She nodded quickly, not arguing for once, which concerned him even more. Mia not arguing meant she had something major to discuss. So did he, but it could wait. What she needed—what they both needed—was his first priority right now.
Jared grabbed her hand and pulled her with him to the door. They didn’t speak. He watched her lock her apartment door and then together they walked to the elevator. Since their elevator incident, he hadn’t been able to get into one without thinking of what had almost happened. And now, as they stepped into this one, he knew she was remembering, too.
Their body heat filled the small space. Jared didn’t dare look at her … if he did, he would be lost. The workout he had planned didn’t include working off steam in a public elevator.
At last, the doors opened. This time Mia grabbed his hand and they walked out together. He’d parked in the underground area, far away from prying eyes. Now that Mia was on Ricard’s radar, they had to be careful of being seen in public. Ricard might well have someone watching her.
One of the stops he’d made was to pick up a helmet for her. Mia’s looks were too distinctive; she needed cover. He carefully placed the helmet on her head and tightened the chin strap. Her eyes, usually so dark he could see his reflection in them, were somber, too serious. He wanted to erase that look.
“Let’s go,” he growled. Straddling the bike, he took her hand and pulled her on behind him. Then they were off.
With Mia’s arms around him, her front pressed to his back, he was tempted to take the bike onto the open road and let her fly. The photographs of Mia in her house in Chicago had told him she was a risk taker. So was he, normally. But there was one risk he wouldn’t take, and that was with Mia’s life. No matter how much he needed to feel the speed. Besides, there was a much better and safer method of working off this excess energy bubbling inside them.
Minutes later, they were at his place. The second floor was his apartment and the first floor was a gym—though calling it such was generous. The space was strictly utilitarian, with free weights and a few pieces of equipment along one wall. The biggest part of the gym was a large matted area for hand-to-hand fighting. Other than Lucas, Mia was the only person he’d ever brought here.
Nice thing about living in a warehouse: he could park inside. He stopped at the large metal door and jumped off the bike. After unlocking the door and sliding it open, he gestured to Mia. She had no problem handling the bike and smoothly rode it inside.
Afraid that the bike might be too heavy for her, Jared quickly grabbed hold of it, allowing her to get off. She gave him an absentminded “Thank you” as her eyes roamed around the large interior.
Seconds passed, and for some reason, Jared grew tenser. Having anyone’s approval hadn’t been an issue for so long, he was surprised to realize how much he wanted her to like his place.
Finally, she whirled around and flashed him a brilliant, delighted smile. “It’s fabulous, Jared.”
Seeing her smile after the strained, pinched look on her face earlier did something to him. He’d do just about anything to keep that bleak expression off her face.
“Take a look around. I’m going to change clothes.”
As he headed upstairs to his living space, the thought hit him of how oddly good it felt to have Mia in his home. By most people’s standards, it was probably close to slum living. For someone like Mia, who’d grown up around wealth and privilege, it probably looked even worse. But instead of worrying about her judging him, he somehow had known that the starkness and lack of decor wouldn’t bother her.
He quickly stripped and pulled on a pair of loose pants. When he turned, he was surprised to find her standing behind him. Either he was getting rusty or she could move with cat-silent stealth.
“I wanted to see where you live, too.”
Her gaze roamed around again. What did she think when she saw the large area that consisted only of a king-sized bed, a bureau, a desk, and a sofa? A kitchen and a bathroom took up the rest of the space. Did she see emptiness, as many people would? Or did she see it as he did—open space and freedom?
Once again, she gave him a brilliant smile. “I like it—a lot.”
“You ready to work out?”
The smile dropped and her expression changed to one that echoed within him. Eyes locked, they began a slow walk toward each other. Stopping within inches of her, he asked softly, “Tell me what you want.”
With that desperate look back in her eyes, she whispered, “You.”
His body was already primed and ready for the sweet release only she could provide, but he knew he had to hold off. The needs they had now were wild and dangerous. Pulling her to him, her body flush against his, he leaned down and pressed his forehead against hers. “Let’s work off some steam first … okay?”
When she nodded, he let her go. One more second with her plastered against him, and he’d forget good intentions. Taking her hand, he led her down the stairs and then stopped in the middle of the room. Distancing himself several feet from her, he said softly, “Show me what you’ve got.”
Adrenaline and wild desire mixed together made for a powerful aphrodisiac. Every cell in Mia’s body felt like a glowing ember, smoldering with heat, just waiting to be ignited to full flame. She had never wanted and needed like this before. And never had she sparred with another person with the craving for sexual release so close to the surface. The feral heat in Jared’s eyes told her nothing was off the table—he could handle anything. Everything within Mia told her to test him.
Strength and stamina were his allies; quickness and agility would be hers. She sprang toward him with a double somersault, her foot connecting with his chest. As he grunted and moved back, she landed on her feet and, without a pause, whirled and kicked again, barely grazing his shoulder.
She backed away slightly and grinned. His answer was a gruff, husky laugh that sent vibrations of pleasure throughout her body. She’d never orgasmed without touch before but had a feeling that if anyone could manage the feat, it would be Jared.
