Until Noon (14 page)

Authors: Desiree Holt,Cerise DeLand

people.” He had his handkerchief out again, wiping his face as he walked away.

“It will take us a while to finish with Petron and the others,” Pilar said, “but I’d be happy for you to come back to my place after that.”

“Thanks,” Isabella said, “but I have reports to file and people to talk to first.”

“Thanks for coming so quickly,” Raul said to Isabella.

“With bombs there is no wait and see.” She turned to Lane. “And we need to get

going. We have a meeting late today.”

“We’re here if you need us,” Raul told them. “I’ll call Nemesis and give them all the details.”

“Thanks. Appreciate it.”

The men shook hands, the women hugged, then Lane and Isabella climbed into the

big Nemesis helicopter with the dogs.

Tafoya had herded all his people back inside just as they heard the first wail of

approaching sirens signaling the arrival of more
policia
.

“I was terrified for you,” Raul said again, once more pulling Pilar close to him.

Desiree Holt & Cerise DeLand

“I was a little terrified myself,” she said in a shaky voice. “But Bella is very good and we’ve worked together before.”

“Still…” He kissed her forehead. “Let’s finish up then get the fuck out of here. I

have things to say that can’t wait any longer.”

She nodded. She was more than ready. For a lot of things.

* * * * *

By the time they returned to Pilar’s condo to take hot showers, they were both

mentally and physically exhausted.

“I’ll be a long time getting over how terrified I was for you,” Raul said, holding

Pilar’s towel-wrapped body against his. “We have a lot more going on here than just

great sex,
cara.
I have to make you understand that. And also realize that I respect what you do and won’t—”

She touched her fingertips to his mouth. “I know. I realized today how precious life

is and how fleeting. My trust issues? They seem pale compared to imminent death.” She kissed his chin. “And I finally realized you aren’t Rhys. Not even close.”

“Well, thank fuck for that,” he told her.

“You are a fine and honorable man. But we still have things to work out between

us.”

“And we will,” he promised. “As soon as we get the report out of the way.”

Pilar made coffee and warmed muffins while Raul called Nemesis and gave them a

full rundown.

“Nicole wants to speak to you,” he told Pilar, handing her the phone.

“Me?” She raised her eyebrows.

“Yes. I think she has a proposition for you. I’ll take my coffee out to the balcony so you can have some privacy.”

It was hard for him to wait quietly and sip his coffee while Pilar spoke on the

phone. He knew the subject matter and he worried what Pilar’s answer would be.

Finally, as his patience wore thin, he heard her come up behind him.

“You know what she wanted, right?”

He nodded. “To offer you a job with Nemesis. Working with me.”

“That’s right.”

He took a deliberate sip from his coffee. “And what did you tell her?”

She took his cup from him, put it down on the small table and took his mouth in a

hot kiss. Her tongue tangled with his, licking the inside of his mouth, making him

instantly hard despite his fatigue.

“Does that mean you said yes?” he asked.

Until Noon

“It means I said no. And I’ll tell you why.” She began to unbutton his shirt. “You

have taught me how to trust again,
mi amor.
Something I never thought possible. And how to love. Today reminded me once again how tenuous life can be. When Bella and I

were searching for the bombs it brought home to me how much I would lose if I turned

my back on you.” She twisted her hands together in what he recognized as a nervous

gesture. Would he agree to what she was about to suggest? “I realized I want a future with you, one that will really work.”

“Then—”

She tugged his shirt from his trousers, obviously anxious for them to be naked

together. As was he. To affirm the vitality of life. “But I am convinced if we were

partnered together we would end up either hating each other or killing each other. It’s part of who we are. And I won’t go through that again. But…” She brushed her mouth

over his again. “She has an alternate proposition for you.”

“I can hardly wait.” He willed away the knot in his stomach.

Pilar slid his zipper down. “I will continue to work for the EU. But Nemesis is going to open a European office and they want you to head it. Lane and Isabella will work out of it and you and I will pair together on joint cases.”

“So what’s the difference?”

She sighed into his mouth. “The difference is, we will still be our own people and

have some separation in our lives. But the rest of the time we will be together. Live together. Make love together. Be a couple. Can you live with that?”

Could he? Damn straight.

“I can do that,” he said. “As long as we are together. Here. Always.” The knot in his stomach unwound and he pulled her closer.

“We will. After today I am willing to take a chance on this. You. Us.” He cupped

her cheeks and gave her a long, slow, passionate kiss that he tried to put every bit of feeling into.

When he lifted his mouth they were both panting, breathless.

“You can call her back and tell her then.” She slid her hand into his boxers, her slim fingers wrapping around his cock.

“But not right now,” he insisted, his voice strained with the effort at control. Now

he had other things he wanted to do.

“Not right now,” she agreed.

“I suggest we take this inside,” she told him. “I don’t think I want to put on a show for the people on the sidewalk below.”

“Good idea. What I want to do to you would singe the hair on their heads.” He

moved her hand away from his body and lifted her in his arms. “I don’t think we’ll be leaving your bed for a very long time.”

About
Desiree Holt

Desiree Holt’s writing is flavored with the rich experiences of her life, including a long stretch in the music business representing every kind of artist, from country singer to heavy metal rock bands. For several years she also ran her own public relations

agency, handling any client who interested her, many of whom might recognize

themselves in the pages of her stories.

She is twice a finalist for an EPIC Award, a nominee for a
Romantic Times
Reviewers Choice Award. Her Ellora’s Cave release
Rodeo Heat
was the winner of the first 5 Heart Sweetheart of the Year Award at The Romance Studio, as well as a two-time CAPA

Award-winner for best BDSM book of the year. She is a winner of the Virginia Romance

Writers Holt Medallion.
Romance Junkies
said of her work: “Desiree Holt is the most amazing erotica author of our time and each story is more fulfilling than the last.”

About
Cerise DeLand

What’s an East Coast gal to do to if she lives deep in the heart of Texas, travels often everywhere, and adores Paris, Florence, London, Tokyo and all points east and west?

Ah.

She becomes an author who can write about those romantic places. With a passion

for cowboys, spies, rakes, knights in shining armor and their gutsy women, Cerise

DeLand is an author who adores an alpha male with a tender heart and a need for a

smoldering erotic love affair with the right woman!

And when Cerise isn’t dreaming up fiction or traveling? She is a fabulous cook and

an avid history buff.

Busy lady. Happy writer.

Desiree and Cerise welcomes comments from readers. You can find their websites

and email addresses on their author bio pages at
www.ellorascave.com.

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