Edge of Betrayal (18 page)

She took her time learning his body but never once got as close to his groin as he needed.

Maybe she was teasing him. Getting a little payback for what he’d done to her. Surely, this kind of exquisite torture was evening the score between them in some minute way. He was certainly suffering enough for it to feel like it.

Mira slid those sexy panties from her legs and straddled his stomach. Trimmed dark hair covered her mound, but he could see the telltale proof of her arousal gleaming on her flushed, swollen skin. He could still remember exactly how she felt gliding along his finger—hot, slick, tight. He needed to feel that same tight heat covering his cock, welcoming him in, all soft and accepting.

“Take me,” he whispered, stunned at the need grating through in his voice.

She wiggled against him as if settling more
comfortably in place. The move made her hot core graze his abdomen. A dark smile made her mouth all the more beautiful. “I thought it was my decision.”

“It is.”

“Then you can’t go ordering me around. I’m still not sure what I’m going to do yet.”

Heaven help him, this was a mistake. He’d given the woman a deadly weapon, and now she was using it against him. With glee.

She leaned down, propping herself up on her elbows. Her breasts flattened against his chest, and he swore he could feel her nipples harden as they made contact.

Adam gritted his teeth and held his ground.

Mira traced his bottom lip with the tip of one finger. He flicked his tongue over it and pulled it into his mouth. He used his teeth to hold her captive while he sucked the salt from her skin.

Her eyes fluttered closed and she seemed to soften against him. “Nice, but I have a better use for your mouth.”

She shifted her body, and like a glorious, unexpected offering, her nipple was right there, all puckered and ready for his tongue. He arched up just enough to capture the peak in his mouth. His tongue glided over the hardened tip, and she gave up a sexy sound of pleasure.

He was going to make her give him more.

The scraping sound of her fingernails against the pillowcase told him he was on the right track. Just like before, she heated up fast.

He knew if he slid inside her right now, she’d come around him again. Only this time it wouldn’t be just his finger. He’d get to feel every one of those divine feminine contractions around his cock.

Just the thought was nearly enough to make him come. He clenched his muscles to stave off the orgasm for a little while longer. But he wasn’t going to last long.

Mira’s breathing became panting. She pulled her
breast from his mouth. He looked up at her to protest, but words died on his tongue.

She was beautiful. Glorious. Like some kind of ancient goddess, all golden and glowing. Her eyes were as dark as the forest at dusk, and her bottom lip was imprinted with indents from her teeth.

She’d been holding back on him, but one look at her now told him the time for restraint was over.

She reached behind her and gripped his penis in her hand, positioning herself to take him into her body.

Adam once again barely staved off the need to come. Once he slid home, he wasn’t sure how long he’d make it.

She aligned their bodies and began taking him.

The heat of her scalded the tip of his cock in the sweetest way. She was tight, but so wet he slid in without hurting her. He knew, because the look on her face was one of intense, exquisite pleasure without the slightest hint of pain.

She rocked against him, completely lost in the act of joining their bodies. He was so enraptured by the sight that he managed to stave off his own need for just a bit longer.

Finally, she stopped and opened her eyes. The woman looking back at him was more sensation than intellect now. He was so used to seeing Mira’s mind that he was shocked at the sheer level of sensuality she possessed.

“There,” she said. “My choice. All mine.”

She hadn’t taken all of him yet, but she would. He couldn’t imagine any possibility other than having every inch of him buried within her when he finally set himself free.

His voice was strained from his efforts at self-control. “Your decision is made, then. That’s good.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because I’m going to take you now.”

“I thought I was taking you.”

“You did. Now it’s my turn.” He freed his hands from
their prison and sat up. The move forced another inch of his erection inside of her.

She moaned and gripped his shoulders. He wrapped his armed around her, cradling her close and pinning her in place. His mouth covered hers, and his tongue thrust inside as his hips surged upward.

One stroke, two. She cried out and tensed around him as her orgasm consumed her. He rode her through it, and by the time she reached the height of her pleasure, he’d worked every inch of his cock inside her soft body.

It was too much for him. The clenching heat of her release, the sweet smell of her body joined with his, the sexy sounds of completion she made into his mouth. He gave in to the needs of his flesh and let his orgasm have him.

The throbbing pressure exploded until he was blinded by it. Little sparkling dots danced in his vision, and his skin seemed electrified. There wasn’t enough oxygen in the room to keep his body fed, but he didn’t care.

