by Cynthia Eden
He brushed back a lock of her hair. “Who the fuck says so?”
“Even if I make it to court, I have to go into Witness Protection. Threats will always be there.”
“Oh, princess, I know I told you this…why can’t you remember? I don’t scare easily.”
Her heart was racing. Fast, so fast, and she was hoping. Daring to dream, just for a moment. Maybe…could he love her? Could they have a chance? “Rick—”
A fist pounded against the door. A moment later, the door flew open.
Rick surged to his feet.
But it was just Kendrick. Kendrick, with eyes that were blazing and a tight face that reflected his worry. “Big damn problem.”
“Add it to the list,” Rick groused back.
“Your hit man, Ghost? He escaped police custody. He’s on the loose.” Kendrick’s gaze dropped to Kat. “Give you two guesses where he’s heading.”
She didn’t need two guesses. Kat didn’t even need one.
She darted a glance at Rick’s hard profile. He’d said he loved her. How did she feel about him?
Come on, Kat. You know how you feel.
Yes, she did.
She knew, and she knew that they could not be together. Because the longer Rick was with her, the more danger he faced. He might say he was okay with a lifetime of looking over his shoulder, but she didn’t want that for him.
She wanted more. She wanted better for him.
Because, dammit, she loved her big, bad beast of a bodyguard.
***
Hours later, Kat was in a penthouse. The rest of the building was empty, courtesy of Eric Wilde. He snapped his fingers, and, apparently, things happened.
She was being protected by the FBI and by Wilde. She was supposed to be in one of the most secure locations in the city.
Right, like Kat hadn’t heard that line a time or twenty.
But at least she wasn’t on her own. Rick was with her. A situation that both thrilled Kat to her core—yes, more precious time to spend with him—and terrified her—no, he could get hurt being near me!
Night had fallen. Getting her to the penthouse had been like participating in a three-ring circus. So many twists and turns. She’d been afraid that bullets would start flying or cars would explode on her during the trip there. She’d been desperate the whole time.
God, she was so sick of the fear.
The blinds and curtains were all closed. No looking out at the city. Instead, Kat stood before the fireplace. She didn’t even know why it was lit. It wasn’t particularly cold in the penthouse. The only cold she felt seemed to come from within.
“Kat.”
Rick’s low voice. She turned and saw him standing in the doorway, watching her.
“Why don’t you try and get some sleep?”
She had tried, earlier. Only every time she closed her eyes, she heard an explosion. She felt the heat of fire on her skin. “You’re sure the FBI agents are all okay?”
“Yes, baby…” He advanced toward her. “For the fourth time, I promise you, they are all out of surgery. They are all okay. Before you know it, your buddy Tom will be dodging your steps again.”
“Tom didn’t like me.”
“You sure about that? I think he was starting to warm up to you.”
“Before or after he almost got blown to hell because he was the lucky agent who got to be in the back seat with me?”
Rick stopped in front of her. “Want some wine?”
“No, thanks.”
“Dinner? There’s stuff in the kitchen, and I can—”
“I don’t want food. I don’t want wine. I don’t want any sleep.” She bit her lower lip. Don’t hold back. “I just want you.”
His eyes widened. “Kat…”
“I know, I know, it’s not the time. Not the place. There’s an army of agents outside our door and the last thing I should be thinking about is sex with you.” Her words came out in a rush. “But I am shaking apart on the inside. I’m going crazy, and you are the only thing that calms me down. I don’t want to use you, God, that’s not what I mean, I just—”
He wrapped his hands around her hips and lifted her up against him. “Baby, use me any fucking day.”
“What?”
“Use me. Need me. Want me. I’m here for you. I’ll take care of you. Anything for you.” His mouth took hers. The kiss sent desire surging through every cell of her body. She leaned into him, she wound her arms around his neck and just held on.
His tongue swept into her mouth. Licked and seduced. Stroked and claimed. Her hips were arching against him, and the adrenaline that had been driving her mad suddenly found a new outlet.
