Bent (The Gifted Series) (21 page)

              “Yes,” he muttered low, not looking at her.

              She didn’t want to admit it because she shouldn’t care, but his clipped responses were beginning to grate.  She eyed him again.  There was no denying that his body was built for horizontal mattress dancing: dark hair, strong jaw, defined muscles, and masculinely handsome.  She thought he had deep blue eyes but wasn’t quite sure.  One thing she was sure of was that a body like his made a chic salivate. 

              She studied him judiciously, and again wondered why he so easily gave up information about the Landons.  She had read his bio and knew that he claimed to have wanted out for sometime, but no one knew why he joined them to begin with.  What hold did Patrice have over him?  And why did he always come across as completely lost and desolate?  She suspected (or maybe hoped) this was tied to a conscience—that he was riddled with guilt.  But why did she hope this?  Why this fixation?

              Regardless, he was compliant and displayed an open disdain for Patrice, but maybe it was an act.  After all, he’d been with Patrice for ten years, meaning he’d proved his loyalty and doled out his share of cruelty during that time. 

              Mattis and Tiago sedated him and searched for history, but all they retrieved was his time spent with Patrice.  Tiago claimed it was as if Samuel’s youth was nonexistent.  Which meant that Samuel had either secret shielding abilities—even though he openly declared himself a reader—or his childhood was a blacked-out mystery.  When Tiago confronted him about this, he claimed the latter—that he had no recall of his youth. 

              Strange ...

              Marnie wasn’t sure what to believe with this guy.  The only thing she was certain about was that she held a strong, yet utterly inappropriate,
appreciation
for his bod and that he wasn’t much for conversation.

              “Well …bon appetit.”

              On a sigh, she headed toward the door to leave and in the blink of an eye, found herself slammed up against the wall.  Chest to chest with
hot bod
.  Her heart went from zero to sixty as he clamped down on her wrists and raised them above her head.  He was close to a foot taller, so he had to lean down to speak into her ear.

              “Why don’t you scream?” he said perfectly calm, but there was a slight tremble radiating through him.

             
No one can hear me
, she thought but said nothing.

              “I see you forgot your little controlling device,” he continued, but it wasn’t devious just factual.

             Damn! That stupid remote. She breathed deeply.  If she could just free one hand and possibly keep him occupied, she could retrieve her blade; however, she felt deep within that his goal wasn’t to hurt her.  I mean, he couldn’t leave the room without getting tazed. She continued cautiously, “You’ve divulged enough information on Patrice to ensure your death warrant by the Landons, so why bother hurting me?  No one here has been cruel to you, and you’ve been compliant the entire time.  Why lash out now?” 

              These words seemed to have affected him.  His head came down farther, almost into the crook of Marnie’s neck.  She heard him sigh and felt his warm breath against her skin.  What she wouldn’t give for Leah’s ability to read emotions.  Her own teetered toward pity for the guy.  And if it were any other man in any other moment, she would have cupped the back of his nape and offered comfort.  Clearly he needed it, and against her better judgement she wanted to give it.   Her body pulsed anxiously with strong desires to understand him.  But why?  He was nothing to her, so why care?

              She inhaled sharply when she felt his lips press against her neck.  He wasn’t kissing just pressing them firmly against her skin and lingering.  Did he just sniff her?  She felt his chest fill with his inhalation, pressing against her own. 

             
Okay, that was totally not erotic
.  Her mental declaration didn’t convince, though, because that was totally erotic.
Fuckity, fuck, do not crush on a hot captive. So lame, Marn
.

              “Christ, woman, you smell good,” he whispered against her.

              She went for humor. “Who needs to drop cash on fancy perfume when you can scrub clean with a bar of Lever.”

              He then lifted his head, and his expression went from amusement to gloom in the blink of an eye. “To be scrubbed clean.  If only we could, right?  If only life offered do-overs.”  His tone was distant.

