“Yeah, we can compare notes. All the data I retrieved earlier is stored on a thumb drive. We can pull it up on my laptop and see if we can find anything solid.”
Christopher’s brown eyes bore into hers. “Be careful.”
“Always am,” she said.
He bent over and briefly brushed a kiss against her forehead. He looked like he wanted to say more but didn’t. Instead he turned and walked over to the door. She watched him, waiting for him to turn around. He paused briefly at the door, his hand on the doorknob, his shoulders tense, but with a shake of his head he pushed it open and silently walked out.
***
“I don’t fucking like this,” Christopher growled later that morning, glancing around the locker room at the other members of his SEAL team. “There are too many loose ends, and Lexi’s in there alone, flapping in the wind.”
Every man was there, either sitting on one of the benches or standing, arms crossed, looking concerned. He and Patrick finished briefing them regarding the mole on base, and the anger that crossed their faces was mild compared to what would happen to Edwards if any one of them got their hands on him. It killed Christopher not to be able to go right up to that asshole and punch him in the face, knocking that smug look right off of it.
“We should take that bastard down,” Brent said, punching a fist into his open palm. “If that data gets leaked, all of our info does, too. Names, addresses, ops, locations of bases around the globe. Fucking hell.”
“We need solid proof,” Christopher said. “We all know he’s guilty. It doesn’t do a damn bit of good without evidence.”
“It has to be able to hold up in court,” Matthew agreed, looking thoughtful. “They don’t have enough yet to nail him?”
“What’d you and Lexi find out this morning?” Patrick asked, clenching his jaw. Steel blue eyes slid from Matthew to Christopher.
“We put keystroke software on his workstation. We’ll know everything he does here on base. Lexi hacked into his bank records—he’s been collecting payments from someone. Apparently that asshole wasn’t smart enough to at least have it deposited into an offshore account. Lexi checked, and there’s nothing.”
Matthew chuffed out a laugh. “You two are meant for each other. Hacking into every damn thing.”
Christopher nailed him with a gaze. “Try telling her that.”
Brent grinned. “Is your lady not satisfied?”
“Fucking hell,” Christopher spat out. Jesus, you couldn’t have serious conversation with the guy. One second he was ready to take out Edwards single-handedly, and the next he had women on his brain again. And not just any woman—Lexi. He sure as shit didn’t want Brent imagining Lexi being satisfied by anyone—even if he was the one doing it.
“So what do you need us to do?” Evan asked. Concerned filled his gaze.
“Keep an eye on Edwards. He walked in on Lexi and me this morning.”
Brent chuffed out a laugh, and Christopher shot him a look that could kill. “There are other members of the IT staff working with Lexi, so it’s unlikely she’ll be alone with him, but I don’t trust that bastard.”
“Lexi said this morning he made her uneasy,” Patrick noted.
“Exactly,” Christopher agreed. “I don’t trust him.”
“Hell, no one does,” Mike said. “He’s trying to steal sensitive data and sell it to the highest bidder.”
“That’s the least of my worries. Lexi is my priority,” Christopher ground out. His gut clenched at the idea of anything happening to her. He’d been on edge last night when she was spooked over some dude in the parking garage. Now he had real worries to attend to—namely in the form of a traitorous Navy Captain.
Brent raised his eyebrows.
“She’ll be under our protection,” Patrick assured him. “I assume you’ll be with her off base?”
Christopher nodded as Brent chuckled. Man, if he didn’t want to punch that guy in the face sometimes. Brent would have his back if he needed him and would be livid if a man ever laid a hand on a woman. His own sister had been killed by a jilted ex-boyfriend, and Brent didn’t tolerate any form of violence against women. Hell, none of them did. That didn’t mean Christopher felt like dealing with his jabs at the moment. Or ever.
“Then we’ll keep eyes on her here,” Patrick said. “Tell her to avoid being alone with him.”
