Chapter 10 #2
Clothes flew off, landing on the edge of the bed before he levered up, rolled on top, nipping at her neck as she wrapped herself around him. She whispered his name, holding his gaze as he slowly sank inside, freezing once he’d bottomed out.
He stared at her, loving the way her eyes closed as she pressed her head into the pillow. “God, you’re beautiful.” A slow shift out, then in. “I’m gonna need a week just to regain some semblance of control because you… Damn.”
He rested his forehead on hers, set up an easy rhythm. Sloane held him close, breath panting across his cheek, hands shaking. She met each thrust, teeth worrying her bottom lip, chest heaving.
Time blurred into the background, nothing registering but the smooth press of her skin, the needy little moans that raked across his shoulder. He fought the pressure building in his groin, determined to show her how much she meant to him.
That he’d more than fallen, too.
Sloane clung to him, her body strung tight, her mouth locked on his shoulder when she inhaled. “Nick… God, I… I need…”
That set him off. Had him flipping her over like he’d imagined, her hands fisted around the headboard, her ass cushioning every thrust. He ran one palm up her spine, threaded his fingers through her hair, then pulled, levering her up until her back pressed against his chest.
He nipped at her ear, dropping a kiss on her shoulder. “This is how I want you. Up here, with me.”
He upped the pace, one of her hands going to his wrist as he wrapped his arm across her chest — kept her anchored to him. Her head fell back across his shoulder, every firm stroke dragging a hushed moan from her lips.
The bed squeaked, rising above the wind as he took her to the edge, stopped.
Sloane inhaled, muscles clenching. “No, Nick, god…”
He pulled out, spun her until he’d positioned her beneath him again, every inch touching. “As much as I want to finish like that, I need to watch you shatter even more. See the flush color your skin. Know it’s my name on your lips.”
He slammed home, hips pumping, the entire bed rattling, as he brought her back up and kept her there. Her breath caught, head tipping back as he smoothed one hand down over her hip, tilted her ass — hit that spot again.
She broke.
Body shaking, arms wrapped around his back as he pushed into her a dozen more times before giving in to the rush of heat — letting the fire drag him down. He collapsed on top of her, breath wheezing, every muscle contracting at once.
Sloane pulled him closer, head pressed into his neck, nonsense words whispering over his skin as he floated in the aftermath, the constant strum of her heart finally bringing him back.
Fatigue weighed heavy on his shoulders as he rolled onto one elbow, praying he hadn’t crushed her into the mattress. He cupped her jaw, smiling when she had to blink several times before focusing on him, her gorgeous green eyes brighter than he’d seen them in years.
He brushed her cheek. “You okay?”
She snorted, but he didn’t miss the way her chin quivered. Just like before. “Ask me, again, once I’ve recovered because that…”
“Not sure I’ll ever truly come down, but I like your optimism.” He grabbed some tissues off the night table and cleaned up. “Is that enough, or are we braving an even cooler shower?”
“Get my ass anywhere near that cold water, again tonight, and I’ll shoot you in yours.”
“That almost sounds like a challenge…”
“Nick…”
“Someone’s a bit touchy considering the endorphin rush.” He laughed, pressed a soft kiss on her lips. “Think you can sleep, now?”
“I could’ve slept before.” She yawned, looked as if she was already halfway there. “Pretty sure I’ll be slipping into a coma, now.”
“I can’t help it if you drive me wild. One kiss and…”
And he was lost.
Sloane beckoned him down for one last kiss, then rolled onto her side, snuggling into him, his arm over her waist, their feet entwined. He kissed her neck, smiling when she shivered before drifting off, her breath deepening a moment later.
Nick listened to the steady cadence of her breathing, her heartbeat echoed in his chest as the wind died down, a few seagulls calling out over the ocean.
A horn sounded somewhere in the distance, the lingering note slowly fading.
He closed his eyes, drifted off, until a hushed scuff sounded beside the bed.
One second later, and he had his Sig in his palm, his body shielding Sloane as he levered up, swept the room.
A hint of gray light brightened the edge of the curtains hiding the salt-smeared window, but it didn’t touch the deep shadows lining the walls.
A lone silhouette hovered next to the bed, weapon outlined against the backlight.
The guy stilled, hands raising to his sides. “Whoa, easy, Colter, it’s just me.”
Nick groaned, fell back on the bed. “Jesus, Buck, I damn near shot you.”
“It’s not my fault you two sleep like the dead. I knocked and called your names.” He leaned in. “Twice.”
“Next time, knock louder.” Nick glanced at the window. “It’s not even daybreak yet, which means either this Reaper asshole found us, or you’ve got intel you don’t think can wait.”
“Not me, but Tierney told me to drag your asses to the control room if needed, so…” He backed up. “Slip on some clothes. I’ve got coffee brewing. You two look like you need the hit.”
