Dawn Endeavor 1: Fallon's Flame (7 page)

“Sailor. Super
sailor
. We're SEALs.”

Olivia gifted him with a small grin. “Go navy.”

“Yeah.”

“So you guys are really strong and fast. And it seems you're all psychic too.”

“Like you,” he reasoned, aware he still couldn't read her. “Most of us had weird abilities before Circs ever existed. The Circe serum just enhanced them. I'm telepathic, but you're closed to me.”

“Oh, wow. Kisho said he can see the future. But I didn't know about the rest of you.”

“Jules sees auras. Tersch is a battle maniac. We call him our own berserker.”

“That fits.”

“What about you?” He took a few steps closer, careful not to spook her. The fear he'd seen on her face bothered him. Fallon wanted her aware of him, not scared of him.

She flushed. “I can sense emotions.”

“An empath. Cool.”

“But not around you.” She frowned. “This is going to sound forward, but can I touch you?” His heart raced. “As if I'll say no.”

She didn't smile. Instead she stepped closer and took his larger hand in her own. The touch electrified him, but it put him no closer to reading her.

Huge blue-green eyes blinked up at him. “I can't tell what you're feeling at all. This is amazing!”

“Good or bad?” he asked huskily, closing his hand around hers. Her skin felt so soft under his calloused palm. This close, he could smell a lingering scent of flowers, either her perfume or shampoo. Her head fit under his chin, and he knew if he angled closer, he could pull her into his embrace and feel her hot breath on his chest.

“G-good,” she stammered, caught in his stare.

He wanted to know what she thought as she looked at him, but not knowing was an enticement all its own. “I'm sorry about this, but I can't stop myself.”

“From what?”

He lowered his head, waiting for her to try to bolt. When she remained still, he gentled his hold and savored the first press of her lips under his. So perfect, so goddamn right. She closed her eyes, thick lashes fanning her rosy cheeks as she responded, ever so slowly, to his touch.

Tentative yet open, she blossomed under his mouth and turned him rock hard in a heartbeat. He slid his tongue inside and groaned as her flavor burst on his tongue.

Her hands crept around his neck and pulled him closer. And then, without knowing how, he lost control of the kiss. The shy woman in his arms turned into a firecracker. She opened her mouth and teased his tongue closer, capturing his flesh and demanding a heady response. He rocked into her, wanting to feel the wetness he could sense building between her legs.

She held his hair tight and nipped at his lower lip.

“Fuck,” he said on a breath as he looked down at her.

Dewy eyed, rosy lipped, and flushed.
So damned sexy.

He lowered his mouth again and let her have her way as she buried her hands in his hair.

The damned jacket she wore impeded his touch, and he slashed through it without thought, needing to put his hands on her naked breasts.

As if thinking it, he made it happen. Her shirt gaped, and her bra fell apart under a well-placed claw. Then his hands were full of her, the weight of her globes and the press of her taut nipples like lightning, setting off the fire of lust within.

“I need to be inside you, right now,” he rasped and traced a hand down her belly and under her skirt.

The thin triangle of her panties proved no barrier as he slid a his hand beneath the material and between her legs. Shoving his tongue inside her mouth again, he speared her with a finger, enticed by the feminine heat coating him. So tight, so hot. She fit his finger as if made for him, and he loved her responsiveness.

Olivia dripping wet was a fantasy come to life. Thoughts of how little he actually knew this woman paled in comparison to the lust riding him hard.

He wanted to impale her, to come inside her as many times as he could, then to
change
and do it all again.

The rabid thought slowed him down, and he knew he'd have to corral the beast. This time.

But he wanted more. Had to have more.

She tore her mouth from his. “Oh God. What are you doing to me?” She gasped and groaned when he grazed her clit.

He pinched a nipple, then circled to the other. Bending down, he took the ripe fruit in his mouth and sucked.

She cried out and squirmed in his hold, surging against his steely cock. Hungry to feel her all around him, he knew he'd come in seconds if he took down his pants. Instead he lingered on her breasts and pussy, laving her nipple with hunger before knowing he had to have more.

He withdrew his hands and knelt in front of her before she could protest. After tearing her skirt, he then ripped through her panties and shoved his face into her groin. The scent of her heat went straight to his head, and he prodded her thighs wider. Latching onto her full clit, he devoured her.

