CovertDesires (8 page)

When the door did finally slide open she ran inside despite
Barkswell’s attempt to keep her back. She found Jack in an instant and couldn’t
help but launch herself at him. They both hit the ground in a puff of dust but
she didn’t care. He was there. In her arms.

“Harlow drugged me. And when I woke up you were gone. She
wasn’t going to let me come find you. But I had to. I couldn’t bear not
knowing.”

He coughed and then moaned. “Rowe. I’m glad you’re here.
Really I am. But I’d appreciate it more if you weren’t
here
.As
much as I love having you on top of me, my arms are tied behind my back. This
is kind of painful.”

“Oh.” She scurried off him as quickly as possible. “I’m sorry.
Did I hurt you?” The only thing that irritated her more than the fact that she
was hurting Jack was having to listen to Barkswell’s snickers in the
background. “Do you find this amusing?” She cast a glare over her shoulder at
him before helping Jack to stand.

“Maybe a little.”

“Well, maybe you should scan the room for evidence instead
of standing there staring at us.”

Jack smiled at her. “You’re so sexy when you’re putting
people in their place.”

“It’s something I have to get used to doing more often. I
can’t very well blame people for trying to take over my life when I act as
though I’ve got no direction of my own.”

“Sounds about right to me.” He turned around to show her his
hands. “Would you mind starting with unbinding my hands and feet?”

She pulled out a pocketknife and quickly sliced through the
bindings. It was good to feel his arms wrap around her and pull her tightly to
him. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too. But I knew you’d come to save me. You
told me so.”

She laughed against his chest. “I guess I did, didn’t I?”

“Next time it’s my turn to be the hero.”

She looked up at him and felt the rightness of the words.
“Deal.”

“That truly terrifies me.”

“As it should.”

“Hate to break up the happy moment but I’m afraid whoever
did this cleaned up after themselves. I’m not picking up any evidence.”

She could hear the backup arriving. “Maybe they’ll be able
to pick up some trace you missed.”

“No need.” Jack walked over to the door as soon as she’d
gotten his feet free. “I can identify the guy who took me. What I don’t know is
who ordered it and why. But I have a really good guess.”

Their conversation was interrupted as specialists and medics
descended on the small house. Everybody needed to see Jack. He needed to be
cleared by the medics and debriefed by the superiors. Still, he kept one arm
wrapped firmly around her waist. The touch was partially territorial but it was
also protective.

“Nope. Sorry, Captain Seeth. I can’t tell you who had me.”

Rowe looked up at him in confusion but he only winked at
her. He was keeping secrets. Nothing good ever came of that. But she would have
to get him away from the crowds before she could find out what was going on.
“If you guys are done with him, I should get him home and put him to bed. He’s
had a rough day.”

“Home?” He cocked his head as he asked the question. Had she
really just called her home his as well? Was that wrong? Did he not want her
home to be his?

“Yeah. My home.” They could get into the semantics later.
Right now she just needed him to come along peacefully. “I’m sure Harlow and
Parker want to know you’re okay. They were the ones who had the idea to track
you.”

“Good idea. But didn’t you say something about Harlow
drugging you?”

“I’m sorry. Did you just say someone drugged an agent?” The
captain suddenly became very interested in their conversation again.

“She gave me something to help me sleep. It’s been hard
since that last mission.”

Captain Seeth studied her for a minute longer and then
gestured for her and Jack to leave. “Take transport number three. I’ll have
Cali and Sven ride back with five.”

She didn’t realize how tense she’d become until she was
dismissed. As they walked across the grass toward the transport she took long,
deep breaths. She had Jack and soon they’d be home—their home. Because that was
what it was. Whether he was ready to admit it or not.

Jack stared at the people in the room in shock. Not only had
Harlow and Parker been waiting for them back at Rowe’s place but so had the
retired Prime Minister Lee and his wife. Once Barkswell joined them, the
apartment officially became too crowded. It was almost suffocating.

