Sunday. London, England.

“Now you’re just mocking me.” Isaac eased his body down farther, settling more of his weight on her and forcing her back flat against the mattress.

“You did ask.”

He bumped her nose with his and kissed her smiling lips. She lifted her head, mouth moving against his. If he let her lead he was pretty sure they’d be naked all ready. She suckled his lower lip and teased him with her tongue. There was something about her that made him anxious. He rarely had any sort of nerves when it came to sex, but she was different. Maybe it was her confidence, the way she knew what she want, but he had a tingle of apprehension.

Her hips undulated, grinding their sexes together. It would have felt great had it not been for his jeans and the increasingly uncomfortable position of his erection.

“Where do you want to start first?” he asked against her mouth.

“Naked.”

“You or me?”

“Both.”

“One of us has to go first. I vote you.”

He kept her right hand captured against the mattress. He tugged the black knit T-shirt up, exposing the bra underneath. He studied the utilitarian, cream colored cups for a moment, the way the material cupped her so intimately.

“You know, I could get that off a lot easier with both hands free,” she said.

“Maybe,” he muttered.

Isaac hooked his finger in the small gap between the cups and pulled the bra down just enough to free her breasts and push them together. Her nipples were already hard, dusky brown points. He cupped her breast, circling the areola with his thumb.

“Oh!” Her whole body shuddered, a rather interesting feeling from his position.

He ducked his head and licked the same nipple, inhaling the smell of her skin. Her free hand curled around the back of his neck, urging him closer.

That was what he was after. The sign that she was letting go, enjoying herself. He couldn’t fix her problems, but he could make her remember that under it all, she was still a very desirable woman.

He switched breasts, using his mouth on the other and plucking at her now damp flesh with his fingers. She groaned and her calves tightened around his legs. He couldn’t move if he wanted to. Her hold on him was complete, making him a rather willing prisoner.

Tanya grasped handfuls of his shirt and pulled it up, bunching it under his armpits and pulling part of it over his head. He let her nipple pop from between his lips and glared at her.

“What are you doing?” He gently pried her escape hand off his shirt and put it back on the bed.

“Helping you?” She had the audacity to smile.

“Helping me? Right.”

He laced their fingers tighter and slid up her body. Her eyes went wide as her breasts slid against his chest. He grinned, more than a bit pleased with himself.

Isaac swooped down and kissed her mouth. She wiggled her hands free and wrapped her arms around him, bringing their bodies into alignment and deepening the kiss. Making out with her was just about as fun as everything else.

She pulled his shirt up over his head.

“Hey.” He lifted his head, the room blocked out by the material.

“What?” Her hands slid up and down his chest, her nails lightly raking his skin.

“Did I say you could do that?”

“You didn’t say I couldn’t.” She tugged the shirt up a tiny bit more.

He could leave it on, just to spite her. But then he’d be depriving himself of the feel of her hands on him. The way she didn’t simply focus on herself or getting what she wanted. The problem would be in getting the shirt off. She’d have free reign to do who knew what else.

Isaac sighed, putting on the dramatics, and pushed up until he was kneeling between her thighs.

“The things I put up with for you,” he said.

“You’re so very put upon.” She pushed up to her elbows, the half-smile giving her face a light that, before the other day, she’d been missing.

“Behave.” He wagged his finger at her.

“I make no promises.”

He narrowed his gaze, but he couldn’t keep from smiling.

This was going to be fun, no doubt about it.

He grasped the bunched up shirt and held it just below his chin for a moment, watching her. She wiggled her fingers at him. Was this who she’d been before? He liked to think he was getting a private look into Tanya, something she didn’t allow just anyone to see.

Isaac tugged the shirt up over his head.

The bed dipped.

Tanya tugged the shirt down, not all the way on, but enough that it was no longer a quick yank over his head.

“Seriously?” he groused and worked the shirt up over his head.

She grasped his belt, working it free with her nimble fingers.

He tugged on the sleeves, taking a moment more than necessary in the tent of his shirt to get his hands free. Which allowed Tanya the seconds necessary to get his belt and the tab of his jeans open.

Isaac tossed the shirt off and glared down at Tanya, who was giving his zipper her full focus.

“Really?” He batted her hands away, but she’d already mastered zipper-lowering.

Tanya grinned up at him. Who could deny that face? He couldn’t.

She got his jeans undone, but that was where he drew the line. He grasped her by the wrists and forced her onto her back. Not that there was much wrestling. She reclined back with a wide grin, her body soft under his.

