Page 126 of Elite Metal: Warriors

Her heart stuttered. “Me, too.”

“I’ve never met a woman so…perfect—”

“I’m hardly perfect.”

“For me. So perfect for me. We could… No. We should explore this.”

Oh, she liked that. Commitment was difficult for her, but exploration… That was a prospect she could handle. One she could embrace. “Let’s explore this.” She went up on her toes and kissed him again, and this time they didn’t stop for conversation. At least until she murmured, “Condom.”

“Yes,” he said with a grin. “I have one.”

“Do you?”

“Certainly. I stole a bunch from Vasili.”

* * *

They made passionate love most of the night through, avidly exploring their connection and this strange and alluring passion they had for each other. Though she made him feel raw and exposed, she also made him feel safe and adored. He did his best to return the favor.

He was especially gratified that she didn’t poke him with any needles when it was done.

She laughed when he told her so.

They did their best to stay quiet, but it was obvious they failed when they came downstairs together in the morning to find Gregor in a foul mood. He scowled at both of them as Vasili made breakfast.

When they locked fingers over the table, and proceeded to gaze at each other with doe-like eyes, he threw up his hands.

“Don’t you two have work to do?” he snapped.

Natalia shot her boss a wicked smile. “We got most of it done last night.” And she wasn’t talking about the files.

“Bah.” Gregor pushed to his feet and began to pace. “You have to realize that this…” he waved his hand at them, “is a bad idea.”

“Is it?” Natalia asked.

Gregor whirled on her and frowned. “How can you even ask? What kind of future can you have?”

“The kind of future where we take one day at a time,” she said. “Isn’t that how we have always lived? We’ve always known there is an end to all things. We’ve always lived on the edge of the sword.”

“There is no reason to be melodramatic, young lady.”

“It is not melodrama, Papa.” He cringed at the appellation. But he always had been a papa to her. And still was. “It is the truth. We’ve lived dangerous lives. We’ve put ourselves at risk to track down and stop evil men.” She squeezed Cooper’s hand. “All of us. At some point, it is only fair that we take some happiness for ourselves.”

“And you think this man could bring you happiness?” It was clear he did not.

“I intend to try,” Cooper said.

“And where will you live? Moscow? Washington DC?”

Natalia smiled. “Wyoming?”

While Gregor stilled, Cooper gaped at her. “Wyoming? Where did that come from?”

“Gregor has a fantasy of living there,” she said with a chuckle.

“Wyoming?” Cooper was clearly addlepated at the prospect. “There’s nothing there.”

“There’s plenty there,” Gregor roared.