“So this guy holding you had an off-the-books meeting with
the suspect just a couple days ago?” Lee paced around what little room was
available as he stared down at Jack’s reader. The video of the meeting had been
playing nonstop since they’d gotten back.

“Yeah. He wanted to warn me that if I kept digging, his boss
wasn’t going to be happy.” They’d already gone over this several times but Lee
wanted every detail told to him repeated time and time again.

Harlow stared at him intently. “You think you know who the
boss is.”

“Get out of his head.” Rowe sat on his lap as if she were
acting as a shield.

“Sorry. He’s so worried that he’s practically broadcasting
right now.”

Lee looked from Harlow to Jack. “So. Who is it?”

“The doctor who created the Subservients, whatever happened
to him?”

“He slipped through customs. Probably living on a small rock
somewhere, trying not to set off any government flags.”

He would have easy access to thugs. Just like the thugs who
grabbed him today. “How does he feel about you setting them free?”

“No idea. We don’t get together for tea.”

“The guy who had me today told me that the Subservients had
been created for a purpose and to not use them was sacrilege.” He held up his
hands as every pair of eyes in the room turned to glare at him. “His words, not
mine. But it did get me to wondering who would sympathize with that belief. I
can’t imagine anyone who’d have a bigger interest in the fate of the
Subservients than the guy who created them.”

“You think Dr. Antihway is behind this?” Harlow went pale as
she said the words.

“It makes sense.” He grabbed Rowe’s hand to comfort her as
he spoke. “We were working with the assumption the person wanted to use the
Subservients against the government. Does that sound like something he’d do?”

Lee’s laugh was hollow. “Oh yeah. He’s got a history with
the military. He rigged an entire planet with genetically enhanced hostiles to
keep them from getting their hands on the Subservients. Not that the military
would let something as simple as a planet keep them from their goal. But that’s
another story for a different day.” He ran his fingers through his graying
hair. “He’d be willing to do whatever it took to even the score.”

“Why now?” Rowe’s fingers clenched around Jack’s tightly.
“He’s been hiding for over a decade.”

Lee studied them for a moment. “He’s been waiting.
Something’s changed. Power’s shifted. And now he thinks he’s got a shot.”

It didn’t take a genius to figure out one possibility. Not
with him sitting in front of them. They all had to be thinking it. But someone
would have to actually say the words. Jack figured it might as well be him.
“Your retirement, maybe? You always were the biggest advocate the Subservients
had. And you weren’t afraid to ruin a couple careers in order to make sure they
were safe. But now that you’re no longer policing the galaxy, things are
changing.”

Rowe cleared her throat. “The new Prime Minister is a good
guy. Don’t misunderstand what Jack’s saying. But he’s more of a diplomat. You
were a fighter.”

Lee shook his head. “So that’s my legacy? The fighter who
wasn’t afraid to break a couple of eggs on his way up?”

His wife laughed. It was the first sound Jack had heard from
her all night. And he found he liked it. The woman had a nice laugh. It helped
that it wasn’t directed at him. “I didn’t marry an idiot. And I don’t plan on
letting you become one now. Look around you, Jasper.” She held her hands out to
the room around her. “These people love each other. They don’t care that some
of them are Subservients and some are human. Hell, they don’t even care that
two of them once fought against the military they now serve.” She nodded at
Harlow and Parker. “Yeah, I read your files. You wouldn’t let your husband walk
into a room of unknowns. I won’t either.”

“Damn.” Jack had a new of appreciation for the woman. She
always appeared so docile and complacent in the commercials and interviews he’d
seen over the years.

“Yeah. I’m more than a pretty sweater.” She winked at Jack
before continuing. “My point is, you won’t be remembered for breaking eggs. I
can attest to your lack of skills in the kitchen if need be. You’ll be
remembered for bringing people together.” She wrapped her arm around Lee as she
spoke. “If it weren’t for you, these young women would be at the military’s
mercy. This soldier over here,” she said with a nod toward Parker, “wouldn’t
have had a place to go after the war was over. These people have each other
because you weren’t afraid to do what was necessary. Even when it got hard.
That’s your legacy. And I think it’s a damn good one at that.”

