Chapter 13
I tried to school my features. Hide from Brooks’ penetrating stare, but I couldn’t.
The mask I’d perfected over the years refused to fall into place.
And when he smiled, I knew I was in trouble.
My leg was still around his hip, his strong hand holding my thigh where he wanted it.
His other hand on the side of my neck, thumb grazing over my throat.
I was such a slut. God. Ohmygod. I couldn’t even blame him for some crazy seduction.
All it had taken was a tug of my arm and I’d stepped into the shower with him and threw myself at the man.
What was wrong with me? Now I was looking at him like some love-sick teenager.
Damn. What now? Do I say thank you? That was great, see ya around?
He must have thought I was a slut, because, well, I was one.
“What has you thinking so hard, Doll?”
“How do you do that?”
A sexy smirk played on his lips. Totally arrogant. “Do what?”
“Know when I’ve drifted off.”
“Oh, that.” He smiled. “Your eyes. They lose focus.”
“Um. I didn’t know that.”
He slowly let my leg down and I tried not to whimper when his dick slipped free.
He chuckled and leaned forward, kissing my neck where his hand had just been.
Before he pulled back, his tongue touched the skin there.
Nice. Another kiss below my ear, my cheek, then my lips.
It wasn’t as long and wet like the others.
It was gentle and sweet. A touch of his mouth but it was no less powerful. I was so screwed.
“Grab the soap and I’ll wash you.”
His request pulled me back from whatever dream world I’d been living in.
Hell no, he wasn’t washing me. Not only, hell no, fuck no.
Sex up against a wall was one thing. He couldn’t touch my scars while my back was pressed to the tile behind me.
And with us so close, he probably couldn’t see the ones on my abdomen clearly.
What the fuck had I done? Now that the fog had disappeared I realized that once he stepped away, I’d be on full display. How was I supposed to get out of the shower unseen?
“Whoa. Tatiana. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t bullshit me.”
“Nothing.”
Wrong answer. The lips that had gently kissed me moments ago were two hard flat lines. His jaw flexed. His brows pulled together.
“Do. Not. Bullshit. Me. Not even five minutes ago I had my dick inside of you and you panting your orgasm in my mouth. Then I got the sweetest look I’d ever seen. You don’t get to put that hand back up and bullshit me.”
“You’re unbelievable. You think because you had your dick inside of me , you get to boss me around? And demand I tell you my every thought?”
“No, Doll, I get to demand that because when we were done your face said it all. Told me everything your mouth won’t. So I’m asking you again. What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”
The last part of his question deserved an answer. “You didn’t hurt me.”
“So tell me why your face went from soft and relaxed to high alert?”
“No reason. Brooks. Damn. There’s nothing wrong. I don’t need you to wash me, I just want to get out.”
Wrong thing to say, again. His gaze became knowing and I involuntarily stiffened. So much for acting unaffected. He knew exactly what I’d been thinking.
“I don’t care about your scars.”
Punch to the stomach.
“Well, I do,” I snapped.
“Baby, you are absolutely gorgeous.”
“Save the bullshit, Brooks. You already got in my pants. No need to sweet talk me.”
“Honest to God, woman. Honest to God. I thought you had a chip on your shoulder. I was wrong. You have a fucking boulder sitting there. Do you really think I need to sweet talk you? Do I look like I need to blow smoke up a woman’s ass to get laid?”
Jerk. Arrogant prick.
“Right. Badboy, hot guy, Brooks doesn’t have a problem getting laid. I bet there’s no shortage of women who would love a roll with you.”
His eyes narrowed into tiny slits. “You’d be correct.
There is no shortage. However, women throwing themselves at me to say they’d been laid by a SEAL long ago lost its appeal.
I do not go around saying flowery shit, in hopes to get my dick wet.
I’m going to tell you this one more time.
You are hot as fuck. When you forget to be a bitch, you’re beautiful.
And right after you come, when your face is lazy, and your eyes are gentle, you are by far the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen.
So you can spew your venom and try and pollute what we just shared, but it will not change the fact that the scars on your back take nothing away from you.
As far as I see it, they tell me more about the woman you are. And, Doll, I like what they say.”
Once he was done verbally beating me into a bloody pulp, he left the shower, grabbed a towel, and was out of the bathroom.
Shit. It took me two point five seconds to feel like a complete bitch, and seconds more to mourn the loss of his presence.
