Edge of Danger (Edge Security Series Book 3) (9 page)

“I know,” he said quietly. “I know you can take care of yourself, but you’re not at a hundred percent. So let a partner help you out.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re making me regret I called you that.”

“Firecracker, I’m offering to cook you a meal as a friend. Nothing more.”

“And sleep over.”

He shrugged. “No one’s going to know.”

“What about your friend Marc?”

“He’s at the CTB doing the night shift.”

She straightened, her mind back on the job. “Will he alert you if anything goes on?”

“Right away,” he said. He stood tall and straight. The streetlamp lit the angles of his face, highlighting his cheekbones.

A warmth started in her belly as she stared at him. She’d been fighting that warmth from the moment she’d laid eyes on him, but this time she paused. What was the point in denying the attraction between them? It had been a long time since she’d last had anyone to her bed. Zach Grayson could be a superb way to end her dry spell.

“Okay,” she said, heading for the building’s door. “It’s a tough call, but I’ll let you make me dinner.”

He followed her up the stairs and then went first into her apartment. She could see the landlord had started to fix her door—at least she hoped that’s what he was doing by removing her doorknob and leaving a two-inch circular hole for anyone to look through.

She knew everyone on her floor, and that she could defend herself in a fight, but it still unnerved her to have an unlocked door.

Zach did a quick sweep of the place before ending up in the living area with her, making the place feel smaller than it was. But she immediately felt lighter with him in it.

Safer, she realized. He made her feel safe. Busted door or not.

She watched him go through her cupboards.

“What do you normally eat for dinner?” he asked.

She shrugged. “There’s a Thai place one block over. Or I go the extra block to the grocery store and grab a pre-made salad.” He looked appalled so she grinned. “Sometimes it’s old reliable.”

“I almost hate to ask,” he said.

“PB and J, of course.”

He shook his head slowly as if she were hopeless. A burst of life went through her and she laughed. He smiled in response and her heart stuttered. God, the man was gorgeous. The short sleeves of his polo shirt revealed muscled forearms and biceps twice the size of hers, sculpted with not a trace of fat. She suddenly wanted to see if the rest of him lived up to those arms.

It had been too long since she’d had sex. And the encounters she’d had since Iraq had been dissatisfying and left her irritated more than anything. None of them had been able to touch the numbness inside her, and none of them had been able to make her laugh with a single expression the way Zach could.

She didn’t think a night with this soldier would be dissatisfying.

“Why are you smiling like that?” he asked.

She put on an innocent face, which wasn’t that innocent if she went by Zach’s narrowed eyes. “Nothing. I just think I’m going to enjoy having someone cook me dinner.”

He nodded slowly, as if he didn’t trust her. “Okay. In any case, I’ll be right back. I’m hitting the grocery store. Call me if you need me and I’ll be back here in under a minute.”

She knew he would, too. He took his job as protector very seriously.

Well, tonight she would take care of him.

Z
ach went
to the grocery store for supplies. He reminded himself to call the locksmith the next day to get her door fixed. Even if he was there, he didn’t like her apartment being open during the day.

He realized he was in full ‘Doc’ mode, but couldn’t help it. Screw what Alyssa thought. Something about seeing her this morning, frozen and fighting a flashback, brought out all his protective instincts.

He entered her apartment and set the grocery bag on her counter. The water was running in the bathroom. She was having a shower? When her door was broken? Was the woman insane? He pounded on the bathroom door.

“You couldn’t have waited until I got back?”

“Why? Did you want to join me?”

Zach almost swallowed his tongue. His body hardened at the thought of her naked under streaming water. Join her? Hell yes, he wanted to join her. He stepped back, his fists clenched. She’d had a rough day. She probably didn’t mean what he thought she meant.

She was Jake’s sister, and he was here only to see that she stayed safe.

He cleared his throat. “I’m going to make dinner.”

He ignored her laughter and stalked back to the kitchen. He would make her dinner and take care of her whether she wanted him to or not. She was just trying to drive him away.

Or crazy.

