Dangerously Involved Read online

  Nolan stepped back and took her hand in his. She swayed a bit, her knees unsteady, but she knew what she wanted. At least for the next little while. What came after, well, she’d deal with that then.

  He turned and led her toward the library doors.

  Getting up to the second floor and her room meant braving the newly installed security cameras, his team, her brothers and her mother she was already avoiding.

  “Um, Nolan? This might not...”

  He twisted the old, heavy lock into place. The hand carved wooden doors were sturdy and as old as the house.

  Her brows rose and she couldn’t tear her eyes off the door handle.

  Did he really mean they should...?

  In here?

  Nolan turned toward her and looped an arm around her waist. He brought their joined hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

  “What were you saying?”

  The rumble of his voice vibrated against her chest and she shivered, far too aware of him.

  “You aren’t serious,” she whispered.

  He took a step, walking her backward. “Oh, I am.”

  “What if someone wants to come in here?”

  “Door’s locked.”

  She doubted her brothers would attempt work. Mother would hover around the front door until Dad got back. They were really only in danger from the rest of Nolan’s team coming to look for them. If Nolan wasn’t concerned why should she be?

  “I’ve got you all to myself,” he said into her ear.

  Her calves hit something and Nolan nudged her back. She sat down hard on the leather sofa positioned in front of the fireplace. Yvonne had sat on this sofa a hundred times curled up with a book while visiting her grandparents. It had always been her haven, and now...

  Nolan pulled his polo shirt up and over his head.

  Yvonne’s mind stopped working, and she just stared at him. Necessity had honed Nolan’s body into a well-muscled machine. Scars dotted his skin, signs that he’d gone toe-to-toe with life and was still kicking.

  “We have to be very quiet,” he whispered.

  She nodded.

  Nolan nudged her knees apart then sank to the floor on the rug in front of her. They were finally on eye level with each other. He leaned in and kissed her while his hands slid under her shirt to caress up her sides. He traced the cup of her bra before dipping his fingers past the satin to tease her nipples. She squeezed him with her thighs and grabbed the edge of the cushion. Dampness soaked her panties and she couldn’t help moaning into his kiss.

  “Are you wet for me, sugar?” he whispered.

  Yvonne nodded.

  “Want to show me?” His sinful grin promised pleasure.

  The request still sent heat racing up her neck, only now she knew the momentary embarrassment was oh, so worth it.

  She leaned back into the supple leather, staring deep into his eyes. She hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her knit slacks and pushed them down. Nolan sat back on his heels, intently focused on the widening gap of skin between her shirt and pants.

  He’d seen all of her naked before. The only difference was that she didn’t have liquid courage in her veins.

  Nolan didn’t wait for her to peal her clothes down. He slid his hand past her panties and cupped her mound, his fingers pressing into her. Yvonne leaned her head back, waves of heat washing over her.

  “Damn, if I’d known you wanted me this bad I’d have stopped talking a while ago.” He curled his fingers and circled her opening.

  She shifted her hips, wanting him inside of her.

  Nolan pulled her slacks and panties down past her knees. The cool leather against her heated skin kept her anchored in reality.

  This was actually happening.

  Nolan leaned forward, dug a hand into her hair and pulled her forward for a rough kiss. She slid her hands over his chest and down to the belt at his hips.

  “You first.” He nudged her hands away.

  “You can’t possibly expect me to be quiet for that.”

  “Try.” He grinned.

  Her stomach did a flip-flop. She’d never call him gorgeous or traditionally handsome. He was too rough around the edges for that. But he did things to her insides she couldn’t explain.

  Nolan bent, his fingers stroking her. She grabbed one of the old throw pillows and covered her face with it a moment before his lips touched her sensitive flesh. She knew what his head looked like between her legs. It was what he did with his mouth and fingers that undid her.

  The gentle, exploratory touches changed. He thrust into her, stroking her inner walls while he kissed her mound. His tongue licked her, and she lifted her hips up off the sofa. She squealed into the pillow, muffling the sounds. She felt him chuckle while finger fucking her pussy.

  A deep hunger gnawed at her. Yes, she wanted him, all of him. Not just his mouth and fingers, but his cock as well.

  Yvonne reached down and grabbed a handful of his hair. She tugged, but he ignored her. His lips wrapped around her clit and he sucked. Her body tightened, rising to a new high.

  She dropped the pillow and pulled again. This time he relented and kissed his way up her body to her mouth.

  “Now,” she panted.

  For a moment she thought he’d fight her on it, but then he let go of her and pushed back. The answering hunger in his eyes told her he wanted her now, too.

  He slapped his wallet on the sofa next to her. She scooped it up and found the condom nestled between a few bills. While he unbuckled his belt and pushed his clothes down, she ripped the packet open. There was a frenzied need to the rush to sheathe him.

  “Turn around.” His voice really was more like a growl.

  Yvonne twisted, rising onto her knees and bent over the back of the sofa. She glanced back at Nolan, standing with his cock in one hand, eyes on her.

  “We’re going to do this again, and I’m going to taste you properly, sugar. Got it?”

  She nodded. At this point she’d say yes to whatever he wanted.

