Keira shivered with awareness, that ache flaring low in her belly. She clenched her fists and willed it to go away.
It didn’t.
Damn it. Why did he have that effect on her?
His hands encircled her arms. “Do you want me to leave you alone so that you can continue your conversation?” His tone held a note of humor.
“Yes,” she said.
As soon as he removed his hands from her arms, she spun to face him. “No.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Which is it to be? Yes or no?”
“Stay,” she said, her cheeks burning. “I’ll leave.”
She rushed out of the kitchen and back down the hall to the bathroom. There, she splashed water in her face to cool the heat.
The man confused her.
She confused herself. Her life hadn’t taken the usual route. She hadn’t dated and didn’t know how to flirt. She really hadn’t talked to men in a casual way. She was out of her league and failing miserably. All the self-defense training she’d acquired while with Onyx had done nothing to prepare her for Rogue.
He was all man and all-consuming.
Keira continued splashing water on her face until the heat faded, and she could breathe normally. She was being ridiculous. The man had no interest in an assassin who’d been violated by other men on more than one occasion. Offering herself to him had made no difference in his opinion, if not to prove the reality her background had created. She was used and damaged goods. She’d better remember that and focus on what was important.
Jade wanted out of Onyx as much as Keira. Both women were on a track to be erased from the organization before they could reveal the truth about what they’d been programmed to do.
Keira emerged from the bathroom minutes later, her shoulders squared, ready to get down to business and help her counterpart.
She walked past the kitchen, hoping to avoid Rogue.
“Hey,” his voice called out.
She paused, drew in a deep breath and let it out before turning toward him.
His smile made her pulse flutter all over. “Yes?” She cocked an eyebrow in his direction, feigning more confidence than she felt.
“Care for a peanut butter and jelly cracker sandwich?” His eyes sparkled.
Keira frowned, trying not to fall for his gentle humor. “No, thank you.”
He stepped toward her. “Look. I’m sorry if I crowded you. I only want to help.”
“You didn’t crowd me,” she said.
“Whatever I did to offend you, I’m sorry.” He held out his hand. “Forgive me?”
She stared down at the hand, afraid to take it. Afraid she’d have the same reaction as she’d had every time she’d touched the man. “You didn’t offend me. No apology necessary.” When she continued toward the living room, his hand reached out and snagged hers.
Keira stopped and stared down at the hand holding her back. She didn’t like being so short and antagonistic. But she’d spent years being attacked and led her to believe that women needed to be on the offensive or give that impression. “You have something to say?”
“Yes,” he said. “We’re going to Bandera today. Do you want me to give Royce a heads-up? He’s not far from there in Bruer. He and more of the team can provide backup should we need it.”
Before Rogue finished talking, Keira was already shaking her head. “We can’t risk any kind of communication that could be intercepted. Jade’s life depends on it. I don’t even want you to come along, even if you keep your distance. She needs my help.”
“Remember when I told you I was a sniper in Delta Force?” Rogue asked. “We need to swing by my place in Bruer so I can pick up my sniper rifle. It’s on the way. When we get to Bandera, I can set up far enough away that she’ll never see me, but I’ll still be within range should this turn out to be a trap. That’s all the more reason for us to arrive well before the designated time. We can scout the surrounding area for lurking bad guys.” He let go of her hand. “This is the kind of training and missions I was a part of as a Delta Force operator and during my time with Stealth Operations Specialists. It’s what I do.”
“As Onyx, I trained and conducted missions as a solo operator. I was one person sent out to accomplish a mission. I didn’t coordinate with anyone else. Just me and my quarry.” She frowned. “Adding another person...complicates things.”
