Darkness’ mouth dropped open.
“I didn’t believe that. I was under orders to go so I thought I’d make the best of it. I’d have a little fun, relax, and I liked running the classes. I never searched for Jerry Boris or tried to dig up dirt on the NSO.”
“What did you put in your report?” He looked pissed.
“I didn’t file one. I also didn’t exactly let Mason know when I left Homeland. I wasn’t ready to deal with him yet. I planned to go in on Monday and write about how boring everything was.” She shrugged. “You know, how I never left the guest cottage except to teach the classes and that I didn’t learn anything important. He would have been pissed but he calls me a set of tits and thinks I’m doing girls. He’s not my favorite person.”
“Doing girls?”
“He thinks I’m into women. I don’t need to tell you I’m not. I pretty much hoped this would blow up in his face. I don’t know how he got his position. He’s kind of a tool but orders were orders. My ass got sent to Homeland. I had to go. How did you figure out I was FBI?”
“Your false identity was flawed. Our males didn’t make a mistake. I told you that to make you think we bought your story.”
“Understandable. I wanted to believe that you believed. Game well played. You did drop some hints though.”
“So did you.” He sneezed.
“Are you okay?”
“I smell perfume. It bothers me.”“My roommate sprayed some on before she left earlier.” They stared at each other. “I didn’t agree with why I was sent in. Mason is an ass.”
“Why?”
“You should hear his theory on dogs sometimes. I’m not repeating it. It was bad enough the first time I heard it, especially since I have one. I’m guessing that he skipped sensitivity training.”
“Your boss could want to hurt you to keep you quiet once it comes out that we have linked him to Boris.”
“He sent in other agents too. What do you think? He’s going to turn ninja assassin and take us all out? They didn’t get far but I’m guessing they had orders similar to mine. He’s not going to try to silence that many agents.”
Darkness turned his head and murmured something she couldn’t hear. Her grip on her gun tightened. She frowned when he looked back up at her.
“Is your team getting antsy? Why don’t you tell them to get out of my house? I’d also like to suggest you call next time if you want to talk instead pulling this shit. It’s rude.”
Glass broke somewhere behind her and she spun, startled. Movement caught her eye and she jerked back. Darkness leapt, moving faster than her vision could track. He grabbed her and tore the gun out of her hand. It hit the floor and he lifted her off her feet, slamming her back against the wall.
“You son of a bitch.”
“I warned you I could do that. It’s not my fault if you forgot I didn’t have to walk up each step to reach you.”
“Put me down!” She grabbed his shoulders.
“I’m taking you to Homeland, Kat. It would make everything simpler if you just complied.”
“Nothing about you is simple, Darkness.”
“I know. I want to make sure you’re safe. I’m taking you in and keeping you there for as long as I feel it’s necessary.”
“Mason isn’t going to come after me. He’ll be too busy protecting his own ass if everything you’ve said is solid. I need to go to work on Monday.”
“You could work for the NSO.”
“Doing what?”
He shrugged. “We’ll figure something out.”
“You can’t replace the years I have already put in or my pension benefits. Do you even know what that is?”
He leaned in. “Stop.”
Her eyebrows arched. “Excuse me?”
“You’re being difficult and trying to piss me off.”
“You brought an assault team into my house.” She leaned closer until their noses almost touched. “I’m already pissed off.”
He growled and his lips parted. “Kat.” It was a warning.
She looked down, seeing his fangs. It was a reminder of the things they’d shared and how much she missed him. He could have sent someone else to pick her up but he’d come himself. That had to mean something. The feel of him against her couldn’t be ignored either. She totally understood a love/hate relationship at that moment. She hated how he’d gone about it but loved seeing him again.
Her gaze lifted. “Sex isn’t going to make me any more agreeable to go with you.”
He sucked in a sharp breath, not able to hide his surprised reaction at her words. “Who said I was trying to seduce you?”
“You’ve got me pinned to a wall and you’re making sexy sounds.” She lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist. The holstered handgun strapped to his thigh dug into her skin so she adjusted that leg higher, hooking her ankles together behind his spine. “You could have just called if you wanted to fuck me again.” She released his shoulders and fisted one hand in his hair. She yanked, jerking his head up and to the side since he didn’t expect her to do it. She pressed her nose against his throat and inhaled. “What cologne do you wear? It smells good.”
He stiffened but didn’t jerk away. “It’s just me.”
Kat smiled at the sound of his voice deepening. “What was it you said to me? Oh yeah. You smell so good I could just eat you.”
His hands on her hips loosened their grip and slid to her ass, firmly cupping her there. He pushed her tighter against the wall and she could feel his erection against her pussy through the layers of clothing.
“Kat, don’t.”
“I thought you were going to never see me again?” She ran the tip of her tongue across his skin, paused right under his earlobe. “Did you bring handcuffs, Mr. Control?” She nibbled on his earlobe. “Control this.” Her hands started to roam his body wherever she could reach.
His chest started to vibrate and his fingers flexed. He made a deep rumbling sound and tried to move his head away. She gripped the other side of his face with her free hand and kept him there. She released his ear and went for his neck, kissing it and using her teeth to gently nip him. Her thighs squeezed his waist and she wiggled against him.
Darkness snarled low. “There’re fifteen males waiting for us to leave.”
“I rated a sixteen-man team? I’m flattered.”
“I didn’t know if we’d come across another team. I wanted enough males with me to assure that I could get you out. I think Mason will try to kill you.”
She stopped kissing him and leaned her head back, staring into his eyes. He really thought she was in danger. It sank in that it wasn’t just some ploy to see her again. Part of her was sad about that but the fact that he’d go to such lengths to make certain she was safe warmed her heart.
“You care about me.”
He closed his eyes. “Can we discuss this later?” He glanced down the hallway. “We need to go.”
“Darkness?”
His dark eyes narrowed. “What?”
“I’ll go with you on two conditions.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
“Two conditions,” she repeated.
“What do you want?”
“I get to stay at your place with you if I return to Homeland since I’m in such supposed danger.”
A muscle in his jaw clenched. “What is the second one?”
“You get to guard my back in the shower. In the stall with me.”
“No.”
“I might wash your back while we’re in there.”
He growled low. “I don’t do that.”
“I don’t let a bunch of guys kidnap me but I might allow it to go down if you agree.”“No.”
She licked her lips and liked the way he noticed. She pressed the muzzle of his gun against his thigh. Her thumb assured her the safety was on. “I stole your gun, sweetheart. You were kind of distracted. Do you agree to my terms after all?”
“You won’t shoot me.” He looked furious.
“I won’t.” She moved the barrel away. “That’s beside the point. Don’t ever underestimate me, baby. Meet my terms or I’m not leaving with you.”
“I don’t live with others or shower with them.”
“I won’t be coming with you then.”
“I’ll knock you out and take you over my shoulder. You’ll wake at Homeland.”
“You’d deck me?” Her eyebrows arched in question. “Possibly break my jaw or cause a concussion?” She didn’t really believe it.
“I’ll handcuff you the way I did before.”
“I allowed that. That was just a token fight. One of us would get hurt if we really went at it. Agree to my terms or get out of my house.”
“You’re stubborn.”
“You are too. I think it might be why we’re attracted to each other. You want a woman with some give but not too much.”
“That’s not why.”
“Really? Then what do you like about me?”
“Everything except your stubbornness. Human females are supposed to be more passive.”
Kat chuckled. “You’d be so bored if I were.”
“You’re brave and you aren’t afraid of me.”
“I don’t believe you’d hurt me. You’re a good man, Darkness.”