Defenseless (8 page)

“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 between us.

My fingers grip the lapels of his tux, holding him, molding him to me. I can’t get close enough. Our mouths stay fused as we both lose control.

Then my mind snaps.

I push back and my hands fly to my lips. They’re swollen, bruised from the force of the kiss. His hands brace against the wall. I keep my eyes downcast. I can’t believe I just did that, against the damn wall, at a ball commemorating my father.

I shift my dress, rake my fingers through my hair, and pull myself together.

“Charlie . . .” Mark finally speaks. It sounds like shouting even though it’s only loud enough for us to hear.

“That was the last time that will ever happen,” I say with no tremor to my voice. “Tonight we become partners. It’s not about whatever this is.” I shift my hands between us. “It’s about finding the information we’re both searching for.”

“And what if we find something else?”

“We shut it down. There’s no room for feelings in this world.”

Mark pushes back, giving me space. I instantly feel cold. “Okay, then. Have it your way.”

This is what I wanted, what we both need, but suddenly I wish it wasn’t. I wish I could pull him close, kiss him, fuck him, and just
feel
.

But wishes are for little girls.

Mark

S
he’s so fucking stubborn. She’s right, but that’s beside the point.

I wonder if she’s ever had fun. Does she even know how to let go? Even during that indescribable kiss, she held a thread of restraint. I could feel her fight from within her body, until I touched her bare skin. That’s when it disintegrated.

One touch of her perfect skin and I almost came in my pants. Every inch of her skin I’ve gotten to see is unmarred. I imagined myself running my tongue along the same path. I’d spend hours doing nothing but tasting her, kissing her, and then I’d claim her. She’ll ruin me for all women, I can just tell.

Charlie isn’t the kind of woman you move on from. She draws you in with the brightness of her sun and then leaves you blind. There’s something deep and dark inside of her. She’s trying to keep it locked down, but I can see it in her eyes.

“So, where are we heading?” she asks.

She doesn’t know I have the private jet. It’s not as if we can fly commercial. I do need to fly out of a military base, though, to avoid customs. The number of favors I had to call in isn’t even funny. We need to be at Andrews Air Force Base before one in the morning.

“We’ll talk after the party,” I inform her. I don’t know if someone here is watching us. Considering she was tailed after leaving the agency, I’d bet my ass there are ears. This city is full of corruption, and it’s always the innocent looking ones. Hell, no one would suspect a woman like Charlie would be an agent.

She nods. “I get it. You should mingle.”

“I’ll stick with you.” My hand presses against her back and her muscles clench. I love knowing my touch creates an involuntary reaction. It’s a huge ego boost that as good as she is at her job, when it comes to me—she sucks.

“Of course you will,” she mutters under her breath.

“Dance with me.”

She gives me the evil eye but takes my hand. “I’m only doing this because we have time to kill. Touch me wrong one time, and I’ll make you pay.”

I laugh at her empty threat. Even though I have no doubt she’d try . . . it’ll never happen. I’m on guard with this woman. Takes the term sleep with one eye open to a whole new level.

Out on the dance floor, I pull her close and we get lost in the movement. Her body presses against mine in all the right places, and I fight my dick not to embarrass me. She rests her head against my shoulder as I survey the room. The party seems a little too pricey for my tastes, but it seems to be going well.

“See anything?” she asks without moving her head.

“Nope. Your mother has a huge grin though.”

“She’s probably already naming our children.”

I stiffen, and I’m sure she notices. “Umm . . .” I stammer for words.

“Relax,” she half laughs. “We’ll never have sex, so there will be no children.”

Charlie lifts her blue eyes to mine, and my chest tightens. Something about this girl makes my head spin. Her talk of kids didn’t make me pause because I’m afraid of commitment or kids. It was because I
could
see it. I could see a life with her, or at least a shit ton of fun.

We dance through another two slow songs while the world goes on around us, but all I see is her. She’s one of those women I have to look at. I can’t believe that someone like her exists. Charlie is an enigma—one I plan to make mine. I watch the men rip their gazes away from her when I catch them. I successfully convey my message without having to say a word,
Yeah, step the fuck off, motherfucker. I’ll rip your arms off and feed them to you if you try to touch her.

