A Man Like No Other (4 page)

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it. Can you walk a bit
further up?”

He would crawl if he had to; he didn’t
want to disappoint her. “Sure.”

They ambled along until she veered off
the path and to a small glen. Beautiful was the only word he could think of.
Lush green grass, flowers dotting the carpet, and a sparkling pool of water.

“Wow,” he said. “This is impressive.”

“One of my favourite spots. The water
is clean, so drink if you want.”

He headed to the edge and looked back
to see Serefina walk slowly, eyes closed, and drag her hands along the tops of
the grasses. Adjusting his path, he returned to her and she was in his arms by
the time her eyes opened.

“What are you doing?”

“You’re driving me insane, angel. I
can’t stop thinking of what it was like to be buried deep within your wet
heat.”

“Stop.”

“I want to watch your face when you
come. I want to make love to you, angel.”

Her pulse ran out of control. Longing
overflowed her expression. “No,” she whispered on a tortured breath.

“Why not?”

“You’re DEA. Plus we’ve already
fucked.”

He snarled low. “We’ll get back to the
DEA excuse in a minute. I didn’t say I wanted to fuck you—don’t get me wrong, I
do, just not right now—I want to learn the treasures of your body. Enjoy it
slowly.”

Her trembles increased. He pressed his
lips to her forehead and inhaled her light citrus smell.

“Since you’re feeling better, let’s get
back to the reason we’re out here. Running.”

He tightened his hold, preventing her
escape. “We’re not ignoring this, Serefina.”

She stepped free. “There’s nothing to
ignore or not.” Then she spun around and began running.

Refusing to let her get away, he set
off after her. He had no extra air for words so remained silent. When her home
came into view, he was extremely relieved. He’d believed himself to be in top
shape, but this run—where she barely seemed winded—had kicked his ass and taken
no prisoners. He grew more impressed each moment he spent in her company.
Silence remained as they stretched out. But he ended it when she grasped the
door handle.

“Serefina.”

Her sweat-glistened body slowly turned towards
him. He groaned at the sight of her damp tank top pressed enticingly to her
full, firm breasts. Her shorts rode low on her hips and allowed him a peek at
her flat belly. Despite his exhaustion, he began to respond, his cock
hardening. In the shorts he wore, there was no hiding that fact. Her gaze,
however, never wavered from his.

“I told you when we first met; I didn’t
do your kind. I broke that rule the other night. It doesn’t mean I want a
repeat.”

“We’ve both said some things, angel.
But I’d say things have changed.”

“Why?”

He could read true confusion in her
expression. Blinking, he positioned himself right before her.

“Honestly, I’m not sure.” He grabbed
her arm, holding her in place. “But it has. You can’t deny that, angel. It
began the moment our lives intersected.”

“I can’t…”

He pulled her close, closing his eyes
with the simple pleasure of her body against his.
I’m not letting you go.
The pager on his shorts went off and he
unclipped it to view the number. A frown crossed his face. Serefina stepped
back and tilted her head inside.

“Use the phone if you need to. I’m
going to shower.”

Lust hit him and for a moment took his
mind off the page. But she hadn’t made an offer for him to join her. “Thanks,”
he said, following her inside. He headed to the phone when she went upstairs.

Hefting her phone, he dialled the
number.

“Hello?” a feminine voice said.

He smiled. “Hi, sweetness. What can I
do for you?”

Sidra Kysenzki, his sister-in-law. A
woman who’d taken a bullet for him.

“Taber. Thanks for getting back to me.
I tried your phone first but then hit the pager when I didn’t get a response.
Sorry for bothering you.”

He shoved a hand through his damp hair.
“You’re never a bother, Sidra. Call anytime. What’s up?”

“Pete and I, along with Michael and
Ayanna, are heading to
Albuquerque
to see some of their friends. Since it’s Pete’s birthday, I was
thinking—hoping—you and Cort could come out as a surprise to him.”

Pete. His youngest brother. A naval
pilot.

“Tell you what, I’ll call today and put
in for a few days surrounding his birthday and do my best to be there.”

“Thank you, Taber.”

“Anything for you.”

“Really? In that case, is it too much
to hope you’re ready to settle down and that’s why you’re calling me back from
a number I don’t recognise?”

“A gentleman never kisses an’ tells.”

She laughed. “True, but we’re talking
about you, Taber.”

An image of Serefina appeared in his
mind’s eye. “Good point. Who knows. One day, I’ll find the right woman. You
know, you’re taken, so it’s hard to find someone who can come close to you.”

