EDGE OF TEMPTATION

by Gennita Low

  For months, he hadn’t felt the need to care or feel much about anything. He’d accepted that he was having a tough time trying to adjust to his new life, that it would take time to find himself feeling anything more than the passing emotion.

  This felt incredibly real.

  The whole day had kept him on the edge, just like old times, and yet, it wasn’t like the old times, when he’d felt betrayed because he couldn’t lift a finger to help in certain situations. Because this woman was there, in control. Because she was unafraid and quite deliberately nonchalant about being in danger. It had challenged him and brought that dead part of him back to life. It’d also not made him feel helpless when he wasn’t in control. She was perfectly capable—whoever she was—.

  He resumed kissing up the other side of her neck. “Name, give me a name,” he murmured in her ear. He would not come without knowing her name.

  “Diya,” she gasped softly as he thrust in deeply, quickening the pace, then whispered close to his ear. “Short for Nadia.”

  Nadia. Not Nadine. Obviously sisters. Probably twins.

  He could only think in staccato now.

  One spy. One scientist.

  He fucked her harder, feeling her wet sheath pulsing around the whole length of him. He reached down and played with her clit, using the slick moisture as he scissored it between his fingers.

  Protect. By. Pretense. He’d fallen for the whole act and—

  Nadia’s body jerked beneath him, her pleasure escaping her lips as she pressed kisses against his face.

  “Hon—”

  Walker pushed off her a little and gave her a warning glare. Her smile was so damn sexy, he would forgive her if she called him—nope, he shook his head. Nope. A rule was a rule. Her ass rose up from the counter, leisurely enjoying his hard length still inside her.

  “Sexy beast. My sexy beast,” she said.

  He thrust into her hard. Again. And emitted a groan as his orgasm hit him.

  “Sexy, sexy, sexy beast,” she said, in the drop-dead husky voice.

  He could live with that.

  * * *

  Jared left his car in the woods and started hiking with his duffle bag. He had his tracker on so the rest of his team would find him as they got nearer. Parker had sent his GPS all the relevant information and fed him the details of Walker’s location.

  Recently bought farmhouse, maybe a year. Being renovated as bread-and-breakfast vacation spot. His lips twisted. Well, how convenient to be near his love nest. Parker said as much and he could even see the smile in his voice.

  “How likely is it my vacay time would be exactly where the bad guys have their HQ?” he complained gruffly.

  “It’s only likely when Sugar put in money on a bet. You can blame her.” The tone of his voice turned serious. “Be careful. These guys don’t seem to be taking any chances. My system is detecting quite a lot of interference, meaning they’re prepared against hacking. I’ve pulled satellite images and there are patrolling men who make the rounds every forty-five minutes.”

  Jared adjusted the bag slung over his shoulder as he walked uphill. “So, are you saying you can’t hack into their systems?”

  Parker’s answering snort was all he needed to know.

  His main goal was to get as near to the farmhouse as he could and assess the area while the others caught up. If need be, depending on whether he felt Walker was in any imminent danger, he would initiate attack. It would be tough going in as a one-man army, but he was a Ranger, used to fighting at night. He had Parker’s eyes and Lexi’s hacking skills on his side, telling him where to go and what was being said. With luck, Walker would come out alive.

  “Hopefully, you won’t have to go at this alone, Bossman,” Parker said. “The others aren’t far.”

  “No, it won’t be a one-man assault team,” Jared agreed. “That GEM agent-sister of our scientist has trackers all over the place so her people aren’t far off, keeping tabs on positions too. I only wanted to contact my guy inside to let him know, so as to avoid friendly fire.”

  “This Jed McNeil?”

  “Yeah. If he’s running his team of commandos, those Russians don’t stand a chance. They’re deadly.”

  The COS Commandos rarely showed themselves, especially as a fighting force. They had been handpicked to be in a top secret program called VIRUS. Jared only knew of this because he knew Jed. He was his trainer as part of that program.

