BRODIE
“HOW LONG DO YOU PLAN ON US STAYING HERE?”
My fingers paused over the keyboard and I glanced over at her without moving my head. She was at the table, diligently piecing the mug she’d broken back together with some super glue I’d managed to locate. Her tongue was caught between her teeth in concentration, and she was utterly adorable in a big sweatshirt that swallowed her whole.
We’d moved from the shower this morning into something that approached a partnership, if an awkward one. Emery had made coffee while I made breakfast, Em blushing fiercely when I brushed up against her to reach for a bowl. I washed while she dried, with her carefully preventing our hands from touching.
Her presence was distracting. I was trying to do some work—ascertain where we stood with King and where Carson was, in addition to learning anything I could about Emery’s past. I could think of five other things I’d rather be doing, all of them involving various parts of her anatomy. She was skittish, though, avoiding my touch at every opportunity. My guess was that she needed some space after this morning. After her near-hysterical laughter, she’d retreated into her own headspace, growing quiet and broody.
I’d never had a woman laugh after I ate her pussy, but I guess there was a first time for everything.
“Why?” My present task was searching out what information I could find on Emery’s contract. I’d removed both of our SIM cards so the phones were untraceable, but had set up a VPN to re-route my IP address so I could use the satellite internet here at the cabin. It was a safety feature that wasn’t foolproof and wouldn’t last forever, but it would give me some additional time to plan.
Emery shrugged. “Just like to know things, I guess.” She abandoned the mug and moved to stand in what I’d already deemed ‘her spot’ in front of the big picture window beside the dining table, staring out at the white landscape. Her posture was slumped, as though she’d abandoned herself to futility and couldn’t be bothered to maintain her typical military precision. My eyes ate her up hungrily, taking advantage of her inattention to look my fill. She had been so small against me last night, only a few inches over five feet. The top of her head had tucked perfectly under my chin, her waist spanning just over the width of my hand when it was splayed against her lower back. She was wearing leggings now, ones that revealed every taut muscle in her backside. I couldn’t help remembering how my fingers had curved around that backside this morning, taking possession of it.
She had surprised me this morning. I hadn’t expected her to give in so beautifully to my touch, hadn’t anticipated that when I started. I had wanted to move her forward a step, further away from the fears that seemed to chain her. Even as I stroked her, though, I saw her close a door on whatever her head was saying, and instead listen to her body.
I’d been half-hard ever since, dying to touch her again. Hear those little sounds she made. Feel her tense up and then go limp when she came. I had restrained myself, though, focusing on the computer and the information I needed to acquire. The goal was trust, and I wouldn’t earn that by taking more than I was given.
She had taken the first step toward that trust last night, curling into my chest and falling asleep with a few final hiccups like a conquered toddler. She’d taken another step this morning, putting herself into my hands and making me the architect of her pleasure. I could wait for the next step.
“We’ll leave when the threat is neutralized or it’s no longer safe to remain,” I finally answered.
Her chin came up and she came to pull out a chair opposite me and sit down. “You don’t know what the threat is,” she reminded me. “How will you know when it’s been neutralized?”
“I’ll know everything by the end of the day,macushla.”
She frowned. “What do you mean, everything?”
I meanteverything. Twiggy hadn’t had much time to dig when I first asked, but I’d already sent an email requesting a complete dossier on her friend, and explaining why. I knew my cousin, recognized that she wouldn’t help if I didn’t give her truth. “I mean I’ll know about every task, every deployment. Every person you ever spoke to and interacted with. Whether you prefer thong or bikini panties. What your favorite color is, your biggest pet peeve—”
“That’s absurd.” The words were a whisper. “And really shitty.”
“Sorry, love. It’s just the way of it. I can’t work blind. I need to know what the deal is, or I can’t keep you safe.”
“Right.” She looked away, and I could see her chin quiver before she firmed her lips.
“I would rather learn what I need from you.”
An inarticulate groan erupted from her throat and she covered her face with her hands. “I don’t like talking about it.”
I closed the laptop and waited.Another step. She was almost there.
“I’m pretty sure General Martin Kittredge of the U.S. Army is behind my contract,” she finally said.
“General… Tell me why.”
“Do you know him?” She watched me with wary eyes.
“No. But I’ve heard of him.”
Another silence, during which she rubbed at that infernal spot on her wrist. Then she opened her mouth, only to close it with a snap when a knock came on the door.Damnit.I’d forgotten I’d requested assistance from Whitney. It was probably him. Still, I pulled my gun from the back of my waistband and checked the safety before rising and moving to the door.
I gave a look of warning to Emery. “Stay over there and keep your mouth shut,” I whispered. “No need to get a good person hurt.” She nodded once, a clipped movement that communicated her feelings on the matter, and I opened the door a crack. John stood before me; arms full of bags. “John. That was fast. Able to get everything?”
John was in his fifties, fit and well put-together with silvered hair. He wore a thick olive green coat with a fur-lined hood. “Yessir. How were things when you arrived?”
“They were perfect, as always. Thank you for taking such good care of the place. I left a bonus for you in your account.”
