Page 5 of Hard Asset

“I don’t know what’s going on, Raine, but I want answers starting now,” he told her and switched on the lights.

“But I…” She lost her words as Evan stripped off his shirt, revealing his tanned, corded muscles. With his back turned, he waved a hand at her to follow him.

She struggled to concentrate, a rush of desire threading through her body. For as long as she could remember, she’d fantasized about making love with Evan. Chills danced over her skin as she recalled the last time they’d worked on a joint presentation, the delicious scent of his cologne enticing her senses as he’d peered over her shoulder.

Despite the opportunity to act on sexual impulses at Club Altura parties, Raine had been hesitant to engage in the activities. Her attraction to Evan had been unrivaled by any other man. He was the only one she’d ever wanted. She suspected if she slept with him, it was likely she’d want him forever. Pursuing him would only lead to heartbreak. If by some miracle Garrett didn’t fire her when the mission was all over, it wasn’t likely Evan would ever look at her the same way again.

Raine had seen him with women at the lavish events and often retreated. She loathed the jealousy that curled in her chest, but she’d been careful not to show it, afraid to damage their relationship. Logic told Raine to forget him, but the fantasy of being in his arms and bed lingered.

“Raine,” she heard him call to her, breaking her contemplation. He spun around, pinning her with his penetrating blue eyes. Her heart pounded in her chest as he stalked toward her.

“I’m sorry. I…I…” She averted her gaze, afraid she’d confess how she felt. Raine glanced to her arm and sighed at the sight of the dried blood. In her adrenaline-fueled escape, she hadn’t noticed the scratch.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, his voice softening as he approached.

“I…uh, yeah, I’m fine.” A myriad of emotions twisted through her as he drew closer. Relief she’d survived. Fear he’d grow angry. Arousal.

“Raine…”

As he closed the distance, she stepped backward, her shoulders brushing the wall. She licked her lips as he pressed into her.

“I’ve known you for what? Five years now, maybe?” he asked.

“Four.” Raine’s green eyes drifted up to meet his. He towered above her, the heat of his body emanating onto her skin. “What are you doing?”

“There hasn’t been one project where I haven’t been able to rely on you to hit a home run. Everything we’ve done has been successful. There isn’t one jump we’ve done where I wouldn’t have trusted you to pull my cord. And then tonight…”

“It’s not what you think… I can explain.”

“Tell me I didn’t hear what I heard tonight.”

She closed her eyes, releasing a breath as he flattened his palms on the wall, caging her with his arms.

“Selling data? Demanding names? Why does someone do these things? Stealing. What the hell were you doing?”

“I…” Her lids lifted, her gaze slowly meeting his. She’d craved him since the first time they’d worked together, and now he thought her a liar, a thief. This was never her intention when she’d agreed to help the agency. “It’s complicated.”

“I bet it is. But you’d better fucking tell me right now or I’m calling the police. Don’t even fuck with me, because I’ll know if you’re lying.”

“I told you. It’s not what you think. You know me,” she insisted. It wasn’t as if she didn’t get why he thought she’d betrayed him, Emerson Industries, and the country. Raine’s chest tightened as her words danced on the tip of her tongue. “I’d never sell our secrets to someone like Dom Marretta. I can’t tell you what I’m doing but you have to trust me.”

“Who?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“What?” she stammered. Her heart pounded as Evan leaned in close, his eyes locked on hers.

“Who do you work for?”

“You know who I work for. Emerson Industries. The same place you do.”

“What you did tonight…taking out that asshole. That wasn’t the kind of guy just anyone can take on. You’ve been trained. So again, sweetheart, who?”

“I… Evan…please, I can’t tell you but I swear to God I didn’t…” Raine closed her eyes and sighed, as his warm breath teased her ear. Desire twisted through her body and she lost concentration. Tell him anything he wants to know. For so long, she’d denied herself pleasure. “I…I work for our government. I can’t tell you who. I need the names of those guys they were selling the data to. That’s all I can say, but you have to believe me. What you saw tonight, it’s not what you think.”

“Ah, a truth. Finally. Do you see how easy it can be? But still, my little thief, I want to know who. Who in the government do you work for? And what in the hell are these terrorists going to do with the data? Why would the government allow you to give it to them?”

“I can’t tell you that. Jesus, Evan. You were in the military. You know I can’t say.” Her heart pounded in her chest. So close, her hands reached toward him, her palms pressed against his chest as his lips grazed her ear. “I swear to you though. The data was scrubbed. Please.”

“Why don’t you ever play at Club Altura?”