“—when the truth is too frightening to understand,” Cruz finished, smiling.
Noble patted his shoulder, then looked at Riley, waiting for his help. He nodded and he and Safia turned to the computers. The last days of the Viking’s life were on this excavation site, or under analysis by scientists far smarter than he. Something would turn up, he thought, and made a mental note to go back through his e-mail and online posts with Gregor. The man had implied it was in two pieces before Noble had found proof in the monk’s words, but the diary hadn’t been discovered till after Gregor died.
Noble looked toward the hole in the ice as if he could see through the metal alloy walls. Gregor had followed the Viking, not the legend.
Olivia opened her eyes and saw soft light spilling over Sebastian. He was slumped in a chair beside the bed, his hand on the bedcovers. She shifted to her side and simply watched him sleep. He wore the gray and white cold-weather uniform, and like before, it was stripped of any insignia. Looks new, she thought as her gaze traveled over the swarthy skin any woman would envy and the sexy five o’clock shadow dusting his jaw. Her gaze traveled down his body, remembering every muscle, his big hands and the familiar feel of them on her skin, yet it wasn’t just her body that recognized him, it was her soul.
As if sensing her, he opened his eyes. The smoky darkness sent a dagger of something delicious through her. Never waste a moment sailed through her brain. “I love you.”
For a second, he looked stunned, then his lips curved in a slow smile.
“I don’t think I ever fell completely out of love with you.”
“I know I didn’t.”
That struck her with hurt, and the pain she’d caused rushed back like a slap. “I’m sorry, my greatest shame was leaving you when you needed me most. It was selfish.”
He moaned, looking crestfallen as he sat on the bed. “You need to stop beating yourself up over that. We survived just fine.”
She held onto his hand. “I wanted to be your one and only, and I knew I wasn’t. Your oath came first.”
“Now there you’re wrong. You were my world. I’d have left the Marines for you.”
Her eyes flared and she reared back. “I wouldn’t have asked that, not out of pride, but because I didn’t marry the Marine Corps, Sebastian, I married you.”
He was quiet for a second, his gaze sweeping over her face. “Even though you weren’t there, you brought me home.”
A little cry escaped her and she cradled his face in her hands and kissed him. Desire and a sumptuous heat spiraled through her as he scooped her off the bed and onto his lap. His kiss was never-ending, his cool hands sculpting over her body, leaving her breathless, and wishing there were locks on the door.
“I loved you then, Livi,” he said between kisses. “More now and I didn’t think that was possible.”
Her eyes burned with tears, her smile making them tumble down her cheeks. “So it wasn’t just the great sex?”
He grinned. “There is that, but I don’t think it would have been as exciting without it.”
“Want to take a test drive? To be sure?”
He laughed against her mouth as she fell back, pulling him with her. His warm hands slid under her top and he was damn near in the bed with her when a soft knock interrupted them. He dropped his head forward for a second, then eased back, rubbing his face. He was breathing harder than her and she slid her hand over his thigh. He flinched, grabbed it, trying to glare at her and failing.
“Jesus, I’ll look like a walking Viagra ad if you don’t quit.”
“Ooo, porn star mode. I love it.”
He chuckled, folding her hands on her lap before he called, “Enter.”
Cintuk stepped inside with a stack of clothing Olivia recognized as her own. “Clean, dry, no harm to the thermal suit, which is very cool, by the way, and probably saved you from hypothermia.”
She accepted the stack. They were still warm, her parka fluffy, and she barely had time to thank him before he was out the door again. She smoothed her hand over a tear in her sleeve, the memory so fresh, she felt her stomach twist. She looked at Sebastian. “Any survivors from the Northern Lion?”
“No.” He rubbed the back of his neck, a sure sign it stressed him. That could have been her. “They’re recovering bodies now. McGill wants you away from this and I agree.”
She eyed him, nodding. “This isn’t about the relic, it’s about Moscow and the FSB.”
He shook his head. “Diplomats will have to handle that, but it could escalate. A Russian drone dropped the cruise missile on the Northern Lion, and they’re not happy anyone has the evidence, especially the U.S.”
