Polar Opposites (In Aeternum Book 4) (7 page)

The facility resided in the countryside and was built underground with an organic farm over the top of it. Locals came to work there and none were any wiser about what went on below the ground they farmed upon. It was truly amazing how much could be done when big chunks of money were involved.

The chime of his cell had him tensing. A specific ring for a special and unique person. He hesitated before he answered.

“Hi, stranger.” Ivan spoke Russian, as he preferred to do.

“You have been avoiding me.” She, too, spoke his native language.

“You have a husband and children.”

Jaydee scoffed slightly. “Should I then insinuate that to mean
we
are no longer friends?” Her reprimand was obvious.

“Of course not.”

“Then your reasoning for ignoring me?”

“We’ve gone substantial periods of time without speaking. We are both busy.”

“Not when one of us is recruited by Theta Corps.”

Of course she’d know that. “You’ve worked for different groups before.”

She was silent. “You have changed, Ivan.”

“Did you think I wouldn’t after you turned down my marriage proposal?” He heard the lingering anger in his tone. Frustrated, he shook his head.

“We were friends.”

“I know. But you’re a wife and mother now.”

“And capable of being a friend.”

Ivan had to give Gio credit for this change in her. Prior to marrying that man, she never would have cared one way or the other if they hadn’t spoken in a while. Her husband was good for her, he knew that.
Still doesn’t make it any less painful she chose him over me.

“I always considered you one, Jaydee. That will never change, but I needed space. Need space. I don’t compartmentalize as you do.”

“I understand. Goodbye, Ivan.”

Their call ended and he lowered his cell back to his pocket. He stared at the wall and sighed before raking his hand through his hair. He missed his friendship with her but out of respect for her new life, he had backed away. Sure, some of it was his disappointment at losing her. But lately when he closed his eyes, it wasn’t Jaydee who lay with him. It was Bailey.

His lips curved up as he smiled. Her memory always brought one to his face. He hadn’t seen her yet and Kevin had said she had more than one apartment around the world so he couldn’t promise when she’d be at the one in this city.

Ivan didn’t mind. He was determined to find her. He relocated and sat out on his balcony, feet propped up on the railing.

An assassin. She wasn’t what he pictured as one.

Granted, I’ve never met an assassin before so what do I know about what they should be like?

He’d had femme fatales or dark, swarthy people as shown in movies on his mind. Sure, Bailey could be a femme fatale but she didn’t wear tight clothes as they did in shows he’d seen.

“I need to get a life.” He stood and leaned over the balcony railing. His place was on the third floor and he overlooked the market. The vendor calls, food scents and more filled the air. Staring down at the crowd, his heart skipped a beat.

As if his thoughts had conjured her up, there she was. Bailey.

She meandered through the throng of people, bags in hand. A medium blue tight-fitting shirt bearing a vibrant pink flower had been paired with charcoal gray shorts. Her tennis shoes were a blend of gray with pink piping.

For a heartbeat, he hesitated. Could he be imagining this was her? She paused at the flower stall, talked and laughed with the woman and eventually pointed out a bouquet.

“Bailey!”

She never turned and he cursed, realizing she probably couldn’t hear him over the crowd. He whirled and ran for the door, swiping his keys along the way. This woman—his reason for being here—was close. Ivan had no intention of letting her go.

He ran down the three flights and burst out into the afternoon, nimbly avoiding another tenant who was entering. “Excuse me,” he muttered, pushing through the people as he hurried across the street.

Bailey lingered at the stall. Her hair hung in a thick braid down her back. He recommitted her to his memory. He moved up behind her.

“Hello, Bailey.”

Their eyes met when she looked over her shoulder. Her golden gaze widened slightly before she smiled.

“Ivan. What are you doing here?”

He hadn’t been sure what her reaction to seeing him again would be so this acceptance was a welcome surprise.

“Hopefully escorting you to your apartment.” He took the bags she had in her right hand from her. “And catching up.”

“Interesting,” she uttered before turning back to the vendor.

