CovertDesires (2 page)

“Maybe. But there are none worse than him.”

“Gut feeling?”

“Yes.”

“Which is a subconscious echo of a forgotten vision.”

“That’s what the doctors tell me.” And what she’d come to
believe after a lot of trial and error. “And it’s why I was put on this case.”

He shook his head but then sighed. “Fine. I’ll keep an eye
on him.” He stood and stretched. For one brief moment she allowed herself to
push her concerns to the back of her mind so she could enjoy the view. It was
too bad he was so obsessed with work. They would be good together. He was lean
and tall. And the right height so that when he stood in front of her just now,
her face was level with his cock.

It would be so easy to undo his pants and lean forward. She
could be leaving kisses along the plane of his abdomen in mere seconds. And it
seemed so reasonable that she even found herself licking her lips in
anticipation. She wanted him. He was all muscle under his shirt. It wasn’t a
guess. She could see it in her mind. And she could feel the warmth of his skin
under her lips.

“You okay, Rowe?”

She shook her head and forced herself to return to the
present. “Yeah. I’m good. Just caught a glimpse of a path I must not have taken
this time around.”

“I didn’t think it worked that way.”

She pushed him back a step or two. She needed space so she
could breathe. Whatever had taken them to that path didn’t exist in this
reality. In this reality he wasn’t attracted to her. With all the distance he’d
put between them she wasn’t even sure he liked her. She had to remember that.
“It doesn’t. Only it just did. And I’m not sure why.”

“I guess those doctors don’t have everything figured out
yet.” He shrugged as he spoke. “What happened in the vision? Was it about
Thomas?”

“No.” She stared up at him, still slightly confused. “It was
a happy path. Momentarily at least.”

His brow furrowed in apparent confusion. “I have no idea
what that means.”

“That’s because it didn’t happen.” And it wasn’t going to
happen. She yawned but it quickly became a grimace as the cut on her lip opened
again. “I’m tired.”

“It has been a long day.”

“And tomorrow is going to be longer.”

He cocked his head as he looked at her. “Is that prophecy or
a gut feeling?”

She smiled as she stretched out on the cot. It amused her
that he still tried to label and categorize everything. “Call it what you will.
It is what it is. And it will happen as it’s meant to be.”

“I don’t do well with riddles, Rowe.” He sat on the cot
across from hers.

“It wasn’t a riddle. It was a fact.”

“Of course. Simple as that.” He leaned back and braced
himself on the wall before pulling out his reader and turning the device on.
Most likely he was doing more research. She imagined he was looking up plans
for the encampment. Or memorizing possible escape routes. Maybe he was putting
faces to criminal histories and trying to figure out the identity of the big
boss. Whatever it was it made him frown.

“You worry too much. And you’re too serious.”

He looked up at her over the screen. “I thought you were
tired.”

“Everything will work out. It always does.” It was her own
personal mantra. And so far it’d always been right.

“Until it doesn’t.” He looked back down at his reader. “What
would’ve happened today if I’d let them separate us?”

Dread began to fill her again just at the thought. “I don’t
know.”

“But you know it wouldn’t have been good, right? That’s what
that signal meant. So that’s what you had to be feeling at that time.”

She tried to keep her smile but it’d slipped to a weak
shadow. “It doesn’t matter what I felt at the time. There was another path. We
took it.”

“It matters to me, Rowe. What happens if we come to a place
where there aren’t any other paths?”

She couldn’t fault him for this doubt. He was human. And he
thought like a human. “There are always other paths. Millions and millions of
them. They branch off in infinite directions.” That was the current theory as
to why the Sub Type Five couldn’t remember the visions. There were simply too
many to hold them all in their conscious minds at once. And as she thought back
to her earlier vision she started to wonder if they’d been going about this all
wrong. Maybe if she didn’t focus on holding all the paths she might be able to
remember one or two. It’d be something to keep in mind. “When I sense danger, I
switch courses.”

“You make it sound so easy. You talk of changing the fates
as simply as other women change their shoes.”

She rose from her cot and took the four steps to his before
sitting again. “I’m a Sub Type Five. That’s what we do. It’s what I was created
to do.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

“I think the better question is, are you?” It was beyond
time for her to address the elephant in the room with them. “Would you have
been happier with a human partner for this mission?”

