“Come with me, Boone. Help me find her.”
His expression didn’t alter. He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed the palm with the sweetest, most delicate taste. He sighed. “Fuck it. I knew you were going to say that.”
With a watery smile, she said, “Then you know that you have to go with me. Because I’m going whether anyone else wants me to or not.”
He closed his eyes. “Shit.” When he opened his eyes again, he said, “I knew you were trouble from the first moment I saw you at the water cooler.”
“Humph.” Braver now, she continued. “Are you trying to pour on that sticky Texas charm and lather it on thick?”
His eyebrows arched. “I’m not from Texas. Where did you get that idea?”
She sputtered. “Well, the ladies in the office call you the long, tall Texan.”
His head fell back as he burst out laughing. “Long, tall Texan? That’s a compliment, I hope.”
“Where are you from, then?” she asked.
“Georgia. Down near Savannah. But I haven’t lived there in…let’s see…about twenty years. My family left there years ago.” He shrugged. “When I wanted to know more about you, I got Hetty over at Personnel to let me see your file.”
She gasped. “That’s unethical.”
He winked. “I never said I was a saint.”
“How did you bribe her? She’s an ancient curmudgeon with a steel bra.”
“I smiled at her.”
She sighed, and a laugh slipped from her despite everything. “Georgia charm. You charmed her into it, didn’t you?”
“Nah. She’s from Georgia, too. I think that might have something to do with it.”
“God, you are—”
“I know. Irrepressible.”
“Exactly.”
“Your file told me some things that made me care about you even more. I read about your family life. How you were tossed from one member of your family to another. How your daddy ended up in prison for extortion and your momma wasn’t much good for anything but abusing you. That’s why you stay so controlled, isn’t it? You think you’re like the rest of your family.”
He’d hit the proverbial nail on the head so accurately, new tears filled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She couldn’t control them.
“Ah, darlin’. No, don’t cry. Damn it.” He drew her into his arms and held her.
She nestled into his strong shoulder and his powerful embrace cradled her as if she was the most precious thing in the world to him. She’d never felt as cherished and protected as she did in this man’s arms. He massaged the back of her neck, caressed her hair, gave her comfort she’d never experienced before with a man.
She lifted her head and looked into the softest, warmest eyes she’d ever seen. She saw more than lust, more than desire. It thrilled her to recognize the genuine compassion deep in his expression. That this big, tough man cared for her so deeply sent waves of delight growing inside her.
Courage to speak her truth welled up. “Then you won’t be angry when I tell you that I bribed Hetty about a month ago with a box of chocolates to let me see your file.”
His glower surprised her. “You what? Then you already know I’m from Georgia.”
She nodded. “Yes. It made it easier for me to understand why you’ve got this incredible intensity. You’ve had a tough life, too.”
His glower didn’t disappear. “Not so bad. So my parents were dirt-poor. So I had to scrape and save to make it through college.”
She shook her head and reached up to touch his bristly cheek and jaw. “There’s more than that. What about the accident?”
He sighed. “My parents were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Bad shit sometimes happens.”
Her heat swelled with sadness. “You had loving parents. I can’t imagine watching their car pushed off the side of a cliff by a semi. It’s bad enough it happened, but the fact you and some of your brothers were in the car behind and saw it all.” She kissed his jaw. “It’s horrible.”
Another sigh shuddered through him, and this time when she looked into his eyes, she saw matching tears. He gave her a wobbly grin. “Maybe that’s why my brothers and I are so damned close. Maybe it’s why you and I mesh.”
Her eyebrows twitched. “Mesh. Mmmm. I like the sound of that. Now, how many brothers do you have?”
“I’m the youngest of six children. I have five older brothers. We’re all damned nuisances in one way or the other. Especially my oldest brother. He’s the biggest clown there is. And you thought the youngest was supposed to be the wackiest, right?”
“That’s what they say.”
“Well whoever they are, they’re wrong. Don’t you agree?” he asked.
“About what?”
“That they are wrong sometimes.”
“Oh, oh yes. Definitely. Absolutely wrong sometimes.”
His arms, which had never left her, drew her nearer once more. His mouth was a hairsbreadth from hers. “I ought to punish you for looking in my file.”
She gasped in mock indignation. “Punish me? Like you did earlier? You like to use double standards?”
“Damn right.”
“Brat!” She took the plunge and fluttered her fingers over his ribs and hoped he was ticklish.
He started violently and laughed. “Oh, no you don’t.”
Her protest was muffled under his lips as he kissed her aggressively, his mouth smothering hers and his tongue plunging deep. She smiled against his lips, but humor disappeared under the sensual onslaught.
A flash-fire of sensations assaulted her. Under his kiss, she came alive. Inhibitions broke loose and refused to pen up. The steady arousal that burned inside Kat demanded a finish.
They loved deep into the night, and Kat came so many times she lost count. Boone couldn’t seem to get enough of her. She expected soreness after their continual loving, but her body craved him after months of desiring him. Insatiable, he thrust into her and stayed there, his cock tunneling with slow, tender movements for what seemed a lifetime until neither of them could stand it any longer. He’d plowed her, fucking with inexorable hammering strokes until she’d screamed herself hoarse with the pleasure.
She hesitated to leave his arms right away, even though she had plans to make. She glanced out the huge skylight above the bed. Low sunlight filtered through the snow flurries blowing across the window. Before she could slip from his arms, Boone stirred and rolled her over on her back.
“You’re not thinking of sneaking out and stealing my car to get home, are you?” he asked.
