Chasing Danger (6 page)

“There was a man with a knife at the party. I went upstairs to find a private bathroom and this guy tried to stop me in the hall. Or I think he was going to. Something was off about him and I didn’t think—I just reacted and locked myself in the bathroom. He slammed his hand against the door and tried the handle. Then when I heard him at the other door I didn’t know what else to do so I ran out the first entrance and barely escaped him. I saw him barreling after me down the stairs but I ran into Shaun and when I turned around no one was there. And I know how this sounds; I know I sound crazy. And yes, I’ve had a couple drinks, but I’m not drunk. Not even buzzing. I . . . It was real and that guy meant me harm. I feel it bone deep. And as crazy as it sounds I think it might have something to do with the guy who was at my house last night because I don’t see how something like this could happen twice in a row and not be connected.” Her words came at him like machine-gun fire, her espresso gaze clear and her voice serious as she spoke.

He believed every word. Though his first instinct was to barge in there and hunt this guy down, it wasn’t a smart move. He’d be leaving Hannah alone, and how the hell would he find a man who’d likely already taken off his mask? If he was smart he would have. No, Dax was going to get help on this. And not the local PD kind. He was going to use his much better resources.

“You don’t believe me.” Hannah’s quiet voice raked over Dax’s senses like shards of glass over his skin.

“I do.” His jaw clenched tight as he tried to keep a lid on his emotions. “It’s smart you trusted your instinct and locked yourself in the bathroom.” Because people so often ignored their gut because of social niceties and expectations. Luckily Dax didn’t have that issue; he was barely fucking civilized. Alert, he glanced out of his truck, then started the engine. “I want you away from here now.”

“Do you think we should call the police?”

He shook his head. “No, it won’t do any good.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Her sigh was so full of dejection he reached out and squeezed her hand, needing to touch her.

“I didn’t say we weren’t going to do anything. There’s something I need to tell you.” He threaded his fingers through hers as he steered out of the driveway.

She went still next to him, and when he glanced at her, her dark eyes were solemn. “Are you . . . married?”

He blinked. “What? No. Fuck no. I’m a federal agent with the NSA, not an analyst. I can’t tell you much about what I do, and there will be times when I have to leave with no lead time. I’ll get a call and be gone within two hours to destination unknown. Under normal circumstances I wouldn’t be able to tell you, especially not since we just started dating, but you and your family have already been thoroughly vetted, and . . . I . . . I’ve never felt like this about anyone before, Hannah. Whatever this thing between us is, I want to give it a chance and I’ll be as honest with you as I can. I swear. From this point out I’ll be able to tell you when I’m leaving, but that’ll be it. I won’t be able to answer questions, and most times, I won’t be able to even contact you.” And he knew that wasn’t fair to a new relationship. It was a lot to ask of anyone to deal with a schedule like his.

“Oh . . .” Hannah slumped back against the seat, squeezing his hand in hers before she brought it to her mouth. Surprising the hell out of him, she kissed the back of his hand. “I thought maybe you had a secret family or something. I work odd shifts at the hospital too. And I get that you traveling is different than that and will be difficult for us at times, but I can deal with separations.”

“So you’re okay with what I do?”

“Well, I don’t really know what you do, but you carry a gun and a federal agent is a pretty generic description for what I’m sure you actually do, so yeah, I’m okay with it. As long as you don’t lie to me, I’m okay with anything.”

Relief like he’d never experienced before surged through him. He had no doubt they’d have issues with his schedule or even hers in the future. Relationships weren’t always easy, or he didn’t think they were. He’d seen enough of them break down over the years, especially when he’d been in Delta. Talk about a profession not conducive to an easy marriage. “I have another confession.”

“Okay.”

“I’ve never dated anyone. Or been in a relationship. Or . . . anything.” He’d had a lot of sex, sure. That was it.

“Are you trying to tell me you were a virgin before me?” she asked teasingly. Faint lines of stress bracketed her mouth, but her expression wasn’t as tense as before.

He snorted at the question. “I just wanted to give you fair warning that I’m going to fuck up. Probably a lot.”

She shrugged, seemingly unfazed. “Me too. That’s what relationships are about. We’ll argue, then have incredible make-up sex. And as long as you always concede that I’m right after an argument, we’ll be fine.”

His lips twitched as he pulled up to a stoplight. “Is that right?”

Expression solemn, she nodded. “Yes. Since you’re relationship challenged I’ll catch you up with the proper way a boyfriend acts.”

