Defenseless (10 page)

It’s way too early to think, but no way is she leading this. I chug the rest of the coffee sitting on the table. “That’s great. I have one, too.”

After Charlie and I talk about the missed checkpoints from our guys in Egypt, she and I decide we need to investigate it a little more. We’re in agreement that Mazir is somehow connected to Cole Security Forces. There’s nothing substantial, but enough coincidence to make me question it.

Nothing with this woman is easy. It takes me two more cups of coffee before we finally come to some kind of understanding regarding how to handle this. Of course, she argued so much that I now have a splitting headache.

The pilot comes over the intercom, “We’ll be landing in about fifteen minutes.”

Charlie and I share a brief moment of resolution. We’re both committed to seeing this through. Neither of us is willing to allow failure as an option.

She clears her throat and looks away. “He needs to leave and fly home as soon as we land.”

“He already knows.” I smirk. “I took care of it while you were napping earlier.”

She scowls. Even her dirty looks make her hot as hell. I don’t think she could be unattractive if she tried. It’s when she’s in her hostile form that makes it impossible for me not to want her. I love her ability to argue, except when it comes to me touching her. Then I seem to affect her more than she likes.

Charlie sits in her chair, racks her nine millimeter, and slips it into her thigh holster. My cock strains in my pants as she pulls her skirt down a little. She looks up and gives me a snarling glare. I deepen my stare, challenging her to say something. I could give a flying fuck if I get caught looking. I’d do a hell of a lot more than that if she weren’t so hell-bent on fighting me off.

“Stop looking at me like you’re going to eat me.”

“Stop looking so damn delicious.”

“You know you don’t have to say everything you’re thinking.”

I laugh. “I’ll remember that.” I don’t say close to half of what I’m thinking. I’m pretty sure she’d have kneed me in the balls if she knew the things I plan to do to her.

She quirks her eyebrow. “Good.” Her mouth sets as if she’s battling saying something more. Of course, she can’t resist. “Even if I don’t believe you. You’re a major pain in my ass.”

“I’ll be happy to rub the pain away.”

“Point made.”

“You know,” I stand and walk closer to her. I study her face, and watch for any small indicators that tell me she feels what I’m feeling. “You’ve probably never had a real man.” My body presses forward as she stands her ground. “No one was strong enough to deal with your penis envy.”

“Penis envy?”

“Yeah, sweetheart.” I reach my hand to cup her cheek. “You live in a man’s world. You fight harder, stand straighter, and battle for your place.” I see the flash in her eyes that lets me know I hit a chord. “I don’t need you to assert your shit, babe. I’ll own you. You won’t want to have control because I’ll make it so fucking good that you’ll beg me to take it.”

Her lips form a perfect ‘o’ and she just stares at me. I exploit this moment of speechlessness and crush my lips against hers.

Charlie

G
oddamn him.

Goddamn him for being the world’s best kisser. Each second our lips touch feels like heaven. I want to tear my mouth from his, but I can’t. The truth is—I don’t really want to stop. He gets me. He knows what I need even though I’ve never wanted this. I need control; it’s power, and without it, I’m weak. But Mark takes that power. He steals it from me, but it doesn’t feel like theft. It’s a gift.

Our tongues dance as his hand grips my ass. Mark’s kisses aren’t gentle. There’s no give and take. It’s take and take some more. He growls and grinds his cock against my leg. His hands are relentless holding my face as he controls the kiss.

He demands this kiss.

He possesses this kiss.

He possesses me.

Mark’s teeth pull at my lip as he breaks away.

My heart beats loudly against my ribs. I’m torn between pulling him on top of me and never stopping, or beating the ever-loving shit out of him for this.

So I go with option three. My hands press against his chest as I throw him back. “Don’t think you’re winning anything here. You’re an arrogant asshole who thinks he has it all figured out. You don’t know a thing.” I push him back as the light in his eyes grows. “I hate you.”

“But your body doesn’t.”

“Screw you!” I glare at him.

“In due time.”

“In your dreams. I’m here for one thing only, and it isn’t to put some I-once-was-a-Navy-SEAL-and-I-think-I’m-still-someone in his place. Because this,” I point outside the window. “Is bigger than you, me, or anything else. People are
dying
, Mark. Your friends are being shot, taken, and their lives are in danger.”

He grips my arms, pulling me close again. “You think I don’t know this? Every single day I watch people around me suffer because of choices I made as well. I’m well aware of the bigger picture. But you . . .” his tone softens, as do his arms, “Make me forget for a minute. You’re like some goddamn addiction I can’t shake. I’m known for my self-restraint, so what the hell have you done? Why the hell do you consume my fucking mind?”

My breath hitches from his words. If I’m honest, he does the same. I think about him, and I wonder what we could be if our lives weren’t the way they are. Before I can respond, his phone rings.

“Dixon,” he says, not removing his eyes from mine. “No, we’re off the grid.” A pause as he listens. “I’ll relay what info I can, when I can,” he huffs. “I’m alone, I’ll be in touch, and keep Muff at a distance. I’ll be in touch.” He hangs up, looks at his watch, and then back to me. “Under twenty seconds. I wish they’d remember this isn’t my first rodeo. Now . . .” He steps closer. “I’m warning you, Charlie. For some reason, I like you. There’s something that keeps me coming back, even when I tell myself to stay away.”

“Mark.”

