Circle of Desire

by Carla Swafford

  He released her legs, letting her body slide down his. Oh, yeah, she liked that. She was all better. Wanting to taste those stern lips again, she leaned in. He stepped back.

  Her body shivered. How much more of his teasing could she take? Either she would lose her mind and kill him or maybe she would get over her obsession. With his masculine good looks, broad shoulders, and the dangerous amber glint in his dark eyes, how could she not be half way in love with him?

  Oh, hell.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Olivia stumbled and leaned back against the countertop in the bathroom. She needed to pull herself together. Being around him all the time almost drove her crazy and just because he acted like he cared. She needed to remember who he was, the master controller of the OS. Everything he did was for the greater good of his organization. And men were assholes. She was a grown kid from a trash bin. She was a killer. Those were facts. She liked facts. She could deal with facts. Ah, hell, she was falling apart.

  Collin pulled out a cloth and soaked it with cool water from the silver faucet. While one large hand cupped her cheek, he used the other to wipe her forehead with gentle strokes and then follow a trickle of water to her neck. “Does that feel better?”

  Only able to manage a nod, she closed her eyes. Had anyone ever taken such tender care of her?

  The cool cloth worked its way over her collarbone. He pulled down the crewneck of her T-shirt and swiped the top of her breasts. Her nipples hardened. Then the cloth swept up and over to the back of her neck as he lifted her hair.

  She shivered.

  “Cold?” he asked.

  “No.” It felt like ages since he’d last kissed her. Those lips of his were made to lick, bite, and suck on. Full but firm like the sensual man he’d proven to be to her.

  Without touching him anywhere else, she tilted her head up and kissed him. Light and soft like he’d kissed her the first time. She no longer felt the cool cloth. He clasped her body to his, lifting her until her toes barely touched the floor as he took over the kiss. She loved how he invaded her mouth and wanted more. His hips ground against hers. He was hard and she loved it. On remembering what he’d done to her that first night, hell for that matter the night in Phoenix, she decided turnabout was fair play.

  She wiggled until her feet were flat on the floor again. Her hands slipped down until she held shaft and balls through his slacks. Pleased by the way he hesitated in sucking on her tongue, such a turn-on, she massaged until he swelled bigger and harder beneath her hands. With an ease she hadn’t expected, he allowed her to unzip and unbuckle him. When she finally had his hot flesh in her hands, she squeezed enough to make him gasp in her mouth. Oh, yeah, he liked a little roughness. She’d guessed right.

  She shrugged her shoulders and pulled away enough to run her tongue along his strong jaw. Then she slid down his body to her knees.

  He was beautiful, long and thick, not too much of a good thing. She loved men’s cocks and understood why they loved playing with them so much. She did too. Hot and hard, she rubbed her cheek along his length.

  “Dammit, woman, put me in your mouth and suck.” His voice guttural, almost sounding as if he was in pain.

  Grinning, she licked the tip and savored the muskiness that was uniquely his. Unhappy with her dawdling, his fingers clutched a handful of hair and pulled back until she was looking up at him.

  “Just having you on your knees nearly makes me come, but I want that beautiful mouth sucking my cock hard now.” His amber eyes flared so bright they almost frightened her. That just made her hotter to have him in her mouth, to show him what he had to be afraid of.

  She took him as far as she could with one pull. Then using all the skills taught to her by Theo, she proceeded to give him a blow job he’d never experienced. His cock hit the back of her throat as she breathed slowly through her nose. Before she knew it, she was becoming even more excited by the moans Collin emitted. The best part was that she could tell by the foul words he used, he resented like hell his need for her touch. His fingers held her head but didn’t guide her. Her fingers caressed and rubbed his balls and then slipped to a special sensitive spot between his cock and anus. When he was about to come, she pinched him.

  “Fuck!” Without pulling away from her mouth, he leaned down and grabbed her arm, squeezing hard. “Don’t do that again.” Her mouth stretched in a way he would know she was grinning. “I mean it, Olivia.”

