“Sloan?”
He skimmed his hands up her legs to part them. His lips tasted her flesh as he kissed the inside of her thighs. She was already wet as he slid two fingers inside her and slowly, deliberately thrusted inside her. Lifting his head, he watched her grip the throw tight in her hands. She whimpered and moaned as she came hard, her body trembling like a leaf in a hurricane.
Sloan stripped off his jeans then lay down beside her. He tugged her against him, spooning her close. He moaned as the tip of his cock brushed against her damp folds. He guided himself just barely inside her then scooped her leg up with his arm. He muttered a curse as he buried himself to the hilt inside her in one thrust.
She threw her head back against his shoulder as she cried out at the invasion. His mouth attacked the curve of her neck as it made its way to her lips. He had no time for slow, teasing strokes. He needed release hard and fast.
Abbey shuddered violently in his arms, her mews incoherent as he felt her clenched around him. His groin tightened as his nerves blazed hot. He roared as he came, his own voice drowning out her sighs.
They dozed for a couple hours before the fire. Sloan woke before Abbey. He watched her sleep. It was the first time he’d felt peace in days. His fingers gently inspected one particularly long burn on her shoulder.
“I cut things a little close getting out of the warehouse,” she breathed sleepily.
“Tell me,” he coaxed.
Abbey lifted her head from his chest and laid it back on his shoulder, staring into his ice-blue eyes. “I pulled myself onto the roof and ran as the explosion was ripping the building apart. Flying debris hit, leaving all the burns you see. I was able to jump into a dumpster to break my fall. Unfortunately, my phone and my earpiece weren’t as lucky. They shattered into a thousand pieces. When I got back to the motorcycle, it was surrounded by French police. I figured it was best I get out of there. I spent the night in a hostel. As soon as I got there, I searched for a phone to call the one man who could help me.”
“Gordon?” Sloan suggested.
“Not Dad. Logan. I needed a wire transfer and figured our legal counsel could help. Besides, I thought he should get an explanation why a vehicle belonging to Sloan Enterprises was sitting outside a burning building.”
Sloan laughed. “Very true.”
Abbey continued with a smile. “It was ready for me bright and early the next morning. I rented a car to come here. As you can guess, when I reached the mountains, the roads were closed due to the snow. I’ve been hiking for most of the day. So, to tell you the truth, this fire feels really good.”
He tucked the blanket closer to her.
She purred her thanks to him. “So, what do we do now?”
Sloan thought for a moment. “I’ll contact the CIA for extraction in a little bit. And of course, we’ll call home and let them know you’ve arrived safe.”
Abbey glanced around. “Where’s Bartholomew?”
Sloan cocked a grin at her. “On his way back to Minneapolis. We’re about to be an aunt and uncle.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. But what are we going to do until the CIA arrives?”
Sloan rolled on top of Abbey, holding himself above her with his elbows. “We make the most of the time we’ve got alone. Eventually, we’ll get to the bed.”
“Hmmm. Being an assassin is a rough job,” Abbey teased, as she ran her fingertips over Sloan’s chest.
He sucked his breath in sharply. “You have no idea, lass.”
»»•««
The sound of her heels on the wood dance floor was a long-forgotten melody for Abbey, one that she loved. She glanced around the old gymnasium. Nothing had changed, except the cool, late autumn air had replaced the thick humidity. Being here made Abbey want to shed her dress shoes and begin dancing. If she did, she wouldn’t stop.
The noise drew Seth from behind the old maroon velvet curtain hanging over the stage. He grinned at her. “You’re finally back from your adventures.”
“That I am.” Abbey forced a smile on her face. “But I need to talk to you.”
“About what?” Seth lowered himself onto the stage until his long, muscular legs dangled over the edge.
Abbey strode over and leaned next to him. “I have to bow out of our competition. I’m sorry.”
Seth’s jovial face suddenly darkened. “May I ask why?”
“My husband isn’t comfortable with us dancing so seductively. I should have stepped away earlier. I’ll pay you back all the money you invested in us.”
