Love & Deception (Agents in Love - Book 1) (13 page)

She placed the icepack across her stomach
and patted the cushion beside her. The speed with which Nick sat
and pulled her into his embrace made her smile despite her
discomfort. “Sounds like a plan. I’m sure kissing is fine. It might
even help me heal faster.”

“It might.” Nick’s lips brushed her cheek.
“Can we talk, though? Something’s been bothering me all night about
your restaurant.”

A tendril of dread threaded down her spine.
While she believed Nick was trustworthy, questions made her
nervous. “What?”

“How did you open it? I mean, you’re in
hiding. There are taxes to pay, the building to lease, probably
countless other things I haven’t thought about. How are you doing
it?”

“Oh, that.” She snuggled against him,
wondering how much detail he really wanted—probably not everything.
“I have a...friend,”
and ex-lover,
“who put everything in
his name. When the profits roll in, he’ll get a cut. I guess sort
of like what you do for your restaurants, but on paper Bradley is
the owner of Carlie’s Creations.”

“Makes sense.” Nick nodded, but favored her
with his hawk stare for a moment. “I thought you didn’t have
connections to your past, so you could stay hidden.”

She wondered why Nick had a problem with
that. In truth, Bradley had been her good friend for months and
progressed to a friend with benefits. Nick probably didn’t want to
hear that. Though she never told Bradley about her past, he knew
she hid from people who wanted to kill her. When she decided to
move back to Washington, he agreed to help her open the shop.

Shrugging, she looked away. “Bradley’s my
only friend, but our relationship is complicated. He’s engaged now
and not allowed to be friends with strange women.” Because the
idiot told his fiancée about the benefits part with Carlie. “We’re
business partners. He won’t turn me in to the assassins.”

“Good, that’s what I was worried about.”
Nick kissed her forehead and cuddled her to him, though his touch
was gentle. “We have to do whatever we can to keep you safe.”

Carlie released a deep breath. She had to
get over her nerves. Nick cared about her. That was all. His
questions weren’t meant to harm her. She wished trust weren’t such
an issue for her. Then again, though they had been lovers, she
hadn’t trusted Bradley with as much as she already shared with
Nick. There was something special about him, and she was eager to
know him better.

Making a conscious decision to release her
anxiety, Carlie forced herself to relax. “Since we’re spending the
day together, what kind of shows do you like to watch?”

Nick laughed. “Time for the important stuff,
huh?”

Nuzzling his neck, she kissed it softly.
“Well, if a man wants to make out with me, I have to make sure
we’re compatible first.”

His fingers tenderly stroked her cheek. “If
it means spending time with you, I’d willingly watch chick flicks.
Don’t worry, my lady. We’re compatible.”

The following morning Carlie felt a bit
better. Another soak in Nick’s whirlpool tub the night before had
done wonders for her strained muscles. Spending the day cuddling
with him had rejuvenated her even more than that.

However, people out there still wanted to
kill her. It was time to learn better defenses so no one could hurt
her again.

After a quick breakfast, they headed to her
house. Although she was nervous about returning, it made sense.
They’d have more room and privacy to train. That knowledge didn’t
stop her from feeling exposed.

Nick pulled the Porsche into the driveway,
parking behind her Camry.

“How did my car get here?”

He cut the engine and shrugged. “I called a
business associate to bring it over.”

“Someone from your restaurant?”

He turned to face her, a charming, lopsided
grin on his face. “So full of questions? I thought you’d be happy I
took care of things. I didn’t want you going back to Stephen’s to
get it.”

I’m being too suspicious again.
“You’re right. What I meant to say was, ‘thank you for getting my
car home.’”

She opened the passenger door and climbed
out. Nick had packed a bag and promised to stay a few days until
they figured things out, which made her feel better. She knew he
couldn’t protect her forever, but if she was going to remain in
Sayle, not run, it was good to know she had some backup.

Nick grabbed his bag and walked to the
Camry, opening the driver’s door and stooping down. When he stood,
he had Carlie’s keys in his hand and held them out to her.

She accepted them, her unease growing. “My
keys were in there, not locked up? My house key is on here. What if
someone went inside?”

