A Man Like No Other (8 page)

Serefina
is my equal on every level. Doesn’t hesitate to do what’s needed to get the job
done others aren’t doing. Feisty, arrogant, hardheaded, and true to her
beliefs.
He mentally reviewed her relationship with McKeon then focused on
Forrest.
It still bothered him she’d
not told him about almost marrying to the man
.
Were there still some feelings there?
And if so, where does that leave me?

It wasn’t like they’d discussed a
future. In fact, she seemed perfectly content having it be a moment-by-moment
thing between them. Just enjoying him. Not that he had a problem with the
physical aspect of their relationship but he minded it not being more, on a
deeper, more permanent basis. This was his woman and he needed to make sure she
knew that.

The lights of the small town on the
outskirts of the National Forest flared on as they drove past the city limit
sign. He remained quiet and let her choose where they were staying.

“Fuck!” she uttered.

“What?” he demanded and jerked his gaze
to her profile.

“That black car up ahead on the left.”

He looked and frowned. “A fed car.”

“That’s the third I’ve seen since we
entered town.” She eased the large truck into a hotel parking space. “If we
weren’t on target before, we are now.”

Why
would there be so many agents here?
he wondered.

Her gaze showcased her confusion as
well. She remained silent and got out, slowing to grab her bag from the back
seat. As he walked around the front, his own bags in one hand, she tossed him
the keys but never altered her speed.

He stood behind her as she asked for a
room. The concierge constantly flicked his eyes between them but made no
comment.

“Thank you.” Serefina spoke softly.
Picking up the key card, she strode towards the elevator and got in.

Taber leaned close and whispered in her
ear. “Remember our first time in an elevator?”

She laughed, bringing the attention of
the others in there with them. “I do. In fact, I’m wearing your hair tie.”

He looked at her ponytail and smiled.
The fact she’d kept it this long made him ecstatic. “So you stole it,” he
commented.

“You say stole, I say…acquisitioned.”

A chuckle emerged from him. “What am I
going to do with you?”

Wrists together, she held his gaze and
winked. “Tie me up and have your wicked way with me.”

All the blood in his body gathered at
his shaft, enlarging it until it pressed like a wall against his jeans. “I do
have handcuffs.”

He couldn’t tell if the others listened
in or not for all his focus was on Serefina and the hunger in her eyes.

“I have two pair myself.” She winked
and grabbed her bag right before the doors slid open.

A blatant erection in his pants, he
stepped off the elevator and followed her down the hall to their room.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t do anything about it, for once in the room, his cell
phone went off.

Setting his bags at his feet, he
answered.

“What are you doing in
Utah
, Kysenzki?” Tobias
Feeny.

“Hello to you, too.” A slight pause.
“How do you know I’m in
Utah
?”

“You were recognised.” A tingle went up
Taber’s spine. “Why are you there?”

“I’m on vacation.” He walked to the
room’s window and peered out.

“In that town?”

“I came up from
New Mexico
. Was in
Colorado
and we’re planning on hiking in the
National Forest. What the hell is going on?”

“You’re with LeBenoit?”

“My personal life is my business,” he
growled, leaving the window which allowed a lovely view of the forest and
headed into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

“You’ve been cleared, but I think you
should take some vacation.” Feeney made the order sound almost like a
suggestion.

He couldn’t agree more. Leaving
Serefina at the moment wasn’t a viable option. “Sounds good. I’ll stay on
vacation until I get up to my leave I put in for the other day and come back
after that.”

“Good. I really don’t want to know it,
Kysenzki, but whatever the reason you’re where you are, be careful.” Tobias
hung up.

Before the sink, he stared at his
reflection for a moment, splashed some water on his face, and took a deep
breath. Something didn’t feel right. Who was this mysterious someone who’d
recognised him? And why would they call his director about it? Apparently, he
and Serefina weren’t the only ones keeping an eye on this area, so whatever
they were going to do, they needed to do it quickly.

“We need to talk about this,” he said,
swinging the door open.

He froze at the sight before him. It
was a standoff. Serefina stood between him and the door and had two guns drawn,
one pointed at each man who stood in the room.

