Stand Fast (DEA FAST Series Book 3)

by Kaylea Cross

  “I hear you. And here I am, safe and sound.”

  Yes. This time. And as selfish as it made her, she was so damn grateful he hadn’t been one of the men bleeding out on the flight back to base.

  His arms were so strong around her. Protecting and comforting her. Somehow he’d escaped injury during the dangerous rescue and was holding her now.

  Jaliya sucked in a shuddering breath and fought to stop the burn of tears, pulling his scent into her nose. Sweat and soap and…Zaid. She’d remember his scent for the rest of her life.

  Need sparked low in her gut. There was no stopping it, and this time, she didn’t feel like fighting it.

  She’d been angry at first when he’d followed her here and barged in. Now she was glad. She needed a distraction from the turmoil inside her, and he was certainly…a huge distraction.

  It was more than that though, even if she wanted to convince herself otherwise. She’d never wanted anyone the way she wanted him, and the attraction was growing stronger no matter how much she tried to convince herself to squelch it.

  They had such a short amount of time left together—he could be sent elsewhere at a moment’s notice. And every time he and his teammates went outside the wire, there was a chance that they wouldn’t come back at all.

  Jaliya shuddered and pulled in another deep breath, savoring the feel of him. She was tired of fighting the pull between them. Sick to death of repressing her needs and desires because of a deep-seated sense of guilt and some stupid vow she’d made to herself years ago to stay celibate until she at least got engaged.

  The only man she wanted was right here in front of her, and she was done pretending she could live without satisfying the raging need he ignited in her blood.

  Gathering her courage, she eased her grip on his shirt, flattening her hands against his broad back, and raised her head to look into his face. His gold-flecked eyes searched hers, one hand smoothing gently over her hair. The concern and tenderness on his face undid her.

  Pushing up on tiptoe, she angled her head and fused her mouth to his.

  Zaid made a low, hungry sound in the back of his throat and fisted his hand in her hair, forcing her head back more as he took over. Desire exploded, blasting throughout her body in a dizzying wave.

  All that mattered was this. Them. Finally being able to give reign to the hunger she’d been suppressing, finally getting to taste and touch the man she’d been fantasizing about for so many weeks.

  They were plastered together from chest to groin, but it wasn’t good enough. She gripped the sides of his head in her hands and pushed her tongue against his, conveying her urgency and desperation without a single word. He didn’t pull back or ask questions, just grabbed her by the hips and hoisted her off her feet.

  Jaliya moaned at the show of raw male strength and wound her legs around his waist, stopping the kiss and releasing his head only long enough to peel her shirt over her head and fling it behind her. Then she sought his sexy mouth once more, vaguely aware that he was moving them backward.

  With one hand holding the back of her head he bent forward, lowering her onto the hard cot she’d been sleeping on the past few nights. She kept hold of his shoulders and tugged him down on top of her. Zaid groaned deep in his chest as he stretched out on top of her, his tongue sliding against hers.

  Her breath caught and sensation zinged through her when his weight lowered onto her, pressing her down against the blankets. The pressure of his erection between her open thighs made her shudder, the acute ache sharpening. Then he nipped at her bottom lip and kissed a path over her jaw to the side of her neck.

  “Sweetheart, are you sure?” he murmured.

  She loved that he’d asked. “Yes.” She needed him. Didn’t want him to stop, no matter what she’d said before.

  Jaliya tipped her head back to give him more room, gasping at the wet stroke of his tongue and the scrape of his scruff against her sensitive skin. By the time he reached the base of her throat her breasts felt swollen, her nipples tight and aching.

  Dragging his tongue across the upper swell of her right breast, he shifted to his knees to straddle her and reached beneath her to undo her bra. She shrugged out of it and tossed it aside, a thrill rushing through her when he paused to stare at her naked breasts.