Adam collapsed backward, carrying Mira with him. She covered him—a hot, soft, fragrant blanket. Her body rose with each of his labored breaths, and he felt the need to cling to her just so she didn’t go away.

The world finally started spinning again and he found enough air to erase the stars from his eyes. He had no clue how much time had passed, but he was still deep within Mira’s body, his cock twitching happily, all snug and cozy in its new home.

Sanity returned, and he realized the potential danger their comfortable position posed. He shifted her just enough to take care of the condom before he pulled her back where she belonged, right against him, and covered her up with the blankets.

His cock wanted to snuggle up again, too, but he ignored it. If he was good, careful, he would have her again. And if that wasn’t motivation enough, he had no idea what would be.

After a few minutes, he realized that she was asleep. In his arms. Completely vulnerable and trusting.

That show of trust made something fierce and hot rip through his chest. He’d never felt anything like it before. Had no idea what it was. It hurt and felt good all at the same time.

Adam studied the feeling, wondering if it was something that belonged in its own special box. As he considered it, the idea of shutting it away became irritating. Then impossible. This feeling was his, and he was keeping it.

Just like he was keeping Mira.

The idea hit him out of the blue, but he didn’t question it. Didn’t need to. He had good instincts and knew when something was utterly and completely right.

Mira was his now. All that was left was convincing her that she wanted to be.

I
t was the middle of the night, but Riley was wide-awake. Sophie had fallen asleep on his couch, her head in his lap. The TV was still on whatever channel it had been on, but the movie they’d been watching was long since over.

Not that he’d spent much time paying attention to whatever was on the screen. His entire focus was on Sophie—the pretty curve of her cheek, the way her strawberry blond hair clung to his shirt, the scattering of freckles he could just barely see beneath the loose collar of her shirt. He remembered just how enticing he’d found those freckles on her shoulders the first night he’d seen her. She’d been wearing a plain white cotton nightgown, and there had been few nights that had passed in which he didn’t dream about her wearing it just for him. There should have been nothing sexy about it, but on Sophie, a brown paper bag probably could have turned him on.

An infomercial started up, spewing fake exuberance and excitement over some new gadget that was going to change the world. He didn’t care about that, but the increase in volume worried him. Sophie hadn’t been sleeping well after her attack, and the last thing he wanted was to wake her.

He muted the TV. She shifted in her sleep, giving off the cutest little sigh. The sound brushed across his nerves, setting every one of them ablaze. His imagination flared to life, tossing him in the midst of a full-on, Technicolor daydream that included a whole lot of sweat, moaning, and naked Sophie skin.

With a force of will, Riley pushed the unhelpful thoughts away. All they were going to do was make his jeans uncomfortable.

Abstinence sucked, but that was nothing new. It still beat the hell out of the guilt he’d suffered every day since his one-night stand with Lucille.

Riley’s phone buzzed on the coffee table. Payton’s name popped up, and at this hour, the man wouldn’t be calling if it weren’t important.

“Sage escaped,” he said without preamble or social niceties.

Riley stifled his shock and did his best to keep his voice quiet. “Dr. Sage? As in Mira’s dad? The guy who died last year?”

“He didn’t die. It’s a long story and none of your damn business. But this part is: Whoever helped get Sophie’s attacker in the building knows who she is and that she was one of Sage’s subjects.”

“That news is already out. Why do you think she was attacked in the first place?”

“Yes, but with Sage free, there might be more people searching for her.”

“How long until her new ID is ready?”

“A day or two. Good covers—the kind that stand up to close scrutiny—are hard to create. It takes time.”

“She doesn’t have a lot of that, Payton.”

“I know. I’m pulling all the strings I can. But there’s something else.”

“What?”

“I need to know what Sophie remembers about her
time with Sage. Anything she can remember might be important.”

“You want me to let you interrogate her? Hell no.”

“No. Not me. You. She trusts you. Get her to talk, Riley.”

“No way. She’s been through enough. Just let it go. We’ll find another way.”

“We’re running out of options. We have a tracker on Sage, but we need to give him bait—a reason to make his move and go to his labs. Once we have that, we’re going to need every advantage we can get. What Sophie knows can give us an edge. Make it happen.”

“Or what? You’ll fire me? Bella would have your ass if you try.”

“Bella doesn’t scare me nearly as much as Sage does. With him free, there are a lot more people like Sophie in danger. We’re giving her a new life. The least she owes us is whatever information is in her head.”