He smiled. “What would I do without you?”

“Probably starve to death.”

Jack couldn’t help but laugh. But Harlow brought them all
back to the serious subject at hand. “So what do we do? He wants his pets back.
And he’s a very dangerous man. I’ll never forget how dark and twisted his
thoughts were.”

“You’ve met him?” Parker inched closer to her as he spoke.

“Back when they first woke me up. It’s one of my first
memories. But that’s—”

“A story for another day?”

Harlow rested her head on his chest. “No. That’s a nightmare
I’d rather forget altogether.”

“Okay. Consider it forgotten.” Parker pulled her close as he
kissed the top of her head.

“I suggest we set a trap.” Rowe’s voice startled him.

“We already tried that,” Jack pointed out. “He didn’t fall
for the first time. I don’t think he’s going to fall for it the second time
around.”

“He would’ve fallen for it if we hadn’t had to improvise a
rescue. Besides, that time we tried to make a deal with him. This would be
completely different.” She talked quickly as if the words were bumping into
each other in her head. And maybe they were. He had no idea how things worked
in there. “What if the government were going to transport a large number of
Subservients to an undisclosed location? For their safety, of course. And what
if that information were to be leaked?”

“It would trip him up. He’d have to act before he was ready.
If he didn’t he’d be taking the chance that the Subservients would be out of
reach.” Lee was quiet for a moment and then nodded. “I think it would work.”

“I know it will.” Rowe smiled brightly.

“That’s good enough for me,” Jack said. “How soon can we set
it up?”

“A week at the most. If we want him to believe we’re
relocating them for their safety, it’d be rushed.” Lee looked around the room
before adding, “And I think it’d be best if Harlow and Rowe were in on it.”

He tensed and immediately started thinking of ways to get
Rowe out of this without offending her. Thankfully Parker came up with
something before he could. “Won’t that be suspicious? He knows them. And he
knows they work for the government.”

“That’s what I’m counting on. If this were a real relocation
project, we’d need them to talk to the other Subservients on our behalf. They’d
be working with us. I’m afraid that leaving them out of it would seem
suspicious under the circumstances.” He was quiet for a moment. Probably giving
them time to come to terms with this new bit of information. “This has to
appear legitimate. As a matter of fact, as soon as we leave tonight and set
this into motion, it is. There will be no chatter or code words that imply
we’re doing anything other than protecting the Subservients. Am I clear?”

“Crystal.” But Parker sounded every bit as overjoyed about
it as he did.

“I know you aren’t happy about this.” He looked from Parker
to Jack. “And you don’t have to be. You can bitch and moan to anyone who’ll
listen. But when you do, this is a relocation assignment to protect the
Subservients from an imminent threat.”

“How can we ensure they get the intel?” Rowe asked.

Lee focused on Jack. “How did they know you were looking
into them?”

“Must be the facial recognition program I ran today. The guy
wasn’t in our system but he mentioned me running the program. Somebody in the
Intelligence Division must have seen the image when the request went through.”

“Okay. Run a couple of Subservients through it in the guise
of finding their current location. If anybody asks, and I’m hoping they will,
tell them what’s going on.”

He nodded at the order.

“Good. We’ll meet back here tomorrow night to start the
evacuation plan and transportation details.” Lee obviously expected no
arguments. He certainly didn’t give them time to voice any. He and his wife
left after issuing his last order.

“He’s a man who’s used to getting things done and done his
way, isn’t he?”

Harlow smiled. “Yep. You’re either with him or in the way.
It’s what made him great.” She guided Parker to the door as she spoke. “I’m
glad you’re okay, Jack. But I think it’s time we left. I wouldn’t want to
overstay my welcome.”

