Page 99 of Long Past Deadly

Quaid blanched and tightened his hold. Internally, he was screaming no. Since the Marines, he’d pursued a path of redemption to fight the guilt and remorse for the killing of too many people – no matter how sanctioned. Now, he tried to always do the right thing regardless of the results. He’d lose her if he didn’t support her and that blew past redeeming himself and into a consequence he couldn’t face if something happened.

She stroked his face. “I know what you’re thinking. But he doesn’t understand I’m not a desk-bound FBI agent; and even further, I have a coordinated, professional team behind me, one more dangerous than he’d believe. If we pit you and me against him, and use Mackey, Hunt, Ryker, and Frank as backup, we won’t lose.”

“We need preparation, and a lot of it. Professional teams win because they practice. We’d have to memorize the building down to every screw. We just closed. No one’s been in it.”

“I guess we’d better get started.”

“What’s the note going to say?”

“You missed me before. Come and get this sweet honey. If you can.”

Quaid hissed. “Baby, I…” He held back. Support her. Don’t let your worry win. “I won’t lie. I’m struggling with this.” He gripped her chin and turned her eyes to his. “I believe in you, but I won’t lose you.”

“We aren’t going to lose. Us together are more dangerous, and he’s losing control. He’ll come because he can’t help himself. He’s not covering all the angles anymore. He’s seduced by the kill, by the rush from it. It’s messing with his planning, with his execution, with his head. It’s like jonesing for the next hit of meth.”

“This needs refined.” Quaid was not happy with the sparseness of the plan. Simple was better, but simple didn’t mean unprepared.

“We need Mackey and Hunt.”

Quaid sorted through the stages of the plan, and shook his head. “We are out of our minds. This man is a lethal international killer, and we’re going to need a miracle. First, he has to find the note. Second, we need the manhunt assets to funnel him our direction, if possible, and for him not to sense the ambush we have waiting.”

“Breadcrumbs and practice.” She settled her head against his shoulder. “It will work.”

Quaid stared at the notes, but there was no choice. “Okay. I’m in.”

“I’m glad. I don’t want to do this without you,” she whispered against his neck. “Because honestly I’m scared. I lost before.”

“You won’t this time. Because I’m going to be right there.”

He shifted her and stood, holding her close. He carried her up the front staircase and to their room. He pushed the door close with a silent click and walked them to the bed.

The wind whistled over the balcony. The ocean sounds had a crashing, edgy rhythm in keeping with his mood. He laid her on the bed and shifted her soft hair to spread it on the white sheets. The ambient light from the bathroom gave him enough of a visual for his heart to seize.

“Is this part of the wake me rule?” She lifted her arms above her head and stretched. Her breasts pushed against the fabric, teasing his senses.

“Yes, punishment for disappearing.” He coaxed her shirt off, enjoyed the sleepy smile while she helped him, and eased on top of her only to lose himself in her heat and the beckoning hope.

“I won’t do it again, I promise.” Her mouth cruised his neck, but even that couldn’t distract him from molding her bare breasts in his waiting hands.

He believed her. “My bed this time. Our bed.”

She kissed him, the agreement in the urgency of her mouth and hands.

He rose. “Pause.” Ripping at clothes, his and hers, he didn’t quit until they were both naked and wrapped in a comfortable cocoon in bed. She helped by touching him places that whisked his breath away, made him moan, and triggered an urgent need to be inside her.

She rolled on top of him and offered a breast. “Please.”

She didn’t have to ask twice. He locked his mouth around her nipple and sucked, causing sweet sounds to escape. She was relaxed against him, so he let himself play. The pop when he let go of the nipple made her laugh, but he quickly switched to the other breasts and she sighed.

“God, Quaid. I didn’t know.”

He eased off her nipple and swept his hand over her side to hold her hip against his palm. His plan – to taste every inch of her.

But Alanna’s plan was to kiss him over and over, and he let her win. Because skin to skin soared the heat and cradled his hardness between her legs – letting him feel how urgent her need was, too. Keeping her squirming and soft against him felt like an unfamiliar heaven, but pushing inside her was lava to his senses.

“Tight baby, so tight.”

She swept her hair off her face, then wrapped her legs around him. “Shut up, Daniels, love me.”