by Cindy Dees
His arm relaxed, and he sank down with her into the night. She welcomed him, cradling his body with hers, offering up solace and passion, comfort and dreams. The flashes of light outside lit Tom’s face in harsh relief. His jaw looked tight, as if he was holding himself back carefully. She didn’t want careful on a night that could be her last. “Tom, let go. I want all of you tonight.”
TOM STARED DOWN AT HER. That was the last thing he’d expected his scared little innocent to say. A big explosion went off somewhere outside, and he barely registered it. Old fears warned him that if he allowed himself this moment of pleasure—with a woman he cared about, in the middle of a mission—disaster would follow.
His throat was so tight he could only whisper, “Are you sure, angel?”
Her lips curved into arguably the prettiest smile he’d ever seen. “I’m sure.”
That was it. He had no more protests left, no more lofty ideals to stand by, no more strictures of gentlemanly behavior to stop him. Tonight he needed her worse than life, and she wanted him back. It was a miracle, and he wasn’t going to turn away from it or from her.
As her mouth moved beneath his and her body arched up into his, he was humbled by her gift. He pushed aside the last of his doubts and embraced the world of the living. For this one night he was going to be a man and not an emotionless shell.
She drove him beyond distraction, and he kissed her in a daze. Her breasts filled his hands perfectly. He kissed them reverently, then kneaded and kissed her flesh until Annie writhed and moaned beneath him. Everywhere he touched her, she burned for him. His hands and mouth roamed over her body while he reveled in her passionate response.
Finally she dragged him higher, wrapped her legs around him and pulled him near. “I want you. Now.”
He smiled, beguiled by her abandon. “I wouldn’t want to keep a lady waiting,” he murmured. He brushed the hair back from her face, looking deeply into her eyes, memorizing her vibrant joy.
Slowly, he sank into her, amazed by how her body stretched and gave to accommodate him. And then he was so deep inside her he could barely breathe. He felt every tremor and pulse of her growing ardor, and it drove him out of his mind. He forced himself not to pound into her mindlessly, but to move slowly and savor this miracle.
He relished every sensation, from the velvet slide of her flesh against his, to the taste of mint toothpaste on her breath, to the way she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on as if she’d never let him go. She brimmed with life, embracing it enthusiastically and sharing it generously. He’d spent so many years living on the edge of death, he’d almost forgotten this existed. He gulped it down greedily.
Annie met him, breath for breath, kiss for kiss, smile for smile, as their bodies and feelings became one. She was life itself. If he could’ve made her a part of himself he would have. He held her as if he’d do just that, twining their bodies together, flesh to flesh, heart to heart.
Somewhere outside, the flashes and explosions were growing louder, but the fireworks in his head and the pounding of his heart drowned most of it out. The sound and fury inside and out built to a nearly unbearable crescendo.
It all paused for a breathless, infinite second in time. And then, as the walls shook and the windows rattled, he and his angel broke free of their bodies and soared into another place for one screamingly perfect moment that went on forever. His orgasm ripped through him, shredding him utterly.
Peace.
Sensation returned slowly. Annie’s glorious body pressed against his from his ankles to his ears. He roused himself enough to murmur, “Am I crushing you?”
“Not at all. Don’t move a muscle.” After a long, relaxed silence, she spoke again. “Is it just me or is there a war going on out there?”
He laughed and rolled over onto his back, taking her with him and tucking her under his good arm. Her head rested comfortably on his shoulder. “I haven’t the slightest idea what’s going on outside this bed.”
Her hand caressed his chest lightly. “Me, neither.”
ANNIE LURCHED AWAKE SOMETIME LATER. Tom’s chest rose and fell slowly under her ear. It was silent outside. Dead quiet. The kind of quiet just before all hell breaks loose. She tried Tom’s trick of sensing what was going on outside and was immediately overcome by a powerful premonition of bad things to come.
“Tom,” she whispered.
He was awake instantly. He lay perfectly still, but suddenly his awareness filled the room.
She whispered, “What’s going on out there?”
He listened for a moment and then swore quietly. He eased out from beneath her.
“Stay where you are.”
She lay back and enjoyed the dim view of his naked body moving away from her. He drew back the curtain a bare inch and peered outside. His lean hips and muscular shoulders were outlined against an eerie, orange glow. “Aww, hell,” he muttered.
“What is it?” She sat up in spite of Tom’s instructions.
“Get down.” His words were sharp, short. “On the floor, now.”
She rolled out of bed and had the presence of mind to drag the covers with her. From beneath the bed she saw Tom’s feet take a running leap in her direction and disappear as he dived behind the bed with her.
A slow whistle began, tearing the night apart, growing louder and louder until Annie thought her eardrums might split. Tom’s hand cupped the back of her head, pushing her face against his chest as he rolled on top of her.
A tremendous explosion rocked the room. Plaster dust rained down from the ceiling, and Annie’s ears rang.
His voice was wry in her ear. “Well, I promised you a memorable fall, angel.”
“What was that?” she squeaked.
“That would be heavy artillery aimed at a target real damn close to us.”
