Authors: Eliza March
Being rich, smart, and successful hadn’t brought her any satisfaction until she began giving back to the under privileged—the children with no hope—those who desperately wanted to find something to be optimistic about. The project she developed would provide her with the means to accomplish that.
The closer COBRA came to completion, the sooner cartels all over the world would hear about it and be prepared to kill her to stop it—and her from achieving her goal. Worse, they could kidnap her and try to force her to work for them.
She intended to keep her name out of it and run from everything to keep the secrets in her head from toppling world governments and disrupting the balance of power. But as soon as the price on her head hit a billion dollar reward—more if she was taken alive—that kind of money would be tempting even to the most honest people she knew.
Tempting enough to entice an old colleague, one she trusted explicitly? No, she trusted no one, explicitly and neither did Jacqui.
After Jacqui suggested she talk to the anti-terrorist agent with the brilliant Hollywood smile and deadly good looks about helping her keep COBRA secure, Rowan wanted to believe in her and in him and his cause.
But if personal interest in him distracted her, then what? How would she fight attraction to a man who sounded exactly like what she’d been longing for? She’d just been wishing for a man with his attributes. A man with as many secrets as she had. And according to Jacqui, he was supposed to protect her…
Rowan called Jacqui back for the last word. “Who’s going to protect Mr. James from me?”
Jacqui laughed out a big guttural sound. “Oh, I believe Mr. James can hold his own. What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall.”
“Like I said, no promises, and no voyeurism allowed.” Rowan liked the idea of someone wanting to keep her safe, because the safety of COBRA was of major consequence. She would uncover the arms dealer Grey was looking for, and then the cat would be out of the bag. Her project would be out there to be scrutinized by all.
London, UK
Rowan had Daniel arrange dinner for her and the guy Jacqui said would curl her toes. While she dressed and fixed her hair, Rowan experienced a slight giddy anticipation. Cade James’ description sounded like the date she’d been eager for—just not a date she wanted to negotiate a business deal with.
The hotel restaurant was small but elegant, and he was easy to spot. A prince among paupers so to speak. Jacqui may have even understated his good looks. Still, Rowan was confident her tiny black dress competed with Mr. Hollywood’s perfect smile and practiced debonair charm. As he helped her into her chair, she couldn’t help noticing that her stiletto heels didn’t put her anywhere near the height of her blond, broad-shouldered business date.
“Will you tell me about yourself, Ms. O’Malley?” he asked when he sat.
Despite the way his question stunned her, she reluctantly responded to him anyway.
“What do you want to know, Mr. James? I’m sure you’ve done your own investigation. My life has been plastered across newspapers all over the world since I lost my mother when I was eleven. My life is no secret.”
“I didn’t mean the obvious—
“You mean the fact I come from a long line of Irish Nationalists, some known for their affiliation with the NIRA—some who were directly involved with the Troubles?”
He patiently explained, “Something more personal. I want to know what drives you.”
So did she. For the most part, her environment and her family background were the contributing factors. Her background kept her ever vigil, but the driving force behind her goals was a determination to develop her computer genius into a money-making venture. With enough money she was able to help kids who’d faced what she had, being raised on the streets of Belfast under the umbrella of danger, prejudice, and hatred. Changes came after her father led the coalition to agree to a cease-fire—not enough changes and not quickly enough.
Being successful was finally bringing her the wealth she needed. Now she could give something back to the underprivileged, give them something to hope for.
She tossed back a glass of white wine. What had started as cool flirting in the very expensive London restaurant, heated up. At some point after the meal and before dessert, the immediate attraction hit her, and he couldn’t have overlooked her interest any more than she did his. She tried to fight the instant pull but wondered why she should. As far as she was concerned, the business deal was off the table the minute her female parts jumped in, but sex was still a good possibility as heat simmered between them.
Maybe a business deal with Cade could have side benefits, but Rowan wasn’t sure about this man’s intentions, nor was she certain they’d ever come to that kind of a deal. She investigated his company before agreeing to dinner, and she didn’t find anything, even after checking with a few underworld friends. She’d dug deep…now she would put out feelers to her old companions on the dark net. Omega claimed he was clear, and for now on this level, she was okay with him. But evidence contradicted that fact.
