In Too Deep (5 page)

Sarah had also been a member of the agency. She was a beautiful, seductive killer of Asian descent with long black hair, olive skin, and haunting dark eyes. Blake was a rookie when they had first met and he’d been immediately smitten with her. They had worked side by side on missions for three years before he got the nerve to ask her out on a date. He was surprised when she accepted. Theirs was an easy two-year romance that they had tried, and failed, to hide from the others. After a mission in Norway, he had asked her to marry him and she accepted.

The engagement was short-lived. A few months later, she was killed while on a solo mission. He was told her target had been tipped off and had set a trap for her. Then a video had surfaced that documented the target’s torture and murder of Sarah. Her dismembered body was found weeks later in an Egyptian desert. The killer escaped. Blake’s heart still ached as he recalled that day more than three years ago. He’d made a pledge to never fall in love again. However, that motto was already being tested by Analeigh.

When he reached his departure gate, Brooklyn and Duncan were waiting for him. Brooklyn was in her normal gear of a blouse and slacks, while Duncan sported a T-shirt and jeans. They seemed to be in an intense conversation, but stopped talking as he approached. Brooklyn seemed irritated. While Duncan could make anyone feel that way at times, Blake sensed there was another reason for the flash of anger in her eyes.

“Ready?” she asked.

Blake nodded. “Is everything okay?”

“It’s fine,” she said curtly, then turned to walk through the open departure door. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Blake looked at her retreating form, then at Duncan. “What’s going on?”

He exhaled. “Nothing,” he said as he moved to follow her. Blake put his hand on Duncan’s shoulder to stop him.

“You’re the worst liar,” Blake teased.

“Whatever,” Duncan said with a shrug. “Can’t go into it now. Maybe later.”

Brooklyn reappeared in the doorway. “Let’s. Go!”

Duncan winced, then moved toward the private plane that would take them to their next mission. Blake hesitated. Something had definitely happened between them, but what? He shook off the notion and moved to board the plane. He didn’t have time to think about his friends. Analeigh, and how to keep her away from his heart, was the most pressing matter.

Chapter Eight

Two months later…

On a balmy evening in Alexandria, Virginia, Blake exited his vehicle. As he walked to the elevator of his condo building, he hit the alarm button for the luxury sports car parked behind him. It had been a long, tiring day and he was thankful that it was over. He wearily climbed onto the elevator and jabbed the number button for his floor. Leaning against the back wall, he loosened his blue patterned tie while the car ascended to the thirty-second floor.

He closed his eyes. Analeigh had called him during the briefing for his next mission in Kabul, but he couldn’t return her call. Blake had tried her on his cell when the meeting ended, but he’d gotten her machine. Playing phone tag had become routine in their short romance. Two months had passed since that Dublin trip. They had gone out to dinner twice but work on both of their sides had driven a wedge between them. It was his aim to make amends to her. Tonight, if possible. It was the weekend and he had plenty of time to do so. The next mission wasn’t for three days.

Plus, he simply missed her. When the car stopped on his floor, he sighed and stepped off into the hallway. His condo was the last one on the left. The door that led to the stairway was in the middle. To the right of that was a door to his new neighbor’s condo. Blake had thoroughly investigated this building and its owners before buying his home three years ago. It was newly built with the security features he was looking for, plus it performed a rigorous screening of all buyers. He felt safe here. Not enough to let his guard down, but enough so that he could at least sleep at night.

Blake unlocked and opened his door. The scent of grilled steak filled his nose. Immediately, his tension melted from his shoulders as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him. He made his way to his kitchen where Analeigh teetered on the red stiletto heels he had brought her last week in Paris. While resting his elbow on the black granite countertop, he studied the smooth, dark skin of her bare ass in the dim kitchen light. His cock hardened.

“You just gonna stand there and watch?” she asked as she closed the oven door. Analeigh pivoted on her heels to face him. With a seductive smile on her lips, she moved toward him and pressed her lips against his. Her full, bare breasts swayed with each step she took. Her dark nipples were hypnotic.

