Rules of Revenge

by AJ Quinn

  Darien didn’t disappoint.

  Let go, Darien’s spirit whispered as she edged the tension higher and higher and helped Jessie take what she needed. I’ll catch you, her heart promised as she increased the pressure with her mouth and sent Jessie catapulting into a breathless, screaming orgasm and all Jessie could say was Darien’s name.

  *

  Awareness returned when she felt Darien begin to lift herself off her body. Uncertain whether she meant to leave the bed, Jessie reached out and wrapped one arm around Darien’s waist, stilling her movement. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  Darien released a soft laugh. “I thought you might need to breathe and I figured it would be easier if I wasn’t crushing you.”

  “Breathing’s nice. Having you on top of me is nicer.” Jessie watched the banked fire in Darien’s eyes grow infinitesimally hotter before her eyes skimmed down to look at her mouth. Full. Unsmiling but soft. Perfect. Emboldened, she gripped the back of Darien’s head and brought it back down until her mouth was within reach, her body taut with the anticipation of kissing her. “And I don’t know what you’re thinking, because I’m nowhere near finished with you.”

  In Darien she discovered an enthusiastic, wickedly talented lover. She also noticed that each time they came together, Darien loosened up a little more, laughed a little more. Opened up to her a little bit more.

  But not completely.

  It made her wonder if Darien was afraid of what was happening between them. Afraid of exposing too much of herself. Not the former MI6 operative. Not the contract assassin. But the real woman. The living, breathing, feeling woman.

  She would need to move carefully. But that was for later. For now—she claimed her mouth. Hot, possessive, demanding her full attention while she continued to hold her. Jessie had no doubt Darien could have easily removed her restraining arm and was indescribably pleased when instead she felt surrender shudder through her.

  “Jesslyn, you’re going to have to help me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t have a frame of reference for this.” She closed her eyes briefly. “You probably need—want—more, and I don’t know what I have to give. I don’t even know how I feel except that I’m glad you’re here with me.”

  “I’ll take that—for now.”

  “Good because I just know I want more of you.” A low groan came from Darien’s throat as she pressed her mouth to the hollow in Jessie’s neck. “I want all of you.”

  “Then I don’t see a problem because it seems we both want the same thing.”

  For an instant, Darien went still. She lifted her head and looked as if there was something she wanted to say. But as she opened her mouth, Jessie put a hand over her lips preventing her from saying anything else. And then her hands were in Darien’s hair and she was covering Darien’s lips with her mouth, kissing her once more. Kissing her with increasing hunger. Kissing her like Darien was there for her alone.

  Jessie shifted, pressing against Darien with her thigh, touching nerve endings tight with unfulfilled stimulation. She felt the low groan reverberating in Darien’s chest and smiled. “We’ll figure it out, Darien. Later.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  When Darien awoke, she was immediately conscious of two things. Dawn was just breaking, the light coming through the window, thin and gray. And Jessie was lying awake beside her on the bed, a potent reminder of what they had shared.

  Gently shifting, she inched up and tried but couldn’t remember a time she had awoken beside someone. Ever. It had also been a long time since she’d allowed any woman to get this close. To her, not Ari. Touching her where it mattered. Making her lose control.

  Slightly dazed, she looked down at Jessie. But as she absorbed both the warmth emanating from her and the heated fragrance of her skin, she realized how different this felt from anything she’d previously experienced. There was a connection, gossamer threads, binding them together. And then a new thought occurred.

  This didn’t just feel different. It felt bloody marvelous. Which begged the question: Why did being with Jessie like this affect her as nothing had before?

  Stretching sleepily like a satisfied cat, Jessie lifted her gaze and smiled at her, and Darien immediately felt her throat tighten and her heart rate increase. She almost laughed, knowing Jessie shouldn’t have this effect on her. But with those warm eyes and softly tousled hair, Jesslyn Coltrane was proving to be a force to be reckoned with.

