Shadow Pawn, page 14
“It made sense for me to take her,” Angela finished simply with a shrug.
She made plenty of money. She could hire help. And she would have hired someone to help Fern with the childcare—if she hadn’t been kidnapped before she’d gotten the chance.
Adam took a step closer and dipped his head. “I’m sorry about your sister.”
“Thanks.” She fought back the wave of sadness. She’d need all her wits about her to stand up to Adam.
“You still should have told me. Let me bring you home safely. After we took precautions. Do you even have an actively monitored security system here?” he asked.
Since he’d had no trouble breaking in, it didn’t seem to matter, but she answered anyway. “Yes.”
“You need a better one.”
“Obviously.” She scowled.
She hated he’d proven his point so effectively by breaking in. Yet he still felt the need to state the obvious.
That didn’t mean she wasn’t right. She was safe in her own home.
“I really don’t think I’m in danger.”
“Angela, you were targeted—”
“In Shanghai,” she pointed out. “Not here.”
He pinned her with his stare. “You are still you. For some reason someone wants you. It doesn’t matter what country you happen to be in at the time. That won’t change.”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t believe that.”
“Angela, bad things can happen even here in the good old US of A. I’m getting you a better security system,” he said in a tone that left no room for debate.
She let out a sniff. “Just a security system? You’re not going to hire a full-time bodyguard too?”
“No.”
“What? Why not?” she asked with as much sarcasm as she could muster.
He folded his arms over his chest, making his muscles look even bigger beneath the taught short-sleeved collared shirt. “Because I’m going to take on that position myself.”
Thinking of Adam guarding her body—and all the many positions they could be in while he did it—had her heart fluttering.
That was dangerous.
“I don’t need—”
“Yes, you do,” he interrupted.
“Is there anything I can say to talk you out of this?” She glared.
“No.”
“Okay. Fine. I’m taking a shower and putting on some clothes that I haven’t traveled around the globe in. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen or to one of the guest beds if you want.” She spun toward the staircase.
“You’re not going to fight me?” he asked from behind her.
She paused on the stairs and glanced back over her shoulder. “Nope.”
The expression on his face told her he was very aware that even though he’d gotten his way, it was she who had allowed him to stay and play protector.
She was the one in charge here. And damn did it feel good.
Power was intoxicating. She’d missed that feeling. But now, it was back. She was back.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
A baby.
Jesus Christ. That hadn’t been what he was expecting. But he didn’t hate it. Of all the possible reasons she might have had for sneaking away from him to rush home—those he’d imagined and those he hadn’t—this was the easiest to accept.
Still trying to wrap his head around the situation, Adam did as Angela had said and helped himself to a beer from her fridge. After that revelation, compounded by the sheer relief of finding her safe—for now—he needed one.
“Drinking my beer, are you?”
He turned to see the older woman Angela had called Fern standing behind him, her arms crossed over her chest.
Swallowing the mouthful of brew, he lowered the bottle from his lips and cringed. “Sorry.”
She waved away the apology. “Don’t worry about it. She paid for everything in there. But I’m the one who drinks it because she doesn’t touch beer. Wine is her thing.”
“You work for her long?” he asked.
“Not too long. When did you two meet?” She volleyed back the question without missing a beat.
This Fern was on the ball.
He responded by parroting her own words back to her. “Not too long ago.”
They were both playing things close to the vest and she knew it. Her expression was that of respect. Appreciation for a worthy opponent.
If nothing else, he could assume they both cared about Angela. And maybe that common ground would gain him some information at least.
“Can you think of any reason why anyone would want to kidnap and hold her?” he asked.
Fern drew in a breath and let it out as she reached past him to open the fridge and pull out a beer for herself.
She popped off the cap while saying, “It wasn’t about money. I would have heard if anyone had asked for a ransom. There were men in suits here practically every day asking me questions. Tapping the phones just in case someone called.”
He nodded as she reaffirmed what he already suspected. This wasn’t a case of just another rich American being kidnapped for cash.
“What about her work?” he asked.
Fern lifted her gaze to meet his. “What about it?”
“Did she mention some classified project she’s working on to you?”
