They reached street level when they heard Jack through their earpieces. “Clear on my end,” he said. “My new friend is already on his way to give Kimball our message.”
“Good. You and Logan are staggered to leave for Iran within the next twelve hours under your new identities. Grace and I will stagger our leave with yours in the next sixteen hours. We’ll meet you at the rendezvous point at three p.m.” Gabe clicked his earpiece off before Jack or Ethan could comment. “Let’s go.”
Grace laughed as Gabe grabbed hold of her hand, and they traced their steps back the way they came. “You’re in an odd mood.”
“We’re about to start the most important mission of our careers, and I’m about to make love to a beautiful woman. That’s pretty much all I’ve ever wanted out of life.”
“Oh, really? So any beautiful woman would do?”
Gabe kissed her deeply, and when he broke away, they were both gasping for breath. “Only you, Grace.”
Gabe was acting different. Grace couldn’t put her finger on when it started exactly, but she had to get things back under her control. She wasn’t ready to face what would happen if she ever did lose control, and as good as it felt to be with Gabe again, she wasn’t really ready to face that either.
The grief boiled inside her, threatening to spill over the edges with every passing day. She’d been able to keep it under control since Maddie’s death because she had a goal to focus on. She could grieve after Tussad was dead.
But Gabe’s unspoken compassion and his need to share the burden with her made her want to break down before the right time—before her plan was complete. She couldn’t let him get past her defenses like that. As long as she called the shots during whatever was going on between them—she didn’t want to call it a relationship—then things would be okay.
He’d been right when he’d said she still loved him. She always had, and she knew she’d never be able to stop, no matter how much time or distance was between them. But just because two people loved each other didn’t mean they needed to be together. Sometimes the pain outweighed the love.
She and Gabe met Jack on the street on their way back to headquarters. He took one look at them and shook his head. “I’m going to get a beer. You two have fun.” He veered off in the opposite direction, and they checked in with the security gate and made their way through the front door.
They kept a respectable distance between them once they were inside the safety of the building, not knowing if anyone was watching. Tension vibrated between them, and Grace ached to get her hands on him. They waited patiently for the elevator, not making eye contact as the doors opened. By the time they made it to the sixth floor, her heart was pounding so hard she was sure Gabe could hear it.
“My place. I have something for you.” Grace grabbed his hand and led him to the door of her apartment. She hadn’t stepped foot inside his private rooms since she’d been here. She didn’t want to see how he’d been living since they’d parted ways. She didn’t want to notice if he still left the cap off the toothpaste or if he still kept his bread in the refrigerator.
“Chicken,” he said. “What happened to
“Why can’t our place be my place?”
He shook his head but followed her into the room. There was nothing personal lying around. It looked exactly the same as it had when she’d first stepped through the door. She never kept pictures or mementos of her former life with her.
“Let’s talk about Kimball,” Gabe said.
Grace looked down at her watch. “We only have a limited amount of hours until we have to get back to work, and you want to talk about Kimball now?”
Gabe’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “What’s going on here, Grace?”
“I always thought you were so smart. Can’t you tell when someone’s trying to seduce you?”
“Well, it’s been awhile. I’m a little rusty.”
“Maybe I can jog your memory.” She took him by the hand and pulled him toward the bedroom.
“I don’t know,” he said. “You might have to try really hard.”
The smile Gabe gave her sent shivers down her spine. His eyes challenged her to do her best, and she decided then and there that Gabe wouldn’t know what hit him.
“I’ll make you a deal,” she said.
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
She pushed him so he stood in front of one of the four posts on the bed. She ran her fingers over the rigid muscles of his stomach and chest and felt the power rush through her as he shuddered under her touch. She pulled off his T-shirt and dropped it on the floor at his feet.
“Have I ever told you how much I love your body?”
“It’s been awhile.” His voice was husky, and she could see the pulse pounding in his throat.
“If you promise to stay right here and not move, I’ll do that thing you like.”
“I’d be crazy to turn down a deal like that.”
“But you can’t move. No matter what. If you do, I’ll have to stop.”
“What, you think I can’t keep my end of the bargain? I’ve been tortured by worse than the likes of you, sweetheart.”
“I guess we’ll find out. Do we have a deal?” She circled her fingernail over his hard nipple, and he sucked in a breath.
“We have a deal. Do your worst.”
Grace took his hands and lifted them up over his head, wrapping his fingers around the post at his back. “Leave your hands there. Remember, you promised not to move.”
She skimmed her fingers back down his chest until they rested over the button of his jeans. He quirked a brow at her in a dare, and she unsnapped the button, keeping her gaze steady on his. She pushed the jeans and his underwear down to his feet.
“Step out.” Her voice was low and husky, and the sight of his obvious arousal enhanced her own. She wanted to move faster, but she held herself back, determined to make him crazy by the time she was done with him. It was time he got a taste of his own medicine.
Grace left him there, naked, aroused, and bound only by his word, as she made the preparations she wanted. She gathered candles and placed them throughout the room. When she lit them, a glow filled the area with soft light.
The first rumble of thunder echoed outside, and she couldn’t help but smile. She’d always done her best work in the rain.
“I hope you’re planning to come back over here soon,” Gabe said. His hands were exactly where she’d left them, stretched above his head, gripping the post so his muscles strained.
“Eventually.” Grace took her time unbraiding her hair. She knew how the sight of it had always turned him on. It tumbled around her shoulders and down her back, and she ran her fingers through it. His eyes were hot as they followed her every move.
She went back toward him but stopped about ten feet away. “You know I’m going to drive you crazy.”
“You’ve been doing that the better part of ten years. Give it your best shot.”
She smiled at the challenge and lifted her shirt slowly over her head. Her breasts strained against the confinement of her bra, but she waited to take it off. She unbuttoned her pants and wiggled out of them so she was left standing in the emerald green bra and panties she’d found in her drawer. She’d known without asking that he’d picked them out himself. He loved it when she wore green.
“Christ, you’re beautiful.”
“Did you pick out underwear for all your agents or just me?”
“I had a special interest in your underwear.”
“I never thanked you.”
“No, you didn’t. I’m not sure I want you to keep it. Maybe you should take it off.”
“Maybe I should.”
Grace skimmed her hands over her thighs and closed her eyes, feeling the change of textures between her skin and the lace. She followed the dip and swell of her curves, her own breath hitching in anticipation at what was to come. Her nipples were sensitive against the fabric of her bra.
