Unbelievable. As soon as Logan had Olivia stripped down to her bra, Garth texted with instructions to meet a private jet in an hour. Then the only R & R they got was on the plane. After landing on the ICE airstrip, they proceeded directly to the sit room where Garth was waiting for a briefing.

Regardless of whether or not Logan liked using Olivia as a way to uncover the location of the harem, he’d do everything in his power to insure the success of the mission. It didn’t matter if he was angry. Or if he thought she was being reckless. Dammit, he’d come to like her…a little too much. The “too much” didn’t matter either. He’d have to block that part from his mind. And he’d have his partner’s back no matter what.

For hours, the team hashed through the details to pull a plan together, providing Logan could find a way to volunteer to be the next ISIS kidnapper. But he had a few ideas up his sleeve and after working well into the night, planning and moving assets around the black-lit map on the conference table, things were ready to roll.

Except Logan was going on thirty-six hours without sleep. To him, the best thing about being back at ICE was a bed where he could stretch out his legs. When the meeting broke, Logan headed for his bunk, stripped down to his boxers and dropped to the mattress flat on his back. If he never had to spend another night on the couch in Lyon, he’d be a happy man.

He closed his eyes and let his exhaustion seep in.

Not more than five minutes later, a soft knock came at the door. At least, it sounded like it could be a knock. Logan opened one eye and decided it was a better idea to pretend he hadn’t heard anything.

Then his watch buzzed with a text from Olivia:

You can’t possibly be asleep yet. Open the damned door.

Nothing like a love note from his work-spouse. Voice to text was too easy. Groaning, he rolled off the bed and cracked open the door.

Olivia’s lips parted and her tongue tapped the corner of her mouth while her gaze raked down his body.

“Miss my abs did you?” he asked with a cocky grin.

“Hmm.” Her gaze slipped back up and met his eyes while she raised a six pack of bottles. “Your favorite.” Fancy that, she wasn’t wearing a negligee. But the tank top and bike shorts hugging her curves gave him the same ball-buster reaction.

He stood back and ushered her in. “Since when did you start thinking about what I like?” As soon as the words slipped through his lips, he regretted them. She hadn’t been appointed to be his partner to make him happy.

“I think about what you like all the time.” She stopped in the middle of the room, her gaze again drifting down to his abs and then his boxers. With a quick inhale her lips parted as if she liked what she saw.

Logan combed his fingers through his hair. Being work-married had its issues. “Sorry. I’m tired.” He led her to the couch, casting aside his thoughts of slipping into a comatose and dreamless sleep.

Twisting off the tops, she opened two beers and handed one to him. “It’s been a long couple of days.”

He took the bottle. “Thanks. So, after ten minutes you missed me?”

“It was more like twenty.” He gave her a look and she shrugged. “I had to heist a six pack from the pub.”

Chuckling, he put his feet up on the coffee table and leaned back. He took a long drink. “Mm. That goes down good.”

She cozied up beside him like they’d been married for years. “Icelanders know how to brew.”

God, she looked like a million bucks. Clearing his throat, he tried for serious ground, “Are you ready for tomorrow’s surgery?”

“It’s nothing major. Dr. R said I’d only need a little local anesthetic.”

“And then back to Lyon?”

“As soon as he’s done.”

He wanted to shake her and insist she change her mind, but that would only cause more tension between them. “I still think you’re nuts.”

“Sorry.”

“What can I do to talk you out of it?”

“Nothing.” Her gaze trailed aside. “Those girls…”

“Yeah, and you’ve got to save the world.”

“Who else will?” She sat a bit taller. “It’s what I’ve trained to do all my life.”

Trying to forget, he lowered his feet and chugged his beer.

“Um…” She set her bottle on the table and stood, taking his hand. “There’s one thing I want to do before I…you know.”

He shifted his gaze to her face. Her pupils were so dilated, her eyes were almost black. Then her tongue slipped to the corner of her mouth. A surge of molten fire shot through his cock. God save him, she was sexy.

His eyebrow arched. “What’s on your mind?” He didn’t want to assume anything—not with Olivia.

A tempting pink tongue slipped across her bottom lip as she pulled him to his feet. He’d seen that look on her face before and he couldn’t resist it, no matter the consequences. Raw passion oozed from her pores as she tightened her grip and backed him into the bedroom.

Logan wanted to make love to her more than he’d wanted to do anything in his life, but what if she freaked out? It could destroy her confidence. Hanging on to a shred of sanity, he stopped moving his feet. “Ah… Commander, isn’t there a reg against this? Especially at ICE?”

“Probably. But I’ve never been one to completely follow the rules.”

