Agent M4: Riordan by Joni Hahn Page A

her like a waterfall, raining down on him, drowning him in excitement, urgency… need.
    Breaking away, he lifted her to sit on the desk by his helmet. He swooped in and placed an open-mouthed kiss on her neck. Her pulse leapt under his lips.
    “I thought you hated me...” She angled her neck in invitation.
    His lips trailed over her smooth skin, before dipping into the base of her throat. “I do this to all of my enemies.”
    Her breathing hitched, rushing against his ear. The heat of her palms blazed a trail of ash over his back and shoulders.
    “Remind me to tick you off more often.”
    He smiled against her throat. “I don’t think that’ll be a problem.”
    Her laughter tinkled in the room like wind chimes.
    Leaning back, she stared into his eyes, her olive irises dark, unwavering. Taking his hand from her waist, she guided it to her full breast. They groaned together as he kneaded her slowly, luxuriously, her eyes rolling shut.
    How could she allow him to touch her this way? He used to be a bad guy, a prisoner, the grandson of a drug-addict. She was a doctor and high-class, senator’s daughter.
    Natalie Meeks trusted him.
    She took him, wanted him, as he was – flaws, history and all. Why the hell she wanted him went beyond his comprehension, but he wouldn’t argue.
    He wanted her, too.
    Out of all the women in the city he had yet to meet, why did she bring out this need, this faith in him?
    Because that’s what this was – another form of freedom. For the first time in his life, he felt free to truly trust someone.
    He would trust Natalie Meeks.
    A part of his brain called him a fool, the other danced around like a crazy idiot. Freedom made him want to shout at the top of his lungs.
    So did Natalie Meeks.
    Her warm whisper hovered in the air between them. “Touch me, Riordan.”
    Laying back on the desk, she gazed up at him with blazing, hungry eyes. Unbuttoning her fly, she waited for him to finish the job.
    Oh, hell …
    He grabbed the tab of her zipper. The phone rang over the speaker system in the communications room.
    Curse words rolled off his tongue as he pulled her up. “I have to get that.” Reaching over to the next desk, he pressed the speaker button on the phone. “Saint.”
    “Have you killed each other yet?” Mitchell’s voice held a note of anxiety.
    Staring down at Natalie’s pink cheeks, he said, “No, but she’s definitely got me worked up.”
    With a hand to her forehead, Natalie shook her head as she dropped to the floor.
    “Dammit, Saint, I told you not to get involved with her. That was an order.”
    Buttoning her jeans, Natalie picked up her purse and slung it over her shoulder. Her reluctant gaze met his.
    He’d lost her.
    Gone was his spirited, copper-haired fireball. In her place stood a woman battling her own desires and what she thought was right.
    What she didn’t realize, they were both the same thing.
    “Mitchell, I’ve got to go.” He held out his hand to stop her.
    Shaking her head, she backed to the door. “No.” She jiggled her keys. “I do.”

Chapter 5
     
    “I’m giving him clearance, Mitchell.”
    Holding the phone between her ear and shoulder, Natalie stared at the open email on her computer screen, her stomach in knots. She hated to admit weakness to anyone, especially someone of Mitchell Jacobs’ mental and physical toughness. However, if she wanted to keep any shred of self-pride, she had to do this and move forward.
    Away from Riordan St. James.
    “You’ve determined that already, Natalie?” he said. “Why do I find that hard to believe?”
    Natalie knew she didn’t fool him. How could she when he saw evidence of her attraction to Riordan that day at the pool?
    No, her assessment didn’t take long at all. Last night had proven many things, among them - her serious feelings for Riordan.
    A patient. Again.
    She couldn’t allow it to happen.
    “Mitchell, we’re all a product of our experiences and Riordan is no different. He reacted to