What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 7)

by Lexi Buchanan

  She would have liked to burn an incense diffusor in her office, but it would probably set off a fire alarm. “What if Alana handled Kadir instead? She could wear a blond wig or dye her hair.”

  Faith shook her head. “Other delegates prefer her red hair. Kadir would notice the wig. She might be a switch and could play either Domme or submissive, but she would still be too aggressive for him. Zoe knows how to manipulate dangerous men, think quickly and stay calm under stress. She also speaks Persian. I can’t give details, but she can handle extreme stress. We need someone who won’t crack under pressure.”

  “If you say so.” Julia couldn’t help wondering what Zoe had experienced that was so stressful. She could only imagine the worst with Zoe working with terrorists and drug dealers.

  “Of the twenty dignitaries who will be coming to Washington for the peace talks, only seven are potential targets for the FLC with the type of intense sexual encounters we can provide. We expect a ninety to ninety-five percent success rate.” Faith smiled. “For some reason, one of the leaders who had said he would not sign the treaty recently changed his mind. Even before any FLC contact. That’s one less candidate needing our services. The others should be shot, but assassination would be a waste of time if the next in line has the same ideology. Kadir’s our number one target. We can’t mess this one up.” A look of dread crossed Faith’s features. She frowned and stared at the floor.

  Julia suspected the first lady’s coldness hid a heavy burden of responsibility and risk, but she still wondered why Faith looked so upset. Maybe because no matter how good a potential candidate’s background looked, some men couldn’t be persuaded to fall into the FLC trap. Over the years, it hadn’t been one hundred percent successful. The program didn’t come without risks. “You think he’s going to turn your offer down?”

  “I’m not sure. He won’t be at the reception. I’ll have to meet him alone,” Faith said, her voice getting heavy with emotion.

  “What can I do to help?”

  “Get ready for the party.” Faith stood, signaling the end of their meeting. “A funny thing about evil, narcissistic men. They fancy their pure, powerful image and will guard their honor with their life, but it doesn’t take much to turn their head when it comes to sex. I’m sure this encounter will go smoothly.”

  “I hope so,” Julia said. “When dealing with the most dangerous and evil men of the world, I don’t take anything for granted.”

  “By the way. I’ll handle Zoe. Sometimes a little first lady influence is all it takes.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Zoe finished dressing, but the chill remained. How could he have thought she’d be right for this? She touched the four-inch scar on her throat. “Can we get out of here?” She walked across the Red Tape Room and grabbed her purse. The longer she remained in this room, the more closed-in she felt.

  “It’s more secure here for what I need to tell you.”

  “I got it. They make sex tapes here to blackmail influential people. Is there more?” Her cell phone buzzed. “The room isn’t so isolated that cell service is blocked.” She glanced at her phone and smiled.

  “Melissa?” Jason’s mouth twitched in a sardonic grimace.

  “No, my brother. I thought he left on his mission, but he probably got delayed. He’s determined to best me on Words With Friends before he leaves.”

  “Do you need to text him back?”

  “Not right away. I’m surprised the phones work in this room.”

  “There is a reason for that,” he added. “A necessary precaution that you’ll learn about soon.”

  “I’m ready to get out of here.” She felt drained, and her insides ached for what she thought they might’ve had. She’d been wrong. They’d lost what they’d had a long time ago.

  “Aren’t you even a little curious to see what’s behind the curtain of the great and mysterious Oz?” Jason asked with a wicked grin.

  Her heart swelled with that grin. “Now I’m intrigued. Fill me in.” She sat on the bed and motioned him to do the same. Her body still hummed from their sexual play. Was this sex to him now? “So who besides you likes this kind of sex?” She leaned back on her hands.

  He narrowed his blue eyes and took a breath. “This is more than blackmailing with sex tapes. The FLC is called in to fight terrorism and manipulate foreign and domestic policy when the usual channels fail. Members are selected for specific skills, hired as White House staff, then invited privately. You’ve been invited.”