She took the time to draw a long swallow of beer from the bottle. Finally, she said, “I heard about some big hush-hush project in passing.”
“You know anything about it?” he asked.
“Do you?”
Hmm. Interesting, her turning the question back on him. Was that because she knew something? Or because she didn’t?
He wasn’t going to let the white hair or the pale, almost translucent in quality, wrinkled skin fool him.
Whoever this Fern was, whatever she’d done before she started watching Angela’s baby, she’d learned a few tricks. He’d dare say as many as he had from his team training.
“No,” he admitted in answer to her question.
She watched him for a beat before saying, “Me either.”
They seemed to have declared a truce. They were at the information sharing stage. Unfortunately, it seemed neither had all that much to share.
“Any theories?” he asked.
Fern was his one best source for information, short of Angela herself, who wasn’t talking to him. Not about this, and, apparently, not at all since she had yet to emerge from upstairs.
She squinted one eye. “Eh. A few guesses. But nothing concrete. Your information that she was taken and held in China is interesting.”
He pressed his lips together. “Mmm. But it could be as simple as that was the easiest place to grab her. I wouldn’t discount that the threat could come from anywhere. Competing corporations. Any number of foreign factions.”
She nodded. “All I know about it is that she started working late at the office every night and some weekends. And even when she was home, she’d lock herself in her office. You?”
“I know less than you do. She doesn’t open up a whole lot. I doubt that’s going to change since she doesn’t want me here protecting her.”
“Ha. She wants something from you, but it’s not your protection.”
“What do you mean?” He frowned.
“For a smart guy, you’re kind of stupid. Even an old lady like me could see the way she looked at you.”
He opened his mouth, about to argue, but then closed it again. A smile bowed his lips as he lifted his bottle to her in a toast. “I hope you’re right.”
“I’m always right when it comes to people.”
He considered that and her. “Why exactly is that?”
“You show me yours and I’ll show you mine.”
His brows shot high. “Excuse me?”
“What are you? Former Delta Force? Nah, wait. In this part of the country, I’m guessing Navy. SEAL.” She dipped her head in a single, definitive nod, happy with her guess.
He let out a breath. “In a past life. Now, let me have a shot. You’re smart. Sharp. Cocky as fuck. FBI.”
“Me? I’m just a widowed housekeeper. That’s all.” She smiled wider. “But thank you for the compliments. Throw in beautiful and I might be willing to give you a go if she decides she doesn’t want you anymore.”
He couldn’t help his laugh, even as his cheeks heated as he became oddly embarrassed by her joking.
“But seriously,” she began.
He lowered his bottle and listened, because he’d meant every word. This woman was smart. And, in spite of her denial, had CIA or FBI written all over her. She might be his best—his only—back up until he could get paid security in place here.
“The security situation is a joke,” she continued.
“I know.”
“Her work is close by, but she’s still alone in the car there and back. Some days she leaves when it’s still dark in the morning. She gets home after dark at night. And that parking lot at her building.” Fern shook her head. “All it would take was disabling the one camera.”
“I’m on it. She won’t be driving alone anymore. If it’s not me with her, it’ll be someone I trust.” He still had to call Rudnick and get his company on that.
“Good. I’m glad we’re on the same page,” Fern said.
“We most definitely are,” he agreed.
“What are you two on the same page about?” Angela asked, sounding suspicious.
He turned to find her standing in the doorway of the kitchen, looking good in pajamas that appeared as soft and silky as he remembered her skin being.
“That if you don’t want this fine specimen of a man, I get to have him. So make up your mind and let me know. I’m going upstairs to bank some beauty sleep, just in case. Oh, and don’t forget to lock up for the night.” She shot Adam a look and, taking her beer with her, pushed past Angela in the doorway.
Angela watched him as Fern left. “You going to answer the question?”
“She wasn’t lying. She actually did say pretty much that to me before you walked in.”
“And? What else did you two talk about?” she asked.
“We agreed I’m going to be stuck to you like glue until I can arrange for alternate security.”
“Whether I think it’s necessary or not—”
“It’s necessary,” he interjected.
“And whether I want it or not,” she continued.
“When it comes to security and keeping you safe, I don’t care what you think or want.”
