balls in Virginia. I’ve never met a man so cocky and full of himself. Then, on the other hand, he’s sweet and thoughtful. He confuses me, and I don’t like it. I need to get a grip. There’s been a lot on my mind from having the case taken away, and the loss of my father still weighs on me.
“You thought manipulating the situation to gain information was the best way to gain my trust?”
“Says the woman who lives for manipulating to gather information,” he scoffs. “I’m not sure how you can say that to me with a straight face.” Mark swipes his hand down his face. “I came because I’m heading out tomorrow. I had to fly out of a base undetected, so I figured I’d pop in and grab you.”
I narrow my eyes. “How did you know I’d be here?”
“One day you’ll realize I’m not a fool, and I’m damn good at what I do, too. Don’t leave notes on a dry erase board about being in hell and then put Ronald Reagan Building on this date on your calendar.”
Something he said causes me to pause. “Why do you have to fly out undetected?”
Mark steps close and I retreat. “Why didn’t you answer my calls?” he counters.
He pushes forward again as I go back. “I wanted to have something useful to tell you when I did.”
Again, we continue this dance. “That doesn’t explain why you couldn’t talk to me.”
The space we’re in isn’t big. My back is now pressed against the brick wall and Mark’s arms cage me in. The rough, cold bricks cause me to shiver, but Mark’s heat ignites me. My mind is firm on getting answers from him, yet my body wants something else. I turn off the part of me that wants him. The woman in me has to wait. “Where are you flying to?”
“Leave with me tonight and find out.”
“Answer the damn question,” I demand.
His ivy-colored eyes pierce through me, saying so much more than his words. “Trust me.”
I search for some sign, a reason to say no or insist I’m doing this alone—all I see is honesty and trust. He could’ve left on his own and used the information I gave him to do what he needs to, but he didn’t. While I don’t appreciate the fact he now knows my mother’s name and my brother, there is a piece of me that feels—normal. While trust is something earned over time and not given on a whim, that time isn’t something I have.
“I need another hour before I can cut out or Priscilla will morph into Maleficent,” I murmur.
Mark presses his lower body against mine and traps me between him and the unforgiving brick. Yet, when he shifts his leg, he gives me a clear out. It shows me respect. He doesn’t want to cage me or make me feel imprisoned. He’s showing me that while I can go, he clearly wants me to stay.
“Remember what I said?”
“You say a lot of things.”
He laughs. “I made you a promise, Charlie.” Mark’s already deep voice is layered with desire.
Once again, my control begins to slip. “What’s that?”
His hands drop a little lower beside my head. His lower body shifts so his knee is between my legs. I feel his arousal against my thigh.
My traitorous body shows its own awakening. My nipples hardening through the silk material don’t go unnoticed. Heat pools in my core and my breath hitches. I want him. There’s no use denying it.
“I told you I’d kiss you again. If you don’t stop me now, there’s no getting away.”
I should stop him. I need to stop him. There’s no way in hell it’s going to happen, though. I’m craving his lips again.
He gives me one second before he crushes his mouth against mine. His entire body shifts forward, and now I’m trapped. There’s nowhere to go. Nowhere to move that’s not Mark. He takes every part of my mind and body. Our hands roam each other as his tongue slides against mine. Passion ignites between us; it sets the room on fire. His fingers cup my neck and then glide down the front of my dress. His hand brands my skin as he takes his time exploring the open skin
“You thought manipulating the situation to gain information was the best way to gain my trust?”
“Says the woman who lives for manipulating to gather information,” he scoffs. “I’m not sure how you can say that to me with a straight face.” Mark swipes his hand down his face. “I came because I’m heading out tomorrow. I had to fly out of a base undetected, so I figured I’d pop in and grab you.”
I narrow my eyes. “How did you know I’d be here?”
“One day you’ll realize I’m not a fool, and I’m damn good at what I do, too. Don’t leave notes on a dry erase board about being in hell and then put Ronald Reagan Building on this date on your calendar.”
Something he said causes me to pause. “Why do you have to fly out undetected?”
Mark steps close and I retreat. “Why didn’t you answer my calls?” he counters.
He pushes forward again as I go back. “I wanted to have something useful to tell you when I did.”
Again, we continue this dance. “That doesn’t explain why you couldn’t talk to me.”
The space we’re in isn’t big. My back is now pressed against the brick wall and Mark’s arms cage me in. The rough, cold bricks cause me to shiver, but Mark’s heat ignites me. My mind is firm on getting answers from him, yet my body wants something else. I turn off the part of me that wants him. The woman in me has to wait. “Where are you flying to?”
“Leave with me tonight and find out.”
“Answer the damn question,” I demand.
His ivy-colored eyes pierce through me, saying so much more than his words. “Trust me.”
I search for some sign, a reason to say no or insist I’m doing this alone—all I see is honesty and trust. He could’ve left on his own and used the information I gave him to do what he needs to, but he didn’t. While I don’t appreciate the fact he now knows my mother’s name and my brother, there is a piece of me that feels—normal. While trust is something earned over time and not given on a whim, that time isn’t something I have.
“I need another hour before I can cut out or Priscilla will morph into Maleficent,” I murmur.
Mark presses his lower body against mine and traps me between him and the unforgiving brick. Yet, when he shifts his leg, he gives me a clear out. It shows me respect. He doesn’t want to cage me or make me feel imprisoned. He’s showing me that while I can go, he clearly wants me to stay.
“Remember what I said?”
“You say a lot of things.”
He laughs. “I made you a promise, Charlie.” Mark’s already deep voice is layered with desire.
Once again, my control begins to slip. “What’s that?”
His hands drop a little lower beside my head. His lower body shifts so his knee is between my legs. I feel his arousal against my thigh.
My traitorous body shows its own awakening. My nipples hardening through the silk material don’t go unnoticed. Heat pools in my core and my breath hitches. I want him. There’s no use denying it.
“I told you I’d kiss you again. If you don’t stop me now, there’s no getting away.”
I should stop him. I need to stop him. There’s no way in hell it’s going to happen, though. I’m craving his lips again.
He gives me one second before he crushes his mouth against mine. His entire body shifts forward, and now I’m trapped. There’s nowhere to go. Nowhere to move that’s not Mark. He takes every part of my mind and body. Our hands roam each other as his tongue slides against mine. Passion ignites between us; it sets the room on fire. His fingers cup my neck and then glide down the front of my dress. His hand brands my skin as he takes his time exploring the open skin
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