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JARCEE PICKED FAYE up and walked to their bedroom. He read the questions, uncertainty and desperate need in her gaze. Which should he address first? He kicked the door closed behind him, and laid her on the bed. She didn’t remove her arms from around his neck but kept them linked together.

“I’m sorry.” He never meant to cause her one tear or moment of pain. That she’d been hurt and upset bothered him and his beast.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Her gaze searched his.

“The same reason you withheld information about yourself. You weren’t sure of my reaction. If you had, would we be here today? Or if I’d told you everything about me when we met? We don’t know the answers to that. But we find ourselves here, at this moment in time.” He kissed her forehead, inhaled her sweet scent. “I’ve never lied to you about my feelings. I will always love you, Faye. More than life and promise to do everything in my power to make you happy.”

He leaned back and met her gaze. “I am a man in love with a beautiful woman.”

She frowned. “But you’re a wolf? Or you turn into one?”

“Yes. It’s called dual-natured.”

“That woman, Jasmine, is she like you?”

“No. She’s not.”

She pursed her lips. “You’re not going to tell me anything about her, are you?”

“No, I will not. But you can get to know her and ask whatever you’d like.”

Faye bit her lower lip and looked up at him. “How long have you been... you know? A wolf?”

He stared at her for several seconds. “Are you asking for your report? Or do you want to know more about your man?”

“I just want to know. Don’t worry, I can’t share anything about you personally. It was really weird. Later I want to show you.”

He wanted to see it. “I was born this way.” Just as you were born as a breeder he thought. Breeders were birthed from breeders, but she knew nothing of her mother and he wasn’t sure how much he wanted to share.

Faye had been touching him non-stop since she arrived, he wondered if she was aware of her actions, probably not. He leaned on the side and looked down at her with his hand on her belly. “What do you want to know about me?”

“Did you pick me out specifically?”

“Not really. I was attracted to you, fortunately, it was reciprocated.” Mistress had been right to kick him in the ass. He needed to fight for their relationship. He wouldn’t allow her to hide as if he was indeed a monster. Their relationship caught fire early on. Both of them wanted each other.

“Why? I mean I’ve seen pictures of some of the people in your... pack I believe is the right name.”

He nodded.

“Some of them are gorgeous. You for one. Knight is really handsome, his pictures don’t do him justice. Jasmine is beautiful with a wow factor. Yet you fell in love with me. I’m having a hard time processing that.”

Jarcee didn’t want her exposed to tests to determine how mating worked but he couldn’t lie to her either.

“How could I not fall in love with you? To me, you’re the most beautiful woman in the world. I only see you.” He kissed her, soft at first and then he ravaged her mouth, needing her with an undeniable hunger. They broke apart gasping for air but she didn’t release him.

“I really love you, Jarcee. You need to know that. I’ve never felt like this with anyone else before.” She brushed her lips against his. “I don’t know what’s going to happen when I report to work tomorrow.” Her gaze met his. “I’m going to tell them about you, about meeting Knight.” She exhaled. “I’ll probably be pulled from the assignment because Knight knows we’re here. Best case scenario, I’ll get an early retirement from the service. I certainly plan to ask for one so we can be together.”

He traced her lips with his fingertip while watching her talk. So was so strong, brave and everything he wanted in a mate. But he wouldn’t tell her of their mated status, not when that knowledge could put her in danger.

He’d wait until she was free of the Military.

“Is there anything I can do to make life easier for you? It bothers me to see your sadness, knowing I’m the cause.” He placed a quick kiss on her lips and slid his hand downward.

She hissed as his fingers inched inside her panties and touched her core. “Can I take care of you, my love? You left me earlier, so I must have your permission to put out this delectable fire.” He slid a finger into her hot sheath.

“Yesssss, please.” She opened her legs wider and rolled her hips against his hand.

With her permission ringing in his ears, he slid two fingers inside and pulled down her top with his teeth. He stared at the bronzed, full globes. “Beautiful.” He took a pebbled nipple into his mouth and pulled hard.

“Yes,” she screamed as she clamped down around his fingers and her body shook for several seconds. When she stopped moving, he kissed her.

“One,” he said.

###

THE NEXT MORNING, DRESSED in black trousers, matching jacket and a cream fitted shirt, Faye ate the breakfast Jarcee prepared and drank a pot full of coffee. A message had come through last night from Agent High for a morning meeting. Jarcee didn’t seem to be bothered that she would be reporting their... liaison, relationship or whatever it was. But it disturbed her not knowing what the information would be used for. The idea of Jarcee getting hurt because of her report made her stomach ache.

