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KAYLEE YAWNED AND ROLLED over in bed several days later, loving the feel of Nick’s hot, hard body pressed against her own. They’d spent every night together since he’d brought her to New York, and when she was in his embrace, snuggled up against him, it felt safe, like she was exactly where she belonged. Their days were spent at Shadow Security, trying to learn everything they could about Jarid Cronin and Kyle Levins. The two men had vanished after the break-in and fire at her apartment, completely disappearing without a trace. Cornwell had taken a leave of absence the next day, adding another wrench to the situation.
Through Jett’s contacts at Offutt, they’d finally gotten an ID on the woman from HR—a twenty-something DOD employee named Fiona Brown. Nick was worried about the timing regarding Cornwell’s absence, and so was she. It wasn’t a coincidence that she’d snuck out of the safehouse, her apartment had been set on fire, and the man responsible for slipping classified intelligence to an unauthorized person was now conveniently out of the office due to a supposed emergency.
“We’re biding our time,” Jett had told her just yesterday. “We need to check all the boxes and have everything aligned before the authorities move in. Your job is secure,” he assured her. “You’ll be able to return to Omaha when this is over and not worry about your career being affected.”
She bit her lip, her body tensing. Kaylee wanted to end this now, to have the military police bring Cornwell in, rounding up the other culprits while they were at it. She understood the need to wait until they’d gathered all the pertinent details, but now some of the suspects had vanished. No one knew where Cronin and Levins were, and that thought alone made Kaylee uneasy. If she went back now, would they be waiting for her to return?
She didn’t think they’d be so careless with her a second time.
Jett had sent a man to her parents’ home in Nebraska to keep watch. It was slightly alarming to realize how many resources Shadow Security had at their disposal. While she was thankful to have them on her side, she shuddered just thinking about anyone on the receiving end of their operations. This was Nick’s life now, and she realized his work was probably just as dangerous as when he’d been in the Special Forces.
Nick began to stir slightly beside her, and she tried to relax against him once more. The quiet, early morning hours felt still and safe here in his bedroom. It was hard to believe they’d reconnected only a week ago. Nick was gruffer than he’d been all those years ago, and way more intense, but he was still so damn gentle with her. It was almost scary the way her body responded to him. He was as attuned to her as always, knowing just how to make her come apart in his arms. Kaylee had tried to reciprocate, getting her hands or mouth on his cock, but he’d told her another time would be about him. They hadn’t made love yet, and a part of her knew that when and if that happened, everything would change.
It would be hard to go back to Omaha when this was over. She stiffened. Kaylee didn’t even have a place to go anymore. The smoke damage alone had ruined much of her furniture and personal belongings, according to the information they’d received from the local authorities. Sniffling, she felt Nick shift beside her. He was immediately awake, somehow sensing her distress, those dark eyes looking over her. “Hey. What’s wrong?” he asked. One big hand reached up, swiping away a stray tear.
“I was thinking it will be hard to go back home after being with you for the past week, and then I remembered that I don’t even have a home.”
“You can stay here,” he said gruffly, but his hands were gentle as he pulled her into his arms.
Kaylee pressed her face against his bare chest, feeling the masculine skin over his taut muscles. Tears fell down her cheeks, wetting his skin, and her body melted into his. Nick still had on his boxers, but she was completely naked. She didn’t feel exposed or vulnerable though—just safe. Her breasts pillowed against his chest as he held her, her bare legs tangling with his own. She could feel his chest rising and falling, hear the sound of his heartbeat.
“Don’t cry,” he soothed, his voice low and husky. “I told you before that we’d figure this out, and I meant it. We’ll get those traitors stealing intel, but we’ll figure things out between us, too.”
She huffed out a humorless laugh. “I work in Omaha, Nick. Even if being together like this feels right, we’re still in two different places in life.”
“So? Jett has graphic designers. We’ve got all kinds of people employed at headquarters. You’ve got a clearance now. You could work at Shadow Security and move in with me here in New York.”
“Yeah right,” she muttered.
“You could. What’s stopping us?”
She sighed against him, not even having a response to that. It sounded simple when he put it that way. Although she’d been assured by Jett that she still had a job in Omaha, could she really return to Offutt? What had happened while she’d been in hiding for a month? What would she tell her colleagues about her sudden disappearance? People would talk whether she liked it or not.
Worry coursed through, and she sucked in a shaky breath.
Nick’s hand trailed through her hair as he tried to comfort her. His touch felt reassuring, but deep down, she knew he couldn’t solve all her problems. He’d protect her, yes, but what about everything else? She’d need to deal with her ruined apartment and her employer on her own.
“I know we just reconnected, Kaylee. I’m not an idiot. But we’ve stayed in touch all these years for a reason. If we’ve been given a second chance due to shitty circumstances, who am I to slam that door shut? Tell me this doesn’t feel right.”
“It’s always felt right between us,” she admitted.
“Damn straight. If you really didn’t want to leave Omaha or your family, I could look for a job there.”
She lifted her head, looking at him. “You’d just...give it all up? Leave behind your teammates and your home? The career you obviously love? You’d regret it,” she told him forcefully.
“I’d regret letting you get away twice.”
She closed her eyes in defeat, emotions washing over her. Nick was shifting them then, rolling her over. His lips brushed over her eyelids, her cheeks. Hot tears were spilling over, but he kissed each one away as he comforted her. “Don’t cry,” he murmured. His calm voice and gentle kisses soothed her, and she felt him trail his kisses to her neck. She tilted her head, giving him access, and one of his big hands cupped her breast, squeezing gently. His touch was more soothing than sexual, but she felt arousal stirring within her anyway.
Nick’s erection was growing between them, straining against his boxers. Kaylee slid her hand down, cupping the length of it. She heard his sharp intake of breath. “Let me touch you, Nick,” she pleaded.
He put his hand over her own, holding it still. “I’m going to explode right away if you do that. When I come, I want it to be when I’m buried deep inside you,” he said, his voice thick with desire. “And when it’s the right time? Nothing’s going to stop me from making you mine.”
He kissed her then, slow and deep, a promise without words as he pinned her wrists to the bed. She surrendered to him once more as Nick’s hands and mouth soon trailed everywhere, making her lost to everything but him. When she cried out his name long minutes later, he kissed her fiercely, stealing her breath along with a tiny piece of her heart.