  Nolan leaned over her, his cock resting against her ass. He took a handful of her hair and bent her back, kissing her mouth. She could still taste herself on him.

  He shifted, sliding his erection through her folds until he found her entrance.

  She whimpered into the kiss and pushed back onto his cock. He tugged her hair, encouraging her. She squeezed her muscles around him, relishing the feel of him.

  It really had been good, and not just in her head.

  Nolan broke the kiss and straightened. He gripped her hips and worked his cock deep inside of her without hurry. She dragged the pillow back and buried her face in it.

  All at once he surged into her, rocking her forward. She groaned into the pillow and prepared herself to hold on. The sex they’d had at the hotel had ranged from wild and hair-pulling to soft and tender. Right now she’d take all of it.

  His hand slid around and stroked her clit. Her body shuddered around him and she came, moaning her release into the pillow.

  Nolan leaned over her and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her to his chest. He kissed her temple then her cheek.

  “I don’t think anyone heard,” he whispered.

  “Oh, my God.” She covered her face with her hands.

  Sure, she’d had the pillow, but she hadn’t exactly thought through what she was doing or why.

  What if her family had tried to come in here?

  Nolan chuckled and gave her one last kiss before pulling out of her. He took her hand and helped her to her feet, untangling the clothes still around her ankles. That done, he led her to the tiny bathroom. They took turns cleaning up, all the while it felt as though she were locked away in a happy, safe bubble.

  When she was done in the bathroom Nolan was waiting for her. He scooped her up off her feet and carried her back to the sofa where he sat down with her across his lap as though he did this all the time. It was sweetness from a man she’d never have guessed had a sweet side.

  “I
promise to help you find your shoes.” He kissed her temple.

  “How thoughtful.” She chuckled and closed her eyes. And just like that the bubble burst.

  What the hell were they doing together?

  It was hard to have serious doubts while nestled against Nolan’s chest. There was something about him that seemed...sheltering. He was a protector. It was the same vibe that had kept her talking to him in Vegas instead of scurrying away from him.

  She tipped her chin up to study his face. His nose had been broken one too many times. The scar on his chin and its twin on his brow gave him a mean look. But his eyes were kind.

  “Like what you see?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “You must need your eyes checked.” His hand slid up and down her leg.

  “Why were you in Vegas?” She’d wondered what chance of fate brought them together, but hadn’t had the opportunity to ask.

  “Buddy of mine from the Marines had a bachelor party a couple weeks before his wedding. Did it the smart way, I suppose. I decided to stay a few extra nights because I wasn’t on-call.”

  “But then you had to leave for a job?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Do I want to know what this bachelor party entailed?” She knew she didn’t, but she couldn’t help but wonder who else he’d been with that week.

  “Not as exciting as you’re thinking.” One side of his mouth hitched up. “See, there’s a gun range in Vegas where you can shoot all kinds of otherwise illegal weapons. Thompson sub-machine guns that sort of thing. If we weren’t shooting guns we were playing poker.”

  “You went to Vegas to shoot guns?” She knew her brows were trying to crawl off her forehead, but it was the strangest thing she’d heard. And not at all what she’d expected.

  “What do you expect from a bunch of Marines? We like our guns. Besides, half those guys are married with kids. All they really wanted to do was eat and sleep.”

  “And the rest of you?” She traced the bottom button on his polo shirt.

  “What are you getting at, Vee? Do you want to know if I fucked around while I was in Vegas?”

  No, she didn’t want to know. But she did.

  His voice gentled. “I did go to that club we met at to drink and see what happened. I won’t lie to you about that. I didn’t sleep with any other women that night. I haven’t since if you’re wondering.”

  “Oh.” Why did that make her stomach flutter?

  His voice grew deeper, a bit rough and his breath warmed her skin. “Are you trying to tell me something? Would you be jealous if there’d been other women?”

  “That would be unreasonable.” But yes, she would have been jealous. And hurt. She had no right to be either.

  “And you’re never anything but reasonable?”

  “You thought my name was Kim.”

  “What does that have with being reasonable?”

  “It stood to reason that someone who couldn’t keep my name straight even once might be confusing me for someone else.”

  Nolan winced. “I really thought you said your name was Kim.”

  “Yvonne. Kim. They sound so alike.”

  “Hey.” He held up a hand. “It was loud and these old ears aren’t what they used to be.”

  She chuckled and laid her head on his shoulder. “Did you go to the wedding?”

  “My buddy’s wedding? Yeah. My plane landed an hour before the ceremony. Thank God the bridesmaid knew what the hell I was supposed to do.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket, unlocked it and opened up his pictures. “The bride sent these a few days ago.”

  He tapped a picture of Nolan in a line of men all wearing the Marine uniform, their faces stern. He swiped and the next image had the men paired up with women. Nolan stood with a curvy, elegant black woman cradling a baby in her other arm. Yvonne didn’t miss the massive diamond wedding ring on the woman’s finger.

  She couldn’t help but wonder if Nolan had ever seen himself like that, with a wife and a baby. Because if that pregnancy test was correct—and she wasn’t entirely sure it was—then this could be his future. But only if he wanted it.