“And Nevolin?”
“I want her ass in a cell and me with a rubber hose, but until she surfaces, we wait. They’ll find the sub, if they haven’t already.” He looked confused for a second. “Ross is tracking all vessels and believes she’ll try some maneuver he saw in a movie.”
Clearly, he didn’t get it. “Down Periscope—a diesel sub travels under a freighter, outsmarts a nuclear sub fleet, wins the war game.” She glanced, shrugged. “Yes, I still love silly movies.” Sitting in the bed, she grabbed the clothes, wiggling into them. “Nevolin will go where her father found the half, she said in Benzù. I need to know how he did that. If I were Jal I’d have pitched them over the side of the ship and said forgettaboutit. We need a hookup with Cruz and to talk to Noble. Nevolin knows where to go, we don’t.” She started to get out of bed, but he stopped her.
“Slow down, woman. You can’t do it on this boat. There are ten ships in these waters. The air traffic here can’t be spared for ship to shore, and Ice Harvest is classified. I called in favors to get here, and I’m fresh out. SSU is out of it. The U.S. Navy is in charge now.”
She wondered about the favors, then said, “So no more intel either, huh?” She rolled up socks and pulled on her boots, then started lacing them.
“We have our own.” He winked. “They don’t need to know it.”
She yanked the laces so hard she had to loosen them twice. “I’d rather see all three of them captured than find the relic. Kolbash…he just needs to die.” She tied the laces, tucked them in, then smoothed her pant leg, trying to push down that totally mind-numbing fear lurking just below the surface. The moment Kolbash fired at her and she knew she’d never get off the rig replayed in her mind. She felt her heart pound again, the clarity of panic making her mouth dry. Her hand trembled as she rubbed her temple. Never so scared in all my life, she thought and lifted her gaze to Sebastian. He must have read something in her expression because his big hand swept over her hair, cupped her jaw.
“You’re safe now, baby.”
She turned her face into his palm, an ache in her throat. It magnified in seconds, and she tried to smother it, hating the weakness, but then he said, “You thought you were going to die out there, alone.”
Olivia nodded and couldn’t stop the tears. She clung to him, her fingers digging as her throat choked with sobs. He held her tightly, rubbing her spine, patiently letting her cry all over his clean uniform.
“I understand, cherie,” he whispered, then he told her about Singapore, the bomb meant to kill Safia and what it was like being trapped in the aftermath of the blast. That’s why Noble disappeared so suddenly last year, she realized, and when he described his injuries, his life slipping away, she tipped her head back.
“You know when it’s ending, you can feel it, and you bargain with God. I don’t care who you are, you bargain. I swore I’d find you.” He laughed to himself. “But you didn’t have a past, and honestly, I stalled the last couple months because a part of me was terrified you were married with children.”
She sniffled. “And if I was?”
He eyed her. “Making you a widow wasn’t out of the question.”
She laughed, giving him a little shove, and he offered a wad of tissues, then pressed his lips to her forehead. “Get your jacket, Livi.” She met his gaze. “The intel officer n
eeds to debrief you first, then I’ll get us off the ship.”
She grabbed her parka, following him out. “God, I hope it’s to someplace that involves sandals.”
The minute she was near, he whispered, “It involves getting naked and prone.”
She met his gaze, her smile sly. “Oh, honey, I know we can do better than that.”
Reykjavík, Iceland
McGill was sending a jet for them, but it would take at least five hours to arrive. The long flight from the Landing Platform to land made him anxious to locate Nevolin. The battle group had the sea blocked, the missiles confiscated, and there were nearly a thousand sonar buoys floating out there trying to locate the minisub. Nevolin had less than an hour to surface or die. He wished she’d save them all the trouble, but with the relic in her possession, he knew she’d want it all.
From the backseat of probably the only hired car in the city, Sebastian watched the scenery pass. Reykjavík Airport was crowded with reporters and their equipment, and they filled every hotel. All they needed was a place to wait for contact with Deep Six, and he didn’t wonder how Mac managed it, but Sebastian felt like the walking dead and needed some sleep.
Olivia’s warm hand slid inside his jacket and his muscles jumped to attention.
