He towels off in a second. Then, he lifts me, lies me flat, and crawls up until he reaches my lips.
Foreplay at an end, I spread my legs. I’m so wet when he thrusts inside me, he hits my bullseye.
Gasping, I arch up to meet him.
His eyes roll. “Fuck Kell. Holy fuck.”
As he jackhammers into my G-spot, I lock my ankles behind his calves, so close to the edge I can hardly breathe.
Sweat lubricates our bodies. Nature takes over. I hold back. I want—no need him to come with me. When he does a one-armed pushup to pinch my clit, I scream and splinter apart into the immense universe.
His triumphant shout follows. After, we collapse onto the bed, so totally spent I don’t recall falling asleep.
Chapter 18
Hunt
When her breath becomes steady, I slide out of bed, resolved to end this assignment so I can declare my true feelings.Friend my ass.She may lie to herself, but her eyes say so much more. Inhaling her pheromones, my chest heaves. I already miss her warm body wrapped around me. I almost lost her, for fuck’s sake.
As I slip into my borrowed clothes, the ghosts of Dave and Speedy haunt me. Our FUBAR mission, their funerals, the whole shebang—it hits me like a brick. I might have failed them, but it can never happen again.
Dressed for war, I sweep the perimeter. In my SUV, I read the note taped to the steering wheel—Call me if you need help, K
I’ll bet my badge—Kelly’s brother knows all about those Iranians. They aren’t here to paint nails and braid hair, that’s for sure.
While I wait, I raise my automatic weapon. Night vision goggles lowered, I recall Batt’s instructions.
“The president wants numbers. You will get them.” He assured me, after we had an adequate count, the army would be deployed at both borders.
Back then the idea sounded ludicrous. “But cameras, sir? Give me a few drones, satellite feeds, and a couple of data analysts. I could have this done in less than a week.”
“Orders from the top. If you don’t like it, take it up with the director.”
You, Agent Hornsby, have the backbone of a jellyfish.
I suppose it’s lucky I didn’t say those last words out loud. No doubt I would’ve been facing insubordination—suspended sans pay.
For the first time, I relish my exile. Had I not participated in Wulf’s last adventure, Kelly and her town would be on their own. Waiting, I pray these crossings are only stage one in a much longer operation.
I need more time.
A shiver, unrelated to the cold, runs down my spine.
Fuck it.A professional, I silence my thoughts. Once the forest has absorbed my essence, a coyote sniffs me before racing into the dark.
Nothing to see here, buddy.Only an armed man, protecting the woman he’s falling for.
A twig cracks. For a moment, my breathing halts.
A flashlight beam appears. A man in snow camos follows. He carries a wand and a can of paint. Except for the eyes, his face remains hidden under a ski mask.
When his electronics beep near one of my devices, he sprays the miniature lens. Afterward, he waves civilians and their four guards forward.
Giving no prior warning, the mercenary at the tail end of the procession hisses through his teeth. “Merde. Stop.”
When they all turn, he raises a fist. Slowly, he places a finger to his lips.
Do I live or die? It’s a coin toss. While I place the closest in my crosshairs, I blink away a drop of sweat. Time dilates. I slow my heart rate and calm my mind.
