A Spy for Christmas

by Kristen James

  Was that all he learned? He didn’t elaborate. Watching him, Robin guessed he was torn about what to do. She walked up next to him to look outside and saw that more snow was falling. He turned to her and placed his warm hands on her shoulders. “Robin, I truly think all this will amount to a precaution. So far it looks like we contained the damage.”

  She nodded, understanding on a logical level.

  “Did you eat breakfast?”

  The practical statement took her a minute to understand. Neither said much as they ate instant oatmeal and drank instant coffee. Maybe she’d check if he brought tea—the coffee was awful. She found tea in a cupboard along with new playing cards and two small puzzles. When she started the water to boil, it reminded her about the shower. “Is there a way to heat the water for the shower?” she asked him, looking back at him.

  He was leaning against the table, watching her. His gaze slowly dropped down her body, painting a fantasy she could read right on his face.

  “Yes, the shower. Yes, I can get it going.” He straightened, picked up the match box, and took it into the bathroom. She heard him shaking open a door. There had been something that looked like a cupboard in the small bathroom; maybe it’d been a door to the water heater. He stayed in there longer than seemed needed. Either it took some coaxing or Grayson wanted time to cool down.

  Robin sat on the daybed with a cup of tea and an old, faded action novel from the back of the cupboard. She couldn’t follow the story but tried to read it anyway.

  Ten minutes later, he emerged. “It’ll take a short while to heat up.”

  Even those innocent words felt heated.

  “Okay.” She didn’t mind waiting, and the thought of a hot shower sent a happy shiver through her.

  He stood with his hands on his hips, watching her. “The tank is fairly small, so you might get twenty minutes of hot water.”

  She nodded and watched him walk to the window. Then he walked to look in the cupboards. Then he returned to the bathroom and ran the water.

  Robin knew she shouldn’t laugh at him, but silent laughing didn’t seem to count. She imagined if she could make him nervous, the man with a melt-your-heart smile, a defined, lean body and a good sense of humor. He was like James Bond, but even better looking and younger.

  He was also fidgeting like a nervous little boy. Or like a fully grown man wired with pent up sexual drive. Oh boy. Finally, she said, “You can take the first shower.”

  Turning, he looked at her. “Good idea. I’ll be quick. Two minutes.”

  He was inside the bathroom when she heard him mutter, “A cold shower might help.”

  She was mid-fantasy about him all tied up over her when he emerged from the bathroom with wet hair.

  Suddenly, Robin could clearly picture him in the shower, naked, water streaming down him, a look of pure lust in his eyes… She climbed to her feet and gave him a polite smile on her way into the bathroom, quickly shutting the door behind her. She’d done herself in. The hot shower wasn’t comforting like she’d hoped, but teasing. It hardly took any imagination to picture them together, all wet and passionate.

  Her mind fantasized about him walking right into the bathroom and then the shower, and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it. If he knew open the shower curtain at that very second, she wouldn’t complain, or say no. The water turned lukewarm. And it was going cold fast.

  She rinsed the last of the shampoo from her hair and hoped she’d gotten all the soap off. With the water off, she shivered, and actually wanted him to walk in the door and wrap his warm arms around her.

  Sensibility is overrated anyway, right?

  But he didn’t.

  Chapter Six

  Robin hid in the bathroom for a while, letting her hair dry enough to take it out of the towel. The towel was damp from Grayson’s wet body and smelled faintly of him. That didn’t help. Finally, she went out by the fire to dry her hair completely. She thought he was watching, and she started to worry that they were both too hot and bothered to think straight.

  Grayson was the one pacing now, so she asked him, “Want to play poker? I saw cards in the cupboard.” Maybe it’d help them focus on something besides each other.

  “Sure.”

  She was shuffling before she realized it could easily lead to strip poker. But maybe only her over-heated mind would think of that. She flicked a glance up at him. The little smile playing on his lips could indicate the thought had occurred to him too.