“Boyfriend?” The word was foreign.

“What else should I call you? Man friend?”

A burst of laughter escaped as he turned down a busy street. “‘Boyfriend’ works. As long as it means we’re not seeing anyone else, you can call me whatever you want. Because I don’t fucking share.” He glanced at her as he pulled up to another light.

Her expression heated, her dark eyes went heavy lidded for a moment. “That’s the hottest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

His gaze fell to her mouth and his entire body tightened in a way that was becoming all too familiar around her. The sexy woman had the ability to bring him to his knees. Somehow he tore his gaze from hers. “We need to talk about your problem.”

Sighing, she shifted against the seat. “Yeah. I know.”

He gave her hand a squeeze before letting it go. Traffic was getting thicker as he turned onto Ocean Boulevard. “We’re going to figure out who this guy is.” And he was going to pay. Dax would make sure of it. “I’ve got a lot of resources.” And if Karen or Wesley wouldn’t help him, Dax had plenty of other contacts from his Delta days. He’d call in every damn favor he was owed to help Hannah. “First, we’re heading to your place and packing a bag. You’ll be staying with me until we catch this guy.”

“Okay.”

He’d expected a little resistance and was pleased she didn’t balk. The thought of her under his roof, in his bed . . . oh yeah. That was right where she belonged. “I need a list of any enemies or conflicts you’ve had in the past six months, no matter how small you think it might be. We’ll focus on work first, since this second incident was at a work function.”

Out of the corner of his eye he saw her nod. “Okay. It’s just hard to believe someone wants me—dead, I guess. They must, right?”

Dax’s jaw tightened and he gave a sharp nod because he couldn’t force any words out. There wasn’t a good reason for a man to come after a woman with a knife. The guy could want to more than kill her. The idea of anyone hurting Hannah made him see red, but he reined in the savage curse at the thought. He’d take care of her. No one was going to hurt this woman.

* * *

“You should fire your decorator,” Hannah murmured, looking around Dax’s place as he locked the front door of his one-and-a-half-story home behind him. She recognized the neighborhood as one of the newer ones, where everything he could need was in walking distance. Shopping, eating, even entertainment. He had pretty much no furniture except two expensive-looking couches and a giant flat-screen television in the living room. He was such a guy. At least the walls weren’t painted a boring white, but a soft sage green.

He snorted and set his alarm. “Most of my stuff is still boxed up in one of the guest rooms. I’ve got a bed, which is all we need.”

She opened her mouth to respond but couldn’t think of a single thing to say. Yep, he was right. And she wanted to see his bed very soon. On the way from her place to his he’d put in a call to someone named Karen, who was now looking into traffic cameras for . . . something. Hannah hadn’t been able to follow the entire conversation since it was one-sided, but she knew Dax was doing his best to figure out who wanted to hurt her. And he had resources the Miami PD probably didn’t dream of.

No one knew she was at Dax’s place and she didn’t have work the next couple of days, so she could get some distance from work and hopefully by then they’d figure out who was after her. It was the worst thing—trying to narrow down someone who could possibly hate her enough to want to kill her. She might have some issues with people at work, but that was just normal work politics. Or she’d assumed it was. Now it seemed clear someone had serious animosity toward her.

“Hannah.” Dax’s voice snapped her back from her thoughts.

Blinking, she looked up at him and guessed he must have said her name more than once by the look on his face. “Yeah?”

“I’m going to check the rest of the house just as a precaution, then put in another call to my boss. If you want to head upstairs, feel free. My room’s the one at the end of the hall, and the open guest room is the second on the left.” Without waiting for a response, he stepped into the living room, heading for the windows, likely to check his locks, even though she had no doubt his house was secure.

She’d never even been here before and hadn’t planned to come here tonight either. But she liked how vigilant he was. As she headed up the stairs, bag in hand, she mulled over his words. He’d told her where his room and the guest room were. Did he want her sleeping in the guest room? No, she immediately dismissed that thought. He was giving her the option.

Well, she knew exactly what her choice would be. Bypassing the first two rooms, she nudged open the door at the end of the hall. The big bed was perfectly made, the king-sized comforter a dark blue and brown. Spartan, but nice furniture and two photos on one of his nightstands.

One with him and three other men in camouflage and face paint. The other was with him and an older couple she assumed were his grandparents. He’d told her that his mom had abandoned him to live with them and they’d raised him. She’d died of an overdose when he was five and he’d never known who his father was. But he’d certainly loved his grandparents. She’d heard it in his voice when he’d told her and she could see the love shining in his eyes in what looked like a graduation photo. Boot camp, she guessed. And the pride in their eyes was palpable.

