Callie helped Brooks to his feet, and they hit the street. He picked up his pace.
“Don’t run.” She took his bandaged hand. “Look like you belong. Like you’re out for a stroll.”
He nodded, slowing his steps.
As they reached the van, the wail of sirens pierced the night. They all slid into the van, and Lachlan closed the door behind them.
Seth pulled the van out onto the street, sticking to the speed limit.
“Everyone okay?” Lachlan asked.
Brooks sat in his seat, vibrating with energy. They’d made it. “I am totally pumped.”
“You were shot.” Callie’s voice came out more sharply than she intended. Her insides were still twisted.
In her head, she kept seeing him go down. She knew she’d see that moment in her nightmares, over and over.
“It’s just a graze.”
“On your head.” Callie knew the world would be a far darker place without Brooks in it. She couldn’t imagine it without Brooks and his big, sexy brain, his hard, muscled body, and his lopsided smile.
She pulled in a steadying breath. Things were shifting inside her, and the world was going all topsy-turvy.
“Your adrenaline is going to crash,” she warned, turning her focus onto Brooks, instead.
“Right now, I feel on top of the world! I’m alive, and we got the data. I uploaded it all to our secure server. I’m never coming down.”
* * *
“Wake up, Sleeping Beauty.”
Brooks blinked awake. He was slumped in a seat on the X8. Callie was crouched in front of him, a small smile on her face.
He looked around blearily and saw the others were getting off the aircraft. His hands throbbed.
“Where are we?” They’d only gotten on the jet-copter a few seconds ago.
“Vegas. After I cleaned your hands and gave you a painkiller, you crashed and slept the whole way.”
Really? Shit, he hoped he hadn’t drooled.
Callie leaned forward, checking his head wound. Her coconut scent wrapped around him. Her small, perfectly formed breasts were inches from his face.
Brooks swallowed.
“Your head looks fine. Don’t get it wet. I’ll give you some more painkillers to take if it or your hands hurt. I’m going to drop you home.”
When they got inside the Bunker, the others were already heading out to their vehicles. Well, except Smith and Kinsey. Smith had his arms wrapped around his woman, and the blonde’s slim legs were clamped around the big man’s waist. They were kissing like they were the only two people on Earth.
Watching them made something close to envy crawl through Brooks’ throat.
As soon as he slid into Callie’s Nissan, she started the engine. The street was empty of traffic as they left the airport.
“I need to start a search on the data we got. If I—”
“Tomorrow, Brooks. It’s late, you were hurt. Sleep, first.”
He’d napped on the flight. He wasn’t feeling tired right now. He generally didn’t need much sleep.
She clicked on the radio and some classic rock filtered through the speakers. Before he knew it, she pulled up at his condo. Callie got out of the car, and Brooks felt a vague sense of déjà vu.
His mouth dry, they walked through the front door of his building. He was so damn aware of her.
He opened his front door. “Thanks, Callie.”
Her body hit him. Her mouth was on his.
Shit. Now, he had a full-blown case of dirty déjà vu. He grabbed her ass and backed inside. His back hit the wall.
Her kiss was hungry, like she needed him to breathe, to live.
“I’ve been needing this all night,” she said against his lips.
With his foot, he slammed the door closed behind them. They were both breathing in rasping, panting breaths. She bit his neck, and he groaned. His fingers flexed on her ass.
“Callie.” He breathed her in. “Damn, you smell good. You always smell good.”
Her teeth scraped his neck. His cock was so hard it was aching.
She rubbed her body against him, and pleasure ripped through him. He cupped her breasts, thumbing her hard nipples. He hated that the bandages on his left hand got in his way. He wanted to feel her, every part of her.
“I want to suck you here,” he panted.
Her breath hitched. “There’s not much to them.”
“I think they’re perfect.”
He tugged down the scooped neckline of her top, shaping her breasts with his hands. Her hands slid under his T-shirt and over his abs. She sucked on his neck.