  Three games later, they both knew they weren’t concentrating on the game at all.

  “More truth or dare?” he asked. Just the words sent her temperature soaring.

  To ward off her hormones, she said, “Okay, truth. Why don’t we leave? There could be someone out here. Wouldn’t we be safer back in the city?”

  He dropped his cards on the floor in front of him and sighed. “Yes, it could seem that way.”

  “And? Or? But?” She waved her stack of cards at him.

  He held up his hands, asking for a minute.

  “Grayson, how can you expect me to trust you with my life?” With her virtue. A tiny little voice in her head added that odd phrase. Grayson might be trying to save her life (although that was up for discussion too) but he definitely was not trying to save her virtue. He was after her. His lazy sexiness was driving her mad. He just sat there and looked so good.

  “Robin?”

  She pulled her gaze from his mouth.

  “I didn’t see those two men until it was too late.” His eyes darkened with the admission. “Just imagine if they’d kidnapped you. I messed up. I didn’t see this coming.”

  Because he’d been focused on her. That made her hot and itchy all the way through, so much that she could hardly hold still. She couldn’t take it. She snapped. “So, this is all your fault. And yet, I’m supposed to trust you and hide out here like a sitting duck. A very nice Merry Christmas!”

  He brushed the cards lying between them aside and moved closer. “I’m sorry I got you involved.” Grayson’s voice was filled with honesty.

  She trusted him on that point. Still. Frustrated, she ran her hands back through her hair. “Then work with me here. I want to know what’s going on.”

  “I’ve told you everything I can!” He stiffened now. The room felt stiff.

  “Then tell me what you can’t.”

  He let out a pent up breath, bumping the side of his fist on the floor.

  When he didn’t answer, she pushed more. “Is it just you? Isn’t there anyone else helping us?”

  Looking down, he nodded. “There is. I can tell you that, if it’ll put your mind at ease. In fact, that was another agent sitting beside you on the plane.”

  “The new bride?” she asked, thinking back. The girl had looked like a teenager. “That doesn’t ease my anxieties.”

  “She’s deadlier than she looks. There was another agent on the plane as well. They were both clandestine agents, trying to ensure I wasn’t followed and that I made it off the plane safely.”

  “So there were other agents that didn’t see that attack coming,” she said. Grayson’s face came up quickly with a dark look. Apparently he didn’t like her placing blame on others. Maybe they were a close team or even friends. To move away from that subject, she added, “So there are agents out here?”

  He nodded. “I can promise you I will guard your life with my own. I also believe, as I said, that we’re merely taking extreme precaution to ensure this doesn’t cause any more damage.”

  While speaking, he’d laid his hands on her knees. In that instant, she realized they were face to face, inches apart, with an undercurrent flowing between them about to catch fire.

  With the warm light on him, she took in the perfect planes of his face, the stubble on his strong jaw and the fire in his gold and orange flecked eyes. As arousing as his looks were, the raging desire in his look snatched the very breath from her lungs. This beautiful, wild man desperately wanted her.

  The days
were ending early in the Oregon winter, and only weak light came in the window as the day moved toward evening. Between the lit lantern on the table and fire crackling, the cabin felt about as secluded and seductive as any space could feel. Robin slowly stood up, trembling, but she didn’t want to hide from the moment. Grayson looked up at her, in awe she thought.

  While there was no doubt in her mind that if she had never met this man, she would not be in fear for her life, but there was no denying that she trusted him not only with her life but with her desires.

  Grayson stood as well, never taking his gaze from her. She didn’t move. She hardly breathed, only aware of her quickening heartbeat, looking unflinchingly into his eyes.

  “You eyes are making promises,” he said, his own eyes gleaming.

  Chapter Seven

  Despite an awareness of the danger they faced, both Robin and Grayson both made a decision. He had broadcast his want for her. She invited him in with words. The very atmosphere of the room seemed to know it. There wasn’t anything to hold them back from acting on their feelings. The steadily building passion held enough energy to destroy anything that dared to try.

