Betrayed (Hostage Rescue Team Series Book 9) (25 page)

She broke the kiss to peel her shirt up and off, making short work of her bra before grabbing his face and fusing her mouth to his once more. He made a low sound of pleasure and approval and swept his hand from her hips, up the length of her spine to grip the nape of her neck.

She shivered at the possessive hold, melting inside. But before he could do anything more she pushed at his shoulders. He stilled for a second, eased away to look into her eyes.

“Lie back,” she whispered, her breathing as erratic as her pulse.

Holding her gaze, he slowly lowered himself to the sheets and stretched out across the bed. Offering himself to her.

The soft light from the lamp gilded the honed perfection of his body in soft strokes of gold. She wasted no time in pressing her lips to the center of his chest, following every ridge and hollow as her hands slipped down to undo his pants and free his straining erection. His cock popped free, hot and hard.

With a hum of female appreciation, she curled her fingers around his length. Miguel hissed in a breath, one hand sliding into her hair. His fingers rubbed at her scalp, a restless, impatient motion that spoke of his growing need.

A need she was dying to satisfy.

She was so turned on already, her entire body humming with anticipation, and having him lie there, allowing her to please him made her insanely hot. Shimmying down so that her face was eye-level with his cock, she looked up the length of his body at him.

His eyes smoldered down at her, so hot she could feel their touch on her skin. And when she leaned down to tease the sensitive crown with her lips and tongue, he arched his hips, his eyes sliding closed as his rough groan filled the silent room.

She took her time, savoring his every reaction as she eased him between her lips and sucked his straining flesh.

“God,” he bit out, eyes squeezed shut and that hand bunching in her hair. “Ah, angel…”

Emboldened, she worked him with her mouth and hand, reveling in the way his breathing turned rough, the way the muscles in his thighs twitched. Another time she might have finished him off in her mouth, but she knew this was likely their last time together and she desperately needed to feel him inside her.

Still working him with her mouth, she shimmied out of her pants. Giving him one last lick from root to tip that made him shudder, she straddled his hips and settled her aching core against the hot length of him.

Immediately he grasped her hips and started to sit up, but she stayed him with a hand on the center of his chest. He froze, watching her.

She trailed her hand up his chest, over his throat and chin to brush her fingers over his lips. “Just let me love you,” she whispered, sensing it wasn’t easy for him to let a lover be in charge. But she did love him and needed to show him that.

Heat and tenderness flared in his eyes, then he relaxed against the bedding once more. The trust in that one gesture, more than anything else, made her heart tip over that steep edge into free-fall.

Lifting up, she slid along the hard ridge of his cock until the empty ache inside her became too much. He watched her with blazing dark eyes, his gaze scorching her naked body as his hands gripped her hips.

When she at last eased the head of him inside her and sank down, his head tipped back, a groan of raw ecstasy tearing free. Gasping at the thick, hard length buried inside her, stretching her, she sat up straight and began to ride him.

He stared up at her the whole time, lips pressed into a tight line as he strained to hold back, both hands shifting upward to cradle the tender flesh of her breasts. She sighed at the contact, moaned when he began stimulating her nipples, the sensation shooting down to blend with the ache between her legs.

“Stroke yourself,” he rasped out, his breathing ragged, all his muscles standing out in sharp relief as he fought to hold himself back.

Holding his gaze, Georgia slipped two fingers into her mouth before sliding them down the center of her body to her swollen clit. Pleasure instantly tightened her muscles, her inner walls squeezing his cock. He filled her so perfectly, hit every sensitive spot.

Miguel groaned like a man in agony and shifted restlessly beneath her, his eyes heavy-lidded with desire. And in that moment she knew he needed her every bit as much as she needed him.

She’d never felt more beautiful, more powerful than she did at that moment. Poised atop her lover, this powerful, complex man she’d given her heart to, giving them both unspeakable pleasure.

She rocked harder, her fingers moving faster over the slick flesh between her thighs. She could feel the peak coming closer, closer with every stroke, each delicious, rocking glide on his cock. It coiled tight inside her, growing stronger with every second.