“The least she owes you?” he nearly growled. Fury made his grip on the phone tighten. “You’re the reason she’s in danger at all. You did this. To Sophie, to Mira. Where the hell do you get off making demands?”

Payton’s response was even toned, but it held no less power. “I’m doing everything humanly possible and then some to make up for what I did. But I can’t undo the damage alone. I need help. It’s bad luck and timing that Sophie’s the one who can do the helping, but that’s the way things work sometimes. It’s your job to do what I say. So do it. Understood?”

“I understand that you’re an asshole. I like to be a team player and all, but I’m not going to push her. I’ll ask her. That’s it. You don’t get the answers you want? Tough shit.”

“Okay, but if you don’t get her to talk, I’m afraid I’ll have to play hardball.”

“Like you weren’t doing that already.”

“I’ve been a fluffy puppy up to now. There are more
lives at stake than you know. If I have to turn into the Big Bad Wolf to save them, then so be it. I suggest you get Sophie’s cooperation so that I don’t have to start getting ugly.”

“Fine. Whatever,” snapped Riley.

“Excellent. I’ll wait for your call.”

“And, Payton?”

“Yes?”

“Fuck you.”

*   *   *

Sophie heard the whole conversation. She’d been drifting in and out of sleep, enjoying the feel of Riley’s fingers gliding through her hair and stroking her face. He thought she was asleep, so she stayed that way, soaking up his touch and feeling safe for the first time in weeks.

He set the phone down. She could feel tension quivering through his powerful body.

“I don’t remember much,” she told him. “But I’ll tell you what I can.”

He stiffened. “You heard?”

“Yeah. Payton’s voice carries.”

He pulled in a deep breath. Let it out slowly. After he was done, his anger seemed back in control, none of it spilling over into his tone. “You don’t have to talk about it. I’ll tell Payton to fuck off and leave you the hell alone.”

“You kinda already did that. My guess is it’s not going to change anything.” She rolled onto her back so she could look at him. The feel of his hard thighs under her head and shoulders comforted her, reminding her that he could handle any thugs that came her way. For tonight, she was safe.

“I’ll tell you what I can. If it can help someone else . . .”

He touched her face. His big, rough hands landed so gently, it reminded her of butterfly kisses. “I don’t want you to suffer.”

“I’m tough.”

He nodded slowly. “Okay. But if you change your mind at any point, that’s fine. No pressure.”

“It’s a deal.”

He picked up his phone. “I’m going to record what you say. That way, I won’t forget anything, and any little details that I don’t think are important won’t get missed, even if they are.”

“Okay. But do me a favor?” She almost hated herself for her weakness, but she was stretched too thin not to ask for his help. She wouldn’t make it through this otherwise, and he needed her to make it through her story. Even the ugly parts.

“Sure.”

“Keep touching me?” she asked. “It makes it easier to stay calm, be brave.”

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. She wanted his mouth on hers more than she could ever remember wanting anything, but it wasn’t to be. He’d already made his position clear: He didn’t want her—not in that way. If she didn’t accept that, it was only going to cause her pain in the long run.

His hand settled on her cheek. His thumb stroked the skin just beneath her eye. “Ready?”

Sophie nodded.

He started the recording, and she immediately wished it was anyone else hearing her story. She didn’t want Riley to know about this part of her life. It was too sad. Too pathetic.

Still, if embarrassing herself was going to save even one other person, she owed it to them to suck it up and deal.

“I don’t remember much about the first time I met Dr. Sage. I think I was four at the time, maybe five. Dad said I was going to see the doctor; then some guy came and picked me up. I rode in his car for a long time. I remember being bored, then afraid. I cried and the guy bought me ice cream. Then I went home.”

“Do you remember what Sage did to you?”

“No. I don’t remember anything that happened, except there was a stain on his white coat. A pen had leaked in his pocket, and it made the shape of a blue squirrel.”

“Where were you living at the time?”

“I don’t know. It was hot. Sticky. We moved around so much—Dad always trying to outrun some irate bookie.”

“Great guy,” said Riley, sarcasm heavy in his tone.

“Yeah. A real peach. I think he got a few hundred bucks every time he let the man take me.”

“He didn’t deserve to be a father.”

“Believe me, letting some doctor poke at me wasn’t the worst thing that man made me do to earn some quick cash.”

As soon as she saw his face darken with anger, she realized her mistake. She never should have opened that door. There was no way she was going to talk about that part of her life—not to a man as good as Riley.

He would never understand.

“I’m sorry. Just forget I said that,” she said.