He remained quiet as she paid and put the flowers in another bag. When she faced him fully, he worked hard to control his groan of desire. What was it about this woman that affected him so?

“Where do you live?”

“Why so anxious to discover my home, Doctor?”

He stepped closer to her and dipped his head so their lips almost touched. “Because I missed you and I can’t give you a proper welcome out here in public.” He grinned wickedly. “Well, I could, but I don’t know if you’d want me to.”

Her expression didn’t change. She backed up and walked around him. “Come on then.”

While not sure that was a ringing endorsement about her joy at seeing him again, he fell into step behind her until her ass was too much of a distraction and he walked beside her.

“What brings you to South America, Doctor?”

“I live here now.” He sidestepped a young girl selling cloth.

“You work here? There’s a lab here for a doctor of your abilities?”

“You know what I do?”

“I was given a file on you.” She stopped and perused another stall, one of jewelry this time. He waited patiently for her to finish.

“So you know all there is to know about me?”

“Probably.” Her comment was straightforward and matter-of-fact.

Ivan waited for her while she spoke Spanish to the woman and haggled for the earrings she ended up purchasing.

“How is it you know so much about me and I know so little about you?” He posed his question once they began walking again.

“It’s my job to know about a target.”

“A target?”

“It’s what you were. My target. Granted, most times I’m sighting mine through a scope, but to me it’s all the same.”

“That’s right, you’re an”—he lowered his voice—“assassin.”

“Does that disgust you, Doctor?”

“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a bit unnerving but no, it doesn’t disgust me.”

They turned up another street and he noticed how people, while watching them closely, didn’t try anything.
I wonder if they know her job as well.

A few more winds and turns where he watched her share the food she’d purchased and give the earrings to a young girl. They eventually made it to a yellow building that she entered. She led him down the hall and through a nondescript door.

Her place was a cheery yellow. The hue was bright and reflected the sun that poured in through the windows and small balcony door. She placed her bags on the counter and he turned around, taking it all in.

Once his hands were free and she stood before him, he reached for her. Bailey stepped back with a slight shake of her head. “Talk first.”

“Then what?”

“We go from there.”

“So you’re telling me what I felt in the sub was just me?”

“I didn’t say that at all. I said talk first. I want to know the truth about why you’re here.”

All business. Like the woman who’d saved him from those Chechens.

“I told you, I work here now.”

“For Theta Corps.”

He nodded. She walked to the fridge and withdrew two bottles. After popping their tops, she handed one to him. Grateful for the drink, he took a long swallow of the fizzy beverage.

“They don’t have a headquarters here.”

“Kevin built me a lab here.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly. “That farm outside of town on the east side. That’s where it is.”

“I’m impressed. How did you figure it out?”

She wiped the back of her hand over her mouth. “I’ve worked for Theta for a while now. Why here?”

“Why here what?” Lord he wanted to touch her. Revel in her smooth skin, her curves and taste the sweetness of her lips.

“Why did you have it built here?”

He glanced around and found the nearest surface. Once his drink rested there, he strode toward her, not slowing even at her quick step back. Cupping her face in his hands, Ivan kissed her. He ran his tongue along the seam of her mouth before she opened and he slid inside.

Her familiar taste hit him and he groaned as she did. Their breaths mingled and she pressed closer to him, her curves fitting perfectly against his body. When her arms wound around his neck, he allowed his eyes to close. Her whimper had him separating their lips by a hair’s breadth.

“For that reason.”

That is one hell of a reason.

It would be so nice to give in to the need raking her. She didn’t understand how this one man could strip away all her common sense and make her think of nothing but the way he’d filled her as his cock had moved within her, and the rasp of his stubble upon the sensitive skin of her inner thighs while he’d masterfully eaten her pussy.

So why don’t you?
She didn’t need her brain’s commentary or to fall prey to her body’s demand.

She couldn’t. Not right now. With deep regret, she pulled away from him. Ivan retained hold of her arms.

He gazed down at her, eyes tumultuous with a wide range of emotions. Bailey cleared her throat and averted her head, severing their visual connection.

