Chapter Five #2
“I want you when this assignment ends. I want to know where you are because you tell me, not because I’m tracking you. I want to take you somewhere that doesn’t have reinforced doors and emergency equipment on the table. I want to find out what this is when neither of us has a job to do.”
I swallowed.
“That sounds dangerously close to dating.”
“I can survive it.”
“Very brave.”
“I’ve done worse.”
I smiled, but it didn’t hide the warmth rising through my chest.
“I want that too.”
Geo reached across the table and took my hand.
His thumb moved once over my knuckles.
“I’m falling for you, Stella.”
I curled my fingers around his.
“I’m falling for you too.”
His fingers closed more firmly around mine.
I took a breath.
“If we’re doing this, I want it to be exclusive.”
“Yes.”
“Romantically and sexually.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t need to answer before I finish every sentence.”
A quiet laugh came out of him.
“I know what exclusive means.”
“I’m making sure. The last twenty-four hours have taught me not to leave important things implied.”
“That’s fair.”
I rubbed my thumb over his hand.
“I’m going to pause my Network bookings.”
Geo’s expression sharpened.
“You don’t have to do that for me.”
“I know.”
“I’m not asking you to quit.”
“You aren’t.”
“Then I need to be sure this is your decision.”
“It is.” I held his gaze. “I’m not quitting The Network tonight. I’m not making permanent career decisions while somebody is trying to frame or kidnap me. But I don’t want to take sexual bookings while I’m with you.”
Geo went quiet.
“That’s what I want,” I continued. “Not what you require.”
His shoulders eased.
“I can live with that.”
“I’m glad, because I already decided.”
That earned me the faint smile I was after.
“And you?” I asked.
“There hasn’t been anyone else.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“There won’t be.”
The warmth in my chest spread lower.
I pushed my chair back.
Geo watched me stand.
“What are you doing?”
“Making one more decision.”
I walked around the table and stopped between his knees.
His hands stayed where they were.
I touched his face.
“I don’t want to wait until after the operation to act like this matters.”
“It already matters.”
“Good answer.”
I kissed him.
Geo’s hands came to my waist after I moved closer, and this kiss had none of the chase in it.
He wasn’t catching me.
I wasn’t running.
I slid my fingers into his thick dark hair and kissed him until his breathing changed.
When I pulled back, his expression had darkened.
“Bedroom?” I asked.
“Yes.”
I started toward his.
Then I stopped.
“One thing first.”
Geo waited.
“I have an IUD.”
His gaze stayed on mine.
“Okay.”
“The Network requires current testing. Mine is negative.”
“So is mine. My results are current and negative.”
I nodded.
“We used a condom last night because we’d just met.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want one tonight.”
Geo didn’t move toward me.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. I want to feel you without it.”
His jaw flexed.
“I want that too.”
“Then come with me.”
This time we went to his room without either of us running.
I closed the door behind us.
Geo stopped beside the bed, and I caught the hem of his shirt.
“Take this off.”
He did.
The scars across his ribs and shoulder were still there. They looked different now that I knew some of what lived behind them.
I touched the unmarked part of his chest instead.
Geo slid his hands beneath my shirt.
“Can I?”
“Yes.”
He pulled it over my head.
My bra followed.
I reached for his belt.
This time he didn’t stop me.
I opened it slowly, watching his face as I lowered his zipper.
His cock was already hard beneath his underwear.
I pushed the fabric down and wrapped my hand around him.
Geo inhaled sharply.
“You liked giving orders last night,” I said.
“You gave most of them.”
“Exactly.”
I stroked him once.
His shoulders went taut.
“Tonight I want this.”
I went to my knees.
“Stella.”
I raised my face.
“If you tell me not to, I’ll stop.”
“I’m not telling you to stop.”
“Good.”
I took him into my mouth.
Geo’s hand landed on the edge of the dresser instead of my head.
That made me smile around him.
I drew back.
“You can touch me.”
He met my eyes.
“Where?”
“My hair is fine. Don’t push.”
“I won’t.”
His fingers slid into my hair.
I licked along the underside of his cock, then took him deeper.
A rough breath left him.
Last night, Geo had been the one chasing.
Tonight I got to watch what happened when I made him lose a little of that impossible control.
I worked him with my hand and mouth until his breathing turned uneven and the muscles in his stomach tightened.
His fingers flexed in my hair but never forced me closer.
“Stella.”
I raised my head again.
“If you keep doing that, I’m going to come.”
I eased back.
“Not yet.”
A strained laugh escaped him.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Very much.”
I kissed the head of his cock once and stood.
Geo caught me around the waist.
I laughed as he turned us and sat me on the edge of the bed.
“No chasing,” I reminded him.
“I remember.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“Returning the favor.”
He pulled my pants down with my underwear.
I kicked them away.
Geo went to his knees.