  He held out his hand to her. “Come to me, Robin.”

  Like an obedient and trusting child, she took the few steps into his waiting arms.

  Just like the night before, their lips came together in a passionate slow dance of kisses. This time, however, she wouldn’t run away. She wanted this. Needed this. Could not go on with it. On some level Robin was vaguely aware of his fascinating mix of manly strength and gentleness that weakened her knees; but her raw desire for him took her complete attention. It’d scared her the night before. Now she felt a thrill of freedom as she gave herself up to it.

  She felt her body responding to his touch as if she’d been made for this. Robin had never reacted like this to anyone.

  As they stood enjoying the sensuality of the long lingering kiss, Grayson held on to her in a protective embrace. Even in the inferno of his lust, he was still fully aware that it was his duty to keep her safe. He shouldn’t want her this desperately, not after dragging her into this mess, but she owned his mind and body now. Pleasing her could be an addition or a duty. He welcomed both.

  She murmured something. Grayson tried to respond. The words themselves didn’t matter, though. Everything was understood. As the intensity of their desire heightened, they both knew they had reached a point of no return.

  Slowly and gently, he lowered her onto the daybed. She didn’t resist as he knelt beside the bed and began peeling off her clothing in layers, kissing her skin as he found each new spot. She was perfect, every inch of her. Robin was breathtakingly beautiful, and not just physically. His heart constricted with care for this spirited, smart, funny and sexy woman.

  She reached for his shirt and pulled, flashing a taunting smile. He didn’t resist her either, and let her pull his clothes off.

  Robin was determined to live every moment of this fantasy to its fullest. Who knew what tomorrow would bring? Here was a Christmas present for the taking, no matter if they got the chance to explore a relationship. This would be perfect.

  She held out her arms and pulled him to her on the bed.

  “Did you have any idea when we met?” he mumbled into her hair, breathing in her scent and holding her close.

  “That we would drive each other over the edge?” she finished for him, running her hands all over his skin, feeling the taut muscles underneath. “What strong arms you have…”

  “The better for carrying you with…and loving you with… and sweeping you off your feet and into my fancy day bed.”

  That made her laugh, the sound getting lost into his neck. They fit together so wondrously, in so many places. Each time his mouth gently yet firmly tasted every inch of her body, he wordlessly told her that he would cherish and respect her with everything in his being. He murmured, “You’re so beautiful, so perfect,” over and over onto her skin.

  When he teased her past reason, he asked, “Do you want me?”

  “You naughty boy,” she whispered. “You need me now.”

  “Do you trust me?” he whispered, and then he waited, suspended, his muscles quivering in anticipation and restraint.

  She nodded against the pillow under her head. “Yes, I do.”

  He slowly slipped down to her. It was pure pleasure. She gripped his hair, saying his name. Robin silently communicated her trust and knowledge that she was the queen to his king in their kingdom; where the language spoken was theirs alone.

  Much later, as the fire died down and the wind blew outside, he kissed her mouth once more, knowing they’d be asleep in seconds. Grayson, lying beside her with his arm protectively around her, knew that she was the woman he had looked for his entire adult life. She had certainly satisfied and thrilled him physically; yet his feelings were just as strong on so many other levels.

  Robin, on the edge of sleep, marinated in the intensity of the complete pleasure she they’d shared and enjoyed. She was amazed at the depths of her feelings for Grayson. The intensity of her feelings could be caused from the danger that surrounded them. Could danger be an aphrodisiac? She had never felt pleasure so intense; not even with Alex. Whether or not imminent danger fueled her feelings, she could not, and would not, deny her feelings for Grayson.

  Chapter Eight

  Grayson woke with Robin asleep and completely relaxed in his arms. He’d turned the lantern off sometime during the night but some daylight was seeping inside. The fire had burned down to hot coals, and he knew there’d be a chill outside of the covers. His body burned with new desire, threatening to overtake his mind, but Grayson fought it this time. It’d been reckless last night. Reckless but needed. Reckless but undeniable. Now he had to remember he was here to protect her.