She watched him putter around the kitchen for few moments. “If I can return tonight, I will.”

He stopped and looked at her over his shoulder. “They would keep you? Why? You’re providing the information they want.”

“There’s no telling what they really want. Plus, I’m not sure I’ll be able to tell them anything about you. Hopefully, they’ll be more interested in Knight and his wife.” She bit her lip wondering what was really going on here and then dismissing it. That wasn’t her job or her concern. She was one part or piece of the larger puzzle and would focus on that. “Promise me you won’t interfere,” she said looking at him. “This is really important to me, I need to do this on my own.”

Agent High would arrest Jarcee if he stormed the office, possibly ship him someplace remote which would cause problems with Knight. She didn’t want to be the spark to start a confrontation.

“They cannot keep you from me. Believe me. The only person who can do that is you. And since that’s not the issue, have faith that I’ll never allow you to be taken from me.”

Her heart clenched, she leaped into his arms and held him close. “I love you so much. So very, very much. Know that for sure.” She leaned back and kissed him thoroughly.

“But you have to promise you won’t come looking for me, you won’t start a fight or interfere in any way. I’m going to get out of this but not if you get involved.”

Jarcee groaned, she could tell he didn’t want to give his word. But she also knew he’d keep his word if given. She had to do this correctly, it was who she was.

“I promise I will try. But if I sense you are in danger, I will find you and there will be hell to pay,” he said, his eyes shone like green emeralds. “Believe that if you don’t believe anything else.”

“Danger would be my life is on the line, not anything less, like tests or meetings or being stationed someplace.” She stepped in front of him. “Whether you like it or not, this is my profession. I’ve invested a large part of my life being good at what I do. I’m almost done and it means a lot to me to finish my job.”

“Even if it hurts innocents?”

“I work intelligence, my job is to find correct information to mitigate losses. I swore an oath to do the work and as much as I love you, I won’t break that oath.” Sensing he understood better than she could explain, she kissed him again.

What would happen to them? She wondered. There was no denying she loved him and he loved her, but they were on opposite sides of the river with no bridge.

“Nothing will come between us,” he said. “I’ll give you your space and not make things harder for you at work. Understand, it’s not in my nature to sit back as you walk into places that may harm you. It’s a very difficult thing to do.”

Hearing his frustration and trust in her, she kissed him again. “Love you.” Feeling more in control and confident, she grabbed her things and left for her meeting. The entire drive to the new office she went over and over in her mind what she planned to say to High. While practicing, her comments sounded logical and sincere.

She parked in front of the new office. This one was one story and looked like it had been a home in a previous life. Inside there were a few faces today she hadn’t seen yesterday. Agent High sat at his desk when she peeked into his office. He stood and offered her a seat in front of her.

Nervous, she closed the door behind her and took a deep breath while he typed something on his computer.

She spoke fast before she lost her nerve. “Two weeks ago, I met someone who I now know is a wolf.”

Agent High stopped typing and faced her. “How do you know that?”  He leaned forward in his seat, watching her.

“Yesterday, when you were showing the photos’ I thought one of the people looked familiar but it was a back shot, not a face.”

“Hold on,” he said, sounding concerned. He pulled up the photos on the monitor. “Which one?”

Leaning forward, she pointed to a picture of one of Knight’s sons. Jarcee was in the background.

“You met him?”

“In the parking lot at the mall.” She told him about the kids in the car and later the meeting at the DHS office.

“Have you seen him since then?”

She wet her lips and met his gaze. “I moved in with him.”

Agent High’s mouth dropped as he leaned back in the chair. He stared at her for several moments. “When?”

“A little over a week ago.”

“Your cover is a Realtor, right?”

She nodded.

“Does lover boy know you’re here?”

She bit back a smart remark. “He knows I’m at a meeting. I didn’t specify where.”

He stared at her for several seconds.

“You should also know.” She took a deep breath. “Last night, I met Silas Knight and his wife. They came over to the house.”

Agent High leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. “You met him? Really?”

She nodded. Silas Knight really was impressive, not as big as Jarcee, but very powerful.

“Why was he there?”

“I don’t know, I think they’re friends.”

“Did he speak to you? Say anything?”

“No, he never did. His wife was nice and polite, she talked. Nothing specific, just general conversation, nice to meet you, that kind of thing.”

