Rowan moaned as he kissed his way up her neck, then claimed her mouth, pulling her flush against him. She tasted of coffee and promise — that future he’d already started with her. He’d just begun backing her toward the hallway with every intention of hiking her up on his shoulder — carrying her to bed — when an exaggerated groan sounded from the doorway.
“Jesus, don’t you two ever stop?”
Rowan shook her head as she let it fall against his chest. “You really need to change the code.”
Nick laughed as he walked in. “I worked for the CIA. I can bypass a few codes.” He held up a case of beer. “Besides, we’re celebrating.”
“Downstairs and not for another thirty minutes. I was literally about to give Bodie the best damn blowjob of his life.”
Bodie closed his eyes, breathed. He wouldn’t shuffle her off to the bedroom now. He had more restraint than that.
Nick tripped a step, then shrugged. “He’ll live without it for a few hours longer.”
Rowan accepted the beer Nick handed her. “What are we celebrating early? Me moving in or you?”
He grinned. “Both. But don’t worry. Now that I actually have time, I’m sure I can find a place pretty quickly.”
Rowan shrugged. “Honestly, I kinda like having the extra security downstairs.”
“You mean, you like knowing an intruder would have to go through me before coming for you and Bodie.”
She smiled. “Exactly. The death match would probably wake us.”
“Glad you see my worth.”
Buck and Dalton walked in next, carrying enough food to feed an army.
Dalton piled the bags on the counter. “Greer called. Said to move everything upstairs or you’d probably abduct Rowan and vanish.”
Bodie laughed. “And to think I was supportive of her when she was trying to hook up with Chase.”
Dalton raised a brow. “Is she wrong?”
Nick tsked. “Please, I caught them making out. They totally would have ditched the party.”
Bodie shook his head, grinned at Rowan, then jumped in — helped organize everything. They were pushing the time limit when he stepped back. “You know we’ll never be able to eat all of this.”
Nick laughed. “Please, have you seen Zain eat? Twenty bucks, we won’t have anything left over.”
“You’re on.”
Nick nudged Rowan. “Sloane mentioned that you’d moved your dad to some top-secret facility up north. Like in Canada, for god’s sake. That true?”
Rowan sighed. “It wasn’t really my idea, but a colleague my father had worked with on some joint research projects called. He’s been experimenting in a similar field. Thinks he might be able to help. He also promised to keep him off-grid. Call me crazy, but I wasn’t exactly trusting that the CIA or the DIA wouldn’t just show up at the hospital one day — take him away.”
Nick nodded. “Not as crazy as you might think. This colleague got a name?”
“Darwin Oswald. Sloane checked him out. Said he was the real deal. And I know I’ve heard his name before.”
Nick squeezed her hand. “I’ve got a few contacts north of the border. I’ll monitor the situation. But if Sloane gave you the green light, then you’re good.”
Bodie moved in close. “Looks like you might come in handy, after all, Nick.”
Nick rolled his eyes, took a long pull from his beer when Rowan stepped forward.
She cleared her throat. “Before everyone arrives, I have something for all of you.”
She darted over to her computer bag — the one item Bodie had left untouched — removed a frame. She held it close until she reached the counter, turned it. “I hope it’s okay. I had Greer and the guys from Raven’s Watch do a bit of stealth recon for me. I wanted the perfect shot. I thought maybe you could put it downstairs in the main office. So, he’s always close.”