He looked up at her with his brow furrowed. “Why would you
even ask that?”

Fine. If he wanted to know she’d tell him. “Because the
longer we work together, the more distance you put between us.”

“You noticed that, huh?”

Her heart dropped with the admission. Suspecting it was the
truth and hearing it put into words were two different things. “I did. You
won’t even grab a pizza with me anymore. You really don’t like working with me,
do you?”

“No. It’s the opposite.” He reached up and tucked a lock of
her hair behind her ear before snatching his hand back. “You’ve always been
honest with me. I owe you the same. I put distance between us because I like
you. If anything, I enjoy spending time with you too much. Every second I’m
around you I want to cross the line. So I put space between us. And when that’s
no longer enough, I put more.”

She wanted to believe him. Everything in her wanted to cling
to his words. But words weren’t enough. Not when they didn’t make sense. “You
like me? Really? Because it doesn’t feel like it.”

“Then let me put the story straight.” He wrapped his hand
around the back of her neck. He pulled her toward him. She wondered if he was
about to kiss her. But that couldn’t be right. Could it?

He felt her relax against him but still kept the pressure
light. He had to. No matter how fast his heart raced or how badly his head swam
with desire, he had to resist the urge to crush her body against his. He
couldn’t hurt her any more than he already had. It might have been unavoidable
but he was solely responsible for her split lip. He didn’t want to make it
worse. Knowing he had to be gentle didn’t make it any easier to keep his body
in check though.

And when she moaned and ran the tip of her tongue along the
seam of his lips he lost the battle. All thought disappeared in a haze of need.
He tangled his fingers in her hair and pulled her to him. Her gentle hiss of
pain, however, brought back his earlier concerns. Along with a couple new ones.

They shouldn’t be doing this. It was too dangerous. Even if
she weren’t injured, kissing her was a bad idea. They were working undercover
together. Business and pleasure didn’t mix. Especially not with the case they
were currently working. It was why he hadn’t made a move so far.

Easing his hold on her, he allowed her to break the contact.

“You do like me.” Her pupils were dilated and her breathing
fast in response to his kiss. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. It made
his heart swell with pride. Even though he knew that kiss was one of the
stupidest mistakes he’d ever made.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you. Not now. Not like
that.”

She cocked her head and studied him for a second. “I’m okay.
It didn’t hurt that bad.”

“It shouldn’t hurt at all. But that’s not the only reason I
stopped. Breaking character is a bad idea.”

“You’re wrong.” She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his
neck. The featherlight touch made his skin break out in goose bumps. “Breaking
character is the best idea you’ve had all day.”

“Rowe.”

She kissed his jaw before saying, “Jack.” And damn if it
wasn’t the sexiest word he’d ever heard coming from her lips.

“We shouldn’t…”

She ran her hand up his shirt and he shuddered with pent-up
desire. “If you don’t want to, just say so. I’ll stop.” Her tongue swept over
his earlobe.

“It’s not a question of what I want.” He wanted to strip her
naked and feel every inch of her skin under him. “But what’s best.”

“And you know what that is?” Her voice was lilted as if she
was trying not to laugh at him. But she did sit back. Which gave him the space
he needed to think clearly. The victory was hollow, however, as he immediately
missed her warmth and the gentle pressure of her touch.

Just because stopping sucked didn’t make it any less
necessary though. He was right. They couldn’t finish what he’d started. Not
here, at least. “You aren’t the only one who trusts her gut.”

“Okay.” She stood and moved over to the other bunk without
any further argument. He hated to admit it but it kind of stung how easily she
was taking his decision.

“Well. That’s that, then.” He’d said the words more to
himself than to her but she nodded as if she heard him and was in agreement.

“It is. I trust your gut too.” She stretched out on the cot
and then rolled over to face him. The position change was innocent enough but
it caused the hem of her shirt to lift ever so slightly and show off her trim
waist. Her skin was so smooth and creamy it practically begged for his licks
and gentle nibbles. Not that he could do either. “You should get some rest.”

Trying to avoid the temptation that her body made, he lifted
his gaze so he was staring at her eyes. Only he found they weren’t any safer.
He’d never seen a more expressive pair. It was like looking into her soul. “We
probably both should. It’s been a long day.”