Encouraged by her desperate cries, he plunged a finger inside her, thrusting the way he intended to with his cock. Her walls clung to him, and she pressed her hips closer, pulling at his hair with a desperation that soothed his beast. His mate desired him.
Wanted him.

He nipped at her clit and shoved his tongue inside her, stretching to fill her as much as he could.

She keened and rippled around him, coming hard into his mouth.

He continued to caress her, enamored with the scent and taste of the woman he knew, on a fundamental level, to be his. She satisfied the part of him that was always empty. Even his beast wanted her, to know all of Olivia, to possess her.

She shivered above him; whether from the cold or an excess of passion, he couldn't say. He rose to his feet, ignoring the discomfort of unanswered arousal. As much as he wanted to come inside her, the confusion and wariness on her face told him now was not the time.

“Easy, baby. I've got you.”

She continued to stare at him, slowly warming when he took her in his arms.

“I guess I'm easy, huh?” she said on a half laugh.

“Not at all. Tasty, though.”

She blushed and nestled her cheek against his chest, the gesture more intimate than what they'd just done.

Fallon couldn't explain it. He didn't believe in love at first sight. Had never been emotionally attached to any woman but his mother, and she'd passed long ago. He liked women; hell, he loved fucking them. But this, holding Olivia while his body throbbed in abject misery, had to be the best thing he'd experienced in a long, long time.

“Are you okay? I worried when you didn't come back last night,” Ava said as she peeked around Olivia's door.

With Fallon's help, she'd sneaked back to her room, tattered clothes and all. She didn't know how he'd torn her clothes apart, but after that incredible, exhausting orgasm, she hadn't much cared.

This morning she felt more relaxed and bewildered than she'd imagined she would.

“Ah, I'm fine. Just groggy after such a long day yesterday. All this has been a bit much to swallow.” Olivia shoved a hank of dark hair from her eyes and sat up in bed. “What time is it?”

“It's after nine. I would have let you sleep, but the old ball and chain wants a group meeting at ten. Thought you might want to clean up first.” Olivia looked for her suitcases but couldn't find them.

Ava buffed her nails against her chest. “I unpacked everything for you while you slept.” She studied Olivia with a critical eye. “So tall, so pretty, all that long, black hair. And you don't even snore. You suck.” She stuck out her tongue, then closed the door behind her as she left.

What an odd woman.

Olivia stumbled out of bed, amazed her legs could hold her. As she showered in the adjoining bathroom, she couldn't help wishing she could swirl down the drain with the rest of the water. Oh God. How was she going to look at Jesse again? How could she look at his team? No doubt the handsome playboy had told everyone what they'd done, how he'd nailed the new girl in under a day.

Though he'd been the perfect gentleman last night, even going so far as to dress her in a nightshirt and help her into bed, she'd been through this song and dance before. In her experience, the prettier the guy, the worse his behavior.

Jesse was by far the most handsome man she'd ever…what? Fucked? Not quite. Though he'd brought her to bliss, he hadn't experienced the same—at least, not at her hands. Why had he done that?

Puzzled he hadn't displayed the characteristic selfishness his type normally did, she relived every kiss, caress, and touch from the night before. She had to end her shower by dialing down the heat, cooling her libido in a hurry to make the ten-o'clock meeting.

After drying off, dressing, and blow-drying her hair, Olivia dressed in slacks, a sweater, and a pair of leather mules. Taking a deep breath, she resolved to act as if nothing had happened.

That she hadn't broken every cardinal rule in the workplace by sleeping with a coworker, if she could call Jesse that.

When she opened her door, she found a rose and a short note under it.
Our secret.

Warmed, though still hesitant to believe in him, Olivia tucked the rose and the note in her room and hustled down the stairs. She retraced her steps twice but found the kitchen soon enough. To her delight, a warmed plate of eggs and toast awaited her. She took it to the expansive counter and pulled up a stool across from the team.

“Hey, Olivia. You missed the rest of the bacon by minutes. Thank Gunnar for eating the last of it,” Kisho greeted.

“No worries. I don't eat much in the morning.”

Jesse, Gunnar, and Jules sat at the counter. Kisho stood on her side of it, drinking water.

Jules read the paper, while Gunnar and Jesse traded insults.

