Crave (The MacKenzie Family #11) (13 page)

“You’d be right about that. But this caller managed to take a photo with his phone. And guess what he was driving?”

“A silver Mercedes?”

“A silver BMW rental from the airport. Which is close enough to fit the MO.”

“So where’s he now?”

“We’ve adjusted satellite imagery to try and pick him up along the highway, and we’ve taken control of the cameras at intersections and toll areas. But he’s heading east, so chances are Evangeline is next on the agenda. I’ve sent Max and Jade. They should be there in the next few hours. And Archer and Audrey are wrapping things up and will take the red-eye so they can be there by morning. You’ll have the backup you need.”

“Good to know.” And maybe the company would take his mind off being naked with Evangeline. “What do you know about Boulder Corp?”

“Billion dollar company. A competitive player in government contracts. Mostly aircraft for the military, but they dabble in a few other things. They’ve got structure problems at the top. Charles Haywood has been the CEO for more than twenty years, but he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s last year and has acted as CEO emeritus for the past six months so stockholders wouldn’t get nervous at a change at the helm. They’re in the middle of a bidding war for a new aircraft missile, which you obviously know already.”

“If you know about Haywood’s diagnosis then Biddle would too,” Cal said. He started the coffee for Evie and then grabbed a protein bar for himself and a water.

“Oh, he knew. That was part of Biddle’s struggle. He and Charles Haywood went way back. They were friends. But Jenson Walker is the acting CEO and he and Biddle had no liking for each other. And like with anything when dealing with the government, money speaks and personal favors are granted with the expectation that they’ll be paid back when called in. And Biddle owed Charles Haywood a favor. And Charles was of sound enough mind to ask Biddle for this contract when they met.”

“Would Biddle have gone through with it?”

“Possibly. If there was no way to get out of it.”

Cal raised his brows at that and bit into his power bar. He went over to the computers to check the progress of the tasks he’d commanded. Ferreting out information on three top clearance companies, pulling video from behind the walls of Langley, and infiltrating different areas of the Pentagon took time and patience. Thankfully he had both. Because he couldn’t stay in any one place too long without their security recognizing the fact that there was an intruder in the system. So it was a continuous job of moving in and out without being detected.

“You know that doesn’t make things look good for DyniCorp.”

“Believe me. I’m aware. And I’ve already been all over them like a rash to make sure no one there is behind hiring Taber. I’ve pulled all the financials for an audit and everyone is getting thoroughly investigated. Don’t worry about DyniCorp. If they’re involved in this in any way I’ll light the match to burn them to the ground.”

“I never doubted it for a second.”

“Things will ramp up quick, Cal. Taber doesn’t like to delay his jobs. Don’t let your guard down.”

“No worries. And thanks for sending Max to be my backup. He owes me a hundred bucks. Convenient how he always happens to be out on assignment when I’m on base.”

“He pays better bribes than you do. My wife is giving me a look that tells me I’d better get off the phone and enjoy a Saturday with her and the kids without work.”

“You got all that from a look?”

“Cal, you’ve got a lot to learn about women.”

“I’ve discovered that. Thanks.”

“Good luck with that.” And then Declan hung up.

Evangeline had spent the past two days trying to figure out Cal’s game. Which caused her to wonder why everything always had to be a game with them to begin with.

For two days she’d done nothing but replay what had happened between them. It had been incredible. She’d never thought she was capable of those levels of pleasure. But that’s where it had ended. The emptiness she’d felt after, when he’d walked out of the room and left her alone without a gentle word or touch. He’d made his point loud and clear. Now she just had to decide if she could take the chance on something more. A lot was at stake. Maybe more than she was willing to give. She’d already been hurt once.

They’d gotten into an easy routine, and she hadn’t minded sticking to him like glue as much as she’d thought she would. She was a private person and treasured her solitude. But he didn’t invade her space. He just simply
was
in her space.

There was an added bonus to them sharing the same space—on his orders, she liked reminding him—because she could tell he was doing his damnedest not to touch her. And perverse creature that she was, she wanted to make it as difficult as possible for him. Because dammit, she
wanted
him to touch her. She wanted his hands all over her. And she wanted to touch him too. Whatever the hell was going through his head about trust and sex had to stop. He’d made his point.

She’d dressed in workout clothes and come downstairs, following the smell of coffee. His voice was a low rumble and she could tell he was talking business, so she took a detour and jogged the stairs up to the third floor gym. Lifting weights was the best way to get out her aggression since sex was off the table for the moment, so she set up the machines to her liking and started her sets.

Fifteen minutes later Cal walked into the gym, a towel slung around his neck and wearing loose shorts and a shirt with the sleeves cut out. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw her, and she would’ve laughed at the deer in the headlights look on his face if she could’ve kept her mouth from dropping open at the sight of him.

“I made coffee if you want to grab a cup,” he finally said, moving over to the bench press.

“I’ll grab some later. Thanks.”

“You know better than to exercise on an empty stomach. At least go get a protein bar.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” He scowled and she ducked her chin to hide her smile. “Besides, I grabbed a bottle of water from the mini fridge over there and already had a protein bar. But thanks for the concern.”

She finished her reps and moved to the next machine while he added weights to the bar. And then he lay flat on the bench and started to lift, and she lost all interest in her sets. Lord, it should be a sin to look like that. But as long as he did she might as well take advantage of it.

He reset the bar and started to sit up, but when he saw her standing close by he froze.

“I’ll add the weight for you. What do you want? Another twenty?”