“Spoken like a hunted person.” He raised his
eyebrows. “I do trust the people I work with, Carlie.”

Did he think she questioned his judgment?
Then again, she supposed she did. Over the past couple days, Nick
had convinced her of his sincerity. She knew she could depend on
him. However, everyone else in town was suspect.

Without replying, she led the way across the
yard and up the porch steps. To her relief, the door was at least
locked, though that didn’t mean surprises didn’t await them inside.
She unlocked the deadbolt and the main lock, exhaling deeply.

“Wait.” Nick’s hand covered hers. “I’m
sorry. You’re right to worry.”

She looked into his dark eyes, noting the
compassion in them. “I do trust you, Nick, but I have to be
careful.”

“I understand.” His fingers caressed the
back of her hand, sending zaps of pleasure up her arm. “That’s why
I’m going in first to make sure it’s safe.”

“You don’t have to do that. I should take
care of myself.”

“No. Taking care of you is my job.” He
handed her his bag and opened the door, stepping past her. “Wait
here.”

Not certain sitting back and minding him
like a good little woman was in her best interest, Carlie entered
behind him. Then again, she needed to be practical. Nick was a
better fighter. If someone waited in the house, she’d probably only
be in the way. As much as she hated to admit her helplessness, it
was best to follow his orders.

She shut and locked the front door and set
Nick’s bag on the couch. The closed curtains cloaked the room in
ominous shadows. Seconds ticked by with no sound from the rest of
the house.

“Nick?” she called, wondering what took him
so long. There was only the kitchen, dinette, one bedroom, and
bathroom to search. “Are you okay?”

Hard footsteps vibrated through the
floorboards, and Nick appeared in the entryway from the hall
leading to the bedroom. “It’s clear.”

“Thank goodness. I was starting to worry.”
Carlie knew she couldn’t get used to his protection, nice as it
was. Nick owed her nothing, and she was already so indebted to him,
she didn’t know what to do about it. “I appreciate this, but I
don’t want you to feel like you have to fight my battles.”

Nick crossed the room and stopped in front
of her. He cupped her neck gently in his hand and pulled her into
him, pressing his forehead against hers. “What if I’ve decided this
is our battle?”

His minty breath jangled her nerves. His
lips were so close, all she had to do was lean in a bit more. He
claimed he wanted to take on her problems—wanted to be a team. She
wanted him.

She licked her lips. “I’ve been on my own a
long time.”

He inched his mouth a little closer and his
fingers lightly trailed over her neck and down her spine. “So have
I.”

Her heart pounded wildly, thudding so hard
she was sure he must have felt it. Everything in her screamed out
to take his mouth in hers, but she’d played the foolish girl ruled
by her passion with Ryan. It landed her in this mess.

She backed away slightly so their heads no
longer touched. “I’m tired of being by myself, but it’s not easy to
depend on others.”

“I agree.” He swallowed hard, jiggling his
Adam’s apple. “That’s why I think we should make a deal.”

The way his lips moved when he spoke made
Carlie wonder what other wonderful things they could do.

No. I can’t think of that. Focus.

Despite the pep talk, the smell of his
cologne threatened to overwhelm her senses. What she wanted to do
was push him onto the couch and take advantage of him.
Unfortunately, she didn’t know if she really liked him that much,
or if the feelings were stirred up because he saved her life and
protected her now. She’d heard intensely dangerous situations
stimulated sexual desire. Was that what was going on? She didn’t
know how to tell.

And she wasn’t sure it mattered.

“What deal are you talking about?” Her voice
was breathy in her ears.

He gripped her shoulders and pushed gently.
Carlie stepped back, trapped between the wall and his body. Walking
forward, Nick pressed his chest against hers. With feather-light
fingertips, he caressed her neck and jaw line, careful of her
bruises. Goose bumps formed along her arms while her insides melted
like warm honey. He was so tender and considerate, she wanted him
more than she thought possible.

“The deal,” he said softly, tilting his head
and closing in on her, “is that we both let go a little, give up
some control.”