“I can’t trust you for ten seconds, can I?” He sighed.

“Nope.”

“What am I going to do with you?” He bumped her nose with his.

“I have no idea.” She peered down at his mouth.

“Well, I guess that means I have to take my toys and go home then. Bye.”

“Isaac!”

She wrapped her arms and legs around him so fast he didn’t even get the opportunity to fake getting out of the bed. She found his mouth with hers. He sank into the kiss, just about done playing around.

Her hand wiggled between them. He lifted up, just enough to grant her access, while he suckled her lower lip. She grasped his cock through the material of his underwear, fisting him just tight enough his head began to spin.

“Do you have a condom?” she asked.

“Fuck. Yes.”

“Good. Just checking.”

He twisted the tab of her jeans open and didn’t bother with the zipper. He thrust his hand inside her panties and cupped her mound.

“Oh—yes.” Tanya tilted her head back and hissed the word.

“How about—”

“What?”

“We get naked?”

“Yes.” She shoved at his shoulder.

He laughed and rolled almost off the side of the bed. Tanya shimmied out of her clothes first kicking her feet out of her jeans and removing her bra and shirt with one hand, all while he was still fumbling with his jeans.

She reached over and hooked her thumbs in his underwear, shoving them down. Before he could get one foot out of his jeans she wrapped her hand around his cock, the heat of her hand against his skin short circuiting his brain.

“Fuck.” He groaned and braced a hand on the bed.

“Yeah?”

Tanya pumped his cock. She leaned into him and kissed his mouth. Like with everything to do with Tanya, she turned the tables. One moment he was standing, the next he was sitting, his head spinning a bit. She leaned over him, her mouth making love to his, her tongue exploring his mouth, while her hand stroked him.

She nipped his lower lip, hard enough he winced.

“Sorry,” she muttered.

“It’s okay,” was what he meant to say. The jumble of sounds that came out of his mouth weren’t quite intelligible.

Tanya chuckled and pressed her lips to his in a quick kiss.

He watched her in a daze, or more accurately he stared at her swaying breasts as she knelt. His mind worked too slow. It wasn’t until she had his cock in her hand and her lips wrapped around him that he snapped back into the moment.

“Oh—fuck.” He lifted his hips, thrusting into her mouth.

Her tongue rubbed against the vein running along the underside of his erection. He groped for her, getting only a fistful of hair.

“T-Tanya, babe, stop.” His control when it came to receiving oral was nonexistent. He’d blow his load so fast.

Her hand coasted up from the base of his cock, her lips slipping free.

“What?” She sounded almost annoyed.

“I can’t.” He shook his head, unable to get more words out.

“You don’t want to try?” She lazily stroked his skin, damp from her mouth.

“I know me.” He tugged on her hair.

She rose, releasing his cock. He leaned forward, kissing her mouth, tasting the faintest hint of himself on her.

Isaac broke the kiss, desperate now to be inside of her. He snatched his jeans off the ground and jerked his wallet out of his pocket.

“How many do you have?” Tanya asked.

“Enough.” He ripped the condom open.

“Are you always this prepared?” She watched his hands roll the latex on his cock.

“When I can be.”

“I’m not criticizing, I’m doing math.”

“I can’t math right now.” He grasped her by the waist, splaying his fingers, fitting his hands against the way her body curved.

“You can’t English either.”

“Nope.”

Tanya chuckled and slid onto the bed next to him instead of straddling his lap. She grabbed his hand and tugged. He twisted and reclined next to her, settling his hand on her stomach.

She was damn amazing. He’d known within minutes of being around her that she wasn’t like other women, he just hadn’t known how accurate that assessment was. And she’d picked him.

Isaac leaned over her and kissed her mouth. Despite the lust urging him on, he didn’t want to rush into it.

“I want to feel you inside of me,” she said with no hesitation.

“You want to be on top—”

“Not this time.” She slid back a little more and tugged at his arm.

He couldn’t argue with a woman who knew what she wanted.

Isaac crawled over her body. She wrapped her arms around him, a needy, hungry glint in her eyes telegraphing the urgency. After just the feel of her mouth, he wasn’t sure he could last that long.

Her hand guided his cock, fitting their bodies together.

Part of him wanted to draw this out, make it last longer, put that smile back on her face, but that would be denying what they both wanted. He thrust, and her eyes fluttered wide, her mouth dropped open, and she moaned. It was the most beautiful sound in the world.