“Kind of a crazy reason to come to a country.”

“Not really.”

“You didn’t even know I’d be here.”

“He said you had an apartment here. Figured with an apartment comes the highly logical aspect you’d be here sooner or later.

McNeal has said a lot.
“So based on that, you move here, not even with the knowledge of where my apartment is?”

“I picked near the market. Kevin said you liked the market. Figured my odds were substantial to find you.”

I think I need to have a chat with McNeal about being so chatty when it comes to my living conditions.
A short chuckle burst from her. “You’re crazy.”

His grin created flutters in both her belly and loins. “I’m a scientist and I prefer the term determined. Or hopeful.”

“I thought as a scientist you dealt in tangibles.” She crossed her arms. “Facts.”

His eyes twinkled with what she would only describe as trouble. “I do. Fact one. You are sometimes an occasional resident of this city. Fact two. Living near the market increased my chances of seeing you again. Fact three. I am a man who’s not felt what you made him feel in years, if ever, and I have no wish to lose that.”

Ivan stepped back, his touch falling away and leaving her bereft. While a struggle, she managed not to reach out and touch him.

“Three facts.”

“Would more make you feel better?”

“Not particularly.” She rocked back on her heels. “Is that it?”

He arched an eyebrow. “Coldness won’t push me away, Bailey.”

“You expected me to be all over you?”

“Had kind of hoped for you to remember how irresistible you found me.”

She couldn’t help the grin spreading over her face. Ivan amused her like no other. “I do,” she admitted. “Make no mistake about that.”

“So then, have we talked enough?”

Had any other man spoken those words to her, she would have been pissed off. But Ivan had this air about him. She ran her tongue along the bottom of her top teeth. Raked her gaze over his firm body.
Why can’t I indulge myself?
“Sure, no reason to remain chatty.”

He ripped off his shirt and lobbed it to his left. “Chatty is fine. Feel free to vocalize just how much you enjoy what I’m about to do to you.”

“Sounds promising.” She removed her shirt. “I do hope you deliver.”

His grin was sin incarnate. Ivan reached out and hooked his index finger into her bra. He tugged her forward. She went willingly. He plucked the flower from her hair, dragging it over the swell of her breasts, down the valley and across her belly.

Her gut clenched as need crashed over her. The silken caress of the petals tantalized her oversensitive skin. Locked immobile by his gaze, she witnessed his own increased breathing. His pupils dilated. The pulse on his neck kicked.

“Come here.” His command fell from his lips like honey. Sweet and tempting.

She listened, stepping close and sliding her palms along his abs and around to his lower back. His warm skin heated her further.

Her clit throbbed in time with her heart, her nipples drawing tight. She dug her fingers into the muscles of his back as she wobbled.

“Ivan.”

“I do love it when my name falls from your lips in that deep sexy moan you have.”

If she wasn’t careful, she would fall for him easily. So easily.

“Keep going and I promise, I’ll give you more.”

“That’s a promise I intend to hold you to.”

“Good.” She yanked him close. “Let’s get to it.”

Ivan gently kissed the tip of her nose. He cupped her ass and lifted her, carrying her to the wall. The sunlight fell around them.

He pressed her into the solidness and made sure there was no space between them. His hard cock rubbed her pussy, the friction of her shorts heightening her pleasure. She leaned forward and allowed herself the joy of his taste.

Salty skin. Masculine taste. Heady and addictive.

Kissing down his torso, she repositioned her hands to the waistband of her pants. He captured one wrist and lifted it over her head. Ivan did a slow grind against her pelvis as he simultaneously positioned her arm above her head. Her breathing hitched as another moan slid free.

“Hands up.”

Bailey released his pants and placed her other hand beside the one he’d put there.

“Hold the wall. Don’t let go.”

Lower lip firmly lodged between her teeth, she nodded. His smile created more trembling in her limbs. He brushed his knuckles along the tops of her breasts before he sank to his knees.

Head tipped so she could see him, Bailey waited impatiently. The tips of his blond hair were slightly lighter and she struggled against the urge to slip her hands in the strands.