Way of the Warrior (Troubleshooters #17.5)(55)

ALL IN, she typed before she shot off the email and shut down the device. The recipient of the information had the mate to her sender’s key for the encryption. He’d be able to unlock her messages with a series of letters and numbers she’d designed. If he shared her information, she and Rook were screwed. But right now, the man sitting in Washington was her only hope.

“What are you doing?”

Vivi froze as his voice stroked over her eardrums, sank into her skin, and forced her heart to beat faster. She shut off the computer and stuffed it back in her duffel. “Things,” she responded as she turned around.

This put her back to the car and Rook at her front. Much closer than she expected. He cocked his head and stared at her, the night around them making his eyes appear endlessly deep. God, he was such a big man. Dressed now in the same type of garb she wore, he appeared every inch the spec-ops soldier he was. He’d donned the black skull cap she’d stuffed in his pack earlier today. Worried he might get cold, she’d put it in on a whim. It was snowing in Oregon right now. Why she’d been thinking of him, she had no idea.

Except that he was hers now. Yeah, once her brother had painted his picture of Rook in her mind, he’d become hers. Michael had saved Vivi’s life. Rook had saved Michael’s. Debts had to be paid. She’d never been so glad the CIA had recruited her out of high school as she was when Michael had asked for her help. It had nearly destroyed Vivi when she’d gotten the call he was injured.

He’d had massive internal injuries. They’d operated and managed to extend his life for two days. Long enough for Vivi to get there, speak with him, and say good-bye.

Tears clouded her vision, falling over the precipice of her eyelid and drifting down her cheek. Rook raised his hand, and she flinched. He halted, his look going from concerned to closed. But his hand continued to move and before she could blink, he wiped the tears from her face. She sobbed then, overwhelmed by the tenderness.

“Michael was one of the finest men I ever served with. He loved you. I’m sorry he’s gone,” Rook said in a gruff voice.

Vivi glanced up then and became caught in his pitch-black gaze. The moment stretched taut, a yawning chasm between them with the promise of something neither needed nor were looking for. She inhaled, and he moved closer. He tipped her head back with nothing more than his finger at her chin.

Vivi reached for his hand, grabbing it, but he took control, meshing their palms and entwining their fingers.

Then he took her lips and her mind in one fell swoop. And it was a taking, no doubt about it. She lost herself as his tongue licked into her mouth, finding every heated hollow while his lips sipped at her, tasting, commanding her tongue to dance with his.

If his body was heat, his mouth was a supernova, firing every synapse in her brain, forcing her against him. He accepted her, pulling her closer, wrapping his hands in her hair and tugging until he had her right where he wanted her. How long it went on, she didn’t know. She was lost to the mastery of him, the undeniable pull that was Rook Granger. She gorged on the taste of mint and male, and he breathed fire into her, making her wanton.

He rolled his hips into her stomach, and the feel of his hard cock made her moan. Her hands dug into the firm skin that covered the steel muscles of his back. Another roll of his hips and she was lifting her legs, wrapping them around his hips as he pushed her against the Honda.

The cold of the glass on her now exposed back had her gasping, bringing reality crashing down. She went stiff against him, disbelief cooling the fire that he’d built inside her. His hands were on her skin, and holy shit, it was heaven.

Vivi pulled her mouth away, pushing his head back and lowering her legs. “Stop.”

He growled. Honest to God growled, and Vivi wanted nothing more than to climb back up his body and start all over.

“We can’t do this,” she said. “Not until we get you cleared.”

He pulled in a deep breath and stepped away from her. Her hands fisted. She missed his skin beneath her fingers. Missed his hands on hers.

“That might never happen,” he said, his face hard, eyes glittering in the meager light.

“We must focus. Right is right. This,” she said, gesturing between them, “isn’t imperative.”

He smiled then, and she damn near melted into a puddle at his feet. She’d seen the wry twist of his lips, the sexy sneer and the flat line of irritation on his scrumptious mouth. But his full-blown smile blew her away.

She put a fist to her stomach and held up a hand. She was so screwed. His gaze moved over her face, cataloging every nuance of her expression. That smile never waned.

He glanced down her body, a single glance, but it was enough to convey intent she didn’t know if she was ready to meet. “I think it’s very imperative.”

The click of her jaw as her mouth fell open was loud in the sudden silence. She stared up at him like a moron. His face in relief was beautiful. Lit by his smile, it was drool-worthy.

They gazed at each other for long moments, the intensity of what flared between them settling into a simmer. She realized she was in way over her head. But she hadn’t been kidding with him. They had to move, and fast. Vivi pulled away from the car, straightening her spine and tossing her hair over her shoulder. Rook crossed his arms over his massive chest and waited.

He didn’t even look affected anymore. Except for that very large, very intimidating bulge in his pants.