She didn’t wait for him to respond. She quickly shut the bedroom door and leaned up against it. That’s it, no more stargazing for me. This wish might already be more than I can handle.
Chapter Three
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Although the couch wasn’t much to look at, it felt like a five-star resort compared to the sleeping arrangements he’d had lately. Dozing off shouldn’t have been difficult since he hadn’t had much shuteye since he arrived, yet his body was wide awake. It was going to take a lot more than a cool shower to stop what was aching on him. Seeing her from a distance had been one thing. Up close, where he could inhale her sweet scent and feel her silky skin as she brushed by him, had him tied in knots.
The way she looked at him when he wore the towel was practically an invitation to pull her into his arms. No matter how tempting it was, he had to resist. Marina had yet to speak the truth to him, and until he knew whose side she was on, she was the enemy, and he’d say or do whatever it took to get what was needed from her.
Marina looked harmless enough, yet he wasn’t about to underestimate her. His eyes burned, and his head pounded. Sleep was necessary, but he couldn’t allow himself that luxury. Instead, he pulled himself off the couch and decided to make use of the alone time.
Kevin walked to her bedroom. Turning the knob, he quietly opened the door. He listened to her breathing and heard what sounded like a purr. Damn it. Even your snoring is captivating.
Closing the door again, he headed for the deck. It was time to find out what Johnson had learned. Hopefully something useful.
He retrieved the phone from the hiding place on the lip of the roof. It would’ve stuck out if it’d been daylight, but on short notice it did the trick. He’d need something better if this was going to be a longer living arrangement.
Kevin didn’t need to worry about battery life as this particular phone charged by solar rays, even penetrating the darkest jungles. Someday I’ll figure out how you get your hands on this type of shit Mark. It’s not military issue. Placing his thumb over the button, the phone activated again. Johnson had been watching every move he made as a message instantly appeared.
“Not sure pink is your color.”
Kevin had a few choice words for Johnson, but he could appreciate the ball-busting. Normally he was doing the dishing, not the receiving. Come on, Johnson. You can do better than that. I know I could.
“Laptop.”
Johnson replied but not with what Kevin wanted to hear. “Filled with notes and formulas. She’s still working on something. Whatever it is.”
Fuck. Why couldn’t you be like other women and read a love story? How can someone so beautiful be so deadly?
“We’re coming in. I can’t risk her escaping.” A text from Mark was added.
When did Mark get in the bayou?
“Is she a prisoner?”
“You know why we need her,” Mark answered.
We? You mean you. Because they want her. And if you have her, you’ll have them. Kevin got it. Mark had promised Hannah he’d find them and bring them to justice. He wasn’t sure how far Mark was willing to go to accomplish that. A man in love doesn’t always think rationally. Good thing you have your kid brother watching your six.
So many things could go wrong if they weren’t diligent in moving forward. Too many lives had already been lost. No matter how well-trained they all were, letting emotions get in the way could get their names added to the long list of the fallen. I have my own promises to Hannah to keep, and that’s to make sure your ass makes it back in one piece.
In their line of work they knew the risk and took it anyway. When they were off the grid, without the backing of the commanding officers, they needed to rely on each other more than ever. Every decision had to be made unanimously.
If Marina was working with the terrorists or had any involvement with killing the Marines, he’d have no issue with using her as bait. If she was innocent in all this, there was no way in hell he was going to allow her life to be put in jeopardy. Not even by Mark.
Deep down, he knew Mark would never take an innocent life or risk one needlessly. When Mark suggested taking her in early it was a big red flag for Kevin. He knew it wasn’t about Mark not trusting Johnson and him to do their jobs. For Mark, this was very personal. Those bastards had hurt Hannah, Mark’s wife. Kevin had no idea what he’d do if someone had drugged and raped someone he loved. He probably would do just as Mark had. Hunt them down and make them pay. Then again, that’s exactly what I’m doing now. Not that you’d know that by seeing me right now. Hannah was a courageous woman who used her horrendously terrifying experience to help others deal with their own demons. Mark dealt with her trauma differently, opting to carry photos of the men she identified as her assailants. When he learned those bastards were connected to the terrorists they were tracking, Mark doubled down and hadn’t taken a day off since.