She took a couple of steps across the kitchen toward him. One more step put her close enough to reach out and take his bottle. She drew a sip from it.
“Watch out. That’s Fern’s beer in the fridge,” he joked.
Angela cocked up one dark brow. “That I paid for. She shops for the house with my credit card.”
“She did mention that. As well as the fact you prefer wine over beer.”
“Desperate times.” She shrugged, taking another sip. And damned if the sight of her lips wrapped around the mouth of the longneck bottle didn’t make him hard.
It was going to be a long night.
She raised her eyes to him. “Did you lock up? After you broke in, I mean.”
“Yes.”
And he’d taken a few more precautions besides just arming the alarm, which had not been set when he’d hacked the electronic door lock and entered. He’d gone the extra step and barricaded the back door so if someone came through it, the way he had, they’d at least hear the clatter.
Still, he felt the need to do more. Trip wires, ideally. Although Angela would definitely think that was over the top.
He needed to know if someone was coming for her tonight. Or if he had until tomorrow to set things up, when the news she was back got out.
“Angela. I need to know something. Did you contact anyone about being home?”
“I called my parents from the house phone. I know what you said, but I had to. Adam, I’ve been gone for so long—”
“I understand. Anyone else?”
“My friend Kim drove me here.”
“Yeah, I saw.” He scowled, remembering that sinking feeling in his gut at the hotel as he watched her drive away.
She at least had the decency to look a tad contrite over her escape.
“No one else? The authorities? The office?” he asked.
“No. I didn’t call the police. Or work. Or anyone else. The last thing I want is to sit through an interrogation tonight.”
“Good.” He didn’t care why. He was just grateful she hadn’t called anyone.
He still didn’t know who to trust, so the safest path was to trust no one at all.
She drew in a breath that lifted her tits high beneath her pajama top. “Let’s go to bed.”
He froze, waiting for clarification of the out of the blue statement.
She headed for the doorway, then turned back to shoot a sultry look over her shoulder.
“Are you coming?” she asked.
He swallowed hard and set the bottle in the sink. “Yes, ma’am.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
One thing about Adam was that when he committed to something he went all out.
Annoying to be sure when his obsession was trying to make her feel afraid in her own home. But when his single-minded focus was on getting her naked and making her feel good, it was a wonderful thing.
His blonde head bobbed between her thighs and drove her through one orgasm and directly into another. His mouth and fingers worked in tandem to have her crying out so loudly, she grabbed the pillow and pressed it over her own face as she remembered Fern and Jayden were in the house.
She didn’t make a habit of bringing men home for sex. In her defense, she hadn’t brought Adam home either. He’d just followed her here.
But she had invited him into her bed.
She’d hear about it from Fern in the morning. Some snarky comment, no doubt.
At the moment, she couldn’t care as she bucked against Adam’s mouth and tried not to lose complete control of her body as wave after wave pulsed through her.
Then he was level with her, his knees spreading her legs wider before he plunged deep inside.
The pillow disappeared as he tossed it to the side.
“Want to see you,” he gasped between thrusts.
“I’m too loud.”
“I know.” A smiled appeared briefly before he lowered his mouth over hers.
His tongue slid against hers and she devoured the feeling of being filled by this man.
Maybe she could keep him around. Lord knew she wanted to.
He plunged deep and she felt a tremor run through him just as he pulled away. He grabbed for and came into a handful of crumpled sheets before collapsing onto his back next to her on the king-sized mattress.
She ran a fingertip down the muscles of his arm, watching it bounce over the bulges. He lifted his head from the bed to watch her.
“Enjoying yourself?” he asked, when she followed the line of his arm draped across his stomach and moved on to tracing the muscles of his abdomen.
“Yes,” she answered.
No use lying. She was almost giddy just being home, in her own house, with Jayden. And Fern. Amid her own things.
Having Adam here was the icing on the cake. And she intended to have her cake and eat it too.
“Is that okay?” She raised her gaze from the fine line of hair on his lower stomach up to his face.
His smile crinkled the skin in the corners of his eyes. “Yeah. It’s fine.”
They lay there for a few minutes, her running her hand over his warm skin. Him letting out the occasional sound of appreciation when she hit a particularly pleasurable spot.