On the other hand, it might give her a boatload of confidence if…

The back of his knees hit the mattress. With his next blink, she yanked down his boxers, then shoved him to his ass. He looked up, dying to put his hands on her, but ever so aware that anything he did might make her snap.

She glanced to his erection, but only for a second before she pointed. “On your stomach, Commander. I’m going to give you a massage.”

He spread his palms. “It’s really not—”

“Roll over!” she demanded indignantly with another sharp point of her fine-boned finger.

“Yes, ma’am.” He climbed up the bed and crunched a pillow under his chest.

Behind him, clothing rustled. He took a glimpse out of the corner of his eye. Off came the bike shorts, the lace panties, the tank and bra.

Perfection.

God, he was toast.

He’d been without a woman for so long, all she had to do was take a longer look at his cock and he’d explode. Come to think of it, right now all he needed was a couple of hip thrusts into the mattress and he’d come. He’d been on the brink of coming ever since they’d shacked up in Lyon. Now it was pure torture to have her completely naked and straddling his back.

Logan’s tension let up a smidge as soon as Olivia sank her lithe fingers into his shoulders. “Lordy, that feels like heaven,” he sighed in a low, satisfied growl. Logan’s eyes rolled to the back of his head while she took her time working out every kink. It was torture and ecstasy at the same time. Skillfully, with a great deal of strength in her fingers, she worked her way down to the tight bands of muscle over his kidneys.

Had he died and gone to heaven? “You could lull a grizzly with those fingers.”

“I’ve never heard that one before, cowboy,” she purred, sounding like sin.

Logan’s eyes opened wide when the heels of her hands kneaded into his glutes, making his erection stretch like a steel rod. He was so hard, it hurt. Should he stop her? Would she be able to go through with it? And what about the regs? He glanced over his shoulder. “Maybe you shouldn’t…you know.”

She narrowed her blue-eyed stare, grazing her teeth over her bottom lip. “I call the shots.”

His heartbeat sped. Screw the regs.

“Ah…yeah. That’s what I said, you’re in charge.” Did he have a chance? Christ, she was already straddling him. If he rolled over, all she’d have to do was raise up a smidge and he could slip inside.

He nearly lost it when she moved her fingers between his legs and tickled his balls. “Me on top?” she whispered.

“That would work,” he said hoarsely. Jesus, if she kept that up, he’d detonate.

But just like Olivia, she tortured him with those delicate fingers. “I need to be in control with you—because it’s not…ah…it’s not an act.”

Logan’s heart could have stopped beating and he wouldn’t have noticed. His mouth went completely dry. He couldn’t allow himself to think about the future, about what might happen tomorrow. He couldn’t allow himself to think about anything but having the sexiest blonde in his bed and sinking inside her, joining with her, soaring to the stars with her.

Now.

Her lips parted as she tugged on his shoulder and encouraged him to roll to his back. Then his entire body shuddered as she took him in her hands and stroked. “You’re so hot,” she said, her voice low and barely audible.

His gaze meandered to her breasts, to her sculpted waist, then fine pubic hair and the slender legs straddling him just below his cock. He swirled his hips and arched his back, giving her an eyeful of his hard-on. “Hot doesn’t come close,” he growled. Careful to be gentle, he ran his hands up and down her arms. “Do you want me?”

She nodded.

His breathing grew a little faster as he watched her eyes and slowly slid his finger inside her and stroked. “God, you’re wet.”

Gasping, she threw her head back and moved with the rhythm of his hand, the motion of her hips mesmerizing. He found her clit and used her slick moisture to take her higher. Take her to the place of no return. To give her what she wanted, what she needed. She was gorgeous, her breasts full and round, her hair clinging to a soft sheen of perspiration, her lips red and parted, her eyes dark and filled with desire. He watched, completely enchanted until she stilled his hand with a sharp inhale.

Saying nothing, the seductive expression on her face made it near impossible to lie still while she grasped his hips and rocked her wet core along his shaft. Their gazes connected and held as if their souls had bonded. Yet, he didn’t push. He let her take charge, afraid to do anything that might trigger another panic attack. All the while, he watched her grow more and more impassioned while she had her way with him in the most erotic experience of his life.

Rising to her knees, she shifted his cock to her entrance. A blast of warm heat made him groan. A grin curled on her lips as he watched her slowly slide down his length, taking him inside her. Awash with hot, slick, ribbed, mind-blowing woman, Logan forced himself to obey the command of her tempo.

She didn’t utter a word as she rocked her hips, watching his eyes and gripping his shoulders for dear life. He wanted it to be perfect for her, wanted the woman to rediscover how awesome making love could be. Logan watched and waited until her body shuddered and a cry caught in the back of her throat. Pushed to the limit of his endurance, he sank his fingers into her hips and thrust deep, burying himself inside her, fucking her, pumping his cock until stars flashed across his vision and a bellow ripped from his throat with his climax.

