Crave (The MacKenzie Family #11)

by Liliana Hart

  “The housekeepers have a supply closet at the end of the hall.”

  Before she could blink he squeezed the pressure points in her wrist and her gun was in his hand. “Be right back,” he said, releasing the magazine and the bullet that was chambered into his hand. He handed her the unloaded gun and then went to get the supplies.

  “You have control issues,” she said when he came back.

  “Nope. I just have issues with giving orders and not having them followed. You’ll get used to it.”

  “No, I don’t think I will. You should know me better than that, Cal. I’m stubborn. Giving me orders is the same as begging me to go ahead and do as I damn well please.”

  He’d stopped by his room to pull on pants and get shoes so his feet wouldn’t get cut, and he waded into the mess with the trash bags and duct tape. The storm hadn’t lessened, so he was soaked to the skin in a matter of seconds.

  “If I have control issues then you have common sense issues. Good Lord, Evie, stop trying to fight me on every damned issue and start working with me.”

  He worked in silence for several minutes until he’d gotten the limb pushed back through the window and the broken window covered. Evie came in with towels to soak up the wet, but it was going to take professionals to clean up the mess.

  “Say I start working with you,” she said. “Then what? Do I wait and wonder whether or not you’re going to use what you know against me? That seems like a fun way to live.”

  “Nope. You’d have to learn to trust me. Plain and simple. Just like I’d have to trust you not to ever go back to the old ways. Seems like a pretty even trade from where I stand.”

  “Except your trust or lack thereof won’t send you to prison for the rest of your life. I don’t have that luxury.”

  “You’re saying you’re not good enough to ferret out that kind of information about me? I thought you were a better hacker than that.”

  She smiled for the first time, seeing the trap for what it was. He’d erased every sign that Cypher had ever existed. The name was nothing more than a legend whispered among those who were old enough to know better than to whisper. But she’d only know that information if she’d broken the promise she’d made to him.

  “I’m not allowed to do things like that anymore,” she said straight faced. “But if I was I’m sure I could ferret out any kind of information you wanted.”

  “You seem pretty confident for someone who’s been out of the game as long as you have.”

  “I’m confident in my ability to do anything you can do. Only better. Now if you’re done playing in the water maybe we can go back to sleep. We’ve got work to do.”

  “We?” he asked.

  “I came to the realization that I’m not exactly in the best of predicaments.” She shrugged. “On one hand, I could go to prison. On the other, I could end up dead by Taber’s hands. Neither is a prospect I’m fond of. So I might as well do what I enjoy doing and live what life I can before it’s too late.”

  “A fucked up way to look at it, but I’m not going to argue.”

  “That’s a nice change of pace.”

  “Watch it, Lockwood. I still have your bullets.”

  “No worries. I grabbed an extra clip while you were putting on your shoes. I’m fully loaded.”

  He couldn’t help but laugh. She was one of a kind.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  * * *

  The storm was still going strong two days later and Cal was going stir crazy. Or maybe it was just Evangeline who was driving him crazy. He wanted his hands on her in a bad way. But he’d decided there’d be no intimacy between them again until she wanted something more than a quick fuck.

  But damned if she wasn’t trying to tempt him at every turn.

  He’d woken up with her for the second morning with her wrapped around him. He’d been on the verge of rolling her to her back and sliding deep inside her before his eyes had really opened and his brain was functioning. But instead he’d gotten out of bed and into the shower as fast as he could.

  Not that it had been much of an escape. She’d walked in a few minutes later, brushed her teeth, and then stripped down to nothing and gotten into the shower with him. She wasn’t pushing him for sex, and there was no talk of their negotiations or what had happened between them two nights before. It was as if the entire event hadn’t existed at all.

  Except it had existed. Because he could remember the way she unraveled around him, and the memory alone kept him in a constant state of arousal.

  He mumbled something about making coffee—which he didn’t drink—toweled off and dressed, and hightailed it down to the kitchen after checking to make sure the house was as secure as it had been before they’d gone to sleep.

  He was dressed for a workout, thinking that pounding something might work off the sexual frustration when Master of Puppets blared from his phone. He answered in relief, glad to have the distraction.

  “Colter,” he said into the phone.

  “A tip came into one of the hotlines early this morning,” Declan said. “A witness recognized Taber at a gas station and called it in.”

  “I’m sure millions of people are calling in tips since the reward is upwards of twenty-five thousand dollars.”

  “You’d be right about that. But this caller managed to take a photo with his phone. And guess what he was driving?”

  “A silver Mercedes?”

  “A silver BMW rental from the airport. Which is close enough to fit the MO.”

  “So where’s he now?”

  “We’ve adjusted satellite imagery to try and pick him up along the highway, and we’ve taken control of the cameras at intersections and toll areas. But he’s heading east, so chances are Evangeline is next on the agenda. I’ve sent Max and Jade. They should be there in the next few hours. And Archer and Audrey are wrapping things up and will take the red-eye so they can be there by morning. You’ll have the backup you need.”

  “Good to know.” And maybe the company would take his mind off being naked with Evangeline. “What do you know about Boulder Corp?”