“I’m telling you, something’s going to give. It’s been a goddamn year and you infest my mind.”

“Mark.”

“There won’t be a way for you to avoid me forever.”

“Mark!”

“You and I will happen.”

His eyes never leave mine. He stares at me, letting me know that isn’t a threat but a promise he will fulfill. It’s not only on him, though. I’m fighting the energy between us. Since the first time I saw him, I knew there was something there. Yes, he’s annoying and cocky. Yes, he needs someone to knock him down a few pegs, but God, he’s sexy. He’s funny, smart, cunning, and he sees the woman in me. Not some agent who can be used in a way to get a job done. No, he sees me, and oh, how I need that. And he saved me when I was drugged.

“Mark,” I say again. “I can’t—” His thumb presses against my lips.

“We’re not having this out now.” He drops his hand lower and hooks it around my neck to press his forehead against mine, which isn’t easy to do since I’m so short. “We have work to do.” His lips press against the top of my head and then he releases me.

I want to say more.

I want to make him understand there won’t be any having it out. I can’t be involved with someone and work like this. It’s too dangerous, and we’re not dealing with an amateur. I don’t know how to work through this. Never before has anyone made me feel uneasy. I decide to do what I do best: put it away. There’s no time to deal with this crap while we both have to be on our A-game. I don’t even want to imagine what dealing with it means since I’m not exactly a relationship person. Yet, he makes me contemplate what it would be like.

Mark gathers his papers, throws his phone in the back of the plane, and grabs his bag.

“Do you have a burner phone?” I ask.

“I’ll grab one when we get in town.”

I don’t say anything about the safe house I have here or the contacts that are easily at my disposal. There’s a reason this is a good place to start. I have an asset here I can call on if I get in trouble. I should tell him, but I won’t. Not yet. There’s so much of me that doesn’t know how to trust. I’ve been alone in this mission from the beginning. Bringing Mark in is dangerous, not just to me, but to the assets I have all around. If any of them become exposed, they’ll die. There’re no questions, no trial. Terrorists are judge and jury, and they don’t hesitate to kill. The more I keep from Mark, the more I wonder what he’s keeping from me.

“How much did Aaron tell you?” This question has bothered me for a while. Aaron debriefed with me when he returned. We went over anything he possibly heard while I wasn’t in the compound.

Mark turns and studies me for a moment. “Everything.”

I decide to test him. “He told you about the arms dealer they caught?”

He smirks while he walks closer. “I know what you’re doing.”

Here we go again.

“And what’s that?”

His stupid sexy smirk grows. “Testing me.”

Right he is. “Nope.”

“Liar.”

I snort. “I don’t think you should call me a liar. I’ve never been caught in a lie.” This is true. I’ve never been
caught
, but that’s because I’m good at my job. While I may be testing him right now, I also want to know what Aaron held back. Because no one ever gives over all their information. There are parts that he kept for himself. Maybe not because he wanted to, but because it’s in our blood. We’re hunters. We want the kill and we’ll stop at nothing to keep our prey off guard. Aaron is no different.

Mark’s closeness rattles me. I want us to remain professional. “
Caught
is the word I hear in your statement, Charlie. I’m aware of your ability to dazzle and confuse. Not working this time.”

“I dazzle you, huh?”

“Every fucking minute.”

I take a second as his words seep in. It’s kind of exciting to have him admit that he’s affected as well.

Then he ruins it. “Until you open your mouth. Then I wonder what could possibly be wrong with me.”

“I’m sure the list is long.”

He laughs and grabs my hand. “Come on. Let’s go to work.”

Knowing we’ll be without air transportation leaves me feeling a little uneasy. There’s comfort in knowing you can get into trouble but are able to get out of the country quickly if you need to. We head toward the outskirts of Cairo. He has a contact he wants to meet to learn about the mission where his guys have missed their checkpoints. He explains their last communication, where it went down, and what he thinks happened. I’m not sure I agree, but right now that’s the last thing he needs to hear.

Once we get a little farther, we buy the burner phones, change, and search for a place to get a room. We agree to play the role of husband and wife on a Middle Eastern adventure. It’s the best cover, considering he seems hell bent on kissing me all the damn time.

He tilts his head to indicate a rundown hotel. It’s central enough for us to monitor the area easily but far enough out of the way that it won’t seem conspicuous. “Let’s check that one out. I’d like to have a room facing this side of the street,” he says as he takes my hand. “Don’t you think the view is great, darling?”

“I already regret this.”

“I think we should consummate the marriage.”

“I think you try it and you’ll have a new nickname, and it won’t be about vampires or glitter.”

He laughs and pulls me close. “You’re going to admit how much you love me really soon. I can feel it.”

“You feel something all right.”

“Charleston, you and I will be married one day. Mark my words.”

He’s so insane it’s beyond normal. I never plan to marry because my life is too unpredictable. There’s no way I want to give up my career, and that’s what happens to women in my field. They meet some guy, fall in love, get married, and then they leave the life. Sure, they stay in the agency and work a desk job. Become a handler, like Mandi did, and for what? Some asshole who will probably cheat on her. No, thanks.

“Marcus, the world could never handle us together.” I play on his name since he keeps having fun with mine. Not that he knows what my real name is.

L
uckily, the motel has a room in the location we want. It has a view of the street, and it gives us an escape out the window in case we need one. “What was the last contact you had with your guys?” I ask as we set up our gear.