The other men nodded in agreement. Christopher’s mind flashed back to his SEAL team protecting Patrick’s girlfriend, Rebecca, all those months ago. Life was strange, because he never in a million years would’ve imagined needing to ask them for help in protecting his woman. And he sure as hell never imagined the woman he couldn’t fathom life without would once again be Lexi.
Chapter 13
Christopher muttered in disbelief as he stalked up and down Lexi’s hallway. Where the hell was she? He’d told her he’d be stopping by this evening. She wasn’t in her room, her car wasn’t in the garage, and she wasn’t answering her cell phone. Shit. Was she pissed about this morning? He shouldn’t have taken her against the door like some goddamn animal, but hell. He’d barely been able to control himself around her, and somehow their bickering turned him on even more. She’d been sweeter than sin ten years ago, but this slight edge she had now? It nearly made him come undone.
He punched the button for the elevator and rode back down to the lobby. His eyes narrowed briefly as he caught sight of a hotel security camera. If she didn’t make an appearance in the next hour, he’d check with them about reviewing the security footage. He knew he was overreacting. She’d probably just stopped by somewhere after work for dinner or a beer. There was no need to go all alpha male on her—it was barely after seven o’clock. Still daylight out. That didn’t stop the worry that was winding its way through him. Christopher and the rest of the guys on his team had been trained to trust their instincts. To go with their gut. He had an uneasy feeling that something was wrong, and he didn’t like it.
He quickly texted out a message to Lexi asking if she was okay. Even if for some reason she didn’t want to talk to him, certainly she’d reply to that, right? He scrubbed a hand over his face in frustration. Waiting around here was like watching a damn pot and waiting for it to boil. Each minute that ticked by felt like an hour. He needed to move, to do something. Hell, even if he want for a jog along the beach just to clear his head and deal with the adrenaline surging through him, it had to be better than waiting around.
He sat down on one of the sofas in the lobby, the scowl on his face keeping anyone from approaching. He was in his uniform, so no one had asked him to leave. Not that they could’ve made him short of taking him out in handcuffs.
Thirty minutes later, Lexi walked in, wearing tiny little shorts and a tank top that clung to her curves, long dark hair swinging back and forth in a ponytail. His heart caught in his chest as he saw her, relief washing over him. What the hell had gotten into him? He’d been convinced she’d been hurt or in some sort of trouble, and here she was just out enjoying the evening sun.
“Lexi,” he said, running over to her.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, pulling her ear buds out. She had a small mp3 player strapped to an armband and had obviously been out for a walk along the beach.
“I’ve been trying to get a hold of you.”
“Why? Did something happen?”
“Nothing happened,” he growled. “I was worried something happened to you.”
“I’m fine,” she said, puzzled.
His gaze swept over her, taking in the swell of her breasts, the curve of her hips, and the way her toned legs stretched on for miles in those shorter than hell shorts. Blood rushed to his groin. Fuck. Every other man saw her on the beach like this, too. Did she even realize the affect she had prancing around in that outfit?
Two young women walked into the lobby just then, wearing skimpy bikinis, towels carelessly strewn over their arms. Okay. So maybe Lexi wasn’t the most scantily-clad woman on the beach. But hell. Just looki
ng at her had him harder than steel.
“Let’s go up to your room,” he said, grabbing her hand.
“I need a shower,” she said, trying to pull free from his grasp.
His eyes flared. He laced his fingers between hers, her hand so soft and delicate in his own large, calloused one. “I won’t say no to that,” he said huskily, bending down. They stepped into the elevator and found themselves all alone. He pulled her against him, his chest to her back. He nipped at her ear with his teeth, tugging her closer to him. Wrapping their linked arms around the front of her body, he held her to him, his erection pressing into her back.
“How many times do you think I can make you come tonight?” he growled.
“We have work to do,” she said, somewhat breathlessly.
“We’ll get to it. But not before I have you crying out my name.”