  “Billion dollar company. A competitive player in government contracts. Mostly aircraft for the military, but they dabble in a few other things. They’ve got structure problems at the top. Charles Haywood has been the CEO for more than twenty years, but he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s last year and has acted as CEO emeritus for the past six months so stockholders wouldn’t get nervous at a change at the helm. They’re in the middle of a bidding war for a new aircraft missile, which you obviously know already.”

  “If you know about Haywood’s diagnosis then Biddle would too,” Cal said. He started the coffee for Evie and then grabbed a protein bar for himself and a water.

  “Oh, he knew. That was part of Biddle’s struggle. He and Charles Haywood went way back. They were friends. But Jenson Walker is the acting CEO and he and Biddle had no liking for each other. And like with anything when dealing with the government, money speaks and personal favors are granted with the expectation that they’ll be paid back when called in. And Biddle owed Charles Haywood a favor. And Charles was of sound enough mind to ask Biddle for this contract when they met.”

  “Would Biddle have gone through with it?”

  “Possibly. If there was no way to get out of it.”

  Cal raised his brows at that and bit into his power bar. He went over to the computers to check the progress of the tasks he’d commanded. Ferreting out information on three top clearance companies, pulling video from behind the walls of Langley, and infiltrating different areas of the Pentagon took time and patience. Thankfully he had both. Because he couldn’t stay in any one place too long without their security recognizing the fact that there was an intruder in the system. So it was a continuous job of moving in and out without being detected.

  “You know that doesn’t make things look good for DyniCorp.”

  “Believe me. I’m aware. And I’ve already been all over them like a rash to mak
e sure no one there is behind hiring Taber. I’ve pulled all the financials for an audit and everyone is getting thoroughly investigated. Don’t worry about DyniCorp. If they’re involved in this in any way I’ll light the match to burn them to the ground.”

  “I never doubted it for a second.”

  “Things will ramp up quick, Cal. Taber doesn’t like to delay his jobs. Don’t let your guard down.”

  “No worries. And thanks for sending Max to be my backup. He owes me a hundred bucks. Convenient how he always happens to be out on assignment when I’m on base.”

  “He pays better bribes than you do. My wife is giving me a look that tells me I’d better get off the phone and enjoy a Saturday with her and the kids without work.”

  “You got all that from a look?”

  “Cal, you’ve got a lot to learn about women.”

  “I’ve discovered that. Thanks.”

  “Good luck with that.” And then Declan hung up.

  Evangeline had spent the past two days trying to figure out Cal’s game. Which caused her to wonder why everything always had to be a game with them to begin with.

  For two days she’d done nothing but replay what had happened between them. It had been incredible. She’d never thought she was capable of those levels of pleasure. But that’s where it had ended. The emptiness she’d felt after, when he’d walked out of the room and left her alone without a gentle word or touch. He’d made his point loud and clear. Now she just had to decide if she could take the chance on something more. A lot was at stake. Maybe more than she was willing to give. She’d already been hurt once.

  They’d gotten into an easy routine, and she hadn’t minded sticking to him like glue as much as she’d thought she would. She was a private person and treasured her solitude. But he didn’t invade her space. He just simply was in her space.

  There was an added bonus to them sharing the same space—on his orders, she liked reminding him—because she could tell he was doing his damnedest not to touch her. And perverse creature that she was, she wanted to make it as difficult as possible for him. Because dammit, she wanted him to touch her. She wanted his hands all over her. And she wanted to touch him too. Whatever the hell was going through his head about trust and sex had to stop. He’d made his point.

  She’d dressed in workout clothes and come downstairs, following the smell of coffee. His voice was a low rumble and she could tell he was talking business, so she took a detour and jogged the stairs up to the third floor gym. Lifting weights was the best way to get out her aggression since sex was off the table for the moment, so she set up the machines to her liking and started her sets.

  Fifteen minutes later Cal walked into the gym, a towel slung around his neck and wearing loose shorts and a shirt with the sleeves cut out. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw her, and she would’ve laughed at the deer in the headlights look on his face if she could’ve kept her mouth from dropping open at the sight of him.

  “I made coffee if you want to grab a cup,” he finally said, moving over to the bench press.

  “I’ll grab some later. Thanks.”

  “You know better than to exercise on an empty stomach. At least go get a protein bar.”

  “Are you trying to get rid of me?” He scowled and she ducked her chin to hide her smile. “Besides, I grabbed a bottle of water from the mini fridge over there and already had a protein bar. But thanks for the concern.”

  She finished her reps and moved to the next machine while he added weights to the bar. And then he lay flat on the bench and started to lift, and she lost all interest in her sets. Lord, it should be a sin to look like that. But as long as he did she might as well take advantage of it.

  He reset the bar and started to sit up, but when he saw her standing close by he froze.

  “I’ll add the weight for you. What do you want? Another twenty?”

  “That’s fine.” He lay back down and she added more weight. Then she took her place just above his head to spot. His gaze locked on to hers, and she arched a brow at him challengingly. “I don’t need a spotter. I’m not doing any heavy lifting today.”

  “Better to be safe than sorry.”