              Her empathy gage just shot up a notch.  “Samuel,” she carefully began, “if you let go of me now, I’ll forget this happened.  I don’t know why you chose to associate yourself with a woman like Patrice, but I do know you’ve proved your desire to break free from her.  So far every bit of information you’ve willingly given us has helped our cause.” A pause. “Please, Samuel—”

              “Call me Sam,” he whispered in her ear. “I hate Samuel, always have.  Patrice calls me that.”  A snort. “It’s never even felt like my name.”

             
What the hay
?  “Okay … Sam.  Please release me.  We’ll sit and talk.  I’m not feeding you a line of shit either.”

              He began to chuckle against her. “You’re crass. I’ve listened to you talking to the others—you don’t hold back.  I’ve always liked that in a woman.”  His lips once again pressed into her skin, and she could feel his hard chest shaking against hers.  She closed her eyes in embarrassment because she knew her traitor nipples were hardening against him. This was so not cool and a really bad day to wear a tank top with a flimsy built-in liner.  She wasn’t supposed to care what some sinister dude thought of her, yet she liked hearing that he “liked that in a woman.” So, so wrong....

              “Um … I’m not sure why you’re putting on the
woo
here, but I meant what I said,” she continued, “I won’t say a word and I won’t bolt, so you can save the flattery.”

              He lifted his head once more.  His deep blue eyes piercing hers. “Let me get this straight.  Stating that I like vulgarity in a woman is considered
wooing
to you?”

              She became flustered and embarrassed in the same breath.  “No … No, of course not.  Look, just release me.”

              “You won’t leave?”

              Frustration flared. “I said I wouldn’t.”

              Seconds ticked. Her brow dipped at his nervous expression.

              “Then seal it with a kiss,” he whispered on a breath.

             
Was this guy serious
?  “Wh …What?” she stuttered astonished, even though her belly fluttered at the tempting yet crazy idea.

              His gaze locked on her lips.  “I’ve secretly watched you, ya know.  You’ve got a witty mind and an,”—his gaze perused south before returning—“exceptional body, Marnie Jo Benton.”

              “How do you know my full name?” Her eyes narrowed. A bit of the lust waning, replaced with suspicion.  Was this a play to get her guard down because this couldn’t be legit?

              “I’m a reader,” he said through a deep chuckle. 

              Her eyes narrowed.  “What else did you so intrusively find out about me?”

              “You’re an only child from Portland, raised by a single dad, Joseph Benton, who died of cancer two years ago.  My apologies, by the way.”

              She didn’t know how to respond to his kindness, so she didn’t.

              He continued, “You’re a strong hypnotic, but you’re family lacks gifted lineage, so you grew up feeling … spooked, for lack of a better word, by your ability.  You like working for the agency, but sometimes doubt your rank because you feel undeserving—being that you’re just a hypnotic.  Foolish to feel that way, I might add.”

              This got her riled. “No, you may not
add
, and I’ve listened to enough.”  She wasn’t about to be held by firm, succulent man-flesh against a wall and listen to her insecurities divulged from  someone who partook in acts of debauchery for the last decade. 
Meow
! Her inner feline stretched from a long nap. 
About damn time
!

              Samuel gave a slight nod but continued, “You think popular coffee chains are overpriced hangouts for … how did you think it?”  His eyes narrowed, and admittedly, Marnie found herself intrigued by this one.  He smiled and said, “Ahh … ‘Persuadable boobs finding false sophistication in a five-dollar cup of ten-cent jo’.”  His smile widened.  And she battled hiding hers.  “Well said,” he added, then continued on, “You love the Underworld movies and secretly wish you were a vampire.” His brow cocked.

              “Who doesn’t.” She shrugged with nonchalance. Biting and blood sucking sounded like fun playtime to her.

              “And when down and out, you secretly listen to bluegrass and eat …
tater tots
.  They’re comfort food, I take it?”

              She shrugged again. “Tots rock.”

              His mouth twitched. He then leaned in closer, almost mouth to mouth.  “And I’d pay a king’s ransom to see that taught ass of yours and rub my hands all over your golden skin.”

              Wow, this man was brazen.  “Do you use this tactic with all the girls who hold you captive?”