  His eyes darkened and his jaw grew taut. Those big strong hands slid up to cup the tender flesh, his thumbs sweeping gently over the rigid peaks. A moan slipped out of her as pleasure shot through her. She arched her back, silently asking for more, and she bit her lip as he lowered his dark head.

  The moment his lips closed around her nipple she grabbed hold of his head and bit back a whimper. His hot, wet tongue circled it, soothing and tantalizing as he sucked. She locked her legs around his and lifted her hips, desperate for more pressure between her legs.

  But Zaid apparently wasn’t in the mood to be rushed. His hands held her in place as he sucked and stroked and teased her nipple, then switched to the other.

  “Zaid,” she panted, wanting so much more and impatient to get it.

  He made a low sound and continued to torment her, ignoring her restless movements. Finally, when she couldn’t stand the burn a moment longer, he sat up and reached for the top of her pants.

  She helped him, undoing the button and yanking down the zipper while he unlaced her boots and tugged them off. Shoving her pants down her legs, she kicked them off, leaving her in just her panties. Before he could touch her she reached for the hem of his T-shirt, needing to be skin on skin with him.

  He reached one hand between his shoulder blades and peeled it over his head and she stopped, spellbound by the ridges and hollows of muscle beneath the dusting of black hair and smooth, bronze skin. Setting her hands on the curves of his pecs, she explored him, drinking him in, reveling in the sheer masculine strength of his body.

  “God, when you look at me like that…” He trailed off and grasped her hands in his. Jaliya looked up at him, her heart tripping when she saw the naked longing on his face.

  Without a word she curled a hand around his nape and brought his mouth to hers. Zaid gobbled her up in a greedy, savage kiss that thrilled her to her toes.

  She was so wet, on fire for him, and the ache between her legs was driving her insane. Her fingers tangled in the waistband of his pants but he drew them away and pushed her flat on the cot as he came down on one elbow beside her.

  His hand drifted up her bare calf to her inner thigh, his light touch sending shivers through her. He angled his head to watch and inched the pads of his fingers over the smooth skin of her thigh, stopping at the edge of her panties.

  She held her breath, waiting, praying for him to touch her where she needed it most, and finally he brushed his fingertips over her covered mound. She hissed air between her teeth and closed her eyes, rocking her hips up to meet his hand.

  “I’ve wanted to do this for so long,” he whispered against her neck, hooking his fingers into her panties and slowly dragging them down her legs. The wash of cool air against her heated folds increased the pulse there.

  “Then do it,” she said, her voice unsteady enough to take the bite out of the demand.

  One side of his mouth kicked up and his gaze settled on hers as the heat of his palm covered her mound.

  She closed her eyes and bit her lip, the slight amount of pressure he applied the sweetest torment. And then he began gliding his fingers up and down the seam of her folds and she could barely breathe, a tiny whimper breaking free of her throat. She needed this, needed it so badly she ached.

  The cot shifted. She forced her heavy eyelids apart in time to see him ease onto his knees beside the cot, his expression absorbed as he continued to stroke and tease the slick flesh between her legs. He was so unbelievably sexy like that, intent on his task, utterly in control despite the flush of arousal on the tops of his cheeks and the ridge of his erection pressing against the front of his pants.

  He eased a finger into her just as his thumb swept across th
e swollen knot of her clit.

  “Ah!” she gasped, automatically lifting her hips as pleasure seared across her nerve endings.

  “You’re all soft and wet for me,” he whispered, repeating the motion before pulling his finger out and adding a second.

  The sweet pressure inside her expanded, her clit throbbing now. “Zaid…”

  “Stay still,” he commanded, his free hand gripping her outer thigh and shifting it to open her wider. Holding her immobile.

  Her legs trembled, all the muscles in her belly pulling taut as he lowered his head toward her. She closed her eyes and grasped the blanket in both hands, managed to stifle a cry of mingled relief and passion when the heat of his mouth touched her most intimate flesh. He kissed her there, his fingers moving slow and steady as his tongue swirled hot, melting circles around her swollen clit.