“And it’s going to be a long night.”

“Gut feeling?” he asked.

“No. Just common sense.” She giggled and his lingering
sexual frustration disappeared at the captivating sound.

“What’s so funny over there?”

“Common sense isn’t one of my strong points. It seems some
of your traits might be rubbing off on me.”

“Not the worst fate.” They were quiet for a few minutes but
then he had to ask, “So, has your newfound wisdom made you regret signing up
for this case?”

“Nope. It was my turn.”

He wished a little bit of conversational logic had worn off
on her as well. Then maybe he wouldn’t have to ask her to explain so much.
“Your turn for what?”

“I have no idea.” She sighed as she rolled onto her back.
“But it’s going to be life defining when it happens.”

He looked up at the ceiling. “Yeah, I’m sure today was
pretty damn defining. Being haggled over like a piece of tech must be the
highlight of your week.” He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m
so sorry we’re putting you through this.”

“I volunteered for this case. And having my monetary worth
negotiated over is nothing new to me. Legally I was property for a lot longer
than I’ve been free.”

His stomach tightened with a combination of anger and
disgust as he realized she was right. “You say that so casually. It was as if
you’d just told me about getting a haircut.”

“When you live it every day, it becomes casual. Besides,
everything turned out fine. Just as this case will.”

“How can you always be so optimistic?”

“I am where I’m supposed to be.”

He was about to comment on that but the wisp of smoke that
tickled his nose changed his train of thought. “Something is burning.”

“Maybe a campfire?”

He sat up and began to sniff at the air. “No. This group
doesn’t want the attention from the local authorities that a campfire would
bring.”

“Maybe. Or maybe the local authorities are the ones roasting
the marshmallows. You can’t build a compound this large without someone knowing
about it and okaying the permits.”

He jumped off the cot and started for the door. “I’m going
to go check it out. You stay here.”

“No.” She was already off her bunk and walking toward him as
he turned to face her.

“That’s an order. It’s not up for debate.”

“You’re my partner. You cannot leave your partner behind
while you investigate the case you are both assigned to. It’s against
regulations.”

Damn. She did have a point. Still, he didn’t like the idea
of her traipsing around at night in enemy territory. “The fire probably doesn’t
have anything to do with the case specifically. I can go check it out and come
right back.”

“It could be a diversion to separate us.”

He stared at her for a second longer. She looked so damn
vulnerable. And it was part of his job to keep her safe. Which meant he only
had one option. “Fine. But stay close and keep quiet.”

She nodded but there was no smugness in the gesture or her
expression. “Yes sir.”

He’d been wrong earlier. That was the sexiest thing he’d
ever heard her say. He pushed the thought out of his mind before grabbing two
night-vision visors out of his pack. “Here.” He handed her one of them. “This
should keep you from tripping over anything and breaking an ankle. But don’t
look at the fire with it on.”

He turned the cabin’s lights off and then, after putting his
visor on, opened the door slowly. He didn’t want any of the militia to notice
them leaving the small structure. The camp appeared to be fairly dead, though,
when he glanced around. It was a little comforting that no one would see them
sneaking about. But it also troubled him. There should be some people walking
around. Even if he’d been wrong and the smoke was from a campfire and they were
off roasting marshmallows, they’d need someone to keep watch. They’d need
someone to alert them if the police did show up to investigate.

With a quick hand gesture he motioned Rowe to follow him.
The night was quiet so he was happy when she kept her movements as silent as
his. He trusted her and she was incredibly smart but she hadn’t been lying
earlier when she spoke about common sense. The woman had just shown up on the
agency doorstep two years ago. And when they asked her what she needed she’d
simply told them she was meant to be there. Prime Minister Lee had to be called
in to talk to her himself. When she refused to budge, Lee made her an agent and
told the captain to sort it out. He’d been certain she had a death wish. An
opinion she hadn’t proven wrong over her years of service. She was good at her
job and had one of the best closing rates. But she always signed up for the
most dangerous cases and took the biggest risks.

