Night Shade Read online

  He turned her toward his new office. He had to lead her through a large, open office area in which many of the noncombat members of the team had desks. Only a few were occupied at this time of night, and he didn’t do more than nod in the direction of the workers as they watched him pass. His office was in sight. It had an old-fashioned, padded leather wing chair, no windows, and most important, a working lock on the heavy oak door.

  Matt opened the door and hastily did a quick check of the room. Empty. He shut the door and backed her up against it. One hand reached down and flipped the lock with a satisfying click.

  “Why did we come here, Matt?” Her pretty green eyes searched around the small room, puzzled but excited.

  “It was the closest place I knew we could be alone.”

  Her gaze shot back to his. “What have you got in mind?”

  “Something we’re both going to remember for a long time.” He kept his voice pitched low, mindful of the people working just beyond his office door. The fact that there was a slight chance the outsiders might hear something through the thick walls only added to the thrill of the moment.

  “Really?” Her expression said so much more than her words. She seemed both amused and turned on. A good combination, as far as he was concerned.

  “Oh, yeah. You’re going to make me a very happy man in a few minutes.” He couldn’t resist injecting humor into the experience. He felt sort of giddy, which wasn’t something he experienced often in his life. In fact, he couldn’t ever remember feeling this way before.

  “Very sure of yourself, aren’t you?” she teased.

  “That I am, ma’am,” he agreed, smiling down at her. “And happier than I’ve been in a long time. Because of you.” He felt his heart melt at the soft expression that overtook her beautiful face. “The only thing that would make me happier is if you agree to be my wife.”

  “What?”

  “Marry me, Eileen. I want you in my life—permanently.”

  “Are you sure? I mean, I know I wasn’t quite truthful with you before. I want you to know I’ll never lie to you again, even by omission.” She looked pained at the memory of what had gone before. “Are you really sure, Matt?”

  “As sure as I am about anything nowadays. I love you and I want you to be my wife and my partner, for as long as we have left.”

  “I want that, too.” Happiness filled him at her soft answer. “I love you, Matt.”

  She jumped upward a few inches, stretching to kiss him. He helped, bending his neck to meet her halfway. This was a kiss of honesty and pure, unadulterated love. A kiss of commitment and a kiss for the future.

  When he pulled back, he was breathing hard. A kiss that had started as a sweet declaration of love had turned to steamy passion. He wanted to claim her in the most basic way, to make her his own.

  “Matt?” Her eyes were deliciously dazed. Oh, yeah, this woman matched him in every possible way. She was as eager as he was, if that look on her face was any indication.

  “I thought we needed a moment to savor.” He stroked her cheek. “It’s not every day I ask a woman to marry me, you know. In fact, I’ve never done it before.”

  “Never?” The fog over her senses seemed to lift a little. “I’m flattered.” Her teasing tone was countered by the enchantment in her eyes.

  “And I’m grateful. Grateful I found you.” He placed a kiss on her cheek. “Grateful you’re the amazing woman you are.” Another kiss just grazed her mouth. “And grateful you said yes when I asked you to be mine forever.”

  He kissed her more deeply this time, prolonging the contact as he rid her of her clothes. She helped, her smaller fingers making short work of buttons and zippers. Her clothing dropped around her in a circular pile of fabric pooling at her feet. She didn’t seem to mind. Her nimble fingers then helped him out of his outer gear and stripped off his shirt.

  Before she could go any further, he lifted his head away from her ravenous kiss. She was delightfully bare, standing facing him. Her delicate skin was flushed a delightful shade of pink and her eyes were dazed.

  “You’re so beautiful.” He stroked her hair back from her face.

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m glad you’re nearsighted.”

  He laughed at her unexpected humor. “There’s nothing wrong with my eyes. My vision is twenty-twenty, and you’re the most attractive woman I’ve ever beheld.” He could tell she was uncomfortable with the compliment. “Why don’t you believe me?”

  “I have a mirror, Matt.” She ducked her head, still blushing despite her grin. He’d work on that. She didn’t believe in her own beauty, which was something he’d have the pleasure of convincing her about for the rest of their lives.

  “I don’t know what you see when you look in that mirror of yours, but to me, you’re the most beautiful woman in the world. You always have been. From the first moment I saw you, you took my breath away, Eileen, and I’ve been in a tail-spin ever since.”

  The expression on his face when he said those words made her heart clench. She really was what he wanted. She could tell. She felt the same way about him. Only she’d never expected to be so blessed to have his love in return.

  “Is this real, Matt?” She stroked his chest with one hand, wanting to feel his skin, to know he was really there and that this wasn’t just some kind of dream.

  “If it isn’t, I don’t want to wake up.” His smile filled her world.

  He bent and picked her up, one muscular arm under her knees, the other around her back. He was so strong. She’d never been carried like this before, and it was incredibly romantic. He sat in the massive, leather wing chair, with her on his lap. Her bare bottom came in contact with the worn canvas of his pants, and the tactile sensation made a little thrill race up her spine.

  It felt incredibly naughty to be sitting here, in his office, on his lap, entirely nude while he still wore his pants. There were people working just on the other side of that wall. At any moment, someone could knock on the door or call on the phone. Team members knew where they were. Some probably speculated about what they were doing, but none knew for sure.

