by Lexi Blake
It had been morning, soft light flowing into the conference room. No one had turned on the overhead lights so there was practically a halo around the head of the woman staring out at the cityscape, the Frauenkirche’s twin towers in the distance.
She’d turned and he’d stopped. Stopped breathing. Stopped thinking. Stopped doing anything but looking at her.
“Hi. I’m Veronica, the new intern. Everyone calls me Roni.”
It had been right there on the tip of his tongue to tell her his name. His real name. He’d been ready to reach out his hand and introduce himself when…
The lights to the conference room had flickered on and that voice banged against his calm.
“We don’t need interns in this meeting.” Hope McDonald had strode in, every hair in place and wearing a Chanel suit that likely cost more than his mother made in a month.
“I was looking at the skyline. You’ve got an amazing view here,” Veronica had said. Roni. Everyone called her Roni.
“Yes, and we’ve earned it by being the best in the building,” McDonald said. “When you’ve worked your way up, you’ll be welcome to stare as much as you like. Until then, your place is in the basement.”
Her smile dimmed and she nodded, holding her notebook against her chest as she walked to the door. “Of course, Dr. McDonald.”
“I’m Steven,” he said as she brushed past him. “Dr. Reasor.”
She gave him a hint of a smile and a nod as she exited the room and started back toward the elevators that would take her down where the sun wouldn’t caress her skin.
“Interns. Well, we’ll have to watch that one,” McDonald said.
Yes. He would have to watch out for her. She didn’t know it, but she was stuck in hell and that demon in front of him could tear her up.
He had to make sure she didn’t.
“Tucker?”
He came out of the memory at the sound of her voice. For a moment, he’d been there. He’d not simply had a sliver of memory. He’d been there, like it had happened to him.
It had happened to him.
“The first time I saw you it was morning. You were in the conference room on the fifth floor. You introduced yourself to me. McDonald walked in and she was a bitch to you.”
Roni stood in the entryway to the shower and seemed comfortable with her nudity, a soft smile playing on her lips as though she remembered, too. “She sent me to the basement because I wasn’t one of the big boys. But I remember that you stopped me and introduced yourself. Everyone had warned me about you, but you were nice to me. You didn’t look at me like I was something less.”
He’d known even then that she was more. “I wanted to protect you from her. I knew she was bad. I wanted…I wanted to tell you my name. My real name. Steven Reasor isn’t my real name, but I can’t…”
She stepped out and put her hands on either side of his face. “Don’t. You don’t have to know right now. It will come to you or it won’t, and forcing it will only make you sick. You’re remembering and it’s exactly what I said. You were always you. It’s a puzzle that doesn’t completely make sense yet. But when we put it all together, you’re going to be you, Tucker. You’re going to be the brave, sweet, amazing man I’ve come to know.”
He’d wanted to protect her. He wasn’t sure if that meant he was innocent or if he’d simply not wanted a pretty girl to get hurt, but he would take it. He might have become Steven Reasor at some point, but there was someone else beneath it all. Someone who cared about her.
He lowered his mouth to hers and let the memory slide away as their tongues tangled and his hands found her silky flesh. He didn’t care that she was damp from stepping into the shower and she was plastered against his clothes. He wouldn’t be in them for long. She was right. They needed this. He’d been wrong to think for a second that they should be apart.
He kissed her over and over, backing her into the shower. He managed to get his shirt off, tossing it to the side. Roni stepped back, going under the spray from the shower and managing to look both shockingly innocent and like a sex goddess all at the same time.
Because there was nothing not innocent about sex. Not when it was about pleasure and joy. Like all things in the world, it could be corrupted, but it was a joyful act. It was a necessary act because he wasn’t whole if he couldn’t touch her.
He shoved his jeans and boxers off. She didn’t care about the scars on his body. She liked him. She wanted him. It was all he could ask.
He stalked into the shower after her, his sorrow and self-pity rapidly morphing into hunger. Days had passed and he hadn’t felt close to her. He needed more than close now. He needed to be inside her, surrounded by her. He needed to know she was still his because he wanted so badly to be hers.
His cock was already hard and ready to go. He didn’t care about anything with the exception of her. He felt feral as he towered over her. Roni’s hands came out, stroking down his body like he was a predator she could soothe.
And she could because something in him eased the moment she touched him.
“I know things are stressful and you feel like it’s all on your shoulders, but I’m with you. You’re not alone. We get through this together,” she said.
She’d made her choice. He’d given her every out and now he would take her at her word. She wanted him? Oh, she would have him. He would give her everything.
He kissed her again, bringing their bodies together. The water was warm, but she was so much hotter.
He gripped her ass, grinding his cock lightly against her belly. Her nails raked against his back and he happily took the little pain. She was here with him. She was right. They were in this together, and she was his partner. He owed her everything, and that included faith. Faith in his team, in them as a couple. Faith in himself.
“Tucker, I want to play,” she said as he kissed his way down her neck. “I want to touch you. I didn’t get to explore the way I wanted to. Please. We’ve only made love a few times and it was always about me. I want to explore you, too. I want to know every inch of your body.”