Her hands rub up and down absently as we dance. My fingers rake the length of her open-back dress. I’m gonna get hard again if she keeps this up. Needing to stop before I create a rather embarrassing situation, I push her back slightly. “Come on, let’s mingle. I need a drink.”

We step off the dance floor, rejoin her brother, and spend time getting to know each other. I like Dominic. He’s a stand-up guy who chooses to work around a constant state of scandal but doesn’t engage. You can see the protectiveness he feels for Charlie. I don’t blame him. I would kick anyone’s ass who looked at my sister. Unfortunately, I only have Garrett and he can take care of himself.

The closest thing I have to protect is Aarabelle. And God help that girl when she steps into the dating world. Between her father, stepfather, and two godfathers, any boy who comes around her is royally screwed.

Charlie and I circle the room. I keep my hand on her the entire time as if she’ll vanish. She is a spook after all.

The waiter passes us twice. Each time she grabs a glass, downs it, and grabs another. I watch her smile, hug, and then almost glow as she floats through the room. Charlie is polite, but cautious. She’s aware, but seems to be enjoying herself. She starts to sway a little as she tips her glass back, emptying every drop.

“I’ll wind up carrying you out of here soon.” I’m only half joking.

“You wish. I outdrank a Russian mob boss once. However—” She smiles. “You should play along. If I’m drunk, my mother will want me to leave. This is my plan.” She slurs her words slightly.

“I think you should stop drinking because you’re lit.”

“Don’t be such a party pooper, Twilight.” She steps forward and grabs yet another drink. “I’m not even buzzed. I’m just feeling the fun.”

“You said ‘feeling the fun’ and you don’t think you’re drunk?”

She rests her head against my chest. “I thought you liked fun?”

“I’d prefer you lucid when I fuck you unconscious.”

Charlie leans back and smirks before the waiter magically returns.

I swear he’s zeroed in on Charlie. As soon as her glass is empty, he happens to reappear. I hold back my growl and glare at him. There’s something about this guy. He rushes to the other side of the room as she gulps the drink. “Wow, these drinks are amazing. Want one?” she asks.

“Were you drinking water shots with the mobster?” I joke, but I’m really curious because she’s hammered.

“This one time, I was dating this guy, even though I don’t really ever date,” she rambles. “I mean, I could date, but I disappear a lot. Apparently, guys don’t really like being number two in a woman’s world. Anyway, he was trying to convince me that he was better at shooting because he grew up hunting. I remember laughing in his face, which of course didn’t bode well for his teeny tiny ego.” She holds up her fingers as if she’s pinching. “Which wasn’t the only thing teeny tiny.” Charlie nudges my side with her elbow. “If you know what I mean.”

She’s fucking adorable. And toasted. I need to get her to the car before she starts really talking.

“Anyway, he didn’t know I’m a, you know . . .” She starts to tilt but I grab her.

“Okay, no more talking.” I grab a water bottle and shove it in her face. “Drink.”

“Bossy prick.”

“Just drink.”

She had about four flutes of champagne, but there’s no way that would make her this drunk this fast.

“Mark,” she murmurs. “I’m sleepy.”

I remove the drink from her hand and sniff, but I can’t tell a difference. However, with her loss of motor skills and the way she’s slurring, this isn’t just champagne. It hits me like a ton of bricks. “You’re drugged. We need to get out of here. Hold on, don’t let go of me.” She wraps her arms around my waist and I start to walk with her.

I look around for that waiter now, but he’s missing. What the fuck did they put in her drink? It could be anything. She could be out for hours or for days. I have no idea which drug they used or how much.

Anger flows through me as I peer at her slumping form. Once I find out who was responsible for drugging her, we’re going to get a lot of answers. Someone’s head is going to roll.

“I’m gonna take a nap,” she slurs.

I stop and turn her so she’s looking at me. “Stay awake, Charlie. You need to stay awake. Okay?”

“Okay, then I can nap.”

“Yes, then you can nap.” I give her a fake smile and pull her tight as we begin to walk. Each time she slips, I fight the urge to haul her in my arms where she’ll be safe, but that would draw too much attention. So I hold her against my side and keep her moving.

Of course, as luck would have it, her mother notices me hauling her drugged CIA daughter.

This is going to be a shit show.

“Mother!” Charlie perks up as she lets go of me. She bumps into a chair as she walks over. “You look ravishing. Did I ever tell you about that time?” She starts to slump a little and I pull her tight against me.