Code Name: Luminous (5 page)

“I think I’ll turn in,” she said, stepping
from the ride and heading toward the condo.

“I changed the sheets on my bed.” Hell, if he
couldn’t be with her, at least her scent would be left on his sheets.

She stopped. “I’m not taking your bed, Tony.
I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“Ah, yeah you are.”

“No, I’m not,” she said, gripping the patio
railing and springing over it like a deer.

He followed. With an easy sweep, he gripped
her under her legs and swept her up into his arms. “Yes, you are.” He marched
down the hallway and gently dipped her onto the bed. He couldn’t resist, and
planted his hands on either side of her. “If I’m the man-whore you think I am,
then you know that if I can’t share my bed with you, I’ll want a memory of you
in it even if I’m not here.”

With only three inches to spare between his
lips and hers, she stared up at him, her hands palming his chest, but not
pushing him away. Her eyes spoke differently; they weren’t at half-mast with
lust or flashing a sign of anticipation signaling
let’s get down to hot and sweaty
.

He gave her a wolfish grin, but it quickly
melted away because it was a façade. The one he used to get between a girl’s
thighs. He needed a canister of oxygen to clear his head and some distance
between him and Lumin but instead, his mouth dipped an inch closer and the air
thickened between them. Wanting to kiss her sweet lips overwhelmed him.
A tremble of unharnessed need shot through him.
It was just
a kiss, but he desired it more than anything. Words came in place of his need.
He said them just as he would have touched her lips—with a whisper. “I didn’t
want to leave you on those steps, Lumin. I’ve never forgotten you.”

She barely breathed out the words, “Good
night, Tony.”

Her dismissal extinguished his hope, but his
need surged as he backed up. Stalling in the doorway, he said, “Sleep well.”

After he closed the door, he tugged at his
jeans, the erection in his pants pulsing. He hadn’t missed the swell of her
breasts with him hovering above her. He would definitely not forget her scent
or the flush in her pale cheeks. When he closed his eyes tonight, her image
walking on the beam under the moonlight would replay itself over and over
again.

After making sure the doors and windows were
secure, Tony checked his Sig 9mm, then set it on the lower shelf of his coffee
table. His phone charged and within grabbing distance, he laid back on the
couch, never imagining he’d be sleeping on it. A wide grin crossed his lips.
Maybe he could feign sleepwalking.

With one arm tucked behind his head, he stared
up at the ceiling, his SEAL brain pacing the options ahead. He’d wait for
Admiral Austen to relay any info he might find out, and then—and then what?
Keep Lumin close, that’s what, but the question was whether he could do it
without breaking company policy. In other words, making love to her. Screwing
her, damn it. Making love was for guys like his buddy Mace.

Kayla and Admiral Austen popped into his head.
The Admiral had risked not only his job but his life, because he loved her.
Nina would have traveled to the four corners of the earth to help Mace overcome
his injury. Captain Cobbs was a cold, lethal son of a bitch, but when it came
to Marg he turned over and put all four paws in the air. When the right woman
came into a man’s life, he’d risk everything to keep her, protect her. With his
eyes adjusted to the darkness, he glanced around his bachelor pad. He liked his
space. Variety and no lingering responsibilities worked for him.

Why the hell was he thinking about this shit
anyway? Lumin had asked for his help, not his hand in marriage for Christ’s
sake.

An hour passed by, then two. He glanced at the
clock just as the short arm was about to strike zero-three-hundred hours.

The shattering of glass and Lumin’s scream
vaulted him from the couch; he swiped the weapon from the table before his feet
hit the floor. He nearly knocked her over in the hallway. He didn’t wait,
snagging her hand and running for the living room.
Two
options.
How many men were there? Fuck it.
Front door.
With a gentle push, he held Lumin against the wall, at the same time feeling
her fluttering heart on his arm. He opened the door ready to fire.
Clear
.

With a
thunk
a bullet shot through the drywall left of his head.
Pushing Lumin behind him and swinging around he fired back, missing the dark
shadow who careened back into the hallway for cover.

