Agent T3: d'Artagnan (Superhero Romance) (The D.I.R.E. Agency) (7 page)

Her finger pressed the video site app. A documentary he’d been watching on Albert Einstein came up. Reaching over, Dar pressed play.

Her face pinched into a deep scowl. “This plays movies, too?” Watching the screen a while, she rubbed the crease between her brows. “Do I know him?”

Her beautiful, dark eyes looked to him for answers.

Brentwood hadn’t given him any guidance on how to answer questions or talk to her. Dar decided he’d just be honest
.

“Yes, you do.”

“How do you know that? Do you know where I came from? Where I belong?”

Oh, damn. How did he answer
that
? Did he tell her she lived in the past and had time traveled to the future? Would he ruin any hopes of her regaining her memory on her own?

She waited for his answer.

“Joce, I don’t want to plant information in your head. You need to remember on your own.”

“So, you’re going to keep me here against my will, when you could take me home?”

Against her will?

“Nobody’s holding a gun to your head.” He pointed at the door. “By all means, leave, if that’s what you want to do.”

The hurt in her eyes matched the hurt worming its way through his chest. He was such an asshole. Like his father.

He reached for her hand. “Joce, I-“

Plopping the phone in his hand, she turned to the stairs. “My head hurts. I think I’ll lie down after all.”

#####

Jocelyn had to convince Dar to take her home.

Making her way downstairs, she heard him in one of the back rooms. By keeping her away from home, he hindered her ability to remember. For all she knew, just walking into her own house could bring it all back.

She found him in the kitchen, setting out two plates on a sleek, black granite surface in the middle of the room. He had her rose in a vase on the counter and steaks sitting under some type of lamp at the far end.

The man had been very busy.

He looked up at her. “I hope you’re hungry. Well, I hope you’re not too hungry, in case this isn’t edible.”

His beautiful, white smile brought a smile to her own face.

“You cooked for me?”

“I
tried
to cook for you. There’s a difference.”

He helped her sit in a tall, oak chair with a cushioned seat. Going to a black door on the wall, he opened it to reveal a large refrigerator. Pulling out a cola, he placed the open bottle in front of her.

She looked around the room. “This room is amazing.”

Donning a cushioned glove, he pulled out two potatoes from a wall oven. “Yes, it’s state-of-the-art. I had to call my sister a couple of times to figure out how to work the appliances.”

Setting a potato and steak on each of their plates, he sat down beside her and eyed his food.

“Why are you doing this, Dar?”

Turning to look at her, he swallowed hard. “Because I want you to feel comfortable here.”

She covered his hand. “I’d rather be with no one else.”

He gave a bitter laugh. “You don’t know anyone else.”

Sitting up in her chair, she pulled away. “Contrary to what you might think, d-Artagnan, if I wanted, I
could
walk out of here. I’m a big girl. I may wander a while, but I would make it.”

“I know that. Just like I know you don’t really need me. I’m just a crutch, and that’s okay.” He blew out a breath. “Hell, this is all probably more for me. The thought of you out there alone, terrifies me.”

“So, why can’t you take me home?”

He flipped his knife, side over side. “It’s complicated.”

She banged her fist on the counter. His gaze shot to her.

“Why won’t you tell me?”

Bracing his hands on his thighs, he said, “Okay, I tell you what. Let me try a few things to see if they trigger your memory. If they don’t, I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

Jocelyn felt like he dangled a carrot in front of her nose. “Don’t stall, d’Artagnan.”

He held out his hands in front of him. “I’m not. I promise. I just want you to remember on your own because I don’t think you’d believe me if I told you.”

That was supposed to appease her? Leaving her hanging with an answer like that?

“Dar, you’re scaring me...”

Turning in his chair to face her, he took her hands in his. “The last thing I want you to feel is scared. I can protect you.”

The fear that hovered in her dreams returned in the light of day to seize her chest. “So, this fear I feel is legitimate? I’m in danger?”

“Not here. Not now.” He squeezed her hands
.

She studied his guarded, aqua gaze. “But, back home.”

He gave a short nod. “Yes.”

So, he kept her here for her own protection. From what? Who?
Why
?

“Ugh, Dar…”
She rubbed her forehead before holding up a finger. “One day.”

He frowned at her before twisting his lips. “Two.”

If he knew how badly she wanted to kiss that twist off his lips, he would get three days out of her.

She trailed her fingertips over his stubbled jaw. “One.”

He snatched away her hand and brought her knuckles to his lips. Gooseflesh rose on her arms.

“Two.”

Smoothing her other palm up his muscled thigh, she stopped just shy of his pocket and squeezed. His aqua eyes turned teal.

“One day and one hour, d’Artagnan. Nothing more.”

With a cocked brow, he cupped her waist in both hands. Trailing them up her sides, he dipped his thumbs behind the edge of her dress to skim the tender flesh of her breasts. Arousal sprang to life in her chest and lower belly, her body screaming for more.

“Two, Joce.”

Holding his gaze, she pulled his shirt free from the waistband of his jeans. She skimmed both hands up his ridged torso to pause above his hammering heart.

“No counter offer?” Her voice sounded breathless to her ears.

Swallowing hard, he shook his head.

Her lips brushed his ear. “Then, one.”

He stared into her eyes as his big, warm hands floated along her bare back to stop at her nape. He flicked open the clasp of her dress with knowing agility. Jocelyn caught the fabric at her breasts.