  “Because I’m a blonde.”

  “Because you already have top-level clearance and can handle yourself in highly stressful situations. You’ve worked undercover with terrorists, and that takes a lot of skill and nerve.”

  She wished she was as confident in her talents as a few other people apparently were. At the foot of the bed she picked up what she assumed was an ankle strap attached to a pulley system. What the hell? She followed the pulley lines to other straps and restraints overhead in the canopy. “Interesting bed.”

  “It has its functions. I can show you.”

  “I’ll pass for now.” She got up and headed to the table of devices of torture. “Big D said I was welcome to come back to Langley anytime. Which got me thinking, her boss, the director of the CIA, was in cahoots with the White House security adviser about something. Does Big D know about the FLC?”

  “Don’t think so.”

  She picked up a device that she at first thought was a dildo, but it had an odd-shaped glass attachment that looked too fragile to insert into any human orifices. “He didn’t seem sorry to see me leave.”

  “What makes you think you left?”

  She put the object down on its velvet cloth and spun around. “I sent in my two weeks’ notice and filled out a thirty-page application form to work as a White House staff member.”

  “Technically, everyone who works here fills one of those out.” His eyes sparkled as he picked up the tool she had put down and flipped a switch. It hummed like a vibrator, but the glass attachment glowed violet. “Hold out your hand.” He reached for it, holding it palm up.

  She yanked it back.

  “What’s wrong? Don’t you trust me?” He smiled, teasing her.

  She had to think about that. “I don’t know. You left Langley without saying good-bye.”

  His smiled faded, and a hurt look filled his eyes. “Even after I risked my life to save you?”

  She shrugged. “You were doing your job. Any agent would’ve done the same. You couldn’t run the risk that they’d break me and get me to spill government secrets. It was imperative that you rescue me for the integrity of the mission, not because you cared about me.”

  He scowled at her. “When did you get so cynical?”

  “When I got this.” She pointed to the scar at her throat.

  For a brief moment she saw the pained look in his eyes and regretted the sharp remark. He didn’t give her any pity, and she was glad for that. He held the glass rod an inch above his own palm to demonstrate. “See? The wand isn’t frying my skin. Now give me your hand.”

  She did, and he positioned the wand over it. A sensation of sharp pins and needles skimmed over her skin and spread out to her fingers. “Strange. It stings, but doesn’t really hurt.”

  “Each of these attachments will give a slightly different sensation, especially when placed—”

  “Yeah, I get it,” she said.

  “And there are different gases in these attachments.” He held up a few oddly shaped ones. “They’ll glow different colors, make different sounds and give various sensations.”

  She nodded. “The stimulation must be pretty intense on certain body parts.” Imagining Jason hovering that toy over her nipples or her clit, she expected she would achieve quite an orgasm, if she could stand the stimulation. “Do I get to try that out?” Her voice went low and husky, and she was unable to hide her smile.

  “If you like.” His words sent a tremble throughout her muscles.

  “
Can we borrow it? Take it home with us?”

  He shook his head. “Nothing can leave this room. We’ll have to play with it here.”

  She pouted. “I was afraid of that.”

  His hand slid over her ass in a gentle gesture, then turned her so her butt was cradled against his hardened cock. Both hands smoothed over her hips, along her sides and to her breasts, where he roughly massaged them. “I know how much you like me to touch you like this.”

  “Yes.” Her head rested back on his shoulder.

  Slowly, he unbuttoned her blouse and eased it down her arms again, trapping her arms at her sides. Then he slid the bra to her waist without unhooking it.

  Reaching for the violet wand, he turned it on, and the sizzle of the instrument came to life. “Don’t move.”

  She gasped, knowing what he planned to do.

  “Have you ever come by stimulating your nipples?” He glided the wand so the sparks tingled along her arms, across her shoulder and over the curve of her breasts.

  She giggled. He couldn’t be serious. “Afraid not.”

