She knew better. She had known better than to return to Somerset. The minute she did, she knew exactly what Natches was going to do: He would destroy her with her own desires.
Her lips parted.
A tight, erotic grimace contorted his lips as he stared down at her, at the toy within touching distance of her lips, and sparks of anger filled his gaze.
The next second it was his tongue filling her mouth. His lips covering hers. She didn’t know what he did with the toy; she didn’t care. He was kissing her again. He was possessing her lips, eating at them, and she was eating back.
He always tasted so good, so dark and male. Her arms wrapped around his neck, her fingers spearing into his hair as she felt him jerking her skirt over her thighs, his fingers pressing her legs apart.
He was going to take her. She could feel it. She wasn’t going to escape this time. Last year he had been kind, even for him, and let her go. This time, he wasn’t letting her go.
“Natches.” She breathed his name out in protest as he tore his lips from hers, pressed kisses along her neck, moved to the heaving mounds of her br**sts.
Her ni**les ached for him. For his mouth, his tongue.
“I should spank you,” he growled. “Damn you, Chay. You knew better than to come back here. I know you did.”
Yes, she had, and she’d had no choice but to return. But she would have anyway. She knew she would have, because the fight to stay away from him had been too hard. It had been more than she could bear.
One more assignment. Just this last operation and then—they would have time then. Not now.
She shook her head as she arched to him. Now wasn’t the time. She couldn’t divide her attention like this. She would end up getting killed.
His mouth buried between her br**sts, his tongue licking, stroking as she moaned his name. She needed. Just one more taste of him, then she would be strong.
“Damn you.” Suddenly, his head jerked up. “Why are you here, Chay?”
She shook her head. She wasn’t drawing him in to this. It wasn’t happening.
“Just questions,” she panted. “Follow-up. I have to follow up.”
She was going to have to do some heavy talking if he ever found out where those questions would lead.
“Liar.” The accusation was soft, wickedly knowing. “You can’t lie to me, Chay.”
He pressed her legs apart with his and the toy; he still had that damned toy. He stroked it over the damp cotton that shielded her from him.
“Let’s play a game,” he whispered. “I ask a question, you tell the truth, and I give you something you’ll really like.”
“Kiss me, Natches.”
As he had once bragged, his kisses were potent.
He leaned forward, brushed his lips against hers.
“Scared?” he asked softly, his eyes knowing.
“Let me get drunk on you,” she urged. “Just kiss me.”
“Just kiss you?” The head of the toy pressed more firmly against her hungry core. “But, Chay, you’re so wet and so wild beneath me. Let’s play my little game first.”
She arched and cried out as he pulled back.
“First question.” He licked over the top of a breast revealed by the material he nudged lower with his chin. “Did DHS send you here?”
Okay, that one was easy.
“Yes,” she answered carefully.
A soft approving murmur against the curve of her breast and he was nudging the cup of her bra lower to lick at her nipple. Heat sizzled in her veins and sent her h*ps thrusting, grinding against the toy he held pressed to her panties.
“Good girl,” he murmured. “Am I involved?”
Was he? She didn’t think he was. He shouldn’t be. She could be honest there.
“No.” She lifted her h*ps again, wanting more. Damn him, she was honest. Reward time here.
He nipped at her nipple and nearly sent her into orgasm.
“Why are you here?”
Her lips parted to answer, to spill her guts just for another taste of the pleasure he could give her.
“Follow-up.” She moaned.
“Hmm, Chay, my little liar.” He pulled the toy back. “Come on, baby; fess up.”
Her eyes opened as she stared back at him, aching, hurting for him.
“Follow-up,” she repeated, the tormented whisper dragged from her throat. “It’s the only reason I’m here.” And it was partially the truth. Enough of the truth, and all he needed to stay safe.
He knelt above her. She watched hungrily as, tossing the toy aside, he loosened his belt, unsnapped his jeans, then lowered the zipper slowly. She licked her lips, her hands poised to help him, to catch the heavy length of his erection when it was free. To taste it. To fill her mouth with it.
“Why are you here, Chay?” She barely missed the hardening of his voice.
“Follow-up.” She felt dazed, off balance, impatient. Like an addict anticipating a fix.
And just that fast he rolled away from her, moved to his feet, and was fixing his jeans, his expression still, silent with anger.
Damn. There went the fix. Her body was screaming out in protest, reminding her how mean she was being to it. How long had it been now since she had known his possession? Five years, two months, three days, and how many hours, she thought morosely.
“I guess that means I don’t get any more rewards.” She sighed as she adjusted her skirt and top. She didn’t bother to roll from the bed. “Lock the door behind you if you don’t mind. I may need some privacy after you leave.”
He glared at her. The next thing she knew, the thin cord was jerked from the base of the dildo and as she watched in horror, he tore it in half.
“Oh my God. Natches, you didn’t do that.”
“If you need privacy, then by God you can make do with your fingers. That’s what you’ve reduced me to.” He tossed the pieces to the floor. “When you’re ready to tell me the f**king truth, you know where to find me.”
With that, he stalked out of the room. She stared at the floor in disbelief then at the door as the echo of the main door slamming penetrated her mind.
He broke her toy and left?
She was going to kill him.
THREE
Somerset and Lake Cumberland appealed to Chaya in a way that had surprised her. Arriving ahead of the Homeland Security team, in advance preparation more than a year ago, she had been taken aback by the friendliness of the citizens and the relaxed, peaceful atmosphere of the mountains surrounding the town.