Until he abruptly lifted his head and said, “Who the fuck did you email anyway? When you were at the safe house.”
A frown creased her brow. “That’s what you’re thinking of now?”
“No. That’s not the only thing I’m thinking of. But it’s been bothering me.”
She could tell it wasn’t the only thing he was thinking of as his semi-hard cock rested across his thigh, jumping occasionally when her hand came near to it.
“Fine. If I tell you, will you let it drop?”
“Yes.”
Believing him, and wanting to move on to other more fun things, she said, “I sent it from my old Yahoo account, to the personal email account of my intern from two summers ago. She hasn’t worked for the company since then. That address should have been off the radar. I never sent anything to it from my work account. And she was supposed to use only her corporate email address at work. So emailing her should have been safe. Right?”
“That depends. What did you say in this email? What did you ask her to do?”
“I asked her to drive to work and get Lou. He’s the COO, my number two guy there. I said to bring him outside where no one could hear and tell him where I was. I warned her that she couldn’t use the phone or talk inside the building.”
“And did she?” he asked, one brow cocked up.
“I don’t know. You came back and then…” She swallowed. They both remembered what happened next. “I never got a chance to log back in. Those guys came. I was so careful. So how did they find us?”
“I don’t know. Maybe she did log into her personal email when she worked there when you weren’t looking and her address was being monitored too. Maybe this Lou guy wasn’t careful and called somebody about where you were. It could be any number of things. Which is why I told you to not do it.”
“I know. I’m sorry. But we’re safe now. Because of you. Thank you.”
He ignored her thanks and sat up against the headboard. “You’re not safe until we figure out who did this. I’m calling a guy I know who will set you up with a security plan. For here when you’re at home, you’ll need a good system installed. And when you do eventually go back to work, we’ll have to come up with a plan for travel between the house and your office. I’m thinking a single dedicated driver. Vetted. Armed. He’ll escort you inside. You should be okay while you’re actually in your office, but I’d like a review of the security there.”
Sighing, she sat up too. “Okay.”
“Okay? You’re not going to argue? Or fight me on this?”
She made plenty of money. She could hire help. And she would have hired someone to help Fern with the childcare—if she hadn’t been kidnapped before she’d gotten the chance.
Adam took a step closer and dipped his head. “I’m sorry about your sister.”
“Thanks.” She fought back the wave of sadness. She’d need all her wits about her to stand up to Adam.
“You still should have told me. Let me bring you home safely. After we took precautions. Do you even have an actively monitored security system here?” he asked.
Since he’d had no trouble breaking in, it didn’t seem to matter, but she answered anyway. “Yes.”
“You need a better one.”
“Obviously.” She scowled.
She hated he’d proven his point so effectively by breaking in. Yet he still felt the need to state the obvious.
That didn’t mean she wasn’t right. She was safe in her own home.
“I really don’t think I’m in danger.”
“Angela, you were targeted—”
“In Shanghai,” she pointed out. “Not here.”
He pinned her with his stare. “You are still you. For some reason someone wants you. It doesn’t matter what country you happen to be in at the time. That won’t change.”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t believe that.”
“Angela, bad things can happen even here in the good old US of A. I’m getting you a better security system,” he said in a tone that left no room for debate.
She let out a sniff. “Just a security system? You’re not going to hire a full-time bodyguard too?”
“No.”
“What? Why not?” she asked with as much sarcasm as she could muster.
He folded his arms over his chest, making his muscles look even bigger beneath the taught short-sleeved collared shirt. “Because I’m going to take on that position myself.”
Thinking of Adam guarding her body—and all the many positions they could be in while he did it—had her heart fluttering.
That was dangerous.
“I don’t need—”
“Yes, you do,” he interrupted.
“Is there anything I can say to talk you out of this?” She glared.
“No.”
“Okay. Fine. I’m taking a shower and putting on some clothes that I haven’t traveled around the globe in. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen or to one of the guest beds if you want.” She spun toward the staircase.
“You’re not going to fight me?” he asked from behind her.
She paused on the stairs and glanced back over her shoulder. “Nope.”
