Pledging to Die (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 11) (28 page)

Johanna needed to believe it.

“I miss him. I made a horrible mistake of walking away, and I would like rectify it, ma’am.”

“We’re off duty. You can call me Elizabeth. If I’m going to ask questions about your sex life, you should call me by my name.”

Brody grinned. He was so damn happy at what was happening. “Do we get to ask about yours?”

Johanna kicked him under the table, and he winced.

“There’s your answer. Here’s the deal. We’ll vote, if you don’t screw up this assignment, and you can promise to keep it low key, I’ll handle it.”

Elizabeth looked over at Callen. He was the easy one. The man was pretty mushy when it came to romance. Plus, he didn't stress the future. He lived in the now.

“I trust them.”

She glanced over at Ethan. He was the rules guy, and if someone was going to veto, it would be him. She wouldn’t be upset if he did because the weight of FBI West was on his shoulders. “Cupid is rarely wrong,” he offered, kissing his wife on the forehead.

“Then I now pronounce you partner and partner. The second marriage comes into play, you need to let us know. That’s a slippery slope, and I have to work through that with Gabriel Rothschild.”

Although, after this clusterfuck, he owed her—despite what she said earlier about debts.

“Thank you, Elizabeth,” Broderick said, knowing this wasn’t the first time she went to bat for him. He appreciated it.

“You’re our agents. We want you happy, but safe. If this gets in the way of either of those things, you’re split up, and it won’t ever be back together again, Humpty Dumpty.”

They got it.

Ethan lifted a brow. “Can we not tell your partners yet? I have to figure out some issues.”

They agreed.

Jason Blaise would be easy. Gabe was already approving his transfer, but Heidi was a good agent, and she didn't deserve to be booted out of FBI West. Blackhawk needed to find her a new partner for the field.

“Let’s get back to the job. As of tonight, my cover is officially blown here,” stated Elizabeth. “So, I’m going hardcore on it. I’m going to have to find this killer, and fast. I find it entertaining that I school Arman this morning, and tonight the pattern switches up. It’s like he’s screwing with me.”

“He might be,” Ethan offered.

“Well, at least now I can blow off the guest speaking gig.”

Brody finished his coffee. “You were good at it. You had everyone enthralled, especially all the guys and the professor. He was checking out your ass.”

Callen choked on his pie.

Elizabeth had to pat him on the back.

“What?”

She laughed. “Hey! You’re hot for teacher. It’s obviously a popular fantasy.”

Blackhawk laughed when his brother stared at her.

“Wait until I get you alone.”

She snorted. “Okay, well, I’m going to be in the field all day tomorrow. At some point, I may drop in at your dorm, Johanna. I want to get a feel for the victims.”

She laughed. “Sorority girls are like sharks. One dies, they dump her stuff and a new one moves in. I feel like I’m in some horror movie. I’m actually afraid to go to sleep at night. One of the pod people might be standing at the foot of my bed.”

Elizabeth got that. She’d be freaked too.

“If you need me, call. Just make sure you have your asses covered. You’re in just as much danger too, Broderick. Arman is very smart, and right now, I have him freaked out. I want you to go back there tomorrow and look around.”

He nodded. “I can do that.”

“I’ll go with you.”

He laughed, “Yeah, no you won’t. The second they think you’ve been bagged, they’re going to want to get you into their lair and do unspeakable things to you.”

“Can we get a lair?” Callen asked, getting a fist bump from his brother as he tried to lighten the mood.

The second they lifted their arms, she elbowed them both in the ribs.

They hissed.

“As I was saying, snoop around. If I’m right, they’re going to open up that basement. It’ll be temporary. Once I interview tomorrow, they’ll lock it back up. If this is some sick game, then they’ll be desperate to play again. He won’t let little ol’ me slow him down.”

Blackhawk motioned to the waitress, getting the bill. He paid, and they all stood.

“Watch your backs,” she ordered.

As they headed out, Brody remained protectively at his partner’s side. Even when they dropped them off in front of her dorm, he didn't relent.

“He’s madly in love,” Callen stated. “You can see it in his eyes.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“This could get messy.”

She didn't doubt it would, but that was life. “Let’s head back to the apartment. I want to get this on the board and work it for a while.”

“Your wish is our command.”

With that, they pulled away.

Brody waited for them leave. “I’ll walk you upstairs,” he said, refusing to leave her alone.

She didn't fight him. Johanna was still in shock. Not only did she get her partner back, but they’d admitted their sex life in front of all three directors.

It was appalling.

And it heated her blood.

All the way up in the elevator, neither spoke, and when they reached her door at the end of the hall, Brody waited until she unlocked it before he dropped the bomb. “I’m staying until morning.”

She stared at him. “Uh, how do you plan on explaining that?”

“I’ll inform the frat boys, if they ask, that I was out trying to get laid. Unfortunately, you’re frigid like the ice queen,” he teased, hoping to get her to laugh. “I’ve really had to work hard to get into your pants. I deserve one hell of a medal.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re funny for a guy not getting any game.”

Yeah, speaking of which…

Moving closer, he slid his hand to the back of her neck. What he really wanted was to taste her again. “Joey,” he whispered, his mouth moving close to hers. “Please let me stay with you tonight,” he begged, knowing if he had to leave, he’d never make it through the night. His body was tense, tight, and needed her touch.

