Chapter Twenty

 

 

I’m back at base now, Zaid’s text read. Got time to talk?

Jaliya would make the time. It had been eight days since she’d last seen him. She needed to hear his voice, have the conversation she’d been dreading. Ironically he and the rest of FAST Bravo were all back at Bagram now, and she was here in Kabul. But with their crazy schedules over the past week, they’d only been able to talk over the phone a handful of times.

You have to let him go, her conscience told her.

She ruthlessly dismissed the thought. There had to be a workable solution to resolve the geographical obstacle between them.

She’d wracked her brain for the past eight days, and the only thing she had to show for it was the continued determination to fight for her man. With her career up in the air now and Zaid based out of D.C., how were they supposed to make anything work long-term? She could apply for a position there, or maybe even with another agency where she could utilize her skill set and experience, but that didn’t mean she’d get the posting.

It might be far kinder to both of them to say goodbye…except that wasn’t an option for her. The man held her heart in the palm of his hand.

She strode to her hotel room window and sank into a chair as she dialed Zaid, gazing out at the snow-capped mountains in the distance as the dial tone droned in her ear. She was still reeling from everything that had happened over the past twelve hours.

When the agency decided on something, they moved fast. With Nasar rotting in a max security cell at an undisclosed black CIA facility in Eastern Europe and the DEA making good progress in uncovering his vast network, the most critical job was done.

“Hey,” Zaid answered, a smile in his low, sexy voice.

She couldn’t help but smile back, even though her heart was heavy. She missed him so much it hurt. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”

“No, this is perfect, actually.”

Sounds of a scuffle and shouting erupted in the background. She frowned. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Maka’s getting the beating he deserves for shooting Hamilton in the head with a Nerf dart, and the other guys are jumping in to get their revenge for the same.”

Um… “Okay…”

“It’s damn entertaining, I gotta say, but as much as I love watching this, I’d rather hear your voice. Gimme a sec.” The background noise receded and a moment later all was quiet. “There we go. So, how’re things?”

“Good.” She took a deep breath and just said it. “Well, not really. I’m leaving.”

“Leaving?” He sounded shocked.

She sighed. “The agency’s decided that I’m too widely known here after the past few weeks, and with a bounty on my head it’s too high risk for me to stay on in Kabul or anywhere else in Afghanistan. Or in South Asia, for that matter. Basically, they’re kicking me out of the region for my own good.”

“Shit, I’m sorry.”

She shrugged, even though it hurt like hell to know she wouldn’t see him for a long time. “Nothing I can do. I already pled my case, but at least the agency values me and my work enough to find me another placement somewhere.” She’d request D.C. and beg if need be.

“Where will you go?”

“London, for the time being. At least until they decide what to do with me.”

“Can you request a placement?”

“Yes, but my language skills and cultural knowledge are my big ticket items, and if I’m not using them on a consistent basis, I’m not much use to them.”

“You could put those to good use in D.C.”

The note of hope in his voice touched her, and so did knowing that they were on the same wavelength. “You would want me to transfer there?”

“Are you kidding? More than anything.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Even more than sleeping with me?”

“No, you’re right. I’d like it second best.”

He was so damn cute. How was she supposed to leave without seeing him? “Hmm. Maybe I’ll think about it,” she teased. This had to work. They had to wind up together.

“You should. That way I’d be able to spend quality time with you. Date you properly.”

“Date me?” She laughed again. The idea was absurd after everything else that had happened between them to this point.

“Yeah, you know—dinners and walks on the beach, movies. We’ll take getaway trips together and stay up all night to watch the sun come up.”

“It sounds so…normal.” And romantic. “You sure that’s what you want?”

“If I told you what I really wanted, it might scare you away.”

Scare her away? “Well now I’m all kinds of intrigued. What is it you really want? Aside from getting me into bed.”

“When do you leave?”

The abrupt change in topic wiped the smile from her face. “My flight’s in just over four hours. So I wanted to talk to you before I left for the airport.”

“Shit, I gotta go.”

She blinked, a crushing weight of disappointment and sadness pressing down on her chest at his abrupt announcement. “What? Now?”

“Right now. I’ll text you later, okay?” He sounded like he was in one hell of a rush. Maybe Taggart had called them in about something.

“Okay.” There was so much she still needed to say, but she couldn’t now. “I…be careful. I miss you.” And I love you.

“Miss you too, sweetheart. Bye.”

He was gone before she could reply.

She lowered the phone to her lap and stared at it for a long moment, feeling utterly dejected and more alone than she ever had in her life. In a few hours she’d be on her way to the U.K. where she’d try to pick up the pieces and form a new life for herself.

Alone. All while nursing an aching heart.