“That’s fine.” He lay back down and she added more weight. Then she took her place just above his head to spot. His gaze locked on to hers, and she arched a brow at him challengingly. “I don’t need a spotter. I’m not doing any heavy lifting today.”

“Better to be safe than sorry.”

His mouth tightened and he nodded, and then he inhaled as he lifted the bar off the rack and began his reps. When he was finished a nice sheen of sweat covered his body and it was hard to mistake the beginnings of an erection outlining his shorts.

“I have a question,” she said, adding more weight once again. And then instead of taking her place in the spotter’s position she moved in close, so her knee rested on the bench next to his chest.

“Come on, Evie, you don’t want to get into this right now.”

“Sure I do. I’m curious.”

“You always were.” He sighed, but continued to rest his hands on the bar.

“As far as I’m concerned you’re in breach of contract.” He grew still and his muscles flexed as she squeezed the bar tighter.

Evie unzipped her sports bra and then flicked the front clasp, peeling it off her shoulders. And then she shimmied out of the shorts she wore until she stood before him naked. She’d been thinking about sex for the two days since the last time they’d had it. His eyes darkened and the bulge beneath his shorts grew larger.

“You asked if I was opposed to oral. Both giving and receiving. And my answer was no. I am definitely not opposed.”

“You’re just going to embarrass yourself,” he said. “I’ve changed my mind. You got what you wanted the first time. Let’s chalk it up to a good time and a good memory and move on.”

“There’s all different kinds of satisfied. I just want you to hold up to your end of the bargain. And from where I’m standing, it doesn’t look like you’ve changed your mind at all. Let me help you get more comfortable.”

She stood between his legs and her hands went to the waistband of his shorts. He looked at her out of hooded eyes, but he didn’t stop her as she tugged them down. In fact, he lifted his hips to help.

“You don’t know what you’re doing, Evie. You’ll end up destroying us both.”

“Why, Cal? Because I’m not playing by your rules this time? Because I want to touch and taste you? Because I don’t want a cold, calculated fuck like the last time. You made your point.”

“And what good does it do me? Will it make you love me? Or hell, even like me. Or are you just using me to get off because I’m the only man you’ve met that has the ability to make you hot enough to self-combust?”

“I don’t hate you, Cal. I never did. Despite trying to convince myself of that. But there’s no reason we can’t take from each other what we want.”

“And you know what I want? You’re making decisions for me now?”

“I know you want me. Your body can’t lie, even if your mouth does.”

“And so what? Now that we’ve fucked once you trust me? That seems unlikely.”

She leaned down and kissed the muscled indentions just above his hip bones, looking up at him as she worked her way lower. His breath shuddered as he exhaled and she took his cock in her grasp, her tongue licking the flared head.

“Fuck!” he growled. His hand went to her head and his fingers tangled into her hair as he tightened his hold.

“I trust you to give me pleasure,” she said, blowing a cool whisper of breath over his engorged cock. “Just like I’d hope that you’d trust me to reciprocate.”

“You can’t have trust in some aspects and not in others, Evie. It’s like being a little bit pregnant. It’s either all or nothing.”

His head came up off the bench so he could watch her, and she took her time, memorizing the shape and feel of him. Her mouth sucked at him hungrily, her tongue licking and tasting as she explored all of him. She’d never done this before, but she’d read and studied, and by the look on his face she must be doing something right.

The muscles of his thighs bulged as she opened her mouth wide and took him to the back of her throat. He held the back of her head as her tongue undulated against him and she made swallowing motions.

“God, Evie,” he moaned. “That’s it. Just like that.”

He released his grip on her hair and she came up for breath. He was on the edge, his balls drawn tight, and the come boiling, waiting to explode. He was too lost in the moment. He couldn’t even remember what they’d been talking about.

“Come up here,” he rasped.

She didn’t understand exactly what he was asking, but she crawled up his body. She wanted him inside her—the thick hot flesh that would bring her unspeakable pleasure. And this time she’d touch him as much as she damned well pleased.

“No,” he said, catching her by the hips before she could impale herself on his cock. “Ride my face. I want to taste you too.”

Her face flushed at the explicitness of his command and she licked her lips in hesitation. She couldn’t imagine being that open, that intimate with someone. But he didn’t give her a choice. His fingers were like a vise on her hips as he lifted her and brought her closer to his face. He scooted down some on the bench so there was plenty of room.

“Now put your hands on the bar.”

She did as he asked and brought her knees up so they rested on each side of his head. And then she lowered herself so her clit rested just above his mouth.

“It’s okay to scream,” he said. And then his mouth was hot against her honeyed flesh, his lips slick with her juices.

She did scream.

Her head fell back and her hands tightened on the bar, giving her an anchor in the storm. He tasted, licked, and sucked, and she lost herself to the most exquisite feelings she’d ever had. Sensations washed over her, and nerve endings sizzled as they were discovered for the first time.

“Oh, God. Cal,” she moaned.

He held her thighs open and feasted, and her body tremored as release drew near. Her hips jerked against his mouth. And she did exactly what he’d asked of her. She rode.

She rode with complete and utter abandon until the heat of desire was unbearable and white-hot, blinding pleasure exploded within her. Her scream echoed through the room as she was flooded with an unimaginable ecstasy. Until darkness closed in behind her eyelids and her body went weightless, until she wasn’t sure where he was or how she’d gotten there.

“That’s it, sugar. Just like that,” he whispered against her clit. “I want it all.”

Evie cried out. She didn’t have anything else left to give. But before she could get the words out she was floating, weightless in the air, as he lifted her and moved her to the mat. It was cool against her back, but it felt good on her heated skin.