“It isn’t the money, Abbey. It’s my reputation. I was hoping our dance would bring more students to my school.”
“I’m sorry. Really, I am.”
They stood in silence for several moments. Then, Seth cocked his head toward her. “I have an idea. What if you had another partner your husband was comfortable with?”
“Like who?”
“Like him.”
Abbey gaped at Seth. “Sloan?”
“Why not? You have chemistry. You’re both smoking hot. And teaching the pair of you to a win would lend far more credibility to my school.”
“But the competition is in two weeks.”
“I can have him ready in time. What do you think?”
Abbey let go a nervous laugh. “Sure. Let me talk to him, and I’ll call you.”
“Excellent.” Seth hopped off the stage then wrapped Abbey in a hug. He kissed her quickly on the temple. “All right, I have a preschool class coming in a few minutes. I’ve got to go.”
“I’ll call you.” Abbey gave one last wave before she scuttled out of the gymnasium.
She hurried down the city streets until she reached Sloan Enterprises. Her greetings to her employees and friends were brief. She needed to get to the executive suite fast. Sloan had a meeting in a couple minutes. She had to catch him before.
Breathless, she closed his office door behind her.
Sloan gave her a puzzled look. “Where have you been?” he questioned.
“I went to talk to Seth. I told him we couldn’t dance together anymore.”
Sloan shook his head slowly then sighed determinedly. “Abbey, it makes you happy. I’ll learn to live with it. Don’t give up something you love.”
Abbey grinned. “He made me a counter offer.”
“And that would be?”
“You take his place.”
Stunned, Sloan dropped the files he held onto his desk. “Abbey, I don’t dance.”
“Really? Do you remember our dance at our reception? I do. And I remember that bar in New York City. You’re a fantastic dancer.”
“This dancing is far different than ballroom dancing.”
“You’re incredibly athletic. You’ll do great. You said this makes me happy, and it does. It would make me so much happier if I get to do this with you.”
Sloan stared at her silently for several moments before he smiled. His brogue was devilish. “All right. I’ll do it. I’m not making any promises, lass. But I’ll try.”
Abbey flew around the desk and threw her arms around his shoulders. “Thank you!” she squealed between kisses.
Sloan tugged her closer as the kisses grew deeper. He finally pulled away with a sensual smirk on his lips. “We don’t have time for where this is leading. I have a meeting. However, if you’re in your office in an hour, I would be happy to start where we left off. Clear your schedule for me.”
Abbey’s heart fluttered at Sloan’s command. “As you wish, my love.”
Sloan pressed one last kiss to her lips as he breezed past her, his hand caressing her ass as he passed. Abbey watched him as he opened the door and cast a glance at her before disappearing around the corner. She smiled, content. She couldn’t believe how in love she was with him. She scampered out of the office to hers to call and tell Seth the good news. And to clear her schedule for the afternoon.
Abbey could barely contain her excitement as she waited for the next couple of days to pass. In the exercise room in their h
ouse, she practiced her steps over and over to pull them from her memory. Most of the time, Sloan watched with an uneasy look on his face. She laughed. He’d make such an incredible dance partner. She tugged him to her to review the first basic steps. He followed her hesitantly, his body rigid. He was definitely not comfortable with this.
It didn’t help that she and Sloan got to babysit their first niece so that Maggie and Bartholomew could get a quick dinner out. Moira Kaye Evans looked just like her cousins. The baby girl was happy, healthy, and clearly an O’Riley. Despite the lack of sleep, she had never seen Bartholomew and Maggie so happy.
Finally, the morning arrived for practice. Abbey stretched on the wood floor as she watched Sloan strip off his sweat pants, leaving him in gym shorts. She could tell he was unsure of what was about to happen. In fact, she had never seen him so uneasy about something before.
Her attention was pulled from Sloan by the sound of clapping hands. “All right. How’s my favorite couple?”
Sloan frowned at him. “You don’t even know me.”