It wasn’t sleep he needed, really, and he should have known better than to give her an inch. She was the epitome of decorum through the debrief and even on the helo ride with Max and the Ice Harvest squad. But that’s what anyone could see. She was subtle, but she was armed. She knew his buttons to push. He relished every second of it.
Sebastian rubbed his hand down his pant leg to keep from grabbing her right now. He didn’t think the driver would appreciate the erotic movie playing in his head and his eagerness to start the show. Tucked to his side, she tipped her face up.
“Camp Lejeune, on the riverbank, under that beautiful oak tree.”
His gut clenched at the memory of making love at dusk, like Adam and Eve. The heat of the evening, sweat-slick skin, and some inventive positions tripped through his mind. “I remember the sounds you made.” She inhaled sharply and close to her ear he said, “The whole world’s gonna hear them again if you don’t hush up.” She’d been teasing him with little hints of their past escapades. She had a lot to chose from, and his memory was too damn sharp.
“Oh, so unwise to issue a challenge, Sebastian.” Her smile softened, that sexy tilt of her eyes. Her hand slid dangerously low across his stomach.
As the car pulled in front of the Reykjavík Hilton, he was anxious to get out of the public eye. He could feel the blood pumping to his groin as he opened the door. She climbed out, brushing against him. She’d shopped for less than an hour and while her efficiency at it was a small mercy, her Cheshire Cat smile played on his imagination till he could barely sign the register. She made an effort not to touch him, and it turned him on more. Really, he needed to get a grip before her effect was noticeable. He waved off the bellman, then grabbed her hand. With her shopping bags and his duffel, he dragged her to the elevator. He punched the number, then snaked his arm around her waist.
“Stop teasing.”
“Ahh, but teasing implies no follow-through. If you can’t tell the difference, I’m gonna have to work on that.”
Her hand slid down his chest and beyond his belt. He closed his eyes for a second as she molded him. He clamped her wrist. “We’ll embarrass our country in a few minutes.”
“That’s only if someone’s watching.” Her brows wiggled, and the minute the door swooshed open, she scooped up the bags and left the elevator. Sebastian couldn’t wipe the smile off his face if he wanted, and followed. The view was great, her short fur jacket showing off her perfect behind in leather pants. It was all the airport shops had to offer, and whatever was in those bags. He didn’t care. She wouldn’t be wearing it for long.
Swiping the card, she sailed into the room ahead of him, and inside he dropped his duffel, glanced around, and zeroed in on her. She tossed off her jacket, loosened her braid. The way she was looking at him punched his sex drive to Mach 1 and he barely noticed the fire in the stone hearth warming the suite. It was already hot enough and he threw his jacket aside.
Her gaze strolled over him and just the thought of starting this again twisted inside him, warning him it was a lot bigger than old lovers and monkey sex. He advanced, wanting more, yet knew the instant he touched her there would be nothing left of them in about fifteen minutes. The closer she stepped, the harder his chest hurt. He stopped inches from her, crowding her. “There’s no turning back, Olivia. We cross this line, it’s forever.”
Her features tightened, her gaze searching. “All or nothing?”
“Yes. It’s selfish, all on me, baby, but I don’t think I could handle losing you twice in a lifetime.”
Her pretty green eyes teared. “I love you, Sebastian. I haven’t said that to another man in fourteen years.”
His heart did a quick tumble at that. “A piece of paper won’t make a difference. It didn’t—”
She covered his mouth with her fingertips. “Don’t doubt me, please.” The glossy sheen in her eyes about killed him and he grasped her wrist, kissed her palm. “It’s all, Sebastian. You know I can’t do anything halfway.” She tried to smile, the tremor in her voice wrenching through him. “You have every part of me there is. You always have. Forever.” He bent and she stretched to kiss him, her arms sliding around his neck and holding on.
“Not all of it,” he said, laying soft kisses at the curve of her neck, the hollow of her throat. “And if memory serves…” He stroked a finger just inside her hip and smiled when she curled into it.