  Or at least they wouldn’t if she could manage to keep her voice down. The door was heavy wood, and the walls in this old building were solid, but there was still the distinct possibility of being overheard if things got too loud. And things could get loud. Matt had a way of bringing out the screamer in her she’d never known existed.

  Of course, it looked like he had a quickie in mind. Maybe she could keep her vocal expressions in check for a little while. Then again, that little edge of danger in his chosen location for this rendezvous was more exciting than she would have believed.

  “I didn’t realize you were into kink, Matt.”

  “Kink? You think making love in my office chair is kinky? Oh, sweetheart.” He chuckled. “I can see we’re going to have a fun time broadening your horizons.”

  She was tempted to ask him what he meant, but the sparkle of deviltry in his eyes promised more than she could probably handle at the moment. What mattered was that they’d have time to explore all sorts of things together once their mission was completed. For now, they’d have to make do with these stolen moments out of time.

  “Aren’t you going to take these off?” She tugged at the waistband of his pants.

  “Why don’t you help me?” The smile he turned on her was pure daring.

  Her hands lowered to his waistband and she let her fingers do the walking over the hard ridge pushing against his zipper.

  “Like that?” She held his gaze as she repeated the caress.

  “You know I do. But why don’t we take this to the next level?”

  He lifted her by the hips, repositioning her over his legs so that she straddled him, her thighs spread wide on either side of his. Open. Vulnerable. Willing.

  “You’re keeping these on?” She tugged on the fabric of his pants.

  “Oh, yeah.” His voice was gravelly with passion. “We don’t have a lot of time, remem
ber? And someone might be looking for us.” His eyes flared at the hint of danger.

  “In which case they’d find me naked as the day I was born and you still clothed.” She ran her fingers over his deeply muscled chest. “At least partially.” Her fingers trailed downward again.

  “Unzip me,” he ordered in a low, sexy tone.

  Licking her lips, she did as he asked, freeing his thick erection. He pulled a foil packet from one of his cargo pockets and handed it to her. She knew what he wanted. Without a word, she opened the packet and covered him.

  The way he looked at her made her heart glow and her blood sizzle. Love sparked desire in his eyes and turned it to a simmering hot flame that stood ready to engulf her.

  She wanted it all. She wanted him. Forever.

  “Take me in, sweetheart,” he encouraged her, lifting her hips in his strong hands and guiding her even closer until they were chest to chest.

  She lifted her thighs over the armrests of the chair while he helped her raise her hips just enough to get him into optimal position. Lowering over him, she took his hard length inside in one long slide of intense pleasure. Nothing had ever felt so good.

  When he was fully seated within her, they sat facing each other, her thighs over his in the big chair, entwined like pretzels. She loved the sensation of him filling her, stretching her, claiming her. It was the most basic expression of the love she felt in her heart. Her body accepting his, joining, connecting on a primal level. It was beautiful and profound.

  And sexy as hell.

  The leather of the chair was smooth against the backs of her legs. The worn canvas of his pants touched her here and there, slightly abrading her skin. The rough texture only heightened the pleasurable sensations.

  “Much as I’m enjoying this, we need to move, sweetheart,” Matt ground out between his teeth. She could see he was on edge. Truth be told, she wasn’t far behind.

  “Help me,” she pleaded, unsure of her own strength in such a position.

  “Here.” He repositioned her hands and moved her legs slightly. “Hold on to the back of the chair and use it for leverage.”

  It worked. She could move on him using the new placement of her thighs, and the solidity of the old chair helped her pull herself upward. She began a slow rhythm as his hands went to her hips, guiding and assisting. His strength helped, lifting when she rose and allowing for a long, slow slide back down.

  Before long she was breathing hard, and a glow of exertion lightly sheened her skin. His too. The faint, musky scent of him drove her wild and made her speed up, even as her muscles began to protest.

  “Yeah, baby. Almost there,” Matt coaxed, his mouth against the sensitive skin of her neck.

  Someone knocked on the door.

  Eileen gasped in shock, but Matt never slowed the pace.

  “Sir?” A man’s voice floated through the closed door to them.

  “Whatever it is will have to wait,” Matt shouted back.

  “Yes, sir,” the voice replied smartly, then said nothing more.

  “Do you think he’s gone?” Eileen asked.

  “Do you want him to be gone?” Matt countered, raising one eyebrow in challenge as he met her gaze.

  Shocked, her eyes widened. “Don’t you?”

  Matt shrugged. “I don’t really care either way.” His mouth descended to nibble on her skin once more. “Let them listen to how much I love you. Let them envy me—the luckiest son of a bitch in the world.” He nipped the cords of her neck as she squirmed on top of him.

  The fever in her blood rekindled; she would not be denied. She began to move on him even more forcefully, driving to the inevitable end she wanted so desperately, the need increasing with every passing second. Even the thought of someone listening at the door didn’t deter her. In fact, it only heightened her need.

  “Matt!” she cried his name, trying to keep her voice low. It came out on a whimper of need, a small gasp of hunger.

