Temptation in Shadows (12 page)

She moaned, and he knew she was working again. He needed a better distraction. There was only one he could think of . . .
You’re up, buddy.
Kind of. “Let me take care of you,” he rasped to Gabby.

“Wh-what do you mean?”

Right now, she didn’t know people were capable of giving. Giving and expecting nothing in return. He wanted to give her something.
I want to give her my heart,
he thought.
I love her.

He did, he realized. He loved her. There was no denying that now. He was putting her safety above his own. He was putting her well-being above that of a case. He was putting her emotional happiness above his physical satisfaction.

How could he not love her? She was smart, resourceful, witty, sarcastic, and brave. She was everything his life needed. Everything he’d never known he was missing.

To his surprise, knowing he loved her didn’t upset or scare him. It . . . calmed him. Calmed him even though he knew he couldn’t keep her much longer. He wouldn’t risk her sanity. Wouldn’t snuff out her bright light.

Yeah, she’d told him she wasn’t afraid of the darkness inside him, but fear had nothing to do with it. Eventually, his shadows would push her too far. But he had her now and he would savor every moment.

“Sean,” she said, his silence and stillness probably unnerving her. “What did you mean?”

“Here. I’ll show you.” He rolled, pinning her underneath him.

A gasp slipped from her, and then she was licking her lips. He leaned down and captured her tongue.
Warm, hot, flavored with toothpaste. His cock hardened even more. But whatever he had to do to keep his own body under control he would. He would prove to her that a man—him—could be trusted to put her first, to expect nothing from her. He would prove that she could trust him. ’Cause God knew, if a woman could trust a man to walk away with a hard-on, without complaint, a woman could trust that man in
all
things.

Not that this would be totally for Gabby’s benefit. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t going to enjoy himself.

As Sean continued to kiss her, tongue plundering, feeding from her, he moved one of his hands to her breast. Plump, soft. Her nipple was already hard. He plucked it between his fingers, and her legs parted, allowing him a deeper cradle against her. Automatically, his hips arched and his erection rubbed against her sweet spot. She released another gasp.

He pulled from her lips and mouthed that nipple through her clothes, kneading that delectable mound as he did so. Soon she was writhing against him, her hands tangled in his hair, her leg sliding up and down his side. Another thing he loved about her: the absolutely hedonistic way she gave herself to him.

Her features were softened with her pleasure, her eyelids at half-mast, beautiful shadows fanning over her cheeks. Her lips were parted, red and dewy, shallow breath after shallow breath sawing in and out.

He traced a finger between her breasts, over her stomach, and played at her navel. Her belly quivered. Quivered again when he mapped the waist of her sweats, teasing.

“I love the feel of your skin,” he said. “Soft and smooth, like silk.”

“Of—of course you do. I’m amazing.”

He also loved that smart mouth. “I love the
taste
of your skin.” He licked her neck, felt her pulse jump up to meet him, fluttering wildly. “Like sugar.”

She moaned. In pleasure this time.

He sank his hand under her pants, dabbled between her legs, her panties blocking him from full-on contact.

Another moan.

“I love your heat, how wet you are.”

Her knees fell all the wider, giving him all the access he needed. He reached under the panties and sank a finger inside her, her inner walls closing around him, holding him tight.

“I love . . . I love when you do that,” she panted.

He moved that finger in and out of her, allowed a second to join the fun, and leaned down, fitting his lips over hers once more. Arousal beat through him, strong and sure, making him shake and ache and yearn. He wanted the same to be true for her and brushed his thumb over her clit.

“Sean,” she shouted. “Yes, right there. Again.”

He didn’t give it to her. Not yet. She was so close, and he wasn’t yet ready for her to come. Wanted to prolong the moment, cause her enjoyment to soar to new heights.

“Inside me,” she said. “Now.”

“Am.” A third finger slipped inside her, stretching her.

“No. You.”

“No.” In, out he moved them, faster and faster.

She was arching into the inward glide, nails
digging into his scalp. “Sean,” she said. “Please. I want it. Want your cock.”

Killing . . . him . . . because he wanted to give it to her. God, did he want to give it to her. To sink balls deep inside this woman he yearned so badly to cherish, to be a part of her. But this was for her, he reminded himself.

Sweat beaded over his skin and dripped onto her, his blood on fire, burning his veins, his organs, leaving piles of ash before re-forming, stronger than before because Gabby was a part of them.

The shadows were swirling around him, thicker than they’d ever been. Thicker than even
he
could deal with. Just then, Gabby was his only light, his very salvation. There couldn’t have been a Sean without a Gabby. She owned him, was fused with him.

“Keep your eyes closed,” he told her. He didn’t want the darkness to scare her.

“Yes. Just . . . touch me. Kiss me.”

He meshed their lips together, teeth banging, and swallowed her gasp, her moan, her very breath before giving her his own.

“Sean,” she shouted again, inner walls locking down on his fingers. She clawed at his back, pulled on his hair, even bit him.

He stayed with her through it all, not disengaging from her until she collapsed against the mattress boneless, panting. Sated.

“Let me . . .” Eyes still closed, she fished for his fly with a trembling hand.

He rolled away from her and perched at the edge of the bed. He had to look away from her. She was a feast for his gaze, splayed out, flushed, sweat gleaming
on her skin like diamonds and dark hair spilled over the pillows.

“We need to head out to meet Rowan.” Sean had thought about leaving her behind. For about two seconds. But he didn’t like the thought of Gabby being out of his sight and reach.

Especially now that he suspected she had a tracker in her brain.

“But—”

“That was for you, sweetheart. I didn’t want anything but your enjoyment.” He twisted, swiftly and roughly kissed her on the lips, and then stood.
Leave us,
he told the shadows.
Now.