  COS Command Center stood for Covert Subversive Command Center. Triple C or COS, for short. The basis of the specialized team was fashioned after the Studies and Observation Group from the 60s. SOG was the most secret elite US military unit to serve in the Vietnam War, composed entirely of volunteers from ace fighting Special Forces.

  He’d volunteered during his time but because of his field experience and age, he’d been called for duty for other elite team operations. When he returned, Project Virus had already started, and he’d been tagged to be one of the trainers. The other trainers for the men were from various elite teams. Jared had seen the tests and the experiments these men had willingly gone through, so he could personally attest to how tough Jed McNeil was.

  “There’s a good chance McNeil has gotten my message and has passed it on. They’ll be looking out for me.”

  “But how would they know it would be you? What if they’re shoot, then ask kind of people?” Lexi questioned.

  Jared smiled grimly. “Because I trained him and know that mind of his. I know the fucker would track me himself.”

  He stopped and peered into the darkness. A shadow dropped in front of him and quick as his next breath, initiated attack. Jared anticipated and moved defensively, taking the other man’s cue as he parried and counter-attacked. The dance was familiar, a mix of the martial arts systems of Krav Maga and Ninjutsu, a form he’d helped develop in the old days. Only, his opponent appeared to have added a bunch of new stuff.

  He knew Parker and Lexi were aware of something happening and trying to get satellite feed. They kept quiet to allow him maximum concentration.

  His opponent’s moves were extremely fast. Hand grab. Wrist snap. Leg forward, power push and snap back with elbow. Counter jab and then back-to-back parries. He knew he was just being tested. He made one direct hit, which the other man stepped away from enough to allow contact without much damage. The shadow did a back flip and then gave a deep bow.

  Jared returned the bow. “Hello, Jed,” he greeted.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Nadia sighed as strong male hands massaged her neck, the soapy water running down her body. It was a much-needed hot shower, especially after that marvelous bout of incredibly hot sex. It was also a good opportunity to talk a little more but, unfortunately, not about more sexy stuff.

  She turned in the roomy shower and they studied each other’s nudity. Seeing a man in his naked form for the first time was one of her favorite things. Their reaction to her, the whole “this is me” male attitude, the way she picked her favorite part...mmm, parts. He had so many nice parts, it was tough to choose. He was big and broad, his chest a rough-hewn wall of muscles, as if he spent many hours doing physical labor, and those beautiful abs that led down to what her GEM sisters told her were the “Adonis lines,” those sexy grooves that trailed down from the waist to the crotch. Walker had beautifully defined Adonis lines. She wanted to go down on her knees and followed one of its trails all the way to the beautiful cock jutting up in full arousal against his hard abdomen. But that kind of thing needed time, which they didn’t have.

  “You keep looking at me like that and we’ll never get out of this shower,” he told her, his voice husky and needy.

  “You keep looking at me like that too,” she pointed out. “And we’re in here to talk about...mmm...more relevant stuff.”

  She licked her lips. So damn hard to resist going down on her knees and taking that cock into her mouth.

  “Diya.”

  She liked the way he said her name. She was so tempted to say “fuc
k everything” and just fall over the edge. She frowned. That was the first time she’d ever wanted to do such a thing. Tempted by Adonis lines? Sure. She traced the creases with her fingers, slowly coming together to his erection, and running her finger down his stiff arousal, tracing the smooth skin and the ridge of the eager and flushed head.

  “Diya,” he repeated. “Look up and talk to me.”

  Nadia sighed and did as she was told.

  “Yes, Walker?” she asked, her question obvious.

  He nodded. “It’s Walker. That stuff you injected—how are you feeling?”

  “Horrible. That was the worst crud ever. I’m going to put in some serious vocal opinion to those DARPA scientists when I get back to them on this experiment. But sex with you made it a little better. Okay, a lot. I’m not going to tell them that either.”

