“The video game. The first time I went over to his place, before we were dating, I beat him and his four roommates. From that point on, they all called me Halo. The longer we were together, people started saying I was the angel to his devil, and it became a thing. But he hadn’t called me that in years.” I point into his chest. “It’s just another sign that the letter is crap. He must have been really rolling his face off to pull that one out.”
Looking down, he makes patterns in the snow with his shoes. “I’m sorry I kept it from you. I just didn’t think that prick deserved the chance to redeem himself. After what he’s done to you, the hell he’s put you through, he doesn’t get to speak from the grave and clear his name.”
I sigh. “Yeah, I get that you were coming from a good place. Don’t worry. This changes nothing for me. I don’t believe a word of it.”
“Good,” he replies. “Let’s go inside. It’s fucking freezing out here.”
I put my hand on his chest to stop him. “Ashton’s really dead, right? He’s not in witness protection or something?”
He looks at me as if I’m crazy. “What?”
“I never saw a body, so I just need to know that he’s really dead and not going to pop back up when all of this is said and done.”
He puts his hands on my shoulders. “I watched his car explode. I saw the firemen pull his charred body from the wreckage. He’s really dead.”
I nod. “That’s all I needed to know.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Lily
The sliding glass door opens, and Greene pokes his head out. “Max, we need to go if we’re going to catch the flight. With the snow we’re getting, there’s chatter about closing the airports.”
“Be right there. Freaking DC,” he mutters. “One of the most powerful cities in the world—with one push of a button in the White House, we can launch weapons that can take out entire nations, shut down power grids for half the world, cripple economies—but a half an inch of snow brings us to our knees.”
“You’re leaving now?” I ask, amazed. In all the rehashing of the plans, I don’t recall anyone saying when we were leaving. “Am I leaving now? If so, it’s news to me.”
He shakes his head. “I think you and G are leaving tonight, but we’re catching a flight with Nigel and the guys in an about an hour. We were all going to fly together with you tonight, but the other east coast agents wanted to get there a little early to get the lay of the land, so Nigel chartered a plane. I think the agents from Cali are already there.” He opens the door and motions for me to go inside.
I spot Gavin sitting in the living room. He looks up, and I see the concern on his face.
“We’re leaving tonight?” I ask as I cross the room and sit on his lap. “Why did we bother leaving LA if we’re just flying back west so soon?”
He wraps his arms around me and rests his chin on my shoulder. “When we left California, we never imagined the plan would be put into action so quickly. I didn’t think we’d hear back from D’ante for a week or more. But the bugger called in the order the very next day, and instantly everything went into motion. It’s a good thing the team was ready to move.”
“I guess it’s good this will be over sooner than later, but it’s all happening so fast.”
He kisses my neck. “We have the afternoon, just us. We can do whatever you want.”
The room phone rings and Max grabs it while shrugging into his jacket. “Yeah? We’ll be right down.” He hangs up the phone. “Car’s here.”
Sully and Greene are slinging their bags over their shoulders.
Greene looks at his phone. “Seriously, we need to haul ass. They’re expecting another inch to fall in the next three hours. We’ll be lucky if we make it out.”
“Richard will fly the damn plane himself if he has to,” Gavin says with a laugh.
“I don’t doubt it,” Sully replies. “But the FAA can be real sticklers, badass pilot or not.”
Gavin stands and shakes their hands. “The snow should be over by late afternoon and all the storm fuss will settle down. If you can’t get out, you can just fly with us tonight. We leave around eleven.”
“Let’s go! Let’s go!” Max shouts from the hallway.
Greene and Sully rush out, and Gavin closes the door behind them. He leans against the door and smiles. “Finally, some bloody peace and quiet.”
“For a few hours anyway,” I reply, putting my feet up on the table. I close my eyes and enjoy the silence. “I love the boys and I’m so grateful for everything they’re doing for us, but I’m ready for a nice healthy break from them.”