She laughed softly. “It’s snowing like hell out there. And I think I like being right where I am.”
“Good.” He kissed her, and moments later, he lowered his hips between her thighs and with a sharp thrust, he took her.
“Oh my God,” she gasped out. “Boone.”
“I can’t get enough of you.” His voice sounded raspy. “I want to fuck you for days.”
“Mmm. Please do.”
With passion-glazed eyes, he looked down on her and said, “You aren’t going anywhere without me, darlin’.”
She closed her eyes and savored the slow back and forth motion of cock through creamy wet folds. She barely managed, “Then let me go with you to Puerto Azul to find Christabel. You know I’ll find a way on my own.”
When she opened her eyes again, he gave her a lopsided grin. “Damn it, I know you will. Okay, you’ve convinced me.” He pushed deeper, hitching higher and spreading her thighs wider. He rocked his hips, building up speed.
“I didn’t think it would be that easy,” she said between panting breaths.
“It won’t be. If you go with me, it’ll be dangerous. A hard road.”
She looped her arms around his neck. “I never expect anything else. As long as you’re with me, I can handle it.”
His hips picked up speed, powering with fierce, rutting thrusts until orgasm took hold of her senses. Seconds later, her pussy shivered, contracted, burs
t through with exquisite, shattering pleasure.
His hips jerked, his body quaking as he roared out a guttural completion.
* * * * *
The phone rang, and Kat startled out of her sleep. Boone fumbled for the bedside light and snapped it on. Mind fogged by sleep, she listened in a half daze as he reached for the phone and mumbled into the receiver.
“Hey T.J. Where the hell are you?” Boone asked. “What? That’s fuckin’ fantastic! Is she okay? Kat’s going to be happier then hell. She’s right here with me. Hold on a minute.”
Kat opened her eyes and blinked at Boone. “Who is it?”
He smiled as he handed her the phone. “Someone special.”
As she frowned in confusion, he scooted off the bed and headed for the bedroom door. She watched his broad shoulders, back and tight ass parade through the door.
She heard a female voice on the phone, sounding tinny and far away. “Hello? Kat?”
At first Kat couldn’t believe what she’d heard. “Christabel? Is that you?”
Christabel’s clear laugh came over the phone. “Yes.”
Joy spilled through Kat’s heart. “Oh God! Are you all right? How did you escape the terrorists? What—?”
“One question at a time.” Christabel laughed again. “It’s a really long story. Sounds like you have some explaining to do yourself. What are you doing hanging with an SIA agent on Christmas Eve?”
Kat sank down into her fluffy pillows. Her face heated. “That’s classified.”
Christabel sounded doubtful and amused. “Right.”
“Where are you?”
“Still in Puerto Azul. After the insurgents took my tour bus hostage, they decided it would be fun to take me off by myself. I spent some time in a rat-infested hut until T.J. Calhoun came to my rescue.”
“Your old friend from way back? That T.J?”
“The very one. He’s a soldier in the black ops unit of SIA. We fought our way through the jungle, Kat. It was the most terrifying and amazing thing I’ve ever experienced.”
“Wait a minute. Why are you still in Puerto Azul?”
Christabel cleared her throat. “Well…um…T.J. is debriefing me.”
It took Kat a moment to comprehend then she chuckled. “Is that what they’re calling it these days?”
They talked a few minutes more, with Christabel admitting that she’d fallen in love with T.J. and he with her. As long it was confession time, Kat decided to admit to Christabel that she’d gotten more than cozy with Boone. By the time she hung up the phone, Kat was grinning broadly.
Boone strode into the room and slid back under the covers with her. He gathered her close in his arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Everything okay now?”
“More than okay. It sounds like she’s not only been rescued from the bad guys, but she’s in love.”
One of his eyebrows twitched upward. “Just like you are?”
“Oh, yes.”
He kissed her thoroughly then let her up for air. “I’m damned glad we aren’t going to Puerto Azul.”
She sighed. “Me, too.”
As they rested in each other’s arms, he said, “I want you with me forever, Kat.”
Her heart sang with new excitement.
“Together always.”
And he kissed her again.
The End
About the Author
Suspenseful, erotic, edgy, thrilling, romantic, adventurous. All these words are used to describe award-winning, best-selling novelist Denise A. Agnew’s novels. Romantic Times Magazine called her romantic suspense novels Dangerous Intentions and Treacherous Wishes “top-notch romantic suspense.” With paranormal, time travel, romantic comedy, contemporary, historical, erotica, and romantic suspense novels under her belt, she proves her gift for writing about a diverse range of subjects. (Writing tales that scare the reader is her ultimate thrill.)
Denise’s inspiration for her novels comes from innumerable sources, but the fact she has lived in Colorado, Hawaii, and the United Kingdom has given her a lifetime of ideas. Her experiences with archaeology have crept into her work, as well as numerous travels throughout England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Denise currently lives in Arizona with her real life hero, her husband.
Denise welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at 1056 Home Avenue, Akron, OH 44310-3502
Also by Denise A. Agnew
By Honor Bound anthology
The Dare
Deep is the Night: Dark Fire
Deep is the Night: Haunted Souls
Deep is the Night: Night Watch
Ellora’s Cavemen: Tales From the Temple IV anthology
Men To Die For anthology
Special Investigations Agency: Impetuous
Special Investigations Agency: Over the Line
Special Investigations Agency: Primordial
Special Investigations Agency: Sins and Secrets
Winter Warriors anthology
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
www.ellorascave.com
White Hot Holidays: Special Agent Santa Page 5