At a slight sound behind her, she turned to find him standing in the doorway, watching her with that dark, intense hunger. “You’re so young in this picture. A baby.”

His lips twitched as he stepped into the room, all graceful predator as he moved in on her. And she knew that was exactly what he was doing. She’d made the choice to come to his room, so now he was making his move. “Eighteen, and thought I was the shit.”

“I bet.” She dropped her bag next to the bed and pulled the blue-and-purple wig off. Made of yarn, it was surprisingly light, but she was glad to have it off. When his gaze flicked to the wig, she laughed under her breath. “If you want I can keep it on,” she said teasingly.

Those piercing blue eyes pinned her. “Keep it on for what?”

“Really, you need me to spell it out?” She reached up and pulled the elastic band holding her hair in a ponytail free, then finger combed it. He tracked her movements with hunger in his gaze.

The sight of him so affected by her was an incredible turn-on. Dax was incredibly strong and sexy, and she knew she could literally bring him to his knees. That knowledge was so erotic it made every part of her tingle in anticipation for what was to come.

Slowly, she reached behind her back and tugged down the zipper of the dress. Since it had built-in support and she wasn’t overly endowed, she hadn’t bothered with a strapless bra. As she finished unzipping it and the material loosened, sliding down her body, her nipples tightened with pleasure at the heated look Dax raked over her.

His breathing hitched once, his jaw clenched as tight as the rest of his rigid body. As the dress pooled around her ankles, she started to step out of the ballet slippers, and then Dax made his move.

Apparently tired of just watching, he crossed the distance between them in two long strides, his mouth devouring hers in an intense kiss that had all the blood rushing to her ears. His fingers slid into her hair, cupping the back of her head tight as she arched into him.

Her nipples rubbed against his shirt, the stimulation sending a rush of heat to the already building inferno between her legs.

Feeling frantic, she grabbed at the bottom of his shirt, but he beat her to it, grabbing it and tearing it over his head. In seconds he was out of his boots and pants, his thick cock jutting against his lean stomach.

Before he could stop her, she went down on her knees and wrapped her fingers around the base of his erection.

He slid a hand into her hair, as if to stop her. “Hannah—”

She cut him off as she sucked just the tip of his head between her lips. He seemed to get off on teasing her until she was crying out his name, and she planned to do exactly the same to him. Swirling her tongue around the head of his cock, she grinned when he groaned, letting out a curse in that savage tone that made her even wetter.

So far he’d been the dominating one, taking control of everything in the bedroom, and she wanted a turn to get him as worked up as he got her. Pulling him deeper into her mouth, she savored the way his big body shuddered under her touch.

As she started to stroke him with her mouth and hand, his fingers tightened in her hair, tugging her slightly back. When she looked up at him, his blue eyes seemed darker.

“Need in you,” he rasped out.

While she wanted to drag this out, he looked as if he was on the brink of losing his control. “Yes.”

She’d barely gotten the word out before he lifted her up and had her flat on her back. The comforter was cool, in direct opposition to the raw heat and hunger rolling through her as Dax crushed his mouth over hers, his body pinning her to the bed.

The skin-to-skin contact was enough to overload her senses. It didn’t matter how many times they were together; she always felt frantic to have him pushing deep into her. Now was no different.

Groaning, he reached between their bodies and cupped her mound. When he slid a thick finger into her wet heat, he pulled back from her mouth and nipped along her jaw. “Already so wet for me.”

She made a strangled sound, unable to find her voice.

“Did you like taking me in your mouth?” he asked in a wicked tone, tweaking her clit as he did.

She made another sound she hoped passed as a yes as he began rubbing her sensitive bundle of nerves in a slow, torturous rhythm. Her nipples tingled, begging for attention too.

“I can tell you liked it.” His voice was a low whisper as he nipped her earlobe between his teeth, sliding another finger inside her.

She clenched around him, his words washing over her as she silently begged him to give her what she wanted.

When he let out a low chuckle next to her ear, she swore he could read her mind. “Tell me what you want next.” A soft demand.

“You. In me.” She was surprised she could even find her voice.

“I am in you.” He pushed his two fingers deep, the penetration making her roll her hips, demanding more.

“You’re maddening,” she growled, sheer frustration welling up inside her.