When He Defends

He didn't want a new partner, especially not her.

FBI Agent Gray Stone knows killers. As a top profiler at the Bureau, monsters are truly his business. So he absolutely does not need to be paired up with the infuriating-and gorgeous-Dr. Emerson Marlowe. But her mother is a senator with far too much power, and, all of a sudden, Gray finds himself on training duty, a duty that includes way too many hours and way too much temptingly close contact with Emerson.

He doesn't play well with others. In fact, he doesn't play at all.

What's he supposed to do with a sexy shadow? One who is just as good at mind games as he is? One who is smart and funny and...dammit. Emerson has practically no field experience, and the last thing Gray wants to do is put her in harm's way. He may not want to work with Emerson, but he will not let anyone hurt her. So when a new case goes sideways and a killer gets chillingly close, Gray has to come up with a new training plan.

New rules: She follows his orders. She does exactly what he says. And she does not get in the way.

Except Emerson can't follow orders to save her life. She does whatever she wants, and the woman is one hundred percent in his way. In his way. In his mind. In his dreams. And, maybe, just maybe, the infuriating Emerson is even working her sneaky way into his heart. But danger is growing around her, danger that doesn't seem to just be coming from their work at the FBI. A stalker has eyes on Emerson, a predator who is well-acquainted with darkness and pain. A perp who wants Emerson to suffer.

To protect his new partner, Gray will have to let his own darkness come out to hunt.

No one turns Gray's partner into prey. No one terrifies Emerson. No one hurts her. Ever. Gray stops playing the good guy, and he goes all in on protecting her. Protecting and defending-that's his way of life, but this time, the defense is personal. Emerson is his-uh, his partner, of course, and, hell, maybe a whole lot more. Gray has always kept his inner darkness on a tight leash, but when Emerson is threatened, his control shatters. He will claim her, he will protect her, and he will put the perp who threatens her in the ground.

Author's note: Grayson "Gray" Stone has spent far too many years playing mind games with other people. This time, he's the one who will see his life spiral out of control as he falls hard for a partner he never expected. Forced proximity, danger, desire, opposites fiercely attracting...oh, get ready for all the fun things. Did I mention the steam? Because there is plenty of it in this romance.