The thought hurt so much she couldn’t bear it, so she got up and went straight to the shower, where she stood under the hot spray until the water began to go cold. Once she was dressed and had her hair blow-dried, she headed for the long dresser on the other side of the room to begin packing. After tucking away the last of her sweaters, she lugged her bursting suitcase off the bed and rolled it next to the door where the rest of her things waited.

With nothing left to do but wait, she stretched out on the bed and called her parents to update them, but she was too down to talk long. As soon as she hung up with them, reality set in, making her throat close up and her heart feel like it was splitting in two.

Her phone chimed with a text. From Zaid. She jolted into a sitting position to read it.

You there?

Yes, she responded.

Open your door. I sent you something.

What, flowers maybe? A card delivered by the front desk?

She got up and crossed to the door, not even bothering to check through the peephole before opening it. A gasp tore from her when she saw Zaid striding down the hallway toward her, dressed in his utilities. That trademark grin of his lit up his face and he broke into a jog, not stopping until he grabbed her up in his arms and lifted her from the floor as he walked them back inside her room.

“What are you doing here?” she cried, precariously close to tears as she locked her arms around his back and buried her face in his neck.

“Pleaded my case to Taggart, called in a few favors and hopped a last-minute transport flight here.” He set her down and took her face in his hands. “Didn’t seriously think I’d let you leave without seeing you, did you?”

She smiled so wide it hurt her cheeks. “You just want to get me into bed.”

He shook his head. “Ah, ye of little faith. But hell yes, I do.”

And with that he bent to sweep her up into his arms and carry her toward the bed.

 

ZAID’S PULSE POUNDED out of control as he pulled the covers back and laid Jaliya down on the soft, white sheets. With her gorgeous thick, dark hair spreading across the pillow in waves, she gazed up at him with such love and longing on her face he thought his heart might explode. He’d panicked when she’d told him the agency was flying her out in a matter of hours, and was so damn thankful he had been able to be here with her.

She slid a hand around the back of his head and pulled his lips down to hers. He speared his hands into her hair, gripped tight as he plundered her mouth, taking possession the same way he wanted to take her body. She made a sound of longing in the back of her throat and arched into him, the softness of her breasts crushed against the plane of his chest, her pelvis cradling his painfully hard erection.

He rocked against her, needing so much more but not wanting to rush things. He remembered what she’d said about her first time, that she hadn’t enjoyed it. Whatever happened, he didn’t want her to feel the same way about this, or worse, regret it later. He never wanted her to regret him. Ever.

They tugged at each other’s clothing until he was naked and she was in nothing but a black bra and panties. His breathing was erratic as he slipped them off her, revealing her to him in all her naked glory. A low growl came out of him at the sight of her full, round breasts and the tight, brown nipples begging for his mouth, the neatly-trimmed triangle of dark hair between her thighs.

She ran her hands over his chest and shoulders, her eyes heavy-lidded as she stroked him, her right hand slipping down his abdomen to curl around the hot, rigid length of his cock. He hissed out a breath and closed his eyes a moment, unable to keep from pushing into her grip just to feel that electric friction along his sensitive flesh.

Pleasure rocketed up his spine, his heart surging so hard he was dizzy. He grabbed her hand and pulled it from him, then locked his fingers around her slender wrists and raised them over her head.

“Lie still and let me touch you,” he said in a rough whisper. He wanted to make her blind with pleasure before pushing into her. Needed to make sure she enjoyed this to the fullest so that she’d crave him, think about him constantly while they were apart.

Because he was determined to make this work between them somehow.

Those dark, mysterious eyes stared up at him, full of heat and a trust that made his heart squeeze. Her breasts rose and fell with her rapid breaths, drawing his gaze. With a silent groan he cupped her in his hands, savored their soft warmth before lowering his mouth to one straining peak and dragging his tongue across it.

“Ah!” she cried out, grabbing hold of his head as she arched her back, asking for more.

He gave it, pulling her nipple into his mouth and sucking while his fingers played with the other. She smelled so fucking good, soap and light perfume and pure, hot woman. More perfect than he’d even imagined.

Jaliya twisted beneath him, pushing her hips up to rub against his throbbing cock. He groaned and switched to the other nipple, teasing and stroking until she was panting and moving restlessly.

Easing his body to the side, he kept sucking as he eased his free hand down her ribs, over the indent of her waist to the rise of her hip. He stroked the rounded curve, squeezed it before gliding down the length of her leg and back up the inside.

When he brushed against the heated folds between her thighs she whimpered and he bit back a groan at how slick she was. He caressed the tender flesh gently, petting and stroking before dipping a finger down to slide inside her.