  “Good morning.” Reaching over, Jessie brushed Darien’s hair back from her face and gently rubbed her thumb under one eye. “You don’t sleep nearly enough. I’m sorry if I woke you up.”

  “Don’t worry, you didn’t. I haven’t slept for more than two to three hours at a time in longer than I can remember.” Darien laughed quietly. “But I have to admit, the sleep I did manage last night was some of the best sleep I’ve had in years.”

  “Good to know.”

  She felt Jessie’s eyes on her and her skin tingled under the intensity of her gaze. “Um, Jesslyn—”

  “Uh-oh. I’m not sure I like the sound of that.” Her smile seemed to dim a little. “Does that mean we won’t be doing this again?”

  “No…not at all.” Unable or possibly unwilling to stop herself, she leaned down and touched her lips to Jessie’s mouth, letting the kiss deepen slowly while ignoring the more primitive urges coursing through her, the ones that wanted to ravish and devour. “Before you ask, I’ve no regrets about last night, and have no doubt—we will take this up again, tonight at the latest. That’s a promise.”

  Jessie nodded and licked her lips. “I’m good with that. What happens now?”

  Darien stared at her for a moment then slowly smiled. “For now, I’m thinking a shower first then breakfast. Then we save the world. Does that work for you?”

  Jessie nodded and continued to watch her without saying anything.

  Acting on impulse, Darien eased from the bed before turning and offering her outstretched hand. When Jessie accepted her hand, she knew she’d made the right decision. She threaded their fingers together and brought them to her lips. Saw Jessie’s eyes flash with sudden heat and felt a quickening in her blood.

  “Jesslyn?” Her voice was a pleading whisper. “I don’t think I can wait for tonight. Shower?”

  She left herself open, allowing Jessie to read the unmistakable invitation, and was rewarded when Jessie let her pull her from the bed.

  *

  By early evening, Darien had lost all sense of bonhomie.

  Under normal circumstances, she would have said nothing was impossible. But finding a woman who didn’t want to be found was proving to be a definite challenge. Nadia Petrov had covered her tracks like a pro, and as potential leads continued to evaporate, she remained an elusive ghost. In spite of their collective talents, assets, and efforts, they were no closer to finding her. And while rumors continued to abound, it was starting to look like no one had actually seen Petrov in more than three months. Not and lived to tell about it.

  Fifteen days. They were fast running out of time, and while the search continued, Darien knew the unspoken fear was that unless luck started to turn their way, Petrov would remain in the wind until it was too late to stop her. Her mood grew darker thinking of that prospect.

  She knew no one could stay hidden forever and reminded herself that Petrov’s father had proved to be equally difficult to track. That she had found him in the end was of little comfort because it had taken her months. And while she was now a much better tracker than she had been then, time was something they simply didn’t have.

  Watching another day wind down, Darien tried to cope with the ever-increasing intensity of her headache while frustration settled once again in a knot between her shoulder blades. She heard the bedroom door open at the same time she realized she was rubbing her temples and quickly dropped her hands to her side.

  “You look pale. When was the last time you ate?”

  Jessie’s
question coming out of the blue penetrated the haze Darien was in. She knew she should have eaten long before now. She didn’t have to be told. But the only thing she could recall putting into her system all day was coffee. “I’m not sure.”

  “That’s what I thought. What am I supposed to do with you,” Jessie said half to herself as she moved closer and placed her hands on Darien’s shoulders. And then she kissed her. The touch of her mouth was electric and sent a charge racing through Darien. It also left her unable to do anything but respond—with pleasure.

  “Wow,” Jessie murmured, licking her lips as she drew back. “Don’t know why I waited, because I really wanted to do that.”

  “And do you always do what you want?”

  Jessie appeared to consider the question before sending a quick half grin in her direction. “It’s not something I’ve normally done in the past, but it would seem I’ve picked up some new habits since I’ve come to Paris.”

