Chapter One
Josh Tumbel, director for the Alpha League of Federal Agents, had finally found his mate. She sat in front of his desk, talking about something. Her luscious lips were moving and her bedroom eyes were fixed on him. And god, how he wished he had her in his bedroom. Naked and begging him to take her. It didn’t seem likely at the moment, though. Not with the frown on her face.
She introduced herself as Sergeant, or was it Lieutenant? Maybe Major? Candace Obermier. He’d call her Candy. He wondered how many licks it would take to get to her creamy center.
Her beautiful eyes narrowed and her scrumptious mouth puckered. Ah, fuck. She’d stopped talking. Hopefully, she hadn’t said anything important.
Her brow raised. “Director Tumbel, did you hear a word I said.”
“Of course,” he lied. “Every word.”
“And you have no comment?” she asked with a sniff.
Fuck. He’d never expected to make an ass of himself in front of his mate. That had been a long-standing fear of his. He’d find the one, then chase her off with his caveman mentality. His mama had taught him well. He knew all the mistakes shifter men made and how to avoid them. But would he? Obviously not.
“I’m sorry, Major—” he started.
“Sergeant Major,” she corrected, her gorgeous lips pressing into a tight line.
Well, shit. He just called her a rank four levels lower. She was not happy with him. The military took their rank and file so seriously.
“Sergeant Major, I apologize. I was a bit preoccupied . . .” fantasizing about licking you all over, “and missed your last remark.”
“I said,” she repeated with a soft growl, “I am shutting down your department.”
That certainly got his attention. How could she possibly shut them down? They were specifically commissioned by the National Intelligence Board to do dangerous assignments that would kill any normal human. Was it possible she didn’t know they were “special”? Looks were deceiving. Should he tell her? No. That was above his pay grade.
Calmly, patiently, he knitted his fingers together and laid his hands on his desk. “Sergeant Major Obermier,” he breathed out, “my group has been in operation for many, many years. Longer than most other organizations in DC—”
“I am aware of that, Director Tumbel—”
“Please, call me Josh.” He flashed her his white smile with perfect teeth. He’d spent his entire teenage years wearing braces and stupid retainers, so the damn things had better be nothing less than flawless.
By her frown, he could tell that apparently, looking impeccable didn’t mean shit to her. Which was good in its own way. He didn’t want a mate stuck on superficial, material qualities. But then again, how was he to woo her if she didn’t like things easily bought? If he’d have to rely on his own self and personality, he was screwed.
“Director Tumbel,” she continued, her voice containing a bite of impatience, “let me explain something to you. This new president and his administration are all about cleaning up the quagmire DC has become. That means cutting some serious budget. Not just a couple million by changing office supply companies but hundreds of millions. It is my job to figure out where the slack is and tighten it up.”
Slack? His group was thought of as slack? Had she any clue who they were? “Sergeant Major Obermier, do you know what we do here in ALFA?” he asked.
She opened a file on her lap. “I do.” She paused then continued. “You destroyed a one-of-a-kind viral specimen that now is extinct to the world.”
He opened his mouth to explain, but she raised a finger, cutting him off.
“You nearly incited a mafia war in one of the largest tourist destinations in the world that could have killed hundreds if not thousands of innocent civilians,” she said. He could explain that one, too, if her scathing look didn’t say keep your mouth shut. “And last, but not least, one of your agents was captured after almost a year undercover,” she finished. He couldn’t say much to that, except the investigation did end up closing down the biggest human trafficking ring in Europe.
“Oh, wait,” she added, “one more thing. You called in an unqualified agent to assist in an international cover-up.”
What the fuck? That was going too far. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Then again, maybe he did.
Her brows raised again. “A field-inexperienced FBI agent was sent overseas for an undercover operation. How many wrongs is that, Tumbel? First off, everyone knows only CIA deals with international issues. Secondly, sending an untrained female—”
Getting more than a little pissed with his mate, he interjected, “Agent Tomlin was a highly skilled agent—”
“In doing crossword puzzles.” Obermier’s voice rose, followed by her body. She leaned over his desk. “She was a decoder, for god’s sake. She plays with words all day.”
He rose from his desk, bending over to meet her across the desktop. “And she’s damn good at it. We would be at war with Russia, right now, if not for her.” He smelled her sweet breath just inches from him. She must have had a piece of candy in her mouth. Fuck, he couldn’t wait to have a piece of Candy in his mouth. His pants were shrinking in the crotch area. Trust the animal in him to see the bickering between them as foreplay.
He could launch over the desk this instant and take her on the floor if she’d only give him a sign. Fucking hell, there it was. The ambrosial scent of her arousal. His knees weakened. Thank goodness he was leaning on the desk or he would’ve collapsed to the floor. He inhaled deeply, taking in all he could.
His rebel-roused emotions settled along with the angry thumping of his heart. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. He had started to wonder if his wolf was wrong about her being their mate. No doubts now.
She glanced at the watch on her delicate arm. How had he never realized that wrists could be so sexy? “I’m sorry to have bothered you so late at night, Director Tumbel,” she said.
“I’m going to the ALFA dedication in thirty minutes.” This is ironic, he thought. “A dedication ceremony honoring my group and all they’ve contributed to America’s safety in the past years. Isn’t that strange?” he asked. “Dedicating a plaque to an organization you want to shut down.”
One side of her lips curled up. “The ceremony was commissioned by the previous president, not the current one.” She straightened up and crossed her arms. “Will all your men be in attendance tonight?” she asked.
“Yes.” Finally, he’d have everyone together again. Each of the guys had recently found his mate and had been on paid leave. Now they were all about to take permanent vacations if this woman had her way.
“Good,” Obermier collected her briefcase. “Tell them tonight at the reception not to come in Monday morning. We’ll have their personal effects in a box outside the door by noon.” She hurried to the office door. “Goodnight, Director Tumbel.”
And she was gone from his life, just like that. How the hell had he lost control of the situation so quickly?