The pleasure kept building until Minka was sure she was going to scream … or shift into her hybrid form. But she wasn't worried about the beast at that moment. All that mattered was Angelo and her-their bodies becoming one, their hearts pounding together.
When she orgasmed, she screamed against Angelo's neck, unconcerned about the feline sounds she let out.
Angelo kept thrusting all the way through her orgasm, making her whole body shake uncontrollably against his. It was only as she was sliding down the backside of her climax that she felt him start to come with her.
Minka lifted her head, looking deep into his eyes as he buried himself inside her warmth. She felt him buck under her, and her heart sang as he groaned and found his release.
As his movements slowed, she dropped her face back into the crook of his shoulder, kissing him there and enjoying the pleasant tremors that continued to ripple through her body. After a few minutes, when both of their heartbeats had returned to something close to normal, she lifted her head and gazed down at him again.
He looked so beautiful lying there, a smile curving his lips, passion still darkening his eyes. One of his hands came up and traced a finger along her jaw to her chin. It was amazing how just that simple touch brought her unbelievable pleasure.
She opened her mouth, ready to say the words flooding her heart-I love you.
But she stopped herself. She couldn't tell him that. It would be unfair when they both knew he'd be leaving her in a day or two. Worse, while she knew he cared for her, the fact was, he'd never promised anything more than this short time together. If anything, everything he'd said about not wanting to hurt her told her that he never intended it to be more than this.
He frowned. "What's wrong?"
Minka struggled for a moment to focus on anything other than the sudden pain in her chest. She fought to push the feeling down, not wanting him to see it.
"You are very bad," she told him.
His frown disappeared to be replaced by a look of mock surprise. "Why do you say that?"
She took the finger he had been tracing across her jaw in her hand and kissed the tip. "I was planning to go slow and make this evening last awhile longer."
He gave her a smoldering smile. "We can go slow this time if you want."
That was when Minka realized Angelo was still aroused. Actually, he was still very aroused.
It was difficult for her to change gears so suddenly, to forget her emotions and focus on the physical. But she loved Angelo so much that she'd take whatever she could get of her angel and be happy-for that night at least.
So she leaned forward and kissed him. "I'd like that very much."
Chapter 12
"I know it's scary to think about giving up control," Tanner said. "And I pray that you never have to do it. But if you have no other choice, I want you to be ready."
Minka was in Layla's office for one more training session with the DCO psychologist and Tanner while Angelo and the others were doing last-minute checks on equipment and loading everything up in the trucks for the trip to the airport. The plan was to leave before sunrise.
With the tight schedule they were on, the training session had been short, but it was still informative. Tanner had taught her how to make her eyes shift, so she could see better in the dark, then explained how she might be able to gain access to the hybrid parts of her memory. Both techniques involved letting the beast out of its cage in a controlled fashion, much like she had when she let her claws out.
But now Tanner was talking about letting the beast out completely.
"Why would I ever want to do that?" Minka asked.
She'd just learned how to lock the beast away in a cage and could never imagine willingly letting it out.
Tanner regarded her thoughtfully. "What if Angelo were in danger, Minka? Would you let the beast come out if you knew it was the only way to protect him? Or Ivy, or Landon? Which is worse-letting the beast take over or watching the people you care about get hurt?"
Minka didn't answer. Tanner already knew she'd do anything for Angelo and her new friends.
"That's what I thought," he said.
She listened carefully as Tanner described the process of unlocking the door of the cage that existed in her mind and opening it wide. Thankfully, Tanner didn't ask her to actually attempt what he was proposing, because that would have been much too dangerous. But he did spend a long time explaining how to regain control afterward.
"Think about Angelo. He's your anchor. Remember what he means to you," he said. "It won't be easy, but you can fight your way back to him no matter how far into the background the beast pushes you."
Minka nodded. It would be hard, but she'd do anything to get back to Angelo, even if that meant fighting the beast tooth and nail.
Layla looked like she wanted to say something, but a knock on the open door interrupted her. Minka glanced up and saw John standing there, an apologetic smile on his face.
"Sorry to interrupt," he said. "Minka, the team will be ready to leave in about fifteen minutes. And, Tanner, if you have the time, Angelo asked if he could speak with you."
Tanner nodded. "Yeah, sure." He gave Minka a smile as he stood. "Be careful over there, okay? And don't forget who you are."
"I won't," she promised. "Thank you for all the help."
John gave her and Layla a nod, then turned to follow Tanner down the hall, but the psychologist jumped to her feet.
"John, can I speak to you?" She glanced at Minka. "I'll be right back."
Layla and John moved a little farther down the hallway, leaving Minka alone with her thoughts. They immediately went to Angelo and how much she was going to miss him.
She'd awakened before Angelo that morning, then lay there in the dark, her head propped up on her hand as she watched him sleep. He looked so precious and vulnerable that it almost made her cry.
She'd spent a long time wondering if she was making a mistake, not telling him how she felt. But then she reminded herself it was for the best. It would only make a difficult situation worse if she poured out her heart to him now. He needed to concentrate on this mission, and be just as focused when he went back to his team.
Forcing herself to think about anything other than Angelo and their approaching separation, Minka turned her attention to the only nearby distraction-Layla and John talking softly out in the hallway.
She was finding it easier and easier to pick up on conversations, even when they were far away. She didn't even have to consciously involve the beast at all. She felt a little guilty about listening in on a friend's private conversation with her boss but reminded herself that the alternative was thinking about Angelo, and that, she didn't want to do. Besides, Layla had told her to practice her hybrid abilities whenever she could.
"If you hire Jayson, I'll take you up on the offer you made when you first interviewed me," Layla was saying. "I'll start doing field work."
Minka didn't know who Jayson was, but he must be someone very important to Layla for her to agree to be an agent after she'd promised Ivy she would never go into the field.
"That's very generous of you, Layla, but I can't take you up on it," John said.
"Is it because Jayson was wounded?" Layla asked, her voice sharp.
"It has nothing to do with Jayson being wounded. This is about a promise I made to someone."
"My sister."
"I didn't say that."
"John, when you hired me, you told me that if I ever wanted to become a field agent, all I had to do was say the word. This is me doing that-provided you give Jayson a job." Layla sighed. "Jayson is at a crossroads right now. If he doesn't get a job, one he can be proud of doing, he might end up in a very bad place. Please, John."
John didn't answer for a moment. Then, finally, he spoke again. "Okay. And while I'm not ready to send you out in the field yet, I'll let you spend half of your time training for it."
"Thank you," Layla said. "One more thing-Jayson can never know I had anything to do with him getting the job. He would never take it if he knew I was involved. He's too proud for that."
Layla came back into the office a few moments later. Minka tried to pretend she hadn't been eavesdropping, but Layla figured it out anyway.
"You heard all that didn't you?"
Minka nodded sheepishly. "Is Jayson your boyfriend?"
Layla sat down on the couch beside her. "I'm not sure you could call Jayson my boyfriend. I wish he was, but it's … complicated."
Minka knew all about complicated. "Does the fact that Jayson can't seem to get a job have anything to do with you not being sure if he is your boyfriend?"