“You’re an experienced operative, what did you think of Knight?”

She pursed her lips in thought. “Powerful. Energy radiated from him. He’s tall, over six feet, somewhere in the middle. Big, wide but not body-builder bulging muscles. His eyes are a weird mixture of blue and green. He’s good-looking, so is his wife. Even though he didn’t say anything I had the feeling he was aware of everything in the room, maybe beyond.”

“Beyond? What do you mean?”

“He was there, hanging out I guess, although I’ve never seen or heard of him before. He didn’t appear concerned or threatened, no reason he should, but he’s not hiding, and I don’t think he’s afraid.” She remembered the utter confidence in Knight’s gaze. “If I had to sum him up in one word, I’d say formidable.”

“Formidable? Your impression after one short meeting?”

She nodded. “Like you said, I’ve been on several ops where I’ve had to sum up an adversary. Silas Knight’s weakness might be his mate or his children or any pack member. It’s hard to say what would be a single trigger to bring him down. But it wouldn’t be a direct attack on him.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t think he fears to lose to anyone.”

“Interesting. Is your opinion colored by your friendship with...this guy, what’s his name? He must be very close to them.” He snapped his fingers. “What’s his name?”

“Jae..a...k...t..y...l” She tried to say his name and couldn’t.

“Hmm, they have weird names. I was going to send you to a museum in town but I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” He eyed her. “Does he know you’re in the military?”

She nodded. “Yes, he found out yesterday.”

“What?” he stood up, with his hands planted on the desk. “How?”

She pulled out her notebook from the meeting yesterday and showed him. The cover had a military imprint.

“Shit,” High muttered staring at the cover and then closing his eyes. “Do you think Knight knows?”

She looked at him.

He waved down his own question. “Of course he knows, could be why he came to the house, right?”

“I don’t know. He was there when I returned.”

“Explain.”

“Yesterday, after the meeting I went back to the house, he saw the notebook, we argued over me not being truthful. Pissed, I left, checked into a hotel. The more I thought about it, the more questions I had. I wasn’t 100% sure that had been him in the photo and went back to have it out with him. Knight and his wife were there when I got there.”

“You didn’t know about them before the meeting yesterday?”

She shook her head. “Had no fucking clue. Excuse my language. If I hadn’t seen that picture I never would’ve suspected him.” Which was the truth?

Agent High looked at the photo again and frowned. “He’s tall.”

“Yeah, about seven feet.”

His brows rose. “Most of them aren’t that tall, at least the ones...”

She wondered what he was about to say but didn’t ask. The longer they talked, the more butterflies filled her stomach. He hadn’t decided what to do with her yet. She crossed her fingers they wouldn’t send her away.

“This is a personal question, but I need to know.” He looked at her. “Did you engage in sexual relations with him?

“Yes, I did.” She inhaled and released it slowly.

“There was nothing... no clue as to him being different?”

“No.” Other than taking me to heights I’ve couldn’t dream of and making me feel precious, special and loved, not a thing.

He nodded and shook his head. “Silas Knight. Can you set up a meeting with him?”

“Huh? Why?” She hadn’t expected that. High was supposed to be angry that the mission was compromised and send her away so she could retire early.

“There are some questions we’d like answers too. With your special connection, this might be an opportunity to get them.”

“Really? You think he’d meet with me? Because I’m having sex with someone who works for him?” That made no sense. This Knight guy had lots of people working for him, why favor Jarcee?

Agent High frowned. “You’re living with him?”

She nodded.

“And you haven’t noticed anything different about them at all? Nothing we can use?”

She thought about it. “He eats a lot. Instead of using a plate, he uses a platter. He cooks, washes clothes, likes sex, affectionate, I’ve never seen him angry or fight or anything like that. He’s owned that house for over 26 years.” She told him how she did a background check on him before going out with him.

Agent High listened and took a few notes. When she stopped talking he tapped the desk and stared at it for several moments. “I’ve received clearance for you to leave immediately for tests at the military treatment facility in Maryland. You’re to have no further contact with the target until further notified, is that clear?”

“Yes, Sir.” Her heart dropped.

“You’ll fly in, have the tests done and return before nightfall. At that time I’ll have further instructions for you. I’ve emailed the rendezvous location to you.” He looked at her. “Well done, Staff Sergeant.”

Uneasy, she stood and left his office. Once she reached her car, she checked her email, placed the information in her GPS and drove off.

Hopefully, she would see Jarcee tonight otherwise it would be a long night.