  “I love you, Eileen. Come for me now,” he ordered, straining with her as they approached the precipice together.

  That was all it took for her to crash over the side, riding the wave of passion. He followed behind, his body clenching beneath her as pleasure swamped them both, drowning them, surrounding them, engulfing them in ecstasy.

  She couldn’t speak for long moments. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t process anything other than the feel of him beneath her, within her, and the sweeping satisfaction they’d found together. Nothing could mar the perfection of this moment. She collapsed against him, lowering her arms from the chair back to wrap around his shoulders.

  “I love you so much,” she whispered as the afterglow settled over her body, warming it from the inside out.

  They sat like that for some time, enjoying the moment and basking in the perfection of their love.

  Before the beautiful haze faded completely, Matt moved them both to the leather couch along one wall to rest for a few minutes. They were stealing time and would have to get up sooner rather than later, but just for a minute or two, it was good to lie down, cradling the woman he loved more than life in his arms. He’d remember these stolen moments for the rest of his life.

  Matt didn’t allow himself to doze long. After only a quarter of an hour or so, he gently roused Eileen. She’d fallen asleep against his heart. Though he hated to wake her, he knew they had work to do this night. More than just their lives and happiness were on the line.

  Her sleepy eyes blinked open, and the hazy pleasure he read there touched his heart. He steeled himself against the lethargy that urged him to stay just a little longer in this idyllic cocoon of bliss. Resolving himself, Matt sat up, taking her with him.

  “Much as I’d love to lie around here all night and make love to you, we still have work to do.” He frowned. “I used to live for my work, but right now, I’ll admit, it’s a drag. I finally have someone in my life who is more important to me than my job.” He tilted his head, considering. “I never quite thought it would happen to me.”

  “But you’re happy about it, right?” Uncertainty crept into her tone.

  He pulled her close. “Damn right I’m happy about it. Ecstatic, in fact. And once we tie up the loose ends of this mission, I’ll be glad to show you just how ecstatic. Repeatedly. Right now, though, duty calls.” He let her go and stood, looking around for their clothes.

  Her outfit was still on the floor arranged in the loose ring of fabric she’d stepped out of only moments before. His shirt was a few feet away. He gathered the pieces and shrugged into his shirt before handing her clothes to her. Watching her dress, he knew he’d never get tired of the sight. She was utterly gorgeous and still so innocent, which was odd for a woman her age in this society. Then again, she was highly educated and almost as driven as he was, if not more. It was likely she hadn’t had a lot of time for relationships. Matt had led a similar life in the past few years. Until now. Meeting the love of his life had changed everything.

  “What are you going to do?” she asked him.

  Matt had to refocus on the mission. He had a plan, but he still had to put it into action. That was the only reason he’d found the strength to let Eileen go. Otherwise, he’d have made love to her again, over and over, all night long and then some.

  “I’m going to roust Beverly Bartles out of bed and arrest her ass, for one thing. Rodriguez implicated her. That’s enough for me to detain her. Just what I needed, in fact. Then we’ll see if we can’t get her to flip on her boss. She’s been spying on me for Admiral Chester. She’s also been working for Rodriguez. The big question is whether Chester is in league with the rogue scientists, too, or is Bev double-timing him?”

  “Considering his rank and position, I sincerely hope it’s the latter,” Eileen said. “I’d hate to think an admiral was willing to sell out to the highest bidder. Especially on something as detrimental as this. If he’s willing to sell this technology—which has the potential for killing so many—what else has he been willing to sell?”
r />   “Exactly the question that sends chills down my spine.” Matt’s mouth firmed into a grim line.

  *

  Beverly reached for her mobile phone in the darkness. The insistent, shrill ring had awoken her.

  “This better be good.” She really didn’t like being awakened in the middle of the night.

  “You should be nicer to me, Bev. I’m about to save your miserable skin.”

  She sat upright, recognizing the voice immediately. It had to be serious for him to call her directly.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Rodriguez has gone off the grid.”

  Oh, no.

  “He disabled his beacon?”

  “Not before transmitting the capture signal.”

  “Shit. I bet Sykes has him. They moved their HQ and there’s no way I can help get him out. The new location is too secure.”

  “There’s only one thing to do.” She understood that tone and the cryptic words.

  “I’ll do it.”

  “Good. I’ll set up your transport. Check for coordinates by text message in fifteen minutes. That should give you enough time.”

  Beverly was already out of bed, dressing for the work ahead. They’d devised a contingency plan in case something like this happened. She’d thought it a waste of time when he’d made her go through it with him, describing every last detail about the base, but she was glad for the preparation now. She knew exactly what to do and how long it would take.

  “Roger that.” She disconnected the call and stowed the phone in its secure holder at her waist.

  There was little in the small room that she wanted or needed. All would be provided for her when she reached her destination, and nothing here had been hers for very long. She lived a disposable life now, never putting down roots in any one spot. It was safer that way.

  She had no time to waste. She had a lot of work to do and only a short time to do it. This would have to be fast, but she was prepared. Bev found the emergency documents she’d prepared and hidden in her living quarters. Leaving them where they would be found, she systematically destroyed certain other items that she’d had secreted around the room.