Keeping Her Secrets

by Maddie Wade

  Mustique felt tears sting her eyes, and she blinked them back. “I don’t want anything. I keep tabs on her to make sure she’s okay and safe, and that’s how I found out about this plot, but I won’t take her from you. I know how it feels to have your child ripped from you, and I would never do it to you or her.” She saw Senator Craven relax as if she’d had a gun to her head and then it was removed. “Does she know she’s adopted?”

  “Yes, I never lied to her about that, but she doesn’t know the circumstances surrounding it.”

  “Do you?” she asked, wanting to know if the woman was willingly complicit in what had happened to Mustique all those years ago.

  “I never knew the details until after Jim, my husband, died. I found some press clipping and letters when I was going through his things. I’m afraid I burned them. It was wrong, but I couldn’t lose her, too.”

  “I understand.”

  “What happens now?” Kate asked, and she seemed frightened.

  Mustique stood, and her legs felt wobbly from the wealth of emotion building inside her. “Now I find out who wants to kidnap Leonie and stop them, and you to carry on being the best mom you can be to your daughter.”

  Kate rose too and surprised her by taking her hand. “Thank you. She has been the single greatest gift of my life, and I know what it cost you, so thank you.”

  Mustique couldn’t answer, to say, “you’re welcome,” was a lie, but she appreciated the sentiment. “We’ll be in touch as soon as we have anything. In the meantime, only use your usual security detail and both of you should stay close to home.” Mustique handed her a piece of paper with her cell number on it, and Craven took it.

  “That’s not going to go down well.” Kate rolled her eyes and smiled. “Leonie likes to push the boundaries, but she’s a good kid.”

  “I was the same,” Mustique added before she reached for the door handle. “I’ll be in touch. Is it okay if I go and find Asher?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  But Kate followed her from the room, obviously not utterly secure with her daughter’s birth mother walking around the house unsupervised. Mustique found Ash out by the pool, talking to Leonie, and her heart almost jumped out of her throat at the sight of him with her child. He had her laughing and flirting as only a teenage girl can.

  “Ash.”

  He twisted and offered her a breath-taking smile that made her heart pound. He paced slowly towards her, hands loose at his sides, looking every inch a tier-one operator, and her body responded to all the power in him.

  “Ready to go?” he asked, but his eyes said so much more.

  “Yeah, all set.”

  Ash extended his hand to the woman who’d joined them on the patio. “Nice to meet you, Senator Craven. I’ve left my number with your head of security in case you need it.”

  “Thank you.” Craven was all Senator again now, and Mustique was glad; it helped her get her emotions under control.

  She and Ash rushed to the car in silence, and the sun was beginning to dip into the late afternoon.

  “Home?”

  The way he said that resonated with her, and she wished, not for the first time lately, that she had a real home. Not a house or apartment, but the feeling of home, similar to how she felt around Meg and Daniel and Roz and Kanan. A safe place to be herself, to relax and not always be under scrutiny. “I don’t know where that is,” she said softly, and he gripped her hand tightly as he drove through the gates.

  “You’ll find it; you just have to stop running.”

  His words wound through her as she went over every detail of the conversation with Kate Craven and the precious moment she’d shared with Leonie after so many years. Fourteen and a half years of nothing and then twenty seconds of everything. “If I stop running, it’ll hurt too much,” she whispered, and he squeezed the hand he still held and brought it to his lips, dropping a light kiss there that made her ache for him.

  * * *

  They arrived at the safe house, and she headed straight for the camera feeds on the second floor to check the place was secure. Once she was satisfied they were safe, she returned to the living room. Ash was on the phone with Jake, getting an update on Moody and finding out what Trident had learned about the shooter and his involvement. He paced as spoke, his eyes continually flitting to her, and she wondered what he was thinking. Absently, she began rolling her Shuriken stars between her fingers, something she did when she was stressed.

  Ash hung up a few minutes later and approached with a sexy grin. “You look kinda hot with those but also slightly terrifying.”