I hadn’t even had the chance to appreciate all of his finely-sculpted muscles and the fact that he’d made me feel more desirable in the short time we were together than any man, ever.
I owed him an explanation.
I finished my shower and quickly dried off and went into the bedroom.
He was gone. Of course he was, I’d been a royal asshole to him—again.
I found the clothes I’d had on before we went out on the unsuccessful op and went in search of the guys.
Okay, I went looking for Brooks, but if he was already out talking with the team, I’d missed my chance to apologize to him.
I found them in the living area lounging on the two well-worn large sofas. All eyes came to me and suddenly I was very aware there was a possibility they’d heard us having sex in the shower. Declan was on the phone and he was the first to look away, but the other four stared.
Oh, shit.
“Come here, Doll.” Brooks broke the silence.
I shook my head not wanting to get too close. “What’s going on?”
“Word is Al Issa retrieved the tablets from the Bitoos. The auction has been cancelled.”
“Shit. What now?”
“Abort. Regroup. Reengage.”
“And where does that leave me?”
I hated that I sounded so uncertain. If Zane wasn’t going to approve me joining the team, I needed to get to work.
Finding someone to take me into Saudi Arabia wouldn’t be difficult but it would cost a mint.
I’d need a day or two to get the money sorted.
I’d also need to hurry and start setting up a support network.
I still had contacts I’d used before but they’d need to be mobilized. And that took time.
Before Brooks could answer, Declan stood and held the phone in my direction. “Here.”
I took the phone and placed it to my ear. “Hello.”
“Tatiana Jones. Long time.”
“If it isn’t the pain in my ass, Zane Lewis,” I returned.
His chuckle reminded me that he, too, thought I was a pain in the ass.
The last time I saw him was on a Russian op when I was still in the CIA.
The mission was fucked. He and one of his operatives, Laura Bennett, now known as Jasmin Parker, were captured and almost killed.
I liked Laura. I was the one who had scrubbed her records and had given her a new identity.
I’d also worked with her husband, Lincoln Parker, on a human trafficking case. He, too, was a good operative.
“I heard you retired when you got hitched to that douchebag Monroe.”
God, I hated to be reminded of my monumental lapse in judgement.
“You heard correct.”
“Glad you got shot of his ass.”
That may’ve been the nicest thing Zane had ever said to me. The man shared and showed no emotion.
“Yeah, me, too. So, you have concerns with me joining your team on this op?”
“I did. I spoke to Leon Brown. We cleared some shit up. He offered your help. Tex confirmed the information he gave us. But before I clear you, I have some questions.”
“Wait. Leon gave you information? What he’d tell you?”
“Not at liberty to discuss that with you.”
What the fuck?
“Come again?”
“Don’t bitch at me, woman. You’re the one that took the job. If you have the need to know more, ask.”
Did he think I hadn’t tried that?
“What are your questions?”
“You gonna be able to keep your shit wired tight, you get close to Al Issa?”
“If you mean, will I be able to not put a bullet between his eyes, then no. You asking if I can be professional and have the team’s back, then yes.”
“Heard about that, too. Have to say, what you went through?—”
“I was there,” I growled.
“Good to see you’re the same bitch you’ve always been.”
In Zane Lewis’s world, ‘bitch’ was high praise.
“What else do you need?”
“You straight with Brooks?”
My eyes shot to Brooks before they slid to Declan. Yeah, they’d heard. And Declan had reported in. Such a damn slut.
“I’m straight,” I bit out.
Zane didn’t chuckle. He outright roared with laughter. “Right.”
“I heard some things, too, Z. Heard you’re now having heart-to-hearts and found yourself a woman.”
His laughter died and he answered, “Found myself the perfect woman. And the day I start having heart-to-hearts is the day I hand in my balls.”
“So that last question? The purpose?”
“Just doing a head check.”
“My head is fine.”
“Right. And if that changes, you let me know.”
“Copy that, boss .”
“Now you’re in the spirit. This mission goes well, we might be able to work something out.”
“I have a job,” I reminded him.
“You do. But let’s just say, I’m a better option.”
“What do you know?” I tried again.
“More than you, less than I should.”
“That’s not a damn answer.”
“It’s the only one you’re gonna get.”
“Glad to see you’re the same ass you’ve always been.”