I frowned. “For how long?”
“Three months.”
“And if the mission is completed in two days?”
“Don’t argue.” His expression turned hard, unbending. “You understand the reason for it.”
“I don’t like the fact that anyone who knows about isotopes and computers will have access to my location.”
“We’re setting you up to become some bastard’s slave, Eden. Hopefully mine, but maybe not. You want to risk being captured and no one knowing where to find you?”
Damn it. I hated it when someone had a good point—a point that annihilatedmy point. He was right. There was a chance I’d be taken underground, hidden away by a stranger. “You’re right.” I sighed. “I’ll inject it.”
“Good girl.”
“I’ll inject it,” I added, “on one condition.”
“What condition is that?”
“Tell me your real name.”
He shook his head. “You still have two guesses, and I’m not telling you a damn thing.”
“At least tell me what your first name starts with.”
“Why do you even care?” he asked, an edge to his voice, layered by a forced casualness.
“I don’t like calling out a fake name during sex, okay?”
“We having sex again?” His lips twitched, and I felt my heart skip a beat. He looked so relaxed just then, so sexy. I loved it when he lost his reserve and simply enjoyed the moment. I don’t think he allowed himself to do that very often. Neither did I.
“No?” I said, more a question than a statement. Damn it.
“Liar. Tell me what the F stands for in your name.”
Oh, oh, oh. What was this? “I thought you didn’t care.”
“Maybe, like you, I was lying.”
“I’m not telling,” I said in a singsong voice. I liked, really liked, that he wanted to know.
His eyes dipped to my mouth, and he ran his bottom lip between his teeth. “I’m not telling, either, so I guess we have ourselves what’s called a Mexican standoff.”
“Looks that way.” I lost my smile. He looked like pure desire just then. Total pleasure. I gulped and hurried to change the subject, to get our minds on the right track. “When I’m taken I want you to kidnap Luc from here and take care of her until I return.”
“Consider it done.” The teasing light slowly extinguished in his eyes. Before I could protest, he rolled over and pinned me.
I held my breath as he stared down at me. Hell, even the room seemed to hold its breath. A thin beam of moonlight slipped past the curtains over the window, illuminating his bronze skin. A gentle breeze caused those curtains to dance over us, circle us in a wispy, private haven. My pulse leapt.
He braced himself on his hands, and his gaze raked over my clothes. His lips twitched. “Did you really think locking the balcony doors would stop me?”
Stay strong. Don’t give in.“Look, we have more to talk about.”
“You’re right. We’ve got a lot to talk about.” Reaching behind him, he tugged his shirt over his head.
My mouth watered at the sight of his pecs…his shredded abs. “Put your shirt back on.” I didn’t sound convincing, not in the least.
As he stared deeply into my eyes, hetsked under his tongue.“Silly girl. You’re going to be the death of me. You know that?” He leaned down, placing his mouth within a whisper of mine. His warm, soapy scent enveloped me. “Talk later. Fuck now.”
Then he was kissing me, and I was kissing him back. I forgot what I wanted to tell him, forgot everything but this man and his wicked mouth. Without slowing our kiss, he peeled away my clothes and weapons, as if I’d never been stupid enough to don them.
I tore off his pants, wanting—needing—skin-to-skin contact. His hardness to my softness. Nothing else mattered. I might hate myself for it later, but there it was. I knew how he felt buried deep inside me, and I craved that again. I knew how my name sounded on his lips as he found his pleasure.
Iwould have that again.
“You didn’t cut into my skin this time,” he whispered huskily against my lips. He stood, scooped me up and tossed me on the bed. The mattress bounced with my weight. He was beside me in the next instant. “That’s progress.”
“Why are you talking?” I tugged him down on top of me. He gave me his full, muscled weight.
I cradled his long, thick erection between my legs and rubbed against him, already wet, already willing. The friction nearly caused me to go off like a rocket. My honey scent blended with his pine scent, fragrancing the air.
He paused while I nipped at his jawbone, his neck, and he blinked. He pulled back, searching my gaze. Then he slowly grinned. “You smell like honey when you’re turned on.”
I stilled. I didn’t deny it, but I didn’t confess, either.
His smile widened. “I may be slow, but I finally figured it out. That day in the gym…”
“So what?” I snapped, my cheeks heating.
“Admit it, baby.” He laughed with genuine amusement. “I rocked your world then, and I’m rocking your world tonight.”
His male superiority irritated me. My eyes narrowed, and I seductively licked my lips. “Just for that,” I told him, “you’re going to be punished.”
Heat flared in his eyes, melting the ice into blue fire. “How? A spanking?”
He sounded so eager, I almost laughed. “Not a spanking.” Though I liked the idea of inflicting a bit of innocent pain, then easing away the sting.
“You sure?” A bead of sweat rolled down his temple and dangled at his chin. “I probably deserve a good, hard one.”
“You have to make me come three times.”
“Three?” He smirked.
“You only managed two last time.” I traced my hand between our bodies, letting my fingers graze his erection.
“Damn, you’re evil,” he said, but there was a layer of anticipation and relish in his tone. “Thankfully I’m up to the task.”
He swooped in and gave me another tongue-thrusting, frantic kiss. His hands and fingers worked over my body, plumping my br**sts, pinching my ni**les, caressing between my legs before darting away.
Within minutes, I was writhing and moaning his name. He licked his way down my body, and my belly quivered. Without pause or breath, he drove his tongue into the heart of me. I had to bite my hand to cut off the screams I couldn’t allow, causing sultry, hungry moans of total abandon to emerge. His tongue tormented me, made me ache and claw at his shoulders.