She glanced at Jesse, saw his smile of welcome, and quickly glanced away, praying she looked more at ease than she felt. God, her libido kicked into high gear at just the sight of him.

Kisho frowned. “You should eat more. You could do with a few pounds.”

“I knew I liked you.”

He grinned back at her, and she felt like she'd earned a treat. She had the feeling Kisho didn't smile as often as he should.

Cupping a mug of coffee, Gunnar scowled. “Hey, you snooze, you lose. Sorry, sweet cakes, but I like meat. A growing boy's got to eat.”

“Jerk.” Fallon smacked him in the back of the head. “Ever heard of ladies first?”

“Please, she's no lady. Olivia has 'trouble' written all over her.” She grinned. “You're damned right. And don't you forget it.” He grunted. “See?”

Jesse sighed. “This is as good as he gets. I'll apologize in advance.”

“Nothing more we can do about him,” Kisho agreed. “And it was all we could do to get him housebroken.”

“Smart-ass.” Gunnar tried to hide a grin. “Don't let the Asian fool you. Kisho acts all nice and friendly, but he's deadly. One word of his poetry and you'll die of boredom.” Kisho said something in Japanese.

“What?” she asked.

“I told him he has the face of a goat and the lovemaking skills of a swine. But it's much more
poetic
in Japanese.”

“How'd you sleep, Olivia?” Jesse asked.

Jules looked up from his paper. He narrowed his gaze at Jesse, then her.

She studied her plate and toyed with her eggs. “Fine. This place is better than a five-star hotel. Ava even put my clothes away for me.”

“Did you enjoy the gardens last night?” Jules asked.

Olivia took a bite of breakfast and forced herself to chew, concentrating on not blushing.

She didn't look up. “I did. I love the landscaping around here. Very pretty, even in the cold.”
Good job. Now if you can just keep your cheeks from flaming every time you see Jesse's talented
mouth, you'll be okay.

She still didn't understand why she'd let him go down on her. Olivia had no problem expressing a healthy sex drive, but oral
before
a first date had never been her MO. No doubt about it, Jesse was dangerous. She'd be best to steer clear of him while she acclimated to her environs and the team.

At least he hadn't bragged to his friends. Kisho wouldn't say anything if he knew, but Gunnar most certainly would.

“Ah good, you're all here.” Mrs. Sharpe joined them. She wore a similar outfit to the one she'd worn yesterday. Gray wool slacks but with a black dress shirt and the pearls. “I've put together a folder for each of you. Study the contents thoroughly, and you'll know as much as I know. I want this to be your focus for the next few days. After that you'll start training with Olivia. You'll need to see what she can do physically and mentally.” Mrs. Sharpe turned to her. “My dear, I'd like to see you later today, after you've had a chance to look over the folder.”
Folder
actually translated to a thickly bound sheaf of paper.

“Don't you want to know if I'll agree to do the job?” Olivia asked, curious that Mrs. Sharpe acted as if her participation were a done deal.

Mrs. Sharpe looked at Kisho.

He nodded. “Sorry, Olivia. You're on board. Saw it again yesterday.”

“Really? What did you see?” Incredible, she thought, to know the future.

“I get glimpses of possibilities, but every one I've had since Mrs. Sharpe told me about this mission has you in the jungle with the four of us.”

Her mouth dried, and she reached for the glass of orange juice Jesse handed her. Their fingers touched, and she shivered. She didn't mistake his look of satisfaction.

“Ah, okay.”

“And there you have it.” Mrs. Sharpe dropped a thick stack on the counter. “Read up, and I'll see you all later. Olivia, five o'clock sharp. Don't be late.” She left them in a well of quiet.

“I hate reading,” Gunnar grumbled. “It's going to be a long day. I can just feel it.” Jesse drank the rest of his coffee and carried his cup to the sink. He grabbed his stack of material and headed for the door with a salute to the others.

Jules stood. “Fallon—”

“Gotta get busy. Talk to you later, Jules.” He disappeared in a flash.

Jules didn't say anything, but the dark expression on his face promised problems for Jesse.

She felt bad for him, but at the same time, she appreciated not having to trip over herself in his presence. At least now she could eat, then disappear up to her room to study. She took the stack of material Jules handed her as he passed them out to his team.