“Go ahead, play me like a fiddle. My body is your temple and I’m ready for worship,” she said, and he choked a laugh. Then her warm mouth tasted his throat, her hands busy pulling his shirt from his trousers. The instant her skin met his, his muscles contracted like obedient little soldiers. Something lit in her eyes and he knew he was in for fun. Years ago, they’d be on the floor by now, yet the raw sensuality moving between them begged for patience, the slow slide of lips and tongue, and he coaxed her closer, but she turned in to the bedroom. She kicked off her boots, then stripped off her sweater, letting it drop. Her blouse followed and like a hound, he scented after her. His gaze traveled her smooth back, her rock-climbing muscles flexing as she peeled the tan leather pants down over that fantastic rear.
“Oh God.” A thong. The noose of all men, he thought, and couldn’t wait to get it off her.
She glanced back and did a little booty roll. “Icelanders have good taste, huh?”
His gaze ripped over her ripe body barely covered in ocean blue silk and lace. “Oh yeah, that will keep me warm in winter.”
She laughed lightly, and Sebastian advanced, thinking there’s nothing sexier than a confident woman. She plowed her hands under his shirt and cable sweater, pushing them off over his head. Her tongue snaked over his nipple, the cushion of her breasts against his skin making him harder. He palmed her waist, slid his finger along the edge of the lacy cup, then bent, pulling it down. Her nipple spilled into his mouth and she gasped, her head dropping back. A moment later, the lacy scrap was gone, and he filled his palms with warm skin and woman, thumbing circles around her nipples till she was squirming.
“You need to get naked right now.” She fumbled with his belt, his zipper. “Right now.” She opened his jeans, dove her hands inside. He flinched when she wrapped him and he clutched her, then swept her off the floor and pitched her on the bed. She laughed and rolled to her knees, brazen, bare except for the blue thong.
Her hand on her hip, she snapped her fingers, then patted the mattress. “Playtime.”
Laughing, he stripped with record speed, then reached for her. She practically leapt into his arms, her mouth turning him mindless. But he knew what she liked, what made her wild, and her sassy smile melted into a sigh as his lips closed over her taut nipple. His tongue snaked and she arched into him, offered more, w
atching him draw her nipple deep into the heat of his mouth. He gave it up slowly and dragged his tongue down the center of her stomach, nipped at her hip and felt her muscles jump. Then he hooked the thong, following the line of silk to her center, and she squirmed. He tugged the thong lower, teasing her flesh, then covered her center. She was damp and warm, and she held his gaze as he pushed a finger inside her, intimate, invading. Her breath shuddered, her eyes drifting closed. He toyed with the soft flesh, slicking her.
She whimpered, “Unfair,” then gasped when he plunged two fingers inside. She stiffened, panting as he stroked her, her hips rocking with him, and energy thrummed through her so thick he could taste it on his mouth. Then she crawled onto his lap, straddled his thighs, whispering how she wanted him, that she remembered the feel of him inside her and he better not hold back.
Slick skin to skin, they held still for a second. Eyes locked. “I’ve missed you.” Tears choked her voice.
Olivia was desperate for him. For the love she once threw away, for the man who wanted only to love her. Her hand trailed down his muscled torso, and lower, and she wrapped her hand around his hardness. His eyes darkened, and she watched his handsome face as she pushed his erection down, inching her body closer. The moist tip of him touched her slick folds and his grip on her waist tightened mercilessly.
“Jesus.”
She rocked in a teasing slide, guiding him, but he was having none of that. He held her and thrust, filling her in one smooth stroke. Her gasp tumbled into his mouth, her body quivering in his arms. “Oh God, Sebastian.”
“I know, cherie.” He ravaged her mouth. “I know.”
It wasn’t enough. He wanted her screaming, wanted her weak and panting and vulnerable—only for him. He moved, and drank her in—her wild red hair, the ripe round curves of her body—and she shoved back. Her breathing trembled and he held her gaze, loving the way she inhaled as he withdrew, the erotic smile in her eyes. Nothing was the same between them, each touch and whisper solidifying what they already knew, and when her hand slid down his chest to feel him plunge into her, he saw a different woman, exotic, exquisite.
Damage Control Page 33