  “Only slightly terrifying?” She tilted her head as she took him in. He was all muscle and sinew, not an ounce of fat on him, and she wondered how it would feel to have all that as hers.

  “Very terrifying. You handle knives with an ease and precision I’ve never seen before. But I know you won’t hurt me.”

  “How do you know?”

  Ash moved and grasped the wrist with the star in it and placed it against his heart. “Because you like me.”

  Mustique snorted out a laugh. “Oh, I do, do I?”

  “Yeah and I feel the same way about you, too, and sooner or later you’re going to realize we’re spectacular together and give in.”

  “How can you like me? You hardly know me.” She skirted the statement about her liking him because it was true, and she wasn’t ready to admit it yet.

  “I know you’re strong. I know you care about people but don’t want them to see it. I know you would die for those you love, and I know you’re hurting right now.”

  Her heart hammered at all the truths this man could see, the scariest being he could see her pain. “You don’t know my favorite color or band?”

  “I know what matters, the rest is superficial, but if I had to guess I would say green is your favorite color as it reminds you of home and your favorite band is—” He stopped and looked up and left as if thinking and then smiled. “You don’t have one, but your favorite genre is rock.” Mustique scrunched up her nose at his bang on assessment. “I’m right, aren’t I?” His chuckle was warm and coursed through her, giving the cold places in her heart warmth.

  “Don’t be smug.” She pulled away and stowed the star in the unique holster on her leg that looked like a pocket. He was getting so close to the heart of her, and she wasn’t sure she could fight him anymore.

  “Why don’t you grab a bath, and I’ll cook us something?” he asked as he moved toward the kitchen and stuck his head in the fridge.

  He hadn’t mentioned Leonie, and she prayed he hadn’t seen the connection between them as Kate Craven had. Maybe she’d been lucky, and he hadn’t noticed. “You cook?”

  “Yes, smart ass, I cook. Now go take a bath and relax for a little while. Then we can eat and plan our next move. Jake is sending some information over to a secure laptop and email account.”

  “How’s Moody?” She should have asked sooner.

  “Out of surgery, and it looks like he’s going to make it. Nick is staying at the hospital with him and Lois, in case someone tries to kill him again.”

  “That’s good.”

  He started piling food on the counter, and she grinned. “Salad?” she asked as she stepped closer to stand beside him.

  “Just because I’m a man doesn’t mean I don’t eat salad. I just eat manly ones.”

  Mustique rolled her eyes. “Manly salad? Isn’t that an oxymoron?”

  When he swatted her ass, she jumped and let out a squeal.

  Ash pulled her to him and held her body flush against his. She could feel the evidence of his desire for her pressed against her belly. “Are you sassing me?” he asked his voice low and sexy, making her panties wet.

  “No, sir.” Her reply made him groan, and she squirmed against him.

  His hands smoothed down her sides, and he gripped the globes of her ass hard, squeezing as he bent his head into her neck and feathered light kisses over her pulse. “You want me, I can feel it.”
His growl made her blood thrum with heat. Everything in her wanted to surrender to him, to let him give her the pleasure she knew he could. As she fought with her indecision, he released her. “You’re not ready, and I can wait.” Ash gave her a gentle push toward the doorway. “Go; I’m getting my salad on.” He instantly lightened the moment, seeming to sense she needed it, and she hated what she was doing this to a man she was coming to care for.

  Asher Thompson had Dom written all over him, and she wondered what it would be like to be with him in a Dominant/submissive way. Although, at this point, she would take him any way she could get him. She just felt this thing between them was big, and she and Ash needed honesty. Could she give herself to him while hiding a secret like Leonie from him, especially when he was risking his life and his job to help? Sooner or later, she would have to decide if she was going to stop and let Ash catch her or keep running and stay alone.

  As she slipped into the hot scented water of the bath, she pondered her life. She was the cold, deadly one at Zenobi, known for her vicious information extraction techniques and her skills with a knife. She always kept her friends on the outside, never showing them her true self, scared she would get hurt if she did.

