Oh, this was bad. His faintest touch released sensual longing as if he’d conditioned her body for just such a response. Her nipples tightened into aching little peaks, while her breasts felt heavy and needful. The tenderness in his touch moved her, stirred her emotions, made her want to laugh and cry and shout for joy. He cared for her. He adored her with his hands. He loved her with his body.
“Marc.” She touched his hair, drawing his attention back to her face. “What’s happening to us? Why do I…”
He smiled, his gaze bright with understanding. “Why does your heart feel like it’s going to burst from your chest? Why does my touch make you tremble? Why do you ache to hold me? I think fools call this love.”
“Love?” She gulped. “Do you love me?”
“Yes, Tuesday, I love you. Now, can I finish showing you how much?”
Parting her thighs, he played through her feminine curls, teasing her with featherlight hints of what she needed. He loved her. The realization sang through her spirit, heightening the pleasure of his touch. His middle finger parted her folds, his knuckle rubbing against her sensitive clit, making her squirm.
He pushed two fingers into her core and lowered his head between her legs. “Marc. When do I get to—?”
The first flick of his tongue obliterated her protest. She relaxed her muscles, accepting the rippling waves of tension his stimulation unleashed. His fingers pushed in and out, while his mouth escalated her arousal, rapidly building her need.
“Now,” he directed and sucked the tiny knot between his lips.
Her inner muscles squeezed his fingers rhythmically, repeatedly, as orgasm claimed her.
Marc didn’t want to leave her warm body. The distinct spasms of her release heightened his arousal to a fevered pitch. “Do you really want to put me in your mouth?” he asked carefully. She enjoyed oral stimulation immensely, but she also seemed to be afraid of it. More ghosts from the bastard, no doubt.
“If you want me to.”
“That wasn’t the question,” he said firmly. “You asked when you got to do it as if it was something you wanted to do.”
She was quiet for a long moment. “I think I’d enjoy it with you.”
“Did you ever do each other at the same time?” Her luminous green gaze flew to his and he chuckled. “Apparently not. It happens to be one of my favorite positions. Ready for another adventure?”
Her brow scrunched up and her head tilted this way and that. “But how?”
He generally liked to be on top, but didn’t want her to feel trapped or coerced, so he spread out on his back. “Up and over. I think you’ll figure out the rest.” She was sitting beside him on the bed. With a few quick adjustments, he had her straddling his face. “Now lean forward and do whatever you like. Or do nothing at all.”
Her hot breath fanned his pounding erection, but he shifted his focus to the delightful display directly above him. Flushed and glistening already, he couldn’t resist the temptation of her delicate flesh. Licking and gently sucking, he worked his way up to her clit only to avoid the ultrasensitive spot and descend along the other side.
She wiggled and moaned against his abdomen, then the tip of her tongue circled his cock. Marc bucked, raising his hips and shuddering. “Oh, Tuesday, please.”
The heated swirl came again and finally her mouth closed around him. He groaned. This wasn’t going to last long, unless she let him finish like this, and he knew she wasn’t ready for that. He thrust up into her core with his tongue, reaching as far as he could. She slid him deeper and deeper, until Marc had to pull out or lose control.
“No more.” His voice growled.
“But I was just getting the hang of it.”
He shifted her forward, keeping her on her hands and knees. “I don’t know if I can be gentle.”
“I don’t want you to be gentle.” She spread her legs, making her desire clear. “I want you inside me. Hard and fast!”
He couldn’t have given it to her any other way if his life depended on it. Kneeling behind her, he grabbed her hips and buried himself to the hilt in one violent thrust. His movements jarred her forward with each new impact, until she lowered her shoulders toward the bed and arched her back.
She muffled her cries against the bedding, but her body gripped his, tight and rhythmic, demanding his release. He threw back his head and came, shuddering over and over as pleasure ripped through his system.
She collapsed across the bed and he followed her down, immediately rolling them to their sides so she wasn’t crushed beneath his weight. “I’m sorry, love,” he whispered into her damp hair. “This isn’t what I meant to do when I woke you.”
Her body tightened around his cock when she giggled. “Oh really? ‘Do you want me inside you’ seemed pretty clear to me.”
Brushing her hair away from her neck, he nipped her. “I meant to make love to you slowly and tenderly, not like a ravening beast.”
Another giggle had him hardening inside her. “I enjoyed being devoured by a ravening beast.”
“I’m relieved to hear it, because this beast can’t get enough of you.”
* * * * *
Job sat behind his desk as David ushered Tuesday’s sister into his office. He’d spent the past few hours learning everything he could about Sydney Lanier. She was a bit taller than Tuesday and not as pleasingly shaped, but her features were delicate and her blood was Pure. His body hardened at the thought, eager to initiate her into his kingdom.
“Have a seat, Ms. Lanier. I’m glad you agreed to meet with me.”
Tucking a strand of blue hair behind her ear, she glanced at David. Job motioned him from the room. “Is he always so…creepy?” She sat in one of the chairs in front of his desk and crossed her legs.