He rocked into her, not daring to do more. Not yet. The feel of her warm, tight pussy clamped around him was damn good. Too good.

She cupped his face, pulling him down closer. He met her in an open-mouthed kiss, their tongues tangling. He could almost taste her need on her lips.

“Isaac.” She whimpered his name.

“Yeah?”

“Please?”

She didn’t have to speak a full sentence for him to understand.

He pushed up for better leverage, and thrust deep. She groaned and arched her hips. He withdrew, and in tandem, he thrust and she lifted her body. Her calves, wrapped around his thighs, constricted.

They both groaned at the feel of the hard joining of their bodies.

“Yes,” Tanya hissed.

He grasped her hands, lacing their fingers together.

Her eyes flickered open and she stared up at him.

This was perfect. Everything about it, the way she held onto him, how they fit, their mutual need.

She moved first, easing her body back to the bed. He withdrew, and once more, they thrust in unison, but this time neither paused, looked away. Her hold on his hands tightened. It wasn’t just the joining of their bodies, the slide of flesh on flesh, it was the connection that had snapped into being that first day. It was deeper now, tethering them in a whole new way.

The bed rocked under them, the ancient frame protesting. Her moans grew louder. The sweat slicking their bodies mingled.

He wished he could capture this feeling so he’d have it for all time. It wouldn’t last. It was better in the moment like this, and he knew it, but he was pretty sure he’d never feel anything like this again.

“Oh—Isaac!”

Tanya’s body rippled around his, her legs constricting until it was hard to move.

He let go of her hand and gripped the comforter, his vision hazing.

“Fuck.” He growled the word, his body reacting to the way her pussy hugged his.

The base of his spine tingled, and his orgasm rolled up as if from his toes to the top of his head, freezing the world in this perfect moment of pleasure.

Tanya hugged him close, burying her face in the crook of his neck. He dropped his head and kissed her forehead, squeezing his eyes shut.

He couldn’t look at her, not in this moment.

It was like he was standing at the very edge of a diving board, and he’d never jumped before. The waters below were unknown, and he didn’t like that one bit. Especially the nagging voice telling him to leap and don’t look back.

Isaac levered up and pressed a quick kiss to Tanya’s parted lips.

“Before I lose the ability to move...”

He eased their bodies apart, hissing at the too sensitive nerves clamoring at once.

“I’ll just...be here.” Tanya rolled to her side and pulled her knees up to her chest.

Isaac quickly pulled on enough clothing to be decent. He peered out into the empty hall, grateful for the moment of privacy. He slipped into the bathroom, which, like much of the house, was decorated in a style decades gone by.

Usually after sex, Isaac enjoyed a good cuddle. This time, he was fighting the strangest urge to duck downstairs and hide.

What had happened in there?

They’d had sex.

Nothing new or revolutionary.

Just good sex.

Yeah, good sex was any time someone orgasmed, but this was...different.

Was it Tanya?

His insides did something strange and shivery at her name.

He didn’t normally talk much about himself. That had to be it. He was going through a shit time at home. He and Tanya got each other in a way that most assets didn’t. He’d always had a bit of a commitment issue but there was no promise of more between them.

Isaac finished washing up and put the oddness out of his mind.

As soon as Abigail’s contact came through, they’d need to move, and it would be long hours of travel. Sleep, or at least rest, was the top priority while they had the luxury of it.

He crossed to the bedroom and slipped inside without seeing anyone else, which was another relief.

Tanya was under the covers, her dark hair spread out on the pillows.

He shucked his clothes again and slid in behind her.

“Want the bathroom?” he asked.

“I don’t want to get up.” She groped behind her until she found his hand, then pulled his arm around her waist.

He chuckled and scooted closer, more than happy to hold her.

“This is nice,” she said.

“Just nice?”

“You do not need me stroking your ego anymore.”

“It couldn’t hurt.”

“It couldn’t help.”

He leaned over and kissed her cheek, all the niggling nerves about skipping this part silenced now that she was in his arms.

“How many?” she asked.

“How many—what?”

“Condoms.”

“Shit. I don’t know. More than three.”

“Good to know.”

“You think we’ll have the opportunity to use them?”

“If we do, I won’t say no.” She wiggled around, turning to face him.

Tanya studied his face, doing that thing where she seemed to read his thoughts on his brow and cheeks.

“You don’t have to treat me like I’m fragile. I have a healthy sex drive,” she said.

“I am now aware of that.”