Then her hands were opening his jeans and slipping inside.
Shit. He jerked, praying he didn’t embarrass himself.
“I love your cock, Brooks. Long and gorgeous. Smooth and hard.”
Her husky voice made his gut tighten. She stroked him, and his breathing was harsh gasps now. She jacked him harder and he groaned, pulling her closer.
She rubbed one finger over the tip of his cock, and a tortured sound ripped from his lips.
That was it; he’d reached his limit. He pushed her back, grabbed her hand, and started to drag her down the hall.
“Bedroom. Now,” he ordered. “Or I’ll take you right back there against the door.”
“Really?” she breathed. “Because that’s not really much of a deterrent.”
“I want you in my bed.” He swatted her delicious ass. “Move, Kimura. Now.”
* * *
They entered his darkened bedroom, both breathing fast.
Brooks grabbed Callie, those sexy hands clenching on her hips.
“Your hands?” she panted.
“Fine. All I can feel is you.”
Their kiss was all tongues and lips. All-consuming. If she didn’t get him inside her soon…
Callie was so aware of the beat of his heart, his yummy scent, his big body. She gripped his shirt, and he helped her pull it over his head.
They kept kissing, taking each other’s clothes off. She ended up naked first and shaking with need. This had never happened before. She liked to hold on to some of the control when she was with a guy.
With Brooks, her control had taken a long vacation.
He cupped her jaw, the move almost tender. She looked into his eyes and saw a flare of heat. He pushed her back on the bed, then reached over and flicked on the bedside lamp.
He was only wearing his jeans. Callie let her gaze run over his chest, his tattoos, his abs. She cupped her breasts, her legs moving restlessly on the sheets.
He groaned. “You are so damn beautiful, Callie.”
She felt beautiful when he looked at her like that. Like she was the only woman in the world.
“Take the jeans off, Brooks.”
That earned her a sexy smile. “Yes, ma’am.”
He shoved the denim off and then stood there, just Brooks. Her chest hitched. His cock jutted out—hard, long, flushed.
“You’re beautiful,” she breathed.
“You mean macho and manly.”
“That, too.” Smiling, she crooked a finger at him.
He moved over, the bed dipping slightly when he pressed a knee to it. Then he lowered himself over her. God, she loved the weight of him.
He nipped her lips, then leaned down, licking her breast. He found one nipple and took his time sucking on it.
She ran her hands over his shoulders. She was just a mass of need now. She wrapped a leg around his hip.
“Brooks, I need your cock.”
“Patience.” He tugged on her nipple.
“Now.” She gripped his hair and gave it a firm pull.
In retaliation, he nipped her breast. She moaned.
“You need my cock stretching you,” he growled. “Filling you up?”
Ah, her dirty talker had arrived. “Yes.” She writhed beneath him.
He raised his head and their gazes locked. Callie almost heard the click of connection.
She stroked
her hands down his firm back. All those intriguing muscles flexed under her fingers.
“I’m empty,” she whispered.
He groaned, pushing up on his arms. His weight was gone, and she heard the sound of a drawer opening, then the crinkle of a wrapper.
Then he was back over her curling her legs around him. She felt the thick head of his cock nudge her opening.
“I’ll fill you up,” he said.
“Yes.” She reared up, her hands clenching on him.
“You want me deep, Callie? Fucking you hard?”
“Yes!”
“I want to be balls-deep inside you, Cal.” He pushed in, hard and firm.
She felt the burn and let out a half moan, half whimper.
He paused. “Callie?”
“More.” She gripped his shoulders, her nails scoring his skin.
With one hard thrust, he was all the way in, seated to the root. Callie cried out and Brooks groaned.
She was so full. And it was so damn good. So full of Brooks. He started thrusting, finding a firm, steady beat.
“I love your cock,” she cried out.
“You’re all hot and wet, and gripping me so tight.”
“The last few days, all I’ve thought about is having your gorgeous cock deep inside me.” She gripped his ass and urged him on.
