His thumb rubbed her nipple, hardening the bud and sending sparks straight to her quivering core. His other hand was holding the back of her head, cupping her gently when—it happened. He covered her mouth with the most delicious kiss.
Her body ignited, and Maddie lost control. Both her hands cupped his jaw, holding him tight and right where she wanted him to stay for a long time. Slanting her head, she opened her mouth wider, needing this connection, this very affirmative man in her arms, so damned much. Her body seemed to have a will of its own, bucking into his. All her life she’d been nothing, but then Jameson came along and, wham. She’d become visible, and she really was strong, and she knew what she wanted, and it was him. She was starving. Every last fiber in her body and every bit of her soul was so darned hungry.
Too quickly, he growled, tipped back on his haunches, and broke the steamy connection. He was wiping his face, but licking his lips, too. “We will definitely continue this conversation later,” he muttered huskily while he shrugged out of his wrinkled jacket. “Here. Cover up.”
For whatever reason, those words didn’t crush her like they would’ve if they’d come from her dad or her ex. Maddie wiggled into the luscious scents Jameson had left behind in his jacket. The warmth. Her favorite scent of over-heated masculine spice.
“You’re shivering.” The worry in his tone was so tender and precious that she wanted to cry.
“I think because I’m… I’m happy,” she whispered. “And now I’m wrapped up inside of you, and I… I…” I don’t know how to tell you the boost in confidence you’ve just given me.
“I didn’t know you weren’t wearing your bra. Honest.” His cheeks ballooned as he blew out a ragged breath. “Or I never would’ve told you to take your shirt off.”
Maddie shrugged. “It’s okay. No one could see me through all that smoke, and it wouldn’t have mattered if they did. I had to stop Mr. Vlad’s bleeding, so I used what I had on me, and that was my bra, and it worked.”
A smile broke through the confused worry lining Jameson’s handsome face. Those adorable laugh lines crowding his dark eyes stretched into rays of pure sunshine. He ran the back of his hand over his forehead, wiping a portion of sweat away. “Works for me, too.”
“I like how you converse,” she offered timidly. Daring to feel sensual and sexy for the first time ever. She’d never be rockstar sexy, but she could tease. Him. Just him.
“There’s lots more where that came from,” he growled playfully. “Now, where’s our ride out of here?” A broad smile crinkled his handsome face. Jameson had the most amazing laugh lines. At the corners of his eyes. Across his forehead. Bracketing the sides of his mouth. Those lush lips…
Maddie licked the inside of her mouth where he’d just been, savoring the taste of him and the wonder of this most excellent minute of her life. She’d found something tonight. When she’d first been introduced, she hadn’t wanted to play TEAM guide to another former solider. They were the ones who got to go on adventures. She was the one they all left behind, while they went off and saved the world. But now she felt as if she were part of a whole new world, and it was perfect.
Reaching out, she took his hand and interlocked her fingers with his. “It’s a little ways down the road, Jameson. Come on. Pull me up, and I’ll show you.”
Chapter Thirteen
“We’re at their location, Boss, but Maddie and Jameson aren’t here. Pops Delaney is though. What’s left of him. As well as quite a few of his guys. You should see all these bodies. Pretty sure this is Jameson’s work.”
Alex squeezed the bridge of his nose between his index finger and thumb, fighting a migraine that wouldn’t let up until he was sure Maddie and Jameson were safe. It was the middle of a long, damned night and he was in his office. After reviewing Reagan’s security footage, he now knew who’d abducted them. Pops Delaney, a thug and a gunrunner. He’d been there all along, had watched from the shadows when Jameson and Maddie ran from the jet. He and another guy had overcome them, then stuffed them into the back of a black SUV.
And now he was dead, the rat bastard. His death would incite a scramble inside and outside his gang for dominance. More than one hit team would be gunning for Jameson once this information hit the press. Hell, they probably already knew.
Adam cleared his throat. “You still with me?”
“Shade isn’t there, is she?” Alex knew damned well she wasn’t, but a man could wish.
“No sign she ever was. Hunter and Eric are scouring the immediate area, but this is Virginia, and the farmhouse where Delaney stashed Maddie and Jameson is a leftover relic from the past century.”
Which meant it was overgrown and forgotten, the perfect place for a mob boss to conduct business. Delaney was one of the top kingpins on the East Coast. His gang was ruthless, daring, and growing. Alex had watched them run over weak-kneed governors and crooked mayors, circuit court judges and the FBI’s best. They seemed untouchable.
But he knew different. The director of the FBI’s one and only psychic team, Tucker Chase, had a man inside the Irish gang. Which was why Delaney had come to Boston. His men had recently fallen to one FBI sting after another. Whoever Tucker’s guy was, he’d been supplying inside details of hits, takeovers, and other mob plans for months. Delaney’s rep had been on the line for just as long. His people were restless. They didn’t feel safe, the poor thieving, murderous scoundrels. Word on the street was it was only a
