Mission: Her Defense: Team 52 #4

by Hackett, Anna

  “This is the Lycurgus Cup,” Ty said.

  Nat shifted. “It’s a 14th-century Roman glass cage cup. It’s made of glass, and parts of it have been cut back into designs depicting the mythical king Lycurgus.”

  Another picture appeared and Luke frowned. “The glass is a different color.” It now looked green.

  Ty nodded. “The glass changes color depending on the light shining on it. The glass was created with nanoparticles of gold and silver in it. Perhaps it was an accidental discovery, but the glassmakers, either willingly or by chance, used nanotechnology to create the effect.”

  Another picture appeared. It showed a close-up picture of a sword blade. It had a distinctive pattern on the steel that looked like water.

  “Damascus steel,” Nat said.

  Ty nodded. “Nat gets an A in this class. From about the 3rd century, bladesmiths in Damascus started forging Damascus steel. The blades were strong, resistant to shattering, and sharp. No one had seen swords like them at the time.”

  “And nanotechnology was responsible?” Luke asked.

  A nod. “They imported wootz steel ingots from India to forge the Damascus steel. We still don’t know exactly how wootz was made, but about ten years back, a research team discovered nanowires and carbon nanotubes in Damascus steel.”

  Everyone in the room shared some looks.

  Ty huffed out a breath. “Nanostructures in the steel that would account for the steel’s exceptional qualities.” He paused. “The same thing applies for the Muramasa swords. Muramasa added something when he created the steel that he forged his blades from. Or more exactly, he added something to the steel beneath the hilt. I can’t identify the exact substances, but it is certainly a nanomaterial. Nanotoxicity and nanomedicine are huge research areas. From what I can deduce, the nanomaterial in Muramasa’s swords is absorbed through the skin at the hilt, but nanoparticles have strange and unique toxicity effects, unlike what we see in larger particles. They most certainly translocate from the site of absorption to the brain.”

  “English, Ty,” Lachlan growled.

  “The nanopoison travels from the skin to the brain. It causes increased strength and disrupts brain function, causing rage. It essentially causes a stress response in the body which brings on hysterical strength.”

  “Hysterical strength,” Blair said. “That’s like when you hear about people lifting cars off injured people.”

  Ty nodded. “Displays of superhuman strength.”

  “Life or death situations cause adrenaline to flood the body,” Luke said.

  “That’s part of it,” Ty said. “Adrenaline does prime the body. It increases heart rate, speeds up the lungs, dilates blood vessels. But research shows it is more than that. When your body is under stress, it releases other nutrients, enzymes and proteins. Endorphins suppress pain and help you focus on the situation.”

  “So the nanopoison in the sword does all of that to the user,” Callie murmured.

  Ty nodded again. “There’s a mental component as well. Humans are capable of a lot more than we believe, strength-wise. Most people never push themselves—doubt, fear, and pain take over. The material in the sword switches off some brain function, doesn’t let emotion or pain have any effect.”

  Luke stared at the screen, trying to absorb it all. “The man with the sword at headquarters, he said he couldn’t fight it. Why couldn’t he drop the sword and get away from its influence?”

  “Excellent question, Detective.” Ty crossed his arms. “I’m still working on it, but it looks like the nanopoison also affects the muscles in the hand. It causes muscle spasms, a tetanic contraction, that causes the hand to clench onto the sword.”

  “Tetanic contraction,” Blair murmured. “Like tetanus.”

  “That’s right. Tetanus is a bacterial infection that causes muscles spasms. Especially in the neck and jaw, causing lockjaw. With the sword, we get a similar clenching, but in the hand.”

  “How the fuck did Muramasa achieve this?” Lachlan said. “Where did this knowledge come from? It can’t be trial and error.”

  Nat stepped forward. “I’ve been doing some research. I suspect the knowledge came from an earlier culture that lived in Japan. Did you know that in the same exhibition as the cursed katanas, there were several fascinating scrolls on display? One is called the Sword Scroll. It documents knowledge of samurai practices for creating blinding powders and concoctions to knock opponents unconscious. Some of this advanced knowledge would have been trial and error, and experimentation. But some of it likely came from an earlier, advanced civilization.”

