Authors: Eliza March
And now she had feelings, albeit ones she was keeping under control and ones she’d categorized as temporary, for a man she didn’t know or trust at all. He’d admitted he couldn’t tell her what she wanted to know, and he came with a past redacted in every system she’d hacked into.
She’d found enough to suspect his background would read like alphabet soup. S-E-A-L then C-I-A, maybe even F-B-I. His specialty was in computer systems, so more letters of the alphabet to contemplate, N-S-A or T-H-S-O. What she knew for certain, was that he’d once headed a cyber division in the CIA. Was he in charge of the cybersecurity division for this invisible IATO group? Would she ever know the truth or would she be willing to end this now?
On the way back to the cabin area she passed her bed imagining him there with her, relaxed, no pressure, no ghosts of Christmas Past. Just easy enjoyable sex.
To make her decision about Cade even more complicated, it was no secret he had a reputation for his wandering eye. Did she care? Perhaps a little twinge of concern, concern she wouldn’t be able to keep her heart in line this time. She mentally blew-off the thought.
They wouldn’t be together long enough for her to grow attached. The sex had been great…the best. When this was over, when he was gone, she’d miss that aspect of her life, because she was certain there’d never be another man like Cade in her bed. But she’d been disappointed before and survived. A pang of regret twisted her gut.
Forget it
. IATO wanted COBRA and a failsafe security system for the defense cypher. Sex was only a pleasant diversion for Cade, and sex could be the same for her.
Unfortunately, the key to breaking the international defense cypher was easier to get into than the banking system, but she wasn’t ready to share the price tag on her trust. She did have plenty of trust issues—over a billion of them—with that sort of astronomical bounty on her project. Cade would have to face every extreme faction to protect her. COBRA interested as many takers as a multi-billion dollar lottery. Guarding her would be risky.
To get COBRA most of those bounty hunters were willing to bring her in dead or alive. No one knew if she died COBRA died with her. IATO offered to protect her. Did they know she was intricate to the system? If they had so much security depending her program, they had to suspect how important keeping her alive would be. Convincing Cade and his anti-terrorist agency that she was essential to operating the program would be a hurdle they didn’t have time to argue about. She’d have to convince Cade now.
She returned to her seat, and he stared at her, then ran his fingertips gently over her cheek. “Beautiful. But that old babe was hot.”
“You have a thing for older women?”
“I have a thing for women. I like them.”
He sounded sincere. She believed he meant what he said because of how at ease he was with her, how at ease he was with his masculinity and her femininity. It was obvious he enjoyed women immensely.
“I’ve heard that.”
His eyes popped open wide. “I’m not like that.”
“Like what?”
“You know…I know I’ve been called a womanizer. I’m not. No one gets hurt. I make everything clear up front.”
He wanted her indisputable trust but his extensive past and too many aliases would make it difficult at best to convince her to put her life in his hands.
“Aye, no strings attached? Are you sure no one ever accidently becomes … attached?”
He frowned and contemplated her question. “I don’t think so.” He glanced away then back at her. “In my line of work, I haven’t been in a position to stick around long enough to form any strong attachments. And that’s all I’m going to say on the subject.”
The man was cagey. Definitely a sign of a military and government background.
“Rowan, look at me.”
“I was looking at you.”
“No, you were trying to look
into
me…at who you think I am not at who I really am. This is me. I’m not my job. Sure my past molded me, but I’m here for you now. Is that okay?”
What was he asking? No way would she allow him to think he meant more to her than a casual fling.
“Of course,” she said and winked at him, “I’m a big girl. I don’t have time for attachments any more than you do.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what do you mean, Mr. James? I’m a little confused. I can’t see past your charming façade. I don’t know what you expect. People are trying to kill me.”
“I know it’s tough, but try to trust me and I promise I won’t disappoint you.”
“Cade…that’s a mighty big leap for me.”
He cupped her cheeks in his big hands and stared deep into her eyes. “Jump.”
Something in Rowan wanted to give in to him, open to him, believe in him. He leaned in and kissed her, softly, gently, meaningfully. Did she dare step off into the abyss?
With his mouth pressing against her lips and his tongue tangled with hers, Cade sensed the moment his words broke through her defenses. She didn’t exactly jump, but Rowan gave in and melted into his arms. He wasn’t sure how far he should go right here in the cabin. Were there other people on the plane?
“You have a staff. Are we the only ones in this part of the jet?”
“Back here? Yes. Except for you, I’m traveling alone. No point endangering my employees. The cockpit crew and the flight attendants stay up front. This area is off limits to everyone except me and my guests.”
“So tell me what does your program actually do?” Cade asked once they were underway.
“You paid all that money for a program you know nothing about?”
“No. We donated that money to a good cause.”
“Well, you probably won’t believe it, but unfortunately for defense systems around the world, I hold the key to breaking the international defense cypher, so you’ll understand why my trust comes with a bigger price than the one on my head right now.”
That idea made him slightly sick to his stomach. “Why did you do it?”
“Because I could.” She tilted her head to the side. “Better me than an enemy. Or one of those bounty hunters looking to sell it to the highest bidder.”
“Yeah.” His own organization had been ready to bring her in dead or alive, until he and Jason squashed that plan.
“My main concern was security. I wasn’t the only one working on the idea, but as soon as I had the answer, I needed to be sure someone else didn’t get it first. In the wrong hands, the balance of world power would soon be toppled. Dystopia would reign king.”
“Protection, security is a service IATO can provide. You know Omega wouldn’t vouch for us if we didn’t deserve the backing.” He leaned into her personal space. “But Rowan, it’s not your program I’m worried about. It’s you.”