“Very nice,” he said, and then he smiled. Distracted by the beauty of that smile, she never saw him move.
Hands grabbed her shoulders, whirled her around, and slammed her back against a hard chest. Jared wrapped his arms tight around her. Mia tried to break the hold by knocking her head against his throat, but he was too quick. With her arms restrained, her only other recourse was her legs. Just as she raised one, quick as a flash, Jared wrapped one of his legs around both of hers. Their breathing heavy, they froze in this position. His erection was hard, throbbing and insistent as it pressed up against her butt. It took every bit of her willpower not to rub herself against him.
“Give?” he asked softly.
“Not yet.”
His arms dropped away from her, and he stepped back. Mia turned and almost gave in when she saw his face. Jared hid his thoughts and emotions better than anyone she’d ever known. But right now, there was no doubt what he wanted. His eyes gleamed like she’d never seen them before. His mouth, usually a straight line, held a sensuous curl. And if she doubted that look of need, she had only to drop her eyes lower. The enormous erection he sported gave her every indication of how this would end. Though she desperately wanted that too, she couldn’t help but heat things up just a little more.
She sprang toward him. Jared caught her easily and took her to the ground. The mat beneath was softer than the floor, but there was still an impact. Jared took it all, allowing Mia to land on top of him. She rose and straddled him, balancing herself on her knees. With a smirk of pure insolence, she said, “I knew I could take you down.”
“Anytime you want to go down on me like this, feel free.”
The sexually loaded words pushed her past the brink. Mia raised her arms and began to tug on her sports bra. Jared’s hands stopped her. She looked down and watched as he slowly slid his fingers beneath the material, and then she gasped as those long fingers captured her nipples between and tightened around them. The er
otic pleasure-pain as his fingers tightened and then released put her at the very edge. Without thought, she moved her hips, allowing her mound to cover the hard penis jutting beneath the material of his pants.
Eyes locked together, they rode each other slowly as his fingers tightened and then released her nipples with the same rhythm as his hip thrusts. Ecstasy zoomed. Gasping, riding the wave of pleasure, on the precipice of one of the most incredible moments of her life, she finally let go and felt herself falling into a peaceful and beautiful velvet darkness.
Before she could recover, Jared rolled her over and stripped her with urgent efficiency. Mia tried to cooperate as much as possible, but her limbs felt weighted and so relaxed she could barely move them. Finally she was nude, and he had managed to get his pants halfway off before he was between her legs.
Poised at her entrance, he stopped and muttered thickly, “I don’t have a rubber.”
“ ’Kay.” She meant to convey that she was protected. And given her nonexistent sex life before Jared, she was healthy. No way could she get those words out.
He needed no other encouragement and thrust deep. She gasped; accepting him gladly, Mia wrapped her legs around his waist, closed her eyes, and gave herself up to the marvelous heat consuming her once more.
Teeth clenched for control, Jared fought the impending explosion. He’d never had sex without a condom. His first sexual experience had been at fourteen, and he had made sure he was protected. The thought of bringing an unwanted child into the world went against everything he believed in, even when he’d been a clueless kid. He’d seen too many unwanted children—after his parents’ deaths, he’d become one himself.
So why the hell was that not an issue with Mia? Maybe when his mind was functioning again, he’d have the answer. Right now, all he could do was concentrate on the fire and heat consuming him as he thrust, retreated, and then went deeper.
She was right there with him, her gasps, moans, and little cries urging him on. Needing an even deeper connection, Jared lifted her legs from around his waist and pushed them forward. With his arms on either side of her head, he propped himself up and then lowered his body once more, going as deep as possible. Mia’s dark eyes glittered up at him as she let out a little gasping cry.
“Too much?” His voice was so strained he wondered if she even understood him.
“Just right,” she whispered.
Agreeing with her one hundred percent, he covered her mouth with his and plunged deep, the rhythm of his cock keeping time with the thrusting of his tongue. Seconds later, electric sensations zipped up his spine and he exploded. Mia held him as he thrust over and over, and then blessed peace enveloped his entire body and he collapsed on top of her.
Gasping as if he’d just run sprints in the desert heat, Jared rolled away and sprawled out beside her. His mind was reeling, his body on total meltdown. Never had he come like that. He turned his head to check on the woman who had just given him the most incredible sexual experience of his life. The satisfied smile curving her mouth told him she realized what she had accomplished. Usually silent during sex, Jared knew he’d made quite a few noises. And if her expression was anything to go by, Mia was quite pleased.
Unable to be this far away from her, he gathered her slender body against his and softly kissed the curve of her beautiful mouth. Lifting his head, he said, “We are still alive … right?”
Instead of laughing or coming back with a smart remark, she whispered, “Thank you for that.”
In his whole life, he’d never been thanked for sex. Now he was at a loss for words. He could say the same thing to her and tell her he’d never had that kind of experience, either. He could tell her how incredible he thought she was or that spending a lifetime inside her would be like heaven on earth. There were so many sweet, comforting words that most men would’ve been able to come up with. Jared had never said them … hell, he’d never felt them. So instead, he said the sensible thing: “You okay about me not using a rubber?”
