Out Of The Night (13 page)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Cairo

Exhaustion drained Abby’s body. She slowly walked beside Tony as they made their way to the safe house. Several people passed them, but they blended in enough not to draw attention.

The small stucco house resembled every other building in the neighborhood where children played and dogs barked. People appeared to not notice them as they went inside
, away from the heat and into the cool interior of the house.

The word small didn’t quite describe the living area of the house. She only saw a tiny kitchen, a small bedroom, and an indoor bathroom that at least had a commode and an area for a handheld shower.

They had no living room, just pillows on the carpeted floor, bare walls, and three windows to allow a meager amount of light and air into the space.

“Home sweet home.” Tony shut the door behind them.

“I think you said that the last time.”

He prowled through a couple of bags left in the far corner of the bedroom. “
I think that was you.” He held up an embroidered cotton tunic. “We have clothes if you want to shower.”

“Oh, do I.” Just the thought of warm water and soap had her drooling. A tub would be better, but she’d settle for a shower.

She looked at the bed and pointed. “There is only one of those.”

Tony followed her line of sight then shrugged. “Usually these safe houses are set up for one
person. If there are two of us, we take turns sleeping.”

“But there is just us. Are you staying awake while I sleep?”

Their gazed clashed with a spark of heat.

Tony shook his head. “No.”

“I’m not staying awake. I’m exhausted.”

“Then let’s both sleep.” His gray eyes stabbed her with the sting of a dare. “Unless you’re afraid.” He nodded toward the bed. “To be alone with me in a bed.”

Abby’s temperature soared and her cheeks warmed.

She tilted her head and matched his stare. “I’m not afraid.” She moved toward him. “Are you?”

Tony took two slow steps in her direction then paused. “No, I’m not afraid,” he whispered, in a voice that called out like a siren on a foggy night at sea.

Abby couldn’t drag her eyes away from hi
s mouth. She knew what a kiss from him tasted like. Hot summer sex. Her body actually gravitated toward him in a slow rhythm of senseless lust.

She wanted him to make love to her. As much as it would cost her later, she wanted his hands on her and his body against her warm flesh. She closed the gap between them and wrapped her arms around his neck.

He pulled her closer just as their lips met. She moved her mouth over his in a slow leisurely exploration where she led the way. Obviously, he didn’t want to do anything to frighten or scare her off. His tenderness relayed that she mastered this ship. He’d simply allowed her to guide him.

The awareness was heady and powerful. They’d made love over the two years they’d been together, but this time he didn’t act like he had the desire to take control with his male confidence. Instead, he followed her lead.

Abby backed up until her heels brushed against the mattress lying on the floor. With one hand to hold her, and the other to catch their fall, Tony laid them gently on the bed. He didn’t cover her; instead, he continued to kiss her with a wantonness that stole her breath. Common sense evaporated and desire brought her alive for the first time in months.

With her hands between them, Abby broke the kiss long enough to pull off his shirt and flung it aside. She captured his mouth again
, and her tongue explored the velvet interior. So wet, so hot. Breathing quickly, she unzipped his pants and pushed them down past his hips.

He fell on his back
, and she looked down at his hard erection. Her mouth watered, and she licked her lips. His taste remained on her mouth. She groaned out loud.

Eyes dark gray with desire, he reached out and stroked her cheek. Abby leaned down and captured another kiss, wanting the whole while to sink down into him and stay there where her life was safe.

She barely noticed when he removed her shirt. His hands cupped her breasts, and she had to bite her bottom lip to keep from crying out in sheer pleasure. She rose over him, straddling his hips. With his stiff cock searching for an entrance, she took him in her hands and gently stroked his hard flesh.

A sexual groan, low and gravelly spilled from his mouth
, as the head of his penis grew shiny and slick. She bent and kissed his erection, a silent praise for the pleasure she knew it capable of.

The flesh between her legs pulsed and grew damp. She wanted him so much. Needed to feel the power of him inside her. She knew he was hungry too, but he controlled himself for her. The thought of him being such a caring lover caused tears to form behind her eyes.

Totally empowered, she lifted to her knees and slowly lowered herself onto his shaft. Tony was a big man in more than height, but she managed to take all of him, and this time she cried out from the sheer sexual desire churning inside her.

Her head fell back and his hands stroked her breasts, tweaking her nipples until they ached and yearned to be in his mouth. No sooner had the thought reached her mind, than his mouth, wet and hot
, sucked her left nipple. She wanted to scream. His tongue tasted her breast until she panted and clenched him tighter.

He released her. “Easy, baby. You do that too much
, and this will be over long before either one of us wants it to end.”

She gazed into a face so perfect and masculine she understood why she’d loved him so long
…so much. He had everything a woman could want. And she had it right here in the palms of her hands.

She raked her nails down his chest, scraping across his nipples, getting more and more intoxicated as their bodies remained still, yet hot and slick. His scent wrapped around her like a shawl, driving her need to greater heights.

Then he clasped her hips and pulsed inside her. Heat seared her body, and blood pounded through her veins. She licked her lips and captured his sultry gaze. Her nostrils flared and her breath rushed in and out.

She lifted then slowly, torturously lowered herself down on his cock
, circling her hips in an erotic tempo that had them both panting and their bodies wet with sweat.

“I could stay like this all day,” he whispered. “But I can’t take too much more.”

She smiled at his eyes blurry with desire and hunger. The naughtiest thoughts she’d ever had danced through her mind. God, she was brazen and bolder than a wanton lover. The things she wanted to do to him, and she wanted him to return the favor.