The brush of a hand on his shoulder pulled him back to the
present and made him stop. When he looked back at Rowe she was pointing to
their right. He hadn’t been in the camp long enough to study all the structures
but the agency’s early intel had put the barn in that general direction. He had
no idea why Rowe would want to go there but he couldn’t think of anything else
she’d particularly want to see in the encampment either. Knowing Rowe, though,
it would probably make sense in time.

He nodded and then changed directions. After they’d walked
for several minutes, though, he started to wonder if there’d been some mistake.
Not that he’d ever tell Rowe he doubted her. But he could smell the smoke
getting lighter as they moved. They were walking away from the fire and not
toward it. He had to fix this.

After he turned he looked down at Rowe and then pointed back
in the direction they’d come. She shook her head and gestured for them to
continue. When he took a step to head toward their cabin she grabbed on to his
arm and tugged on it. She obviously didn’t think they should go back. But the
action was in the opposite direction of where she wanted to go.

He shook his head and took another step toward the smoke.
She tugged on him once more but when he pulled his arm away from her she fell
into step behind him. He didn’t like upsetting her but he had a job to do.

They walked past the cabin and then started making their way
up a grass-covered hill. There were no trees or buildings this far away from
the camp. It left him feeling exposed and vulnerable through the entire trek.
And when they crested the hill the sensation became too much for him to ignore.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her down so she was crouching next to him as
close to the ground as possible.

She gasped but then remained silent. When she removed her
visor she tightened her grip on his hand though. It didn’t hurt but it did let
him know she wasn’t comfortable with their current position. As he took off his
visor and looked down on the scene unfolding beneath them he could understand
why. About twenty of the militiamen had apparently found some poor unfortunate
soul they thought posed some threat. They had him stretched out and tied up and
gagged as they flogged him.

That wasn’t what truly concerned him, however. It might not
be pleasant but he’d seen plenty of men taking a beating over the years. The
man would survive if the flogging was all the militia had in mind. But the
nearby pokers sitting in a small fire told him this evening was about to get so
much worse for the man in question.

Jack pulled Rowe’s hand to get her to move but she only
whimpered as her gaze remained locked on the scene. He placed his other hand on
her shoulder and tried to get her to turn. She didn’t seem to want to though.
She shook her head and pointed down at the group. She wanted him to help the
man. How did he know? Because it was what he wanted to do as well. But he had
to stay focused on what he needed to do. This mission was more important than
what he wanted. And right now they needed to get out of here before they were
discovered. Preferably before they got to the point of the evening where the
interrogation included use of the pokers.

But she didn’t seem to agree with his assessment. She dug
her heels in and refused to move. Which left him with two options. Either he
was going to have to give her what she wanted or carry her back to the cabin.
And most likely he would have to carry her thrown over his shoulder.

He thought through each scenario carefully and then drew his
weapon. He’d been the one to insist they see what was going on. She’d wanted to
keep walking in the opposite direction. If he’d listened to her they wouldn’t
be in this position. That meant the first thing he had to do to start fixing
their current situation was to listen to her now. He had to at least try to
help the prisoner.

Several ideas raced through his head but most of them had to
be dismissed because the probability of him and Rowe being caught and killed
was too high. The only plan he thought might have a chance was to shoot
something with his weapon that would distract the militia and give the man an
opportunity to escape.

He couldn’t shoot the man doing the torturing no matter how
tempting the thought was. Everybody else was focused on him. If he went down
it’d be too obvious. But if he shot one of the men in the back of the gathering
it might cause enough confusion to stall the group. He didn’t need much time.
Just long enough to shoot the bindings that went from the man’s wrists to the stake
in the ground that held him immobile. Then the man should be able to get his
hands free. That was as much as Jack could do for him though. After that it was
up to him to see to his freedom.

His heart beat loudly in his ears as he raised his weapon to
aim it. The older guy standing on the outskirts of the gathering looked as good
a target as any. Jack took a breath to steady his nerves and then exhaled
before he pulled the trigger. The quick blast of light that flared from his gun
hit the guy before anybody even noticed the flash. He was thankful for the
small bit of luck. If nobody saw the light they wouldn’t be looking for a
weapon.

The man dropped to the ground and grabbed his knee. Which
was exactly where Jack had aimed. He didn’t want to kill the guy. He just
wanted to cause as much confusion as possible. And as the other men turned from
the prisoner to see what was happening he knew he’d gotten it right.