Sloane huffed as the door closed behind Buck. “See what I mean? A week, Nick. Remember that. You promised me a full week.”
Nick grinned, leaned over as he kissed her perfect mouth. “Promise. And think of it this way, the faster we find out where they’re keeping Kessler and who this Reaper asshole is, the closer we are to seven days of uninterrupted adult time.”
She tsked when he went to pull away, yanking him down for one more soul-searing make-out session before rolling out of bed. She tugged on some clothes, hips rocking rhythmically as she eased the pants over her hips, layered on his hoodie.
He came up behind her, nuzzled her neck. “Damn, you look good in my clothes.”
She smiled as she glanced back at him. “Then, it’s a good thing you look incredible out of them.”
He tapped her ass, loving the stink eye she flashed him as he took her hand, heading for the main area.
Sloane stopped him just shy of crossing the threshold. “I realize Buck knows…” She gestured between them. “But with the way I’m feeling, anyone who looks at me is gonna know we didn’t just sleep in that bed. That I’m a goner where you’re concerned.”
“You say that like they didn’t already know.
” He laughed at her swat. “If you’re trying to ask me if I care that they know we’re together, the answer’s no.
In fact, I’d get a tattoo with your name in it if I didn’t think you’d shoot me in the ass for being one.
So, stop worrying, and let’s go see what Tierney uncovered. ”
Fresh coffee permeated the air, overpowering the ever-present mix of ozone and brine, the pot hissing in the background as a few drops sizzled against the element. Buck handed them each a mug as they walked into the room.
Tierney leaned against a short counter, gaze following their every move before making the rounds of the room, searching the shadows, the doors, then back to them. She looked tense, only marginally relaxing as Buck shouldered up beside her, acting as if they were gathering to chat about the weather.
Nick sighed. “I take it the news isn’t good.”
A snort, followed by a rough breath. She pushed off the side. “I guess that depends on your definition of good. But no, I don’t imagine we’re gonna see this intel as favorable.”
“Figured as much.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Well, might as well just lay it all out.”
Tierney nodded. “You always were the type to just rip off the bandage.” She held up her tablet. “My contact just sent me the dossier Interpol has on our friend, the Reaper. Sadly, no known name, and no photos. The guy’s a ghost.”
She handed Nick the tablet. “Those are photos of the aftermath of some of his hits. He favors soft deniability — accidents, missing persons, storm losses, boating incidents, unless that doesn’t pan out, then he jumps straight to overkill.
No middle ground. His targets either vanish, or it’s a blood bath.
He’s got immense resources. We’re talking drones, explosives, high-tech gadgets that are likely black market CIA equipment. ”
Sloane frowned. “So, he doesn’t shoot first and worry about who he killed later?”
Tierney shook her head. “Not if he has a choice. He gets paid to erase people, not broadcast a hit, though, we’d be foolish to assume that strategy holds true for the two of you.
You’re not his typical target, and with the size of the bounty on your heads, let alone the bonus, he can’t afford to fail. ”
Nick flicked through the images, each one more gruesome than the last. “Okay so, pretty much what we assumed. Lethal. Enjoys the kill. Anything else?”
“Only that he’s already in Oregon. Interpol clocked one of his aliases clearing customs several hours after your burn notice went live.”
“Which means, the bastard’s been hunting us from the start. Has likely spent the past few days narrowing down the limited number of places we could have gone dark after that water incident. And this place will eventually ping his radar.”
Tierney grabbed a bag she’d placed on a chair.
“Which is why we need to move. In fact, if I’d known your damn boss had hired someone of this caliber and not just those rednecks we encountered, I would have had you stay at my place.
But, with those mercenaries on your tail, all the roads crawling with unfriendlies, this seemed like a better option. ”
Nick hooked her arm. “You’ve saved my ass twice. I can’t ask for more than that. But I agree. We’ll bug out, head to your cabin—”
A hum.
Low. Barely sounding above the waves rolling against the rocks. It grew louder, then faded, a faint click sounding above them.
Nick rounded the table, headed straight for the bank of cameras. He cycled through a few, stopping at the roof feed. “Damn.”
Sloane moved in beside him. “Are those drones?”
“Lots of them. And I don’t think they’re simply sitting up there, listening…
” He inhaled as the units dropped what looked like molten lava on the roof before continuing on.
Red liquid enveloped large sections melting onto the vents and satellite arrays.
“Shit, they’re mini thermite drones, we need—”
Smoke.
Thick.
Yellow.
Pouring in through the scrubbers. Filling the upper half of the room with a pungent stench.
Nick coughed as he grabbed Sloane, pulled her in close. “Guess we’re a minute too late. The bastard’s already here.”