As he pulled out the groceries he’d bought, he breathed deep and evenly, thinking about Jake the whole time. He could do this.

He wasn’t a master chef, but he knew his way around pasta. He had a basic homemade sauce simmering within minutes, with tomatoes, fresh basil, and garlic. He added some Kalamata olives for a bit of a salty flavor. The water boiled for pasta while the sauce simmered, garlic bread heated in the oven, and a bottle of red wine breathed.

“My apartment has never smelled so good.” Alyssa had come out of the bathroom. She wore a robe that ended mid-thigh, revealing her toned legs.

Zach swallowed hard. Her creamy skin glowed with heat and moisture from the shower. Water slicked her hair back, revealing the fine bone structure of her face. His cock twitched. She looked exquisite. And so very tempting.

He took a step toward her before he controlled himself. She needed caring, not seducing. He clenched his fists and stopped, turning back to the stove. Blindly, he picked up the spoon and stirred the sauce. “Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes.”

“Can it wait?” She sounded closer than before.

He didn’t turn around, not sure he could survive seeing her in just a robe again. “Of course. But not too long. You should hurry.”

“Well,” she said in a throaty voice. “If you insist.” A slight slither and thud of her robe hitting the ground made him freeze, though blood surged to his cock.

“What are you doing, Alyssa?” he asked without moving. He couldn’t be responsible for his actions if he saw what she offered.

Hands touched his back, the heat of them searing him through his T-shirt. They glided out toward his shoulders before stopping. He felt the sharp prick of nails biting his flesh.

He dropped his head and groaned. “Alyssa, I ca—”

“You can,” she said, her voice low. “What’s stopping you?”

She stepped closer and the heat of her body against his back made him grip the edge of the stove as he fought for control. “You don’t know what you’re doing,” he said. “You’re stressed from the case.”

“Look at me,” she said, pushing his shoulder to turn him.

He knew what would happen if he turned, but he was powerless to stop it. He turned off the burners on the stove and faced her. Her glowing gray eyes, like molten silver, seared him. And the rest?

She wore black lacy underwear that hinted at the pale skin underneath. He shuddered with need so intense he had to bite back a groan as he grew hard. Every muscle tensed, holding himself in check when she pressed her body against him.

“Jesus, Alyssa, you’re not fighting fair.”

Her hands went to his waist and under his shirt. “This isn’t a fight, Zach. We’re two adults who have some kind of crazy chemistry between us. Let’s just see where this goes.”

“And then?” His voice sounded hoarse.

Her gaze shifted away and then back. “Don’t complicate it. Let’s just have tonight.”

He should force her to tell him why she only wanted one night. Or better, he should just leave her alone. Both were what she needed. But he was tired of being ‘Doc.’ He didn’t want to think of others tonight. He just wanted to feel.

He cupped her head in his hands. Her eyes widened and her lips parted slightly. His cock hardened to an almost painful degree as she swayed toward him. He smiled. “Tonight, then.”

A
lyssa met
Zach’s lips when he lowered his head to hers. Shock stilled her body before heat roared through her and brought her shivering to life.

She couldn’t believe she’d done it. Something about seeing Zach in her tiny kitchen again, with his T-shirt straining across his shoulders as he bent to taste the sauce. He was taking care of her, making sure she ate. Keeping her safe.

Who was this man? And did he need to take care of everyone, or was she special? She wanted to be, and that was part of what drew her to him. He’d stiffened when he’d seen her there. She’d frozen for a moment, until she’d seen the heat in his eyes. Then she had known.

And with that knowledge, she’d crossed the small distance between them. He’d turned away, but she hadn’t let him dismiss her. She kept the memory of that heat close and dropped her robe. She took the condom she’d taken from the room and placed it on the counter within reach. The air was cool on her damp skin and her hands trembled slightly when she reached for him.

She wasn’t sure what drove her, but she knew she needed skin-on-skin contact tonight. She needed him to help her drive the memories away.

When he cupped her face in his large hands, she was lost. Her eyelids dragged down, but his gaze wouldn’t release hers. The heat in his seared her.