Him. Her need for him.
Rick’s mouth slipped from hers. He kissed a path down her neck. “Baby, in case there is any confusion, I always want you.” He carried her to the bedroom.
She didn’t know how much time they would have before another attack came or before the Feds decided that she needed to be dragged away or—
“Stop.” He lowered her until her bare toes touched the thick carpeting. “Just think about me right now.” He caught the hem of her shirt. She’d changed into fresh clothes at the penthouse. Changed. Washed away the soot and the grime from the explosion. She’d stood under the thunder of the spray, and she’d thought about him.
Just think about me right now.
His hand went to the snap of her jeans. He unsnapped the jeans, slid down the zipper, and she kicked the jeans away. She stood before him in her panties and bra, and his fingers trailed over the skin of her shoulder.
“You’re beautiful.”
Kat smiled at him. “I think you are.”
A rough laugh broke from Rick as he yanked off his shirt. “No, baby, I am far from that.”
The light fell on the hard muscles of his chest and shoulders. It lit the powerful strength in his arms.
He stripped quickly, no fuss, and it was the sexiest thing she’d ever seen. He was sexy. And to her, he was beautiful. He reached for her once more, but Kat shook her head.
“Kat?”
For all she knew, this was their last time together. “Tell me I can do anything I want.”
“Baby, with me, you can do anything you want.”
She slipped to her knees in front of him.
His eyes flared. “But if you’re doing what I think you’re doing, I am not going to last long. I’m already nearly insane for you.”
“There are condoms in the nightstand. Checked earlier. Someone at your organization deserves a bonus.”
“It was Eric, dammit, he told me that—”
She put her mouth on him. Closed her lips over the broad, thick head of his shaft, and Rick stopped talking. A primitive growl came from him as his hands closed over her shoulders.
She took him in deeper, moving slowly and truly wanting to savor him. Her tongue swirled over him and her head bobbed, hesitant at first, but then gaining confidence. Kat loved the taste of him. Loved the way his hands tightened on her as he bit out her name. She wanted to give him as much pleasure as he’d given to her. She could do it. She felt him swelling even more in her mouth. And—
And she was on the bed. He’d picked her up and spun her around and Kat blinked up at him.
“Yeah…we stop that, or I come right away.”
How was that a bad thing? She loved that plan. Thought it was fabulous. She’d love to drive him so wild that he came right then and there.
“You first, sweetheart. You.” His fingers trailed down her body and caressed her through the silk of her panties.
She gasped at his touch and arched up against him. The first time—okay, and the second time—that they’d had sex, pleasure had consumed her. She’d wondered if it would be the same way this time.
Now she knew that yes, it would always be this way, with him. Because it wasn’t only sex. Not with Rick. It might just be making love.
He kissed her as he stroked her. His fingers pushed aside the crotch of her panti
es and his fingers thrust into her. She was already wet for him. Going down on him had turned her on so much. Giving him pleasure made her hot.
He growled against her mouth. “So sweet…”
He kissed a path down her body. Used one hand to get rid of her bra while the other still stroked her sex. Part of her admired his skill and dexterity, but it was a really small part because she was mostly just having a hard time controlling her moans. Her hips jerked against him as she tried to get closer to his touch. When he was licking and sucking her nipple, her whole body warmed.
“Now, Rick. Now.”
He laughed and left her long enough to grab a condom. But when he came back to the bed…
Kat climbed on top of him. She took the condom from him, and her fingers were shaking a little as she rolled the condom onto his heavy length, but she got the job done. Heck, yeah, she did. Kat straddled him and the wide head of his cock lodged at the entrance to her body. She was on her knees, her hands braced on his broad chest, and her eyes held his.
He smiled at her.
She was a goner.
I love him.
God, how do I love him? How did this happen?
“Take your time, baby,” Rick told her, all tenderness and care when she had his rock-hard dick at the entrance to her body and she knew he was as close to the edge as she was. “I’ll wait for you. Always.”
Oh, yes. That’s how. That’s why.