“Good night.” Rowe wrapped Harlow in an embrace. “See you
tomorrow.”

Harlow smiled at them and then nodded. “See you then.”

He wasn’t sure what’d happened between them that made Harlow
feel that drugging Rowe was her only option but seeing them make peace made him
happy. He didn’t like it when Rowe was upset.

“Good night, Barkswell.” Rowe’s cheery voice brought him
back to the present. “Thanks for coming with me tonight.”

“Anytime.”

When she closed the door they were finally alone. “Crazy
night, huh?”

He was ready for any number of responses but not for her to
throw herself at him again. Thankfully this time his hands were free and he
could catch her before they both tumbled to the ground again. Though he
wouldn’t really mind as much now that they were at her apartment.

“I was so worried. I could feel something was going to
happen.”

He kissed her reassuringly. “He just wanted to warn me.
That’s it. I was never in any real danger.”

“Of course you were. You still are.”

“Not really. Once they find out I didn’t drop the case,
they’ll be too busy trying to get their hands on you to worry about me.” He
guided her to the couch. When he was seated he pulled her onto his lap. “I
missed you.”

She turned so she was facing him while straddling him. “I
missed you too.”

He pulled her shirt up over her head and then leaned forward
to kiss her shoulder. “You called this home. Earlier. When we were talking to
the captain.” Had she meant to refer to it as his home as well or had that been
an accident? He had to know. It was driving him crazy.

She shivered as he ran his tongue over the sensitive skin
where her shoulder met her neck. “It is my home.” She rocked her hips and he
moaned at the delicious sensation.

“Okay.” He nibbled on her shoulder and her skin broke out in
goose bumps. It wasn’t a direct answer but Rowe didn’t always do direct. She
tended to let the answers reveal themselves with time. He just had to be patient
enough to let her get there.

“It’s a good home.”

“That it is.”

She leaned over and ran the tip of her tongue down the shell
of his ear. “If you’d like to add your palm to the reader, you could come and
go as you pleased.”

He tried not to smile as his heart felt suddenly light with
emotion but he failed miserably. He was worse than a teenager. “I’d like that.”
He unfastened her pants as he kissed her collarbone. “I’d like that a lot.”

As soon as her pants were undone she stood and stripped out
of them and her panties. For one moment he was free to appreciate the beauty in
front of him. She was amazing. He had no idea how she came to be in his life.
He was a good guy. Always tried to do the right thing for the sake of it being
the right thing. But he’d never done anything noble or grand enough to have karmically
earned someone like her. And yet the universe had dropped her right in front of
his desk. Maybe it expected him to spend the rest of his life making up that
debt? If so he was happy to try. “Come here.”

“But we need to get you undressed.” She leaned over to take
off his shoes and he was mesmerized by the sway of her breasts. “Care to help
me out? Or were you just planning on taking in the sights all night?”

“The sights are tempting. But I guess I could give you a
hand.” He was happy to take his shirt off as she undid his pants. Then it only
took him raising his hips and his pants and boxers were stripped off him.

“There. Now we’re all even.” She reached over to one of the
end tables and took a condom out of the drawer.

“Have you been stocking the house while I’ve been at work?”

“I learned from the best.” She winked at him before putting
the condom down on the couch next to them. He felt a little disappointed when
she didn’t put the sheath on him immediately. He wanted to be deep inside
her—surrounded by her warmth. But when she knelt in front of him and wrapped
her hand around his cock he decided maybe her idea was better after all.

He only had a moment to take a deep breath before she
swirled her tongue around the head of his dick as she began stroking him. Damn
she was good. He grabbed the couch with one hand as he buried the other in her
hair.

The sensations were almost overwhelming as she caressed him
with her fingertips while licking his cock. He never wanted it to end. It’d
have to eventually though. And as much as he loved what she was currently
doing, he did want to be buried deep inside her sex before he gave in to the
climax building inside him. “Need you, sweetheart.”

She looked up and smiled. “You’ve got me.”