Secret Obsession (Carder Texas Connections #6)(37)

Sierra Bradford slumped over the steering wheel.

Archimedes smiled.

Noah Bradford would be very sorry he’d ever tried to steal Alessandra.

*

WIND BUFFETED THE panes of the hotel room windows. Lyssa shivered at the cold seeping through the flimsy glass panes. She could tell the temperature had dropped at least another ten degrees since they’d holed up in the hotel.

Noah stood in the corner, his cell phone to his ear. “Just get here as soon as you can.” He turned to Lyssa, a frown on his face. “The plane won’t make it here until morning.” He tossed the phone on the bed and opened the blinds. “On the positive side, if we can’t travel, neither can Archimedes.”

Rafe stroked his beard. “Better not take any chances. We know he was here. Zane and I will stake out the hangar. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

Lyssa jumped up from the table. “Not alone.”

Zane simply winked at her. “That’s what you’re paying us for, sweetheart.”

Before she could think of an argument, the two men left. A knot lodged in Lyssa’s stomach. “What if Archimedes follows the signal? He won’t hesitate to kill them.”

“Rafe and Zane know what they’re doing,” Noah said. “They’ve faced terrorists and guerrilla warriors. They’re smart, savvy and they know how to stay alive.”

“Archimedes is smarter. And he doesn’t make mistakes,” she said flatly. She picked up her duffel. “I’m going with them.”

Noah grabbed the strap and whirled her away from the door. “Like hell you are.”

She righted herself and yanked her bag to her. “Don’t you see what’s happening, Noah? He’s playing us. He’ll win. It’s inevitable.” She kneaded the base of her neck. “Maybe it’s better if he does win. If he kills me, then it will be over.”

Noah clasped her shoulders. “Don’t delude yourself. He’ll go on killing. He’s developed a taste for it. He’ll just turn his fixation onto someone else.”

Oh, God. Lyssa’s fingers loosened and the bag fell between them. She bowed her head, her forehead hitting his chest. “You’re right. How can I be so selfish?”

Warm arms surrounded her. “You’re exhausted. You have a serial killer after you. You’re entitled.”

Noah pressed her closer against him. She didn’t resist. She’d made her choice. She didn’t know how long she’d survive, but she couldn’t resist the temptation any longer. She wrapped her arms around Noah’s waist, just wanting to be close, just wanting to forget that there was a madman who wanted her dead. He tilted her chin and looked down at her, his brown eyes intense. She squirmed under that knowing look.

“Are you sure?” he asked quietly.

She couldn’t look away. Her gaze drifted to the tension in his jaw. He swallowed and she focused on his eyes. They’d gone dark, the color of mahogany. He stood so close she could feel his heart beating. Her leg touched his; her chest rested against the hard planes of his body. She could anticipate each breath he took.

He stroked her cheek. “I want to kiss you again.” His head lowered so slowly, the anticipation sent a tingle through her lips. “You can stop me with one word,” he whispered.

She pulled his head down to hers, her mouth opening under his lips. “Make me forget, Noah. For just a little while.”

A groan escaped from his throat. He tightened his hold, lifting her by the hips. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he backed toward the hotel bed.

He tasted of spice and coffee and something indefinably Noah. She gripped his shoulders and held on, sinking to the bed. She straddled his hips and held his head between her hands.

Her mouth pressed against his. She hadn’t been touched in so long; she’d been running, at Archimedes’s whim, for what seemed like forever.

Well, he wasn’t here. Not now.

Noah leaned back, taking her with him. She pressed his wrists back against the bed, stretching his arms above his head.

He let her.

She could tell he wanted her. He couldn’t hide his response. She ground her hips against his hardness. So tempting.

“You’re close to the point of no return,” he gasped, his hips arching to her.

She leaned over him and took his lips.

A ring sounded from his pocket. She sagged against him, her breath short. He let out a harsh curse and she moved her hands from his wrists, shoving back the disappointment. She tried to climb off him. He held her waist, holding her in place with one hand.

She could have moved but she didn’t.

When he fished out his phone from his front pocket, he moaned a bit. “I’m going to kill whoever interrupted you. Don’t lose your place.”

She wiggled against him and he surged beneath her.

“Bradford. This better be good.”

Noah’s brow narrowed, his expression grew fierce. Lyssa stiffened above him and leaned closer so she could hear the conversation on the other end. Noah looked as if he wanted to move away, keep her from listening. That was so not happening.

She snuggled closer, and he bit back a groan.

“All the forensic evidence collected for the Archimedes murders has been destroyed.” Elijah’s voice filtered through the earpiece. “From a legal standpoint, we’re starting from scratch.”