  She watched as he swiped to a few other images. “I grew up around girls who began planning their weddings as soon as they graduated from cartoon princess fantasies. I never really understood it.”

  “Of course you didn’t.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” She lifted her head from his shoulder and frowned.

  “Don’t take this the wrong way, but—that’s not you. You don’t strike me as the princess sort of girl.”

  “I don’t?”

  “Nah. You’re too capable for that. I mean, look at what you’ve done. And how old are you? Twenty-eight?”

  Yvonne blinked at him a few times. Too often it didn’t matter what she’d accomplished, only that she was still single and alone. That he saw that much of her was surprising.

  “Twenty-nine.” Inside she was preening. Yes, she’d worked her ass off.

  “All I’m saying is—you’re the kind of woman who has other goals. There’s nothing wrong with doing it either way. I’m just not surprised. I bet when you’re ready for the other stuff you’ll have a plan. You have a plan for everything, don’t you?”

  She didn’t. Not for this. Nowhere in all of the things she’d mapped out for herself had she included getting knocked up.

  “Used to I didn’t have much of a plan for anything.” He frowned, continuing on, oblivious to her inner dialogue.

  “And now?”

  “I’ve got a plan. It’s not much of one, but it’s working out for me.”

  She waited, but he didn’t elaborate on what that plan was and she was too afraid to ask what it was.

  TUESDAY. LOCATION, Kyoto, Japan.

  Samuel stared at the manpower reports his assistant had run. The numbers didn’t lie. If he ran with the opportunity he’d been given, he’d run out of men long before they attained their goals. Which put him in the unfortunate predicament of needing more men.

  On boarding people was a time-consuming, slow process. For the work they did, he had to trust every person he hired. But that was when he only managed half the business. The kind of work he did required a great deal of trust among a slice of the population not known for their virtue.

  It would be immensely easier to hire more men on the other side. Let them think they were doing an honest day’s work, when in truth they were helping Samuel on another level.

  “Sir?”

  “Show him in.” Samuel waved his hand at his assistant. He didn’t need to be told what time it was or who was here.

  A moment later Karuki entered the home office that Sota had once claimed as his primary work space. The kind of things Samuel needed to discuss with his head of operations weren’t the sort of things he wanted overheard. Even if the house was now staffed with Samuel’s people.

  Karuki came to stand in front of the desk while Samuel stared out on the patio where he’d killed his brother.

  He let the silence stretch on for several moments. Sota had stood on ceremony, making every act a performance. Samuel didn’t desire to be like his brother in any way.

  “Well?” he said when the silence had gone on for long enough.

  Karuki delivered his news in a voice devoid of inflection. “I’ve met with each unit. At least half our command structure is considering leaving.”

  Damn.

  That wasn’t what Samuel wanted to hear.

  “I have, however, convinced them to remain on. For now.”

  He turned toward Karuki. “Where would they go?”

  “Hard to say.”

  “Would a lump sum appease them?” Samuel could afford to pay a bonus to their employees. A gift from his now dead brother.

  “Some would be swayed by money. Not everyone is that blind.” Karuki’s flat stare spoke volumes.

  In hindsight, Samuel wished Karuki’s face had taken less of a beating. But disloyal bodies were worth less than compliant
ones. Those who would cause problems would take one look at Karuki, come to their own conclusions and turn in their notice. Samuel would have a smaller work force, but a more loyal one.

  “We need to hire more men.” He turned back toward the windows.

  “Now?”

  “There are opportunities presented to us that we need to take advantage of. For that to happen, we need men.”

  “Sir, I think we should discuss the Yakuza before you make plans.”

  “What about them?” Samuel crossed his arms over his chest.

  “You are aware we found one of their men?”

  “I am aware.” He’d been told the moment the man was in custody, but had left the details up to his people. They knew the basics well enough from Samuel’s men who had intercepted the van carrying the team operating the drone, but what he needed were specifics.

  “The drone was an assassination. They hired a company called Lyme to source the drone for them. The drone is a prototype that was booked for a demonstration with Lyme. From what I can gather, Lyme and the Yakuza kidnapped the drone creator to kill Sato.”

  Samuel turned toward Karuki. “And? Where is the drone now? Why have we not recovered it yet? Who was the man developing it?”

  “Douglas Krieger.”

  “Krieger?” Samuel frowned. He knew that name.

  He glanced at his laptop.

  The antivirus software.

  That Krieger?

  Karuki took a few steps toward Samuel. “Yes, the youngest son of the founder of Krieger, Inc.”

  Fucking hell.

  Samuel bit the inside of his mouth.

  The police didn’t know about Douglas Krieger or Samuel would know that detail by now. He paid a hefty sum to be kept abreast of all current investigations, and so far the Krieger brat wasn’t on the police’s radar for Sato’s death. There was some speculation about Samuel being involved, but those same payments ensured the police wouldn’t look too closely at him.

  All of that would change if that drone video became public knowledge.

  “Where is Krieger now?” Samuel asked.

  “According to social media, he is back in the United States.”

  He was going to have to handle this. Now. Before things went forward with his other plans. Everything he was working toward would be destroyed if video of him shooting his brother came to light.