  Oh, the bigger they were, the harder they came. Still grinning around his cock, she took a long hard pull, thrust a finger into his anus and he exploded at the same time. He shouted and slammed a fist onto the countertop behind her, jabbing his cock deep into her mouth until he was limp.

  Faster than she’d ever seen him move, he jerked her to her feet. “Damn you, won’t you listen? You’re always pushing it.”

  She laughed and then he covered her mouth with his as his hand yanked her zipper down. He ate at her mouth as if he loved tasting himself on her lips and tongue. Then he plunged his hand between her legs and jammed two fingers into her wet cunt. One knuckle rubbed the small knot of nerves as he thrust another finger into her. Just having a part of him in her, even if it wasn’t the part she craved, had her hips meeting his touch and when he whispered, “Come for me,” she screamed against his mouth as wave after wave shook her body and she continued to tremble for several seconds more.

  Before she could recover, he turned her to face the bathroom mirror. Her lips were swollen from his rough kisses. Her eyes shone with unshed tears and her hair mussed from his hands, she looked soft and feminine and well used. Never had she looked more like a woman and it all was brought about by the man studying her with his dark eyes.

  Seconds ticked by and nothing was said; no movement was made. Then he shifted, sweeping her hair out of the way, and kissed her neck. She tilted her head and closed her eyes. The tenderness in his touch was more than she could handle from him. Abuse and anger she understood. She’d grown up with such attitudes, but the look in his eyes before his lips met her skin, they were filled with awe and nothing about her was worthy of such a look.

  “Let’s fuck,” she said.

  His eyes narrowed as his face flushed in anger. Oddly, even though she wanted the tender look gone, she mourned the loss. She’d only disappoint him. She leaned back into his hard body.

  When her gaze met his again in the mirror, she caught the softness of pity. No way would she let him or anybody feel sorry for her. She was what she was and had come to terms with it years ago.

  “Well?” she asked, expecting him to turn her down and she wasn’t disappointed.

  He released her and stepped away. “Get dressed. We have somewhere we need to be.”

  She turned facing him. “What is wrong with you? You like my body and I like yours. So why do you never want to fuck me?” From the way his lips straightened and the grooves on both sides of his mouth deepened she could tell her question bothered him. Was it really the question or that she asked it at all? Or maybe he was one of those prudes who hated to hear a woman swear.

  Knowing she was about to poke an angry lion with a short stick, she smiled. “Did I find out your secret? You like boys?”

  His head snapped up and his hands stopped arranging his semi-hard cock in his jeans. Then he laughed. A belly full, body-rich laugh. “You would like that. Then you’d think you’re safe from me.”

  “There has to be a reason you haven’t fucked me.” She grinned back.

  “Who says I haven’t?” He didn’t even look at her when he said that.

  That wiped off her grin. She knew of men who loved screwing a limp unconscious woman. He had to be teasing her. Right?

  After he zipped his pants and snapped them, he looked at her with one eyebrow raised.

  She was still standing with her jeans open and riding low on her hips. Her face warmed. He made her feel like a schoolgirl having her first tryst in the boys’ locker room.

  “Go. Put on a pretty dress for me. We�
�re going out.” He chuckled and walked into his bedroom leaving her to figure out what in the hell just happened.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Ticked didn’t quite describe how she felt at the moment. After the little episode in the interrogation room and the sequential hot moment in his bathroom, he’d barely said a word to her. After thirty minutes of driving she’d insisted on knowing where they were going.

  “Shut up and relax” was all he said in the most blasé way.

  She sat across from him in the limo and raised her eyebrows. One red stiletto encased foot traveled up his leg and then toed him between his thighs until her heel rested against his crotch.

  “Excuse me?” she asked, her tone threatening and reminding him of his manners.

  His hand circled her ankle and lifted, taking her shoe off. He kissed the bottom of her foot and blew on the instep before he played Prince Charming and slipped her shoe back where it belonged. Then he placed her foot beside him, his hand still around her ankle. Smart man. Otherwise, her heel would find itself in his groin.