  Oh God, oh God…

  She couldn’t speak, could barely breathe as his slow, erotic kisses and caresses drove her out of her mind, pushing her higher and higher. Then his free hand eased up her ribs to cradle her breast, his fingers squeezing her hardened nipple just as his lips firmed around her bundle of nerves and sucked gently.

  A breathless mewl broke free as the orgasm loomed, her entire body strung taut, thighs trembling. His tongue slid across her clit, his fingers rubbing against some magic spot inside of her while he played with her nipple, and suddenly she couldn’t take any more.

  She released the blankets and grabbed his head, holding him to her as her climax hit, wave after sweet wave of heated pleasure flowing through her entire body. Heart thundering against her ribs, she sagged against the cot with a ragged groan and tugged at his head to make him stop. He paused only long enough to press one last kiss to her slick folds before lifting his head, and the gleam of victory in his eyes was unmistakable.

  She had no words. But as sated and relaxed as she was, she still wanted more.

  Sitting up, she sought his lips with her own, tasting herself on him as she reached down to undo his pants. This time he didn’t stop her, wrapping one big hand around her nape and shoving his pants down to his thighs with the other.

  Jaliya tried to draw him down on top of her but he made a sound of protest and grabbed her hand instead, pulling it down until she could wrap her fingers around the hot, rigid length of his erection. He groaned into her mouth and tangled his fingers in her hair, pushing into her grip, his fingers locked around hers.

  Wanting to draw out the pleasure as he had for her, Jaliya slowed the kiss, sliding her tongue against his as she pumped her fist. His hand tightened in her hair, the slight burn adding to her excitement. He was so hard and thick, straining in her grip. She swirled her fingers around the head of his cock as she worked him, watching his face.

  His jaw tightened and his eyes grew heavy-lidded. His breathing sped up and turned shallow. The muscles in his chest and abdomen tightened.

  She leaned in to kiss that sexy mouth, her hand moving slow and steady on his rigid length. His tongue plunged between her lips, a low growl emanating from his throat as he pumped into her fist, reaching down to close his hand around hers, squeezing tight. Triumph shot through her when he kicked in her hand, warmth spurting over their joined fingers and onto her stomach.

  Zaid broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers with a satisfied groan, their fingers still locked together around his erection. They stayed like that for some time, both of them content to bask in the afterglow and savor the closeness.

  Finally he kissed her slow and soft on the mouth and drew away. “You okay?” he whispered.

  She nodded. “You?”

  He laughed softly. “Yeah. I’m okay.” He kissed her forehead, and the tenderness of it made her heart squeeze. “Stay here,” he whispered, hitching up his pants as he stood.

  Suddenly cold and strangely self-conscious without his arms around her, she drew up one knee and grabbed his shirt from the floor to cover her breasts. He crossed the room to grab some tissues and came back to the bed, giving her a sensual smile that made her insides curl before sitting on the edge of the cot and wiping her stomach clean. She avoided his gaze, unsure where to look or what to say now that it was over.

  “Hey.” He gently grasped her jaw in his hand and lifted her face. “Having second thoughts already?”

  What? “No, not at all. I just wondered if maybe you did.”

  Something possessive flared in his eyes. “No way. You’re mine.”

  She loved the way he said it, and the sentiment behind it. Even if this could only last a short while longer.

  He stroked her hair back from her forehead. “You really okay with this?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  He chuckled. “Trust me, I should be thanking you. Although technically you still haven’t had sex or slept with me.”

  That made her smile. “No, I haven’t, have I?”

  “No. So your honor is still intact.”

  She’d wondered why he hadn’t entered her. Now she knew why, and it turned her heart over to know he’d wanted to protect her that way even in the heat of passion. “You make me lose my head.”

  “Yeah? Well that’s only fair, since you do the same to me.” He gathered her clothes from the floor and handed them to her.