She snorted with laughter. “Excuses.
And please, we both know you don’t want me. I won’t keep you any longer; I’m
going to call Cort. Take care, Taber, and thanks again. Bye.”

“Bye, sweetness,” he said before
hanging up.

Sidra was a good wife for his brother.
With a brief hesitation, he went to his bag and pulled out his cell to place
the required call to work and put in for some days off.

Serefina had showered and dressed by
the time he was finished. She stood in the kitchen when he stuck his head in.

“Can I use your shower?”

“Second door on the right.”

Bag in hand, he headed to the bathroom
and took a short one, refusing to stroke his hard shaft. He would be buried
deep within Serefina when he came, not alone in a shower, even if it was her
shower. Not much later, he stood in the kitchen with her.

“Your phone rang while you were
showering,” she commented.

He checked and groaned, then called
back.

“Director Feeny’s office.”

“Cricket, it’s Kysenzki.”

“I’ll put you through.”

“Taber.” His director’s gravelled voice
filled his ear.

“You called?”

“Why didn’t you answer?”

“Not in the habit of answering while
I’m showering. The reason you called?” The smile on Serefina’s lips eased his
anger.

“Need you back.”

“I’ll be there in a day.”

“Why so long?”

“I’m in the middle of nowhere. Have to
get back to civilisation.”

Tobias kept talking but the words meant
nothing to him as he watched Serefina unwrap and begin to suck on a Popsicle.
His hand shook and his throat grew dry. Then there was his cock which seemed
ready to burst from his pants. Without a thought, he ended the call, dropped
his phone and moved towards the temptress, one thing on his mind.

Chapter Four

Serefina quivered from the predatory
look Taber pinned her with.
What the hell
possessed me to play with fire?
His animalistic motion made her squirm. He
stopped before her and she pulled the Popsicle from between her lips with a
pop. His eyes darkened.

“Want one?” she queried. “You know, for
the road.”

Kissable bow-shaped lips drew tight.

“Not nice, angel,” he growled.

She offered it to him, but instead, he
latched onto her mouth and sucked the air from her lungs. Deep, powerful
strokes took his tongue through her entire mouth. He teased the sides and roof
before pulling back. She was a mess of trembling desire.

“Watermelon,” he murmured. “I have to
tell you, angel. I prefer grapefruit. That’s how you taste. But anything is
good from your lips.”

She whimpered while his hand plied
circles on the inside of her thigh. His other hand guided the frozen treat back
into her dry mouth. She sucked hard, desperate for the moisture. A sharp mewl
escaped when two fingers slipped up the leg of her shorts and towards her
soaked core.

“I’m going to taste you, Serefina. I’m
going to suck on you like you’re doing to that Popsicle in your mouth.”

More moisture flowed. He tugged her to
the edge of the counter and stripped her of her shorts. Strong hands encouraged
her thighs to spread.

“Enjoy your treat, angel. I’m sure as
hell gonna enjoy mine.”

She could barely hold the Popsicle,
much less enjoy it. Not with Taber’s golden head between her dark thighs. He
licked her through the wet satin of her panties and she squirmed trying not to
scream. Again and again, he lapped.

“You taste like grapefruit everywhere,
Serefina.”

Her yelp couldn’t be contained when he
tore off her underwear. His warm breath hit her swollen flesh and she shifted
on the cool countertop. He captured her clit in his mouth and played with it.
Her Popsicle fell to the counter and she gripped his hair with her hands,
holding him closer. She ground against him and her head dropped back when he
added one finger to her heat.

“More,” she begged without shame.

His response vibrated her nub and shot
more tremors through her. He complied, adding another two fingers and pumping
them hard and fast inside her. Stars flickered as he ate, sucked, nipped, and
over all drove her out of her mind. Her legs spread, draped over his wide
shoulders allowing him easier access.

The power of her orgasm could neither
be slowed nor contained. Taber switched his fingers and his mouth only to
thrust his tongue deep within until he had licked her clean. Boneless, she
remained slumped back, her head against a cupboard. He rose from where he’d
knelt, reached out and pulled her close for a kiss. Her taste intermixed with
his flooded her senses and made her wet all over again. She leaned into him,
wrapping her arms around his neck. Expressing what she could not voice. Her
vulnerability.

“Serefina,” he murmured against her
lips.

Sated, she offered no resistance when
he hooked her legs around his waist and carried her upstairs. He found her
bedroom and laid her back upon the mattress.

“Serefina.”

She looked at him. A lock of hair fell
forward and she reached up to smooth it away. He stared at her with this odd
expression on his face.

