Running With the Devil (6 page)

Drake brooded, forgoing his usual smart comment.

Her fingers clamped on the metal door handle, momentarily grounding her from this surreal scenario. She could leave if she really wanted to. Just jump out of the car and hide behind the potted palms in the Lawn and Garden Center until this all blew over.

Hah! And then what? If she’d didn’t cough up the cash for tuition she’d probably end up wearing a blue smock and
working
at Save-Mart.

Wasn’t like she could go home. Wasn’t like she had anywhere else to go. Her parents had worked themselves to death on the ranch before the bank had foreclosed on it. Shawnee and Marissa were her closest friends. For now, she was stuck with Agent March. Not only was the situation alarming, her immediate primitive sexual reaction to everything about him scared the living hell out of her.

She sighed defeat. “Fine. I’ll go with you. But after being shot at I’d almost rather take my chances with tax men than hit men.”

He grinned. A full out you-rock-my-world kind of grin.

Kenna’s heart did a slow somersault. God she was hopeless.

Dropping the duffle bag to the cargo area, she wormed her way up to the front seat and settled in.

Drake cupped her face in his hand. His thumb arced over her cheekbone in an effort to calm her. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, Kenna. You’ll be safe with me, I promise.”

When the man wasn’t annoying her he almost seemed like the type of guy she could count on.

She doubted it would last.

Keeping Kenna shielded, he knocked on Geo and Bobby’s room.

Through the chain, Bobby yawned, “Hey, boss, everything all right?”

“No.”

Immediately the red door shut, the safety chains rattled and the door swung back open. Drake pushed Kenna inside first, followed and fastened the lock behind them.

Geo rubbed his eyes. “What time is it?”

“Midnight.”

He groaned. “What’s up?”

“Someone shot at us tonight.”

Right away Geo snapped to attention and scrambled out of bed. “When? Where did this happen?”

“Outside Kenna’s apartment complex about an hour ago.”

Geo yanked a T-shirt over his bare chest. “Did you call the cops?”

“No.” Drake placed his hands on Kenna’s smooth shoulders. She immediately tensed.

“Bobby, Geo, this is Kenna. She’s agreed to help us on this case.”

She snorted. “Like I had a choice, Agent March.” She shook hands with each man. “Do all you guys look like Cornhuskers linebackers?” Her gaze raked Geo and Bobby head to toe. “Bet you’ve got no problem going undercover as exotic dancers.”

Geo grinned. Bobby’s brawny chest puffed out beneath his flannel pajama top.

“Which one of you sneaky spy guys stalked me today?”

Bobby and Geo exchanged an amused look which for some reason set Drake’s teeth on edge.

“Doesn’t matter. Let’s get everyone up to speed so we can all get some rest. Tomorrow is gonna be one long-ass day.”

Kenna shuddered and wrapped her arms more securely around herself, seeming waiflike and lost.

Sensing her discomfort, Geo gallantly settled her in the only chair in the room. He tucked the gaudy flowered bedspread around her. Bobby asked if she needed a drink. When she declined, Geo asked if she was hungry.

Before either of them could offer her a massage, Drake snapped, “She’s fine. Can we get to it?”

Kenna rolled her eyes. And if he wasn’t mistaken, Bobby and Geo followed suit.

Drake launched into an explanation of the evening’s events and a preliminary plan for the next day. Fifteen minutes later they were done.

“This is probably the only time you’ll hear me say this, but go ahead and sleep in.”

“Thanks for the consideration, boss,” Geo said dryly.

Kenna’s eyes had begun to droop.

“Come on. Let’s get you to our room before you fall asleep.”

Suddenly she was wide-awake. “Our room?” she repeated.

“Yeah, we’re bunking together.”

“I thought you were kidding!” She shot to her feet so fast she nearly fell flat on her face. With angry jerky movements she untangled the bedspread from her legs. “Get me my own room or I’m out of here.”

“No. Deal with it.”

“You deal with the fact I’d rather take my chances at
my
home in
my
bed with a sniper than have you breathing down my neck for the rest of the night.”

“She can crash in here,” Bobby offered quickly. “Geo won’t mind switching.”

“Shut up,” Drake said. “You’re not helping.”

“I think we should consider Bobby’s idea.” Kenna sent him a shameless smile.

Big tough field agent Bobby blushed and stared at his size fifteen feet.

Jesus. She’d already wrapped him around her finger. If he left Kenna in Bobby’s care he’d probably call her a taxi and lend her cab fare. Rookies.

“Don’t you have any input in this, Geo?” she cooed.

Drake moved so fast she didn’t have time to retreat. “Get one thing straight. This is
my
op. Until I say so, you’re stuck with me. Everything changed when someone took shots at you, Kenna. It’s my goddamn job to figure out who and why and what’s at stake. That means you and I will be roomies for the next few days. Get used to it.”

Kenna’s chin came up. “Forgive me if I don’t do the Snoopy dance.”

Geo snickered until Drake glared at him.

“Come on.” He reached for Kenna’s bag, but once again, she slapped his hand away.

“Don’t touch my stuff.”

He went absolutely still. That was the second time she’d insisted on keeping him away from her bag. “Did you pack a gun in there?”

“Where’s
your
gun?”

“In my room. I’m asking you again: Do you have a gun hidden in there?”

“No. But I’m perfectly capable of carrying my own suitcase, Agent March.”

Inside, Drake exploded. Outwardly, he remained calm. God. He wanted to shake her. Grab onto those muscled arms and rock her back and forth until her luscious breasts spilled out of the flimsy camisole. Then he’d show her exactly what he was capable of.

“Well?” She hefted the bag and tapped her sandaled foot. “We going or what?”

Shit. He was acting like an idiot. An extremely horny idiot. “We’re going.”