“You win me this competition, and you will forever be my favorite couple.”
Sloan chuckled nervously. Abbey followed with a giggle of her own. Seth motioned them to the center of the floor. “Let’s get started.”
The first hour was rough. Sloan stepped on Abbey’s feet. Frustration snapped his short, Irish temper. Abbey did everything she could to soothe him. His cooperation was coming to a swift end.
Then, during a particularly intimate spot of the routine, Abbey pressed tight against his muscular body. She felt him tense then moan. Things suddenly snapped into place. He caught on to each sway, each step as they took it. Suddenly, his footwork was fluid. Every step was on beat. Abbey sighed. I knew he could do it.
Abbey’s heart pounded in her chest as the dance ended. The moment was interrupted by applause. “That was fantastic!” Seth gushed. “Take a minute, and we’ll do it again.”
Sloan and Abbey began the routine anew. This time Sloan was on pace, each and every step smooth. She noticed another change in him. Instead of bumbling, Sloan had become sensual, predatory. It was in every twitch of his muscles, in the soft rumble from his throat. She could tell that, to him, it had stopped being a dance. It was foreplay. She shuddered at the thought of what their little practice would bring.
They ran through the dance one last time as their session with Seth came to an end. As the last note of the music played, they were met by thunderous applause. It can’t be just Seth.
They turned to see the women for the next class gathered in the corner by the door clapping for their performance. A couple were calling out “Bravo!” Nearly all of them had their eyes on Sloan, with that glazed-over look of desire in their stares. Abbey glanced up at her husband and laughed. For the first time since she had met him many years ago, he was blushing. It looked adorable on his chiseled face.
Seth crossed the room to them and patted them on the shoulders. “Shall we pick up here next Tuesday morning?”
Sloan straightened himself to regain his composure. It didn’t help. His cheeks were still rosy red. “Absolutely. We’ll be here.”
“Great. You both did fantastic today. Keep practicing together until our next session. We’ll see you then.” Seth nodded his goodbye to each of them then strode across the gym to his waiting class.
Abbey was still chuckling to herself as they found their gym bags and pulled on their pants and coats. Sloan shot her an irritated glance. He was clearly not amused. “Will the laughter stop sometime today?”
“Probably not. Besides, you’re cute when you’re flustered.”
“Hardly, Abigail.”
“I’m Abigail again, huh?”
“You are while you’re teasing me,” he grumbled.
“I’m not teasing. I just think you getting all embarrassed because a bunch of women got hot and bothered watching you dance is adorable. The dance was fantastic.”
“If you say so.”
They made their way to the Hummer a couple of blocks away and climbed in. Sloan flipped on the ignition then set his hand on Abbey’s knee. After the morning they had shared, she shivered in response. “Home?” she breathed.
“I have one place to stop first,” Sloan replied.
Downtown Minneapolis faded into suburbs as Sloan drove down the highway. Soon the towns and rows of suburban cookie-cutter houses turned into farmland. Abbey frowned. “Where are we going?”
“I have something to show you.”
Sloan pulled off the highway and maneuvered the twisting rural roads. He took a right at a one-lane street engulfed in evergreens, just wide enough to let the Hummer through without scraping the sides with branches. They followed the dark path for a couple minutes. It opened up to a wide clearing, with a huge, sparkling clear lake. A large section of the land had been turned up by a vacated land mover. The skeleton of a very hefty structure stood in the dirt. The bones of what would soon be walls crisscrossed among the lumber.
He put the Hummer in park and climbed out. She followed.
“What do you think?” Sloan questioned.
Abbey looked at the scenery around her. “It’s beautiful. What’s going here?”
He was silent a moment. “Our home.”
She turned to look at him. “What?” she asked, incredulous.
He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “I bought this land when we brought you home from Afghanistan. I’m moving our family away from the city to a place well-hidden. We’ll see our enemies before they attack.”
“Sloan…” Abbey objected.
