“I’d take you tonight, but I can’t.”
“Hot date?” she asked.
“Yeah, with my grandmother. I haven’t seen her since I got back. It’s gonna be a good time or a total shitstorm. Come with. Be my buffer.”
She laughed. “I don’t think so. When did you last see her?”
“I left home at sixteen. I’m thirty-two. It’s been a minute.”
“Wow, you think you know someone.”
“You do know me, Austin. Better than anyone.” He could stare at her all day, but the Day of Destruction was fast approaching and the monsters were winning.
As if she could read his mind, she said, “I’m going to spend the next hour catching myself up on everything BLACK OPS has on the terror cell.”
“You wanna work in here or in an office?” he asked her.
“Where are you working?”
“Here.”
“Same,” she replied.
He shot her a smile. Having her in his corner made all the difference. She was good for him in so many ways.
Now, we’re gonna rock it out.
CAROLINE
Caroline was rarelyoff her game, but the information she’d learned about Grey Stone—real name Greystone Santini—had surprised her.
She needed a minute to process… only they didn’t have a minute. She opened her laptop, logged into ALPHAnet, and hopped over to her assigned case. As she read through the information about the Day of Destruction, she couldn’t help but wonder how the terrorists would be able to develop and deploy bombs large enough to take out each of these buildings.
As she continued reading what the team had included in the dossier, her mind wandered to the Adonis sitting across the table from her. He knew they’d hooked up, but he was smooth. Never gave anything away. Never said anything to remotely hint at their liaison. Not only did she appreciate his discretion, she appreciated that the minutes were ticking and he hadn’t said a word.
He had no idea she knew it was him, which helped. She never need say anything and their evening would soon become a distant memory. Only the memory was still fresh in her mind, lingering like the delightful aroma of a freshly-cut bouquet… or the scent of a god-like man who left his mark on her skin… and on her body.
“Mmm,” she cooed.
“Find something?” he asked.
She hated—and she loved—that he was so tuned in to her. Or he had really, really good hearing. Either way, she had to keep herself in check. But it was hard with him sitting across the table, and her knowing the pleasure he could bring her. No longer did she have to wonder what he looked like naked or how he felt moving over her… or in her. She’d experienced him and it had been good.
Better than good. The best.
“Nothing you haven’t already read,” she said, forcing herself back on task.
His stomach growled.
Most times, when they’d sync up, either on the phone or on a video chat, he was eating.
She pushed out of the chair. “C’mon, let’s get you something to eat.”
Ignoring her, he kept his attention laser-focused on whatever he was doing. She left the room, made her way down the hall. In the break room, she filled a plate with lunch leftovers. After heating it, she grabbed silverware and a water, then returned to the conference room.
She set down the items.
He eyed the food, then her. “Thanks.” He dug in. After a minute, he said, “Are you ready?”