  Luke frowned. “Earlier civilization? Who? Who the hell was in Japan earlier?”

  “There is evidence that there was an advanced civilization,” Nat said. “You’ve heard of the Yonaguni Monument?” Images flashed up on the screen, depicting large stonework shapes submerged under the ocean.

  Luke sucked in a breath. He had vague recollections of seeing something about this underwater monument before. “I’ve heard of this. Off the coast of Japan. Some people believe it’s natural.”

  Nat tilted her head. “It isn’t. The submerged ruins date to about 10,000 years ago. It doesn’t take much to deduce that the people who had the skills to build a city like this, also probably had the knowledge to come up with whatever Muramasa used to create his swords.”

  “Hell.” Luke pressed his hands to a bench, dropping his head. This was hard to take in. Part of him would have preferred a curse.

  “It’s imperative you do not touch the swords,” Ty said.

  Blair snorted. “We already got that.”

  “What about being cut by one?” Luke’s gaze dropped to Blair’s bandaged shoulder.

  Ty shook his head. “The nanopoison is concentrated at the hilt. If you touch one of the katanas for a short period of time, you will return to normal after the nanomaterial leaves your system. But prolonged exposure is irreversible.”

  Luke listened as Blair peppered Ty with more questions. Watching her with the team, he saw just how amazingly competent she was. How damn good she was at her job.

  “Anything else?” Blair asked.

  Ty shook his head. “Just find this last sword, so we can lock the damn thing up.”

  Blair looked at Luke. “Time to go.”

  He nodded. He was eager to get back to Vegas and back on the trail of the sword. Who was the man who’d brought the sword to headquarters and where was Kazan?

  They said their goodbyes and soon were stepping back into the elevator. The doors slid closed.

  “Remember, when we get back to Las Vegas you’re staying at my place.” The thought of these bastards coming after her, and him not being there… Luke couldn’t handle that.

  She eyed him for a second, then she nodded. “You do have a pool, after all.”

  Chapter Ten

  Blair tossed and turned in the sheets on Luke’s guest bed. She sat up and huffed out a breath. It was official. She couldn’t sleep.

  Deciding not to just lie there staring at the dark ceiling, she got up. In her sleep shorts and tank, she padded out into the shadowed living room. Then she stopped.

  She wasn’t alone.

  Turning her head, she made out the large outline of the man sitting in the armchair in the corner of the room.

  She knew it was Luke. It was like she had a damn radar, attuned just to him.

  He sat back, and she saw he was cradling a glass of something. Ice tinkled against the glass.

  “You okay?” she asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “I couldn’t sleep.”

  “Me neither.” His voice was gruff. “The lieutenant called. Baxter still hasn’t woken up.”

  “He’s tough.” She wandered closer.

  “He’s got a wife. Kids.”

  She heard the pain, the guilt. He was suffering, and again she felt the strange urge to soothe him. Not knowing what to do, Blair followed her gut. She moved closer, her bare feet almost silent on the wooden fl
oor.

  When she reached him, his arms snaked out, wrapping around her middle. He pulled her close and pressed his face to her belly. She let out a breath and slid her hands into his hair.

  “He’ll be okay,” she whispered.

  “But others won’t. Not while the last sword is still out there.”

  “We’ll find it. It’s what we do. We protect our city, its people.”

  “You protect the whole damn world, and I’ve given you nothing but hell for it.”

  She stroked the silky strands of his hair between her fingers. “Well, I won’t argue that we can get messy. I know it makes your job harder.”

  “Seeing your base, the storage area…I know what you do is important.” His hand moved, touching her bare leg just below the hem of her shorts.

  His fingers moved in circles on her skin. She shivered, sensations skittering through her. She was used to heat and fire, but this small, simple, sexy move undid her more than a brazen caress.