Kevin worried Mark was getting tunnel vision, only able to see what evidence fit into his predetermined set of expectations for the enemy. Kevin needed him to stay focused on the picture as a whole and not become fixated on a single piece of the puzzle. Mark had settled the score with one of the men already, but he wasn’t going to stop until they all were accounted for. The enemy could use Mark’s emotions against him, and when it came to Hannah, Mark could be intense. And for good reason. I just don’t want your judgment clouded. There’s a lot at stake here. You don’t want to fuck this up, and God knows Hannah wouldn’t want it either.
No words could change how Mark felt. No one could change what happened in the past. That didn’t mean he was going to let Mark do whatever he wanted without question. He didn’t trust Marina, but he needed to know what Mark was thinking.
There must be something more on that laptop than he was being told. Mark could be tight-lipped when he wanted or needed to be. Pushing for information wasn’t possible at that moment. Even though they were on a secure encrypted phone, there were things they never put in writing. They all knew the United States wasn’t the only country with the technology to hack phones, even ones as secure as theirs.
“We need to move in,” Mark sent.
If Kevin hadn’t made contact with Marina tonight, he would’ve agreed with Mark to go in. Now there was an opportunity to handle things differently.
“I am in. Need time.” Kevin wasn’t sure how much time. He felt confident Marina would confide in him if given the chance.
There was something about her that looked like she needed someone to trust. All he had to do was show her he could be that person. Not sure you should trust me, but I need you to, Marina. If not, we’ll have to do it Mark’s way. He has a whole different view of terms of engagement when it comes to getting what he wants. Mark’s not like me; he won’t appreciate your sweet voice when you rattle those lies.
There was a need to protect Marina from Mark at the moment. He couldn’t pinpoint why or what the feeling was. He hoped his gut wasn’t being affected by his cock. There was no doubt he found her attractive, but he’d been with beautiful women before. So what was different about Marina? Was it that he could see right through her tough act and see she was scared and fragile? Or was that just what he wanted to see in her? Or am I way off-base and you are so damn good that you have me thinking you’re a bad liar just so I’ll fall right into your trap? Which is it, Marina? Are you sweet and innocent and need my help, or are you stalling for time until your backup arrives and takes me out?
Kevin wanted to confront her for the answers, but he needed to remind himself who she was and why they were here in the first place. It doesn’t matter. She’s the chemist, and we need whatever she created that people are willing to die to protect.
He had a list of reasons he should text Mark right then, turn her over, and walk away, but he couldn’t. Not yet. Somehow he’d begun to care which side she was on, and it had nothing to do with the mission. Am I worried about Mark’s judgment being clouded? I better keep myself in check first.
�
�We have her. That’s all we need. Why do you need time?” Johnson inquired.
Because I need to know what she’s up to for myself. “You analyze the data. I’ll interrogate.”
“Risky,” Mark responded.
“All quiet two weeks,” Kevin added.
“It’s just a matter of time.”
Mark was right. They saw firsthand how things changed when the terrorists made their move on Don. If it hadn’t been for Johnson and the others, Don wouldn’t have made it out alive. Hell, it cost Daniel Thomas his life. We can’t let them have the upper hand again.
Kevin’s gut said they had time, and he wanted to make the most of it. “Seventy-two hours. That’s all.”
He knew Mark wasn’t going to be happy with him changing the plan, but overall, Mark understood the magnitude of what was at risk. If they couldn’t find out what she’d developed and contain it before it got out, then it wouldn’t matter whose side she was on. No one knew exactly what she was working on, but from the setup in the lab, they knew it was deadly.