In a way, she hoped this one was a good guy, because there was just something about him that made her think passion and permanence and superhero. American with a slight Virginia accent, Cade James brought out the feminine side of Rowan that she thought she’d buried after her mother died. Years of training with her father and grandfather squelched anything feminine that could have bloomed. Her father still struggled to bring peace to Northern Ireland, but memories were long and angry.
At fifteen, when she almost ended up in jail, Dame Lily Hampstead had come to her rescue. Rowan wouldn't be where she was today, if the British head of security and counter intelligence hadn’t hired her to work for the government cyber division. Lily Hampstead had also taught her how to be a woman in a man’s world.
Staring at the man across the table, she was tempted to call Lily for advice. If Rowan ever considered becoming one of those women who fell for brains, good looks, and muscles, this would be the time, and the mutual chemistry was there steaming up the dinner, too.
His voice was just the right pitch to uncoil the restrictions she’d placed on her female parts, and her morals were fighting their way free, ready to accommodate the man sitting across from her. She fought the growing sensations, and tried to reason her body back to following good sense.
What the hell? Why?
When was the last time she gave in to her own base needs? This felt different. This time she would concede to desire, ignore the business offer no matter what it was, and take him up on the sex. That way she wouldn’t be completely compromising her integrity. He hadn’t offered but he would, of that she was certain from the light in his eyes and the bulge in his pants.
Dessert hadn’t even arrived before he pulled out a folded contract and handed it to her. Next, he placed a very fat envelope beside her drink on the table.
Rowan put the contract down, picked up the envelope and opened it, discreetly gazing inside. The size of the first bill in the wad of cash had her mind quickly calculating the amount. Too much. She didn’t bother looking at the contract and handed him back the envelope.
“What is it you really want?”
“I’d like you to develop a security system for me.”
“I don’t know you, and I don’t do business with people I don’t know, especially if they offer me that much money for something I know nothing about.”
“I can fill you in—”
“No. Don’t bother. I need to know who you are…really…and who you work for.” She held up her hand as soon as he tried to speak again. “When you’re prepared to tell me the truth…then we’ll talk about the deal. As you probably well know from my background, my trust doesn’t come easily.”
“I’ve heard that.” He gave her a blinding smile that had her melting in its heat.
“For now, Mr. James, what you really want may be what I really want. But I don’t mix business with pleasure.” She stretched out her hand and slid it across the table until she touched the tips of his very long fingers, making her point clear.
Rowan had never been so brazen, but she held her ground hoping she wasn’t mistaken about his intentions. For some unknown reason she wanted this man whoever or whatever he was.
A warm flush covered her skin, and she held her breath as he perused her cleavage. She didn’t take her attention from his face, then his lashes lifted and his blue eyes met hers.
“You’re blushing Ms. O’Malley.” The corner of his perfect mouth twitched, and she found herself grinning back at him.
“Aye, I’m certain I am,” she said. Her Irish brogue kicked up a notch. “’Tis the bane of fair skin and inexperience, I’m afraid, Mr. James.”
“Please call me Cade. I find the blush and your honesty extremely attractive. In fact, I find everything about you unusually appealing. My room is here in the hotel. We can have our dessert sent up with a bottle of Champagne if you’d like.”
She finally exhaled. This was going to happen. “That sounds perfect. And you can call me Rowan.”
“I like calling you Ms. O’Malley.”
Rowan laughed then winked. “It does sound a bit naughty.”
“Does naughty interest you, Ms. O’Malley?”
“Actually, it does, Mr. James.”
Apparently his irresistible charm was going to get Cade laid, but no signed contract, and there was no way he’d turn down the opportunity to further explore every nuance of this fascinating woman. His sister-in-law was going to give him hell for doing this if she found out, but Rowan wasn’t signing anyway so maybe he’d try a different tactic.
“I take it you don’t like to mix business with pleasure any more than I do,” he stated, determining being frank with her would be his best approach.
“That’s right. But there isn’t going to be a business deal, Cade, therefore everything else is a possibility.”
The server interrupted with dessert. Cade folded and placed his napkin on the table, stood and quietly asked to have the final course and a bottle of Champagne sent up to his room. He generously tipped the man and quickly signed the check.