  She saw that he was still wearing his jeans, but his feet were bare, his white shirt was unbuttoned, revealing a delicious sliver of bronze skin, and his sleeves were rolled up. She licked her lips. Damn those sexy forearms.

  His hand moved upward, skating over her pajamas until he reached the bottom of her tank. His hand moved under it, moving over her belly. She shivered again.

  “You want me to stop?” he murmured.

  “No.”

  “This has nothing to do with wiping away a shitty day or drowning my sorrows.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. “I know.”

  “I’m not sure you do.” His hand moved higher and cupped one of her naked breasts. He trapped her nipple between his fingers and tugged on it.

  She let out a shuddering breath. “Luke.”

  He yanked her into his lap. Blair couldn’t stop herself from wrapping her arms around him. She straddled him, feeling his hard erection pressed between her legs.

  He angled his head and took her mouth.

  The kiss was deep, hot, and edgy. He drank from her mouth like a man dying of thirst.

  His hot lips moved down her neck. “I hated seeing you face off with that attacker today. I saw Baxter bleeding, I kept picturing you being next.”

  “You know I can protect myself. How many times do I have to remind you of that?”

  “I know. But you’re too damn brave.”

  She felt the emotion throbbing off him, and it ignited a storm of confusing feelings inside her. She wanted this to be easy, to keep him from getting too close. They could have hot, sweaty sex without tangling everything else up.

  This man made her feel too much. As his hands stroked her, she pulled in a big breath. The more people you let in, the larger the risk that you would lose them. She’d lost so many people.

  Luke’s hands traveled up her back and she felt panic tightening her chest. He was too close. He was burrowing under her damn skin.

  She wrenched back, scrambling off his lap. “I can’t do this.”

  He stared at her. “Blair—”

  “We can fuck. But stop trying to get to me.”

  He frowned. “When I sink my cock inside you, it isn’t going to be just fucking, Blair.”

  The growl of his voice worked its way down her spine. She shook her head. “No.”

  “Not so fearless after all.”

  His words cut at her insides. She prided herself on not being afraid.

  Luke rose. “I know you want me. Are you really too afraid to face this thing between us?”

  She lifted her chin. “I told you, we can drop down right here and fuck, Luke.”

  He leaned closer, his warm breath puffing over her cheek. “I know. But I want more. I want all of you.”

  Blair felt her mouth go dry. What would it be like to hand over everything she had to this man?

  A big fucking risk. To give someone the power to gut you.

  She just stood there, staring at him. She couldn’t make herself cross the invisible line he’d drawn.

  When she didn’t say anything, his face tightened. He shook his head. “Fine. Be afraid, Blair.”

  When he turned and stormed out of the room, she squeezed her eyes closed.

  * * *

  Luke strode into his bedroom, need throbbing through his body. His limbs felt heavy, his skin hot, and his cock swollen.

  Need for Blair roared through him. He could smell her on his skin and still felt her touch. He could see her long, toned legs in those tiny shorts. Feel the warm weight of her breast in his hand.

  He groaned. He wanted nothing more than to sink himself inside her so damn deep she’d know she belonged to him.

  But if he pushed her too hard, he knew he’d lose her. Dammit, desire was burning him from the inside out. He tore his jeans open, freeing his hard cock.

  He gripped it, stroking it with brutal pumps.

  He groaned. In his head he felt Blair, saw her, tasted her. Even now, he could smell her. Desire clamped down on his spine and her name was torn from his lips. “Blair.”

  Then he heard a noise.

  His head whipped toward the bedroom door. She stood there, staring at him.

  “Don’t stop,” she whispered.

  Her gaze was glued to his cock. He stroked himself again and she didn’t look away. She bit down on her lip.

  “Either leave or get over here.” His voice was a growl.

  She made a sound—hungry and desperate. A few humming seconds passed, then she walked across his room toward him.

  Luke stroked his cock again and her gaze stayed locked on it. When she was close enough, she reached out, her hands closing around his. He hissed out a breath. It was both heaven and hell. They stroked him together, and he felt the muscles in his neck strain.