“Yeah, that’s fine. I’m on birth control and healthy.”
“My last checkup was a couple of months ago. I’m okay, too.”
She moved slightly, and he figured she was ready for some space. Not that he was lying on top of her, but they were both sweaty. And since he hadn’t used a condom, she’d probably appreciate a chance to clean up.
When he pulled away, he realized he hadn’t gotten his pants all the way down. Hell, that had never happened before. Tugging them back up, he then reached down to scoop her into his arms.
“Where are we going?”
“Bed.”
A soft sigh and her head burrowing into his chest was her only reply.
That weird tightening in his chest happened again. Determined not to question what the hell that meant, he carried her up the stairs and dropped her onto the bed. “Be right back.”
Mia collapsed onto the sheets, feeling like overcooked mush. That experience had been out of the realm of anything she’d had before. Of course, she didn’t have a lot to go on, but if that kind of sex were commonplace, people would be walking around with much bigger smiles and the world would be a happier place.
The bed moved slightly. She turned her head to see Jared on his knees beside her, holding a cloth.
“Open up.”
Before she could ask him what he was doing, he put a hand under one of her knees, pulling her legs apart, and then he performed one of the most gentle acts she’d ever experienced as he cleaned the semen from between her legs.
Emotions bubbled within her, followed by a large dose of panic. She couldn’t fall in love with this man. She couldn’t. Heartache like she’d never known before would be all she could expect. Determined to enjoy what he was giving her without needing more, Mia closed her eyes and relished these too brief moments of tenderness from a man who did everything he could to show others that he had nothing tender inside him.
When he finished, he dropped the cloth on the floor and gathered her close again. Mia snuggled against him. Reality would resume soon. They needed to talk about Ricard. She had to tell Jared she wanted to work with another operative.
Reality did return, but not in the form she expected. Without any prompting from her at all, Jared began to talk.
“My parents were killed in a car accident when I was six. I got into a fight on the playground. They were on their way to talk to the principal when they were hit by a drunk driver.”
Afraid to speak or offer any kind of verbal sympathy, Mia did the only thing she knew to do to offer support—she reached for his hand and held it.
“Both sets of grandparents were dead, and no aunts or uncles were available to take in a precocious orphan. So I went into the foster-care system.
“I didn’t do well. I think I was in at least a dozen homes by the time I was thirteen. Then they gave up on me. No one was going to adopt a pissed-off kid with a bad stutter and a chip on his giant shoulders. I went to an orphanage for a while and then eventually ended up in a group home for troubled teens. I ran away when I was sixteen. Lived on the streets; worked some jobs. Just tried to survive.
“I went to join the army as soon as I was old enough. There was a man there … apparently he saw something in me he liked. He recruited me into another agency. One few people have heard of.”
Questions trembled on her lips, but she knew not to ask them. She’d seen Jared in action. His skills were crazy-good and lethal. And while he might have picked up some of those skills recently, he’d been working for LCR for only a little over a year. Those kinds of moves came from years of training and experience. Mia was more than aware that government agencies existed outside the public’s knowledge. Most of them were ones only a select few ever knew about. She didn’t have to hear the details to know he’d worked for the good guys. Why? Because Jared was one of the good guys.
He was silent for so long that Mia understood he had finished. Though she was loath to break the incredible intimacy they’d been sharing, realit
y and its ugly, dirty truth needed to be brought out and discussed.
“Something really rattled Philippe today.”
“Did you hear any of the conversation?”
She shook her head. “He just answered his cellphone, which I thought was strange. Most people would put it on silent during something like that luncheon. Although his ego is big enough that he probably wouldn’t think that applied to him. When he answered, he listened for a couple of seconds; then his eyes got wide and he covered the phone with his hand, said he had to take the call and he’d be back.”
“Could be that he found out about his guy’s face being caught on a surveillance camera.”
Mia sighed and sat up. “Yeah. I’m wondering if the police will find him before he turns up with a bullet in his head, like Boyd Fuller in Chicago.”
He sat up, too, and leaned against the headboard. “On the way back to your place, I stopped and picked up a few things. Wish I’d gotten them before you saw him yesterday. One is a bug you can attach to his jacket. Smallest one I’ve ever seen, almost like a piece of lint. Doesn’t have the best reception, but it’s not bad. Next time you see him, try attaching it inside the sleeve of his jacket. If we can capture his voice arranging a deal, we’ll have all the evidence we need.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” She bit her lip as she considered her next words. No matter what she said or how she said it, he wasn’t going to like it. Might as well go ahead and get it over with.
“I’m going to ask Noah to assign someone else to work this case with me.”
“No.” He said the word softly, but she heard the iron will behind it.
Sighing, she turned to face him. “It’s for the best, Jared. If I have to do this thing, I can’t have you listening. I can’t handle that.” She didn’t add that she wasn’t sure he could handle it, either.
“You won’t be having sex with the bastard.”
“What do you mean? How am I going to get out of it?”
He shrugged. “Simple. You’re going to knock him on his ass.”
Sweet Reward: A Last Chance Rescue Novel Page 23