Only God knew how long it took each of them to catch their breath. And with his release, Logan swore he’d protect Olivia with his life. He’d endure torture for her, go anywhere for her, do anything for her.

She chuckled as she dropped forward and gazed into his eyes. “You don’t do anything half-assed, do you?”

“Who me?” He curled up and kissed her. “What fun would there be in that?”

***

Olivia closed her eyes and snuggled into Logan’s warmth. Yes, she’d allowed herself to feel, but only for tonight. They’d connected on a level she’d never before experienced. It was exhilarating. And terrifying. It was almost as if she needed him—or craved his affection. And she liked Logan a lot. She admired him. Liked looking at him. She’d grown comfortable having him close by every night. And now, she’d learned she particularly liked being in bed with him.

No surprises there. She’d spent long enough ogling his body in Lyon. It wasn’t as if she planned on heading for his suite and jumping his bones. But after she retired to her suite, knowing full well that tomorrow her hymen would be surgically repaired, well, that’s when the idea had sparked.

She just had to keep telling herself this could only be a one-night stand. And now that she’d overcome her lust, she could focus on the job.

Logan rubbed his hand along the outside of her arm and kissed her temple. She curled into him and rested her head on his chest, the steady beat of his heart against her ear. He kissed her again, his lips warm, leaving an imprint that lingered on her skin. Sighing, she swirled her fingers through his downy-soft chest hair. If only this moment could last for days. If only they could be a real couple. Never before had she felt so warm. So content.

With her next breath, Olivia’s hand immediately stilled while her heart rate sped.

I cannot allow myself to be content.

Logan must have noticed her tense up, because his fingers tightened around her shoulder. “Is everything all right?”

She drew her hand to her forehead. This was no time to become involved with anyone. She couldn’t lose her edge. And as her partner, he needed to understand her more than anyone did. It was time to come clean. “You wanted to know about my past.”

“Uh.” He stiffened a bit. “I did.”

Talking about it always brought back the pain. She rose to her elbow. “My parents were missionaries. My father was of old wealth, and used his money to support Christian ministry in Pakistan. Mum and Dad were both a bit eccentric, but they had good hearts.”

“Pakistan isn’t the best place for Christian outreach.”

“No, and that’s probably what attracted them to it most. Dad thought he could make a difference.”

Logan rubbed her arm, his touch soothing.

But she didn’t want to be soothed. “I was sixteen and we were at the market in Karachi.” She squeezed her eyes shut as the memories came flooding back. “Mum called to me, but I didn’t listen. I walked across the street to look at the merchant’s scarves. And then I didn’t notice the van pull up.”

Logan’s fingers stopped and gripped her elbow. “You don’t have to say any more.”

“But I do.” She met his gaze, blinking back tears. “I’ll never forget the blinding light when the bomb exploded.”

“Christ.”

“And I’ll never forget seeing my parents blown to bits. My mother’s arm landed in the street only a couple of meters from where I lay, thrown backward by the blast. When the dust cleared that was the first thing I saw.” Olivia sat up and hid her face in her palms, her insides shredding. But she had to keep it together. “I couldn’t even recognize their faces.”

He pulled her into his arms. “God, Olivia, I’m sorry.”

She shoved against his chest, holding in her instinct to throw a punch. “I don’t need your pity.”

“I know.” Dammit, he kept ahold of her and gently rocked.

“Don’t you see?” Her internal struggle wormed through her mind, the familiar feeling of despair clawing at her flesh. She didn’t deserve to be succored. She didn’t deserve compassion, love or solace. “I can’t stop until I’ve avenged them. I cannot allow myself to feel until that man is in his grave.”

“Al-Umari?”

“The fucking bastard.” Rage shot up her spine as Olivia broke from Logan’s arms and stood. Panting, she shook her fists. “Hate is an ugly cancer, but it controls me.” She stared at Logan with determination. “Do not think sex changes anything between us. I wanted to sleep with you, yes, but I have a life’s mission to accomplish and you will not stand in my way.”

A furrow creased his brow. “I know that.” He scooted to the edge of the bed and reached for her fist. “We’re not so different, you and me. We’re both predators.”

Her eyes flashed wide. Why the devil did Logan have to be so damned understanding? Did he always know the right thing to say? Olivia moved to the end of the bed and pulled on her knickers. “I just wanted you to know the reason why whatever it is between us cannot possibly become a thing.”

“Yes, ma’am.” His face was unreadable as he watched her dress. Even more unnerving, he didn’t speak again as she composed herself and headed back to her quarters.