“Let’s go,” he whispered. Eyes everywhere, he
ran for his car, digging for his keys. The second bullet passed him on the left
and dug itself into the grass. They were aiming for him, not Lumin. She dove
into the passenger side of his car. “Head down.” Two more bullets struck the
back window as the engine roared to life. He floored it, leaving a half inch of
tread on the road. Lumin straightened, and he pressed her down again. “Not
yet.” He glanced in the rear view mirror. Headlights, two blocks behind him.
Time for some evasive driving.

“Where are we going?” she asked, fingers
gripping his leg.

“The base.
They can’t follow us there. Hang on.” He took the corners hard
and sharp. If he attracted a cop’s attention, all the better, but whenever
ya
needed one...

The engine roared with his foot heavy on the
gas as they slid onto the Strand. The lights weren’t behind him anymore, but
that didn’t mean shit. Braking hard in front of the security gate, he showed
his ID.

“And who’s that?” the young security guard
asked.

This guy had to be new.

“A guest.”
He darted a look behind him. A black two door Ford Acura crawled
by.

“She’ll have to get clearance, and…”

“I need in these gates.
Call
Admiral Austen for clearance.”

“You know the Ghost?” The kid’s face lit up.

“Kid, I’m
gonna
have
your job in thirty seconds flat if you don’t let me in.”

“Sir, if there’s a security issue, I need to
know about it.”

“I’m not a sir. Ah, fuck it.” He hit the speed
dial for the Admiral. A
groggy
Kayla answered.

“Tinman, what’s wrong?” Before the sentence
was out, she was fully awake.

“Bad guys came looking for Lumin. I’m at the
base gates. The new kid doesn’t want to let me in without the red tape.”

A couple seconds later, the phone in the
security hut rang and the kid answered it.
“Yes, sir.
Immediately.”
The kid hung up. “You’re cleared. I’m sorry,
sir.”

“Told you kid, I’m not a sir.” The bar rose,
and he drove through with a sigh of relief. His cell rang. “You mind getting
that?”

Lumin answered. “Hi, Kayla, yeah we’re in.
Okay, I’ll tell him.” She disconnected. “Kayla said we need to go to Admiral
Pennington’s office. Admiral Austen is on his way, and he’s got information.”

“We’ll make a quick stop at the team
boatshed.”

“Why?”

Lumin had put things in perspective quickly.
He liked the fact that she had her head on straight. He stopped the car and got
out. “Come on.”

They entered the boathouse, but since luck
seemed to float between good and bad, the shed was filled with a class of
recruits. They watched as he and Lumin strode in with him shirtless and her
pant-less and a skimpy slip of a top. Of course, she was getting all the
attention. “Eyes front, assholes,” he barked at them. CPO Barber looked up and
his brows popped. “Don’t ask.”

Barber gave him a halfhearted salute. “Put
your eyes back on your gear, gentlemen,” Barber ordered, but that didn’t stop a
few sideways smirks.

Tony cracked his locker and pulled out a
shirt, and handed Lumin some pants.
“Can’t be meeting up with
the Base Commander and the Admiral with those gorgeous legs to distract them.”

“Thanks.” She slipped them on and he chuckled
seeing them drape from her hips.

He snagged a belt from his locker and slipped
it through the loops, not minding the close contact while he worked it around
her waist.

“I can do that,
ya
know,” she said, followed by a quirk of her lips.

“What fun would that be?” He stepped away and
let her buckle it. “Did you see them?”

“Only for a second.”

“Caucasian?”

She wrapped the extra belt halfway around her
waist, and tucked it in. “No, dark-skinned.
At least the
first guy who came through the window.”

Tony buttoned his shirt. “Well, we know you
were right about being followed. They must have been on your tail since you
left yesterday morning.”

“They tried to kill me,” she said it as if she
didn’t quite believe it herself, swallowing and gazing up at him. “Thank you. I
don’t think I’d be alive now if I hadn’t called you.”

His fingers itched to palm her delicate jaw
and draw her to him, but he couldn’t, especially not with an audience. “You’re
a smart woman. Even on your own, I think you could have outwitted them. Ya
ready to meet the Base Commander? He’s a tough old bastard, but he’s also one
smart SEAL.”

“Tony?” He nodded, taking a step to distance
himself. “Do you think I’m going to have to hide for the rest of my life? Is
everything I’ve worked for gone because of one lousy decision?”