  She tugged them on quickly, relieved when she was covered once more. “Here’re yours.” She held out the shirt she’d been holding to her breasts.

  He lifted it to his nose and inhaled. His eyes went smoky. “Mmmm, smells like you.”

  She flushed. “Shame, to cover up such a nice view.”

  He grinned and pulled the shirt over his arms. “Flatterer.”

  With reality rushing in to interrupt their interlude, nerves began to take hold. She fiddled with the blanket beside her hip and swallowed. “What you said earlier, about the op.”

  He drew the shirt over his head and tugged it over his torso. “What about it?”

  “Was it the truth? You really don’t see what happened as my fault?”

  His expression filled with understanding. “Honey, of course it wasn’t your fault. It’s like I said, shit happened. Nobody has a crystal ball, and no one can predict what will go down during a mission. No one’s going to blame you for what happened, and you can’t either.”

  “Because I was thinking that he was right.”

  “Who?”

  “My dad. That I’m not cut out for this job. That I’m not good enough.”

  Warm, gentle hands cradled her face. She looked up into his gorgeous hazel eyes as he spoke in a low voice. “You are good enough. And I believe in you.”

  His words hit her in her most vulnerable spot. Until that moment she hadn’t realized how badly she’d needed to hear them. To know that he had faith in her and her abilities.

  She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat and smiled up at him, the sincerity in his voice warming her straight to her soul. “Thank you.”

  His gaze was both tender and intense. Steady. Seeing every part of her in a way that no one else ever had. “You’re going to find The Jackal. And when you do, we’re gonna nail the son of a bitch.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  The words inside the card blurred as her eyes filled with tears and the strains of Simply the Best by Tina Turner filled the air. Jaliya angrily wiped her eyes and finished reading the words while the recorded song played.

  You’re simply the best, it read in bold red letters. Beneath it, her family had all signed it along with little notes saying how much they missed her, and that they couldn’t wait for her to come home. Their timing was uncanny, fresh on the heels of the disastrous op last night.

  Even her father had put an X and an O under his note, as close to an I love you as he ever gave. He wasn’t a demonstrative man, and used praise sparingly. He expected them all to just know that he loved them; they shouldn’t need him to say the actual words.

  But she yearned to hear them nonetheless. Always had, and probably always would.

  Closing the car
d and setting it down on her bunk, she sat up and swung her legs over the edge, looking around her room. It was cold, almost sterile. And it felt emptier than ever after what she and Zaid had done here last night.

  He and his team were headed out on another op shortly. She’d helped compile the intel for it this morning, but had asked David that she not be directly involved with the mission. She was too raw, and worried sick about Zaid. David must have seen how upset she was because he’d let her leave at dinner and told her to take the rest of the night off.

  Now here she was, alone in her cell of a room, questioning her role here, as well as her capability as an analyst. Hell, as an agent in general.

  She glanced at the paperback on the table that Zaid had loaned her. A military thriller. Reading was one of her favorite pastimes but there was no way she could concentrate enough to get anything out of the story. She wanted Zaid, or at least to hear his voice.

  Her gaze strayed to her phone, sitting beside the book. It was the middle of the day, but sometimes her mom finished teaching early on Wednesdays.

  Needing to hear a familiar voice, she picked it up and called home. After three rings she expected the answering machine to kick in, but then someone picked up.

  “Jaliya?”

  She automatically tensed at the sound of her father’s voice. “Dad? What are you doing home?”

  “I’m packing for a conference in Atlanta. I leave first thing in the morning.” He paused. “How are you?”

  “I’m fine.” She tried to sound cheery, but hard to say whether she pulled it off.

  “You working hard?”

  “Constantly.”

  “And? How’s it going over there?”

  She bit her lips as tears threatened, hitting her in a painful rush.

  “Hello? You still there?”

  “I’m here,” she managed in a whisper.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked sharply.