“I wish I could. You can’t imagine all the things that are going through my mind right now. It makes me wish he were still alive so I could kill him myself.”

“He wasn’t worth the time in prison killing him would have cost you. Just let it go. I have.”

Riley slid his fingers into her hair and massaged her scalp. She wasn’t sure if he did it because he could feel how tense she was or if he was simply trying to offer comfort. All she knew was that it felt good, and on the heels of so many crappy memories, she welcomed whatever good she could find.

“Do you remember any other details that might help us find Sage? Like buildings or roads?”

“No, the place I remember most was isolated. I remember pulling in the first time and wondering where the doctor’s office was. All I saw were a couple of cars, and trees and a big, open area. The road was gravel.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I bent down to pretend I was tying my shoe once and grabbed up a handful of rocks. I threw them at the head of the man who had picked me up. While he was cleaning grit out of his eyes, I ran.”

“What happened?”

“He caught me. I didn’t make it far. He shook me hard enough to rattle my teeth and dragged me right back where he wanted me to go. I was too little to fight.”

Riley’s fingers clenched against her scalp before he realized what he was doing and relaxed again. “Tell me more about this place. Was it a private airstrip, maybe?”

“No. No aircraft that I saw. We went down in an elevator. The guy with me tried to get me to stop crying by telling me about how we were going on an adventure. He said something about how far down we were going, but all it did was scare me more.”

“Underground? That could be useful. Do you remember anything else? Where the elevator was, maybe? How far down you went?”

She’d worked hard to purge all those thoughts from her mind over the years. Even to this day, she couldn’t see a person in a white coat coming at her with a needle and not freak out like a crazy woman. Just thinking about it made her start to sweat. Riley’s hand kept stroking her head, and his touch was the only thing that kept her from shaking.

“I remember a big metal door.”

“Like a garage door?”

“No. More like a cellar. It was flat in the ground, hidden inside a bunch of bushes. I never would have found it without help.”

“Was it guarded?”

As soon as he asked the question, she remembered the men in sunglasses. They had big guns and never smiled. For a long time, she’d thought they were robots. “Yeah.”

“Did you go anywhere else or just to the underground lab?”

“I went to a house when I was really young. There was a little girl living there. She cried every time I came over.”

“Why?”

The memory of pain flooded Sophie. She couldn’t scream. Something was in her mouth. There was a man standing over her, hurting her fingers somehow. Her head was strapped to a table, so she couldn’t see what he was doing. But the little girl was there, in the room. She was crying and promising to be good.

Sophie bolted upright, nearly hitting Riley in the chin with her skull. She flung back the blanket he’d draped over her and paced to the far side of the room.

She couldn’t stay still, not with the memory of the little girl haunting her.

Riley was beside her in a second, his hands moving over her arms as if he was afraid she’d been hurt. “You don’t have to say another word. You’ve helped enough.”

What about that little girl? Was she still out there, hoping someone would save her?

“I can do this. Just give me a sec.”

She paced around, hugging herself. No matter how fast she went, that memory clung to her.

He watched her, and the sympathy in his eyes made her cringe. She had to find a way to toughen up. Stand tall and hide her fear. It was the only way he’d ever respect her.

And she really wanted Riley’s respect. She’d had so little of that in her life, and what he thought about her was far more important than it had been with anyone else she’d ever met.

He was such a good man. If he liked her, then maybe there was something good in her, too. Maybe she wasn’t just a street rat from bad blood who stole and conned people so her dad could gamble and piss away other people’s money.

She glanced Riley’s way. He had one broad shoulder propped against the doorway to his bedroom. He’d given her the space she needed, simply waiting until she got her shit together. He didn’t push, didn’t try to rush her. He was a monolith of patience and honor.

And she loved him so much it made her chest ache to know there wasn’t a single spark of hope that she could ever have him. Not even just for sex.

It would have been nice to pretend that a guy like him could fall for her, if only for as long as it took him to get off. Even a few minutes with a man like him would be potent enough to fuel her fantasies for a long time to come.

A man like him, a nice little house, a couple of kids . . . what she wouldn’t give to live a dream like that. She wouldn’t be like her parents. She’d stick around, take care of her kids, never let anyone touch them.

She’d kill anyone who tried.

“I’ve seen that look before,” said Riley. “Bella wears it all the time. That’s the face of a woman planning violence.”

“Nothing to worry about. The people I’m willing to do violence for aren’t even born yet. Probably never will be.”