One man he didn’t know. One he did.

“Are you just going to stand there,
Taber, or do you plan on telling her to put the guns down?”

He fought off a smile. “Hello, Cort,”
he replied and placed himself beside Serefina.

She never looked at him. Just kept her
attention and both guns aimed with unwavering directness at the men.

“They say they know you,” she muttered.
Cort stepped closer and she shook her head. “Not another one or I’ll put a
bullet in you. And what I shoot off won’t grow back.”

Blue eyes shot flames and Taber nodded,
putting a hand on the small of her back. “I know one of them. Put the guns
down, angel.” She did. “What are you doing here?” he questioned.

“What the fuck?” Cort stepped towards
him and shook his head. “She just drew down on federal agents.”

“She’s an agent. Cortland Kysenzki,
US
Marshall, meet Serefina LeBenoit, ATF.”

“You could have told us,” Cort snapped.

Serefina shoved one gun, her SIG, into
the back of her pants and shrugged without shame. “You coulda knocked. You
didn’t. Instead, you broke in the room. I’m not in the habit of asking those
kind of questions, especially not to people carrying multiple guns.”

Cort skimmed her from head to toe
before glancing back at Taber. “Good to see you, Tabby,” he stated.

“You too, Cort.” He hugged his brother
and stepped back to stand by Serefina.

“This is Agent Morrioe.”

The men shook hands and all Serefina
did was nod. He could tell she hadn’t quite figured out what to make of the
situation.

“What are you doing here, Taber?” Cort
asked.

“We’re on vacation.”

Cort flicked his glance between
Serefina and himself. “The two of you?
Together
?”

Anger rumbled in his chest. “Yes. Got a
problem with that?”

“Not at all,” his brother replied with
a grin. “I can’t wait to tell Mom. Let me catch up with my brother, Morrioe.
I’ll see you later.”

The man nodded and left. All hints of
amusement vanished from Cort’s face the moment Morrioe did. The brothers stared
at one another before Cort shoved his hands into slacks pockets.

“I heard about Dodd, Taber. I’m sorry;
I know you and she were close.”

A sideways glance showed no expression
on Serefina’s face. He didn’t know what to make of it. Something to deal with
later. “We were. How’d you hear about it?”

Cort licked his lips and Taber knew he
was nervous. Serefina sat on the bed and watched in continued silence, her
unpolished fingers moving in a petting motion along the gun in her lap. He knew
she’d leave if he asked, but he liked her in the room and had no desire to keep
anything from her.

“Cort?” Taber reiterated, wanting to
know how his brother had heard.

“Stuff like that travels.” Cort
shrugged but never dropped his gaze.

“How’d you know I was here?” he asked
his older brother, curious as to why he would be here.

“I know your truck, Tabby. We’re
brothers.”

“Why are you here?” he countered.

“People said it was most likely a man
named Dillard Thurgood who did this?”

He frowned. “Still doesn’t explain why
you’re
here, Cort.” Taber didn’t like
how Cort continued to dodge the question.

“They sent me.” Cort ran a hand down
his face. “To tell you to leave it alone.”

Taber’s gaze narrowed where it focused
on his eldest sibling. “What do you mean?”

“Go home, Taber. It doesn’t matter if
he did it or not.”

“The hell it doesn’t!” he bit off. “He
killed one agent for sure, possibly two more. What’s your game?” His body
tensed and he readied for a battle.

“Dillard Thurgood is in
Marshall
custody. You
can’t touch him. His sister, a younger sister, is a federal witness. Her only
condition was that her brother stays safe and out of jail so he can be near
her.”

White-hot rage filled him and he began
to shake. “You’re tellin’ me that fuckin’ excuse of a human being has an
endless get out-of-jail-free card because of his sister?”

Cort’s expression shared his own
personal dislike over the situation. “I’m sorry, Taber, you know how it goes.
He put out that he thinks there are people who may be after him, which is why
the agents are around. He also protests his innocence.”

Taber shoved down his fury. “That so.
Well, lucky for all involved, I’m here on
vacation
.”