“Forty-eight. No more,” Mark answered.
That wasn’t much time to gain someone’s trust, especially when he hadn’t given her any reason to trust him. There was no question that Mark compromised reluctantly for even that short period. They weren’t in a location where they could get backup in unnoticed or quickly. If those bastards do decide to show up, I hope it’s by ground and not air. I’d enjoy introducing you to my friends, the gators.
The wheels in his head were already turning. Kevin was going to need to step up his game and push harder than she might be ready for. This wasn’t about making friends. It was about getting answers. What he had planned would probably leave her hating him in the end. If he was successful in obtaining what they needed, it would be a price worth paying. Let’s see how good of a liar I am. There’s no way I’m as bad as Marina. If I am, we’re fucked.
Kevin sent: “Going offline.”
One final text from Mark before he deactivated the phone again: “Roger. Stay focused.”
He caught Mark’s warning loud and clear. Many men have fallen because a beautiful woman distracted them. Marina was stunning, and any other time or place, he’d happily get lost in her. No woman has ever distracted me from a mission, and she’s not going to be the first.
There was no need to hide it. When Marina woke he was positive she was going to have a lot of questions for him. He’d answer what he could honestly, and the rest, he’d make up as needed. Either way, he planned on getting answers out of her, whether or not they were the truth was still to be seen.
Before going back inside, he felt his clothes he’d washed earlier. They hadn’t fully dried, but at least they smelled better than they had before. First thing to gain control of this situation is to get the fuck out of this pink shirt.
He quickly changed into his camo and headed inside. It was going to be an interesting morning, and he wanted to be ready for whatever tall tale she was going to spew. I’ve got plenty of my own.
Sleep was something she was used to going without. Marina spent her days working on her research then all night her calculations would flash in her mind over and over again as she looked for what she was missing. Unfortunately, the right answer never came to her, and she’d start the pattern all over again the next day.
Marina had contemplated taking a sleep aid to help. Her fear was that would be the night she’d have an epiphany, and it’d be lost forever. So instead, she’d become accustomed to getting only a few broken hours of sleep.
So when she woke with daylight shining through the bedroom window, she was flabbergasted. Lying in bed, her body felt rested, pain-free. It was wonderful and not expected at all. If anything, she’d prepared herself for even less than normal sleep due to having a complete stranger on the couch.
Somehow having Kevin close by had soothed her restless mind. Stretching her hands above her to let out a soft moan of peace, she rolled to one side and snuggled her pillow closer.
Her eyes flashed wide open as she recalled why she slept so well. Her mind had been racing all night but in an entirely different direction than usual.
I better be more specific next time I wish upon a star. That wish had come true, but only in Marina’s dreams. It was all too vivid as she pictured Kevin’s perfect body climbing into bed with her, his hands touching almost every inch of her, and his lips following right behind.
She understood why her body felt relaxed, as she was still enjoying the effects from her sweet wet dream. I hope I didn’t call his name out loud. He doesn’t need to know what he does to me. It’ll only complicate things.
Just thinking about Kevin had her body tingling. She had one of the best scientific minds, and she was solely responsible for finding a vaccine, but the only thing haunting her right now was his tall, muscular body and wondering if he tasted as good as he looked.
Marina didn’t need to touch herself to know she was wet and wanting. If her guest wasn’t in the next room, she’d open her nightstand drawer and bring out her faithful companion. Mr. Handcock, you never let me down. She wasn’t embarrassed about taking care of her own needs, however doing so with Kevin in earshot of the buzzing sound was out of her comfort zone. The ache between her legs was going to have to wait.
There was no avoiding it. She needed to get up and face him eventually. Might as well be now. Reluctantly she pulled herself out of bed, threw on fresh clothes, and opened the door to see if Kevin was awake.
The aroma of coffee filled the cabin when she opened the door. It was a much-needed heavenly scent. She looked around, but he wasn’t inside. Good. I’d rather wait to face my day after a hot cup of joe.