They hurried down the hall to her hotel room, Lexi practically running alongside him to keep up with his long strides. The door clicked open, and Christopher tugged Lexi inside along with him, guiding her into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, the hot water quickly filling the bathroom with steam. A second later, his lips were hot on hers. She smelled of the ocean, and he trailed his tongue down her neck, licking the saltiness off her skin. Fumbling, he pulled her tank top up over her head. Jesus. She had a tiny little string bikini on beneath it. One tug of those flimsy little straps, and she’d be bare to him.
He was harder than hell just imagining it. He knelt down before her, tugging her shorts down her legs. She kicked off her shoes and stepped out of both them and her shorts. In a daze, he kissed her flat stomach. She trembled at his touch, and he was dying to kiss her everywhere. His large hands rested on her hips, and he gazed up at Lexi. Her violet eyes were on his, lost in wonderment. Everything about her surprised him—she was sassy one minute and sweet the next. And for the next twelve hours, he had her all to himself.
He stood, quickly removing his uniform. His erection sprang out, thick and hard. Lexi stepped closer and gripped him, making him groan. Her thumb swirled over the crown, rubbing his arousal all over the head of his penis. He stilled, holding his breath. Any more of her touch, and he’d detonate, before he’d even touched her. That’s how wound up she had him.
The tiny little triangles covering her breasts had to go. Her nipples were peaked beneath the fabric, and he needed to palm her, to take her into his mouth. Reaching one hand in the running water to check the temperature, he stepped into the shower. “Take off your bikini,” he commanded.
Lexi looked startled for a moment but did as he asked, her hands trembling as she reached up to untie the straps behind her neck. The wisps of fabric fell away, and she reached behind her back, untying the remaining strips of fabric. She was gorgeous—full, soft breasts with rosy, pert nipples. He was about ready to haul her into the shower himself if she didn’t hurry. She slid her hands into the waist of her bikini bottoms and bent, pushing them down her legs. The sight of her breasts bouncing before him nearly made him come undone. She was a goddess.
Lexi stood and stepped into the shower. He didn’t even give her a moment, just pushed her back against the cold tile wall. The spray of water cascaded down around them, wetting her hair, sending drops of water down her face. He kissed her, groaning. She was so fucking sweet. His hands palmed her breasts, squeezing and kneading them. His erection pushed against her stomach. He slid one hand down to her sex, sliding his fingers into her folds. She was already wet, her arousal coating his fingers.
“Are you ready, honey?”
“Yes,” she gasped.
He lifted her up against the wall and slid into her searing flesh, impaling her in an instant. She gasped at his sudden invasion, and he held still for a moment, letting her adjust to his size. He throbbed within her, his balls tightening as he tried to hold back. Lexi whimpered and tried to move against him, and he grabbed her hips, lifting her up and down his shaft. He thrust into her, taking all control, forcing her to surrender to the onslaught of pleasure. Her sex tightened around him as she clung to his shoulders, the little cries of pleasure coming from her mouth driving him insane. He ground into her again, rubbing himself against her sweet little clit, and she screamed, helplessly crying out as she rode him.
When she’d come down from her explosion, he pulled out then turned her around. Her palms splayed against the wet tile, and he pulled her hips back, stepping closer to her again. His erection teased her wet folds as he hunched down around her, one arm across her stomach, the other across her chest as he kneaded one breast. He entered her again, her walls still pulsing around his shaft.
It was sexier than fuck taking Lexi this way, holding her to him as he thrust into her from behind. She felt so damn tight in the position, he could barely stand it. He pumped into her as she moaned, and a second later, he exploded, releasing deep inside her tight channel.
Christopher pulled out and turned a trembling Lexi around, holding her tight against his chest. “You amaze me,” he murmured, stroking her hair with one hand. He grabbed the shampoo from the side of the shower and began washing her hair, massaging her scalp as Lexi whimpered against him. The lavender scent of her shampoo was already making him hard again—or maybe it was just the stunning woman in his arms. She was warm, wet, and slippery, trembling against him as he took care of her.