“You have these moments when you hesitate. I just thought I’d put it out there that you don’t have to.”

“Good to know.”

“Is there anything you want to ask me?”

He stopped his absent stroking of her skin. That sounded an awful lot like a trick question to him.

“No,” he said slowly. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

“I’ve come to the conclusion that telling you the truth is the best policy.”

“Well, that’s a relief.” He chuckled and continued stroking her side, enjoying the feel of her soft skin.

Tanya closed her eyes and sighed. He stared down at her, uncomfortable things knocking around in his chest. The sort of things that set of warning bells in his skull, except they hadn’t sounded yet.

He stared at a little spot on her shoulder before he realized what it was.

A scar.

He traced the circular bit of skin that had a different texture than the rest. More of them dotted her shoulders and arm, mostly faded by time, but at closer inspection they were still there.

“Tanya?”

“Cigarette burns.” She didn’t open her eyes.

“Who?” He stared in horror at the little marks here and there. She even had one on her neck.

“My first fiancé. To say that I was not sad he had to go to America for surgery would be an understatement.”

Isaac stared at her face, so at peace in the moment even mention of her horrific past didn’t disturb her. He stroked her back and swallowed down his anger.

“Is he dead?” Isaac asked.

“Yes.”

“Good.” He gave her a tight squeeze, and it was her turn to stroke his back as though she were the one comforting him. “Who would think putting you with Orlando was a good idea?”

The question was out before he could think better of it.

Tanya’s eyes slowly opened and she stared at him.

“I was never molested as a child. Dad was big on virgin brides. My first fiancé was...not a good person, but these are all he ever did to me.” She rubbed her palm down her arm. “I was not told to sleep with Orlando. I chose to do that because it got me closer to him.”

Isaac couldn’t begin to understand. On one hand, she knew what Orlando truly was. On the other, Tanya had been willing to sacrifice everything to stop a bad person. It wasn’t just soldiers who would do it all. People like Tanya gave just as much of themselves, maybe more.

“Look, my job was to get close to Orlando. He always kept a group of girls around because he’s a narcissist. The only way to break out of that group was to become his preferred girl. Mostly that meant acting like an assistant, but yes, I also slept with him. Not often. For a man who wants to be fawned over he’s not driven sexually. I won’t say I regret my decisions. My proximity to him allowed me free reign to be where the others weren’t, learn more. Do I wish there had been another way? Of course, but my focus was keeping him distracted and I did that. I’m sorry if that makes you think less of me, or that—”

“No. I don’t. I’m... in awe. The kind of strength it takes to do what you do and still be you? How you and Abigail do—did—that stuff... It’s more than I could do.”

She lifted her hand and ran her knuckles across his jaw.

He turned his face and kissed her fingers. It was those who sacrificed in the shadows, who did what others couldn’t, that deserved the thanks. It was unlikely anyone would ever say as much to Tanya, and he doubted she’d want to hear it, but he could show her his appreciation. He could hold her when a big part of him wanted to run.

Sunday. Washington, D.C.

Orlando gazed off into the distance. The smog rose from the trash pile that was Washington D.C. Such a disgusting place. The rising monoliths of a people who couldn’t honor their allies. If he could take down D.C. and every city like it, he would. But there could only be one target today. Once he successfully pulled this off he’d have his pick of clients and resources to complete the greater plan.

“Sir?” Edwin held out his phone.

Orlando glanced at the phone, then Edwin.

“It’s our London man,” he said in a rush.

Orlando took the phone and pressed it to his ear.

“Well?”

“It’s done and the credentials uploaded.”

“All five?”

“Yes.”

“Was there a dark-haired woman with any of them?”

“No.”

“Too bad. Edwin will transfer the rest of your payment. Thank you once again for such a tidy job.”

“My pleasure.”

Orlando ended the call.

It would have been convenient if he could have sent the hit man after Tanya. Without more accurate information about her location, it was a tossup. Did he send the man after the prime targets Orlando needed to pull everything off, or did he focus on Tanya?

Ultimately, Orlando had chosen to play it safe. His clients wanted a specific target and there was only one opportunity to ensure their plan went off without a hitch. Orlando couldn’t supply the whole package if he sent his man after Tanya. One way or another, he had to pick the path he thought would get him the results faster. Each of his five targets were en route to D.C. for a security summit. Each attendee had a digital credential that would allow them entrance. For everything to go smoothly, Orlando’s backwater clients needed to get at least a few people past security and inside.