“I like being in charge.” He was so close
that her lips brushed against his. “I’ve had to be careful for so
long.”

“We’re not so different, Carlie. And you can
probably tell I’m a man who likes to be in control.” He puckered
slightly, sliding his mouth across hers for the briefest moment.
“That’s why we compromise and both give up a little bit. We might
gain something even better.”

She tried to think, tried to reason. He
overwhelmed her, thrilled her. Giving up some control to be with
him didn’t seem so bad. “I want you.” Carlie leaned forward, no
longer caring if things moved too quickly.

His hot mouth was open and inviting. Carlie
dipped her tongue inside greedily. Nick stroked her sides, and she
barely noticed the discomfort when he brushed across her bruised
ribs. She wanted all of him, wanted him to give up control and take
it all from her at the same time. Sliding her mouth from his, she
kissed his neck and shoulder, using her teeth on the sensitive skin
there.

Nick moaned in her ear, a raspy, masculine
sound. She hadn’t been with anyone for a while, but her body knew
what it wanted. It wanted Nick. She caressed his chest and abs
before finding the bulge in his pants. She cupped him softly,
thrilled to know he felt the same passion she did, desperate to
feel more of him.

“Oh, Carlie.” His voice was deep, guttural.
“You don’t know what you’re doing to me.” He slid his hand down her
stomach and beyond, rubbing the seam of her slacks. Carlie wondered
if he could feel how wet she already was through the fabric.

He took her hand and guided her to the
couch. Carlie followed, though she squirmed with anticipation.

He threw his bag on the floor and pushed her
onto the cushions. “Lay back.”

She had no choice but to obey. As soon as
she did, Nick knelt on the ground, his hand returning to her
crotch. He rubbed the seam against her, and Carlie thought she
would explode.

“Nick, please.” She knew she begged, knew
she had given up control. And she didn’t care. He made her hot and
desperate. “Please give me more.”

He undid the button on her slacks and yanked
down on them. Despite the flare of pain in her stomach, Carlie
arched her pelvis to help him, and he jerked them to her mid thigh.
Before she even had time to settle on the couch, Nick slipped one
large finger beneath the elastic of her panties and found the core
of her need. He alternated between flicking her sensitive clit and
swirling his fingers around it.

Rocking forward on his knees, he crushed his
mouth into hers, rasping his tongue across her lips and then
nibbling on them. His finger dipped lower, teasing at the verge of
her entry. She twisted, wanting him inside her more than she’d ever
remembered wanting anything.

He pulled his mouth away and looked at her
with a dreamy expression. “What do you want?”

“Please,” she whispered, barely a sound,
mostly a moan. “Please.”

A smile split his face. With his other hand,
he pushed her sweater up out of his way, revealing her small
breasts in their plain white bra. “You’re so beautiful, Carlie.” He
kissed her stomach, licking upward until he reached her breasts,
biting the tight nipples beneath the fabric.

Carlie caressed his hair, unable to reach
much of him from his position on the floor.

He peeked up at her, biting down once again
and sending zaps of electricity from her chest to the liquid heat
between her legs. His fingers still teased, caressing and rubbing.
Everything but entering.

She closed her eyes, overloaded with
sensation. “You have complete control of me,” she panted.

Chuckling, he dipped a finger into her,
filling her, stretching her.

Carlie clenched down against it as her
muscles pulsated and contracted. A second finger joined the first,
and Nick plundered her as far as his fingers would reach, only to
pull out again and surge back in.

“Yes, yes, please, please.” She’d never
begged in her life.

Nick’s thumb slipped through the folds of
her slick heat to find the source of her pleasure, flicking it
faster and faster while his fingers plunged in and out.

Carlie clamped down, holding her breath as
wave after wave of lightning flooded her body. “
Yes
.” It was
the only coherent word she could form as her pleasure crested and
tremors took over.

Her body convulsed one more time and Nick
withdrew his fingers, smiling as he laid his head on her stomach.
“Was that worth losing a little control for?”

Panting, she was unable to answer right
away. Her tremors dissipated and her heart rate slowly returned to
normal. “Totally worth it.”