  “Please be patient,” he said, his voice husky and low.

  Though she wanted to move a few inches away from his warm touch, she remained still. She’d already tested his temper by wearing black pants with a beautiful frilly white blouse instead of the requested dress. She hated wearing dresses. They made her feel helpless. She despised that feeling and he knew it. If not for his sexy grin, she’d have slapped him.

  His amber eyes glittered with humor as if he knew what she was thinking. Unable to move her gaze from his, he lifted one dark eyebrow. His look turned her common sense into ash. Nothing else could explain how she’d fallen, even partially, in love with him. The possibility scared her. She might as well stab herself in the heart and be done with it. Frustrated with her unwanted feelings, she stared off at the passing streetlights, determined to appear unaffected by his machinations.

  A couple times she tried to ease from his grip but his long fingers held on. She’d almost reached the limit of her temper and told him to go to hell when the limo pulled up to her favorite restaurant. How could she not forgive him? When it came to dining, the man knew how to treat a lady.

  Well, that was what she thought until after they’d eaten and he decided to take a little walk in the park. She’d sensed he was up to no good at the restaurant. He’d acted as if they were a normal couple. Who in their right mind would believe that?

  “Tell me again why we’re out here?” Olivia swiped at a bug trying to nest in her hair as they waited near the reflecting pool in the Centennial Olympic Park. She squirmed on the metal bench. The thing was hard and colder than a dead frog.

  Collin reached over and flicked another bug off her blouse. “We’re meeting my contact out here. He claims to have more information about the sword.”

  She crossed her arms and watched the water bubbling up next to the pool.

  The wind had picked up, mussing Collin’s hair. He looked younger with it falling in his eyes. She fisted her hands. The urge to touch his silky, thick hair ate at her.

  “When is your freaking contact going to show up?” She swatted at a mosquito.

  Collin’s gaze moved to the woman standing nearby. Though she tried to hide her excitement in being with him, her flushed cheeks and shining eyes gave her away. She was unlike any woman he’d ever met. No way could he say his life was boring, especially the past month. Nothing about Olivia was dull. She fascinated him. Like a snake charmer fascinated a cobra. Now the question was, was he the snake charmer or the cobra?

  “As always trouble follows you wherever you go.” Jason stepped out of the shadows, nodded at Collin and took a furtive look at Olivia.

  Collin found Olivia’s reaction to Jason’s presence and her realization he was their contact most interesting. Eyebrows raised, she crossed her arms, bending a knee and resting on one hip as her mouth stretched in a bitter line.

  “It’s good to see Collin didn’t kill you.” Jason stepped a little nearer.

  “Jason, you might want to refrain from getting any closer.” Collin rubbed his chin, trying not to grin when Olivia dropped her arms and straightened.

  “Olivia understands. Don’t you, sweetheart.” The tall man moved within a yard of her.

  “I wondered how they could’ve known where to find me in Seattle and how they knew about the orphanage. I told you about the orphanage in a moment of weakness. You used me. You betrayed me, you lying filthy cock-sucking asshole!” Her kick shot out and barely missed as he leaned back, his long hair almost touching the ground. Collin was happy to see the man’s illness hadn’t hampered his ability to defend himself. In an unexpected move, she twisted and her fist came down on his hip. Jason was faster, luckily for him; otherwise, he’d be on the ground in a fetal position, crying.

  “Damn it, Olivia! That wasn’t fair. It could’ve killed me.” Jason limped a few feet from her, eyeing her with hurt. “I take back that I was happy to see you alive.”

  “Reunions are such magical times,” Collin murmured. “Olivia, sit over there and wait if you cannot play nice.”

  His stomach and groin tightened. He liked the look she gave him. For the next day or two he’d better watch his back. In fact, for the last three days he’d expected her to find a way to make him pay for not fucking her in Phoenix and now he added the more recent rendezvous in his bedroom. The woman’s hormones were her weakness. For now he was a challenge to her.