  Once you’d been hurt by someone you deeply loved, you never got over it—at least she hadn’t. Was it time to take the leap and see what happened? She wasn’t sure, but what she did know was that if she didn’t take it with Ash, she would never take it.

  Allowing her mind to empty, she let the big stuff go and relived the feel of Ash’s mouth on hers, the almost kiss, and his hands on her ass, squeezing almost painfully but not hurting her. He’d said he could wait, but could she?

  He wouldn’t touch her again unless she asked, putting the decision in her hands, giving her the choice, as if he understood she needed it. She was tired of fighting herself and him. Maybe she should give in and have sex with him but still keep her secret, but she knew she’d regret that. She gave it some more thought. Perhaps she was overcomplicating things, making all this fuss about her future when they may not even be compatible in bed. He could be useless. She snorted at her own stupidity. A man like Ash couldn’t kiss as he did and be a lousy lover. No, she had a feeling he would be beyond good and into the realms of fucking heroic.

  Mind made up, she stood and wrapped a towel around her body. This was it—she was going to ask Ash to fuck her and take her away from all the confusion and pain and just clear her mind with great sex. Then she would decide on her future and if they had one.

  10

  Ash was tossing strips of medium-rare steak through the salad when Mustique opened the hall door that led from the bathroom in only a tiny towel that barely covered her pussy. His breath lodged in his throat, and he fought to maintain control. His hands gripped the edge of the counter as he battled to stay where he was and let her come to him.

  It had to be this way; she had to decide to stop running. He wanted her more than he had ever wanted anything, but he wouldn’t pursue her if she didn’t want this as much as he did. He knew she was still keeping secrets, but he also felt she was trying to open up, and maybe her darkest secret wasn’t something she could share easily.

  She would tell him in her own time; he just had to give her reason to trust him. She remained at the doorway, looking flushed and sinfully beautiful. Her eyes never leaving his as she continued watching him, waiting for him to speak.

  “Come here, Mari.” His voice was gravelly.

  He dropped the utensils into the bowl and faced her, giving her his full attention. On light feet, she sauntered to him slowly, her hips moving in a sexy sway, the few drops of water still on her skin glistening like diamonds. She was a living breathing goddess, and she had no idea how special she was. She stopped a few feet from him, and he let his eyes travel over every inch of her. “Lose the towel,” he demanded.

  Her hands went to the material, loosening it, and he watched it fall, revealing her in all her naked perfection. Long, shapely legs that tapered to a bare pussy which had his dick throbbing for release. Curved hips, a delicate waist, and up to perfect tits with dark nipples that made his mouth water with the need to taste every inch of her. He moved a foot closer and balled his hands into fists, so he didn’t touch her, not wanting to screw this up.

  Her pulse was hammering in her neck, her breath shallow, as she kept her eyes on his chest, hands at her sides.

  “Look at me, Mari.” Her eyes found him, and he saw trust in them. “Do you want me to touch you?”

  “Yes.” Her voice was almost guttural with need, and he barely held back as the sound rushed over his skin.

  He stepped closer, wanting to touch her everywhere all at once, but he fought the need to rush to claim. “Go and lie on the bed and wait for me.”

  She obeyed immediately, and he palmed his aching dick through his pants as he watched her luscious ass wiggle, the sexy, proud curve of her spine as she paced away. He put the food in the fridge and turned off the oven with the potatoes inside, giving himself a minute to get under control. Mari deserved everything, and he was going to see that he gave it to her.

  When he entered the room, she was lying on her back, waiting for him, her hands at her sides as if she was a gift, and he knew she was a gift. A rare one he would cherish.

  Stopping at the bottom of the bed, Ash took a breath. “Eyes on me , Mari.” She obeyed instantly, and what he saw there almost floored him. Desire, trust, and more, something almost tangible. Kneeling, he took her ankle in his hand and kissed his way up the arch of her foot, over her calf to the back of her knee. He saw her fist the sheet as he did the same with the other leg before moving up and kissing the soft skin at her thighs.

