by Anna Hackett
She turned to him and moaned gratefully. She really wanted to wash off the dust of the desert, and Josh’s stink. It struck her that Seth had moved closer and his gaze was on her lips.
She opened her mouth to say something, but then he shook his head, and turned and nudged her toward the doorway.
She’d been right, it was his bedroom. The décor here was also sleek and modern. The polished concrete continued, and the walls were a soft, blue-gray. The bed was made of a pale wood, and sat low to the ground. It was covered in a black comforter.
On the wall behind the bed was another large, framed photograph. Again, it was black and white, and showed the desert. There were mountains in the distance and one lone tree—a Joshua tree—in the foreground.
“The bathroom’s through there.” Seth nodded through an open doorway. “Take your time, and grab something from my closet to wear. Kinsey’s going to organize clothes for you in the morning.”
January nodded. It had been a really long time since she’d let anyone take care of her. It felt nice. “Thanks.”
He smiled. “Going soft on me, James?”
She shot him the finger.
His laugh followed him out as he left.
January stepped into the bathroom. It matched the rest of his place—concrete tiles, warm, wooden vanity, huge, glass-enclosed shower with dual showerheads, and a modern, freestanding tub off to the side.
She really wanted to soak in the tub, but she didn’t think she could relax right now.
Instead, she stripped off and stepped into the shower. She was covered in small bruises and scratches. There was one really nasty bruise on her hip. Josh was truly a douchebag.
She sighed. The scrapes weren’t bad—she’d had worse on plenty of her digs. She let the water flow over her and wash away the grime.
Finally, January shut off the water and grabbed a fluffy, gray towel and dried off. She left her hair out to dry naturally.
Back in the bedroom, she raided Seth’s closet. She slid the door open and lights clicked on. She blinked. It was ruthlessly organized. Her own closet was jammed full of half-folded clothes, and things slipping off hangers. Her closet did not look like Seth’s. She glanced guiltily at the dirty clothes she’d left on the floor in the bathroom. January dashed back into the bathroom, and picked up the garments. Unsure where she should put them, she draped them carefully over the edge of the tub. Then she headed back to Seth’s closet.
She grabbed a soft T-shirt and pulled it over her head. It didn’t quite reach her knees, but it covered the necessities.
She headed back into the living space and spotted Seth in the kitchen. “You cook?”
His head snapped up. He’d changed while she’d showered, and the sight of him made her mouth go dry. Seth Lynch in jeans that cupped his assets was something to behold. God.
Her gaze traveled upward. He was also wearing a black T-shirt that clung in all the right places.
“I can cook three things well. Eggs, burgers, and I can grill a mean steak.”
She smiled, forcing her attention back to the food. “Well, you’re three meals ahead of me. I went through this cooking phase, even took some classes.” She shook her head. “Let’s just say it wasn’t a success.”
“A brown thumb and a failed chef.”
She saw that he’d made burger patties, and had fixings and rolls set out. “I made a promise to myself to try everything and see what I like. And what I’m good at.” She groaned. “Don’t ask me about the time I took up painting.”
He smiled and shook his head.
“I’m thinking that next I’ll buy a house that needs renovating. I want to learn to use power tools.”
He shook his head again. “Anything you can’t do?”
“Nope. I want it all.” And one day, she wanted a family of her own to fill the house. Kids, noise, and laughter. She wanted to read her daughters beautiful books on Egypt. Maybe even a book written by herself on the Maya and the Snake Kings.
Seth’s face turned serious. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I want to have another go at punching Josh.”
“Get in line.” There was a dark edge to Seth’s voice.
January pulled herself up on one of the stools at the glossy island. It also had a polished concrete top. “I really love your place.”
“You mentioned that.”
She heard the rumble of engines and looked out the window to see a plane taking off. The noise was very muted, so Seth had to have some grade-A soundproofing.
A phone started ringing, and she watched him snatch up his cell.