She was going to make him crazy. He wanted to know exactly what she was talking about. “You want to touch my cock?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Because if you touch my cock, I’ll want you to suck my cock. I’ve been too impatient. You know I’ve wanted that always. I needed to show you how much you mean to me, and that meant giving you everything.” He’d tied her up in the privacy room because he’d wanted to show her how he would treat her. Like she was a queen and he worshipped her.
“Then give me this. I need to show you how I feel, too.” Her eyes were on him as she dropped to her knees.
His whole body tightened in anticipation.
She licked her lips as she wrapped her hand around his dick. He forced himself to breathe.
“Lick me, Roni.” He’d felt such attraction to her that first day. It had shocked him. As though he’d thought there couldn’t be anything good in the place he found himself in. She’d been sunshine in the gloom. She still was.
She stroked him and leaned forward, brushing her lips over him. Her tongue came out and dragged over his cockhead.
His eyes nearly rolled in the back of his head. Her mouth was soft. So fucking soft. His cock was rolled in hot, wet silk. Her tongue moved all over, not missing an inch of his dick as she moved her head up and down.
He hissed as her teeth lightly scratched against him, the tiny pain immediately flaring into pleasure. She started to move away, likely to apologize. He caught the back of her head and directed her to continue.
“Give it all to me. I can take it. Don’t stop until I tell you to,” he growled and flexed inside her.
Her eyes flared and she settled in again, her hands coming up to cup his ass. Her nails dug in lightly as though she’d figured out he didn’t mind a bite of pain. He didn’t. He kind of craved it, but only coming from her. It meant she was involved, so involved she wasn’t thinking about anything but be
ing in the moment with him.
She deep throated him and he knew he wasn’t going to last.
“Baby, I’m going to come.”
Her hands tightened on his cheeks and she sucked him harder.
She wanted him to come in her mouth. The thought of her drinking him down brought out something primal in him. She was his. She was making the conscious decision to put off her own pleasure so he could have this moment.
She stroked him with her tongue, lips caressing while her hands pressed on his ass, directing him to give to her. To give her everything he had.
The orgasm spiked through him, making him shudder even as she groaned around his dick. He let go, thrusting into her mouth and letting the sensation flow through him, binding him to her.
He was weak in the knees by the time she stood. There was the wickedest, sexiest grin on her face and she pointedly licked her lips.
“See, that was fun,” she said, her voice going husky.
He was so in love with her. He kissed her, tasting himself on her lips. “Let’s see if we can have even more fun.”
Chapter Ten
Tucker walked into the great room as quietly as he possibly could. Something was going on. He’d heard a bunch of movement as he’d walked down the hallway. Doors opening and closing, feet scooting across the floors and harsh whispers. Whatever drama was going on, he wasn’t a part of it.
How the world had changed. A few short weeks ago, he would have gone looking for the drama. He would have popped some corn and found the best seat he could to watch whatever was going to play out in front of him. Now he didn’t have the time.
He was going to sneak into the kitchen, grab a couple of waters, and hope no one saw him before he could sprint back to their bedroom. He’d left Roni napping after a long session in bed. She hadn’t slept well the past few nights.
It’s better when your arms are around me.
He probably had the stupidest grin on his face. He ducked into the kitchen and Nina was sitting at the table, a book in her hand.
She took one look at him and shook her head. “Well, at least one of us is getting some. You know the worst part about being on the run? There’s nothing to do except eat and watch telly and have sex with the incredibly handsome billionaire you happen to be on the run with.” She gestured to the book in her hand. “And read a bit. For a stuffy nobleman, Clive’s got some fun books. I’m on my third romance since I got here. Why can’t I find my own hot, needs-a-woman-to-fix-him billionaire?”
He was going to keep Roni away from the library. He could totally give her a guy to fix. He was the king of broke-down guys, but he was also pretty actually broke, and she didn’t need any ideas. “Maybe Damon can put you on bodyguard duty. You know, once we can all show our faces in the world again without getting arrested. What’s going on out there?”
Nina glanced at the great room. It was open to the kitchen. “Not sure. Solo walked in about ten minutes ago and asked to have a word with Ezra. Then there was some door slamming and whispering on mobiles. Now they’re both out in the garage. Maybe they’re having sex, too. Everyone’s having sex but me.”
Another change. Weeks ago he would have been offering himself up to the lovely operative. He would have been giving her his most seductive smile and trying to coax her into giving him a try.
The thought was distasteful now and not because Nina wasn’t wonderful. Because he belonged to Roni, and even flirting was off limits now. “Do we have any word on Jax?”
Should he be this happy when Jax was potentially being tortured?
Nina seemed to sober, too, as if Jax’s very name was enough to bring them all back to reality. “He’s still at MI6 headquarters and they’re allowing Damon to see him. I believe that’s Solo’s doing. Apparently she’s cut some kind of deal with them. Damon isn’t being accused of harboring a fugitive at this time, but I get the feeling all that changes if we take too long. Solo can only hold out while they’ve got some patience. We’re all at a standstill until she can deliver.”
