Dangerous Games (Aegis Group, #3) Read online

  Zain wrapped his arm around her and stepped in close, tempering his urge to clutch her tight. She’d been knocked around on his watch. He’d been right there. She could say she was fine, but the bruises told a different story. It never should have happened. If she’d had someone like Luke with her... They might not have been able to protect her any better than he had.

  “Zain?” She looped her arms around his shoulders, her face turned toward his neck. “Are you okay?”

  “Give me a second.”

  When he’d heard her yelp...then her scream... Those were the longest seconds of his life. It was one thing to fear for a brother-in-arms. They knew what they were doing and what the risks were. Andrea hadn’t asked for any of this. She wasn’t prepared to defend herself. That was his job. And he hadn’t done it.

  She rested her head against his shoulder and squeezed him back.

  He’d forgotten what being on this side of protective detail work was like. But he’d never cared for his clients. He’d also never slept with a client before. If only he’d been able to catch the attacker...

  Zain pulled back, just enough to see her face, to take her in. Overall, she’d handled the attack well. Better than he was, if he were being honest with himself. She looked up at him with the same earnest, open expression that had drawn him to her through his computer screen.

  Only now, there wasn’t anything between them.

  He bent his head and brushed his lips across hers, the sensual contact grounding him more than anything else had.

  “We should go over the meeting.” He turned and nudged her farther into the room. This was now a job. He needed to do his part. It wasn’t just behind the computer; he was more than the geek detail. He was the one keeping her safe.

  Andrea sat on the foot of the bed and he remained standing, too full of anxious energy to do anything else.

  “What was the meeting about? Can you say?” he asked.

  “This was more of a rally, get everyone excited thing. Our offices are so far apart it’s hard to get everyone together, so they like to do a breakfast like this. Say something encouraging. Team building. Blah. Blah. Blah.”

  “Who was there?”

  She began to list off the people and what they did, how they fit into the bigger picture. While there were a few she didn’t know as well, overall she was able to recall every person in the meeting, which, to him, was remarkable.

  “Was Cliff there?” He didn’t want to point blame at the owner.

  “Yeah, he runs the whole thing.”

  “I’m just throwing this out there but...do you think Cliff could be involved?” It made sense to him. Cliff had the biggest financial stake in the company. It was personal for him.

  “What?” She blinked at him as though he’d spoken words she didn’t understand.

  “It makes sense, in a way. People hating something his company made lower sales. It could be personal for him. He’d have access to your networks.”

  “No way.” Andrea shook her head.

  “I want you to think about it.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense.”

  “Why?”

  “Because...Because he was the one who green lit the project and talked us through the release plan. He and Miranda did the whole marketing spiel together. He might totally weird me out on a one on one level, but when it comes to work, he’s all about being involved. Miranda has nothing but good things to say about him, how the buyout worked and the support we get. I just...that doesn’t make any sense. If he hated the game, why not squash it in development? He could have told us no.”

  “He’s the only person I can see with motive to get rid of you.”

  “I don’t see it. If I go, Crystal will go and that would leave a huge, gaping hole in our team. Work would stop... I just don’t see that. Doug wasn’t on board with the game, but he wasn’t brought into the meetings until later. That pissed him off more than the game, I think.”

  Zain disagreed, but it wasn’t up to him to change her mind. His job was protecting her.

  “Have you considered leaving the con early? I know you said you wanted to stick it out, show whoever is behind this up, but is it worth risking your safety?” If it were his choice, she’d be headed home on a plane now.

  “Yes, I’m thinking about it.” Her pained expression tugged at his heart. “I just...I’m supposed to be in the booth later with Weird Girl Club stuff. And I told Miranda I’d be there.”

  “They can deal with you being gone, if you want to go.”

  “Not yet. I want to stay for the booth. Is that the right thing to do?”

  “Andrea, I can’t tell you that because I’m completely biased. If I had my way? Yeah. You’d be gone.”

  “What if I stayed for the run at the booth and then left? Would that work?”

  He’d seen the booth. It was an end cap, with three open sides, lots of visibility and a constant flow of traffic. She’d be easily accessible to anyone who wanted to get to her. If someone wanted to create a scene, it would be big. On the other hand, no one could start anything without making themselves a target in return.

  “I’ll coordinate with Miranda. Make sure there’s better security.”

  “I need a shower.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’m pretty sure I can smell myself.”

  “How’s your head feeling?” He stopped in front of her and touched her chin, tilting her head to the side.

  “It stopped throbbing. I’m taking that as a good sign.”

  “What about the rest of you? Anything hurting?”

  “My side. Right here. I fell against the vanity.”

  “Show me.”

  She stood and allowed him to peel the shirt up. Besides a bit of a skinned mark and some possible bruising, it didn’t look bad. He tugged the shirt up and off, leaving her in jeans and her bra.

  He still couldn’t believe she’d been hurt. While he was right fucking there. He was no good for her. She deserved someone who did this job all the time. Not the resident geek.