“Hey, Lachlan. Yeah, she’s fine.” A pause. “Yes. You know my security is even better than yours.” Seth moved over to a cupboard and opened the doors. “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up with the paranoid-CIA-agent jokes.”
She expected to see a pantry behind the doors, but instead of shelving and dry goods, there were several high-tech computer screens. She realized they were showing security feed from cameras outside. She identified the front fence, the gate, and the perimeter of the hangar.
“So back to base first thing tomorrow? Got it. See you at the Bunker in the morning.” Seth ended the call and tossed his phone on the counter. “That was Lachlan checking in.”
“It looks like you have better security than most museums…or banks.”
He shrugged.
“You aren’t very trusting, are you Seth?”
“No. I’ve seen the shit people do to each other.”
She’d seen it too, up close and personal. But she’d had therapy to get through it and move on. And she’d also seen the good, kind things people did for each other. She saw the generous love her aunt, uncle, and cousins shared with her, the camaraderie with her colleagues, the shining interest on the faces of her students.
But Seth had clearly seen too much to still be a simple farm boy from Idaho.
“I just can’t believe what Josh did,” she said. “What a coward.”
“He’s weak,” Seth said.
A shiver ran through January. Coward or not, he’d almost killed her.
“Hey.” Seth appeared in front of her and gripped her arms. “You’re okay. You were magnificent today.”
“I was angry and scared.”
“You made it, January. You’re alive.”
This close, she smelled the clean heat of him, tinged with male spice. She hadn’t realized that she’d been feeling so cold until she felt his warmth.
“Show me,” she murmured.
His face turned wary. “January—”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts to his chest. “Prove to me that I’m alive, Seth.” She scratched her nails over the skin at the back of his neck. “I want you.”
For a second, she thought he was going to push her away. But with a groan, his arms tightened around her.
“You’ve been through a—”
“Not that again. You can stow the noble thoughts, 007. You’ve already fucked me so many times that I can still feel you. Don’t be shy now.”
He huffed out a breath. “You drive me crazy.”
“I know. I like it.”
He lifted her onto the counter and she gasped. He pushed her down until her back met the counter’s cool surface. She watched heat ignite in his eyes.
January shivered. It looked like she’d awakened the beast. He shoved her shirt up, baring her. Then he pushed her legs apart roughly.
“Can anyone see in your windows?” she asked, voice husky.
“I don’t care.” He lowered his head. “Don’t care if they watch me feast on you.”
Her belly spasmed, and she watched as his dark head moved between her legs. Then he licked her. Oh, God. She cried out. Then he set to work.
He used his mouth and tongue until she was rocking against him. He held her tight as that wicked tongue of his worked her.
“Come, January,” he growled against her skin. “Let me taste it.”
He kept l
icking and she jerked. “Oh, God, Seth.”
He sucked her clit and she came. Her legs were shaking, pleasure tearing her apart.
She was still dazed when he yanked her up and pulled her to the edge of the counter. She saw him frantically opening his jeans and her pulse went haywire.
“Yes,” she murmured, clutching his arms.
He pressed closer, and she wrapped her legs around his hips. A second later, he thrust inside her.
“Oh—” January gripped the counter.
“Hold on, hellcat.” He started thrusting. “This is going to be rough and hard.”
She made a choked sound of pleasure.
“Got no finesse left, January. I want to know you’re alive, too. Feel that tight body of yours wrapped around my cock.”
His words rocketed through her and she held on, pleasure pouring through every nerve in her body.
“I’m here,” she breathed. “Whole and breathing. With this fantastic orgasm threatening.”
He didn’t laugh, but his face got intense, his blue eyes glittering.
“I felt every minute that asshole had you.” Seth’s thrusts increased in power. “I felt every minute you were gone, not knowing what I’d find when I reached you.”
“I’m right here, baby.”