Her breathing hitched. Zaid looked up the length of her body to find her staring at him, eyes glazed with arousal, her teeth sunk into her bottom lip. Watching her face, he eased his finger out and slid up to circle the swollen bud of her clit peeking through her flushed folds. Her thighs quivered at the gentle touch.

“Zaid, please. Want you inside me,” she rasped out.

He made a negative sound and kept doing exactly what he was doing. He wanted her on the verge of coming before he pushed into her. When he made her come this time, it would be with him inside her.

She whimpered as he rubbed her clit. Releasing her nipple, Zaid kissed his way down her body until he could replace his finger with his tongue. He slid two fingers inside her, curving them as he dragged them back and forth over her sweet spot, and settled his mouth over her clit.

“Oh, Zaid…” she moaned, her fingers digging into his head, the muscles in her thighs twitching as her belly drew taut.

She tasted so sweet, so hot, and he couldn’t get enough. Loved pleasuring her this way, hearing the throaty, ragged sounds she made as he pushed her toward release.

“Zaid. Zaid.”

God, he loved the sound of his name on her lips.

He eased up the pressure on her clit, teasing her with flutters and strokes of his tongue while he reached for his pants strewn over the side of the bed. He fished a condom from a pocket and slid it on, his entire body pulsing with the need to claim her.

She half sat up and reached for him as he stretched out on top of her, her arms and legs locking around him. Zaid braced his weight on his forearms and slid his hands into her hair, holding her head still while they stared into each other’s eyes. With one hand he reached down to position himself, then set his thumb against her clit and rubbed as he eased his hips forward, burying the head of his cock into her heat.

She gave a soft, choked cry and closed her eyes, the expression of sensual agony on her face all but destroying him. He was breathing hard, all his muscles twitching, his body straining with the effort to hold back when all he wanted to do was plunge as deep and fast as he could.

Jaliya moved with him, meeting each rock of his hips, her little whimpers of need flaying his control like lashes of a whip. He’d wanted to take her the first time face-to-face, but now he wanted something else.

Withdrawing from her slick heat, he shushed her cry of protest with a deep, hungry kiss before urging her to turn over onto her hands and knees. She tossed her hair over one shoulder and looked back at him, and he almost lost it at the raw hunger in those dark chocolate eyes, the luscious curve of her hips and ass on display for him.

With a low growl of need he gripped her left hip and eased his cock into her from behind. She hummed in approval and tipped her head back, an expression of ecstasy on her face. Holding onto the last vestiges of his control, Zaid slipped an arm around her waist to cup her mound, and drew his fingers through her slickness before rubbing circles around her clit.

“Oh, God,” she moaned, and rocked backward into him, impaling herself on the length of his cock. “Zaid,” she whimpered.

“You feel so good.” He kissed the side of her neck, nipped the sensitive spot where it curved into her shoulder. “Rub your clit against my hand,” he murmured, his mouth at her ear.

She did, and a shudder ripped through her. He thrust forward and stayed there, kept his fingers steady against her clit so that each rocking motion of her hips drove him back and forth over her sweet spot and rubbed the swollen bundle of nerves beneath his fingers.

Jaliya gasped, her inner muscles clenching around him. Zaid groaned and bit at her shoulder again, soothing the slight sting with his tongue. She was so close, he could feel it in every trembling line of her body.

“Love you,” he whispered. “Love you so damn much.”

She whimpered, driving back onto his cock harder, faster. He gritted his teeth and held on, reached his free hand up to cup her breast and roll the nipple while she pleasured herself with his cock and fingers.

A wild moan burst free from her lips as she clenched around him, her orgasm exploding through her.

Yes.

Zaid buried his face in the curve of her neck in triumph and held on, waited until she’d slowed and grabbed his hand to still it between her thighs before letting go of his control. He thrust deep and hard, rushing headlong to the release he’d been fighting from the moment he’d first entered her.

With his arms wrapped tight around her waist and ribs he drove deep one last time and let the wave obliterate him. He was dimly aware of his shout echoing around them as the pleasure slammed through his body, leaving him gasping and weak.

On a low groan he eased them both down until she was lying flat on her stomach, his weight sprawled across her back and his head resting beside hers on the pillow. He didn’t know how long they stayed that way, but finally his heart rate returned to normal and he was able to summon the strength to raise his head.

He kissed her nape, the silken curve of her cheek before bending down to cover her lips with his. She made a murmuring sound and returned the kiss, slow and soft and tender.

Finally he eased out of her and struggled to his hands and knees. “Be right back,” he murmured, kissing the top of her head before heading to the bathroom to deal with the condom.

When he came back she was curled on her side beneath the covers, her dark eyes roving over the length of his naked body as he climbed in and pulled her straight into his arms. He groaned when she snuggled up against him like a sleepy kitten, her cheek nestled on his bare chest.