  His eyes gleamed down at her. He was giving her that look again, the one that made her want to spend time making him want her over and over.

  “That was really nasty,” he agreed. “I was getting worried. Hell, it made them worry about you too.”

  “Because they think I’m Nadine,” she reminded him. She pushed him away a little. He was standing in the way of her need for hot, cleansing water. “I like the way you worry. I hope we have time later.”

  She lifted her face, enjoying the needles of water coming down. Then he blocked that again, as his lips came down to meet hers for an instant.

  “I always do my best to get everything my way,” he informed her.

  “Ha! Not working for you today?”

  “We still ended up where I wanted,” he pointed out.

  There was that. She’d teased him to see what he was made of because what was the point of having a partner suddenly, if she didn’t know if he could keep up with her? That he did so and with such humor meant he was a winner in her eyes. Most male operatives usually had fits around her. Correction, most male-oriented teams avoided her, after one experience with her crazy off-the-cuff ways. She never blamed them because she didn’t change for anyone, so why would she expect others to change for her? Her twin—the conventional one—found a serious job. Of course she had to find one that was unconventional. GEM was perfect.

  To put the cherry on top, Walker Stillings was just perfect right now too, standing here in front of her, stark naked, with his perfect Adonis lines and hard muscles. And fearless when it came to trying things and going with the flow. She liked that a lot.

  “We get out of this,” she said, licking the moisture on her lips, “you’re going to let me take you to an island.”

  “Deal. Edible underwear optional.”

  He said it without a smile on his face, but she could feel his amusement. She laid a hand on his chest, exploring the little swirls of wet curls. “I have a team coming. It’s going to be a small one because I negotiated with my operations chief to protect my sis. In exchange for getting the Russians, I’d rescue Kantor, who she said is one of the architects of the exoskeleton suits for the VR project I told you about. The fact he made Nadine more than she was during our phone call meant he was aware of her having a sister in GEM.”

  “GEM?”

  “My outfit. I’m a GEM operative.”

  “Okay. I’ll ask for more details about that later. I have a team coming too,” Walker said, “and they’ll be here to rescue you and me, so I imagine they’ll be fully armed and ready. However, our little adventure was a complete surprise, so they might be a few hours behind.”

  Nadia grinned at him. “There was a reason for all the delay tactics during our road trip. I already sent your information to my Chief when I was in the bathroom. She probably has someone meeting your group right now, so as to avoid friendly fire and all that.”

  “I like the way you think, lady,”

  Her grin became wider. More wicked. “Yeah?”

  “Except for the Honey Bun Bun. I cannot. Will not.”

  “Excuse me? Love. Puddle.” She gave him a meaningful look. “Explain that.”

  His dark brow rose. “It’s actually Kissy Kibble Love Puddle. It came out during a moment of passion.”

  “Uh-huh.” She almost laughed when he said it. How long had it been since someone had outjoked her?

  “Okay, they have my pic and will, hopefully, get in touch with Jared.” When she raised her eyebrow, he added, “My boss at TITAN. So what’s our plan?”

  She slid her arms down his broad back and grabbed his wet ass. “We go out there, fuck like rabbits until the power gets cut.”

  He laughed. “It’s hard to get weaponized in the dark, you know.”

  “Well, this is how I’d do it. We get dressed. I’m sure there’s something out there waiting for us because of the way my ring’s buzzing, so we’ll have to act really, desperately in love. I secure you to the bed and you’re going to play love slave.”

  He stared down at her. “Seriously?”

  “Well, they think you’re secured, but you aren’t. I’m very good with knots. And they would be listening to you being honey-bun-bunned to death.”

  His face blanched just a little. “No.”

  “It’s a great distraction! And then, poof! Time for action. Come on, the words will keep them riveted. It’s just like playing the air guitar.”

  “Air guitar. You’re comparing us to playing air guitar.”

  “Have you ever seen Bradley Cooper play air guitar? That man was pure sex on air guitar, even with a clown wig on him. We have to be funny and sexy, that’s all.”

