He’d believed in her, trusted her abilities, and they’d worked together. This was the closest she’d ever come to a relationship she could see lasting…except for a new discomfort she’d developed while at the club.
Before CSI swept in and Rio showed up—both of which would happen within ten minutes—she tilted her head on his shoulder and looked into his eyes.
“I’m crazy about you too,” she murmured.
He smiled, slow and sweet. “Yeah? Think about staying with me tonight when this is all cleaned up?”
She nodded. He kissed her.
“Taft.”
“Hmm?” He rubbed her nose with his.
“I have to be honest…”
That halted his sweet movement and cleared his eyes. “Always.”
“I can push my boundaries—sexually—if I feel safe. If I trust the person I’m with. I know you’re not the commitment type.” She shook her head. “But I can’t put myself out there if I’m not one hundred percent confident in a relationship. And I haven’t felt secure enough with a man to even consider it in…so long. But I do feel safe with you. Safe enough to give it a try, if that’s what you want too.”
Taft pulled his head back and searched her face for a long moment. “I lived that free and loose lifestyle, Zoe, because I never had a reason not to. And because it was far easier than fighting with women who didn’t understand who I was and what I did—the long hours, bizarre schedules, missed dates, life interruptions, or my dedication to all that havoc.”
His eyes followed the path of his thumb. “I guess I’d pretty much decided I wouldn’t find a woman I’d want to be exclusive with.” His eyes lifted and latched on to hers with warmth and affection and strength. And deep, deep need. “But now I have. And nothing about the clubbing lifestyle interests me.” After a split second, he grinned, hot and teasing. “Though, I have to admit, baby, that dance floor had…possibilities.”
“Mmm.” She sucked on his bottom lip. “But only the dance floor?”
“Don’t worry, I have no plans on sharing you. As I told Cantos, you are way too special.”
She smiled between kisses and whispered, “Did you see the new couples remote vibrator that came in yesterday? That would be fun to try out on the dance floor.”
His eyes popped open, and he gasped, comically dramatic. “How could you keep something like that from me?”
“Secrets this early in a relationship”—the new, deep male voice made them both freeze—“are never a good thing.”
They winced at the same time. Zoe didn’t need to look up to know it was Rio, and she wanted to get herself together before she faced him. She pushed to her feet, straightened her dress, ran her fingers through her hair, and met his gaze.
“Sir—” she started.
“What do you have to say for yourself, Walker?” Rio asked.
Taft pursed his lips, thought about it. “I’d say…it’s a solid bust, boss.”
“Good. Because we’ve got three dead Diablos, a coroner’s van, and six media vans outside a sex club just north of the border. There will be a lot of questions.” He glanced over at Zoe. “And that outfit would probably be misconstrued by the public. I can’t have anyone looking crooked at someone on my team. Especially not one of my brand-new investigators.”
Zoe’s head snapped up. Her gaze darted to Rio. “What?”
“Unless there’s a reason Walker thinks you’re not ready…” Rio said.
Before Zoe had time for nerves, Taft said, “Not a one. Though she could use a little brush-up on protocol. She’s been out on the frontier a little too long, if you know what I mean.”
Rio laughed and looked at Zoe. “Can you get cleaned up and get back to HQ for debrief?”
She grinned. Nodded. “Of course.”
“I assume you’re both mentally stable after the shooting and feel safe in each other’s company?”
They looked at each other at the same time and smiled.
“Go.” Rio gestured toward the door. “Out the back, please. Walker, don’t leave her side until we ferret out this threat business.”
Taft nudged Zoe’s shoulder. “Have I ever told you how much I love this job?”
Rio tossed a set of keys to Taft. “Take my ride.”
With an arm around Zoe’s shoulders Taft took the back stairs but paused on the landing and dragged her into his arms. He hit her with that hot grin that turned her liquid and asked, “How should we go about cleaning you up?”
She scraped her fingers into his hair and pulled his head close. “You. Me. Shower. Naked.”
He kissed her hard, thoroughly. Hungrily. And when he pulled away, they were both grinning. “I love the way you think, Brooks.”
Dear Reader,
Thanks for reading First Temptation, book 1.5 in the Covert Affairs series! I hope you enjoyed Taft and Zoe’s story. This was a very fun, sexy book to write, and I look forward to adding many more of these great novellas to this suspenseful series. Books two and three in the Covert Affairs series will release late 2013 and early 2014. So stay tuned for more stories from the brave, sexy men and women working undercover around the world.
If you enjoyed First Temptation, I would appreciate it if you would help others enjoy this book, too.
Lend it. This e-book is lending-enabled, so please, share it with a friend.
Recommend it. Please help other readers find this book by recommending it to friends, readers’ groups and discussion boards.
Review it. Please tell other readers what you liked or didn't like by reviewing it at one of the major retailers.
Until next time,
Joan
About the Author
Joan Swan is a USA Today bestselling author of passion, danger and suspense. She lives in magnificent wine country on the central coast of California with her husband and two daughters.
Visit her on the web in the following locations:
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Coming Summer, 2013:
Hot contemporary romance written as Skye Jordan. Visit her online:
Web
Facebook
Twitter
Check Out More of Joan’s Books
Phoenix Rising Series
(Romantic Suspense with paranormal elements)
FEVER (Book 1)
BLAZE (Book 2)
RUSH (Book 3)
SHATTER (Book 4)
Covert Affairs Series
(Romantic Suspense)
INTIMATE ENEMIES (Book 1)
Renegades Series
(Contemporary Romance written as Skye Jordan)
RECKLESS
(Coming August 2013)
ROGUE
(Coming early 2014)
RICOCHET
(Coming Spring 2014)
Contents
Title page
First Exposure
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
First Rapture
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
EPILOGUE
First Taste of Darkness
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
AUTHOR’S NOTE
AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY
Cynthia Eden’s Books
First Ink
Addison
Rush
Addison
Rush
Addison
Rush
Addison
Rush
Addison
Rush
/>
Addison
First Surrender
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
Complete Booklist
About the Author
First Temptation
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
About the Author
Check Out More of Joan’s Books
Table of Contents
Title page
First Exposure
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
First Rapture
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
EPILOGUE
First Taste of Darkness
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
AUTHOR’S NOTE
AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY
Cynthia Eden’s Books
First Ink
Addison
Rush
Addison
Rush
Addison
Rush
Addison
Rush
Addison
Rush
Addison
First Surrender
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
Complete Booklist
About the Author
First Temptation
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
About the Author
Check Out More of Joan’s Books
Wicked Firsts Page 53