“Are we safe?”
His chest vibrated with a silent chuckle. “Not exactly.”
“Should we leave?”
“Not tonight. There will be soldiers and rebels crawling all over the place. You don’t know enough about covert movement to make it past them, and I’m not in good enough shape to take care of you.”
“Don’t worry about it, Tom. We’ll be okay.” Her hands roamed over the expanse of his chest. “And you’re in plenty good enough shape for me.”
“Don’t distract me. I’m trying to do my job here.”
“It looks to me like you’re lying naked on the floor with a woman who’s in need of serious distraction.”
“Annie…” his voice held a warning tone.
“There’s nothing we can do for now, so why worry about it? We either make it through the night or we don’t.”
“An admirable attitude.”
“Come here, soldier.”
WITH DAWN CAME real silence and, finally, sleep for Annie. She roused vaguely some hours later when Tom eased away from her and made his way to the bathroom. Sounds of water filling the bathtub lulled her back toward sleep. She was just conscious enough to register that when Tom came back he smelled of French lilac.
“There’s a bar of Ivory soap on the windowsill behind the curtain,” she mumbled.
She opened one eye enough to see a priceless expression of incredulity on Tom’s face.
“You think you’re pretty funny, huh?”
She jolted violently awake as her ribs were attacked by poking fingers. She squealed and squirmed and was treated to a demonstration of just how good Tom’s training was as he immobilized her instantly.
“No fair using your fancy training on me!” she complained through her laughter.
“Who said anything about fair? I play to win, angel.”
She grinned up at him. “Did you at least save me some hot water?”
“I did.”
She climbed to her feet, surprised to find she was a bit sore. But then, after all the gymnastics they’d performed on a hard floor while they distracted themselves last night, maybe she shouldn’t be.
Tom had pancakes waiting fo
r her when she got out of the tub. As she ate, she watched him move around the kitchen. There was a grace in his movements she’d not seen before. “You’re moving better. Does that mean you’re feeling stronger?”
He grinned over his shoulder while he flipped more pancakes. “After last night? I’m wiped out.”
She ducked her head and studied the way butter melted into syrup.
A plate plunked down on the table beside hers, and Tom sat down. “I feel much better, actually. I think the exercise did me a world of good.”
“Oh, so I’m just exercise, am I?”
He leaned over, cupped her chin in his palm, and kissed her gently. “Never, angel. You gave me my life back.”
Oh, Lord. If he only knew she was the one who nearly took it from him in the first place.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to upset you, Annie. I know the rules of engagement, too. If you want last night to be a one-time deal, I’ll understand. I’ll be disappointed, but I’ll understand.”
“I, uh, no, that’s not it at all. I don’t want a one-night stand.”
“Now that that’s settled, we’ve got some work to do today, angel.”
Annie looked up, surprised. “We do?”
“We need to find out what the rebels were shooting at last night and whether or not they hit it.”
“Why?”
“Do you want to sleep in the line of fire again tonight?” he asked.
“I see your point.”
“If the rebels didn’t destroy their target, we’re going to have to bug out and find somewhere else to hole up. I’m not putting you that close to the action again if I can help it.”
A warm feeling bubbled up inside her. He was worried about her safety. And he sounded more than professionally concerned.
“So how are we going to do this reconnoitering, Tom?”
“Well, you’re going to do your hooker impersonation again, and I’m going to take you out for a walk.”
“For what hookers charge nowadays, that’ll be a pretty expensive stroll in the park.”
Tom chuckled. “I’ll deduct your fee as a business expense on my travel voucher.”
“In that case, remind me to charge you a fortune.”
After the meal, Annie watched with interest as Tom sprayed himself with clear liquid from a little bottle that emerged from his pack.
“What’s that? Spray tanner?
“Bingo.”
He pulled on a black cotton shirt and slacks Annie’d bought for him before she brought him home from the hospital. Those, in combination with his new complexion and dark hair, made him look surprisingly local.
She donned her dress and wig and used eyeliner and lip pencil to change the shapes of her eyes and mouth. As she stepped back to survey her work, Tom walked into the bathroom. His presence behind her was so intimate…so domestic. She could get used to this.
Stop it. As soon as we’re out of here, he’ll disappear into the next jungle that’s about to explode into war.
“Tom, are you sure you’re strong enough to go out? I can find out what’s happening by myself.”
“I’m sure you can. But you don’t have to prove to me that you can do the job as well as a man.”
“I…it’s not…”
He cut her off. “Isn’t it?”
She frowned. “No, it’s not.”
“Sure it is. I’ve been in this business longer than you have, and you’ve got all the signs. You’re scared to death, but you’re determined to prove that you can hack this life. Who is it you’re trying so hard to impress?”
“You, I suppose.”
He shook his head in the negative. “Maybe it’s me you’re focused on in the short term, but somebody else drove you to Gavarone, drove you to be my cover, drove you not to leave with the embassy personnel.”
Was he right? Was this about showing her father she could be more than a schoolteacher in a rinky-dink town? Maybe Tom was partially right. But mostly she felt guilty. She needed to make up to him for what she’d done to him. Not only had he suffered terribly, but she might very well have ended his distinguished career. The very thought of that nauseated her.