  He hovered the wand above her nipples, and Zoe held her breath. Then he touched her with the thin glass, and she felt the jolt. Pain and pleasure rolled through her, and she cried out. “God, Jason. That’s too much.”

  “Relax. You’ll get used to the intensity.” He began moving it around her breasts, bringing it close but not touching her nipples. Just when she thought he’d reach the most sensitive place, he’d retreat to the other breast or move down to her lower belly.

  As her shirt and bra fell away, and her pants slid down to her knees, she said, “Are you going to touch me there with that thing?”

  He laughed huskily. “Not yet.” His free hand smoothed down her hip and over her pussy, trailing a finger between her moist folds and finding her swollen bud. “Nice. And you’re very wet.” He thrust a finger inside, and Zoe lifted her hips and moaned. His finger circled her clit, and he brought the wand down onto her nipple again. The sensation was so intense, she jerked and her knees buckled. Jason held her with his arms. “Oh my God, I feel sparks where you’re touching me.”

  “Electricity conducts.” He held his fingertip over her clit and touched the wand to the other nipple. Both nipple and clit felt the jolt of a tiny shock.

  “Keep that up and I will come,” she said.

  Her nipples were red and distended. The sight of the sparks in the dim lighting enticed her to hold still. “More,” she begged.

  At the same time, he turned a switch in the handle and held the wand a fraction of an inch above her right nipple. “Told you.” His finger continued to circle her clit, sending electrical sensations through her pussy and making her inner muscles clench.

  “Ow. Too much.”

  “Want me to stop?”

  “Don’t you dare.” He shifted to the other nipple, and the sensation in her pussy stopped. He’d moved his hand away.

  “What happened?” Damn it, she was so close.

  “I don’t want you to come yet,” he whispered at her ear, and his lips gently touched her, sending sparks and new sensations around her ear and neck. She shivered and leaned her head back, her legs barely holding her up now. “Delayed gratification is another lesson in power exchange.”

  “Hmmm. Why the lesson?” she asked as he alternated smoothing his hand over her breasts, hips and abdomen and then used the violet wand. His fingers came close but didn’t touch her clit, a sweet torture.

  “Later. Surrender to me now, and I’ll explain more later.” He stroked her thighs, bringing another shiver throughout her body. Pitched on the edge of a glorious orgasm, she didn’t know how long he could hold her here before she’d lose it. “Trust me to know how and when to make you come,” he added.

  “Yes.” Her response was a husky whisper. His finger dipped into her channel, but not as deep as she wanted, needed, but she resisted the urge to ask him to go deeper. Resisted the urge to ask him to go down on her.

  She was soaked. He spread her juices over her delicate folds. “So wet. So beautiful,” he murmured. Then she heard the hum of the violet wand intensify. Had he cranked up the power? The wand hovered directly over her raw clit and pushed her closer to the edge of her climax.

  “God, it’s so intense,” she said through gritted teeth. “I don’t know if I can—”

  “Yes, you can. Just a moment longer. If it’s too much, tell me and I’ll stop.”

  “Okay. More.”

  Her body trembled as the electrical jolts focused only on her clit, firing every nerve ending, then throbbed so intensely she could barely stand it, but she didn’t want him to stop. The tremors suddenly thrust her into a violent climax. He placed the wand on a side table and wrapped her in his arms, stroking her until the shock waves of pleasure eased. He turned her around and brought his mouth down on hers, plunging his tongue between her lips, possessing and pleasuring her there, too.

  Gasping for breath, she stepped back and gazed into his eyes. She remembered that look from their overseas operations. The desperate lust, perhaps love, that deep connection they had. Was it back? Were they back?

  Then his eyebrows furrowed, and a shadow of pain crossed his face. He groaned, then scooped her up and carried her over to the bed. He yanked off the pants hanging from her ankles and quickly removed his clothes, but first found a condom packet in his pocket. He slid it on his thick shaft while studying her. “I have to be inside you.”