Staring down into his face, a punch of pure ecstasy arced between them as her orgasm hit. Her own cries echoed in her ears as the waves took her, the feel of his cock inside her intensifying the pleasure, prolonging it.

Panting as it faded, she set her palms on his shoulders to keep from collapsing on top of him, and looked into his face. He was breathing hard, his nostrils flared, eyes glazed with need.

With a naughty smile she shifted her hips to change the angle and took him deeper, slowing her movements. Drawing it out. Making it last, and cataloguing his every reaction.

His hands blindly reached for her hips, his fingers digging in hard. He swelled even more inside her, growing thicker, harder.

She worked him, squeezed him, loving him even more for this gift he was giving her, his surrender. Something she instinctively knew he’d never given anyone else.

Apparently even he had his limits, because he lost the fight to hold still. Fingers biting into her hips, he growled low in his throat and thrust upward, his hips pumping hard and fast, then he arched and froze, shouting as his release hit. She felt him pulse inside her, bathing her with his warmth, and another shiver rolled through her.

Taking his face between her hands she tipped forward and absorbed his groans of pleasure in a passionate kiss. He relaxed beneath her, his arms sliding up to band around her ribs and pull her to his chest.

She tucked her face into the curve of his shoulder, pressed a tender kiss there. “I love you,” she murmured.

It was terrifying to say it aloud, but she couldn’t contain it a moment longer and wanted him to know it, especially if this was their last night together. Whatever happened tomorrow, she needed him to know he had her heart.

Miguel rolled them, reversing positions so he was the one on top, cupping her face and staring down into her eyes. “Say it again.” His expression was the most intense she’d ever seen it.

The husky demand made her smile softly. “I love you.”

With a rough sound he captured her lips with his, devoured her mouth.

Stifling a laugh, she poked him in the ribs and he lifted his head. “And?” she prompted, lifting one eyebrow.

A slow, secret smile curved his lips. “Yeah. I love you back.”

Now she grinned, and it was definitely smug. “Knew it.”

He laughed and kissed the tip of her nose. “I never knew I could feel like this. You’ve turned me inside out.”

“Right there with you,” she admitted.

When he drew back a second later, his expression was troubled. “So what happens now?”

She smoothed a hand up his ribs, over his back. “I don’t know,” she answered truthfully. All she knew was, she couldn’t let him go. Not now. Not ever.

Something like regret flickered in his eyes for a moment, making her heart clench. They both knew that after the operation to arrest Perez tomorrow, their time together would come to an end. His contract with the NSA was over when
they
said it was over. And they weren’t just going to let the two of them drive off into the sunset together. Not to mention her future and all the legal ramifications surrounding her case was still a huge question mark as well.

The thought of being torn away from him now was too painful to bear.

“I can’t let you go,” she whispered brokenly, the words bursting free. “I can’t.”

His expression turned fierce, so full of love and conviction that her heart tripped. “I won’t let you go either.”

So what were they going to do? How could they stay together?

Refusing to waste their last few hours alone together dwelling on that disheartening thought, she tugged him down and covered his lips with hers, determined to find a way for them to be together.

Whatever it took to be with him, she’d do it. Because she was never walking away from this man again.

Bautista was already wound tight as a wire when the door to the briefing room opened and the HRT guys began to file in. Eight big, muscular men, all of them moving with a confidence that came only from being a seasoned operator.

Supervisory Special Agent Matt DeLuca led the way. His stride slowed a fraction when he saw Bautista standing at the front of the room with Rycroft, but then his eyes shot to Briar and a wide smile transformed his expression.

The masculine rumble of conversation stopped the instant the next guy in line saw him. A big blond guy, who Bautista recognized as the team leader, Tucker.

All eyes were on him as the others entered the room. The second to last one stopped dead in the doorway, their gazes clashing from across the room. Bautista’s pulse kicked up.

He knew that face, would never forget it. Dark hair, bronzed skin, light brown eyes. Pissed off expression.

The bastard who’d shot him and then nearly beaten him to death on the deck of that boat in Miami. Ethan Cruz. Marisol’s boyfriend.

