Briar held his gaze for a long moment before turning her face into his palm in a nuzzling motion and closing her eyes. Accepting both his touch and his protection. Something squeezed in his chest.
Sweetheart, you’re mine.
The thought came from the most primal part of his brain, raising the hairs on the backs of his arms. She was his and he wanted her to know it.
Matt reached back with one foot and closed the door fully. Keeping his hand on her face, he leaned down and covered that tempting mouth with his. She let out a soft gasp, then her lips softened beneath his and she slid a hand around the back of his neck. Her touch was light, almost tentative, but it sent a shiver rippling through him.
Needing more, he tipped her head back with his hand and increased the pressure of his mouth, letting his tongue glide along the seam of her lips, needing to taste her, get inside her even in this small way. Her fingers tightened on his nape and then she parted her lips, her tongue touching his almost shyly.
Blood surged to his groin. He drove his tongue into her mouth, slid it along hers, getting lost in the feel and taste of her. She made a soft sound in the back of her throat and stroked his tongue with hers, pressing that lithe, lean body against him. Matt was already hard, aching for her, imagining the moment when he finally got to peel away her clothes and see her fully naked. He would touch and taste every inch of her, make her writhe and beg before sliding his tongue, then his cock, inside her.
But there was an unwelcome guest in the next room and a new threat hanging over Briar’s head.
With a silent groan he pulled back and searched her eyes. They were hot with desire, a little glazed, and all he’d done was kiss her. Shit, his objectivity on this protective detail was shot to hell and he didn’t even care that he could face disciplinary actions for helping her from this point forward. “I’m not gonna let anyone hurt you.”
Her answering smile was warm, and full of pure, smug confidence. “I won’t let anyone hurt you either.”
The sassy response pulled a chuckle out of him, though he had no doubt she could back it up. That was new and surprisingly sexy. He lowered his hand, immediately mourning the loss of touching her skin. “Let’s make that call before I lose my head and get you naked on this desk.”
Her eyes flared and she licked her lips. “Maybe you can do that when this is all over.”
Maybe? No maybe about it. “Oh, honey, that’s a promise.” Once it was over and she was safe, he was going to have her naked and under him, her legs wrapped around his back, her hands holding his head close as he drove her out of her fucking mind with pleasure.
Mentally switching gears to slow his racing pulse, he opened the door and stood close by as she explained the situation to Georgia, still secured to the pipe in the corner.
The woman nodded. “I’ll try. Frank might not pick up if he doesn’t recognize the number though.”
Briar raised the phone. “What’s the number?” When Georgia gave the digits she punched them in and put the call on speaker. The moment the call connected Matt’s stomach tensed. The clock was ticking now, even faster than it had been before. Every second from here on out might bring the people hunting Briar closer.
A man’s voice came through the phone. “Yeah.”
“Frank, it’s me,” Georgia said, her eyes meeting Briar’s. “Is this line secure?”
“It is. Got any news?”
She hesitated for only a heartbeat. “The package has been eliminated.”
Briar, she meant. Interesting, that she’d cover for her.
“You got proof to send me?” Frank asked.
“I’ll send it ASAP. Any word from her handler on the situation?”
Frank grunted. “No. She’s dead.”
Briar sucked in a breath, took a step back. Even from where he stood Matt saw her face drain of all color.
“What?” Georgia asked, expression tense.
“A woman matching her description died at the Denver airport this morning. They’ve taken her to the morgue to await official identification.”
Briar turned those dark eyes on him and the utter devastation in them hit him like a kick to the gut.
“An accident?” Georgia asked, watching Briar.
“Doesn’t look like it, but I haven’t been able to find anything yet.” The gravity of that statement seemed to resonate throughout the cavernous room. “You watch your back out there, you hear me?”
“I will. You too.” Georgia looked shaken as the line went dead. “I’m sorry,” she murmured to Briar.
Briar lowered the phone. “Not Janaia.” She shook her head, her expression almost pleading. “Not her.”