Brooks groaned, plunging faster and wilder. He reared up, moving onto his knees. He gripped her hips, lifting her up to his thrusts. Each hard plunge made her grunt.
Callie felt a tight, bright ball of pleasure growing in her belly. “Brooks.”
“You close? Are you there?” His voice was aharsh growl.
She couldn’t respond. He pounded into her, losing his rhythm. Then her climax hit from out of nowhere. She screamed, the pleasure like an explosion.
Brooks thrust harder, once, twice, three times. Then he lodged deep, shouting her name as he came.
When he collapsed on her, Callie sucked in air. He rolled to the side, taking her with him and managing to keep his cock inside her.
They lay there, recovering.
“That was…” Callie shook her head. “I can’t think of a word to describe how good that was.”
Brooks raised his head, his thick hair rumpled and marred only by the bright-white bandage she’d put there earlier. He shot her that sexy, lopsided grin of his. “Want to do it again?”
She felt his cock stir inside her and the answering spike of heat in her belly. “Yes.”
Chapter Fourteen
“Oh, fuck, Callie.”
Brooks clenched his hands on Callie’s sweet ass. She was riding him, her slim, toned body moving up and down on him.
Her nails pressed into his pecs. “Brooks.”
He’d never heard anything better than Callie moaning his name while he was deep inside her. He ran his hand down her taut belly and found her clit.
As he thumbed the small nub, he felt her inner muscles clench on his cock. Fuck. It didn’t take long, and she exploded, her back arching, her black, silky hair flowing behind her.
Her body clenched on his cock again, and his own climax hit like lightning. Groaning her name, he poured himself inside her.
Callie slumped on his chest and he reached up, stroking her sleek back. Then he stared at the ceiling, loving the feel of her against him. Loving having her here in his bed.
He felt the most content he’d ever felt. Callie knew him, all parts of him, and she clearly liked what she saw.
She pressed a kiss to his chest. “I could totally spend all day in bed with you.”
“I like being with you, Cal.”
She tensed for a second, then relaxed. “I like it too. It’s fun.”
Brooks bit back a frustrated sigh. What they were doing was way beyond fun. But it was okay, he knew she was skittish. They’d go slow.
Unless she got tired of him. His gut clenched, old insecurities that he thought he’d conquered rearing their ugly heads.
His phone beeped on the bedside table, interrupting his thoughts.
Callie lifted her head and glanced at it. “Damn. We have to go.” She scrambled off him. “We have a plane to catch.”
“Right.” He watched her disappear into his bathroom. They had a job to do.
During the night, he’d managed to completely forget about the data they’d stolen from Windvale.
After they showered and dressed, Callie demanded to check his injuries. Whatever she’d put on his head and hands the night before had made them feel loads better already. They made toast, eating in the kitchen he rarely used.
When they pulled up at the Bunker, they were the last to arrive.
“What do we tell everyone?” he asked.
“Nothing. This is just between us.”
Those words were like a sneaky knife to the gut. Made what they’d shared seem like a dirty, little secret. The bad taste in his mouth reminded him of that long-ago cheerleader who’d only been happy to kiss the geek in secret.
Shit, neither he nor Callie were teenagers. The past was the past. “Sure.”
She studied his face, her eyes changing. “Brooks—”
“Let’s go.” He grabbed his backpack, cutting her off. When he climbed aboard the X8, he managed a casual wave. “Morning.” He dropped into a seat.
Axel leaned forward. “You look tired, mi amigo. And very, very relaxed for a man who got shot last night.”
“It was a graze.”
He purposely didn’t look as Callie took a seat.
Axel’s brows drew together. “You look like a man who got himself some.”
Brooks felt heat in his cheeks. “What?”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Callie across the aisle, studiously reading a magazine.
“You snuck out for a hookup,” Axel said.
Brooks hunched his shoulders. “No, I didn’t.”
“You got a girl, Brooks, and you haven’t shared this information?”