              Their eyes locked once more.  He said nothing verbally, but his fiery eyes said plenty. Seconds passed.

              Marnie’s kitty all but purred with want, but clarity surged. “Stop,” she whispered. “Just stop this.”

              “One kiss.”

              “Why?” her breathy voice almost pleaded.

              His humor was gone, and he appeared to be looking through her. “Just to have something pure … something real from a woman of substance.  One kiss, Miss Benton, just one.  If my lips never touch a woman’s again, at least my final kiss will have had significance—at least to me anyway.” 

              If Marnie had been watching this line in a movie, she’d yell, “Don’t be a sucka for that line,
bioch
.  Kick his tea bags and run!” but her head was in a lusty haze, and her kitty’s purr grew to a low steady rumble. 

              Her heart truly felt for him.  That, or her mind truly fell for his line.  Either way, she threw all sensibility out the window when she raised up and brushed her lips against his.  He instantly let go of her wrists and cupped her face with a gentle touch, strengthening what she started.

             
Yowza
, could this boy do a girl right.  Full lips, slightly parted, with the tease of a little tongue.  Yum!

              She knew she should shove him off and tear out of the room but his lips wouldn’t allow her body to detour.  They held her mouth captive, and she was a total goner when his tongue slipped in to play.

              Seconds had passed but it could have been minutes.  Either way, it was Sam who slightly pulled back. 
Not me
, she berated herself,
but him
! 

              Still cupping her cheeks, he whispered, “Better than I imagined.”  He then grazed her with another tender peck.

             
Oh shit! I’m in trouble
, Marnie mentally whined. Both figuratively and literally.  She was going to get a royal ass chewing along with other repercussions if anyone found out.  Marnie could bet that in the history of the agency no other agent ever made out with their captive? And he’s a Landon crony no less. 

              “Okay,” she breathed, trying to regain her wits.  “You’ve got your kiss, and I may have just ended my career.  Now back it up.”

              His bare chest rumbled with deep laughter again, and yeah, she stared as his abs flexed.
 
I so need a hook up
, she thought.  Seriously considering accepting Declan’s incessant offers to roll in the hay.

              Sam backed away, giving Marnie much needed space. “You promised to talk,” he quietly reminded.

              She nodded. “I did, but how about you sit there.” She pointed to the far end of his bed. “And I sit here.” She then walked over to a chair in the corner.  “And no mention of this … insane exchange that just occurred.”  Her hands brushed through her hair.

              Sam mollified. “It was only an act of compassion on your part.  A perfect moment that belongs solely to me—I would never speak of it.” His hand touched his chest. “It’s mine alone.”

              He sounded sincere enough, causing her heart to melt just a twinge, but her brain screamed that she was suddenly conspiring with enemy? Because she was!  “They could read you.” She blanched. 
Horny badass kitty led me into a heap of trouble
.

              “I’ve been read and interrogated a hundred times over.” His hands raised with his shoulders. “There’s nothing else they could possible read from me.”

              He was right.  She nodded as her tension dissipated slightly.  “True.” She pointed sharply in his direction. “But keep your yap shut.”

              Sam chuckled at her then nodded graciously, “My
yap
is sealed.”

              Marnie noted the slight tremble to his hands as they rubbed his face.  As much as she’d like to credit her stellar kissing abilities, she suspected the trembling was a side effect from his cocaine withdrawals.  Mattis and Reagan had discussed this with her previously.

              “So I see the shaking, and I know about the excessive drug and alcohol use.  What’s up with that?
 
Certainly not a norm amongst gifted folk.”

              Sam didn’t meet her eye, but his voice was strong and honest when he answered. “Coping mechanism I suppose.  I’ve been at it for some time now.”

              “How long?”

              “Over three years.”

             
 
Her eyes popped, but her voice was controlled. “Is it bad?  The withdrawals, I mean?”

              “It’s getting better,” he muttered, attempting to brush it off.  “The worst is over, I suspect.  Being gifted has definitely sped up the process.”