  His mouth tightened and he nodded, and then he inhaled as he lifted the bar off the rack and began his reps. When he was finished a nice sheen of sweat covered his body and it was hard to mistake the beginnings of an erection outlining his shorts.

  “I have a question,” she said, adding more weight once again. And then instead of taking her place in the spotter’s position she moved in close, so her knee rested on the bench next to his chest.

  “Come on, Evie, you don’t want to get into this right now.”

  “Sure I do. I’m curious.”

  “You always were.” He sighed, but continued to rest his hands on the bar.

  “As far as I’m concerned you’re in breach of contract.” He grew still and his muscles flexed as she squeezed the bar tighter.

  Evie unzipped her sports bra and then flicked the front clasp, peeling it off her shoulders. And then she shimmied out of the shorts she wore until she stood before him naked. She’d been thinking about sex for the two days since the last time they’d had it. His eyes darkened and the bulge beneath his shorts grew larger.

  “You asked if I was opposed to oral. Both giving and receiving. And my answer was no. I am definitely not opposed.”

  “You’re just going to embarrass yourself,” he said. “I’ve changed my mind. You got what you wanted the first time. Let’s chalk it up to a good time and a good memory and move on.”

  “There’s all different kinds of satisfied. I just want you to hold up to your end of the bargain. And from where I’m standing, it doesn’t look like you’ve changed your mind at all. Let me help you get more comfortable.”

  She stood between his legs and her hands went to the waistband of his shorts. He looked at her out of hooded eyes, but he didn’t stop her as she tugged them down. In fact, he lifted his hips to help.

  “You don’t know what you’re doing, Evie. You’ll end up destroying us both.”

  “Why, Cal? Because I’m not playing by your rules this time? Because I want to touch and taste you? Because I don’t want a cold, calculated fuck like the last time. You made your point.”

  “And what good does it do me? Will it make you love me? Or hell, even like me. Or are you just using me to get off because I’m the only man you’ve met that has the ability to make you hot enough to self-combust?”

  “I don’t hate you, Cal. I never did. Despite trying to convince myself of that. But there’s no reason we can’t take from each other what we want.”

  “And you know what I want? You’re making decisions for me now?”

  “I know you want me. Your body can’t lie, even if your mouth does.”

  “And so what? Now that we’ve fucked once you trust me? That seems unlikely.”

  She leaned down and kissed the muscled indentions just above his hip bones, looking up at him as she worked her way lower. His breath shuddered as he exhaled and she took his cock in her grasp, her tongue licking the flared head.

  “Fuck!” he growled. His hand went to her head and his fingers tangled into her hair as he tightened his hold.

  “I trust you to give me pleasure,” she said, blowing a cool whisper of breath over his engorged cock. “Just like I’d hope that you’d trust me to reciprocate.”

  “You can’t have trust in some aspects and not in others, Evie. It’s like being a little bit pregnant. It’s either all or nothing.”

  His head came up off the bench so he could watch her, and she took her time, memorizing the shape and feel of him. Her mouth sucked at him hungrily, her tongue licking and tasting as she explored all of him. She’d never done this before, but she’d read and studied, and by the look on his face she must be doing something right.

  The muscles of his thighs bulged as she opened her mouth wide and took him to the back of her throat. He held the back of her head as her
tongue undulated against him and she made swallowing motions.

  “God, Evie,” he moaned. “That’s it. Just like that.”

  He released his grip on her hair and she came up for breath. He was on the edge, his balls drawn tight, and the come boiling, waiting to explode. He was too lost in the moment. He couldn’t even remember what they’d been talking about.

  “Come up here,” he rasped.

  She didn’t understand exactly what he was asking, but she crawled up his body. She wanted him inside her—the thick hot flesh that would bring her unspeakable pleasure. And this time she’d touch him as much as she damned well pleased.

  “No,” he said, catching her by the hips before she could impale herself on his cock. “Ride my face. I want to taste you too.”

  Her face flushed at the explicitness of his command and she licked her lips in hesitation. She couldn’t imagine being that open, that intimate with someone. But he didn’t give her a choice. His fingers were like a vise on her hips as he lifted her and brought her closer to his face. He scooted down some on the bench so there was plenty of room.

  “Now put your hands on the bar.”

  She did as he asked and brought her knees up so they rested on each side of his head. And then she lowered herself so her clit rested just above his mouth.

  “It’s okay to scream,” he said. And then his mouth was hot against her honeyed flesh, his lips slick with her juices.

  She did scream.

  Her head fell back and her hands tightened on the bar, giving her an anchor in the storm. He tasted, licked, and sucked, and she lost herself to the most exquisite feelings she’d ever had. Sensations washed over her, and nerve endings sizzled as they were discovered for the first time.

  “Oh, God. Cal,” she moaned.

  He held her thighs open and feasted, and her body tremored as release drew near. Her hips jerked against his mouth. And she did exactly what he’d asked of her. She rode.

  She rode with complete and utter abandon until the heat of desire was unbearable and white-hot, blinding pleasure exploded within her. Her scream echoed through the room as she was flooded with an unimaginable ecstasy. Until darkness closed in behind her eyelids and her body went weightless, until she wasn’t sure where he was or how she’d gotten there.