  Darien smiled for the first time in hours, leaned closer, and kissed her back, letting some of the intensity she was feeling show. “We could always skip dinner.”

  Jessie laughed. “Not unless you prefer your women comatose because I’m famished, and if I don’t get something to eat, I’ll pass out. Not surprising because I doubt anyone’s eaten since breakfast, and don’t think I didn’t notice that you didn’t eat this morning.”

  “I had other things on my mind this morning…” She grinned faintly as she recalled exactly why she had been so distracted that morning. “Not to worry. I’m sure I can quickly put something together so you don’t faint.”

  “I’m sure you can, but why bother? I think we should just go out for dinner. That way, for once, you won’t need to worry about cooking.”

  “Are you asking me out, Agent Coltrane?”

  Jessie hesitated ever so slightly. “I’d love to, but not right this minute. Go grab your jacket and I’ll tell Elle and Ben and Nicola we’re all going out for dinner. I don’t care where. You can pick.”

  Darien stared at her a moment longer. “Bossy little thing.”

  “You don’t know the half of it,” Jessie said with a laugh.

  *

  As the shadows lengthened and evening settled over the city, Darien chose a small nearby restaurant that appeared constantly busy and seemed to cater primarily to a mix of students and neighborhood locals—youthful, boisterous, and confidant. A young woman near the entrance greeted Darien with a wave and pointed to a booth at the back.

  As they squeezed past the crowd waiting for takeout by the counter, Jessie saw the menu scribbled on a chalkboard and laughed with delight.

  “Hamburger and pommes frites okay?” Darien asked.

  “Oh God, yes. That sounds perfect.”

  After conferring with the others, Darien went to place their orders while they made their way to their booth. A few minutes later, Darien joined them. Once she had her back to the wall so she could face the door, Jessie could see her slowly begin to relax—or at least relax as much as Darien ever did in a public venue.

  She never fully dropped her guard and continued to maintain a predatory focus on everyone who came and went in the restaurant. But as she stretched her legs, she seemed to be following the animated conversation at the table and occasionally joined in while they waited for their meals to arrive.

  The food proved to be worth the wait. When a large platter was put in front of her, Jessie realized the meal might be viewed as traditional American fare, but in a city devoted to fine dining and elite restaurants, it would never qualify as fast food. Especially not when it was accompanied by a glass of the house red.

  Set before her was a serious burger. The char-grilled patty was hand pressed, thick and juicy, stacked with lettuce and tomatoes. The sesame seed bun was homemade, the fries crisp and fresh cut, accompanied by an assortment of dipping sauces. And the scent was incredible. Greedy for a taste, she took a first bite, closed her eyes, and sighed contentedly as the flavors melted in her mouth.

  “Hungry?”

  Jessie grinned, finding the food too good to mind the teasing note in Darien’s voice. “Yes, as a matter of fact, and this is perfect. I just can’t believe the woman who insists on feeding us healthy food brought us to an American-style diner.”

  Darien made no attempt to hide her amusement. “I’ll have you know, even though I don’t eat it, beef in France is typically grass fed and extremely lean. So that hamburger you’re doing your best to inhale still qualifies as a healthy choice.”

  “I don’t care. This is really good,” Jessie responded good-naturedly, concentrating on her food until the sharp edge of her hunger had abated. “Are you planning on finishing your fries?”

  *

  “I think I’m going to have to double the distance I run tomorrow if I’ve any hope of working that dinner off.” Jessie released a rueful laugh and linked her arm with Darien’s as they left the restaurant and started back to the house at a leisurely pace.

  “That’s probably not necessary.” What was meant to be a quick glance was extended and Darien allowed her gaze to roam with both directness and appreciation. “In fact, I wouldn’t change a thing if I were you.”

  Jessie’s eyes widened and a flush swept across her face. “That’s sweet,” she said carefully, then added a quick grin. “But then you’re probably just saying that because you’d like to maintain a competitive advantage.”