“What?”

“I have to go.”

Ain’t
that how it always goes.

Her features must have said what she
felt. He stroked his hand down her face.

“I want to see you again, angel. I want
more than a bar night fuck.”

“I—”

“I know, I know. You don’t
do
my kind,” he said with a snarl. “So
when we’re together, you’re not ATF and I’m not DEA. You be you and I’ll be
me.”

Her heart loved the idea. Her brain
hesitated.

“Your co-workers?”

He skimmed her lips with his thumb. “As
far as they know we met once and took an elevator ride together. Where you left
me as fast as possible.”

She almost smiled. “Okay,” she said
before she could talk herself out of it.

“We still have to talk. I’ll leave my
number by your phone. Goodbye, Serefina.”

Taber kissed her until she felt like
melted wax. By the time she found her bearings, the sound of his powerful
diesel engine told her he was leaving.

“Great job, LeBenoit,” she chastised
herself. “Get involved with another man from the DEA. It worked
so
well the previous time.”

Once out of bed, she cleaned up and
dressed again before heading downstairs.

Spying her cell, she went to it and
found a piece of paper by it. A list of numbers on it and at the bottom one
word.
Taber
.

With a sigh, she realised the Popsicle
had been cleaned up.
Okay, Taber. You get
some points for that as well.

Her home phone rang and the man at the
other end took her attention from Taber. By that night, she’d loaded up her
stuff and called her aunt to tell them she was back to work.

* * * *

Florida

Serefina shouldered her bag and stepped
across the lobby of the hotel. She waved to the clerk, same as she’d done every
day. There was only one reason she was here. Her director asked her to go down
and help the DEA with the information on a man named Dillard Thurgood. Even if
she didn’t always play well with the other agencies, she’d work with Satan
himself to get that bastard off the street.

A gut feeling wasn’t enough to arrest
him. Well, according to the law. And her director told her flat out shooting
the man was not going to work either. A pity in her estimation, it’d save a lot
of time, energy and billable man hours. So she’d locked away her own mistrust
and dislike to arrive as requested. Stepping out into the hot
Florida
sun, she slid on her shades and
turned up the street. She walked calmly but with determination. A woman who
knew where was headed. Not a target.

Today, she was to make contact with the
couple who were undercover. Entering a café, she scanned the room before going
out to sit at one of the remaining outdoor tables. After placing her order, she
pulled out a puzzle book and worked on it.

“Missy? Oh my God, Missy, is that you?”

She looked up to see a woman in a tight
pink tube top, big bracelets, gaudy earrings and a short white skirt.
Oh wow.

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me,”
the woman exclaimed loudly.

“Oh no, I didn’t forget you, Rochelle.
I was just…um…admiring your outfit.”

Rochelle beamed and sat without waiting
for an invite.

“I haven’t seen you in what. Two
years?” She popped her gum. “Did you move home or are you still being
high-n-mighty in
New York
?”

There it was.
New York
. The safe word. Now she had to deliver
hers.

“No. I’m only here on vacation. I
actually live in LA.” She couldn’t keep her eyes from the outfit. Did people
actually wear that still?

Rochelle shrugged, her red hair
gleaming in the sun. “
New York
,
LA
, no difference. Anywho,” she
pouted, “I was so sad when you couldn’t make my wedding. So was Roger. He’s
here.” She looked over her shoulder. “Somewhere.”

Rochelle
and Roger. Wow, the DEA isn’t all that inventive.

Her supposed cousin stood and yelled,
“Roger, it is so your cousin. I was right. Can’t believe you didn’t recognised
her. Come over, she’s buying drinks.”

Rochelle met her gaze and winked.

Serefina wanted to be mad but Rochelle
was playing her part well. Besides, the agency would reimburse her. Not to
mention she did have some family just like this woman, it was kinda like being
home. A shadow fell over them and she looked up. If not for her years of being
thrown curves in the field and needing to maintain her calm so not to blow her
cover, she wouldn’t have been able to keep only ‘joy’ on her face. The man who
stood before her, playing Roger her cousin, was DEA SA Sean Forrest.

Her ex-fiancé.

“Cousin Missy,” he said in a deep
voice.

Damn
him! Damn him for being so fine.
“Roger, long time no see.”
Literally, you bastard.

“Yes, it has been. You’re looking
great.”

“Sit down won’t you. We can catch up
over drinks.”

He sat across from her and she prayed
for the strength to get through this. Once the drinks were served, Rochelle
reached in her purse, a lime green colour, and handed her a piece of paper.
Glad to have something to focus on other than her ex, she opened it.