She eased down onto him, savoring every single inch that filled her, and there were lots of inches. Her breath heaved out as she tried to adjust to him. It was a tight fit—she was full. But his hand slipped between their bodies and he stroked her clit, moving his fingers over the nub again and again, and she found her body relaxing.
She pushed up on her knees. Came down. Her hands were still on his chest as she balanced herself.
Up and down.
Faster.
Harder.
“Hell, yes,” Rick grunted. “You are so beautiful. Hell, yes.”
Need was all she knew. She was moving so fast now, loving the way he filled her. Loving everything about him.
“I want to see you come, Kat. I love it when the pleasure lights up your face. Let me see—”
The orgasm tore through her, and Kat clamped down on her lower lip, trying to muffle any sounds because she knew there were guards right outside of the penthouse.
“I can feel you, squeezing my cock…so good…”
The pleasure went on and on as her heart raced. Every muscle in her body trembled.
Rick pulled her down toward him. Kissed her.
A tear leaked from the corner of her eye. Not because she was sad but because the pleasure was that good. She’d never cried because something was so good before.
Rick rolled her beneath him on the bed. “My turn.” Another kiss. “God…” A thrust. “I.” Thrust. “Love.” Thrust. “You.”
Her arms clamped tightly around him. She didn’t want to let him go. No, no, she couldn’t let him go. He was saying that he loved her.
And, unlike when Gage had promised that he’d loved her and sworn that he’d cherish her forever…this felt different.
This felt real.
Rick was coming inside of her. His big body was shuddering, but even in his pleasure, he was being careful with her. He’d braced himself with his arms so he wouldn’t crush her. He was always so careful with her.
She heard a wild drumbeat and didn’t know if it was her heart or his. Such a fast, frantic beat.
Rick’s lips brushed over her cheek. He stiffened. “Princess, you’re crying.” He cursed and immediately pulled away from her.
No, I didn’t want him to pull away.
“I hurt you. God, I am so sorry. I will—”
She caught his hand in hers. “You didn’t hurt me.”
“You’re crying.”
“Because it felt so good.” She brought his hand to her mouth. Pressed a kiss to his knuckles. “You feel good.”
He felt right. It was hard to describe, but Rick just fit for her. Under the worst of conditions, he could make her smile, he could make her feel safe, he could infuriate her, yes, but…
I trust him. And the minute she’d trusted him…
That had been the minute she’d loved him.
The truth was unsettling, and she let his hand go. Love was frightening. Dangerous. She’d been burned in the past, and loving Rick—it couldn’t end well. There was no easy way for them to walk off into the sunset together.
When had she first trusted him? When she’d told him about Jimmy and the pain that her seventeen-year-old self had felt? When she’d revealed those first secrets to him?
She’d wanted him before that. When she’d kissed him at the farmhouse, intending to use the kiss as a diversion so that he wouldn’t run back into gunfire, her desire for her bodyguard had surprised her. She’d never wanted someone so quickly.
She’d thought the need was tied to adrenaline. To the crazy circumstances. But as she looked at Rick, Kat realized the truth. She’d want him the same way, with the same mad, passionate intensity, under any circumstances.
“I’ll be right back, baby.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. He headed into the bathroom. She heard water running, and—a phone ringing?
Kat frowned. Her gaze darted to the nightstand. Rick’s phone was there. She had no clue when he’d put it on the nightstand. He hurried back into the room, still naked. He grabbed the phone and shoved it to his ear. “Tell me what’s happening.”
Kat pulled the covers closer. Of course, danger time again. Because…why not? At least they’d had a few moments.
“Okay. Okay. Yeah. I’ll be waiting.” He hung up the phone. Hesitated, then gave her a smile.
“Don’t.” Kat shook her head.
His smile froze.
“Don’t try to pretend like that call wasn’t more bad news. You don’t need to pretend with me.”
Rick nodded. “It’s not bad news. It’s just Agent Brisk. Though, depending on your point of view, maybe hearing from him is bad news.”
