Oracle Rising (8 page)

She tugged off her own t-shirt, and began tugging down her pants. “Are you naked?” she asked, hoping for both their sakes he was.

“Almost,” he muttered, kicking off his shoes. When they were off, he dropped his zipper. Avalon must have heard it, because she was now sitting up and reaching for him.

His brain melted at the visual he was conjuring up. He wanted her mouth on his erection in the worst way.

“Nathaniel, let me taste you.”

He moved closer, bracing his large hand on the back of her head. When her fingers circled him, he moaned in delirium. When they came together, it was absolute bliss.

Her mouth found him.

Nate shook.

Avalon began worshipping his body.

Over the last few weeks, they’d had sex in just about every position possible. This was her favorite way to start it off. There was something powerful about hearing his breathy moans as she devoured him to the base.

“Avalon,” he whispered, staring down at her. Her eyes were firmly locked on his. He knew she couldn’t see him, but still…it was like she was staring into his soul.

He never wanted this to end.

“More,” he whispered as her teeth slid slowly down the length of him, right to the base.

His body shook from the sensation.

When she added her hand, he couldn’t handle much more. He was at his max. All he could think of was their conversation about birth control and if she was going to stop him before he slid home.

It fueled the fire in his gut.

When he popped free from her mouth, he didn't hesitate. Nate wanted her and he wanted her now!

Pushing her back, she gasped as he moved up her body. When his mouth was just inches from her ear, he shared what he wanted most in life.

Her.

“I want to feel you tighten down on my body. I want to hear you shout my name in release. I want to make you mine for the rest of our lives.”

It was Avalon’s turn to shake.

“Oh, Nathaniel, yes! Please!”

He took that as his invitation. When her legs returned to his hips, he was engorged, hard, and ready to take them both into the pleasure.

He watched his body find and fill her. With every inch he slid into her, the more he wanted to lose control.

Perspiration beaded on his lip.

He fought not to be rough.

Avalon moaned and arched into his body as he slid home. There was never a more glorious feeling in all her life.

Then, he moved.

With each stroke in and out of the delicious warmth, he was reminded of how she had been his salvation. This intimate mating had knotted their lives together—forever.

“Nathaniel,” she moaned, her fingers sliding off his slick shoulders. “More.”

He stared down into her face, seeing nothing but pleasure and love. All the tension in his body was released and the fear was washed away.

Nate was pretty sure she’d never leave his side. If she was feeling an iota of what he was, there was an unfathomable love between them.

“Avi,” he whispered, bringing his mouth to hers, even as his hips quickened the pace. The tempo was faster, building to the end of the ride.

She gasped.

He moaned.

Together they slid closer to the edge.

“Fall with me,” he begged softly before finding her mouth with his own. They tumbled into the explosion of colors and bliss. Wrapped around each other, they found that perfect release.

Neither moved.

Finally, he rolled off her body and stood.

“Are you angry with me? Do you hate that I’m this helpless? Do you wish I could see?” she asked, as he began moving around the room. She assumed he was packing for their trip.

Her words shook him. “No, God, no!” he stated. “I love you just the way you are, Avalon. This has nothing to do with your lack of sight. Simply put, I’m scared.”

She got that.

Avalon could see it all around him.

A sigh escaped his lips. “Avalon, please don’t get hurt. I can’t live without you. When I thought you had died, it nearly killed me. I didn't like what life looked like without you in it.”

“I know, Nathaniel. I swear I won’t get hurt.”

He watched her tongue dart across her partially open lips as she lounged on their bed. It was something she did all the time, and he found it sexy as hell.

“I’ll help you pack.”

She grinned. “I love you.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m insane. A smart man would leave you here.”

She didn't move.

“I love you too.”

It had been what she was waiting for.

Sliding off the bed, she found his hand waiting for her. It was just like him to be worried that she’d trip and fall on their strewn about clothes.

When he pulled her toward him, she found his strong forearm with her fingers. The second skin kissed skin, she allowed her hands to slide across his flesh, shoulders, and into his hair. Avalon loved the feel of the black silkiness against her fingers. In her mind, she could picture what he looked like, and it offered her peace. This was her man, and she never wanted to risk that.

Ever.

“I’ll stick by your side, I’ll carry a gun, and I’ll wear my sunglasses. No one will know that I can’t see if you let me walk by your side and you avoid anything I can trip on.”

He marginally relaxed.

“Promise, Avalon?”

“I’ll seal it with a kiss.”

Bringing her lips to his, their mouths met. What happened in that instant was pure love and chemistry. Avalon blossomed, and Nate was staggered by the love he felt.

Before he could say anything else, there was a knock on their door. Immediately, Nate grabbed the robe not far from their bed.

“Give us a second,” he called to Jagger as he helped Avalon into it.

When she was dressed, he zipped his fly.

“Come in, Jagger.”

He peeked his head around the door, all the while grinning wickedly. Nate didn't miss that he was in all black, and looked ready to head out on the mission.

“Well, are we leaving, or are you two going to have sex?”

“We already…”

Nate cut her off. “Avalon! We talked about this. What happens in here stays in here.”

She closed her mouth but continued to laugh.

