under his touch. She knew he was right, knew that the bond between them was too strong to ignore. But she also knew that giving in to her desires would come at a cost, one she wasn’t sure she was ready to pay.

“Rex,” she whispered, her voice breaking on his name. “We can’t do this. We have to focus on the case, on finding the person responsible for sabotaging Gerri’s business. Everything else has to wait.”

He sighed, his hand falling away from her face. “I know,” he said, his voice tinged with frustration. “But that doesn’t change how I feel about you, Kira. And it doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to fight for you, no matter what it takes.”

Kira’s heart swelled at his words and the fierce determination in his eyes. Loving Rex would be a battle, a constant push and pull between her independence and his dominance. But it would be worth it. The rewards would far outweigh the risks.

“Then fight for me,” she whispered. “Prove to me that you’re worthy of my trust, of my heart. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll let you claim me as your own.”

Rex’s eyes flashed with triumph, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Challenge accepted, little lioness,” he purred, his voice a sensual caress. “Challenge accepted.”

When they got to the car, she went for the door handle, but Rex grabbed her wrist and turned her to face him. She sucked in a breath as he pressed her back against the car. There was a second of only her heart thudding hard before his lips came crashing over hers. It was hard, deep, and demanding. She melted into his kiss. His hard body pressed into her, holding her hostage against the car.

She moaned, kissing him back. It took her a second to realize he had both of her arms caged under his. All she could do was grab his shirt and curl her hands into fists, pulling him closer. If only that were a possibility.

Rex’s tongue curled around hers as if he owned her. His lips sucked and brushed over hers with a determined urgency she loved. Her blood thickened with need. Her heartbeats thundered in her ears. The sound of her lioness growling for her to let this man take her was making her dizzy. Lust and need warred against common sense in her head. The kiss wasn’t enough. She wanted more. She wanted everything.

Rex’s kiss went from hard and deep to light and soft until he pulled back, leaving her feeling like she was standing there naked.

Kira’s mind swirled. She knew she could get burned, letting herself get close to Rex like this. But she couldn’t help herself. Something about him drew her in, made her want to let down her guard and trust him completely.

It was a risk. Getting involved with a client was a recipe for disaster.

“How about dinner tomorrow?”

“I don’t think-”

He gave that panty-melting grin. “Good. Don’t think. I’ll pick you up at eight.”

“Rex,” she growled in frustration. “I have a case to solve.”

His predatory grin widened. “And you will. We’ll help. But you still need to eat.”

He opened her door and she sunk into her seat in defeat. What the fuck just happened?

She caught a glimpse of Rex’s smile in the rearview mirror and couldn’t bring herself to care about his motives or anything else.

For the first time in a long time, Kira felt alive. And she wasn’t about to let that feeling go without a fight.