  “Clown wig,” he repeated.

  At the continuing disbelief in his face, she turned the shower off, and took his erection in her hand. “I see you need a little encouragement.”

  * * *

  Walker walked out of the bathroom first, releasing steam and the sounds of Nadine—no, Nadia—drying her hair amid non-stop chatter of babies, her being sick for the baby and his being there for the baby. God, the woman’s act could make porridge out of a man’s brain. It was a form of “distraction,” as she called it, something she did extremely well. GEM operative, huh? He tried to recall what he knew about them. He’d had several indirect brushes with them overseas and had been instructed by his handlers that most of them were harmless social workers with a fancy BS name.

  What he’d seen of them kind of reiterated that opinion. He’d seen a couple who had worked as interpreters in the border refugee camps, organizing financial and food aid. When he’d gone undercover within a warlord’s camp, one of the GEM agents had shown up to negotiate a female prisoner’s freedom, which had generated quite a bit of male laughter among the men. But she did leave with the prisoner and her success had intrigued Walker back then.

  The Middle East, with all its dark chaos, was a thick mess of agencies with different agendas. One grew used to stepping into a mire and recognizing opposing forces moving in the very same circles while their factions fought bloody wars somewhere else. The warlords and their system of honor, which could turn on a dime against anyone or anything. The CIA operatives with their furtive covert work. The contractors bringing in weaponry in exchange for information. Social workers and doctors working for the good, mindful of their lives as they worked from Points A and B.

  Sometimes, he’d wanted to make contact with some of them for their own good but he had always been unable to. Back then, his cover could not be blown at any cost. So, here and there, suicide bombings took place. Here and there, he had to stay inside when there were drone attacks outside and he couldn’t save the innocent lives affected. It’d taken a toll on him. The final stage of his coverup, after fulfilling the agenda of his handlers, was the total elimination of the whole camp of bastards, which he’d done, with his own hands. People who had called him partner, but whom he’d seen murder women and children. People with whom he’d trained and who thought he didn’t understand the different codes and vaults they were setting up for stolen uranium. People who planned the entire destruction of villages without a thought for its inhabitants. He eliminated t
hem all. Efficiently. Proficiently. He’d used his anger and those moments of feeling helpless to fuel him and his revenge was relentless until completed.

  Then he’d dropped all his weapons and left the camp to come home.

  His files told the whole story, but only Jared, his new boss, understood the emotional toll. That was why his assignment had been local for now. No more international battles for a while, he’d said.

  And here he was with a GEM agent who had made him laugh more times than he could remember in the past few years. All amidst the danger of being found out by men he knew were perfectly capable of violence. He’d been around their kind long enough to recognize the body language. Nadia was aware of this too, and still she was able to bring some light into that darkness. An ordinary grim operation of being prisoners, which could have turned bloody, especially with him around, had become a caper involving, of all things, a gone-wrong elopement, a lot of puking and a pregnancy. She had tied her captors up in knots.

  Just as he was. In love knots.

  He shook his head mentally. He couldn’t deny the attraction. He’d lived on the edge for so long, he was now standing literally at the edge of temptation. And he’d a feeling he was about to jump.

  “Why so quiet, Honey Bun Bun?”

  Nadia’s smoky voice interrupted his reverie as she marched out from the bath in just those amazing tight pants, heels, and her bra. The sight almost made him stride to her and sweep her off her feet and do all kinds of kinky things on the inviting bed nearby.

  “I was just admiring the food table they’d brought in,” he said. “Not bad for being prisoners. Maybe they didn’t lock the doors.”

  She joined him to admire the array of food and with a smile, fingered the very obvious bugging device. “I love it. They even have flowers and chocolate, like a five-star hotel. I can’t eat too much, though, or I’ll be sick again.”

  “The crackers must be for you, then,” he said.

  “Hmm. The Russians are so thoughtful. I should thank them.”