30. Frankie
30
FRANKIE
I woke up groggy.
Blinking, I rolled onto my back. Usually, I leaped out of bed in the morning, ready to start my day.
Today, I snuggled into the pillow and tried to ignore the morning sun.
I smelled Reath. Mmm . That scent was fast becoming my favorite.
Reath .
My eyes popped open.
I was in his sexy bedroom. I tugged on the T-shirt I was wearing. It was his, and I only had panties on underneath. I didn’t remember getting changed.
I frowned. Or going to bed.
I bit my lip and tried to think of what I did remember.
We’d gone to Smokehouse, met the others for cocktails…
A jumble of images filled my head. I sat up and slapped a hand to my racing heart. Oh, God . I’d been drugged . Some guy I could barely remember had tried to grab me.
“You’re fine,” I whispered. “You’re at Reath’s. You’re safe, Frankie.”
I remembered Reath saying those words to me.
I had another memory. Reath carrying me in his strong arms, and murmuring reassurances to me.
He’d saved me.
Now, I was alone in his bed, and I wondered where he was. I huffed out a breath. I wondered if he’d get sick of having to rescue me all the time.
I shifted on the sheets and heard the crinkle of paper. That’s when I saw the note on the pillow beside me.
It was written in a masculine scrawl.
Frankie —
I hope you feel all right. I’m working in my home office.
— R
I thought of my project and all the lab work that I wanted to do.
Ugh . Until Auclair was stopped, it just wasn’t safe. DARPA had emailed me to say their security assessment highlighted that working at Tulane didn’t have the right level of security. They were going to look into other options. I sighed. I had no idea how long that would take.
I got out of bed and pulled on my robe. It was white and silky. My favorite.
I padded up to the top level. In the kitchen, I poured myself a bowl of granola and ate while looking at Reath’s view. If I had to lay low somewhere, this was a good place for it.
Once I was done, I put my bowl in the dishwasher, then decided to find my protector.
The man I couldn’t stop thinking about.
I walked down the short hall and could hear the tap of keys on a keyboard. Then I heard Reath’s deep voice.
“Okay, thanks. Keep me posted.”
I stopped in the doorway.
His back was to me. He was a strong silhouette in front of two curved screens on his desk. The walls of his office were light gray, and there wasn’t anything in the way of decoration. This office was designed for business.
He pulled up some data on one screen and started scanning it. Then he said, “Morning, Frankie.”
“You knew I was here?”
“Yes.” He swiveled the chair, his dark gaze moving over me, assessing.
I guess it was those super spy skills of his.
“How do you feel?”
“I feel fine. I was a little groggy at first, but it passed.”
“Good.”
He pulled me onto his lap. I slid an arm around his strong shoulders and absorbed his warmth.
“Are you doing top secret security things?”
His lips quirked. “Something like that.”
On one screen, I saw a map of New Orleans. My insides tightened. There were several dots on it. “You’re looking for Auclair.”
Reath nodded. “We questioned the man who tried to take you last night. He gave us a few locations to check out.”
I suspected the man hadn’t given them up easily. “You didn’t hand him over to the police?”
“Not yet.”
I lifted one of his hands and saw that his knuckles were torn.
Because of me. For me.
I lowered my head and kissed the top of his hand gently.
“Frankie.” He ran a hand down my body, parting my robe. When he saw I was practically naked, except for my panties, heat filled his eyes.
“You sure you’re feeling better?” he asked huskily.
I nodded.
“I need to see for myself.” He caressed my nipple, toying with it until it was a hard point.
I made a small sound and arched into his touch.
His hand lazily traveled downward. Over my ribs, my belly. My breath hitched. Then that hand went lower. His fingers slid under my panties and stroked between my thighs.
“Oh.” I lifted my hips to give him better access.
“Soft and wet.” He slid two fingers inside me. I couldn’t look away from the intense gaze on his face as he stroked me. Then his thumb found my clit.
I jerked. “ Reath .”
“I love it when you say my name like that. Breathy, filled with need.”
Soon, I could barely sit still. My orgasm was getting closer, and I wanted it so badly. I writhed on his lap, desperate for more.
It was clear that Reath wanted to watch me come. He kept up his ruthless strokes, pumping his fingers inside me. I was getting close when the phone on his desk rang.
“Ignore it,” he ordered, his tone low and guttural.
I thought he planned to ignore it too, but when he reached out his other hand and pressed the speaker button, I swallowed a gasp.
“This is Fury,” Reath said.
“Boss,” a male voice I didn’t recognize said. “We might have a location that looks good.”
I squeezed my thighs together, but Reath urged them apart.
“A concerned neighbor IDed Auclair and called it in. Broussard passed it along.”
God, Reath had put the call on speakerphone while he was plunging his fingers inside me. I bit my lip to stop from crying out.
His fingers didn’t stop moving.
“Good. Assemble a small team to check it out. Call Colt and Beauden. I want them with us.”
I couldn’t hold back much longer, and bit my lip harder.
Those glittering brown eyes were on me and he rubbed my clit with more pressure. I grabbed his wrist, but I didn’t know if I wanted to stop him or urge him on.
“I’ll be in the office shortly,” Reath said.
My climax hit—a warm, sexy rush. I turned my head and sank my teeth into Reath’s bicep through his shirt to muffle my cries. I shuddered through the rush of pleasure, and he held me tight.
“Thanks, Warwick.” Reath ended the call.
I sagged back against his chest, pulling in air. “You’re evil.”
“I just know what I want.” He pulled his fingers free of my body, then lifted them to his mouth and licked them clean.
My womb spasmed.
With his other hand, he touched my hair. “I have to go.”
I sighed. “I know.”
“I’ve already sent a message to Dante. He’s coming to stay with you. Do not go out.”
He rose and set me on my feet. My legs felt like Jell-O.
I cinched my robe closed. “I won’t go out.” Then I reached up and cupped his cheek. “Promise me one thing?”
He nodded.
“Get that asshole, but then come back to me safely.”
When he lowered his head to kiss me, it was far quicker than I wanted it to be. He ran a thumb over my cheek, then he strode out.
And I knew I’d worry every minute until he returned.