He reached down between their bodies and thumbed her clit. January’s orgasm blindsided her. She tossed her head back and arched her spine. She held on for dear life as the release hit her hard. Her vision blurred and she screamed his name.
He cursed. “You’re squeezing my cock so hard.”
After a few more thrusts, Seth’s rhythm broke. Then he gave a shout as he thrust inside her and came.
January blinked, staring up at the ceiling. They lay there for who knew how long. All she knew was that her body felt damn good, she had cool concrete at her back, and hard, warm man pinning her to it.
She pressed a kiss to the side of his head and he shifted, kissing her jaw.
“Okay?” he asked.
“I’m so far above okay that I’m in the stratosphere, 007.”
He gave her one of his faint smiles. She lifted her hand and stroked his cheek. He was so damn handsome.
When he froze, she realized she was stroking his scars.
But she didn’t care, hell, she barely noticed them now. They were just a part of him. She lifted her head and pressed her lips to his cheek, taking her time to trace the scars.
Seth shuddered.
Then he seemed to break free of the spell and scooped her up into his arms.
“I want to fuck you in my bed now.”
She laughed. She’d had a horrible few days, but somehow, this man—a man she’d thought she hated—was the bright light making it all okay.
“I think I can get on board with that.”
Chapter Thirteen
January’s husky cries were the sweetest sounds he’d heard.
They were in Seth’s bed, she was under him, her legs clamped to his sides as he moved inside her.
“So good.” She scratched her nails down his back.
Her body squeezed his cock hard. January didn’t hold back a single emotion. No elegant, thought-out moves, or showy, artful cries. No, January enjoyed him fucking her, and she wasn’t afraid to show it.
Something inside Seth broke. He thrust harder into her, pounding her into the bed. She gripped him tighter and moaned.
He watched as she came, crying out his name. He liked that sound even more than her husky cries. Then his own release hit him. With a growl, he lodged himself deep and poured himself inside her.
Damn. Seth rolled off her, falling back on the sheets and pulling her limp body into his side. The air was cool on his slick skin.
“I still haven’t fed you,” he said.
She pushed up, shoving her tangled hair out of her face. “How about burgers in bed?”
“I like your style, James.”
With a grin, she climbed out of the bed. He stared at her curvy ass and toned legs. She pulled on one of his button-down shirts, only doing up a few buttons, and sauntered out. His cock twitched. Damn, it was like he was seventeen again.
Seth sat up, and shoved a pillow behind his back. He grabbed his tablet off the bedside table, checking his security feed.
He still had a twitchy feeling. January getting snatched right under their noses had left him nervous.
He heard her in his kitchen and he stilled. He’d never brought a woman back here before. He sometimes hooked up between missions, but he went to the woman’s place, or one of the many hotels. Plates clanked, and then January muttered a curse.
He grinned. He liked it. Liked her puttering around his place.
When she finally returned, she sauntered in with that confident stride he enjoyed watching so much. His brows rose. Somewhere, she’d found one of his scarves and had it tied rakishly around her neck. She must have grabbed it from his closet earlier. She was holding two plates, loaded with burgers.
“Hello, sir. I hope you’re enjoying the flight,” she said, in a throaty voice.
Seth grinned. Oh, so Dr. James enjoyed a little role-play, did she? “It’s been okay so far.”
She set the plates down on the bedside table. “We’re expecting some turbulence.” She shot him a sexy grin and laid a napkin over his lap. “We want you to enjoy your trip.” She turned to grab a plate, leaning over enough to give him a view of her bare thighs and the bottom curves of her ass.
He reached over and stroked her skin. “I admire your dedication to your job.”
She turned back. “We take customer satisfaction very seriously.” She licked her lips, and his cock surged against the sheet.
“What would you like for your meal this evening?” she asked. “We have homemade burgers on the menu.”
“I don’t want burgers.”
“Oh? Well, whatever you want, I’ll do my best to provide it.”
“I want you to climb onto my lap, straddle me, and sink down on my cock.”