“Um…” Brooks fidgeted in his seat.
Axel wagged a finger. “You can’t keep a secret from me, amigo.”
Brooks lifted his tablet. “I have work to do. Bad guys to catch.” He pulled his glasses out of his bag and slid them on.
Axel grumbled, but Brooks focused instead on prepping the data. He lost himself in his work, and when he finally blinked and looked up, they were descending to land at Area 52.
Once they’d landed in front of the huge hangar, they shuffled off the X8 and past the Air Force guards in their blue-gray camouflage uniforms. They headed down in the large elevator.
The team pushed out of the elevator, Lachlan and Blair already planning some training. Black metal walls lined the huge space. To one side, enormous doors guarded the entrance to the secure storage facility packed full of recovered artifacts. To the other side, the glass-lined corridors led to their work spaces.
Callie brushed past Brooks and lowered her voice. “Your sexy glasses are a turn-on. Big time.”
And just like that, Brooks was fighting an erection. Shit.
The dull echo of boots made him swivel and he swallowed a groan. An older man with a muscular body clothed in black fatigues, and his hair clipped short in a buzz cut, was bearing down on them. His faded blue eyes locked on Brooks and he scowled.
“Hey, Arlo,” Brooks said.
The former Air Force man was in charge of their storage facility. He also had the temperament of a bear woken from hibernation.
“Jameson, heard you got snatched by bad guys?”
“Unfortunately, yes. But I’m okay.”
Arlo grunted. “Kimura tracked you down and you both got nabbed.”
Brooks glanced at Callie. She looked like she was trying not to laugh. “Yes, but Cal would have done that for any of us. I wouldn’t have made it without her.”
“You shot someone.”
Brooks’ gut rolled. “Yeah.”
Arlo looked at the bandage on Brooks’ head. “And you got shot.”
“It’s a graze.” Brooks
tried not to grind his teeth together.
Arlo nodded. “You’ll do.” A brusque nod. “Don’t get snatched again, and don’t get shot in the head again, either.”
“Graze. And I can assure you, neither of those things are high on my priority list.”
Another grunt. “You’re better behind a computer. Stay there.” The older man pivoted and stomped back toward the warehouse.
“Grumpy old man,” Brooks muttered.
“I heard that,” Arlo said without looking back.
Thankfully, the brisk click of heels made Brooks turn the other way. Natalie was striding down the corridor, Director Jonah Grayson beside her.
“Update,” the director demanded.
Lachlan ran down the mission in Arizona. Jonah turned his head, his intense green eyes locking on Brooks. “You’ll comb through the Windvale data?”
Brooks lifted his tablet. “Already started.”
Jonah nodded. “Good.”
“I can help,” Nat said.
Brooks smiled. “Seth and Blair took photos of some of Amy Holder’s journals. Can you take a look at them?”
“Sure.”
Once Brooks entered his computer room, he cracked his knuckles. Then he started to work on the data. His top-of-the-line systems here at the base would make the search faster.
There was a bunch of everyday church stuff, but there was other information as well. He found some data on Manning, but nothing that raised any red flags.
Then Brooks found the secret files.
Well, hello. Hmm, someone had worked hard to encrypt these files and bury them in the system.
He set about breaking the encryption. Finally, a challenge.
“Brooks?”
He blinked, hearing Callie’s voice. “Hey.”
She set a steaming mug of coffee down in front of him.
“You’re a goddess.” He took a sip.
She smiled and then she lifted a hand, touching his hair and then his glasses. Unsurprisingly, his cock woke up and took notice.
“You are so damn sexy,” she said.
He tugged her closer. “You’re the sexy one. I can’t stop thinking about you.”
She snorted. “You’ve been in here for hours. I’m pretty sure you haven’t given me a single thought.”
“At least one or two thoughts, I swear.” He ran his hands along the waistband of her cargo pants, finding skin. Her lips parted. “Are your panties damp?”
Mission: Her Freedom: Team 52 #6 Page 11