  He could smell her desire, see the evidence glistening on her pussy of how much she wanted him, and it was driving him mad. He wanted to crush her to him and fuck her like an animal, but wanted to see her pleasure first. Ash wanted to relish this moment, take it slow, so he could relive it over and over.

  Skimming over her pussy, he licked and nibbled at her hip, her muscular abs, and her ribcage which made her jump. “Ticklish?”

  “A little.”

  He tucked that away for later, liking that he had that information.

  Finally, he made his way to her mouth once again, skirting where she wanted him. He heard the slight whimper of frustration, but she never moved or tried to direct him.

  “Do you want my mouth somewhere specific?” he asked and waited for her answer.

  “I trust you to give me what I need.” Her admission and the throaty purr of her voice had him groaning. He kissed her then, hard and deep, as if his life depended on it. Drinking her in until she consumed him.

  “Touch me,” he demanded, wanting her hands on him.

  She complied, running them over his back, grabbing his ass. Her hands were everywhere as she squirmed beneath him, driving him to the brink of what he could take. Ash tore his mouth away and sat back, gazing into her drunk with desire eyes. Her lips were wet and swollen from his desire, and he felt a sense of ownership that she was his. The thought of any other man seeing her this way drove him crazy with jealousy. Slowing down, he raked fingers through his hair and then tore off his shirt, throwing it to the floor. Her gaze moved over him, and he felt it like a physical caress.

  Leaning in, he took her wrists and placed her hands on his chest. “Touch me while I make you scream.” He pulled her taut nipple into his mouth, and she arched under him as he feasted on her gorgeous body. Unable to stop, he moved lower, kissing his way over her belly and losing her hands on him as he buried his face in her pussy.

  He licked up her sweet slit, loving the taste of her before he devoured her. Laving and sucking as she pulled at his hair and bucked. He felt her climax build. He kept backing off, taking her to the edge and then stopping, driving her to the brink of madness with his mouth. Ash speared her with two fingers, and she let out a moan that had precum leaking from his cock.

  “Come for me, Mari,” he demanded an
d she keened out his name as her clit pulsed against his tongue and the walls of her pussy clamped down on his fingers. He couldn’t fucking wait for that to be his cock.

  Standing, he shed his jeans quickly, dropping his boxers to the floor with them, and fisted his heavy cock, pumping the shaft under her watchful eyes. Mari licked her lips, and he knew she wanted to taste him. “You want my dick?”

  “Yes.” Her voice was husky and needy.

  “Take it.” He held her gaze as she got to her knees and took his shaft in her hand, squeezing just the way he liked it, and he moaned. “Fuck, you feel so good, but I want your mouth.”

  With her eyes still on his she opened her mouth slowly and took his cock in her hot, wet mouth and deep throated him, swallowing the tip.

  “Jesus fucking Christ,” he yelled as he held her head and pumped her throat.

  This was the best blowjob of his life, but if she didn’t stop, he was going to blow, and he didn’t want that, not this time. He wanted to come inside her sweet pussy. He pulled out of her mouth and heard her groan. He raised an eyebrow at her defiance, and she glanced away. Part of him loved her submissive side but he realized he loved her sassy side even more.

  Ash lay on the bed beside her and rolled a condom he’d snagged from his pocket down his length. “Ride me, Mari.”

  With a smile, she swung her leg over him and sat so that his cock was at her entrance. Ash grasped her hips and eased her down, the sweet feel of her tight pussy making him close his eyes to control the sensations flooding him.

  “You feel like perfection.” He lifted his eyelids and watched her tip her head back in pleasure as she began to move, riding him slowly at first, quickly building her rhythm. Cupping her behind her neck he brought her mouth to his and kissed her hard and deep, his tongue tasting her, the moans from her throat moving into him as they chased the ecstasy they knew waited for them.