Living day in and day out with a bunch of boys has been overwhelming and exhausting, and not in the way I would expect. They clean up after themselves, which is great, but Peter cleans his guns during breakfast and Nigel needs to plot the most efficient course before he does anything. I swear he uses a map to find the bathroom. Then there’s Roger and his endless supply of Redline. Throw Max, Sully, and Greene into the mix, and I’m on testosterone overload. I’ve never been a girly girl, but they make me want to paint the walls pink, put floral sheets on all the beds, and stick lavender sachets in all the drawers, just to make things a little less male.
He walks toward me and leans against the table in front of me. “Soon it will just be me and you again.”
“Hmmm, that sounds heavenly.” Not having to put on a bra to get a glass of water. Hell, being able to walk around naked. Or have sex in the living room in front of the fire. Or the kitchen. Or on the dining room table…
“So do you want to talk about the letter?” he asks, snapping me out of my wandering imagination.
“Nope. I sure don’t.” I cross my arms. “I don’t believe one word of that letter, and even if I did, it doesn’t change anything. The last thing I want to do is give it another second’s thought.”
He peers at me as if he’s trying to figure out if I really don’t want to talk about this or if I’m saying I don’t want to talk about it but really want him to push me on it. I raise my eyebrows and give him a look that hopefully conveys that this is a moot issue.
He holds up his hands. “Consider the subject dropped.” He looks at his watch. “We have about six hours until we have to go to the airport. Since the next few days will be… trying, for the rest of the day, let’s take a break from it all. We’ll forget about what’s waiting for us in Arizona and spend the afternoon doing average things that normal everyday couples do on a day off. We could go to IKEA and eat Swedish meatballs until you get sick. Or we could Smithsonian hop, wandering from Air and Space, to Natural History, to whatever else they have. Or we could see a film. Whatever! You name it, and we’ll do it.”
I tap my chin as I ponder my choices. “Perfectly normal, huh? I’ll have to think about it.” I can’t remember what perfectly normal is.
“I’ll hop in the shower. When I get out, have some ideas. Okay?”
“Okay,” I reply. His enthusiasm is adorable. I wish I knew where he gets the energy. He’s going on as little sleep as I am, yet he’s bubbling over with optimism and excitement. I’m sure it’s all a show for my benefit, to keep my anxiety at bay.
He disappears into the bedroom as I think about what we should do. If things go south tomorrow and today is my last day on earth, what would I want to do? I hear the shower turn on, and I suddenly know what I want to do with my day.
The marble floor is cold on my bare feet. I pad across the steam-filled bathroom to the stone shower. The faint scent of his shampoo lingers in the air, making the room smell like the ocean. I stand at the entry of the long, doorless shower and watch water cascade down his body. My breath hitches at the sight of his toned and taut muscles, sculpted together to form this magnificent physique. His back is a sign that god is real, because it would take divine intervention to create something that perfect. The seductive curvature of his form begs to be touched, kissed, licked. The scars from his time in the war only add to his erotic allure. They remind m
e that he’s not just a stunning specimen of sexiness but a strong, courageous man who fights for what he believes in. My eyes travel down his body to his firm ass. I bite my lip as he stretches, tightening his muscles.
Unable to wait another second longer, I step into the shower. “So I figured out what I want to do today.”
At first he looks caught off guard when he spins around, but when his eyes travel over my naked body, a sexy smirk spreads across his face. “And what’s that?”
I step toward him. “You.”
He pulls me to his chest, enveloping me in his arms. “I suppose that’s something perfectly average people do on a day off.”
I push him against the wall then slide my hand between us to grasp his already hard cock. The instant I touch him, his lips part, and he gasps.
“Average? You couldn’t be average if you tried.” I kiss his shoulder, running my tongue along his collarbone while still running my fingers along his length. “I could never describe what you do to me, how you make me feel, how hard you make me come as average.” I gently bite his neck. “Don’t ever sell yourself short.”
My thumb runs along the ridge of his swollen crown, and Gavin’s eyes roll back. He pants. “Luv, you’re making me crazy.”