A blond brow rose. “Taber.”

He wanted to puke, rant and rave
against this atrocity. Instead, he crossed his arms and gave his brother a
bland stare. “What?”

Chapter Eight

Serefina had no clue how she remained
quiet at that announcement. Dillard Thurgood was, for all intents and purposes,
untouchable. Any arrest would be wiped away. Ignoring the anger, which unfurled
and grew within her, she stared at the other man in the room.

Cortland Kysenzki was a handsome man.
Not quite as broad as Taber but definitely not a wimp. All muscle and masculine
grace. His hair was rakishly messy to a certain extent, a bit shorter and
lighter in colour than Taber’s, but not as golden. And the eyes, while blue,
weren’t as deep of a hue. Still, all in all, he was a hot-ass man.

She pushed to her feet and shoved her
second gun back in the bag before heading to the door. She needed some fresh
air. She needed to think. She needed to get away from any witnesses before she
blew her cool.

“Where you goin’, angel?”

“Out,” she said, well aware her voice
more tense than normal. “I’ll be back in a while.”

He curled a hand around her arm and
prompted her to face him. His eyes swirled with anger and concern. For a
moment, he just stared at her, silent, before he nodded and leaned in close to
brush their lips together.

“Stay safe.”

His concern touched her. “I will,” she
murmured. She shot Cort a sharp glance. Then dismissing him, she strode out the
door and closed it behind her.A polite smile on her face, she rode down in the
elevator with a few other people. She could feel the rage close to erupting by
the time she moved across the tiled floor of the hotel lobby and stepped
outside.

The cool air washed over her and she
paused before striding off up the street. There was no direction in mind; she just
wandered. Soon, she found herself moving through the
Wasatch-Cache
Forest
.

With a deep groan, she sank to the
ground at the base of a large aspen. Drawing her knees up, she dropped her head
into her hands and sobbed. Why, she wasn’t sure, but there was no stopping it.
Powerful, raw sobs tore up from her gut and poured out into the air. Her anger
gave way to cries and she allowed it.

When there was no more within her, she
wiped her eyes and leant back against the tree trunk. It wasn’t fair. No matter
how she looked at it, how it got explained to her, anything. Bottom line. What
this equated to…

Bullshit!

“Ahhhh!” she screamed to the emptiness.
Birds stirred and flew away.

“You okay, angel?”

Her SIG was palmed and pointing at
Taber before it sank in who stood there. Taber leant against another tree,
strong arms crossed, as were his ankles. With a sigh, she lowered the weapon
and dropped her head back.

“Hell no, I’m not okay,” she ground
out. “This is bullshit.” She took in his attire, black jeans, a tight blue
shirt and hiking boots. She wanted him. Just staring at him made her wet with
desire. “How’d you find me?”

“I tracked you.” He said it so
casually, like it was something he did every day.

“I’m not letting this go,” she vowed, unwilling
to let Thurgood continue on, no matter what it cost her. After all, could it
really cost her anymore than it had?

Taber moved like lightning and knelt
beside her. “Me either.”

That shocked her. And pleased her.
“What about your brother?”

“He and his partner headed back to
Washington
.” He sat and
stretched out those long legs before him.

“He’s not staying?”

“He did what was asked of him.
Delivered the message.”

She plucked at the grass beside her
semiautomatic. “Does he know you’re not letting it go?”

“I’m sure he does. He’s my brother,
after all.” Taber looked at her. “He is on our side about this, no matter what
it seems like. And he’d like a chance to get to know you, although he did say
preferably without guns drawn on him.”

She smiled a little. “I’m sure he knows
you want revenge on the one who killed Agent Dodd, but what if it turns out
Thrugood’s not the one who did it? Will you agree with the decision and leave
the man alone?”

“Serefina,” he said on a soft thread.

“What?”

Her heart lurched when he settled his
palm along her face. “I meant it when I said there was nothing between Shania
and myself.”

“I don’t need an explanation, Taber.
We’re not a couple, not exclusive, nor do I need a rundown of your past. We
both have them.”