She shivered. “I see you’re interested in joining the Mile-High Club.”
“Very interested.” Seth flung the napkin and sheet away, baring his rock-hard cock to her.
January did as he’d ordered, climbing on and straddling him. Seth reached under her shirt, stroking the slick folds between her legs. She made a sexy sound and undulated on his hand.
“Whatever you want, sir.” Her voice was a husky whisper. “I’m here to provide for your every need.”
“Wrap one of those pretty hands around my cock.”
She obeyed, grasping him. “You’re so hard.”
“Put me inside you.”
She jerked, her lips falling open. But she obeyed, rising up and lodging the head of his cock against her folds. He sank in an inch, and they both moaned. Then she started to sink down, taking him inside her. Damn. So good.
Her hands gripped his shoulders for leverage, the most beautiful look crossing her face.
“Ride me,” he demanded. “I want you to come on my cock, then make me spill inside you.”
“Yes, sir.”
January rode him, her hips rising and falling. Seth opened the buttons on the shirt, cupping her breasts, then sliding his fingers down her flat belly. He touched where they were joined, his thick cock spearing inside her, listening to the small mewling sounds she made. Then, he stroked her clit.
She moved faster, panting. “Seth.”
“Damn, I love hearing you gasp my name.”
He gripped her hips, helping her to move up and down—faster, harder. It didn’t take long for her to come on a moan, tossing her head back.
Pure beauty. Seth followed her a second later, grinding her down on his cock.
“Fuck…January.”
She collapsed against him. Seth held her tight, and they stayed like that for a while. He stroked her back, just listening to her breathe.
“So…can I have my burger now, ma’am?”
She laughed. He stared at her face. There
were no signs of worry or trauma from her ordeals. She was tough. He’d always known that.
Soon, they were both propped up on the pillows, eating burgers. Seth was naked, and January was only wearing his shirt. He liked this, too.
“Why archeology?” he asked.
She smiled, licking her fingers. “Because of my mom. She loved history. Instead of kids’ books, she read me history texts and books on mythology.” January’s smile turned dreamy. “We had this book on Egypt. It was illustrated and was so gorgeous. I loved it.”
“How did you lose her?” he asked quietly.
He watched January lick her lips and set her burger down. As she wiped her hands, he felt the air in the room change.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked—”
“No, it’s okay. I was fourteen, and she’d taken me down to L.A. for the day. We lived just outside Fresno. We went to the La Brea Tar Pits and the Natural History Museum. God, I was so excited. We drove, like, three hours to get there, and had such an awesome day wandering through all the exhibits.”
Seth’s shoulders tightened, and he realized that he wasn’t going to like the way this story ended.
“We had this piece-of-shit car. Mom worked in an office. We weren’t poor, but we didn’t have a lot, either. The car broke down on our way home.”
January fiddled with the sheet, and Seth fought the urge to pull her into his arms. For the first time, he wanted to fight a woman’s demons and keep her protected. To be her shield.
“It was getting dark, and Mom had taken a scenic route back, so it was pretty isolated,” she continued. “A truck pulled over to help.” She pulled in a breath.
Seth’s gut was in knots.
“There were two guys. They’d been drinking.” Her gaze met Seth’s. “They weren’t there to help us.”
“Shit, January—”
“My mom sensed it, and she told me to run.”
Now Seth grabbed January’s hand. Her fingers tangled with his.
“They raped her.” A shuddering breath. “And one of them raped me. Mom tried to stop them, but they hit her. Over and over.”
Fuck. Fuck. Seth’s chin dropped to his chest and he held her hand tight.
“Hey.” Fingers brushed his jaw. “It was a long time ago, Seth. My mom died of internal bleeding. I went to live with my aunt and uncle. They’re awesome, and we’re close. I won’t lie. There were a lot of rough moments, but I had therapy, I grieved. Yes, I lost my mom and my innocence, but I was determined to live for her.”