“It’s a nice view,” he said. “And a hell of a one to come home to.”

She laughed. “I think your message said for me to be here and naked or else. I’m just following orders.”

Blake pushed away from the island. He shook off his navy blazer and draped it across the back of a wrought-iron stool. Gripping her around the waist, he pulled her to him. As for how she’d gotten in, he’d given her a key during their last date. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing and one of his best ideas in years.

“You didn’t have to cook,” he said. “We could’ve gone out.”

“I enjoy it. Plus, you sounded like you could’ve tore someone a new one on your message. I didn’t think going out was a good idea.”

“Aye. It was a horrible day.” He leaned forward to kiss her, then asked, “How was yours?”

Analeigh released him to walk to the back counter. Once there, she poured two glasses of red wine. She carried them over to him and after handing one to him, she sat hers on the island counter.

“Not bad,” she said while unbuttoning his pale blue shirt. “I taught two classes. Prepared the final exam. Oh, I met your neighbor.”

Blake paused in midsip. “Who?”

“Jesse Allen. She heard me in the hallway struggling with your lock and the groceries and came out to help.”

Analeigh pushed the fabric aside to reveal his chest. She ran her hands over his torso. Blake searched his memory for the name of his new neighbor. It didn’t sound familiar, yet he still couldn’t be too careful. He listened while Analeigh told him the woman had moved here from California for work as a contractor. Though it was only one passing conversation, Blake didn’t like that Analeigh was getting to know his neighbors. While he wanted her to be friendly—and he liked that about her—he wished that she was more guarded about who she talked to.

She stripped him of his shirt, then laid it on top his jacket. “She seems nice,” Analeigh said while walking to the wall oven to remove the steaks from the oven. “She asked about you.”

He stiffened. “What did you tell her?”

“Nothing. I may have mentioned you were a lawyer, but that was all.” She glanced over her shoulder at him. “
I
barely know anything about you.”

“That’s not true.”

She stopped scooping roasted potatoes on the black plate in her hand to look at him. “Really? I know you’re gone all the time. I didn’t know lawyers traveled that much.”

He heard the irritation in her voice. “I’m sorry. I explained that I take a lot of trips. Many are unscheduled.”

“I know. I thought I could deal with that, but I miss you.”

“I miss you too.”

Blake moved toward her. With her back to him, he wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face into the curve of her neck where he planted kisses along her collarbone. Analeigh moaned. She set the plate on the counter.

“Maybe we just need a little more adjustment time,” she said quietly.

He lifted his hands to cup her breasts and swirled his thumbs around her nipples. “Probably. We’ve only officially dated for two months.”

“We’re not committed. And I don’t live here.”

“Yet.”

She smiled. “Is that the plan?”

“Eventually. That’s the five-year plan. You keep showing up naked and cooking me steak, that time line might get accelerated.”

With a laugh, she twisted around in his arms and placed her hands on his chest. “I’d like that. I already care deeply for you.”

He pressed his nose against hers. “As I do you, Ana. This place could use a woman’s touch. I’ve just got the bare bones.”

“It’s not bad. After a coat of paint and a few floral pillows, you’ll be set.”

Blake wrapped his hand around hers. He brought it to his lips and kissed her fingertips. “Actually, all I need is you.”

He pulled her closer to capture her mouth in a deep kiss. Instantly his heart swelled with joy. It was as if the sensation had spread from her heart and entered his. While he relished the feeling, what did that mean for him? For them? They were just beginning to come together as a couple. If they progressed, she would want the traditional trappings of a marriage and family. Could he provide that for her? It was too much to think about, right now. Besides, there was another pressing matter on his plate. Or, should he say, in his pants. Blake released her. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bedroom.

“What about dinner?” she asked.

“It can wait.”