Those blue eyes narrowed into slits.
“We
are
a couple, sure as hell are
exclusive, and I know we both have pasts, but I want you to know. She was a
friend. I’m saddened and angered by her death but not because of our one
night.”

She had no desire to talk to him about
his past lovers. None at all. But somewhere inside her, she was thrilled he
wanted to call them a couple and be exclusive.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” She
tried to move her head away but he gripped her chin and held her immobile.

“I told you I wanted more than a bar
night fuck from you, Serefina LeBenoit. I didn’t lie. I want it all with you.”

Those long lashes dropped down before
lifting and exposing large orbs, which made her heart increase in speed.
If only that were true.
“We’re here to
find Thrugood.”

“Is this your way of telling me you’re
running like hell from me when we’re done?”

Was it? The thought of not having the
arrogantly handsome DEA special agent in her life saddened her.

“Angel?” The word flowed from him on a
rumble of power.

“I’m not telling you anything.”

“Then let me tell you. I’m falling for
you, Serefina. Head over heels falling. Off a skyscraper falling.”

She closed her eyes and took a
shuddered breath.

“Taber—”

He kissed her quiet. She purred into
his mouth and surrendered wholeheartedly. Their time together may be limited
but she’d be damned if she didn’t give herself the opportunity to get as much
of him as she could.

A low growl erupted from him and he
rolled them to the soft ground. “I want you, angel. I want that hot, tight,
pussy of yours to hold me while I fuck you.”

Spikes of want slammed into her and
would have taken her to the ground were she not already there. Her skin
tightened and her nipples pebbled while the throbbing between her legs
increased a hundredfold.

“Yes,” she gasped.

He ripped her clothes off, followed by
his then paused, the large mushroom head of his cock poised tantalisingly at
the entrance of her needy core.

“Do you want me, Serefina?” he queried
nipping her neck.

“Yes.” She tried to arch up and slide
him inside her but he was too strong and she couldn’t budge him.

“Tell me.” He teased her, rubbing the
head along her clit.

“P…please,” she begged.

“I need to hear the words, angel. Just
say ‘I want you, Taber.’ That’s all you need to say and I’ll give you what you
want.”

Her eyes fluttered and it was a
struggle to keep focused. “You…inside me…now!”

He pinched her nipple and stroked along
her hardened nub again. “Not the words I’m looking for. I’m hard for you,
angel. I want your heat surrounding me.”

“T…T…Taber.”

“Closer,” he murmured before sucking on
the side of her neck.

“I want you, Taber,” she forced out.
“Now.”

“Good girl.” He flexed his hips and
sank completely inside her in a single stroke.

“Ahhh shit!” she screamed, arching up
to allow deeper penetration.

“Fuck, you’re so blessed tight. So hot.
So wet. And it’s all for me, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” she panted. “Hard, Taber.
Please.”

He didn’t make her ask again. “Hang on,
angel.”

Lower lip caught in her teeth, she did
as ordered and hung on for the ride. He thrust hard and fast into her, not
giving her a second to rest. Which she didn’t want. She wanted it like this.

Hips undulating, she took all he gave.
She spiralled close to the edge of control.

“I need…need…need…”

“You’re mine, Serefina. Mine!”

Words escaped her.

“Tell me who you belong to,” he
commanded.

“I…don’t… Oh fuck me, you, Taber. I
belong to you, Taber!”

“Come for me, Serefina. Come all over
my cock.” He angled her more and picked up the speed.

She shuddered and came hard. Two more
powerful thrusts and she felt him unload within her, coating her womb. When he
stopped coming, he collapsed onto her, pressing his sweaty body against hers.

Their hearts pounded in time with one
another. Taber rolled to the side and drew her close. She licked her lips and
used a hand to trail along his chest.

“I was jealous, didn’t want to be, but
I was when I heard you talk about Special Agent Dodd.” She admitted to herself
it wasn’t as hard to tell him of her jealousy as she’d thought it would have
been. Regardless, she wouldn’t want to continue to talk about the woman, dead
or not.

“I know.”

There was no mocking tone, just simple
acceptance. She curled closer and allowed his body heat to warm her in the cool
of the evening.