Brushing aside her hair, he trailed hot, wet kisses down her neck to her collarbone. She dropped back her head to allow him access to her chest
.

“Two.”

His tongue dipped into the cleavage above the fabric.

She gasped – and surrendered.

Letting the dress fall to her waist, a part of her feared his reaction.

Dar took his fill of her, his eyes glazing over with passion. “God above, you’re perfect, Jocelyn.”

The hunger in his eyes made her breathless. “Even with my welts?”

She knew bruises marred her left side but she didn’t hide herself. The look in Dar’s eyes made her feel beautiful despite them.

“Yes. That’s what’s scary.” He gave her a half grin.

How did she resist a man that spoke to her in such a fashion?

He took her breast into his mouth, his breath hot, moist against her delicate skin. His silky hair fell through her fingers as she held him there with greedy intent. Paradise didn’t begin to describe the exquisite sensations, the pure ecstasy that assaulted her.

“d’Artagnan,
please
…don’t ever stop...”

Dar smiled against her breast. If she had another lover, Dar ensured she forgot him. She couldn’t possibly experience this kind of pleasure with a man and not remember
.

She guided his large hand to her other breast. Dar kneaded her thoroughly, tenderly – until an unwanted wince escaped. He jumped away.

“Did I hurt you?” His turquoise eyes swirled in his flush face.

“No.” She shook her head and reached for his hand. “Don’t stop.”

When he gave her bruised body a slow once-over, she knew it was over. Guilt replaced the desire on his handsome features.

“That wasn’t fair to you, Joce.” With a chaste kiss on her mouth, he pulled up her dress and clasped it behind her neck. “I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you like that.”

“Advantage of me? I actively participated… or, didn’t you notice?”

He lifted the corner of his mouth. “I noticed. That’s the problem.”

“Why is it a problem?”

“Because when we make love, I want you going into it with your eyes wide open. I don’t want to go through with this only to have you regain your memory and then regret it.” He sat back and ran a hand through his shaggy hair. “You deserve better, Joce, and I won’t let you settle for less.”

#####

Dar sat beside Jocelyn on a wooden glider on the back porch. The bright lights of oil rigs dotted the night sky as far as the eye could see. The ranch had more lights on it than the Vegas strip. The sight disturbed him after living on peaceful Grand Lake most of his life.

“This is nice...” Jocelyn pushed off the concrete with her foot. “…just sitting here with you.”

Looking down at her sweet face, Dar wondered how it happened. Why did they have this insane attraction for one another? Why the hell did she have to live in the past?

Suck it up, Naylor. You can’t sit in limbo like this forever.

It was true. They did sit in limbo until her memory returned. They would live this fantasy life on the ranch until Mitchell called, or her memory came rushing back. Living this way helped neither of them. He had to push this, had to find some way to get her back to normal
.

She gave him one day. One day to get back her memory. He’d bargained for two, but that stimulating foreplay in the kitchen gave her the win. Allowing him to bare her extraordinary breasts had been a killer move. Point Jocelyn.

No matter what he told himself, Dar knew it was foreplay. Only time stood in the way of their inevitable lovemaking, despite the excuses he used.

If he didn’t manage to bring back her memory, he had to tell her where she came from. If he did that, she would either freak out, or pull one of Ben’s guns on him
.

He didn’t relish either thought.

Pulling out his phone, he went into his music app and pulled up the nineteen forties playlist he’d downloaded earlier.
Moonlight Serenade
carried over the still, night air.

Laying her head on his shoulder, she hummed along. Dar didn’t say anything until the song had finished
.

“Do you like that song?”

“Hmmm, yes.
Moonlight Serenade
has always been one of my favorites.”

She sat bolt upright and stared at him, her long, dark hair swinging over one shoulder. He grinned at her shocked expression
.

“Play more.” She rolled her hand to encourage him
.

He played the next song. Judy Garland sang
I Ain’t Got Nobody
. Jocelyn sang the entire song. Not well, but she knew the words.

“I remember the words.” Her voice sounded high with excitement.

He pressed another button and Frank Sinatra belted out a song.

“Frank Sinatra? Isn’t he divine?” She sighed before humming along to
I’ll Never Smile Again.

Divine, his ass. “Frank Sinatra does nothing for me.”

Laughing aloud, she swatted him on the arm. “He’s all the rage in-”

Dar stared at her with a raised brow. Was she remembering? Had this worked?

Her dark brows lowered into a frown. “Why did I say that?”

“You tell me, baby.”

She rubbed at her temples. “We’re in Texas…”

“Yep.”

“…but, it doesn’t feel familiar to me. Nothing I’ve seen feels familiar.”

Damn, this could actually work.

“Let me see that phone.” She snatched it from his hand.

Frank Sinatra’s picture sat paused on the screen, the song title and year of release listed below
.

“These songs and Frank Sinatra
do
seem familiar.”

He laid his hand on her thigh. “They should.”

“Wait a minute… Nineteen forty?” Frowning, she closed the music and hit the calendar app.

Her mind worked fast
.

She turned to him with wide eyes. “Twenty thirteen? We’re in the year twenty thirteen?”

“Yes, Joce.”

Fear dawned in her beautiful, brown eyes. “Dar…”

He kissed her hand. “What, baby?”

“I don’t understand…”

Her breath came in quick, successive pants, the grip on his hand tightening. “Why do things from nineteen forty seem familiar but…” She motioned to their surroundings. “…this all seems foreign?”