All I Need Is You by M. Malone

a future with. That’s not me. No matter how much I want you.”
    It was hard to equate the harsh words coming out of his mouth with the intensely erotic look on his face. But then that was part of her problem, wasn’t it? Any other guy would have told her this after they’d woken up in bed together the next morning. Eli was just nice enough to tell her up front. She wasn’t able to separate sex and love and he could tell. He knew her and knew this wasn’t something she did lightly. Whereas he was no doubt used to casual flings. With a body like his, she wasn’t fooling herself that he’d been saving himself for her. If she even knew how many women he’d been with, she’d probably be shocked.  
    She was operating way out of her league.  
    “You’re right. I want it all. I just don’t understand why we can’t have it.”
    His face tightened and then his arm slid around her back. “Not possible. No matter how much I might want that, too.” He pulled her closer until her cheek rested against his chest. He gazed down at her and Kaylee wondered what he saw when he looked at her. A client? A friend? An inexperienced girl?
    Whatever he saw, it obviously wasn’t enough.
    “I want so much for you, Kay. One day you’ll meet the right guy and have the life you deserve.”
    “I don’t want to date some other guy.” Kay squeezed him around the waist. His arms tightened around her for a moment, then he let go.
    “You don’t want to now, but in time what you’re feeling will fade. You don’t really know me. If you did… Well, anyway, one day you’ll meet someone worthy of you. You should make another date with that lawyer guy. He seemed like a pretty cool dude. I treated him like shit, and he took it well. That’s a good sign. I won’t interfere this time. I promise.”
    He let her go and walked over to the alarm panel next to the door. A series of loud beeps told her he’d set the alarm. Without another word he lay down on the couch and wrapped himself in the comforter.

C HAPTER E IGHT

    OVER THE NEXT few days, Eli tried to stay in the background. Kay ran errands, spent time with her daughter, and went to work. She kept to her usual routine. The only thing that was different was Eli shadowing her.
    He settled himself in the waiting room at Nick’s office, watching Kay handle the constantly ringing phone. Whatever project his brother had her working on was taking up all her time. She’d been rushing in and out of Nick’s office all morning. She hadn’t even taken her lunch break yet.
    He’d taken advantage of her being distracted to finally dig into the e-mails he’d been ignoring. He pulled up the e-mail he’d received from Agent Harris. It linked him to a secure website. He entered his password and then the e-mail opened. He scrolled through pictures of mug shots and scrutinized grainy images of tattooed arms and legs. It was hell being forced to revisit a period of his life that he’d rather forget, but it was the only reason he wasn’t currently in jail. He had knowledge that was invaluable to the authorities. So he was an asset.  
    One they would use until he ceased to be of value anymore.  
    He’d just finished college when he was approached by a man named Justice about an opportunity to work in private security. An opportunity to help victims of kidnappings and violence. A chance to help right wrongs and be useful.  
    Things he’d desperately needed to feel.
    Caught up in the young man’s seductive stories of battles fought and won, Eli had joined the secretive vigilante group called the Circle of Seven. After witnessing the inability of law enforcement to help a lot of victims, especially women, he’d believed in their cause wholeheartedly. Working outside the law, they were able to help whoever they deemed worthy. The power had been like a drug, a potent drug that kept him enthralled and unable to see the truth of what he’d become. It wasn’t until he’d seen his friend and mentor