“Our days of hiding in plain sight are over. My days as a hired gun are over. I’ll hire people to oversee the construction of the complexes. We’ll only travel for openings, if that. Dunham agrees with me. He deactivated us himself. I can’t have you in danger. I can’t have our children in danger. I can’t put others in danger. No more missions, no more assignments, no more jobs. My place is here with my family.”
“But that’s all you’ve known for years.”
“Losing you twice almost ended me. You are my world, my life, my home. It’s about bloody time I stop defending the rest of the world and start protecting you.”
Abbey stared at him, speechless.
Sloan continued with his trademark, sensual smirk. “Do you object?”
“N…no,” Abbey stammered.
“Excellent.” He turned toward the churned-up land. “They’re hoping to have the walls, roof, and siding up before the first snow. It’ll be done after the first of the year. Eight bedrooms. Six baths. Four stall garage. The pool will be dug next summer. And we still have our lake. And a fence, gate, and security system will be installed before we move in.”
“Wow,” was all Abbey could say.
“Are you pleased?”
Abbey stared at her husband. She could see the cold, hard determination in his eyes. But now, she could see more as well. Fear. Hope. Adoration. She smiled warmly. “Yes. Very pleased. Thank you. It’s incredible.”
Sloan hugged her closer. Abbey buried herself against him, snuggling close to his warm body. The chilly Minnesota wind whipped across the open field. For the first time since they had met in New York City, she felt completely secure. Their days of risking their lives for the greater good were over—for now.
“Let’s go home. At least our home for now,” Sloan breathed into her ear. She nodded excitedly as he took her hand and led her back to the Hummer.
What started as a moment of silent shock soon led to an animated conversation. Sloan told her his plans for a large fireplace in the living room for the winter, inspired by the one they had made love next to in the cabin, with a smaller one in their bedroom. Abbey was excited for the galley kitchen that would make a professional chef jealous. There would be more than enough space to raise their children and live a peaceful life. Abbey just couldn’t wait.
They were met at the door by Ame and Ethan, both hopping up and down on little feet to be
picked up. Each parent hoisted a child into their arms as they stepped inside, shutting the door behind them. Mary rose from her seat while Gordon relaxed in Sloan’s overstuffed chair, watching television and giving Colin a bottle. She smiled gently. “So, Abbey, what did you think?”
Abbey looked at Sloan. “Mom knew about the house?”
Sloan pressed a butterfly kiss on Ame’s cheek. “Of course. I couldn’t build your dream house without a little help.”
“So?” Mary pried.
“I love it. I can’t wait,” Abbey gushed.
Mary kissed her daughter on the cheek excitedly before she scuttled back to her seat. Ethan let go a huge yawn and snuggled closer to his mother.
“I think it’s naptime,” Abbey whispered.
She turned to find Ame cuddled to her father. “Aye, I agree,” he said.
The parents traveled down the hall to each of the children’s bedrooms, tucking them into their beds. Wandering back to the living room, they discovered Colin asleep in his port-a-crib and Mary and Gordon putting on their coats. Abbey kissed each of them goodbye as they slipped out the door.
Abbey gave Sloan a small, silent smile before she crossed the room to the glass wall that overlooked the pool and the lake. She stared at the water as she tried to gather her jumbled thoughts.
“You aren’t pleased,” Sloan concluded slowly, sounding worried.
“I am pleased. Really. It’s just a shock. This place holds a lot of memories.”
“As many as Mount Vernon? Or the penthouse?”
She shot him a smirk. “Of course not.”
He crossed the living area to her and wrapped her in his arms. “What is it, Abbey?”
She gazed into his ice-blue eyes. “Sloan, I don’t know you other than the man you’ve been. Now, you’re giving up the covert life you’ve been leading. How do you do that after twenty-five years? You just don’t check out of a job like that.”
“True. That’s why I’m building this fortress for you. For my family. For the ones I love more than my life. I will know when we’re being attacked, and we’ll be ready. Not to mention I have the world’s greatest assassin, and dance partner, by my side.”
The Assassin Page 17