Now that he knew why she walked away, and it didn't bother him, Johanna wasn’t afraid. Brody would stick. All the fears that she’d forever be alone drifted away. After all, he’d done everything right.

He deserved tonight.

She didn't answer. Instead, she moved against him, sealing her mouth against his. Brody’s low guttural moan nearly lit her on fire. As she took all he had to offer, he lovingly held her against him.

Then she broke away—much to his surprise.

Normally, he was the aggressive one, chasing her down, but now, Johanna wanted him.

Stepping back, she pulled the sweater from her body, revealing that she wore nothing beneath.

His heart pounded. “God, I love your body,” he muttered, as she dropped her skirt to stand there in just a pair of pink girly panties.

“You’re over dressed, Brody,” she whispered.

He got the hint. Pulling off his shirt, his hands went to the buckle of his belt, only she stopped him. “I’ll help you,” she purred, her mouth moving against his jaw as her fingers brushed his flesh.

Brody shook. It now looked like Johanna was giving him a gift. Honestly, he never truly believed that this day would happen.

He’d given up hope, but he was wrong.

Here it was.

Her fingers teased him as she slowly lowered the zipper on his jeans. The audible hiss filled the room, only matched by the quickening of his breath.

He didn't want to blink, so he wouldn’t miss a second of what was coming.

When she got him free of his jeans, Johanna gently stroked him with chilly fingers. If it bothered him, Brody didn't let on. “I’ve missed you,” she admitted. “I’ve missed this between us.”

He knew how she felt.

This was the most amazing thing in the world, and it was finally happening after months of misery. “Please, Joey. Please don’t stop.”

She set his erection free, so she could go into his arms. Her mouth sought his, and the kiss they shared said everything. Her heart was his, and there would be no turning back.

She loved him.

Now it was time to show him.

Pushing him back, Brody tumbled onto her pink adorned bed, and he found it sweet just like her. When she tossed the teddy bear out of her way, she whispered in his ear.

“I have the real thing now. I don’t need him.”

Brody nearly groaned. Those words were so welcomed. He couldn’t wait to have her show him. “Touch me,” he pleaded. “It’s been so long. If I touch you, Joey, I’m going to break apart.”

Her mouth moved against his jaw, the sensitive spot on his throat, and across his Adam’s apple. When he shook at the simple touch, Joey knew he was the one.

This was right.

How had she not seen it before?

Lower she moved, until she found him with her lips. Slowly slipping him into the heat of her mouth, she waited for his response.

It was guttural.

It was heated.

This was her Brody, and she was starving.

“Please,” he whispered, staring down his torso at the woman perched between his spread legs. She was worshiping his lower body like never before. “I need you, Joey. Don’t ever stop. Without you, I’m a shell of a man.”

Maybe they were both young, but instinctually he knew.

Every fiber of his being was hyper aware around this woman.

She was all.

Johanna worked him hard, her mouth setting a punishing pace. With each stroke of her tongue, her hand joined in the torment. When he was moaning, nearly out of control, she stopped.

His blue eyes focused through the blurry haze of pleasure. “Joey?”

She moved up his body, slowly sharing the touch she knew he craved. When she was perched over his hips, her body pressed to his, she took his mouth.

He moaned as she ground against him, the satiny slide of her pink panties against the hard heated flesh of his body. The simple touch nearly made him lose it right there.

She was teasing him.

Johanna was promising him something more.

Here, he was, at the true gate of heaven, and he couldn’t wait to be allowed in.

When she broke the kiss, it startled him. He opened his eyes to watch her climb off his body.

“Get undressed,” she purred, dropping her own panties.

His brain went haywire, as he watched her sliding them down her long legs.

It was happening.

She was coming back to him and leading him home.

Brody pushed his jeans and boxers off his body after he kicked off his shoes.

When he fell back onto the bed, she was on top of him, her mouth once more taking his. He held her tight, afraid to let go. The scent of her perfume wrapped around him, reminding Brody of what they once had.

It was coming back again.

Then as her tongue caressed his, luring him to return the gentle glide, he felt the most amazing thing in the world.

She took him.

Her body slid down his, it encased him in such a heated warmth that he nearly lost it right then and there.

He shook as she began her ride, all the while her mouth not leaving his. It was a promise, and he didn't miss that her whole heart was in it.

This was different.

This wasn’t the same woman he’d coaxed, begged, and cajoled into bed. She was on fire.

For him.

As she controlled the mating, their bodies came together in perfection. When she set his mouth free, he sat up to stare into her eyes as she rode him.

“Brody,” she whispered, her hands lovingly caressing his cheeks.

“Joey, sweetheart,” he replied, afraid to look away in case she was a mirage, a dream, or…

“I love you,” she whispered.

His heart skipped at her declaration. “Joey?”

Had he heard her right?

As she continued to bury him deep within her body, her heart opened for the first time since she’d been hurt. This man wasn’t like the other.

He was good.

Kind.

Hers.

He stared into her eyes. “Say it again, please,” he begged, needing to hear it over and over.

“I love you, Brody,” she offered, the words tripping from her lips as her body crept closer to release.

“Oh, sweetheart,” he murmured, knowing this was the last knot, and it had just come undone. Grabbing her hips, he pulled her down repeatedly until she was breathless and poised right on the edge.

“Please,” she begged, as his fingers found the most sensitive part of her body.

He stroked her.

She shuddered.

They were one.