His room was three doors down. Same setup as Bobby and Geo. Two double beds, a TV, a cheap-ass rickety table and one chair, also decorated in a blast of burnt orange and olive green.

Equipment covered the dresser. Clothes hung neatly in the closet. Luckily he hadn’t left the stuff from his shaving bag scattered all over the tiny counter in front of the bathroom.

Drake braced himself against the wall while he toed off his boots. Wallet, leather pouch and keys landed on the bed.

Kenna dropped her duffle by the door and flopped on the bed closest to the window. She yawned and flipped back the covers. “I’m wiped.”

“Aren’t you changing into pajamas?” Visions of sexy nightgowns teased him; a frilly baby doll barely covering her gorgeous ass. A black silk nightie highlighting her dangerous curves. Or his personal favorite: nothing but fire flashing in her eyes and a “do-me-big-daddy” smile.

“No. I don’t wear paj—”

“Even better. That way I know you won’t be sneaking out.”

She propped herself on her elbow and scowled at him. “Here’s where you threaten to tie me to the bed.”

Drake grinned. “Only if you ask me real nice.” He yanked his T-shirt over his head and pitched it toward the chair.

“Don’t hold your breath.”

The barb didn’t hold any sting when Drake noticed her eyes were glued to his chest. Hmm. No matter what her smart mouth said, her body didn’t lie. Seemed
she
was the one having a hard time catching her breath.

He stretched, flexing the muscles in his biceps and contracting his abs. At the stunned, hungry look on her face he decided the hours spent in the gym were well worth it.

“What are you doing?” she croaked.

“Getting ready for bed.”

Drake sighed, dropping his hands to his waistband. His fingers fiddled with the top button.

Then he unbuckled his belt.

Her gaze zoomed to his fly as he oh-so-slowly lowered the zipper. Damn if his cock didn’t appreciate her rapt attention and offer an enthusiastic, hopeful salute.

She swallowed hard as he began to slide the jeans down his hips, inching them over his muscular thighs and past his knees.

“Enjoying the show?”

“God, yes,” she responded eagerly before she caught herself. A faint blush stole across her cheeks, highlighting her freckles. She abruptly turned on her side.

Drake shucked his jeans completely off and stood there, feeling like an idiot with a hard-on pressing out of the top of his black boxers. “What? No goodnight kiss?”

“You can kiss my ass,” she retorted.

“Careful, hot stuff. I might consider that an invitation.”

“Go to sleep, perv. On your own side of the room in your own bed.”

He laughed softly. “Goodnight, Kenna. Sweet dreams.”

Kenna slowed her breathing, pretending to be asleep. Drake would probably start snoring any minute. Wouldn’t that blow her fantasy of him straight to hell?

Oh yeah, he was man enough to fill a hundred fantasies.

She squeezed her eyes shut, but it was no use. Her brain insisted on reliving his sexy, impromptu strip tease. Over and over again until she’d memorized every damn detail.

His body boggled her mind. Long, lean and hard, muscled in all the right places—he definitely looked long and hard where it counted. Sweat beaded on her brow thinking about touching and tasting that tanned golden skin and corded muscles. Sifting her fingers through his unruly black hair. Taking his big cock in her hands. In her body. In her mouth. She suppressed a moan, but her body launched a rush of moisture south anyway.

Hell. She’d never get to sleep now.

A deep masculine grunt. Followed by a heavy sigh. The bed squeaked and the polyester covers rustled as he rolled over.

She stared at the warped pine paneling surrounding the window, then at the brownish water spots on the ceiling. Think of something not sexy.

Rocks. She smiled to herself and began to recite the geological periods. In order. By the time she reached the Paleolithic age, she’d relaxed enough to drift off.

Her sultry voice drifted to him in the dark.

“You asleep?”

Drake went absolutely still beneath the thin sheet.

She laughed softly. “I know you’re awake, Agent March. I’ve heard you tossing and turning.”

He sighed. No use pretending.

“Tell me something.”

“What?”

“Is it hard to sleep with an erection?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t think I didn’t notice you had a pretty impressive hard-on before you crawled in bed. I imagine you’re still hard as a rock, aren’t you?

“Kenna—”

“Can’t be comfortable with that big thing poking you in the stomach. And I doubt you want to touch yourself with me in the room.”

“Why—”

“Although you could sneak in the bathroom and jack off in the shower and I’d never know.”

“What?”

“You heard me.” The bedspread crinkled as she shifted on the mattress. “Every time you get in the shower, I’ll think that’s what you’re really doing. Slicking your hands up with soap. Sliding up and down your shaft.” She paused. “Who do you think about when you’re stroking yourself?”

He didn’t answer.

“An old girlfriend? A famous actress? Or a model? Think any of them know how to give a decent hand job?”

His heart started to pound. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because I want to know what you’d do if I wasn’t here.”

Jack off in the shower. Thinking of you the entire time.

“You really think I’ll answer that?” She might talk tough but he doubted she could handle his answer.

“No. But since I am here I can give you the relief you’re dying for.”

He must have misunderstood her. He was so focused on how the fringed curtains stirred whenever the air conditioner kicked on that he didn’t realize she’d moved until she’d slid beneath the sheets next to him.

“Kenna. I don’t think—”

“Ssh. Don’t think. Let me do this.”

Her bare breasts were pressed on either side of his spine and her nipples were stiffened to hard points. When had she gotten naked? She plastered herself against him and he felt the curls covering her sex grinding into his ass. He groaned. His body was so hot it felt feverish. And the coolness of her silky skin against the heat of his nearly made him come right then.

She indulged in teasing nips along his shoulder until her naughty mouth connected with the curve of his neck. Her tongue flicked the fine hairs at the base of his skull. Sweet, warm breath drifted across his skin.