The HRT member’s shoulders went rigid as he stared at him. “What the fuck is this?” he growled to the room at large.

DeLuca stepped over to him, put a warning hand on his chest. “Cruzie, don’t.”

Agent Cruz shot an accusatory look at his commander. “Did you know about this?”

“Not until about seven seconds ago.”

“Well,” Rycroft began in a dry tone. “I guess formal introductions aren’t necessary for most of you since you met in June, but for those of you who don’t already know who this is, Miguel Bautista, formerly known as
el Santo
, served as Perez’s personal enforcer. He also did a long stint in the Army before that, where he served most of his time as a sniper.”

The room was dead silent. Bautista hated having all the eyes on him.

“He’s contracted under the NSA and working with us on this op because nobody knows Perez, his likely reactions and his properties better than him. I realize some of you have some unresolved animosity going on but as you’re professionals I expect you to put that aside for the duration of the operation. You may not like it, but that’s the way it’s gonna be, so make peace with it.”

Cruz shot Rycroft a cool look, then aimed a hard glare at Bautista that said he didn’t trust him, but lost the hostile posture. DeLuca lowered his hand to let him step past. When the entire team was seated before them, Rycroft continued.

“Standing beside Briar is Georgia Randall, who you may remember from the Miami op as well.”

Bautista watched the men size her up. There was surprise in some of those gazes, but also a measure of curiosity. He didn’t like them staring at her, period.

“Briar and Georgia are both going to be assisting with logistics for this op, and they’ll also act as scouts or snipers if need be. They’ll be working directly with your sniper team while Bautista and I accompany the assault team into the target building during the breach and subsequent arrest.”

Agent Tucker folded his arms across his wide chest and took it all in, his expression calm and focused. Cruz had his arms crossed as well, but his jaw was clamped tight, his eyes trying to bore a hole through Bautista’s face. Bautista refused to acknowledge him.

“You’ve all been briefed on Perez. We were able to confirm that he arrived at the target residence at twenty-two hundred hours last night. Here’s what we’re dealing with.”

Rycroft pulled up aerial photographs and satellite images of the seaside mansion outside of Miami. A three story, fifteen-thousand square foot Spanish-style palace covered with white stucco, set on three acres of ocean-front land, complete with lushly manicured gardens and grounds. It was set back a fair distance from the road, bordered on two sides by forest and the nearest neighbor was over a mile away.

“We have a small window to work with, so we’re tight on time to make the assault. It’s only a matter of time before he realizes he’s at risk, and we need to get him before he gets suspicious and makes a run for it.”

He detailed the security situation, the number of guards likely patrolling the property, that Perez would have at least one bodyguard there. The layout, possible entry and exfil points.

“We’ll be inserting via helo close to the target for maximum speed, then we’ll go in on foot. Now Bautista’s going to brief you on the more exciting stuff.” Rycroft nodded at him.

Bautista stepped over to the laptop and began detailing what they needed to know. “Of all Perez’s properties, this is the one I’m least familiar with. The last time I was there was last May, and it was undergoing major renovations. No matter what the layout looks like inside now, there’s going to be a state-of-the-art security system. Motion detectors, pressure sensors leading up to the perimeter, and likely thermal imaging as well. The guards are well paid, and they keep a low profile around the grounds. One of them monitors the security system at all times.”

Pointing to the screen with a laser pointer, he detailed what he knew about the location of the security cameras and sensors. “We’ll need to cut the power just seconds before we make the breach, and we’ll have only seconds more to get inside before the backup generators start it up again.” He paused. “Any questions?”

Tucker raised his hand. “Where are you and Rycroft going to be during the assault?”

“Right behind you.”

The entire team looked over at DeLuca, who nodded his confirmation. “The assault team goes in with Bautista and Rycroft following directly behind. Bautista knows the area the best, and he’s also the only person in this room who’s been inside the place. Ordinarily he’d assist from back at the mobile command center with me via comms, but in this situation Rycroft and I felt it was better Bautista be with you for the assault.”