  Darien rolled her eyes and grinned. “I didn’t make you eat most of my fries. So you’re going to be hard-pressed to lay the blame at my feet.” She tilted her head to one side. “As for being sweet, I doubt you’d be able to get a single person who knows me to agree with you.”

  “That may be, but I would take that to mean none of them know you very well.”

  Darien took the comment seriously and wondered how it was Jessie seemed to know her so well, especially so quickly. “That may be,” she repeated before a reluctance to continue down a personal road had her steering the conversation in another direction. “By any chance, are you suggesting you’d like me to slow down or hold back when we run?”

  “No, not really. I was teasing—mostly.”

  “Good, because I was thinking you might like to go running with me at Bois de Vincennes tomorrow morning.”

  A small crease appeared between Jessie’s brows. “Oh? Why’s that?”

  “No reason other than it’s an amazing place to run,” Darien responded and slowly watched Jessie’s frown disappear. “I think you’ll like it.”

  “Then I guess it’s a date.”

  Darien was smiling as they rounded the corner near the house. But before she could conjure an appropriate response, she stopped abruptly.

  A stranger stood at the top of the front steps, holding what appeared to be a small white bakery box. Male, Caucasian, mid to late forties, edging over six feet and in decent shape, with shoulder-length blond hair and high Slavic cheekbones. He was dressed in the uniform of a delivery service and there was a small van parked by the curb, the logo of a local patisserie featured prominently on its door panels.

  All very normal in appearance. Except for one thing. Deliveries were never made to this address. Never.

  Darien didn’t make any conscious decisions. She simply acted. She held out one arm to stop Jessie’s forward momentum, simultaneously reached inside her jacket for her weapon. And as everything shifted into slow motion, she slipped her fingers around the SIG’s grip and pulled it loose from her holster.

  Stay back. She wanted to scream the words to Jessie, but years of training ensured her plea remained locked inside her head. She felt Jessie bump into her arm. Heard her start to say, “What—”

  The rest of Jessie’s comment was lost as Darien’s gaze sharpened and her focus zeroed in on the stranger standing at the door. Just as behind her, she momentarily heard Nicola and Elle laughing at something Ben had just said, and then their voices also faded into the evening air.

  Vigilance had been a part of her daily li
fe since earliest childhood. She had grown up in the business, and it had been constantly drilled into her until situational awareness became as natural as breathing. She could recall failing to remain vigilant only once, in Prague, and the consequences of that failure still haunted her. That made the possibility of failing again too painful to even consider.

  She pushed Jessie behind her as her eyes met those of the courier. Saw a flash of surprise followed by swift recognition on his face. Watched him reach swiftly for his weapon. He was too late.

  His age marked him as a seasoned professional. She was faster. No doubts, no second-guessing. Before his gun cleared his jacket, she had already fired several rounds in rapid succession.

  The muted sound of the shots echoed faintly, the suppressor silencing the man’s death, still audible as he tumbled down the steps and fell to the sidewalk. A moment later, quiet descended on the street once again.

  Darien had known the outcome even before she’d taken the first shot, but she still kicked the weapon away from a limp hand just to be sure. She dropped to her knees beside the unknown killer and studied the face of an ordinary looking man with blond hair and blue eyes staring sightlessly at the dark sky. She felt his blood seeping into her jeans as she confirmed there was no pulse, aware the sound of footsteps behind her meant the others were fast approaching.

  She wasn’t concerned about Nicola and Ben. Both had been in the field too long to be distressed by what had just happened. But Jessie and Elle weren’t field agents. They were analysts, and regardless of training scenarios and family bloodlines, the fallout from what they had just witnessed would need to be dealt with in the not-too-distant future.

  For now, it was enough to know they were safe.

  Darien holstered her weapon and turned her attention to the small white bakery box the would-be killer had been holding. At this point, it was an unknown, therefore the only thing that mattered.