“Tonight, then.” His voice was low and made her belly throb.

The kiss scorched her, scattering her thoughts. She tried to pull his shirt from his pants, needing to touch his skin.

He broke off the contact and took a small step back. A little mewl of protest escaped her. She scowled. Was he really going to turn her away?

But no. His eyes burned hot as they traveled up and down her body, resting longer on her breasts and hips. “Take off your bra. I want to look at you,” he said, his voice deeper. His gaze captured hers and she couldn’t look away. Her insides tumbled and her breath quickened. She unhooked the front clasp and let the bra slide down her arms. Her nipples tightened with the touch of air and Zach’s gaze.

“Gorgeous,” he said. He pulled off his shirt, and Alyssa’s mouth went dry.

Hard muscle corded his arms and chest. Broad shoulders led to a narrow waist ridged with slabs of muscle. This was a warrior’s body: explosive, powerful, and strong.

And hers for tonight. The thought made her shiver.

He stalked toward her and her belly tightened at the need in his eyes. That was for her. He stopped within an inch of her. She could feel the heat of his body. His hand traced her cheek and his eyes searched hers.

“Last chance, Firecracker,” he whispered.

She leaned up and touched her lips to his, the contact soft and sweet as he let her nibble at his delectable lips. Then her tongue licked his lower one.

He growled and opened his mouth over hers. Fire washed over her skin as he pulled her to him, her breasts pressed against his hard chest. Her nipples hardened and she moaned.

His mouth followed the line of her neck and her head fell back. He pulled her up and sat her on the counter while he continued to trail kisses over her collarbone and down to her breasts. They felt swollen and needy, aching for his touch.

His mouth closed over one nipple and she cried out at the lightning that shot to her core. He lavished first one and then the other breast with the same care, until her moans came almost continuously.

She dug her nails into his shoulders. “Zach, stop teasing.”

He laughed, deep and low. “As you wish.”

He set her on the ground and pulled her underwear down. A growling hum emanated from him. If anything, the sound made the fire in her burn hotter.

He stood and set her back on the counter as if she weighed nothing. She wrapped her legs around his waist, trapping him. She undid his pants and pushed them and his boxers down his strong thighs.

She took in a deep breath at the sight of him, strong and proud before her. Her body flushed with need. She grabbed the condom and ripped it open.

“May I?”

“Whatever the lady wants,” he said, his voice deeper with his desire. It sent a shiver through her as she unrolled the condom over his hot flesh. She leaned forward and couldn’t resist laving a nipple with her tongue. He sucked in a breath and lifted her.

She wrapped her legs around his waist and felt him hard and hot, nudging her entrance. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him, drugging herself on his lips and tongue.

He took two steps toward the bedroom and groaned. Her back hit the wall and his hands gripped her hips, sliding her down on him. She moaned but didn’t stop kissing him.

His thrust was excruciatingly slow, stretching her and not stopping until he’d seated himself fully. Her head spun and her insides tightened on the thickness of him. He pulled back from the kiss, his breathing ragged, and leaned his forehead against hers.

“You okay, Firecracker?”

He still thought of her, even now. Her heart cracked open a little and the heat of their joining soothed it.

“Alyssa?” His gaze now searched hers. Whatever he saw there made him smile. He pulled out of her and then eased back in. So full. Her head tilted back.

“Look at me,” he commanded. “I want to see you.”

She dragged her gaze back to his. Her hands gripped his shoulders as he plunged into her again and again, while she drowned in his eyes. His hands held her hips still while he drove deep.

Her heart raced as pleasure radiated in waves through her, taking her higher with each thrust.

“Zach, please.” She didn’t know what she begged for.

“Hold on,” he growled and aligned their hips so that every drive rubbed on that bud of nerves. And she held on, lost in the storm that was Zach.

Faster, harder, deeper.

The pleasure spiraled hot enough to burn, and she tensed as she moved closer to the edge, every muscle a rock. Then she shattered and flew into a world with no light, just pleasure. His groan of release echoed her cry.