“No, Lumin. I know you’re out of your comfort
zone right now. Most civilians would be, but you’re not most women.” He gently
palmed the hollow in her back, guiding her out.

“But you have to leave on deployment soon. I
keep asking myself, what then?”

He stopped her once they’d cleared the entrance to the
boathouse and away from prying eyes. “One step at a time, my lady.” His itchy
fingers got their way and he brushed her cheek.
So soft.
“I think it would have been me who’d be lost if you’d been hurt.” He held his
breath, and when her gaze shot to his lips it was like a HALO,
High Altitude Low Opening
,
jump
from a plane. He dove for her parted mouth…and oh, heaven
help him, it was more than beautiful.

His other hand snaked around her waist, crushing her against
his chest. The sound of the sea close by went silent while
a
white
surf surged inside him. His soul opened up and roared at him. With
palms flat on his back, she clung to him. He’d felt lust before, but he’d never
known thunder. With two steps, he had her pinned against the wall. His mouth
and tongue had a mission of their own, and it scared him because every woman
before her vacated his memory. The smell of her skin, the taste of her lips
rallied together, overwhelmed him, leaving him senseless.

The sound of the men preparing to depart the boathouse
rallied his senses. Opening his eyes, he allowed himself to drown in hers. She
looked as overwhelmed as he felt. His heart thumped with an uneven beat as he
drew her delicate hand into his. The impending meeting had better be quick. If
her kiss could do this to him, making love to her would shatter both of them.

Chapter Three

Admiral Austen intercepted them as they
entered the Base Commander’s office. Lumin’s bravery fizzled seeing the
admiral’s business expression which looked more like a man on a mission to
kill. It turned out he’d been on the phone to Washington when Tony had called
to request entry onto the base.

Admiral Pennington was already in his office
waiting for them. After the introductions were made, they each took a seat.
Lumin gazed around the room pausing on the pictures and awards tacked on the
wall behind the large maple desk. Nothing was out of place, and every surface
shone. Pennington greeted them with a serious expression on his aging face.

Admiral Austen settled in a chair to her left.
The guy was huge. Lumin wondered how he didn’t crush Kayla, a waif of a woman,
when they made love, but what did she know about that?
Nothing.
At least not until a few minutes ago when Tony left her dizzy with his kiss.

“I called a friend in Washington to get
details,” the Admiral announced, breaking into her foggy thoughts.

Admiral Pennington leaned forward. “You called
the President at this hour, Ghost? Christ!”

Austen deflected the comment. “They’re three
hours ahead of us, and he’s up at zero-five-thirty to jog every morning. I
asked him if he had been given any details on this threat.”

“And?”
Pennington sat back and waited.

“The answer was yes. For security reasons only
he, Boiston of CDC and Harrelson at the CIA know the details, although they are
scant. Miss Edenridge provided more information than the White House possessed.
After what just occurred at Petty Officer Bale’s home, I’d say the threat has
merit.”

“Agreed.”
Pennington turned his shrewd gaze on her. “Miss Edenridge, we’ll
put you in protective custody. Under Naval law we can do this, and keep you
here for national security reasons.”

Tony leaned forward. “Sir, I have offered to
stay with—”

“You’re deploying in five days, are you not,
Petty Officer Bale?” Admiral Pennington’s gruff words suggested Tony cease and
desist.

Tony shot a look at Admiral Austen then said,
“Yes, sir.”

A muscle
ticced
in
Tony’s neck and Lumin’s pulse stepped up the pace to match it. Tony was being
ordered away from her.

Admiral Pennington’s shaved head and
perma
-frown unsettled her.

“You’ll be protected, Miss Edenridge, I
promise you that,” he said.

“Sol?” Admiral Austen stood. “I need Petty
Officer Bale to remain with her. If she’s a target, he has enough experience to
keep her safe until we know more.”

Pennington eyed Tony then her. Not flinching
under his scrutiny was difficult. She knew absolutely nothing about the
politics of the Navy, but she was thankful Admiral Austen was trying to keep
them together. She wasn’t sure who outranked who, but she prayed it was Admiral
Austen.