They hesitated a long while before obeying, and finally, the room’s lamp was visible. His legs shook, and he had to adjust his pants to keep from cutting off circulation in his still-swollen dick.

“I don’t understand this, Sean.”

“I want to earn your trust. Like I said, I
will
earn it.”

The mattress creaked and he knew without looking that she’d just sat up. If it took the rest of his life, he’d prove to her that her needs came before his own. Always. No matter what those needs were and even though they couldn’t be together.

Gabby might not ever understand men. Sean in particular. He’d pleasured her—and then walked away from her. Had claimed it was for her and he’d take nothing for himself. Part of her believed him, even.

But men just didn’t do that. Didn’t give something and expect nothing in return. Not in her experience,
at least. Yet he wanted her to trust him. Was determined to earn that trust. And God help her, she was beginning to. Sean did everything in his power to keep her safe. He saw to her needs. Held her, comforted her.

God, she was falling for him. He needed the information in her head, yet he hadn’t liked that she was hurting so hadn’t wanted her to probe further. It was new to her, this depth of concern from another. New and wonderful.

Could be a trick,
the suspicious part of her nature insisted.

Could be the real thing,
the other part of her replied.

How would she know?

“Almost there,” Sean said.

They were hand in hand and strolling down the sidewalk of a busy shopping area. She wanted to run, to hide in the shadows, but he wouldn’t let her. They needed to blend, to watch and study. To Gabby,
everyone
did something suspicious. Looked at her oddly, watched her a little too long. Followed her around a corner. It was her overactive mind, she knew, but she couldn’t stop the fear. Or the headache that followed it.

At the end of the street, Sean tugged her inside a coffee shop. Only took her a second to spot Rowan. He was in a booth at the far end of the building, able to scan the entire vicinity without moving an inch.

Sean helped her into the opposite side of the booth before sliding in next to her.

Rowan slid a BlackBerry across the tabletop. “If you knew what I had to do to get this . . .” He shuddered.

“I won’t ask her name,” Sean muttered, stuffing the phone in his pocket. “But thank you.”

Rowan grinned. “Funny. And correct. So anyway, I think I figured out how you’re being tracked.”

Sean gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head, and Rowan pressed his lips together. Had she not been so focused, Gabby would have missed the exchange. “What?” she asked.

Rowan arched a brow, as if he had no idea what she wanted. “Excuse me?”

“You expect me to trust you?” she gritted out at Sean. “Tell me your suspicions.”

“I don’t want you scared,” he shot back. “And if you had known you’re the reason we’ve been found, the reason we might be found again, you would have been scared.”

“I haven’t told anyone where we are or what we’re doing!” So. He expected her to trust him but wouldn’t extend her the same courtesy? Figured.

He just looked over at her pointedly.

How dare he expect her to simply accept this as . . . as . . . he trusted her enough to take her to Rowan. Therefore, he couldn’t think that she was tattling. So what—her brain, she suddenly realized. Someone was tracking her through the wires and chips or whatever had been implanted.
Of course.
Her shoulders slumped and she did indeed battle a wave of fear. She could never hide, she realized. Would never be safe. Which meant as long as Sean was with her,
he
wouldn’t be safe.

“I hate this.”

“I know.” He squeezed her hand, offering what comfort he could.

“But why am I being chased now, after all these
years?” she asked for what had to be the thousandth time.

“We’ll find out.”

Maybe the answer was in the files currently resting inside her. Maybe they were in the phone Sean had just confiscated. Or maybe she was wrong and answers were nowhere. Didn’t matter. Determination filled her. Whatever she had to do, whatever she had to endure, she would break the encryption and find out.

The waitress arrived and each of them ordered coffee. Gabby doubted anyone would actually drink it, though. They were too on edge.

“Listen,” Rowan said when they were once again alone. “A new boss has already been appointed to Rose Briar, and it wasn’t me or you.”

Sean frowned. “It damn well should have been you. You’ve been there the longest, and you’re the best agent. Well, besides me, but right now, the powers that be can’t be too happy with me. So . . . Who?”

“Bentley.”

Gabby’s jaw dropped. “
Bentley
is an agent, too?”

Sean gave a stiff nod. “She has an affinity for engines and things like that.”

Gabby thought back to the night, not so long ago, when her car had refused to start. Bentley had soon exited the club and taken a look under the hood.
I’m not sure what’s wrong,
the girl had said.
Why don’t you ride with me?
Bentley had been so nice during that ride, trying so hard to draw Gabby out so they could share about their lives.

All for the job, she realized, teeth grinding together. Would no one seek her out, want to know about her, without some kind of ulterior motive?
After all, she wouldn’t have even met Sean had she not possessed her ability.

She found that she didn’t regret that, though.

“Bentley wants Gabby brought in,” Rowan continued. “But I, of course, have no idea where she is.”

She experienced a jolt of surprise. Rowan was actually helping her. Maybe Sean
could
trust this man. Maybe that trust was warranted rather than foolish.

“Got anything else for me?” Sean asked, as if he’d had no doubts of his friend’s loyalty.

“I wish.”

“Too bad. Keep them busy,” Sean said, and stood.

“Wait. We’re leaving so soon?” Gabby quickly stood as well, unable to stop her gaze from scanning the restaurant. Was everyone staring at her? “Why?”

“We have to stay on the move. If we learn anything new,” he said to Rowan, “we’ll call.”

Rowan nodded. “I’ll do what I can from my end.”

The waitress arrived with the coffees and frowned when she realized two of the occupants were leaving.

“He’s paying,” Sean said, motioning to Rowan.

“Thanks a lot,” the agent muttered, but he was grinning.