Page 127 of Every Last Breath

“Because you need downtime. Forty-eight hours.”

“But—”

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m hot enough to boil your grits right now for withholding this information from me. But you were almost blown up on a yacht, tased, drugged, and kidnapped, and you’ve been turning and burning for over a week.” He put a hand on her shoulder and concern filled his eyes. “Forty-eight hours R&R. I’m not asking. I’m ordering. Don’t even take the time to write an after-action report. Just get out of here. I’ll recall Alistair and Ares. They’ll help while you’re out. When you get back, take care of your paperwork and be prepared for me to work you to the bone until we find this damn mole. Then I’m going to drag Cobalt over the coals.”

Chapter 35

Arlington, Virginia

9:27 p.m. EDT

They’d both been through the wringer, had the shit beaten out of them, and every part of his body hurt. His throat, even his fingers.

Everything except his heart.

Cole pulled his bike into the attached garage of his town house, comforted by the solid warmth of Maddox snuggled up close behind him.

The garage door closed. They dismounted, tugging off their helmets.

She smiled at him through the weariness and past the ache of her bruises. Just like that, he forgot about his pain. Hope shimmered between them, and for the first time in nearly a decade, he looked forward to tomorrow and the beautiful possibilities—with her.

“Thanks for bringing me here.” She wrapped an arm around his waist. “I couldn’t go back to my place after Novak. Not yet.”

“I was hoping to convince you to stay with me.”

Changes would have to be made to accommodate her on a permanent basis, but he was willing to turn his world inside out and reorder every priority to make her happy.

She rested her head on his shoulder, nestling closer with her hand rubbing his chest.

A tangle of need tightened through his sore body. He walked them up to his reinforced steel door, pressed his thumb to the fingerprint scanner, and entered the six-digit code. The keypad beeped, unlocking the door. With a press of the handle, they were inside.

He shut off the alarm and took her hand.

As they strolled through the first floor, she grew tense beside him with her head on a swivel, taking in his place.

“Do you want something to drink?” he asked. “Water? Wine? I’m sure I have a nice red you’d like.”

Her eyes were wide, and she didn’t try to hide her surprise.

Chuckling, he glanced around at the open space along with her. His place had every upgraded amenity: wide-plank hardwood floors, top-of-the-line appliances, slick quartz countertops, a built-in coffee system that elevated brewed java to the next level.

But it was also devoid of the cushy comforts of her apartment. The dining room was bare. A sixty-inch television mounted to the wall in the living room faced workout equipment rather than a sofa. A vertical climber, rowing machine, inclined barbell bench as well as a flat one, stacks of plated weights, and an adjustable dumbbell set.

Why sit on your ass watching TV when you could get in a workout?

“Why don’t you have any furniture?” she asked. “Did you just move in?”

“Uh, no. I’ve lived here for over two years. I didn’t want to waste money on furniture I didn’t need.”

Smiling, she shook her head. “Prudent and practical.” Her voice went all sultry as she took off her jacket and gun. “Very important qualities I find rather sexy.”

Good thing his weird bachelor setup didn’t turn her off. Not completely anyway.

She leaned against the counter in the kitchen and beckoned to him with a finger.

He went to stand between her spread feet, wanting to erase every inch of space between them. Gliding his hands over her hips, he caressed her backside, bringing her pelvis flush to his. She peeled his jacket back, dropping it to the floor, followed by his shoulder holster and weapon.

“Are you hungry?” he asked, brushing his lips across hers.