  Remarkably, an emotional response outshone the physical. His heart swelled in such a strange reaction that he couldn’t place it at first. Even if she walked out of his life soon, this would always rank as the best Christmas he ever had. They were almost like two normal people in love spending the holiday together.

  Then he looked at the woman that had made him so happy and kissed her shoulder. She rolled her head his way and smiled without opening her eyes.

  “I was afraid,” he whispered, “that I would wake up to find it’d been a dream with you. But here you are.”

  Her smile grew. “I’m still dreaming.”

  He rested his chin on her shoulder, looking at her face, noticing little details. Her eyelashes matched her hair. She had a tiny freckle by her temple and a few light ones on her nose. He traced a finger along her jaw line and down her neck, following her collarbone and then the swell of her breast.

  “Grayson?” she asked, slowly opening her eyes. When she looked at him, there was a hint of worry there. “Were you close to the girl on the plane?”

  He almost laughed. “Are you jealous?”

  “No, not really…I thought you seemed a bit protective when I said the other two agents missed something too.”

  He nodded and looked away, wanting to gather his thoughts. “That was my sister.”

  Her body jerked. “Your sister?”

  His throat constricted so that he couldn’t answer. Of course he was proud of Arianna, but he carried around a weight, knowing his influence had led to her join the agency.

  “Grayson? That wasn’t real on the plane?”

  It had bothered him that Robin thought that. Once in a while, he wanted credit for helping others. His job required secrecy, so it had felt nice when Robin looked at him in awe at their first meeting.

  “That little ploy came from a real incident. I did trade seats with a young bride once, and it seems to work really well for different missions.” He looked back to her and returned to her original question. “I worry about my sister, but she’s an excellent agent. She’s thirty-three, but you’d never guess from looking at her.”

  Robin was quiet for a long time, lost in her thoughts. His mind wandered
as well; he tried to picture what would happen once they received the okay to leave. She might want to go back to her life as usual and forget about their time together—it hadn’t been voluntary on her part, after all. Not liking that scenario, he got up and started breakfast.

  After they ate, he went out on the porch to see if he could call out. It was snowing much heavier so he wasn’t able to get cell phone reception. Just as he turned to go inside he saw them. The footprints led away from the cabin as they had the day before.

  Grayson immediately went into high alert. He knew keeping Robin safe meant more to him than an assignment, but to keep them both safe he knew they had to leave the cabin. Orders be damned.

  Opening the door, he said calmly but firmly, “We have to get out of here now.”

  “I’m way ahead of you. Let’s roll!” She was pulling her coat on as she walked, carrying a bag. He grabbed the bag to help her and noted it had a few supplies in it. Maybe she’d looked out the window and spotted the footprints just as he had. Grayson looked at her with a mixture of admiration and desire as they jumped into the SUV.

  The SUV roared to life and he expertly drove down the road to the highway, keeping a careful watch. His immediate focus was to get them both to safety, but he was also thinking of the future and whether he would be able to have the normal life he hoped for, including the relationship with Robin he so badly wanted.

  The scenery and his thoughts were whizzing by. Robin looked less grim as they closed in on the highway. But then the SUV’s engine, suddenly and with finality, just died.

  “Oh, oh. Don’t tell me we’re out of gas,” she said as he guided the dead vehicle to a safe stop.

  Grayson almost smiled at Robin’s innocent assumption. Almost. Because he knew, without a doubt, that the SUV had been tampered with. Damn! He cursed himself for being so absorbed in his thoughts. He knew from his years of experience how a vehicle’s engine ran when the wires had been rigged. Coming to his senses, he realized the SUV had actually been running strangely since they started out, yet he had ignored the familiar roughness and strain of the engine until the vehicle stopped.