“We should get back and get something
to eat.”

“Yes.” Neither of them moved. She
closed her eyes and breathed deeply. He smelled so good. “But do we have to go
now?”

His chuckle made her smile. “No, but I
have a feeling the temperature is going to drop rather quickly.”

“Worried about shrinkage?” she teased.

His large hand fell against her ass
with a decided smack and she jumped.

“I’m sorry,” he drawled. “Did I not
just hear you screaming my name to the heavens? I’m sure there was nothing
about small items in there. I heard big, thick, filled full.” He nipped her
ear. “Nothing about small.”

“Touchy?”

“You like me touchy.”

She shuddered. He spoke the truth.
“Yes, but not now,” she squealed when he rolled her over. “I’m getting
chilled.”

“I’d keep you warm.”

“Or we could go back to the room and be
warm. Then there’d be no need to stop and move later on.”

He kissed her until her eyes opened. “I
love the way you think, angel.”

They dressed in record time. Her
panties, however, somehow found their way into his pocket. The man was crazy
but he’d made it clear she wasn’t getting them back. Not right now. Which
didn’t bother her like she thought it might. On the way back to the hotel, they
stopped at a diner for a bite to eat. She noticed a few agents who seemed very
interested in them but she and Taber continued on as if they were on vacation.
Eating, talking, laughing, and having an all around jovial time.

Once dessert had been taken away and
the bill paid, they walked to the hotel room. She leaned against the door once
she closed it behind them. “Taber?”

“What is it, angel?” he asked absently,
searching through a bag.

“Maybe you should go home.”

That got his attention. He whipped
around to face her, blond hair flying around his chiselled features. “I’m
sorry?” he asked, disbelief in his tone.

“You heard me,” she said quietly, going
towards him. “Your brother knows what you’re doing here, you were already put
on admin leave. You should have a solid alibi when shit hits the fan.”

He glared at her. “I’m not leaving you
here to do this on your own, Serefina. I don’t need an alibi, I have one.
You.
We’re in this together.”

“It could kill your career.”

One shoulder lifted lazily and he
gathered her close. “If my career is dependent on allowing murderers to go free
just to get a testimony from another than that career is not the one I need.”

What
do you need?
Somehow, she managed to keep the question behind her tightly
pressed lips. “Okay.”

“Should we plan?”

“I think so. And there is something
else I need to tell you.”

He drew back and stared down at her
face. She swallowed and held his gaze. “I’m all ears.”

“It’s about Sean…SA Forrest.”

Taber didn’t know how to categorise the
gamut of feelings her statement created within him. Somehow, he managed to only
arch an eyebrow. His gut, however, remained a tumultuous mess.

“What about SA Forrest do you need to
tell me?”

She worried her lower lip for a few
moments. “This…wow…this isn’t easy for me to say. We were engaged to be married
a few years ago.”

Even though he knew this, it still
didn’t sit well with him. “Were?”

“He left me a note on my wedding day
saying he couldn’t marry me. That’s why I swore to stay away from DEA men.”

He wound his hand in her hair. “Did… Do
you still love him?”

Her hesitation was like a knife shoved
deep into his heart. She licked her lips and lifted her shoulders as if
confused.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t
believe so but seeing him again definitely rattled me.”

Possessiveness rose swift and fierce
within him. “That so?” he bit off before moving away. He sat on the room’s
chair.

Serefina watched but didn’t follow him.
In her brown eyes, he could see a flare of pain before it was masked. He
watched her stiffen before she approached him.

“Look, I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t
ask for you to come into my life and throw it into upheaval.”

“So this is my fault?” Anger simmered
below the surface.

“No. I’m just saying I’m confused about
this. But I wanted you to hear about Sean from me. If I know him, and I do,
he’ll say something. That’s all I wanted to say.”

He sat there while she walked away and
sank to the floor beside one of her bags.
Calm
down, Taber. She came out and told you, and it’s not like you don’t have a past
of your own,
he admonished himself. Heck, an ex-lover had been found dead
in his hotel room and she’d not raised a stink about it.