  Zain kissed the angry red mark. He wouldn’t let her out of his sight until he got her on a plane home. Whether or not going with her was yet to be decided, but until then, he’d ensure she didn’t come into harm again.

  “Take your shower. Now.” He pushed the bag of clothes they’d carried up with them into her hands. Much more of this and he’d lose all sense of time and getting her to the floor.

  Andrea took a step back, her eyes wide.

  Fuck.

  He just wasn’t any good at this.

  Zain pressed his lips to the crown of her head, where she’d knocked her head and closed his eyes.

  “I think my lips hurt,” she said against his shoulder.

  “What?” He frowned at her.

  “If you’re kissing my booboos, go here next, okay?”

  10.

  Andrea’s smile was slippery, hard to hold in place. It was only skin deep. Could Zain tell? She’d held herself together pretty damn well since the ninja attack.

  A freaking ninja had attacked her.

  Her life was no longer real.

  This did not happen—except it did. To her. And somehow, she hadn’t cried or broken down about it yet. But she was close. She was so tired of tears, of her only recourse against people being a good cry or the grin-and-bear-it act. It wasn’t fair. But she felt better when he kissed her. As if her problems weren’t quite so insurmountable. Because Zain could handle anything.

  The moment dragged on. He continued to stare at her as though he were looking into her soul, the little frown slowly smoothing out.

  He lifted a hand, pushing his fingers through the hair at her temple. She closed her eyes and leaned into the touch. He closed the small distance between them, the only sound in the room that of denim sliding against denim. He pressed her back against the wall next to the bathroom door, his big body against hers.

  She tipped her chin up, not daring to breathe. His breath caressed her cheek. Her insides were all knotted up
. This was different. Being with him was different. Not that she had all that much experience to draw from—she made a habit of ruining relationships, but he wasn’t like anyone she’d ever known. Somehow, he made her feel things, and never once was helpless one of those. Maybe because he trusted her. Crystal or Miranda, they’d tell her what to do. But he didn’t. And it made all the difference.

  Zain’s lips gently pressed against hers. Tender even. She dropped the bag of clothes and hugged him to her, hungry to feel his warmth. His kiss. She lifted up on tip toes, seeking more. Everything he had to give her, she wanted. His tongue stroked into her mouth, stoking her desire.

  Andrea had heard about women, her friends even, talk about wanting someone more than their next breath. She’d never understood that urge. Until now. She slid her hands up, gripping his shoulders, pulling him closer.

  The urgency was the worst—the best. She needed him now. Needed to feel alive. Safe. Desired. All at once.

  His thigh pushed between hers, his weight holding her against the wall, keeping her prisoner—not that she was trying to get away or even wanted to. She rocked against him, fissures of pleasure breaking through the toxic fear she’d been mired in for the last hour, replacing it with lust.

  He broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers. She peered up at his closed eyes, and wanted to smooth out the lines at his temples. Kiss them away.

  “You should take that shower now,” he said.

  She stared for a moment. Was he trying to disengage? To get rid of her? Had she done something wrong? The words stuck in her throat. There was a tension in the air. She could feel it. He was holding back, but why?

  He stepped back, his hand at her hip and he started at her through narrow slits.

  Andrea didn’t have it in her to fight with him. To figure out what was changing or why, but she felt the moment shift. Go cold even. She hugged her arms around herself and pivoted, stepping into the bathroom.

  She flipped the lights on, keeping her eyes on the floor. The weight of his gaze on her made her feet heavy as though she shouldn’t move.

  But he’d told her to go. Hadn’t he?

  Why did men have to be so confusing? They said women were complicated—but her wants were simple.

  Him.

  She wanted him.

  “Here.”

  Andrea turned toward the door. Zain stood there, the damn bag in hand.

  “Thanks.” She took it and set it on the vanity, unable to look at her reflection for fear that she’d see too much. It was one thing to feel it, another to see the stark evidence of what she wanted and couldn’t have.

  He filled the doorway, staring at her.

  Her gaze slid toward him, hungry for more.

  The longing in his eyes...

  She sucked in a breath, unprepared for the intensity of it. He took one step, closing the distance between them. They reached for each other, his arm around her waist, her hands on his shoulders. The hard edge of the vanity pressed against her bottom.

  He devoured her mouth. There was no other word for it. His teeth nipped at her lips, his tongue stroked her. He palmed her ass, guiding her even as she shifted and moved, rubbing against him. She’d never felt so bold. He groaned into her mouth.

  In that moment, she was more alive than she’d ever been before. The sexual charge between them only grew until each press of skin, the barest touch had her gasping as her too sensitive nerve endings lit up, drawing attention to any place they touched. Her breasts were...heavy. Her nipples chafed against her bra. Things she’d never felt before.

  His hold around her waist tightened until he lifted her off her feet and set her on the counter. He peeled the cup of her bra aside with his teeth.

  Oh, yes, please.

  She shrugged the straps off, freeing her breasts and leaned back, hands on the smooth marble surface.

