by Aliyah Burke
Albany sank with a groan to her chair behind the old metal desk. “Did you find what you were looking for?”
“Nothing more than trace amounts,” he replied, sitting across from her.
“Not surprising it was trace amounts if you managed to find any, at all. Where did you find it?” She immediately shook her head. “Never mind; I think I’m better off not knowing.”
“I think you know more than you’re saying.”
She leaned back. “Is that a fact?”
“Yes. Look, I don’t want to have to force you to tell me, but I need all the information I can get.”
Her eyes narrowed a fraction. “And you think you can get the truth from force?”
“Don’t twist my words.”
“Oh, I’m not,” she stated calmly. “You just said, you don’t want to force me to tell you. You are aware that most information gathered under torture, or a painful interrogation, isn’t accurate?”
“I don’t want to torture you. Fuck you? Yes.” Her mouth parted with a small gasp. He couldn’t wait to pursue that. “Torture? No. But I will succeed in my mission. I’m not about to allow some wackjob bastard back to the States with something like polonium to make dirty bombs.”
“And you’re sitting there assuming I care less about the US because you think I’m keeping something from you?”
Her words acquired an edge to them. He huffed. This wasn’t going as he’d intended. It’s what I get for mentioning fucking. “No, I’m not saying that. I’m saying I need to know what you’re not telling me.”
“I’ve told you everything I know about this. Gave you names and information on people who have shown additional signs.”
He pushed up from his chair and crossed to her. Bracing his hands on the armrests of her chair, he boxed her in, turning her to him. Nose to nose, he inhaled deeply. Yep, still lilacs. Damn it and damn her. “I know you did. But you’re still hiding something from me. I’ve been doing this a long time; I know when someone is withholding info.”
She dampened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “So do I. Do you have any idea how lucky you are that they didn’t catch you in that abandoned building?” She arched an eyebrow. “Yes, I know. They would have chopped off your head just because. I’m not a fool; I know I’m playing with fire here, and one day, either Mykelti or his psycho brother are not going to be happy with my behavior. You sneaking around places you have no right being in will only bring that day closer.”
“How the hell did you know this?” Had his cover been blown? She worried her lower lip, and he was extremely tempted to take it in his mouth and suckle on it. He gripped the arms of her chair tighter. “Albany. How did you know?”
“My cousin told me.”
He shook his head. “Who’s your cousin?” As far as he’d been informed, she didn’t have any family over here.
“Her name is Autumn Schovanec, and she is—”
Gunfire cut off her statement, and he yanked her to the floor, covering her with his body. Their eyes locked, and that clear brown burned with need. Heat surged through his body, but he didn’t react on it—protecting her came first. Tate knew, if he kissed her, nothing else would matter. “Stay here,” he ordered. On his feet, he headed out the office door.
He squeezed his eyes shut briefly at the touch of her on his back. “Didn’t I tell you to stay put?” She was going to be the death of him.
“Didn’t I tell you I don’t take orders from you? This is my clinic.”
Single shots, now. Three pops. And a cry. She rushed by him to the door. He grabbed her by the back of the shirt before she could get outside.
“Would you just hold on for a moment? You can’t rush out into an unknown situation.”
“I’m a doctor; of course I can. It’s what we do.”
“Christ, let me go first.” He put her behind him then cracked open the door.
“Dr. Albany! Dr. Albany!” The cry rushed by him, and he reacted, swiping out with his arm when she bolted past, answering the call. He hefted her off her feet and set her back.
“Damn you,” she cursed. “Let me get out there.”
Grabbing a flashlight from the door, he shined it around. All he saw was a boy, a girl, and a man lying sprawled out on the ground. The children were crying, and the adults from the nearby homes were beginning to come out and see what was going on.
Shit.
Albany pushed by him, once more. She hurried along, aware of the man easily keeping pace with her—the very large man. From the beam of light, she made out the boy and girl but didn’t recognize the man on the ground. She slid to a stop and crouched, doing an immediate cursory check over the children. Aside from fear, they were okay, outwardly speaking.
Her attention on the man, she noticed the blood coming from his chest, and even while she felt for a pulse, knew there wouldn’t be one. He was dead. In her periphery, she spied Tate moving the automatic from his reach, the AK-47 now silent. It was an instinctive move for the man, she noticed, before he sank to his haunches beside her.
“Who is he?”
“Never seen him before around here.” A quick sigh and she beckoned to the children. These two, she recognized. “What happened here?” she questioned them in their native language.
The boy responded, and she translated. “They were dragged from the bed by this man; he was talking about raping and killing them.” Anger surged from her voice. “He grabbed his father’s gun and shot him three times. Or rather at him. Looks like there is just one hit.”
“That’s all it can take is one,” he commented. “Where are their parents?”
“Haven’t seen them in a while, so I’m not sure.”
“And they’ve just been living in the hut all alone?”
“This is not an uncommon thing. It happens.” She turned back to the kids and hugged them to her. “It’s going to be okay,” she murmured.
“I killed him,” the boy stuttered out. “I’m going to die.”