A
lyssa woke
up the next morning to a deliciously hard body pressed against her back and a mind full of regrets. They lay heavy on her like a smothering blanket that she wanted to throw off and run from.

And while she wasn’t the type to run, she wasn’t the type to stay either. She couldn’t be in any kind of relationship. She could barely keep herself together since Iraq.

Zach’s arm tightened around her as if he sensed her thoughts. Even while he slept he was trying to reassure her she was safe.

She closed her eyes and savored his closeness. It wasn’t something she’d allow herself again. Even if he was a special ops soldier like her brother, Zach was still a nice guy underneath it all. He needed a nice girl.

And she definitely wasn’t a nice girl. She was cold, tough, and, let’s face it, mentally unstable. She opened her eyes. It was time he found out who she really was.

She wasn’t even sure why she was worried about this. It was all a moot point. They’d agreed one night to scratch the itch between them. Time to be professionals again.

She eased out from under his arm to the edge of the bed. She sat up without looking back at him, knowing that if she saw him in the morning light, with his smooth dark skin and the steely muscles of his chest, she’d waver. She almost snorted. She wouldn’t waver, she’d jump on him again and to hell with what she’d just decided.

She found her underwear and a T-shirt and pulled them on.

“Please tell me you’re going to make coffee,” he said. His deep voice sent shivers through her.

Don’t look at him, Alyssa.

“I need to get into work. I’m going to grab a shower.” She snagged clean underwear from her dresser. “Make yourself at home,” she said, moving to her closet next, keeping her gaze averted. “The coffee shop Lattes and More sells a good cup.”

Material slithered and the mattress creaked. She swallowed hard and kept her attention on the clothes in front of her.

“Are you giving me the brush off?” he asked.

She shifted her hangers blindly. “No brush off. We had fun last night. It was a good stress reliever, but now it’s time to get back to business.” She was impressed with how steady she kept her voice. She pulled a blazer down to go with the jeans and boots she had in her arms.

The bed squeaked behind her. Her cue to leave. She strode to the bedroom door, but Zach beat her to it. His naked body stood between her and freedom.

“Look at me,” he said.

She did. Her body thrummed in response.

“I meant my face,” he said with a snort.

That was harder to do, but she dragged her gaze up to his. He tilted his head as he studied her, before he stepped closer. She held her clothes in front of her, knowing it was no shield, but she felt better for it.

“So what we did last night isn’t bothering you?” he asked quietly.

She forced a shrug. “Of course not. We had sex. Great sex. But it’s not like it meant anything to either of us.”

“Why would you think that?”

She gaped at him a moment. How was she supposed to answer that? It couldn’t mean anything. They were from two different worlds. She lived in New York, and he lived in Montreal, when he wasn’t off doing whatever he and Jake did at E.D.G.E. Security.

His phone beeped from her bedside table, where he’d left it beside his gun. He stepped away from the door to get it and she snuck into the hall.

“We’re not done talking about this,” he warned just before he answered his phone. “Grayson here.”

She took the fastest shower of her life and braided her hair wet. She stepped into the hall dressed and ready for the day. From the smell, he’d made coffee while she showered.

“Marc gave me a sitrep. Nothing new overnight,” Zach said, stepping by her into the bathroom. “I’ll be five minutes. Have a coffee.” He touched a finger to her chin. “Do not leave without me, or I’ll think you’re scared of me.”

She pulled her chin away. “I’m
not
scared of you.”

He smiled. “Glad to hear it. I’ll be ready soon.”

In the kitchen, she grabbed a cup and thunked it onto the counter.

Nobody tells me what to do. And I’m not scared of anyone.

Her first sip of coffee calmed her slightly. Had he added cinnamon to it? Omigod it was good. She topped off her cup just before he opened the bathroom door.

He grinned when he saw her leaning against the counter, holding the mug to her lips.

“What?” she scowled.

He held up his hands. “Nothing.”

She straightened. Time to set some ground rules. “Last night doesn’t change anything between us. We’re still just partners until we catch Al Shabah.”