“You can accompany Ms. Edenridge for a week,
Bale,” Pennington said. “I’d like to speak with Admiral Austen in private.
You’re dismissed, Petty Officer Bale. Thank you for bringing this information
forward, Ms. Edenridge. I’ll approve temporary quarters on the base for you.”

“Petty Officer Bale?” Admiral Austen crossed
his arms and gave him a long look. “I’d like you to relocate Miss Edenridge
elsewhere.”

“Why’s that, Ghost?” Admiral Pennington asked.

Austen didn’t even spare him a glance.

Tony stood, and she did the same.
“Where, sir?”

“Where I found Snow White.”

Tony didn’t blink, and nodded shortly.
“Yes, sir.”

“Where’s that?” Admiral Pennington asked,
obviously not liking the evasiveness.

Austen turned his attention to the Base
Commander.
“Her old condo at the Landing.”
With a cold
gaze he said, “You’re dismissed, Bale.”

“Thank you, sir.” She and Tony left the
admirals to their confab. When the tepid early morning air struck them, Tony
gave her a tired smile. “I know where I can buy you a lousy cup of coffee.”

She breathed out a short laugh, relieved she’d
survived the intensity of the meeting.
“Sounds good.”

Grabbing a couple cardboard cups, Tony led her
down to the beach and they found a log to settle against. They watched the sun
rise. She’d never done that before with a man. There were a lot of things she
hadn’t done with a man, especially one like Tony. Her mind swatted at her
mother’s words warning of sin.

As the sun breached the horizon, a group of
men jogged down the beach. “Why does the Admiral want me to stay at Kayla’s
condo? Wouldn’t I be safer here?”

Tony’s brow tightened. “That’s not where Ghost
found her.”

“I don’t understand.”

“It means Ghost doesn’t trust anyone. He
didn’t reveal all of the conversation he had with the President, which means
this is far more complex than we thought.”

“Was Kayla lost?”

“Long story, but he didn’t find her at her
condo. I have to take you into the mountains. Captain Cobbs has a ranch up
there.”

“Won’t they follow us?”

He turned a small smile onto his lips, and she
instantly warmed. Tony was such a handsome man. Something about him spoke loud
and clear. He was capable, smart, and in charge of his destiny, something she’d
lost in the last day, or given Tony to decide for her.

“We’ll make sure they don’t.”

A shout drew her attention. “What are they?”
she asked, seeing the group of men remained in formation as they ran down the
beach.

“Phase Two class.”

“How can you tell?”

“Color of their shirts.”

“What does that mean?”

Tony hooked an arm around his knee. “Means
they’re luckier than most. By the end, there might be eight guys who make it.”

“How many were there to start with?”

“Hundred plus.
It varies.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No, ma’am.”

The men were ordered to stop a little farther
down the beach, and they all dropped to do pushups. “How many passed in your
class?”

“Ten of us.”

“It’s very difficult to become a Navy SEAL,
isn’t it?”

He turned to gaze at her. “Yeah, I don’t want
to sound like a conceited pr...
bastard
, but only the
best make it.”

“How old were you when you started?”

His grin broadened. “Are you trying to figure
out how old I am?”

She jerked her head, caught in the act.

“I’m thirty, soon to be thirty-one.”

“Uh-huh.”

A sly smile made his eyes twinkle in the early
morning light. “If I fessed up, so should you.”

Seven years difference between them. That
wasn’t a lot, but he might think so. “I’m legal.”

He chuckled. “I’d hope so if you’re working in
Vegas. Why don’t you want to tell me?”

“Twenty-four,” she said and watched his
expression flick with concern. She’d hoped there would be none. He emptied his
cup and crushed it with a slow squeeze of his hand and a long look out over the
ocean. “Tony, I—never mind.”

She jumped to her feet, and his gaze crept up
her body, but a curtain dropped in front of him, cutting his energy off from
her. She knew it by the tone of his voice.

“I never asked whether you needed to call
someone.”

“If I call Steven Porter, he’d go nuts. My
parents asked the Porters to look out for me, and he takes the job too
seriously.”

“I meant…” he stood, his expression blank, “I
mean, someone you’re close to.”

“Who?”
She’d already told him her parents were in Europe.