  Damn. It felt good. So damn good.

  “I want to be inside you,” he growled.

  She squeezed him, her breathing fast and heavy. “Luke.”

  “But you aren’t ready for that.”

  She looked at him in the darkness. “What?”

  He pressed his mouth to her neck, scraping his teeth down her skin. “When I slide inside you, you won’t have a single damn doubt, Blair.”

  Her eyes flashed. “You’re turning me down.”

  “Oh, no,” he said. “Show me how you touch yourself.”

  When she blinked, he nudged her until she fell back on the bed. His bed.

  It would be a lie to pretend he hadn’t imagined her here. It would be a lie to pretend he didn’t get a savage sense of satisfaction seeing her on his bed.

  “Part your legs, Blair.”

  “God, I knew you’d be bossy.”

  Luke pumped his cock again. “And I knew you wouldn’t be easy.”

  She parted her legs, her gaze on his face. There was nothing shy or hesitant about her. Her hand slipping down to her tiny shorts.

  “Did you wear those fucking shorts to drive me wild?” he growled.

  “You like them?” She let her hand sneak up under the wide legs of the shorts. He saw her stroke herself.

  “I want to tear them off you. Are your panties soaked?”

  “Yes.”

  Luke made a hungry sound and he saw her lips tilt up. No, she wasn’t shy, but even in the dappled darkness, he saw the vulnerability in her eyes. She kept it well hidden, usually tucked away behind that tough shell of hers.

  But for him, that shell was cracking. He had to convince her that he’d take care of what was beneath it.

  Her fingers moved up and he watched as she stroked herself, her breath hitching.

  He put one knee on the bed, still stroking his cock. She lifted her hand and he sucked her fingers into his mouth, lapping at the tangy taste of her.

  She moaned and he flipped her over. He pulled her up onto her hands and knees, and yanked down her shorts and panties. She let out a husky cry. The curves of her gorgeous ass gleamed in the moonlight.

  “MacKade.”

  He kneaded one cheek. “Rub your clit, Bla
ir.”

  Her hand moved between her legs. Her head dropped back with a throaty cry. He watched her stroke herself and he moved closer, rubbing his throbbing cock against her ass.

  She moaned, pushing back against him. They stayed like that, each of them stroking faster. They were drenched in the darkness, but locked together by their incendiary desire.

  “You are so fucking hot, Blair.” As the head of his cock brushed her, he groaned.

  “I’m…going to come,” she panted.

  “Come. I want you to say my damn name when you do.” He pressed against her harder. “Not my surname, you stubborn, sexy thing.”

  He watched her back arch and her mouth open. She stroked faster. Then her body stiffened, and she started shuddering.

  So damn hot. Luke pumped himself harder, feeling his own release rising up. “Say it.”

  “Luke!”

  Then with a long, guttural groan, he started coming. His come hit her ass and he kept stroking, kept spilling over her skin. “Blair.”

  Fuck. He’d never come that hard. He thrust a fist into the bed, arm straight, to keep himself from collapsing.

  There was only the sound of their harsh breathing in the room. Once he was sure he was steady, Luke rose and headed to his bathroom. He wet a wash cloth and returned. She was lying facedown on his bed. He stroked her hip with one hand while he cleaned her off.

  When she turned her head to look at him, he shook his head. “Don’t ruin it.”

  She sucked in a breath and nodded. “I’d better get to my bed.”

  “No.”

  “MacKade—”

  “I just came all over you, so you’ll damn well call me Luke.” He climbed onto the bed and yanked her close. He arranged it so his chest was pressed tight against her back. He nuzzled his face into her hair.

  Blair was as stiff as a board.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “I don’t…snuggle.”

  Luke looked at the ceiling and tried not to laugh. “Just go to sleep, Blair. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone, and tomorrow, you can be your usual badass self.”

  She huffed out a breath. “Fine.”

  He wanted to stroke her and pull her closer, but he wasn’t sure that he could stop himself from grabbing her and not letting go. He kept his touch light. “Sleep well, cupcake.”