He’d checked the nightstand clock on his way back from the bathroom. They still had over an hour until she had to leave for the airport. Maybe more, if he could convince her to stay a little longer.

“I always dreamed it would be like that with the right person,” she murmured, gently running her fingertips over his chest.

He couldn’t help but smile. “No regrets, I hope?” Because he sure as hell didn’t regret one moment of this.

“None.”

That made him happier than she’d ever know.

“So, I have news,” she said softly.

“Yeah? What about?”

“Nasar. He finally broke this morning and told us why he’d done it.”

“And?” Not that there was any reason on earth good enough to justify his actions, and the cost.

“His young son. He suffers from a progressive heart condition that is fatal in over ninety percent of cases. Nasar was working with the Veneno cartel because El Escorpion promised to get the boy a heart transplant if Nasar could get enough shipments through to pay for it.”

Zaid stilled in shock. “Whoa. So that’s who flew to Veracruz that day. Nasar’s wife and son.”

“Yes. I don’t condone what he did, but…I understand why he did it.”

Yeah, Zaid wasn’t seeing the situation in plain black and white now either. “And did his son get the surgery?”

“No one knows. But Nasar will never see him or his wife again, regardless.”

A heavy price to pay, but he’d cost many men’s lives.

Jaliya was quiet for a long moment before speaking again. “What did you mean earlier, when you said you’d scare me if you told me what you really wanted.”

He stroked a hand down her spine, savoring the silken softness of her skin. “Sure you wanna know?”

“Yes.”

Okay then. “I want it all.” Simple.

She tipped her head back to look at him and raised her eyebrows. “All?”

He gave a slow nod. “Everything.”

“As in…” She let the sentence trail off, as if not wanting to make a fool of herself by making assumptions in case she was way off. As though he couldn’t be saying what she thought he was.

But he sure as hell was saying it. “Yeah. That.”

Her eyes widened. “What, marry me?”

He nodded. “That’ll make it easier for you to get posted to D.C.”

She laughed again. “You can’t marry me just to get me a posting in D.C.”

He hugged her close. She might not want to admit it to him right now, but he knew damn well her conscience would be pricking at her even now for sleeping with him without a ring on her finger at least. “I can if I’ve found the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

A startled smile curved her lips. “You really mean that?”

“Every damn word. You’re mine, Jaliya. I’m not letting you go.” Not today, not any day.

She bit her lip and tucked her face into his neck, pressing as close to him as she could get. “That was really beautiful,” she said in a choked whisper.

A low, primal growl came from the back of his throat and he tightened his arms around her. Even though he would put her on that plane in a couple hours, the distance wouldn’t change anything. She was still his. Forever. And he wanted the whole world to know it. “So you’ll make an honest man out of me, then?”

She drew her head back to meet his eyes. Hers shone with a glimmer of tears, but the smile she gave him told him they were happy ones. “Zaid. Have you really thought this through? Are you sure? We’ve only known each other a few months.”

“Longer than that, counting the time we spent getting to know each other online.”

Her lips twitched. “Well, sort of getting to know each other.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m sure, and I know everything about you that matters. We have similar backgrounds and values. We like each other as people. We understand and respect each other. We fit. Do you know how incredibly rare that is?” He’d had a lot of time to think it over the past week, and coming face to face with the Grim Reaper sure had a way of putting things into perspective. He wanted to make Jaliya his wife.

“I do.”

“Okay, then. What do you want?”

“I…” She looked away, seemed almost shy as she answered. “I would love to marry you.”

Ah, sweetheart. He closed his eyes, pressed his cheek to the top of her head. “No take backs. You said that loud and clear.”

With a soft laugh she tipped her head back to kiss him. “I wouldn’t ever take it back.”

“Are you worried about what your family will think?”

“No. They don’t get to decide who I marry.”

His heart swelled. He loved her so damn much. “When do you want to do this?”

She frowned. “I don’t know.”

“You know the best thing about being a black sheep?”

She shook her head, a smile tugging at her sexy mouth. “What?”

“They do whatever the hell they want. So let’s elope.”

Her eyes widened again. “Elope?”

“As soon as I’m done with this deployment, I’ll meet you in London and we’ll elope.”

“Hmmm, I think I like the sound of that.” She traced a fingertip over his chin, tickling his beard. “You gonna shave this thing off for the ceremony?”

“If you say yes, I’ll shave any damn part of me you want.”

Her soft laugh twined around his heart and squeezed tight. “Then yes. Let’s run away and elope.”

Hell yeah. Zaid buried his hand in her hair and took her mouth in a hungry kiss.