Tony brushed a hand through his hair, and his
jaw sharpened as if he didn’t want to say it. “I should have asked if you had a
boyfriend before, before, well…what I did.”

“No, it’s umm—I don’t have one.” She paused and
felt her cheeks heat. “It’s been a while.”

“Are we talking a month or a year?” he asked.

She swallowed. “Umm, well, the last one was
eighth grade. It lasted a whole day.”

“Eighth…grade,” he repeated, shock dawning
across his sharp features.

“I moved around a lot, remember?”

“You’ve been in Vegas for a few years. You’re
telling me you never…no one ever?”

“Vegas
is
a short
stop.”

“But there are people who live and work
there.”

“I refused to be distracted from my
schooling.” She knew where this questioning was going.

“Lumin—” his mouth gaped.

“My father was very protective of me, and so
was my brother. I wasn’t allowed to date, and we moved around so much I hardly
had time to make friends.”

Tony blinked. “Have, have.” He shook his head.
“Have you even kissed a guy before?” The words rushed from his mouth.

She laughed and bit her lower lip. “Of course,
an hour ago, or was it that bad you’ve forgotten already?”

Tony’s jaw sagged then he sputtered, “Are you
trying to tell me, I was—”

“My first kiss?”
She locked her fingers behind her back. “Yes.”

The shock flashed across his features like a
lightning strike. “You have got to be kidding me.”

She shrugged. “I was home schooled. When my
brother Jed and I weren’t learning the fundamentals of math and English, we were
training with mom and dad.” She debated for only a second. “My parents are very
religious. I grew up with strict rules, especially when it came to boys. Why do
you look so shocked?”

He shook his head to clear it. “I’m—I don’t
know. It’s just not—common, I—”

“I get that after seeing your text message.”

Tony’s cell bleeped and he swept it from his
belt. “It’s time to go. We’ll take you to Cobbs’ ranch. I’ll have one of the
guys from Team Three stay with you.” He gazed into the sand instead of at her.

“What do you mean? I thought you were staying
with me.” She actually took a step back when a cold and determined stare came
to rest on her. This was the warrior, and he’d made a decision. One he wasn’t
including her in.

“No, Lumin. I can’t.”

A squeeze of failure or maybe inadequacy made
her shy away. She’d thought this man was different, but he wasn’t. “I get it. I
don’t send text messages telling guys how dripping wet my girly parts are.” She
turned away, but he caught her arm.

“If I go with you, I will take what doesn’t
belong to me. You don’t understand because you don’t have the experience.”
Tony’s brow shot together. “I can’t be around you.”

“Why?”

“You want honest?” He shook his head slowly.
An internal battle waged war inside him, and the determined SEAL was winning.
“Sex is all I think about when I stand too close to you. I don’t deserve you,
but that won’t stop me from trying to possess you. I don’t do virgins, Lumin.
You’re twenty-four; our age difference is enough, but you most definitely can’t
give me what you should only give to the man you fall in love with, and I’m not
that guy.”

Rebuked, her heart shriveled. The man she’d
dreamed
about,
maybe worshipped a little, pushed her
back across an invisible line. She nodded then straightened her shoulders. At
least he was honest, but it didn’t stop the canyon of disappointment that
cracked open inside her. She couldn’t help but wonder whether his decision
would be different if she weren’t a virgin.

* * * *

Six hours and one award-winning decoy later had
Lumin safely on Cobbs’ ranch. She stood on the wrap-around deck, and Tony stood
on the ground staring up at her. The moment was identical to the night he’d
left her in Las Vegas. The difference this time was he knew for certain he was
walking away from something special, and seeing her uncertainty made it harder.

Mace nudged his shoulder. “What the hell are
you doing, Tinman?”

“What do you mean?” he said, giving her a nod
good-bye and heading toward the vehicles. He was going to lock himself inside
and handcuff his wrist to the door.

“You’re letting Ross stay here to watch her?”

He turned his gaze on his friend. “It’s safer
that way.”

Mace’s brows rose. “Safer for
who
?
You?
Her?
I’m not saying Ross won’t keep her safe, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but
the guy can’t stop gawking at her. You leave them here alone, and—”

“Nothing will happen, believe me. Besides,
Ross is cool. He’s a good man.”