She actually chuckled. “Cade, over the years with my father, I’ve learned how to disappear when I have to. You needn’t concern yourself with my safety. Jacqui says Grey and Athena trust your group. I’m not so certain. But I want to get paid, and turn COBRA over to keep it safe, before it’s too late. The program needs IATO’s protection. I don’t.”
“You do!”
As the head of cyber security, he knew IATO was relying on acquiring her program. Personally he had something, he wasn’t sure what or why, riding on keeping her alive, but convincing her the anti-terrorist agency he was with was legit was proving to be a problem since there were no records of them anywhere. Members’ records were redacted. Only those government officials vetted by members were admitted on a need to know basis. The small council, directed by Jason, managed various departments all over the world. Cade’s extensive past and too many aliases would make it impossible to convince Rowan he and the organization were worthy of trust if Grey hadn’t vouched for them.
“You’ll never be able to find what you need about IATO. Not enough to trust the offer.” Cade ran a few fingers back and forth across her hand.
“Maybe I could put my trust in IATO based on Omega…you I’m not so sure about, Mr. James,” she added with a smug smile.
“You should be, Ms. O’Malley.” He grinned and moved a little closer. “I don’t need the money. With that ridiculous price on your head, your safety methods better be failsafe.” Cade was prepared to face every extreme faction to protect her program and her body, in spite of her self-sufficient attitude, perhaps because of it just to prove something to her.
As she attempted to walk around him and take her seat, he took full advantage of the opportunity. Cade tugged her toward him, and pressed her soft breasts against his chest, focusing his undivided attention on her mouth. His gaze then drifted down to her cleavage, making him hard and ready should the occasion present itself. And he hoped it would.
“Damn, you feel good,” he ground out through his tightened jaw and looked around. “No one will come back here?”
“No one.” She shook her head. “Not unless I call.”
He lifted her shirt, first popping one breast above her low-cut bra and then the other. When they were both propped up above the material he stared at them.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he mumbled then lowered his head to feast on them. Between courses, he stared at the breasts he’d been dreaming about, noticing how wet, tight, and erect her nipples were. He tugged on one and suckled the other. He savored the way she closed her eyes, arched into him, and moaned.
He tugged again while he ran a hand up her thigh, and then cupped her mound. Oh, yes. She was swollen and wet, just the way he liked his women. Trouble was he liked this one more than most.
Leaning back, with her head against the wall, Rowan kept her eyes closed as he lifted her skirt and pulled down her panties. When they snagged at her knees, he said, “Step out of them.” The tone in his voice brooked no argument. He made it an order and grinned as she followed his instructions without comment.
This would be a departure for him. He wasn’t going to be satisfied with just pleasuring himself with her, he wanted to watch Rowan come. For some reason, he thought he’d enjoy taking her to the edge, watching her peak, burst, and then shatter. “You’re hot, wet. Are you very aroused?”
“Very.” Rowan nodded but still didn’t open her eyes. Either she was in denial or completely in the moment. Maybe he shouldn’t force the issue, but he needed her to look at him—acknowledge him for who he was, what he was.
He’d make her admit how much she wanted this. But if she didn’t, was he willing to lose another chance with her?
“Look at me.” He ran his fingers over her eyelids, gently. “See me.” He put both of her hands on his face and kissed the palms of her hands. “Feel me.” He dragged one hand down and laid it on his heart, then the other on his swollen dick. “Touch me.”
“Feel me,” she responded in a thick voice filled with sexual desire.
His heart pounded under her right hand. She grinned and slowly, half-opened her eyes, then squeezed a little and rubbed his long, hard length.
His lids lowered and his pupils dilated. Oh, she could see him so much better this way. Intimately. This man she almost trusted. Though, with his reputation with women, she shouldn’t. Yet so far, his sexuality was the most honest part about him. That she could live with, for now.
“I want…to taste you,” she whispered. The heart skipped a beat and raced. That got his attention. The erection in her hand elongated and hardened even more, and he arched his hips up to accommodate her as she slowly undid his pants.
“I love the way you respond to me,” she said as she reached inside his pants and released his full length from the confines of his underwear.
She lowered her head and breathed over him. He gripped her head between his hands and didn’t allow her to move for a moment.
“I want this, but I want to be inside you when I come, Rowan. Let me pleasure you first. We need this time together.”
He had a way of making her heart ache with need, and it wasn’t only the heat he sent spiraling through every cell in her body. The desire he created was ready to explode within her like a bomb blast. There was something different about him. Like her, he was missing something from his life, something he would never admit to, a connection with someone, and that someone had to fit perfectly in his life the way a puzzle piece slips right into place. She contemplated the similarities in their pasts and considered he might just be the missing puzzle piece from hers.
Head? Change of subject. This one is getting too serious.
“No. Sorry. My turn,” she said. “You’ll get your turn later.” Before he could argue, she lowered her mouth around his crown and licked him. He moaned and arched into her mouth, then she took him as deep as she could, knowing he’d never stop her now. Suddenly she understood the power of giving pleasure, having all the control in her hands. She could enjoy his pleasure and give him more. It was a satisfying feeling.
She played with a nipple and fondled his balls, all the time teasing him with her tongue, slowly sinking and rising up and down his shaft. He kept his grip firmly in her hair as if he couldn’t bear to let go of that small measure of control, but she knew better. When she sucked and licked and hummed over his most sensitive places, the tension practically sizzled in the air around them.
“God, Rowan, that mouth. How did you ever learn to use it like that…? No, don’t tell me. I want to kill any other man you’ve done this to.”