No longer able to control the climax that had been working its way through her body, Abby leaned down and captured his mouth.

Tony picked up the pace, and the slow and steady rhythm soon turned to fast and frantic as they both climbed the very heights of passion and soared to a climax that shattered her mind, body and soul.

She remained on his chest, her body still shuddering from the force of her pleasure.

Washington, D.C.

Jason Lamb had been watching the Corolla following him for over half an hour. Someone wanted to know where he was going, what he was up to, or when he’d pull over so they could take a shot at him. At twenty-three, he’d been a reporter since high school, and he knew how to play the game.

Surely, Senator Parker didn’t think he’d just casually walk into his office and ask to see confidential papers without good reason or without enough knowledge to know the senator screwed up, big time.

Those were the people you had to watch the closest. Those who ran games beneath the radar, made back room deals, and would sell out their country for money. Jason had earned his stripes putting people like Parker on the trial of public opinion.

Washington was nothing but a cesspool
, and politicians added to that pollution every single day. Jason wished the American people would wise up and figure out the people they elected were just saying what they thought voters wanted to hear.

They lied for a living.

Jason took out his phone and called his boss. “Yeah, I’m being followed, and my guess is Senator Parker sent someone after me.”

Jason hung up, drove to the busiest restaurant in town and parked his car. Surrounded by two
-dozen people, he walked in the club and right through the back door to a waiting car. He’d gotten away this time, but what about tomorrow?

Georgetown

When Agent Mia Mendoza kicked open the door to Anita Mitchell’s house with her gun drawn, Brad was gone. “Are you okay, Mrs. Mitchell?”

Mia put her gun away and reached for Anita. She clasped on to her and held her shaking body.

“He just barged in. I was so frightened.”

“Should I call the police or contact his supervisor?”

Anita wrapped her arms around her waist and shook her head. “No, that won’t be necessary.” Tears drenched her eyes. “I never meant to lead him on.”

“I think he had it all wrong from the start.”

“Poor Joe, this is going to kill him.”

The smell of coffee filled the house. Mia took Anita by the arm and guided her to the kitchen. “I think there’s a cup of coffee in this house with your name on it.”

Anita forced a smile. “I just brewed a fresh pot before Brad
…” She covered her mouth as tears streamed down her face. “This is all so awful.”

“Right now it might seem that way, but it will get better.”

“God, I hope so.”

Mia took down two cups and poured the coffee. As they sat across from one another
, she made sure Anita would be okay before leaving and calling Frank. He would want to be the one to tell Colanglo, and Mia didn’t envy him.

“He said he’d been in love with me for over a year.” Anita smoothed back her sable colored hair and gripped her cup with both hands. “How can that be?”

“Very often a lonely person makes up a relationship in their own mind. They want something, but don’t have the social skills to handle it.” Mia took a sip of coffee. “It doesn’t take long for them to do something stupid like Hall just did. They act out inappropriately.”

“But, I swear, I never encouraged him.”

Mia shrugged. “Maybe not, but spending the night with him Wednesday wasn’t a good idea. You simply fed his obsession.”

Anita’s face flared. “That was a crazy thing for me to do.” She looked up at Mia. “I swear I’ve never done anything like that before.”

“I believe you.”

Anita’s watery eyes widened. “He says he has a video, and that I said something about my husband’s work that I shouldn’t have.”

“Did you?”

Anita shook her head. “I don’t think so. The only thing Joe ever said to me was the last time he was home. He told me he was going to Turkey on a short assignment
, and when he returned, he wanted to stay stateside for a while.”

“That seems like a reasonable request.”

“He had a conversation with Tony Archuletta before he left. Tony told him that word on the street was the rebels had a bounty out on Joe’s head.”

“That’s not unusual.”

“Tony told him it came from the CIA.”

Damascus

Hana walked into the cellar to remove the prisoner’s empty plate. Hussein didn’t like things left for fear they would later be used for weapons. Her husband considered the man they’d shackled to the wall very dangerous and a potential threat to their lives.

She didn’t feel that way at all. Joe, as he called himself, seemed very much like an average man. Except for him being an American spy and out to destroy all of Islam.

When the light touched the wall, she let out a scream. Joe hung from the chain wrapped around his neck. His face blue, eyes closed. Her husband ran in, took one look at the situation and ran and grabbed Joe by the legs. “Quickly, Hana, get a
chair and unwind the chain. Allah help us if he is dead.”

She turned and ran for the house. Inside, she grabbed a stool, darted out the door and into the cellar, praying the whole while that Allah would spare the man’s life.

She put the stool down and climbed on top so she could reach the chain. He had secured it with a bent spoon, and she couldn’t straighten the lock to release the prisoner. She worked frantically.

“Hurry, Hana. He must not die.”

“It is hooked on a spoon and I cannot loosen it.”

“Perhaps you should hold his legs to keep him from hanging and I will try.”

Hana stepped down, hugged Joe’s legs to her and lifted. He was heavy. Hussein jumped on the stool, released the devise and the chain unraveled. Joe’s limp body slammed her to the ground.

Scooting out from under Joe, Hana looked for signs of life. She didn’t see anything encouraging. Once free
, she placed her fingers on his neck and felt for a pulse.

She pressed her fingers around until a slow, erratic thump, thump, thump tapped against her fingertips. Relief washed over her like a cold shower. He wasn’t dead. They were safe.