Until he could deliver. That was what she really meant but was far too polite to say. What Solo was trying to deliver existed only in Tucker’s head, and his head didn’t want to cooperate. “Is Ariel coming up? Ian mentioned something about wanting me to try hypnosis again.”
“I think that’s what all the drama outside is about,” Nina explained. “I heard Solo say she’s bringing someone in from London.”
Maybe Rob would come with her. It would be good to see him. Rob had a strange way of balancing him out. Jax might be his best friend in the world, but Rob was a steady influence on him. Rob always felt safe. It would be good to talk to Rob about everything that was happening with Roni. Rob would probably talk him out of doing stupid shit like asking her to marry him right now. Rob would convince him he should wait until he could at least get a ring. And until he didn’t have cops across the globe looking to arrest him.
River knew what it felt like to have her husband dragged away in handcuffs. That thought sobered him entirely.
“I’m going to sneak back to my bedroom. Roni’s napping and I don’t want to leave her for long,” he admitted. “Let me know if you need help with dinner.”
“Can you cook?”
He shrugged. “Not at all, but I can add much needed sarcasm.”
Roni could cook. She’d made dinner at The Garden. It had been simple but filling, and he’d adored those nights when they sat around a table together and talked about their days.
He missed Violet. He missed her sweet face and how she clung to him like he was worthy of being her dad. He’d barely known her for a week, but there was a hole inside him now that only she could fill. It was the same with Roni. He wanted his family together.
Was River sitting somewhere in London wishing she’d never met Jax? He seriously doubted it. She was at The Garden holed up with her big mutt, Buster, and praying for her husband’s well-being. She would be grateful for every moment they’d had together and work hard to have more good days with him.
He wasn’t going back to that old thinking. Roni had made her choice and now it was up to him to be worthy of her.
“Are you fucking crazy?” Ezra walked in from the hallway that led to the garage. He was wearing jeans and a T-shirt, boots on his feet. He immediately pivoted and turned to face Solo, who walked in behind him. “Do you know how dangerous this could be?”
“What other choice do we have, Beck?” The normally exquisitely dressed lady was dressed down due to the lack of a handy mall to outfit her for their hideout. She was in yoga pants, a T-shirt and sneakers, her mass of blonde hair in a high ponytail. “I have to do something no matter what the risk is. I’ve been prepping for this for days.”
“There is no way to truly prep for this,” Ezra shot back. “Unless this is all some scam. Are you in this with him?”
He should have moved way faster. The last thing he needed was to get caught in an Ezra/Solo throwdown. They happened way too often and went on far too long. He started to try to ease his way into the kitchen. Maybe there was another way to get back to Roni.
But a third person walking into the room made him stop in his tracks. Nina was suddenly beside him.
“Is that who I think it is?” Nina whispered the question.
The man who walked in would likely command whatever space he occupied. He had dark blond hair cut at a fashionable length, but there was no denying the man had a military air about him. He strode in, brown eyes focused on the argument playing out in front of him. His expression was completely shuttered, as though he didn’t truly care about the outcome of the fight. He was merely waiting to see what he would need to do next, and he would carry that mission out with the same ruthlessness that had likely kept the White House in the current president’s hands.
“Connor Sparks,” Tucker whispered back like Sparks was Voldemort and no one should say his name aloud. Though Sparks had always played for the good guys. At least that was the way Big Tag explained it. When th
ey’d first joined the London team, they’d been given a thorough class on the key political situations around the world, and part of that had included the men close to President Zack Hayes. He’d paid particular attention to Connor Sparks since he was not only one of the president’s closest friends, but an intelligence officer.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. What has Solo gotten us into?” Nina stared at the scene in front of her.
Connor Sparks was a legend at the Agency. Mostly because almost no one at the Agency would admit he’d ever worked for the CIA. That’s what happened when a CIA operative also happened to be close friends with a man who’d ended up being the president of the United States. Of course, the rumor was Solo had been working for President Hayes for a long time.
“You can’t mean to do this,” Ezra was saying.
Solo crossed her arms over her chest. “Do you have any idea the hoops I had to go through to bring him here?”
Ezra wasn’t backing down. “Do you have any idea the hoops I’m going to throw him through? Hint, they will all be on fire and there will be a vat of acid at the end of them.”
“Maybe we should talk about this, Solo,” Sparks said with a frown.
Solo waved him off. “He’s good at hyperbole.”
“He’s also not an employee,” Sparks pointed out. “He was let go. He has no security clearance at all.”
“I believe the word you’re looking for is burned.” Ezra turned on the newcomer. “Yeah, thanks for that, buddy.”
Sparks held up his hands as though pushing back on the claim. “Hey, that wasn’t my call. I don’t technically work for the Agency anymore. I’m at the White House for the time being and work directly with the president.”
“Then what are you doing here?” Ezra asked, staring at the guy.
If Sparks was intimidated at all, he didn’t show it. “I handle things for the president from time to time, and this is a special case. President Hayes has taken an interest in this one. He doesn’t like the idea of these drugs being out in the world. This happened partially on his watch, and he wants it cleaned up before there’s a scandal and the world knows our soldiers were used as lab rats. The Brits and the Germans are willing to work with us.”
