He had an extensive database of ongoing research throughout the world on Spanish flu and flu viruses. She recognized most of the papers. These were selected and put up on another monitor.
Basic research on viruses and gene manipulation. Selected and thrown up on a fourth monitor.
His work emails-up on a fifth.
Hello. There was a section that had been subjected only to his own heavy-duty encryption, not the CDC's. Which meant it had never been on the CDC servers. This was his private email.
She opened the files, scrolling through the headings. Bingo. Goose pimples rose on her arms and neck.
Nick appeared by her side holding a tray. He placed a pitcher of water, a Thermos, a glass and a cup on the desk. A platter with grapes and peeled orange sections. A pile of sandwiches on whole wheat bread.
He placed a heavy sweater on her shoulders. Kay bent her nose toward her shoulder and smelled clean wool and fabric softener.
Nick smiled at her and dropped a knee to the ground.
She blinked at him. What on earth … Oh.
He slid her slippers off her feet and put on soft, thick socks, then put the slippers back on. She'd been so engrossed in separating out Bill's files, she'd forgotten she was cold.
"Better?" he smiled up at her, still kneeling.
It should have been a ridiculous position, on one knee at her feet, but he made it super macho and super sexy. There was absolutely nothing submissive about him. With Nick kneeling at her feet, she could see how incredibly broad his shoulders were, how thickly muscled his thighs. He could have been a knight awaiting orders, but a knight who could slay dragons.
His mouth was tipped in a half smile, dark eyes gleaming behind half-closed eyelids.
A flash of heat that had nothing whatsoever to do with the sweater and socks shot through her and damn, he could tell. Like Felicity's, her skin was like a sensor for her emotions. She might as well have had a sign flashing on her forehead. Hormonal female in heat.
"Down boy," she said.
"Ah, but darling, I am down," Nick answered, and grinned. "Down for the count. Completely at your mercy and at your feet."
Yeah, right.
Kay spread her hand over his jaw, feeling the scruff of his five o'clock shadow even though in these antiseptic surroundings, she had no idea if it was five o'clock or not. None of the monitors showed the time, either. They would show time if she pressed the right button. They would show the time of any time zone on earth, since ASI operated around the globe.
His skin felt warm beneath her palm. Their eyes locked. He still had her foot on his knee, big hand loosely holding her ankle. His hand tightened, his eyes tightened. If she dropped her gaze, she would undoubtedly see something else tighten and grow.
She didn't even dare give a sigh because they were both on hair triggers. Nick's hand around her ankle loosened a little and he began sliding it up.
She closed her eyes, savoring the feeling. His calloused skin against the tender flesh of her calf felt so exciting. He'd done the exact same thing in the hotel room, only his hand had continued the journey up her shaking thigh until he'd reached the apex. She'd been warm and wet and aching.
Like now.
Only they weren't in a hotel room. They were on the run.
"Nick … " She barely had the breath to get the word out.
His hand froze. His dark, glittering eyes never wavered from her face.
"Not now?" His voice was low, rough.
She couldn't talk, could barely breathe. Her heart drummed in her chest. She shook her head.
Slowly, as if it hurt, Nick lifted his hand from her leg. Shockingly, her skin felt chilled at the loss of his touch.
"Okay, okay." Nick winced as he rose to his feet. It was easy to see why he was wincing. Under the jeans his erection was visible.
"Ouch?" She sketched a smile.
"Ouch," he confirmed. He leaned forward, kissed her on the forehead. "I'm going to hobble away now and nurse my dashed hopes. You drink that tea and eat those sandwiches. You're not going to starve on my watch."
She smiled. "No, sir, I guess I'm not."
Nick put a slick rectangle of dark Gorilla Glass on the desk. "If you need anything, yell. If I don't come right away … " He swiped at the dark glass, which lit up at his touch. The screen had a big red button on it. "Press this."
Kay picked it up, turned it. "Is this a cell phone?"
"Nope." Nick grinned. "Its only function is to summon your humble servant. And now, I'll leave you to your work." His grin disappeared. "I don't know how long you'll need to go through those files, but I expect a long time. It's a hell of a lot of data. But you're not going to kill yourself doing it. You need to eat and rest. I'll make sure you do that. You're no good to anyone dead on your feet, Kay."