“What’s happening?”
“He’s in the lobby. Wanted to alert us that he’s coming up. Said he needed to talk to us both in person.”
Her hands fisted on the covers. Another face-off with the Feds. Great. “I’m going to get dressed.” Not like she wanted Brisk to find her naked in Rick’s bed.
Before she could get out of the bed, Rick curled his fingers around her wrist. He leaned toward her. “We’re in this together, you know. I’ve got your six, baby. Always.”
But who had his six?
Who was going to protect Rick while he was busy trying to save her?
Chapter Eighteen
The police station was a madhouse. Typical, though, given all the shit that had been going down in the area recently. As a rule, police stations weren’t exactly Cole’s favorite place. Mostly because he and cops didn’t get along.
With one notable exception…
“Detective Lopez!” He called her name and gave a wave.
She looked up—a circle of uniforms surrounded her—and if looks could’ve killed…
“Trust me,” Kendrick Shaw muttered from beside Cole, “the woman is not in the mood to play.”
She dismissed the uniforms and marched toward Cole and Kendrick. Barely pausing, she snapped at them, “Conference room two. Now.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Cole gave her a salute, but she’d already missed it because she was four steps ahead of them. Her heels clicked on the scarred floor of the PD.
She threw open the door to conference room two, and they hurried in after her. Kendrick shut the door, then propped his shoulders against it. Cole just stood there.
Layla paced. “He escaped on my watch.”
“Detective Lopez,” Kendrick began carefully, “you were not the only law enforcement official at that hospital and—”
She whirled. “He knows.”
Cole frowned. “Knows what?”
> Kendrick stepped away from the door. “I don’t understand. You’ll need to be more specific.”
“More specific? More specific?” Her voice rose, but she gave a brisk nod, as if catching herself. “Fine. That perp knew you and I were sleeping together, Kendrick.”
Oh, damn. Cole’s eyes darted between Layla and Kendrick. They had kept that hook-up on the very down low.
“How the hell did he know that?” Kendrick’s voice had gone hard and low.
“Because he’s obviously been watching us. Spying on us.” She pointed to Cole. “I’m willing to bet he knows every secret you’ve got, too.”
He hoped to God not. His secrets were ugly and blood-stained.
“Why would he watch us?” Kendrick asked. “That doesn’t make any sense. Why dig into our lives? Especially if he’s after Kat. She should be his focus.”
“Yes, well, apparently, I’m his focus, too. I’m betting everyone tied to Kat is on this guy’s radar. He’s freaking thorough, I’ll give him that.” She blew out a breath. “But Kat only signed on with Wilde a few days ago. I asked Eric and he confirmed that for me.”
Cole nodded. Yeah, that was true.
“So how does this guy already know so much, in such a short length of time?” Her lips pursed. “He has to be able to hack into our lives somehow. You and I—crap, Kendrick, we’ve shared personal texts and emails in the last few days. He must’ve gotten access to those.”
Pieces were falling into place, and things were not looking good. “I’m sure Eric told you that Wilde was hacked, too,” Cole noted.
She gave a stiff nod.
“What? You’re thinking Ghost was behind that hack, too?” Kendrick’s brow furrowed. “What are we dealing with here? A hit man hacker?”
“I guess his skill set isn’t just about death.” Cole considered angles and options. “He gets close to his vics without leaving a trace. Maybe that’s because he does a lot of his work through hacking. He learns secrets, he learns weaknesses, and, if his targets are protected by security systems, he has the know-how to just turn the damn things off with a few clicks of the keyboard.”
Layla jutted up her chin. “I hate this Ghost prick.” Her shoulders squared. “But, yeah, you’re saying what I’ve been thinking. He’s a hacker. Eric reached the same conclusion when we talked. If Ghost could get into Wilde’s secure systems, then it would be super easy for him to unlock the FBI’s secrets and as far as the Atlanta PD’s intel…” A laugh. “Well, I’m guessing he had access to that on day one.”