“Do you know what it means?” Rochelle
asked, no sign of her whiny voice.

“Yes.”

Facing the paper towards the female
agent, Serefina broke it down. They ate a light meal and exchanged information
before they parted. Paying the bill, she rose and hoisted her backpack again.

“Wonderful to see you both again.”

“Are you in town for a while? Maybe we
could do dinner?” Roger offered.

“Yes, I am, a couple more days. I’m
staying at the Sheraton on Fifth and Vine. Leave me a message.”

“Sounds great. Come on, Roger. I have
to get home to change my clothes for work.”

“Go on, I’ll catch up,” he said.

She could see Rochelle’s hesitation,
but the woman left. Then it remained the two of them.

“Something else?” she questioned, doing
her best to control her heart beat.

“Just thanks for putting up with
Rochelle. I know she’s a bit loud but she’s got a good heart.”

The smile seemed to strain her face.
“No problem. Have a good one.” She started around him, only to find herself
held tightly against him. Memories swamped her. Being held like this. By him.
Feeling safe and protected.

“I’ve missed you, Fina,” he murmured
before stepping back and releasing her. “We’ll call your hotel to set up a
time.” A final wave and he was gone.

Gone.

Just like when he’d dumped her. Crushed
her dreams.

Yet having been in his arms again made
it hard to recall the pain. Sean had been the one.
The one.
The one she had intended on spending her happily ever
after with.

Forcing her emotions back, she left the
café and did a bit of shopping before going to her room. She gave herself a few
moments before knocking on the adjoining door and entering.

Tucker Mason, a systems operator,
looked up and gave her a tired smile. “How was lunch?” he asked.

“Wonderful.” His dejected look made her
chuckle. “But why don’t you tell me.” She handed him a bag with some in it.

“You truly are a saint, thank you.”

“Enjoy.” She sat with him. Tucker was
one she actually liked. A man devoted to his wife and son.

“So,” he mumbled around a bite of
fettuccine, “how’d it go?”

“Good. They’ll be calling to set up a
time for supper.”

“They looked okay?”

“Sure. I don’t know her personally but
I’d say she did.”

“But you know Forrest?”

She licked her lips. “You could say
we’re acquainted.” More memories fought free from where they were buried.

Tucker nodded. “Oh, before I forget.
They’re bringing in another agent.”

With a calm she didn’t fell, she leant
back in the chair. “It’s y’all’s show. I’m just along for the ride.”

He laughed. “You and me both.”

“So who’s the other agent?” she asked
desperate for something to keep her mind off Sean.

The door opened and the team leader,
Sebastian Chantor, stood there. But it was the one behind him who had all her
attention. Taber. The men entered and closed the door. Suddenly, the room felt
much smaller and like there was less air. She kept her face carefully composed;
all the while, she took in Taber’s faded and worn jeans, cowboy boots and tight
dark blue shirt. His hair was unconfined, and for the life of her, she wanted
to kiss him. That wasn’t all she longed to do to him.

Sebastian nodded in her direction.
That’s all he did. He didn’t like to speak to her. From what she’d seen, he
didn’t like to speak to anyone.

“Good to see you again, SA LeBenoit,”
Taber said in a professional tone. He barely met her gaze before focusing on
Tucker who’d been ready to make introductions.

“Thanks,” she muttered. On her feet,
she handed the written report to Sebastian. “I’m outta here.”

He nodded again.

“Bye, Serefina. Thanks again for
lunch,” Tucker hollered.

Without looking back, she waved and
slipped through the door to her room and fell face first upon the bed. Her
muscles seemed to melt into the mattress. The sob surged forth and escaped
before she knew how it happened. Clamping her mouth shut, she forced herself up
and into the bathroom.

“Get a grip!” she snapped at her
reflection. “You’re a federal agent, for fuck’s sake. Things don’t rattle you.”

She stared at herself until she was
content with being in control again. The fact Taber and Sean both were here
shoved in a dark hole. That’s not why she was here. She had a job to do and she
would do it and leave. She headed out the door, purse and key card with her, towards
the pool.

Taber wasn’t sure how he’d pulled it
off but he had. It had been two weeks since he’d knelt between Serefina’s firm
thighs and ate the nectar her body had bestowed upon him. Seeing her in a
barely there white dress hadn’t made anything easier. That wasn’t all. Her
eyes. They told him something wasn’t right.

“You know Serefina.”

He focused back on Tucker. “I met her
once before. Heard she was kinda cold. How’d you finagle lunch?”