“David finds most social conventions tiresome. We’re in the midst of a global crisis. Many of my disciples get caught up in the urgency.”
“Why did you want to see me?”
He was unable to read emotion in her vanity-enhanced eyes, but research had shaped his strategy. “Rachel came to your office at my request. I’ve wanted to meet you for some time.”
“She came to my office twice and my apartment this morning. Some would call that stalking.”
She smiled, and longing squeezed Job’s heart. He knew that smile, had admired it on her sister’s face. “Do you feel threatened by my interest?” He folded his hands on the desktop and studied her features more closely. Without her garish hair and designer eyes, she would look very much like Tuesday.
“I haven’t decided yet.” Her subtle fidgeting belied the calmness in her tone.
“I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. That’s not why I asked you here.”
“Why did you ask me here?”
“True Pure females are rare. It has forced me to adopt some unconventional approaches to evangelism.” He paused as his gaze caressed her face. “I want to make sure you understand what the Controlled Community has to offer someone like you.”
One of her blue eyebrows arched in challenge. “Someone like me? What does that mean?”
“Someone young and beautiful, intelligent and ambitious.”
She laughed. “I’m a data security officer, one of hundreds in my building alone. There’s nothing special in what I do.”
“You’re being modest.” He leaned forward, a smile curving the corners of his mouth. “You were promoted to section leader after only two years of employment. The head of your department is due to retire next month and you are one of three people being considered for the position.”
“Is this a job interview?”
“No. I’m impressed by all you’ve accomplished. Skills such as yours will be important in the Controlled Community, but only those who resisted Methuselah’s call will be admitted to our paradise.”
Scooting to the edge of her seat, she narrowed her gaze and raised her chin. “It was never a matter of resisting temptation. Methuselah Syndrome killed my parents while I was too young to worry a
bout growing old.” She paused, her gaze boring into his. “What do you really want?”
Her spirit reminded him so much of Tuesday it was all he could do to keep his hands off her. He imagined dragging her across his desk and tangling his hands in her ridiculous hair. After he’d kissed her into silence, he’d begin a slow, aggressive seduction of her strong, young body.
“Did you read any of the literature Rachel distributed at your office?” He pushed back from his desk and stood.
“I skimmed through some of it.”
“None of the concepts appealed to you?”
“Do you know who my sister is?” she snapped, standing as well.
“I was unaware you had a sister.” He halted his approach, leaning his hip against the desk.
She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “Bullshit.”
Anger trampled his fascination. Spirit was one thing. He never tolerated insubordination. “Who is your sister and what made you ask me about her now?”
Her brows drew together over her eyes, then she looked away. “You honestly don’t know who my sister is?”
“According to public records you were orphaned by your parents’ death.”
Her pink tongue appeared, wetting her bottom lip and he clenched his hands. He could imagine all sorts of uses for that moist tongue and ripe red mouth. Perhaps he’d train her himself.
She shook her head as if to dispel a troublesome thought. “You still haven’t told me what you want.”
“I want you to listen to our entire orientation with an open mind. Once you have all the facts, I want to speak with you again.” He took a step toward her, lowering his voice as he added, “You’re exactly the sort of woman we need, desperately.”
“If I don’t want to stick around?”
He fought back a triumphant smile. She’d already surrendered. “I don’t know what harm there could be in listening to our presentation, but if you insist, I’ll have someone escort you home.”
She hesitated for another moment, then manufactured a nonchalant shrug. “Why not. I already called in sick to work.”
Chapter Fifteen
Tuesday reluctantly slipped away from Marc’s warmth and crawled out of bed. “Let me check in with Vonne, then we can take a shower.”
Marc chuckled. “Showers are remarkably ineffective where we’re concerned.”
She couldn’t argue with that. Still the memories made her smile. Picking up her vidcom, she scrolled through the message log. “Shit,” she muttered.
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s a message from Job.” She sat on the side of the bed, angling her vidcom so Marc could see Job’s leering face and activated the message.
“I apologize for my rude behavior,” Job begun. “I have no excuse. I was intoxicated by your unique beauty and I know I pushed too hard.”
She paused the message. “Sounds suspiciously like an excuse, you freak.”
“Play the rest,” Marc prompted.
Reactivating the message, she glared at Job’s miniature image, while he babbled on. “I hope you can forgive my zeal and will consider our conversation.” He glanced away from the camera, looking downright miserable.
“Good Lord, he should be on the stage.” She shook her head, amazed by effectiveness of his deception.
“I want to see you again. Please give me the opportunity to showcase my gentle side.”
She’d laugh, but her heart thudded uncomfortably at the thought of facing him again.
“Delete the message,” Marc said softly. “You’re not going back.”
“What?” She deactivated her vidcom and pivoted toward him. “I have to go back. What about Rahab? What about Final PUREification? This isn’t over. I’m prepared to see it through.”
“Well I’m not!” He pulled her into his arms, pressing her tightly against his chest. “I can’t lose you. I’ll work with Phil and Bettencourt. We’ll bring down PURE but you’re out of this now.”