“That’s my plan,” I say with a grin.
Running my hands down his chest, I drop to my knees in front of him. Teasingly, I run my tongue along his cock from root to tip. He moans, and hearing the pleasure in his voice sparks something in me. Knowing that I do this to him makes me feel powerful, in control, and so fucking horny. I take all of him in my mouth, and his moans get louder, making my lust more demanding. Squeezing my thighs together to attempt to relieve the mounting pressure, I fuck him with my mouth. The harder I suck, the harder he gets. He has to reposition his legs as I’m guessing his knees get weak from the euphoria overtaking him.
He pulls out of my mouth and staggers backward. “If you keep that up, I’m going to come.”
I laugh. “That was the point.”
He extends his hand then pulls me up. “Oh, I’m going to come, but only when I’m deep inside you.”
Eager to appease the throbbing, I wrap my legs around his waist.
“Nuh uh,” he says as he pushes my legs back down. “Not yet.”
My head tips back when he takes my nipple in his mouth, sucking and laving, driving me wild. He traces deliciously slow circles with his tongue then switches to fast flicks. Pangs of need shoot through me with every touch. I arch my hips toward him, begging for him to touch me. His hand goes to my other breast, his fingers mimicking the actions of his mouth. It feels amazing but is driving me mad with desire.
Desperate for friction, I grind my hips against his, but he steps away. I put my finger under his chin and tilt his head up, making my nipple fall from his lips. “You’re killing me.”
He flashes that grin that makes me melt. “That was the point.”
He drops to his knees and buries his head between my legs. His tongue flicks my clit and sends a jolt of ecstasy through my body. He ravages me with his mouth, sucking, licking, stroking. From the tips of my toes to the top of my head, I feel my orgasm building. As the tension mounts, every muscle contracts, screaming for release. I’m yearning to come, but Gavin’s mouth on my pussy feels so good, I don’t want it to end. I grip his hair, pulling as I fuck his tongue. He pulls my clit between his teeth and gives it a hard flick with his tongue, and I can’t hold back any longer. The wave of pleasure rocks through me. My knees give out, and I fall.
As I catch my breath, I see his hard cock in front of me. The pulses from my orgasm are still shooting through my body, but I already crave more. Pushing up from the floor, I climb on top of him, slowly easing him into me. I’m so sensitive that as he slides farther inside me, bursts of pleasure shoot through me. As much as I want the feel of him deep inside me, this feels so amazing that I take my time, enjoying every blissful moment.
Once he’s fully inside me, I abandon slow and sensuous for rough and dirty. Riding him, I take him deep within me and angle myself so that he hits that magic spot that makes me see stars. When I arch my back from the pleasure, Gavin takes my breast into his mouth. The way his tongue plays with my nipple makes me moan. Ready to come again, I ride him faster, harder, squeezing him tight as I plunge myself down over and over. I lean forward and pull his mouth to mine.
He cups my face. “Look at me.”
I open my eyes to his sapphire pools. His hands move from my face when his arms wrap around me, pulling me to him tightly. He thrusts upward, plunging deep inside me. My head tips back from the pleasure.
“Look at me,” he says again as he thrusts deeper this time. The moment my eyes meet his, he thrusts again. “I love you. Nothing will ever come between us.”
When we had sex in LA, it was me reclaiming my sexuality, but this is very different. It’s as though he’s reclaiming me. Promising me our connection is as strong as ever. Showing me the depth and passion of his feelings for me. The look in his eyes is so intense that it almost hurts to look at, but I can’t look away. I want to feel it and take it all.
He pushes so hard into me I fear he’s going to split me in two, but fuck, what a way to go. My eyes close as I absorb the pleasure ripping through me.
“Look at me,” he says as he pistons faster.
I open them again and meet his burning gaze.
“Tell me you love me.” He pushes inside me and hits the right spot, making my orgasm explode within me.
“I love you,” I say as the shocks of pleasure quake through me.
His orgasm follows seconds later, then we collapse on the shower floor, too emotionally and physically exhausted to move.