Besides, Tanya wasn’t his immediate concern. She was an annoying inconvenience at most. She couldn’t possibly know his true objective. In the grand scheme of things, a twenty-year-old woman had no hope against a man with his resources, regardless of what she might know.

“Everything will be fine.” Orlando adjusted the gold bracelet clasped around his wrist. It’d once been a gift to Elda. She’d worn it when she died. He figured it was fitting he wear it now.

“I’m sorry, sir?”

Orlando glanced at Edwin. Couldn’t he mind his own damn business?

“How far away are they?” Orlando glanced at the time.

“They should be here in the next five minutes.”

“Do me a favor, Edwin. Don’t speak until they arrive, okay?”

“Okay.”

Orlando grit his teeth.

Tanya had spoiled him. He was tempted to find her and chain her to his desk so he wouldn’t have to suffer idiots.

He blew out a breath and tipped his head up, staring at the sky.

It’d been a clear day when Elda died. Orlando remembered watching the news coverage, horrified at the stark comparison between the atrocities going on inside the federal building where over a hundred hostages died and the beautiful day.

Fitting that this transaction would occur on one so like that day.

“There. That must be them.” Edwin glanced down at his phone. “Robert rang again.”

Orlando stepped forward, eager to be free of Edwin’s presence.

The SUV rolled to a stop a few feet away.

He smiled and spread his hands.

The translator got out first and made the series of introductions and greetings.

There was an added electrical charge in the air around these men. They had purpose and a plan, something Orlando could appreciate even if he was setting them up for failure.

“This way. I’ll remind you, the concentrated gas is very potent. Very, very deadly. You want to keep suits on at all times. I would recommend not opening the container until you are positive it is time to act.” Orlando spoke slowly, watching the other men more than he paid attention to the eighteen-wheeler hauling the merchandise.

“He’s saying what we already know. The concentrated gas is dangerous. Suits on. Says we shouldn’t open the containers until go time.” The translator pushed his trucker cap up and glanced at the other men accompanying him.

“We saw the test run. We know what it can do.” The man in the Carhart brown coat tugged his zipper higher. If Orlando had to guess, the man had at least one weapon under his coat. In this weather, they shouldn’t need a warm layer.

“How do we know it’s the stuff? I want to see a test.” The leader of the operation was a cut-throat sort of guy. Orlando liked him, even if his request was ill advised.

“He’d like to check the merchandise. Do you have a test lined up?” the translator turned toward Orlando.

The leader behind the man nodded his head.

“Yes.” Orlando smiled and held up a finger. “One moment?”

“Get in there and help him. See how it’s done,” the leader said to the translator.

The man was understandably hesitant, but he couldn’t ignore a direct order.

He followed Orlando onto the hydraulic lift.

Orlando made a show of putting on a mask, stepping into the suit and so forth. There were men on hand to do this, but Orlando wanted to add the personal touch.

“Do I need one of those?” the translator asked.

“No. Stay there. It’s just in case the coupling has a leak. It shouldn’t.”

He grabbed one of the small canisters in a box, ready to travel with the delivery, and knelt by the hose. He attached it to the canister for only a moment. All they needed was a test. Proof of product.

Satisfied he had enough, Orlando secured everything and stood.

“Sirs?” He gestured to the canister.

“How are we testing it?” the translator asked.

Orlando stretched out his arm and pressed the button. A stream of the diluted gas puffed in the man’s face. He stepped back once and ran into the side of the truck, coughing. He bent over, unable to scream as the chemical began eating away at his throat, vocal cords, and lungs. It would spread, becoming a silent killer.

“Nice.” The leader of the group covered his face with a bandana. He held up his other hand, making a square. “The cards?”

Orlando reached into his pocket and pulled out the envelope of credentials he’d had printed for them. To make sure everything went as planned he needed their group to get as close as humanly possible.

“We’re all squared away. Thanks.” The man nodded.

Orlando stepped onto the hydraulics and lowered himself to the earth. His team closed up the back of the truck, eager to trap what little gas escaped into the truck.

In short order, the ownership of the track was handed over and Orlando stripped out of the suit. They remained where they were, watching the truck grow smaller on the horizon.

“Soon. Very soon,” Orlando whispered.

“Soon—what? Sir?”

Orlando whirled, smacking Edwin across the face with the back of his hand.

“When I want you to speak, I will speak to you. You. Ride in the other car. Go. Out of my sight. I want to be in D.C. before midnight.”