  “Finish the lesson later?” she teased.

  “Fuck yes, much later.”

  He shoved her legs apart and maneuvered his cock between her thighs. Zoe sat up, wrestled with him, trying to get him to switch positions. “Since this lesson is over, on your back, Merritt.” She pressed his shoulders onto the bed.

  He grinned. “Fair enough.” She wrapped her hand around his length and positioned his cock at her slick entrance, then impaled her body on him. They both groaned, and he arched his back off the bed. Kneeling on either side of his muscular thighs, she rocked on him, slid up and down his shaft. He filled her deep with his rigid length. As she lifted up, he pressed her down again until they moved faster and faster in a rhythm neither could stop. She felt her moisture pooling around his shaft as another orgasm built.

  Then she leaned back to increase the pressure where she wanted it most, and he rubbed her swollen clit with his thumb. The climax came, not as intense as the first, but it still made her cry out his name.

  Jason grabbed her ass and pulled her toward him and used his hips to drive into her body with several deep, quick thrusts. His groans and shudders signaled his release, and he bolted upright, pulling her against his chest. With their arms wrapped tightly around each other, their breathing and pulse rates slowly ticked back to normal. She clung to him, her face buried in his shoulder, avoiding his eyes as long as possible. Could they have sex only when there was an element of danger of getting caught? Normal sex and normal relationships didn’t appeal to him?

  He shook her. “Hey. You got quiet. You okay?”

  “Sure.” She swallowed the large lump in her throat, but it was too late. Tears stung her eyelids. She tried to get up, but he held her back, raising her chin so she would look at him.

  His eyes widened. “Oh no. Zoe, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, I’m fine.” She pried herself out of his embrace, got up and began dressing. She grimaced when the bra touched her sensitive nipples. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Controlling her emotions was something she was trained to do.

  “I can see that.” He let out a long breath and leaned back on the pillows, his arms cradling his head.

  She stared at him for quite some time and got the courage to confront him. “Where did you go after you left Langley?”

  He gazed up at the ceiling. “Overseas to collect intel on potential targets, then back for training.”

  “Training? For what we just did?”

  He laughed, avoiding the question. “You were always able to get straight
to the point. Yes, and more.”

  She tossed him his shirt and pants. “What happened to us after Turkey? What about Nevada? Can we have sex only if danger is involved or if it’s kinky like this?”

  He sat up and pulled on his pants. No underwear, and his dick was still semi-hard. Seeing him naked, all heavily toned muscles, wasn’t helping her to stay focused.

  “Yes, we had a great time in Nevada,” he responded then grimaced. “Except when I woke up to see the pinpoint laser dot on your forehead.”

  She stared at the floor. “You can move fast. And it worked out in the end.”

  “I lost focus in the operation because of sex. I almost got you killed. Our relationship was putting our lives and our operations at risk. There’s a reason many agents lack personal entanglements. It’s not just because it’s inconvenient or because they can’t tell loved ones where they’re going or when they’ll be back. It’s because the lack of focus might get them killed. Two agents who are in a sexual relationship and working on the same mission is about as dangerous as making crash-test dummies out of C-4.”

  “Thanks for the clarification. But I went home to visit family, and when I came back, you were gone, your desk was cleaned out and I never heard a word. You could’ve said good-bye.”

  “I was out of the country and couldn’t contact you. You know the drill.”

  Zoe grabbed her purse and marched toward the door.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Home. Today is my day off.”

  “But we haven’t finished your training.” His voice changed from personal to official.

  “It can wait until Monday.”

  “No, it can’t.”

  She huffed and leaned a hand on her hip. “Why the hell not?”

  “I was told to explain it now.”

  “Now?” She was confused. “Someone knows we’re here?”

  He nodded.

  She tossed her purse on a chair. “Fine. Fill me in.” He was fully dressed now, but his shirt and pants stretched tight over firm muscles, and she couldn’t help imagining him taking her again.