The first stroke of his tongue over my clit wiped the smile from my face.
“Oh, fuck.”
His hands settled on my thighs.
I opened them wider.
“Again.”
He did.
Geo licked me slowly until I was wet enough that I could feel it against the inside of my thighs. He pressed two fingers inside me and watched my face while he curled them.
I grabbed the edge of the mattress.
“Right there.”
His mouth closed around my clit.
My hips lifted.
Geo kept one hand on my thigh while his fingers worked inside me, steady and deep.
Pleasure gathered hard and low.
I slid one hand into his hair.
“Don’t slow down.”
He didn’t.
My breathing broke first.
Then the orgasm hit.
I cried out and rocked against his mouth as my pussy clenched around his fingers.
Geo stayed with me until my thighs started trembling.
When I pulled lightly at his hair, he lifted his head.
His mouth was wet.
The sight sent another pulse through me.
I reached for him.
“Come up here.”
Geo stood.
I pulled him down and kissed him.
I could taste myself on his mouth.
That shouldn’t have been as hot as it was.
I moved back onto the bed and opened my legs for him.
Geo followed, bracing himself over me.
I slid my hand between us and wrapped my fingers around his cock.
“Fuck me, Geo. I want you inside me.”
Geo positioned himself against me.
The first push felt different without the condom between us. It felt hotter and closer.
I sucked in a breath as he pressed deeper.
Geo stopped.
“You okay?”
“Yes. Keep going.”
He pushed all the way inside.
My eyes closed.
“Fuck.”
Geo stayed still long enough for me to feel every inch of him.
Then I wrapped my legs around his hips.
“Move.”
He moved slowly at first.
There was no hunt in it, no fighting his hold, no finish line waiting at the end of the hallway.
Geo kissed me while he fucked me, one hand sliding beneath my back and the other braced near my shoulder.
I pulled him closer.
His chest pressed against mine.
The pace built gradually.
I rocked my hips up to meet him.
“Harder.”
Geo drew back enough to look at me.
“You want harder?”
“Yes.”
He gave it to me.
The bed shifted beneath us.
My nails dragged lightly over his shoulders.
Geo lowered his mouth to mine again, and I caught his bottom lip between my teeth.
His hips drove deeper.
I moaned into his mouth.
“There.”
He did it again.
“Again.”
His hand moved down my side and between us.
Two fingers found my clit.
I gasped.
“I want you to come around me.”
I pressed my forehead to his.
“Then make me.”
Geo’s fingers circled my clit while his cock moved deep inside me.
The pressure climbed fast.
I held on to him.
I didn’t want distance between us, and I didn’t want to run.
My thighs drew in around Geo’s hips.
“I’m close.”
“I know.”
“I want you with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
The orgasm broke through me.
I cried his name and clenched hard around his cock, my hips lifting into every thrust as pleasure rolled through me.
Geo’s rhythm faltered.
I kissed him.
“Come inside me.”
He held my gaze.
He thrust twice more and came with a rough groan against my mouth.
For several seconds, we didn’t move.
Geo lowered his forehead to mine.
His breathing was as unsteady as mine.
I smiled.
“You look less controlled.”
“You’re responsible.”
“I’m willing to accept that.”
He laughed softly.
Then he kissed me again.
Geo rolled carefully onto his side and kept one arm around me.
I stayed there.
My body felt loose and warm, my legs pleasantly useless.
After a minute, Geo shifted onto one elbow.
“Water?”
“Yes.”
He left long enough to bring back two glasses.
I sat against the headboard, took mine, and drank.
Geo stretched out beside me.
I lowered the glass.
“We’re officially dating now, right?”
His eyebrows rose.
“That’s what you’re asking after all of that?”
“I like clarity.”
“Yes. We’re officially dating.”
“And exclusive.”
“Yes.”
“And you’re not allowed to describe me as an asset anymore.”
“I haven’t done that in a while.”
“You thought it.”
“Probably.”
I nudged his leg with my foot.
“That’s romantic.”
Geo caught my ankle and kissed the inside of it.
“I’m learning.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it.
I set my water aside.
Geo released my ankle and settled back against the pillow.
“You should sleep.”
“So should you.”
“I will.”
“You first.”
His eyes closed.
“Very mature.”
“I’m making sure you actually do it.”
“You sound like me.”
“That’s horrifying.”
His mouth curved without opening his eyes.
Within minutes, his breathing slowed.
I stayed beside him longer.
I wanted him. The safe house, the operation, and the reason he’d been sent to my apartment had nothing to do with it.
Eventually, I slipped from the bed, pulled on my T-shirt and pants, and carried my water into the main room.
The garment bag with the dress was still hanging where Colleen had left it.
The tracker sat on the table.
Beside it was my cloth-wrapped tarot deck.
I stopped.
Geo had gone over the Halloween plan from every angle he could think of.