His face softens as he wipes the wetness with the tip of his finger, still holding my scent. “You are all that and so much more, Kell.”
I nod, swallowing hard.Isn’t life a bitch? The moment I reach for the merry-go-round ring, fate tugs it away.
His soft, firm lips press against mine. When they release, he exhales. “I wish we could stay in bed forever, but we do have a party to attend.”
Chapter 26
Hunt
As I shower for this evening’s event, I clunk my forehead against the tiles. I am so damn screwed. We didn’t fuck, we made love. Hell, at forty, I know the difference. My climax was—an Amazing Grace kind of moment.
My friend Wulf told me all about his ah-ha moment at his bachelor party. At the time, I said he was full of shit. Now I understand, but it’s too late.
It’s going to shred me when I leave. What other option do I have? I should stop the madness, but it’d be easier to halt the pounding of my stupid heart.
Shaking my head, I table those thoughts. Peoples’ lives are depending on us.Game-face on, Special Agent Hunter.
We dress together in silence, stealing glances occasionally, more like teens than grown-ass adults. Once I’ve slipped into black jeans and a matching long-sleeved shirt, I add a shoulder holster under my wool suit jacket.
As I recall how she mocked it the day we met, she grins, no doubt on the same page. Chuckling, I turn as she twirls in front of me. My breath catches at her stunning beauty. She wears a dark blue tunic, leggings, and thigh-high heels. The outfit, while modest, shows off her athletic body, making me randy all over again.
I should be focusing on the mission, but she makes it hard—so to speak.
Objective back in mind, I reach into my suitcase. Dropping a comm device in her ear, I undo her top buttons to hide a mic under her bra.
I nip her nipple through the layers of fabric. “Sure you don’t want to stay here?”
“Scott, I need my life back.” The heat in her eyes tells me I could lure her back to bed, but I don’t. She’s a former warrior turned federal officer.
If she were a man, I wouldn’t be hesitating. This thought gives me pause. I never considered myself chauvinistic. Hell, she’s notanywoman—she’smine.
Tucking my concerns aside, we shrug into our heavy coats, hats, and gloves.
At the door, I remind her. “Intel gathering only.”
“Right.” Her overconfidence twists my gut.
The Iranian chemical engineer has had her in his crosshairs since bumping into her over coffee. I suspect he’s not the kind of man you say no to.
Without warning, a deja vu flashes in my mind’s eye causing goose bumps from shoulders to fingertips.Buckle up, buttercup. We’re in for a helluva party.
Fifteen minutes later, we enter a posh ski chalet’s living room. With its loft, floor-to-ceiling slate fireplace, and geometric rug, it probably won an award for interior design.
Acting the part of an unhappy couple, I make a beeline for the bar. She searches for Ahmad while I wander around, beer bottle in hand. Eventually, I lean on the wall near a guitarist who plays a nylon-stringed guitar by the crackling fireplace. His chords are barely audible over the clinking glasses and boisterous laughter.
On the surface, it’s a group of elite skiers enjoying a party. The men’s whispers and dark faces tell an entirely different story. Done with my perimeter check, I sit on a white leather couch next to a woman in her sixties.
Before she can share any more stories of her sexual prowess, I excuse myself. “Sorry, my girlfriend needs me.”
Jumping up, I meander toward Ahmad, who stands way too close to Kelly. One hand on the bar, the other holding a drink, he curves around her as if he’s already her lover.
“Everything okay here?” I step between the two.
Kell rolls her eyes at me, gently pushing the terrorist away. A phony wink tells me she’s in control.
“We’re fine, Jack. Jeesh. Why do you have to make shit so complicated?” She might as well have slapped me across the face.
The urge to grab her bicep and drag her home almost overpowers me. Taking a deep breath, I recall the most important thing. Ricin. If we leave now, thousands, perhaps millions of people could die.
