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“I don’t know. It didn’t seem like anything urgent is happening,” Jack told her.
“Those trackers have been in place almost a week. At some point, he has to go someplace unexpected or meet someone else involved in his operation.”
She was easy talking about an operation with him. Comfortable and professional. He wanted her off guard and personal, though. He wanted her to see him as her mate, not just her colleague.
“How does the bond work with us?” he asked. “Since I’m human.”
She glared at him a second, then snapped her teeth on a bite of Carter’s light, flaky fish. He had to admit, his former commander was one hell of a cook. Not as good as him but close.
“Ignoring it doesn’t change anything,” he reminded her.
If he pushed too hard, she’d probably bolt. Should he remind her she wouldn’t get far? Of course, the last time she’d run, he’d had a direction to follow, and he’d had the enemy’s help. Would he ever stop feeling guilty about that?
Olivia wasn’t angry when she looked up at him though, just wary. Maybe a little confused. He’d always wondered at his ability to read her when she was so good at hiding her thoughts from everyone else. Never from him, though. He reached a hand across the table, palm up. She stared at it a long time.
“Olivia,” he whispered. Her gaze jerked up to meet his. He was the only one who called her that, and he knew it. She’d gotten pissy about it more than once. “I’m not going anywhere, and if you do, I’ll just follow.”
“Did you do that with Kailey?” she asked softly.
No one had spoken that name to him for so long it took a moment to click, and then he laughed. Her gaze met his. “You’ve been talking to Vin. That was... We were kids, Liv. She was not suited for a military life, and it was better we both learned that then.”
“And your friend Austin?”
That, he’d never forgive. He didn’t consider it a weakness or a secret, but he hadn’t wanted to have this conversation with Olivia until she was his. He and his old buddy Vin were gonna have a very loud chat about him running his mouth. His jaw clenched and she finally reached over to take his hand. Or maybe not. Maybe Vin had done him a solid.
“Kailey was sweet and smart. If I hadn’t left home, we’d probably be married and have a couple of kids and be completely miserable with each other.”
“She should have broken things off before screwing one of your best friends.”
She should have, but Jack knew Austin. He’d seen him in action more than enough times that he didn’t blame Kailey. Never had. Olivia may think he was a player, but Jack was nothing like his old friend. Austin had set out to seduce Kailey, just to prove he could. Thankfully, she had realized what Austin was before it was too late and she’d done something totally stupid like marry him. Vin apparently hadn’t told Olivia that much, so Jack filled her in.
She sat back in her seat. “That makes her sound weak.”
He shook his head. “Some people are just not suited for long-distance relationships. Some don’t do well without it. How many couples do you know who split up after a long deployment or retirement? You know it happens.”
She looked down but didn’t pull her hand free. “And you think we can make that work? When so many others haven’t?”
“We weren’t together before. And we’re mates. That changes things, don’t you think?”
“I don’t know.” For a second, she looked more speculative than wary. He hated that, so he squeezed her hand, gripped it in his.
“I’m not the only one with a relationship gone wrong story am I, sweetheart?”
She’d been dating someone a year ago, someone he’d thought she might be serious about, and then all of a sudden she’d been free. She hadn’t said anything, but he’d known, and he’d held back asking her about it. They had great chemistry, but he’d needed her to want him, not revenge against some guy who’d been an idiot.
“It’s not important,” she said, focusing on her lunch.
“Like hell it isn’t,” he growled.
He saw her surprise when her eyes lifted up to meet his. “I thought you weren’t going to be an obnoxious Elect male.”
Her quizzical tone gave him pause, made him bite back the words on his tongue and think. On second thought, the hell with it.
“I may not be Elect, but that doesn’t mean I’m not possessive. You’re mine. I know I can’t change you and I don’t want to. I want to stand with you. So yeah, I’m not an Elect male, but I’m still a man. I won’t try to control you. Not like that at least. In other ways, I probably will be obnoxious.”
In bed? Whole different story and he knew it. She knew it too. There was no point in hiding that. She clenched her jaw and glared, and he knew he couldn’t back down. If he did she’d disappear and she’d cover her tracks much better this time. He stood up, dug his fingers into her hair to hold her still, and kissed the hell out of her. She didn’t resist. She shoved up out of the chair and into his arms, hot and a little desperate and it felt all kinds of wrong. Fuck no. He gripped her hips and pushed her away a bit, just enough to look at her face, to see her eyes.
“You are not saying goodbye to me and definitely not like this.”
Her gaze was stormy blue, filled with desire and frustration and maybe a little fear. “Since when is wanting to rip your clothes off saying goodbye?”
He ignored the provocation in that statement.
“I know you, sweetheart, don’t forget that. You’re not using me to scratch an itch either. We do this now, you spend the night in my bed.”