When she reached the coffee pot, she found Kevin had a clean mug, the dry creamer, and sugar with a spoon on the counter waiting for her. It was unexpected and a sweet gesture.
People took care of her needs when it came to what she required in the lab. No one had ever given a second thought about what Marina, the woman—the person—might need. Don’t think too much. It’s coffee, that’s all. Who knows, he might have a wife at home he does this for and did it out of habit.
She didn’t want to think of him being married. It was going to ruin the fantasy she had playing in her head. He is the hunter, and I’m his prey. I wouldn’t mind being trapped by him. I’m even tempted to set the trap.
Marina laughed softly to herself as she took a sip of coffee. It was good. Better than her own. I’ll add that to the list of things I enjoy about you. There was one thing on the list of pros and cons which superseded anything she liked—Kevin worked for her father. It might be only one flaw, but it was huge in her eyes. It meant she could never trust him. Without trust, there’s nothing.
Normally, she’d drink her coffee while sitting on the couch and reviewing her notes from the day before. That’d need to take place later. Right now, Marina needed to check on her houseguest. She fully expected him to be banging on her door bright and early this morning, instructing her to pack her things because they were leaving. He’d come all this way to retrieve her, yet hadn’t mentioned one word of it. Instead, he pretended to be a lost hunter. He doesn’t look anything like he hunts alligators. So why the story? What’s he up to?
Coffee in hand, she headed to the deck. It was time she set a few things straight. If he thought she was just going to agree to go wherever he said he was taking her, then he had another think coming. There was too much at stake now, and if she was going someplace, it was going to be on her terms. Somehow she needed to make him see that. She might not look like much, but she was tougher than people gave her credit for. I had to learn, or I never would’ve made it this far.
Kevin was leaning against the railing, watching her as she joined him on the deck. He’d changed back into his clothes, and as she approached him she hoped he smelled better than their first encounter. Thankfully he did.
Raising her cup, she said, “Thank you for the coffee.”
“You’re welcome. Did you s
leep well?”
Marina didn’t want to think about last night, not with him so close to her. She wanted to think in one way. You’re my ticket out of here and back into a lab. You just don’t know it yet, but I’ll let you know where you’re taking me when I figure that part out myself.
She didn’t reply to his question. It was time he figured out who was in charge. “You said your car broke down a few miles from here?”
He was watching her closely, trying to read her. Marina knew lying and acting weren’t her strong points. It wasn’t required in a lab.
“Why do you ask?” Kevin asked, putting his empty cup on the rail behind him.
“I know a thing or two about cars. Maybe I could take a look and see if I can get it running for you.” Marina didn’t even pump her own gas, and it’d been years since she even drove a car. What possessed her to come up with that offer was beyond her. If he was telling the truth and had come by car and not a chopper, hiking a few miles was ridiculous. The end result would be the same, the vehicle wouldn’t work.
“You don’t look like a mechanic.”
“Are you calling me a liar?” Marina asked in a tone she hoped sounded offended.
“Venus, do you think I’d call a sweet Southern woman like you a liar?”
She could hear the sarcasm in every word. That wasn’t what concerned her. She never mentioned where she was from. Even if he worked for her father, the general never divulged anything about her. No one even knew she was his daughter. So how did Kevin know? Was she wrong? Could he be one of the men her father had been trying to protect her from?
The general never told her what was going on, just that she needed to be relocated for safety. The first few times she went along without question. Nothing mattered except what she was working on. That all changed the day the intercom accidentally had been left on while she was in the lab. Marina heard the men who’d been guarding her talk about what happened to the lab in North Carolina, how it was destroyed when the dam broke. The guards were complaining they didn’t get paid enough to die, protecting her from the long list of accidents that followed wherever she went. No one ever said what exactly happened, but something inside her told her it was bad.
Southern Regions (Southern Desires Book 4) Page 4