He shielded her eyes and maneuvered them both under the shower spray, letting the soapy suds wash down the drain. Grabbing her washcloth, he applied a little body wash, then gently began rubbing it over her skin.
First he cleaned her back, gazing in wonderment at how tiny and perfect she was. Slender shoulders, narrow shoulder blades, smooth curves. The curve of her ass had his cock standing at attention again, but he turned her around and washed her breasts, bending over to kiss and suck on each one in between washing. She mumbled incoherently, and he knelt down before her, hitching one of her legs over his broad shoulder.
“Christopher,” she whispered.
“I’m right here, honey.”
His lips were on her sweet folds, and he kissed her and drank in her ambrosia. She was wet and swollen for him, and he softly sucked her clit into his mouth. He lightly tongued her, his hands grasping her hips, holding her against him. She held her breath, on the tip of the precipice, then cried out, her sex fluttering against his mouth and tongue as she came again.
He removed her leg from his shoulder and continued washing her body, cleaning her between her legs and then working all the way down to her feet. He stood and quickly scrubbed himself off as well, not even caring that he’d smell like lavender. Like Lexi.
***
Lexi awoke with a start, trying to sit up in bed. A muscular arm was wrapped around her, holding her close, and before she could panic, Christopher’s soothing voice was in her ear.
“Lexi, it’s me. What’s wrong?”
“I, I don’t know,” she said, struggling to sit up.
He released her and sat up beside her, looking concerned. Hot skin covered chiseled muscle, and she tried not to gape at awakening next to a shirtless Christopher. Hell, she’d been with him hundreds of times—but the way he looked at her now? All buff and macho and concerned? It made her heart skip a beat.
“Did you have a bad dream?”
“I guess. I thought someone was chasing me. They wouldn’t let me go.”
Warmth filled his gaze. “You’re safe, honey. I’m right here, and you know I’d never let anything happen to you.”
“I guess. It just felt so real.”
Christopher’s large hand stroked her hair, trying to calm her. His massive bicep bunched as he moved, and the heat she always felt when she was with him flushed over her skin. She looked back up at him, and he pulled her into his muscular chest. “You’ve had a busy few days—and I haven’t exactly been letting you get a lot of sleep. I’ll stay with you every night until this is over.”
“And after? What happens then?”
She shouldn’t be spending time with Chr
istopher at all, because that would just make it that much harder to leave.
“I’ll do whatever you want,” he said softly.
She nuzzled closer against his warm chest, loving the feeling of him holding her safe and close. She didn’t want to answer that, didn’t want to think about anything other than tonight—than this moment.
“Let’s go back to sleep.”
He laid her down, pulling her back against his chest. One arm wrapped around her, beneath her breasts, as he held her close. He kissed the back of her head, and she relaxed against him, exhaustion taking over. She could feel his arousal against her back, but the pull of slumber was too strong. Another time they’d make love until dawn again. Right now, she just needed him to hold her.
Chapter 14
Lexi pulled into Kenley’s condo complex in Virginia Beach the following evening. Another busy day on base had her no closer to discovering who was behind the attempted hacks or to gathering enough information to convict Edwards. They were close—really close. But she wanted the final nail in the coffin before she turned everything over to Commander Mitchell. Christopher’s CO had seemed concerned earlier, worrying that Edwards might sense they were onto him, and Christopher had promised to come to her hotel that night. He’d probably be angry she wasn’t there, since he said he’d check on her, but she needed some time and space to clear her head. Seeing him would only lead to another night of mind-blowing sex, and in her blissed-out state, she wouldn’t be able to think clearly.
Maybe he did regret their past and want a shot with her in the future, but that sure the hell didn’t mean it was going to happen. She’d finish this job and head back to the Pentagon. He’d move on with his life, deploying to God knows where half the time, and she’d move on with hers. But would it really be that simple?
She used the spare key Kenley had given her earlier that summer to enter the empty condo and then called her best friend.
A SEAL's Surrender (Alpha SEALs Book 3) Page 11