She eased away from his chest and smiled into his eyes. His concern warmed her, soothed her, still she remained wary, attune to the danger. “They won’t let you beyond the lobby. How are you going to bring PURE down? Call this security expert of yours. See what he suggests.”
They showered and dressed before Tuesday managed to convince him to page Phil. Marc remained adamant that she have nothing more to do with the operation and Tuesday insisted just as strongly that there was no operation without her.
Marc used his vidcom to contact Phil, though he activated audio only. Tuesday was curious about this phantom tutor who had kept Marc from death. Would she ever meet him face-to-face?
“I hate to argue with my employer, but your lady friend is right. Considering our recent setbacks, she really is our best chance.” Phil concluded after Marc summarized the latest developments.
Marc closed his eyes and shook his head.
“Were you able to locate your missing associate?” Marc had warned her not to mention specific names.
“No, ma’am, which is another reason my employer can’t go anywhere near the Tower of Babel.”
The code name made her smile.
“The disciple is still AWOL?” Marc sounded shocked.
“It’s worse than that, I’m afraid. All of the expected departure points have been checked to no avail. My fear is that the disciple has been returned to his assignment without his consent.”
Translation—Job had Marc’s operative. Tuesday crossed her arms over her chest. This couldn’t be good.
“If his cover’s blown, my lady friend isn’t having any more to do with any of this.”
“I understand your concern, sir, but the disciple had no specific information incriminating your lady friend. Everything he knows increases the danger to you. I’ll monitor the situation from the shadows. I suggest you proceed with my old friend. He’s a regular bastard, but he’s good at what he does.”
“Unacceptable.” Marc raked his hair with one hand, frustration hardening his expression. “Can you get me into the Tower of Babel if your old friend’s operation falls apart?”
“Not undetected.”
“I’m talking contingency plan for a worst case scenario.”
A long pause followed, then Phil said, “The disciple provided us with enough information to construct such a plan. But I’m not willing to send you in alone any more than you’re willing to part with your lady friend.”
Marc smiled. “Enjoying that fat paycheck too much?”
A muffled laugh came across the vidcom. “Contact my old friend. Find something objectionable in his plan and storm out. I’ll meet you at the tram station behind the Tower of Babel.”
“Copy that. Have there been any developments with my lady friend’s relative?”
Tension gathered in Tuesday’s stomach. She’d almost forgotten she’d asked Marc to keep tabs on Sydney. Just the thought of Job touching her made Tuesday want to scream. The thought of him touching anyone was disturbing.
“According to the message sent to her employer, the relative isn’t feeling well.”
Marc’s brow knitted and he glanced at Tuesday. “The relative hasn’t left her home?”
“No unauthorized personnel have gone into or out of the building. Is there some reason to believe she isn’t ill?”
“No. I just don’t want to let anything slip through the cracks.”
“Understood.” There was a short pause. “I’ll set this up for you, but I need something in return.”
“I gather this isn’t a monetary condition?”
“No, sir. It’s imperative that I remain in the shadows. You cannot mention me to my old friend.”
“Copy that,” Marc said. “You can depend on my discretion.”
“Cobra out.”
* * * * *
Tuesday peered at the speck in the center of General Bettencourt’s palm. Even knowing where to look, she could barely see it. “Job checked me with a handheld scanner last time. What if he does so again?
”
The general chuckled. The corners of his eyes crinkled and he seemed almost pleasant. “Do you honestly believe something this sophisticated will be detected by a handheld scanner? My toys are more expensive than Job’s.”
Marc had notified the general that Job made contact with her and Bettencourt arrived at their hotel room half an hour later.
“Okay, so we can monitor everything that happens to her,” Marc put in. “How will that help if things turn ugly?” He stayed a step back from them, but his gaze assessed each move Bettencourt made.
“If she goes in alone, Job will be more apt to trust her,” the general pointed out. He cupped her hand and carefully tumbled the transmitter into her palm. “Wear something that buttons up the front. Dark buttons work best. We can monitor her transmission from the air or put down out of sight of the stronghold. Their security relies primarily on audio/visual surveillance. I have access to satellite imaging. It’s not a fair fight.”
“Then why didn’t you squash him like a bug a long time ago?” Tuesday closed her hand around the tiny transmitter.
“He hasn’t broken any laws that we can prove. We have suspicions and theories, but even Raeanne is there of her own free will.”
“What about Raeanne’s fiancé?” she argued.
“We can’t prove it was Job.”
“He lets his minions do the dirty work,” Marc agreed. “Keeps all the blood flowing in the opposite direction.”
“Oh, that’s charming.” Her anxious steps carried her away from both men. “Are you trying to frighten me?”
“Hell, yes. I don’t want you anywhere near that lunatic.”
She turned toward the adjoining bedroom. “We’ve already had this conversation.”
When she returned a few minutes later, Marc’s eyes nearly bugged out of his face. “You are not wearing that dress!”
Tainted Hearts Page 18