“You’re right. Everything else is possible. Are you ready?” Cade turned to Rowan giving her one final chance to escape. Her face and chest were still faintly flushed. The idea she didn’t take this lightly, nor did she appear experienced at this sort of encounter, made him feel slightly protective.
She nodded then turned to the elevators. “This way?” she asked.
He placed his hand on the small of her back and said, “Yes.”
He’d spent too many years with knowledgeable women, women who knew what the deal was, no strings, no promises, and although Rowan acted as if she had no ulterior motives, he didn’t trust his own instincts with her. She was different in so many ways.
* * * * *
No sooner had they entered the pent house elevator up to the suites, Rowan tugged at his tie and brushed against him. Her soft fragrance enveloped him, blinding him to his previous concerns and encouraged him to sniff closer. Close enough his lips skimmed past hers as they explored the soft tissue beneath her chin, nuzzling his way to her ear lobe.
His next words, warned her, “There’s no going back, Rowan.”
Both his hands gripped her hips as she ground against his growing erection, answering his unspoken question.
She turned her mouth up to his lips and murmured against them, “I don’t want to turn back.”
He lifted her one leg and cupped her ass so she straddled him as he ground between her thighs with her back against the mirrored wall. She had a tight grip on his hair as he tangled his tongue taking hers in the demanding kiss he’d wanted to savor since she held her hand up and refused to listen to his pitch. The way her lips puckered as she turned him down, then the way her skin pinked when she made her counter offer had turned him hard as stone while he took the last of the wine in his glass in one gulp.
Her body was a combination of sleek feminine muscle, shapely arms and legs, with lush breasts and hips. She wasn’t his usual long legged model type without any appealing curves. She was a real woman.
Rowan’s soft strength was a welcome change. Her body felt perfect in his arms, completely womanly yet strong and capable, and for some reason, the term dauntless came to mind as he considered her determination tonight—turning down his offer before even hearing it, especially after counting the money.
The private elevator door to the penthouse chimed, and the door slid open. He reluctantly lowered her, slowly allowing the woman to slither down his body, and at the same time he tried to compose himself. His tie was askew, but he didn’t appear any more disheveled than she did. Her dress, with one thin shoulder strap having fallen low on her arm, was exposing part of one pale pink areola.
His own breathing, already shallow and fast, grew more difficult as he focused on the way her chest rapidly rose and fell. They’d both been affected by the kiss. He was damn hard and his dick twitched when he considered tugging the dress further down, exposing the rest of her breast and feasting on the tight pointed nipple poking through the material. She wasn’t wearing a bra. He’d noticed that immediately, but her breasts were perfect, firm, high-riding, with turned up tips despite her generous size.
Maybe he’d been projecting his thoughts too clearly, because her lids lowered to his groin, checking out the bulge in his pants with approval.
When they got to his room, he didn’t waste any time, he backed her up to the bed. Then she sat and tested the mattress. He almost swallowed his tongue. She plopped down, spread eagled, on her back in invitation, and the groan she uttered, the sound of her desire, slammed into him.
Try as he did to refrain from releasing the moan on his own lips, he failed. She gazed up at him with need in her hooded eyes, and he stepped between her legs, parting her knees with his thigh.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment and inhaled deeply, feeling satisfied that she wanted his touch as much as he desired hers. Slowly, he lifted her dress higher. When her thighs parted slightly wider, defining the invitation, he skimmed his hand up to her cleft and massaged her through the thin material of her panties. He ran a hand up the inside of her leg and paused, waiting for her reaction before he pushed her panties aside, and slipped his hand inside.
She was already wet for him. Her woman’s tempting scent filled the air and his nostrils, encouraging him, driving him wild. She relaxed into his hand and allowed her eyes to flutter shut as she released a little sigh.
Bracing one hand on the mattress, he bent above her, parted her sex, and found the sensitive spot that sent her hips arching into his hand. He applied speed and more pressure while he lowered the top of her dress and took her nipple into his mouth, then nipped gently.
The flush of her cheeks accented the deep midnight blue of her eyes when she opened them in surprise. Her sighs turned to desperate tiny whimpers of delight before she let out a controlled screech and came, vibrating against his palm.
“God, oh, God that is magnificent.”
He didn’t stop until she came again this time with even greater enthusiasm.
Magnificent?
He could grow to love the Irish expressions.