A flash of something darkened his gaze before he nodded. “Anything you say, Firecracker. Now are you going to pour me some of that coffee,
partner
? Or keep it all for yourself?”

W
hen they got to work
, Alyssa sighed with relief that no one seemed to notice or care that they entered the office at the same time. She went straight to her desk without saying anything to Zach. Some distance would be good between them. She needed to stay focused on the case.

And not on the mind-blowing sex she’d had last night.

Her phone rang and she snatched it up. It was the M.E.

“You have something on the café bomber?” Alyssa asked.

“Not yet. I have a forensic dental and bone expert going over the remains. It’s top priority,” he assured her. “I’m calling about the vet who was killed by the train yesterday.”

“The jumper?”

“Not a jumper,” the M.E. said. “He was shot.”

“What? Are you sure?”

“I found a small-caliber bullet lodged in one of his lungs. I suspect he was alive when he fell on the tracks, but I can’t be sure. I have to run a few more tests. Maybe he’d been trying to go to the hospital when he fell?”

“It’s a theory,” she said. She thanked him and then immediately hooked into the subway camera system to get video footage of that night. She found the right station and cameras for the views and started going through a four-hour span of video.

Zach sat down in the chair across from her desk. “What are you doing?”

Her body came to life at his nearness, and she didn’t like it. Last night was supposed to get him out of her system, not have him get even further under her skin. “I’m working on a different case. Why don’t you go back and help Riley and Drew wade through the video surveillance?”

“They’ve already gone over it. They’re checking into Frank Costa. Besides, that’s not how partners work, Firecracker.”

She rolled her shoulders as if she could just shake him off. “Seriously, this isn’t your concern.”

He sighed. “What’s your problem with me? Is it because I’m your brother’s friend? Or that I know you have PTSD? Or maybe because you hate to rely on anyone?” He moved around the desk until he was close and then leaned down.

His voice seemed to brush her skin in a rough caress. “Or is it because of last night…and how much you liked it?”

Heat washed over her and she scowled. She hated that he could do that to her. “I’m being professional. Something you need to learn. And I don’t have any feelings toward you one way or another.” She lowered her voice. “You’re just a member of the task force. I found you attractive and we had sex. No big deal.”

Anger lit Zach’s eyes and he put his face close to hers, those lips almost within touching distance. She sucked in a breath.

“Liar,” he whispered before stepping away. “But if last night was really no big deal, then you should be glad to have some help on whatever you’re working on.”

Dammit. He had her there. She crossed her arms over her chest. She
could
use someone to bounce ideas off of. “This case has nothing to do with Al Shabah,” she warned.

“Alyssa.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine. A homeless guy in my neighborhood was killed. I want to find out who did it.”

“Was this guy a friend?” he asked, sitting down in his seat. That’s how she thought of it now: his seat.

“Sort of.”

Zach held her gaze a moment. “Okay.”

“Okay? You’ll help?”

He shrugged. “I told you I would. And if it’s important to you, we investigate.”

“Well, you’re awfully accommodating.”

“Anything for you, Firecracker.”

Her lips twisted at the continued use of the nickname, but she didn’t take him to task. Instead, she told him everything she knew about Rob, which sadly didn’t take long.

“And the day before he died, Rob said someone was following him,” she finished.

“Did you check it out?”

Guilt twisted her insides. “No. I thought he was just being paranoid. But he gave me an envelope.” She pulled her messenger bag out from her bottom desk drawer and started to dig through it.

“You can find anything in there?” Zach asked.

Okay, so the bag was a complete black hole. “This is my everything bag.” She began pulling items out. “I’ve got handcuffs, toothpaste, extra ammo, hairbrush. Everything a girl could need. And…” She pulled out the stained envelope with a flourish. “The envelope.”

Zach opened it and shuffled through the papers. “Scrap paper. Receipts. And…children’s stories in Arabic?”

“It looks like papers from a teacher’s desk,” she said.