“No, I’ll take care of this.” She looked around to the faces now much clearer in the tiny light. “Take care of them, will you, Linny?” she asked a woman who lived in another nearby hut.
She hastened up, nodding. “Come, children, we will go to bed, now.” She ushered them off, the girl crying silently and the boy continually glancing back as if he expected the corpse to come back to life and go after him.
“We need to extend the fence to the homes or else put up another one around them. Fuck,” she uttered.”
“What’s wrong?” She didn’t respond, and Tate put his hand on her forearm. “Albany?”
It was the concern in his tone that finally sank through, reminding her she’d not answered him aloud.
“I have to bury him and burn his clothing.” A heavy weight settled along her shoulders.
“Why?”
“He’s one of Mykelti’s men. I recognize the brand on his neck.”
“The others didn’t notice?”
“No, I felt it when I checked for a pulse. He must be bringing in new blood to fortify his army.”
“I’ll take care of it. You reassure them everything will be okay.”
She cupped the side of his face as she pushed to her feet. “Thanks. Now, if someone could just convince me everything will be all right.” She walked away and told those gathered it would be fine. She mentioned to the men that a fence had to be erected tomorrow around the huts or people needed to start sleeping at the clinic.
She glanced around for Tate and was surprised to see he and the body were already out of sight. Hoping this wouldn’t come back to bite her in the ass, she strode in to her desk where she pulled out a bottle of local rotgut from the bottom drawer. In her mug, she poured herself a substantial amount and drank some.
Eyes closed, she sighed and rubbed the back of her neck.
“All taken care of.”
She jumped at Tate’s voice. “Shit, I think I fell asleep.” Albany stole a glance at her watch. Yes, she had. An hour had passed since she�
��d claimed this seat.
“What’s this?”
She followed the gesture of his hand. “Local whisky. Help yourself.” He took a big drink, and she smiled when his eyes grew wide and he gasped slightly. “Stronger than you expected?”
“Yes.” He took his seat again and stretched out those legs. Long, muscular legs. Legs she wanted to be between as he… “Albany.”
“Huh?” Ballocks, I have got to stay focused here. “Sorry, just thinking about tonight.”
“Me, too.” He moved his seat closer. “And not just about the shooting. But what you were in the process of telling me when it happened.”
“Where’s the AK?” His brow went up, and she shrugged. “What? I don’t want the kids to find it.”
“It’s in a safe place.” He took another drink from her mug, and she uncapped the larger bottle then refilled it once he put it on the desk. “Now, about what you were saying?”
“I’ve told you all I could.” Her guilt assaulted the back of her mind. “Or all I will.”
“I need to know more; tell me what it is you’re hiding. You didn’t exactly freak out when the gunfire started.”
“Not exactly unique in this country. I hear it all the time.”
“Why don’t you tell me who exactly you are?”
“I think that’s a better question for you to answer.”
“I’ve told you what I can.”
She stared at him, losing herself in his gaze. “We both know it’s not true, but that’s okay.”
“Who’s your cousin?”
“I told you. Her name is Autumn. She’s in the Marines.”
“And what does she have to do with you knowing I was in that place?”
What’s the point in keeping anything from him? Tate had a job to do, and damn but she liked him. Didn’t want him hurt.
“Okay. She saw the satellite imagery.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why was she looking at that?”
“I gave her the hint to check you out and the company you work for.”
His eyes hardened, and she nudged the mug closer to him.
“Listen,” she said on a heavy sigh. “I know what you’re doing is secretive and important. So, don’t let me have you thinking I’ve put you in added danger. I need to know what’s going on around here; this is my place. I live here. The mention of polonium wouldn’t leave me alone, so I had Autumn check into your company. She has connections that can be trusted.”
He narrowed his gaze. “You aren’t telling me everything.”
“Fine, I’ve worked for a company before, okay, well, so I’ve been on retainer for them and still do odd things for them.”
“Odd how?”
“That doesn’t sound right. I’m their doctor when they need patching up off the radar.”
“And this company, does it have a name?”
“Tungsten Protective Services. They’re men I trust. And women. I don’t like stuff like this around me, which is why I am just someone they call when they need help of the medical variety.”
She bit the inside of her cheek when he pushed up from the seat and strolled around the desk to stand before her. Lowering so they were face to face, he held her gaze. “So, you’re more than a doc.”
“No. I’m a doctor. I just care about my friends.”
“I can see that.”
“I need to get back to that building. I had alerts to the presence there.”
“I’ll help you. Are we going, now?”
He shook his head and captured her mouth with his. It wasn’t hard and demanding. No, he was gentle as he coaxed her lips apart. Assured and confident, he stroked through her mouth, teasing her. He tasted of alcohol and man. She moaned and pushed closer as she wound her arms around him. His heat singed her, and she scooted to the edge of the seat, needing as much contact as she could have.
His taste washed over her, and she drowned in it. Since he’d been at the clinic, there’d been teasing glances, accidental touches. Okay, maybe they weren’t accidental. Add in her own dreams, and this was her nirvana.