  Though he’d noticed her watching him with a look of puzzlement, as if he didn’t fall in a mold she was familiar with, other times her gaze would soften and a dreamy look would come to her face. Those times bothered him. He didn’t need her in love with him. From what he’d heard and learned of her, he’d never guessed she would be susceptible to such a useless emotion. Surprisingly, she followed his orders and gracefully sat on the bench, turning her back to them.

  “You asked for this meeting. We need to leave before someone wonders what we’re doing out here.” When he noticed Jason staring at Olivia, Collin gritted his teeth. His jaw popped as he brought his need to hit his old friend under control. “Jason,” he bit off.

  “She’s never minded anyone like that. Everyone’s scared of Theo’s temper, but that had never stopped her from smarting off to him. How did you do it? I thought no one could tame her.” His blond head shook in disbelief as he waited for Collin’s answer.

  His friend truly didn’t mean anything by his comments but the thought of anyone trying to tame Olivia was laughable. That wildness and her constant unpredictability was what he loved about her. Love? Maybe too strong of a word. He shut away that crazy thought and pointed a finger at Jason. “You’re stalling.”

  “Sorry, man. I hate to tell you but the sword is back in Theo’s possession.” His tone said it all. No way would they reach it now.

  “We have Mason. So how did he find out where it was?”

  “It appears two of his cohorts decided they wanted the money for themselves and not the cause. They sold it back to Theo. Their bodies washed up on the beach in Pensacola this morning.”

  “Theo doesn’t play around.” Collin clenched his fists. “Did he take it back to the Main Sector?”

  His friend nodded.

  “Do you know if he put it in the safe in his rooms or the main vault?” Collin asked.

  “I’m not sure about his personal safe, but it’s not in the organization’s vault. It would be recorded if he’d locked it up there. Probably his rooms then.” Jason pursed his lips and looked down. “I’m not sure if I can help you. The vault, I might have, but his rooms are too secure. He won’t allow anyone but his current mistress in there, and she’s too scared of him to try anything. Only Olivia’s been in his bedroom and come out alive.”

  “Yeah.” He hated to imagine Olivia catering to that psycho.

  Collin had heard Theo bought his latest mistress when she turned nine from her drug-addicted parents. The man didn’t deserve to live.

  Theo had been uns
table for years and continued to grow more so each day, so his fixation on the sword would be useful. Certainly the weapon was old and priceless, but Theo was convinced that if he lost possession of the sword The Circle would be destroyed. He considered himself to be a modern-day King Arthur and the sword his Excalibur. The sword was the thread in releasing Theo from his uncertain grip of reality. His weakness would provide the perfect opportunity for Collin to take over The Circle.

  The sword might be the final thread, but Olivia was the scissors.

  He glanced her way. Would she be willing to break into the Main Sector and steal the sword from underneath Theo’s nose for the OS?

  Chapter Sixteen

  Olivia hit the bag with her foot again but harder. Imagining Collin’s face on it helped tremendously with her focus. She’d been with the OS for five months and gone on one and a half missions. The walk in the park to meet Jason couldn’t be counted as a full mission. What was the purpose for the OS to bring her in if they didn’t need her? The role of arm-candy for Collin could be filled by any number of OS operatives she’d seen. Her talents were being wasted. For that matter, he’d been scarce and she hated how she missed his company.

  She slammed her foot into the dangling bag one more time before switching to the other.

  “How about a partner?”

  Well, if it wasn’t the man himself. She leaned over and pulled a towel from the handlebars of a nearby stationary bike. Wiping at the sweat on her forehead and neck, she eyed the head of OS.

  Collin wore sweatpants as he had the last time he’d practiced with her, but these clung a little tighter, possibly an older pair. Instead of a sleeveless sweatshirt, he wore a black T-shirt. The cotton material stretched across his pecs in a way that made her mouth water. She could imagine running her hands over the broad cliff of his chest to the rippled abs she knew were below.