Sometime later, the water in the shower runs cold, and Gavin carries me to the bed. We lay in each other’s arms for hours, touching, caressing, holding. Too content to eat or sleep, we just lay together, consumed by the powerful bond solidified between us. When the alarm goes off, we slip back into our clothes and head to the airport.
As I board the plane, it occurs to me that our afternoon of escape is over. It’s back to the harsh reality of boogeymen and things that go bump in the night. When the plane takes off, I pray for sleep, but my brain won’t turn off. Potential scenarios play through my head. The downside of such an active imagination is that each one is worse than the last.
Gavin falls asleep the moment we hit cruising altitude. His gorgeous face looks so peaceful. If tomorrow goes poorly and today was my last day in this world, I’m so very lucky, because today was sheer perfection.
**********
“We’re here, luv,” Gavin whispers.
I squeeze my eyes shut. “When this is over, I’m taking a week-long nap. No planes, no meetings, no wake-up calls.”
“No clothes,” he adds. I can hear the smile in his voice.
“Exactly.”
He kisses me. “I promise. But now you have to get up. The Mexican team is here. We’re going to have a quick meeting, then they’ll take the plane back to Guadalajara. We only have a few minutes to make this work.”
Reluctantly, I open my eyes. I peek out of the tiny window at the sunrise. Damn, I forgot how beautiful it is here. The colors in the sky are so amazing, they look like a painting. Too spectacular to be real.
“Wakey wakey,” Isla shouts from the plane door. “I need to take off in thirty minutes, so let’s get this meeting started, shall we?”
Urg. I’m working on my tolerance of Isla, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready for her this early in the morning. I drag myself out of my chair and make a quick stop in the bathroom before trudging down the aisle to the couches in the middle of the plane. Gavin, Nigel, and Isla are already settled and having a heavy conversation when I plop down next to Gavin.
“We have a slight problem,” Nigel says then points at Isla. “Tell her.”
“Rafa has switched to a flip phone. He’s paranoid that someone is tapping his line, which of course we are. He’s switched to as lo
w-tech of a mobile he could get his hands on.”
I wipe the sleep from my eyes. “Pardon me, my sleep-deprived brain is a little slow, but why is this a problem?”
“His mobile won’t have photo or video capability. We have no way to send him the video of the trucks,” Nigel explains.
The penny drops. “Gotcha. So what do we do?”
“We need to approach him,” Isla says. “I think Lily’s the best candidate since she has history with him. The moment he sees her alive and she shows him the video of the trucks, he’ll know this tête-à-tête has escalated to the next level. We need him thrown off guard for this to play out. Lily’s the only one who can do that.”
I can’t decide if that’s a compliment or if she’s trying to get me killed. It really could go either way.
“No,” Gavin replies. “Absolutely not. Nigel or I or even Max. If we send Lily in there, he might kill her on the spot.”
I’m about to speak for myself when Isla steamrolls Gavin. “You can’t be seen in any of this. He just has to take a video of you and upload it to the internet, and in seconds, your credibility is shot. It’s too easy to get leverage on you.”
Gavin glares at her incredulously. “You think I care about my credibility?”
Isla rolls her eyes. “It’s not about what you want. If he thinks he can gain control with a click of his mouse, he won’t take you seriously. You are not an option. Nigel’s out as well. Whilst he could make the man piss himself, he needs to be with the other team hijacking the trucks. If Max goes, Rafa will think this is an FBI setup. It has to be Lily.”’
Nigel pats Gavin’s back. “She’s right. Lily’s our best chance.” He turns to me. “Are you comfortable with this?”
I snort. “What can he possibly do to me that he already hasn’t? Where and when?”
Nigel pulls out his map. “The trucks will cross the border here at one in the afternoon. Isla, where do we think he’ll be around one?”
“Roger’s been listening to him night and day. He’s set to meet someone about another buy in Tucson. At a bar, the Frog… something.”
When Fates Align Page 31