  The light was too bright, nothing was hidden, but it allowed her to see everything. Zain’s dark hair against her skin. His lips and tongue doing things to her breasts she felt all over her body. Each touch and lick only heightened the lust burning her veins.

  He wanted her.

  She’d never felt wanted. Not like this. Not like she was as important as his next breath of air.

  His left hand rest against her upper thigh, so close to where their bodies had joined last night. Where she wanted him now.

  He rose, kissing his way up her chest and throat, across her jaw to her lips. His forehead rest against hers, his eyes shut again.

  “I’m sorry. You should take that shower now.” His voice was different, rougher.

  “I should.” She wrapped her calves around the back of his thighs.

  Just because she should shower didn’t mean that was what was going to happen.

  “Andrea...” He said her name as though it were a warning.

  “What?”

  His eyes slowly opened. If anything, the need was worse. Did he see the same thing when he looked at her? Because she was pretty sure she needed him.

  “You don’t want me like this,” he said.

  “I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean. How?”

  “I’m not...I’m not what you need.”

  “How do you know that? I don’t even know what I need.” She cupped his cheek, swiping her thumb along the deep scar. “I want you. That’s all I really know.”

  “You should tell me to go away.”

  “People are always telling me what to do. You want to know something? I’m really sick of being told what to do. I’m not going to tell you to do anything.”

  “I’m not good for you.”

  He what?

  She couldn’t begin to imagine what kind of baggage he came with. How losing an arm and doing what he did changed him. But the idea that he wasn’t good for her—or that he was bad—was the silliest thing yet.

  “You don’t want me? That’s okay.” She swallowed. Rejection stung, but she’d felt it before.

  “No—That’s not what I’m saying.” He placed his hand at the base of her throat and stared at it. “I do want you. But I can’t be what you need.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Someone...gentler.”

  “News to me.”

  His hand slid down her chest, his touch scorching her. Her nipples were so tight she could feel her heart pulse each time it beat in the stiff peaks.

  “I’m not good for you,” he said again.

  She couldn’t fight his past. Whatever phantom haunted him, it wasn’t her battle.

  Andrea uncurled her legs from around his and straightened, which also put her face to face with him. She placed her hand against his chest, right over his heartbeat, and kissed his cheek.

  “I want you too much. Do you know what that’s like?” His gaze slid up to hers and his hand cupped her breast.

  “N-no.”

  Oh, this wasn’t fair.

  “It’s eating me up.” His thumb swiped over her sensitive flesh. “If you don’t tell me to go, I’m going to bend you over the sink and fuck you.”

  “Oh. Okay.” She wiggled her toes. Was there something wrong with that plan?

  “Andrea...”

  “Hm?”

  He grasped the stiff peak of her nipple between two fingers and gently tugged. She gasped and arched her back, losing all rational thought.

  “Last chance,” he said.

  “Is that a warning or a promise?”

  He let go of her and stepped back. For a second they stared at each other.

  A promise, she decided.

  Zain pivoted and walked straight across to the closet.

  She slid to her feet, wiggling her feet out of her boots, not bothering with the zippers. She clawed at the button on her jeans in a mad dash to get out of her clothes as fast as she could. There wasn’t time for insecurities or second guessing herself, not when she wanted him this badly.

  Zain filled the doorway. His eyes were hard, his mouth unyielding, and in his hand—another condom. T
here was no going back.

  He tossed the packet onto the counter and crossed to her, gripping the counter on either side of her hips. The marble was cold against her ass. He kissed her, thrusting his tongue into her mouth.

  She pressed her thighs together, warmth unfurling low in her belly.

  He boldly cupped her mound. She gasped and he leaned into her, deepening the kiss as his fingers penetrated her. No teasing touches, no gentle caress. It was a demanding invasion of her body. There was no question of who was in control here. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

  Zain tore his lips from hers and his fingers slipped out of her pussy. She moaned at the loss of his touch. But only for a second. He grasped her hip, turning her in place.

  The look on his face, the reflection of them together, told her everything she needed to know.

  He was going to make good on his promising threat.

  She wasn’t going to be disappointed.

  He kissed her neck, the crook of her shoulder and cupped her breasts. The sensations were different, his warm flesh and the cool plastic. She dared open her eyes, taking in their reflection, and her throat closed up.

  Was this how he saw her?

  Her cheeks were flushed, her hair crazy, and yet...she felt sexy. Because of him. Because he wanted awkward, silly her.

  His eyes opened and locked with hers. She didn’t dare move, but she didn’t want to. Why should she when she felt like this?

  He grasped the condom and tore it open with his teeth. She heard the rasp of his zipper, the rustle of fabric and the stretch of latex. His clothes were staying on, while she was naked. It was strangely erotic.

  She grasped the edge of the counter, shivering at the coolness of the marble. He leaned into her, the hot feel of his erect flesh against her ass a stark contrast.

  Zain flattened his left hand against her stomach and kissed her neck, his tongue licking a path up to her ear. His foot nudged hers. She widened her stance, leaning forward a bit. He muttered incoherent, raw words.