Her eyes sharpened. Unfortunately. He wanted her focused on how good they could be together, not on the things she could imagine going wrong. He figured she’d close up, but instead she looked thoughtful. It put his guard up. What was she up to now?
“I’m supposed to have dinner with Delia and Faine tonight.” She paused. “You were invited.”
And he was just hearing about it now? He wasn’t sure if he should be irritated or relieved. He figured it was safest to go for amused. “I suppose I should be grateful I’m hearing about it all.”
She sighed and he barely noticed her moving closer until she’d unsnapped his pants and moved on to the zipper. He should stop her but damned if he could. He’d had too fucking many cold showers.
“Olivia,” he groaned. “I meant what I said.”
She stood on her toes, her teeth grazing his throat as her hand circled his cock. “Survive my aunt and her mate and we’ll see.”
It wasn’t capitulation but it was close enough for now. She’d already removed her boots, thank god, so he made quick work of her pants and yanked her underwear down enough to stroke her. She was wet, hot, clenching around his fingers, and he was desperate to get inside her. He kissed her and picked her up, braced her against the wall while she shoved his pants and underwear to his thighs. She broke the kiss, stared him in the eyes as she gripped his shoulders, and slowly lowered herself onto his cock.
*
He felt so fucking good. Why had she denied herself this? If she was stuck with him—for awhile at least—she might as well enjoy it, right?
“Move, Jack. Take me like before,” she whispered.
She used her telekinesis to push his shirt up and pressed her lips against his chest, scraped her teeth over his nipple. He made a sound that was half laugh, half groan.
“I do believe I love that little talent of yours, darlin’,” He drawled. “Get rid of your shirt while you’re at it.”
She would have to let go of him to remove it entirely, so she used her power to yank out the buttons and undo the front clasp on her bra. He moved the edges out of the way, bent, and sucked a nipple between his teeth. She cried out, arched her back, and moved one hand to the back of his head, holding him in place. He sucked harder and moved inside her. Rougher, faster, deeper.
Despite her doubts, it felt right. They had always belonged together. No. She couldn’t think about that. Couldn’t think about what happened tomorrow or next week or next month when he got bored and moved on and left her heart in shreds.
He bit hard enough she yelped, though it didn’t really hurt, and looked up to meet his gaze. “Stay with me, sweetheart.”
“I can’t exactly get away,” she shot back.
His smile was slow and wide, sexy and a little taunting. He thrust deep to hit her G-spot, and his teeth scraped her throat before he whispered in her ear.
“Oh, but you’re thinking about it, Olivia, and I don’t want you thinking. I want you on fire. I want you desperate. If you want to think about the future, imagine me and you, just like this. Fucking you against a wall. Spreading you out on our bed and driving you crazy. In ten years. In twenty. Longer. Every single chance I get, sweetheart, I will fuck you six ways to Sunday.”
She’d never liked crude men until she’d fallen into bed with Jack. Everything he said, everything he did to her, made her tremble with a desire that far exceeded simple lust. This was need. Hunger.
“Fuck me now, Jack. I don’t want to think about tomorrow.”
His eyes gleamed. “You’ve always been a challenge, sweetheart.”
“That wasn’t a dare,” she gasped out when he thrust deep and hard.
“Liar.” She swore she heard his response whispered into her mind. She had little telepathic ability, but they were mates and she was pretty sure he had some psychic talent or sensitivity. Maybe that made it possible. She’d ask Rose about it when she got the chance. Esme was the geneticist, but she knew Rose much better. She was a physician, not a researcher but, the others kept her looped into everything and put her to work when they were shorthanded.
Jack didn’t give her time to think anymore. His hands slid down to grip her hips, pinned them to the wall but tilted toward him, and he moved harder, faster, hitting that sensitive spot inside her with every stroke. She let herself go and embraced the pleasure rising in her system until bliss exploded through her. Her pussy clenched and unclenched on his cook, each new thrust pushing her higher, building an orgasm that left her trembling when it finally crested. She dropped her head to his shoulder, breathing hard while he thrust once more and froze, his body tight, muscles corded. A growl rose deep from his chest, and damn was that sexy. He pulled out slowly, let her slide down his torso, and took her hand, leading her towards his bedroom.
“We don’t have time for whatever you’re thinking.”
“We have time for a shower.”
Not judging by the look in his eyes, but she was sick of fighting the need for this. For him. He was worming his way closer into her life, and she had to make a choice soon. Did she dare take the leap? Learn to trust him with her heart? She’d never been much of a risk taker. Jack turned on the shower, adjusted the water, and pulled her into the spacious stall.
“You’re doing it again, darlin’,” he drawled softly.
“What?”
“Thinking too much.”
“I bet you have a plan to make me stop.”
He grinned. “Oh yeah. Slick, hot, wet. Mine,” he whispered in her ear. Then he carried through.