The expression on his face told her he was very aware that even though he’d gotten his way, it was she who had allowed him to stay and play protector.
She was the one in charge here. And damn did it feel good.
Power was intoxicating. She’d missed that feeling. But now, it was back. She was back.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
A baby.
Jesus Christ. That hadn’t been what he was expecting. But he didn’t hate it. Of all the possible reasons she might have had for sneaking away from him to rush home—those he’d imagined and those he hadn’t—this was the easiest to accept.
Still trying to wrap his head around the situation, Adam did as Angela had said and helped himself to a beer from her fridge. After that revelation, compounded by the sheer relief of finding her safe—for now—he needed one.
“Drinking my beer, are you?”
He turned to see the older woman Angela had called Fern standing behind him, her arms crossed over her chest.
Swallowing the mouthful of brew, he lowered the bottle from his lips and cringed. “Sorry.”
She waved away the apology. “Don’t worry about it. She paid for everything in there. But I’m the one who drinks it because she doesn’t touch beer. Wine is her thing.”
“You work for her long?” he asked.
“Not too long. When did you two meet?” She volleyed back the question without missing a beat.
This Fern was on the ball.
He responded by parroting her own words back to her. “Not too long ago.”
They were both playing things close to the vest and she knew it. Her expression was that of respect. Appreciation for a worthy opponent.
If nothing else, he could assume they both cared about Angela. And maybe that common ground would gain him some information at least.
“Can you think of any reason why anyone would want to kidnap and hold her?” he asked.
Fern drew in a breath and let it out as she reached past him to open the fridge and pull out a beer for herself.
She popped off the cap while saying, “It wasn’t about money. I would have heard if anyone had asked for a ransom. There were men in suits here practically every day asking me questions. Tapping the phones just in case someone called.”
He nodded as she reaffirmed what he already suspected. This wasn’t a case of just another rich American being kidnapped for cash.
“What about her work?” he asked.
Fern lifted her gaze to meet his. “What about it?”
“Did she mention some classified project she’s working on to you?”
She took the time to draw a long swallow of beer from the bottle. Finally, she said, “I heard about some big hush-hush project in passing.”
“You know anything about it?” he asked.
“Do you?”
Hmm. Interesting, her turning the question back on him. Was that because she knew something? Or because she didn’t?
He wasn’t going to let the white hair or the pale, almost translucent in quality, wrinkled skin fool him.
Whoever this Fern was, whatever she’d done before she started watching Angela’s baby, she’d learned a few tricks. He’d dare say as many as he had from his team training.
“No,” he admitted in answer to her question.
She watched him for a beat before saying, “Me either.”
They seemed to have declared a truce. They were at the information sharing stage. Unfortunately, it seemed neither had all that much to share.
“Any theories?” he asked.
Fern was his one best source for information, short of Angela herself, who wasn’t talking to him. Not about this, and, apparently, not at all since she had yet to emerge from upstairs.
She squinted one eye. “Eh. A few guesses. But nothing concrete. Your information that she was taken and held in China is interesting.”
He pressed his lips together. “Mmm. But it could be as simple as that was the easiest place to grab her. I wouldn’t discount that the threat could come from anywhere. Competing corporations. Any number of foreign factions.”
She nodded. “All I know about it is that she started working late at the office every night and some weekends. And even when she was home, she’d lock herself in her office. You?”
“I know less than you do. She doesn’t open up a whole lot. I doubt that’s going to change since she doesn’t want me here protecting her.”
“Ha. She wants something from you, but it’s not your protection.”
“What do you mean?” He frowned.
“For a smart guy, you’re kind of stupid. Even an old lady like me could see the way she looked at you.”
He opened his mouth, about to argue, but then closed it again. A smile bowed his lips as he lifted his bottle to her in a toast. “I hope you’re right.”
“I’m always right when it comes to people.”
He considered that and her. “Why exactly is that?”
“You show me yours and I’ll show you mine.”
His brows shot high. “Excuse me?”
“What are you? Former Delta Force? Nah, wait. In this part of the country, I’m guessing Navy. SEAL.” She dipped her head in a single, definitive nod, happy with her guess.