Chapter Nine

The movie theater was nearly empty on a Monday night. Only three other patrons were on hand to watch this just-released action movie. Analeigh yawned. They were only a half hour into the film but she was already bored. She shivered in the darkness, wishing she hadn’t eaten all of her popcorn during the coming attractions previews. And why didn’t she remember to bring a sweater to wear over her tank top and jeans? Blake draped his arm around her shoulders and instantly warmed her body. He openly cringed when the aging assassin broke into the government services building through an air duct. His loud chuckle bounced off the walls when the assassin knocked out a guard with a single roundhouse kick.

“Oh, come on!” he huffed.

This movie was his date night choice and she would just have to live with the decision. They were six months into their relationship. Things were going well. Maybe. His frequent trips out of the country still grated on her nerves, but what could she do about it? Each time she’d questioned him about it, he would come up with an excuse that was believable. Almost. And he had met her parents and she had met his. The only thing he refused to do was spend the night at her place. He was a frequent visitor to her condo, but always left as soon as she fell asleep. His excuse was that her mattress hurt his back. She didn’t understand how that could be possible since she had just replaced it months prior to meeting him. However, she wasn’t going to push him.

Besides, what could he be lying to her about? Blake had told her about his fiancée who had been murdered. That had to explain some of his strange behavior at times. Maybe he was afraid of getting to close to her for fear the same thing would happen to her, but why would it? Could his friend, Duncan, who he constantly talked to, provide some clue?

“I’m sorry, love,” he whispered, taking her hand in his. “This movie sucks.”

“That it does. Wanna get out of here?”

He shook his head. “I’ll survive. I’ve lived through worse scenarios. Just as long as this asshole doesn’t blow up the building using a pen and a piece of string, I’ll be cool.”

She laughed. “I doubt if anyone could do that.”

“Duncan’s the only one I can think of who’d be able to rig up some shit like that.”

“Speaking of which, I want to meet him.”

Blake frowned. “Why?”

“He’s always calling you and dragging you off to God knows where. I want to be able to put a name with a face.”

“Okay.”

Her eyes widened. She had expected him to put up more of a fight, as he did when her parents had wanted to meet him. “Really?”

“Sure. Why not?”

Surprised, Analeigh glanced up at him. In the flickering lights, she could make out his short blond hair. Her thoughts turned and she wondered what kind of husband and father he’d be, considering his job. They’d never discussed it. When she’d brought up the subject, he would change it. Maybe he didn’t feel she was the one for him when all signs were saying that he was the one for her. When he caught her looking at him, Blake wiggled his eyebrows at her.

“I know what you’re thinking,” he whispered.

“Which is?”

“That we were at home. In bed. And my cock was deep inside of you.”

Analeigh pressed her lips together. “Maybe.”

She shivered. Not because she was chilled. Because she wanted him and didn’t think she could wait until she got home. He pressed his lips against her temple. Analeigh moved her hand up his thigh. Her palm brushed against the hard mound between his legs. There was no waiting or denying herself of his massive cock.

“Don’t start,” Blake whispered in her ear.

It was too late. Analeigh had pulled down the zipper and was guiding his cock through the opening. She glanced around. Ten rows stood between them and the closest patron. Although she wanted to drop her pants and ride him like a cowgirl, that wasn’t going to happen here. But she wanted to feel his velvety skin on her tongue.

Her pussy clenched as she leaned over the armrest and slid her mouth over his cock. Blake inhaled sharply. Analeigh’s black hair fell around her cheeks as she licked his shaft from the base to his tip, then flicked her tongue over the smooth, sweet skin of his tip. His earthy scent penetrated her nostrils. She loved pleasing him like this. It was payback for all of the things that he’d done to her over the months.

“Analeigh,” Blake groaned.

She quickly lifted her head. Did anyone else hear his guttural plea? No one looked back in their direction. Analeigh bent down and resumed sucking his cock. Blake’s shaft lengthened against her tongue. His tip pushed against the back of her throat. Beads of his salty essence dripped on her tongue.

“Shit,” he murmured while squirming beneath her. “I’m serious, love. Stop.”