“Man. Did you go for the land speed record? Didn't someone tell you that the ladies like you to go slow?” Jagger asked, busting Nate’s ass.

“Out!”

“Touchy.”

“Avalon is going to go pack, and we’re going to get our gear ready. I have to check in with Elizabeth and let her know what’s happening.”

Jagger grinned. “That works for me. Tell Director Hot Stuff that I send my regards.”

Avalon began moving around the room to do what Nate had asked. “I’ll be ready,” she said, finding her way to the closet without any effort.

Obviously, she was comfortable with their home. She’d memorized every spot.

“You’re so whipped it’s not funny.”

Nate pointed at him. “Hey! I am not,” he objected. “I happen to like being in a relationship. I’m not an idiot. Avalon wants to be there, and she’s a human being with rights. We’ll just have to keep an eye on her.”

Jagger grinned. “Actually, I was talking about you calling Elizabeth to tell her what we were doing, but okay—Avalon too.”

He stared at him. “One day, Jagger, you’re going to understand, and when you do…I’m going to find it funny.”

“I doubt it. I’m married to my job.”

“Yeah, that sounds familiar. I used to be married to mine too, and look at me now.”

He shrugged. “You better make that call. We need to hit the road. I found where Juliett Deveraux is located. She’s not too far away. It’s a small town called Crosspointe. The only reason I found her is I traced her cell phone to a tower not far from there.”

Nate grinned. “I love that we can do whatever we need to and not have to worry about rules.”

He did too.

When they went under, Elizabeth Blackhawk made sure they had access to all the top of the line technology. Now not only could they skirt the law, but they were well hidden from it.

“I’ll make the call.”

“Oh, and you better help her pack.”

Nate lifted a brow. “She’s learning how to take care of simple things. I trust her.”

With that, Nate headed out to make the call.

Jagger just shook his head.

Whipped wasn’t the word to describe the man.

Nathaniel Carter was the one in a cage. He was on the perch with a really pretty song bird, and he didn't even care.

At all.

Jagger felt bad for him.

There went his balls.

       
                
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  O R A C L E   * * *

Damascus

Across the Country

When her phone rang, she checked the number. It was the house phone in Fire Bay. As she glanced at the clock on the wall, she knew she didn't have much time.

With a case, there were issues to handle, and she was buried. Elizabeth only prayed that there wasn’t an emergency. It wasn’t easy keeping Avalon hidden.

“Director Whitefox-Blackhawk.”

“Boss, it’s Nate.”

“Hello, Mr. Carter. To what do I owe this privilege? Is everything running smoothly?” She could only hope. She had a mess of her own on her hands.

“Yes, it is, but I wanted to update you. We’re heading out. We caught a case. Avi saw something.”

“Brief me, and make it fast. I have to get down to autopsy. I’m in the field working.”

He rattled off everything that she’d told him after she had the vision. Leaving nothing out, he wrapped it up in under two minutes.

“When do Maura and Luke return from their honeymoon?” she asked.

“It’s not for a couple weeks. Avalon is insistent that it can’t wait.”

Elizabeth didn't doubt it. If Avalon said jump, you asked how high.

“Are you sure taking her with you is wise?” Elizabeth asked. While she loved Avalon, it was like carrying a giant bomb in your back pocket.

The slightest misstep, and it was bound to go off and blow your ass to kingdom come. By their ass, she actually meant hers. Elizabeth had helped the woman escape the government and POTUS.

If something happened, she was a dead woman.

“Yes, I can’t leave her here, and I’m hoping to keep this as low key as possible.”

She relaxed. “Okay, but if it gets hairy…”

“She’s going home. I can always send her back with Jagger and work it on my own.”

Elizabeth thought about it. While that didn't sit well with her either, they didn't have much choice. “Okay, Nate. This is yours to run, and you have to play boss. Everything you do is going to weigh on your shoulders, not mine.”

That was total BS, and they knew it.

If he jacked this up, her ass was in the sling, and right beside hers was Ethan’s too. While she didn't mind playing fast and loose with her career, she hated doing it with her husband’s.

It just seemed wrong.

“I have it under control, Elizabeth. I just wanted to update you to keep you in the loop.”

“Well, you’re up, my friend. Here’s where you prove to me that you can handle this.”

He hoped he could.

“I have faith,” she added, before he could even say anything. “Take everything you need, because you can’t call in backup. No FBI on this one. If you need something run, or checked, call me directly. I’ll get someone I trust to do it.”

Yeah, it would be Callen or Ethan. They were the only two people she had confidence in.

“Thanks, boss.”

She laughed. “Oh, no you don’t. You don’t officially answer to me. On paper, you’re just some burnt out Fed moping around Fire Bay trying to recover.”

He grinned. Nate knew it was the perfect cover. He was on the injured list, and there was no time limit on his time ‘off’ from work. He didn't know how Elizabeth was pulling it off, but he wasn’t going to question it.

“I’ll keep you updated.”

“Oral reports only, Mr. Carter. The Phoenix files stay off electronics.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

With that, he hung up. Now it was time to make sure Avalon was handling the packing. He was grateful most of their things were black.

How bad could it be?

       
                
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  O R A C L E   * * *