Chapter 10
“Ithink I can pull that off.”
Addison couldn’t get those seven little words out of her head. They repeated in her brain like a scratched vinyl record that kept skipping. It didn’t help that he’d started practicing as soon as they left the lounge and headed to the gate for their flight—helping her with her bag, resting his hand on her lower back while they walked. It was disconcerting. Confusing.
Arousing.
They were seated next to each other again—this time in business class, which definitely had its perks.
“We should play twenty questions,” Devon said.
“Why?”
“So we can get to know each other better. We need to know intimate details about each other. Where you’re from, past lovers.” His gaze dropped to her lips, and his tongue darted out. “Favorite sexual positions.”
She got thatwhooshfeeling low in her abdomen that gathered between her legs. Her mouth became dry, and she fought the urge to lick her own lips or give him any indication the conversation affected her. “Why do you need to know that?”
“We’re going to be in close proximity with each other. In very intimate situations. If we’re going to pull this off and get your brother and all of us out safely, we have to be comfortable with each other.”
It made sense. Or she wanted it to make sense, so she made it make sense.
The flight attendant announced they’d reached ten thousand feet and could move around the cabin at the same time the fasten seat belt sign turned off.
Devon unbuckled his seat belt. “We have nine hours, give or take. We have time to work on it.” He got up and went to the bathroom.
Addison pinched her bottom lip between her fingers and stared in the direction Devon went until Connie surprised her by sitting in his seat.
“Hey,” Addison said.
“Don’t worry, I’m not staying,” Connie said.
“No. I wasn’t—”
“I’m teasing. How are you holding up?”
How to answer that question. “Nervous. Scared. Worried.”
Connie nodded, and her light brown hair swung around her shoulders.
Her looks were remarkably nondescript. Brown hair. Blue eyes with faint lines around the corners that indicated she wasn’t in her twenties, but Addison couldn’t have said if she was midthirties or midforties. Average build that wasn’t too voluptuous nor too athletic. Connie was pretty in an ordinary kind of way, as if she played down her looks. Which made Addison wonder again, who did Connie work for?
“How do you have all this information?” Addison asked. “Who do you work for? And why are they giving it to us?”
Connie stared vacantly for a few seconds. “I was in the Air Force for several years—that’s where I met Paige. I decided the military wasn’t really for me, and I ended up working for another agency.”
“CIA?”
“Something like that.” Her lips moved in a semblance of a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “When we get to the castle, you may be asked to do things that will make you uncomfortable. I will try to shield you as much as possible, but if it comes to you being uncomfortable or blowing our cover and jeopardizing this mission, I will sacrifice your comfort in a heartbeat. You and Devon need to get intimate.”
Addison blinked. Had she overheard their conversation?
“Whatever arguments you’re making in your head for keeping your distance? I need you to quit making them. I need you to get to that place where you can do what needs to be done without hesitation.”
She held Connie’s steady gaze. What places had this woman gone to? Addison nodded once.
“We’ll get your brother and Michael out safely, Addison. Trust me.”
She nodded again. Connie studied her for a few seconds before standing and easing into the aisle. “We’ll talk more later.”