He nodded, but didn’t say anything as he continued to flip through the pages one by one, something she hadn’t done yet. He pulled out a lined white page with handwritten Arabic on it. “This looks interesting.”

He read it aloud in English.

M
y dearest love
,

I can’t wait to see you and our son again. I am almost finished with my work and will be with you both soon. It has been too long and I’m tired of traveling. Thankfully this will be my last letter.

Z
ach hesitated before continuing
.

K
iss Nasir for me
. All my love,

E

S
he frowned
as she thought about the letter. It seemed like something someone would write if they were away on business. “Does the name Nasir mean anything to you?” she asked Zach. Had that been the source of his hesitation?

His lips twisted. “Just the name of someone from my past.” He shook his head. “It’s a common enough name.”

One more question about the enigmatic Zach Grayson. She put it away to deal with later.

“Maybe the rest of the papers belong to this E person,” Alyssa said.

Zach nodded and kept sorting through the envelope’s contents, so she went back to the video surveillance, fast forwarding through it.

“I found something,” she said a few minutes later.

He came around the desk to see her monitor.

“Look at the time stamp,” she said. “Two a.m. The trains are only coming every half hour.”

On the video, the platform was deserted until two people walked into the camera’s view—Rob and a slightly shorter, leaner person in a hoodie and jeans. Rob leaned on the guy in the hoodie. They stopped near the edge. Hoodie guy looked around before pushing Rob off the platform and onto the track.

He stared at Rob—or maybe he was speaking, his back was to the camera so Alyssa couldn’t be sure. Then he left, taking the far stairs without ever showing his face to the camera.

“Dammit,” she said. “Why did he do that? It wasn’t a robbery.”

“Zach. Al,” Riley called from across the room. He waved urgently at them. “We’ve got something.”

Both she and Zach jumped up and followed Riley. Alyssa would go back to Rob’s murder when she had time. For now, the priority had to be finding Al Shabah.

In the Global Intelligence room, on the main screen, a man swathed in black with sunglasses spoke Arabic.

“Al Shabah has bombed the center of all evil. He has killed evil Americans and soldiers in New York. We hail the work of Al Shabah as righteous…”

The man continued to speak, but Alyssa tuned him out.

“Where’s this originating from?”

Riley sighed. “Already checked. The video has been spread all over the net and it’s hard to find the origin, but because of background noise and the man’s accent, we believe it’s from Northern Iraq.”

“So confirmation that the bombing this morning was Al Shabah,” Zach said.

“Looks that way,” Riley said.

“But wait,” Alyssa said. “He said Americans and soldiers were killed.”

Zach looked at her. “Only the bomber.”

“And while he was a vet, I’m not sure that’s what he was talking about. So, most likely the coffee shop wasn’t the end target of the bomb and Al Shabah hasn’t connected with his contacts about his failed attempt.”

She whirled to Drew, who sat with headphones on. “Keep monitoring all black-net traffic. Al Shabah will want to make contact with his people.”

She looked at Zach. “Now we need to figure out what his real target was.”

Z
ach spent
the rest of the day tracking Tony Merchant’s last movements and trying not to think about Alyssa Harrison. He widened his search area and honed in on something.

“Alyssa,” he called across the GI room to her work station. She’d taken a desk far from his this afternoon. So much for being partners. She stared steadily at her screen, ignoring him.

“I’ve got something,” he said.

Both Riley and Drew looked up. Even Masters walked over. “What is it?” he asked.

“The VA hospital on East 23rd Street. Merchant had an appointment there that morning. Right about the time the bomb blew.”

“How’d you figure that out?” Masters asked.

“From his file that we got from the shelter,” Zach said.

“He was going to blow up a VA hospital?” Alyssa asked. At least she’d finally come over to join them.

“Looks like it,” he said. “Thank god, he hardly ever showed up for his appointments.”

“So that proves he was a mule,” Alyssa said. “A hospital for veterans is just Al Shabah’s style.”

Agent Masters crossed his arms. “But how did Al Shabah contact him?”

“Still working on that,” Zach said.