She fought off the sensation. “You need to get your strength back. Why don’t you stay here and rest while I go out and have a look around?”
“No way. I’m not letting you go out there alone again. It’s too dangerous.”
She let out the breath she’d been holding. “You have no idea how glad I am you feel that way. I was scared silly the last time I went out.”
“Yeah, I noticed. I’m sorry about that.”
“I got the job done, and that’s what counts.”
“No, it’s not. What counts is that you’re safe.”
He thought her safety was more important than the mission? Annie blinked. The mission was everything to Special Forces guys.
She had no time to ponder what it meant as Tom led her to the door and opened it. This time when she stepped out into the city, she trusted Tom to keep her safe. Even though he had to take the steps slowly and she caught a couple of grimaces on his face, she had complete faith in his abilities. It was a wonderful feeling.
TOM, however, wasn’t feeling wonderful at all. His left wrist ached under the cast, and his balance still wasn’t where it ought to be. If he had to sprint anywhere today, he’d be sucking wind in seconds. He had only his brains to rely on for this outing. Usually that was enough, but not always.
They reached the sidewalk and stared at the previous night’s work. Broken glass, bricks and dust were everywhere, and the burned-out hull of a car partially blocked the road. He murmured to Annie in Spanish, “Do you know any of the shopkeepers around here?”
“A few,” she answered back in the same language.
“Let’s drop in and see what they know.”
They spent the next two hours cruising the few shops that were open, encouraging gossip among the proprietors and other customers. No reliable information was forthcoming, and Tom’s arm was killing him. Not to mention that his legs were starting to ache, and he was feeling a bit light-headed. “Love, is there somewhere we could sit down for a while?”
She took one look at him and tucked her arm under his. He was grateful for the help, but it galled him to be this weak. He had to get his strength back fast if they were going to make it out of the country.
“There’s a decent café right around the corner. How about a bite of lunch if they’re open?”
“Sounds great. Lead on.”
Tom cased the café’s large, shaded patio. High, stone walls, no marked exits except through the dining room. Another door into the building, probably leading to the kitchen. Not an ideal scenario, but he didn’t have much choice in the matter.
Gratefully, Tom sank into his seat and rubbed his aching arm. He checked out the other diners under the guise of hunting for a waiter. Most of the two dozen tables were filled with couples, although a few groups of businessmen lounged over drinks. This place either had great food, or the clientele was determined to live it up while the living was good.
It turned out both were the case. Tom’s garlic-drenched shark steak was succulent, and Annie savored her salmon with a relish that almost made him jealous of it. They took turns feeding each other bites of their respective meals. Her gaze grew limpid when he accidentally dribbled butter down her front. She followed the spill into her cleavage with one finger and drew it out languidly. She put her finger in her mouth and sucked the butter off it slowly. Tom’s mouth went desert dry at the sight.
He motioned a waiter over and ordered a bottle of wine.
Annie frowned. “You’re allowed to drink on the job?”
“Everyone else is drinking. I don’t want us to stand out.”
Annie smiled knowingly at him over the rim of her glass.
“What’s going on in that devious mind of yours, angel?”
“I was just thinking about those secret lovers circling the room and wondering how many of them are her
e today.”
He looked around the place. “Several.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Some of these women are too pretty to be wives and too young for the men they’re with. They’ve got to be mistresses.”
“Chauvinist.”
Tom’s attention snapped to Annie. “Me?”
“Admit it. You think women are weak little things that need to be protected.”
“Most are weak relative to me.”
“Note to self. The man has a big ego.”
Their gazes locked, and sparks crackled back and forth between them. Her hand touched his thigh under the table, and he jumped. She smiled, and he smiled back. He would give his right arm to take her to bed right now.
Bang!
Twelve-gauge shotgun. One shot. One shooter.
“Nobody move!”
Tom froze and prayed Annie would do the same. He gazed around the restaurant without moving his head and found the source of the voice. It was one of the waiters. He stood near the kitchen entrance, brandishing a smoking shotgun.
“We are the forces of liberation and we are here to claim a traitor!”
Tom’s gaze darted left and right. Completely healthy, he could’ve made it up one of the walls and hauled Annie over, but not now. They were trapped. He gauged the thickness of the wooden tabletop. Not heavy enough to stop twelve-gauge rounds at close range. He’d tell them Annie was a hooker he’d picked up on the street. He was buying her lunch before they adjourned to her place. Maybe they would only kill him.
How in the hell had he gotten I.D.ed and trapped like this? They must have followed him and Annie. He’d been too busy romancing her to notice. How could he have been so stupid?
The waiter advanced across the porch and Tom’s muscles tensed. Two more armed waiters stepped forward into his periphery vision. He couldn’t overpower three men with guns, unarmed as he was. He ruled out a takedown and willed himself to relax.
The men moved closer and closer and finally stopped at a table about ten feet away. “Minister Ramirez, you will come with us. Our leaders wish to speak with you.”