He let out a breath. “In a past life. Now, let me have a shot. You’re smart. Sharp. Cocky as fuck. FBI.”
“Me? I’m just a widowed housekeeper. That’s all.” She smiled wider. “But thank you for the compliments. Throw in beautiful and I might be willing to give you a go if she decides she doesn’t want you anymore.”
He couldn’t help his laugh, even as his cheeks heated as he became oddly embarrassed by her joking.
“But seriously,” she began.
He lowered his bottle and listened, because he’d meant every word. This woman was smart. And, in spite of her denial, had CIA or FBI written all over her. She might be his best—his only—back up until he could get paid security in place here.
“The security situation is a joke,” she continued.
“I know.”
“Her work is close by, but she’s still alone in the car there and back. Some days she leaves when it’s still dark in the morning. She gets home after dark at night. And that parking lot at her building.” Fern shook her head. “All it would take was disabling the one camera.”
“I’m on it. She won’t be driving alone anymore. If it’s not me with her, it’ll be someone I trust.” He still had to call Rudnick and get his company on that.
“Good. I’m glad we’re on the same page,” Fern said.
“We most definitely are,” he agreed.
“What are you two on the same page about?” Angela asked, sounding suspicious.
He turned to find her standing in the doorway of the kitchen, looking good in pajamas that appeared as soft and silky as he remembered her skin being.
“That if you don’t want this fine specimen of a man, I get to have him. So make up your mind and let me know. I’m going upstairs to bank some beauty sleep, just in case. Oh, and don’t forget to lock up for the night.” She shot Adam a look and, taking her beer with her, pushed past Angela in the doorway.
Angela watched him as Fern left. “You going to answer the question?”
“She wasn’t lying. She actually did say pretty much that to me before you walked in.”
“And? What else did you two talk about?” she asked.
“We agreed I’m going to be stuck to you like glue until I can arrange for alternate security.”
“Whether I think it’s necessary or not—”
“It’s necessary,” he interjected.
“And whether I want it or not,” she continued.
“When it comes to security and keeping you safe, I don’t care what you think or want.”
She took a couple of steps across the kitchen toward him. One more step put her close enough to reach out and take his bottle. She drew a sip from it.
“Watch out. That’s Fern’s beer in the fridge,” he joked.
Angela cocked up one dark brow. “That I paid for. She shops for the house with my credit card.”
“She did mention that. As well as the fact you prefer wine over beer.”
“Desperate times.” She shrugged, taking another sip. And damned if the sight of her lips wrapped around the mouth of the longneck bottle didn’t make him hard.
It was going to be a long night.
She raised her eyes to him. “Did you lock up? After you broke in, I mean.”
“Yes.”
And he’d taken a few more precautions besides just arming the alarm, which had not been set when he’d hacked the electronic door lock and entered. He’d gone the extra step and barricaded the back door so if someone came through it, the way he had, they’d at least hear the clatter.
Still, he felt the need to do more. Trip wires, ideally. Although Angela would definitely think that was over the top.
He needed to know if someone was coming for her tonight. Or if he had until tomorrow to set things up, when the news she was back got out.
“Angela. I need to know something. Did you contact anyone about being home?”
“I called my parents from the house phone. I know what you said, but I had to. Adam, I’ve been gone for so long—”
“I understand. Anyone else?”
“My friend Kim drove me here.”
“Yeah, I saw.” He scowled, remembering that sinking feeling in his gut at the hotel as he watched her drive away.
She at least had the decency to look a tad contrite over her escape.
“No one else? The authorities? The office?” he asked.
“No. I didn’t call the police. Or work. Or anyone else. The last thing I want is to sit through an interrogation tonight.”
“Good.” He didn’t care why. He was just grateful she hadn’t called anyone.
He still didn’t know who to trust, so the safest path was to trust no one at all.
She drew in a breath that lifted her tits high beneath her pajama top. “Let’s go to bed.”
He froze, waiting for clarification of the out of the blue statement.
She headed for the doorway, then turned back to shoot a sultry look over her shoulder.
“Are you coming?” she asked.
He swallowed hard and set the bottle in the sink. “Yes, ma’am.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
One thing about Adam was that when he committed to something he went all out.