He lifted her with ease and set her on the desk, never breaking lip contact. His hands rested on her hips, and she wriggled when he sought the skin beneath her shirt. Electricity sparked as his callused palms skimmed along her sides.
“I’ve wanted to do this since I laid eyes on you.”
“Yes,” she whispered back. “God, yes.”
“Protection?”
“I’m on the shot.”
He pressed her back and covered her core with one large hand. “Good. I’m about to fuck you; this one is going to be fast and hard.”
Head back to give his nibbling mouth more access, she flexed her fingers on his shoulders. “Yes.” The sound was long and drawn out, sliding from her lips.
Deft fingers undid her pants, and he pushed them down, using his strength to lift her in order to move them beyond her hips and past her knees. She returned the favor and undid his jeans. When he was in her hand, hard and thick, she swiped her thumb over the tip, loving how his shaft jerked in her hand.
“Inside me,” she ordered.
“Yes. Then later, I get to explore all this and take my time.” He got between her legs and put the head of his length to her. “Look at me.”
Albany listened to his order. Visually connected, she moaned as he pushed deep inside her with a smooth single stroke. He wasn’t a small man, and he filled her full. She gasped, body trembling for more. She was in so much trouble. He’d not even moved, and she was ready to marry him.
On a desk in the middle of a hospital clinic with patients in the beds not that far away and here she was screwing a man she worked with. He withdrew and thrust forward, again, driving out all thoughts aside from him. She dug her nails deeper into his shoulders as she arched closer, trying to get more of him.
Chapter Five
Tate grunted as he proceeded to work her. She was so tight around him he was ready to explode merely after entering her heat the first time. Nothing else mattered, right now, aside from the woman lying with him. Better than any of the nightly dreams he had experienced of her.
“I want you somewhere you can scream,” he said before reclaiming her mouth.
“I want you somewhere we can be naked,” she replied when he ended the kiss.
“Next time.” Lord help him, he wanted her bare before him. She gripped him like a custom fit should.
Her pants came faster and grew a bit louder as he continued moving within her. Dipping his head, he ate the scream he knew was coming. Her entire body bowed, pushing herself farther onto his cock. He held her hips, anchoring her tight to him as her orgasm tore through her. Then, he moved, again, wanting to find his own release and yet, at the same time, didn’t want this time to end. The way her internal muscles rippled around him had him nearly sinking to the floor.
“Please,” she panted, raking the nape of his neck.
“Please what?” He picked up the speed of his thrusts. “Come again for me.” He released one hand from her hips and sank it into the back of her hair. “Now.”
He buried his face into the side of her neck as her orgasm triggered his own. His head spun, and his blood pounded in his veins. Sagging on her, he kissed the spot where her neck met her shoulder. “Fuck.”
“Aptly put,” she commented, breathing as hard as he was.
“Come on,” he said, pulling free and redressing.
“Where are we going?”
“Your bed. I’m not anywhere close to being done with you, and I’ll be damned if it’s done here where we have three people lying just out there.”
She slid off the desk and fixed her pants. “Let’s go, then.”
With her mussed hair and pouty lips, he wanted to ignore the fact they were where they were and indulge. Steeling himself, he gestured for her to lead the way out of the room. Tate damn near tossed her over his shoulder and dashed the distance. She’d set off something inside him that he wanted to release a
nd let nature take over. See what came from it, for that brief moment in the office had not even scratched the surface.
He flicked off the light and trailed that tight ass of hers from the clinic to her hut, sparse as the one he was in. The flashlight’s beam landed on the narrow bed along the wall. Simple shelves held clothing.
“Albany.”
She turned toward him and pulled her shirt off, dropping it by her feet. “No need to tell me this discussion isn’t over. I know it’s not.” She went after her pants next as she toed off her shoes.
“Agreed.” He ripped off his shirt and allowed it to fall to the floor. Stepping toward her, he brushed her hands away and lowered the zipper of her pants before drawing the material down over shapely hips.
Plain white bra and panties. It didn’t matter, for she rocked them like a lingerie model. His jeans grew tighter as his cock jerked and swelled further.
She stepped free of the pants and reached for the button on his denim. “You have too much on.”
“I’ll be as naked as you want before you can finish.”
Her grin was wicked. The flashlight tumbled to the floor as he raced through disrobing, falling from where he’d secured it under his arm. She was back in his arms—naked bodies pressed together—before the light stopped spinning.
“You’ve been haunting my dreams since I met you.”
“Likewise,” she panted, tugging his head down to kiss. “God, you taste good.”
So did she. He hefted her, grunting his approval when she wrapped her legs around his waist, bringing her wetness in tantalizing contact with him. As if reading his mind, she lifted her body just enough to allow him to line up and put into her heat when she lowered back down.
“Oh, shit,” she moaned. “It’s been too fucking long.”
“You’re damn near choking me,” he said as her tightness rippled around his cock. “Fuck, it feels like heaven.”
She yanked on his hair before nipping his lip. “I’m yours, military man. Let me have it.”
αβ
“Who needs a coffee pot if you get to wake up that way?”
Tate went from sleep to full alert in seconds. Too late though since he’d been caught unawares.