Annoying to be sure when his obsession was trying to make her feel afraid in her own home. But when his single-minded focus was on getting her naked and making her feel good, it was a wonderful thing.
His blonde head bobbed between her thighs and drove her through one orgasm and directly into another. His mouth and fingers worked in tandem to have her crying out so loudly, she grabbed the pillow and pressed it over her own face as she remembered Fern and Jayden were in the house.
She didn’t make a habit of bringing men home for sex. In her defense, she hadn’t brought Adam home either. He’d just followed her here.
But she had invited him into her bed.
She’d hear about it from Fern in the morning. Some snarky comment, no doubt.
At the moment, she couldn’t care as she bucked against Adam’s mouth and tried not to lose complete control of her body as wave after wave pulsed through her.
Then he was level with her, his knees spreading her legs wider before he plunged deep inside.
The pillow disappeared as he tossed it to the side.
“Want to see you,” he gasped between thrusts.
“I’m too loud.”
“I know.” A smiled appeared briefly before he lowered his mouth over hers.
His tongue slid against hers and she devoured the feeling of being filled by this man.
Maybe she could keep him around. Lord knew she wanted to.
He plunged deep and she felt a tremor run through him just as he pulled away. He grabbed for and came into a handful of crumpled sheets before collapsing onto his back next to her on the king-sized mattress.
She ran a fingertip down the muscles of his arm, watching it bounce over the bulges. He lifted his head from the bed to watch her.
“Enjoying yourself?” he asked, when she followed the line of his arm draped across his stomach and moved on to tracing the muscles of his abdomen.
“Yes,” she answered.
No use lying. She was almost giddy just being home, in her own house, with Jayden. And Fern. Amid her own things.
Having Adam here was the icing on the cake. And she intended to have her cake and eat it too.
“Is that okay?” She raised her gaze from the fine line of hair on his lower stomach up to his face.
His smile crinkled the skin in the corners of his eyes. “Yeah. It’s fine.”
They lay there for a few minutes, her running her hand over his warm skin. Him letting out the occasional sound of appreciation when she hit a particularly pleasurable spot.
Until he abruptly lifted his head and said, “Who the fuck did you email anyway? When you were at the safe house.”
A frown creased her brow. “That’s what you’re thinking of now?”
“No. That’s not the only thing I’m thinking of. But it’s been bothering me.”
She could tell it wasn’t the only thing he was thinking of as his semi-hard cock rested across his thigh, jumping occasionally when her hand came near to it.
“Fine. If I tell you, will you let it drop?”
“Yes.”
Believing him, and wanting to move on to other more fun things, she said, “I sent it from my old Yahoo account, to the personal email account of my intern from two summers ago. She hasn’t worked for the company since then. That address should have been off the radar. I never sent anything to it from my work account. And she was supposed to use only her corporate email address at work. So emailing her should have been safe. Right?”
“That depends. What did you say in this email? What did you ask her to do?”
“I asked her to drive to work and get Lou. He’s the COO, my number two guy there. I said to bring him outside where no one could hear and tell him where I was. I warned her that she couldn’t use the phone or talk inside the building.”
“And did she?” he asked, one brow cocked up.
“I don’t know. You came back and then…” She swallowed. They both remembered what happened next. “I never got a chance to log back in. Those guys came. I was so careful. So how did they find us?”
“I don’t know. Maybe she did log into her personal email when she worked there when you weren’t looking and her address was being monitored too. Maybe this Lou guy wasn’t careful and called somebody about where you were. It could be any number of things. Which is why I told you to not do it.”
“I know. I’m sorry. But we’re safe now. Because of you. Thank you.”
He ignored her thanks and sat up against the headboard. “You’re not safe until we figure out who did this. I’m calling a guy I know who will set you up with a security plan. For here when you’re at home, you’ll need a good system installed. And when you do eventually go back to work, we’ll have to come up with a plan for travel between the house and your office. I’m thinking a single dedicated driver. Vetted. Armed. He’ll escort you inside. You should be okay while you’re actually in your office, but I’d like a review of the security there.”
Sighing, she sat up too. “Okay.”
“Okay? You’re not going to argue? Or fight me on this?”
