Mark arranges for a private jet again and we leave Egypt once he ensures the ambassador is secure after his meeting. Instead of heading to the Middle East as we planned, we go back to the States. There are some things that need to be handled right away. I also need to check in with the agency, since I’m pretty sure they know I disappeared. Plus, it’s time for me to do some digging to determine exactly what Mazir’s last known location is. We agree there’s no point in heading somewhere if we’re already ten steps behind.
The flight so far has been uncomfortable. Mark is withdrawn and seems lost in thought. We don’t say much to each other, each of us working through whatever is rolling around in our heads.
I head back to the bedroom to change. I haven’t been sleeping well since I was drugged. The only time I really rested was last night in his arms. It pisses me off. Stupid boy. I don’t have time for this; I have a terrorist to find, but the notion of how safe I felt doesn’t evade me. I’m in so much trouble.
Removing my clothes, I contemplate how easy it could be once all of this mess is behind us. We could have something—maybe? Once everything is done, I can determine if there’s more than friendship between us. I mean, he’s known me more than a year, and he’s still interested—as am I.
Someone is after them, and Mark isn’t immune to the possibility that he’s next. Jackson’s been shot, Aaron’s been kidnapped. It would only make sense that Mark is the next target.
I’m in only my bra and underwear when I hear the click of the door. I quickly use my shirt to cover myself. Mark’s eyes stay locked on mine. “What are you doing in here?”
“I’m not sure.”
He looks a little lost. I know the feeling well. “You should’ve knocked.”
He takes a step closer but keeps his gaze firmly on me. “I knew you’d tell me to wait.”
“Mark,” I say cautiously. He’s standing so close my chest touches his. Our breaths mingle and the energy around us is electric. “We can’t do this.”
“You’re so beautiful.” His eyes close. “Every time I look at you, it literally takes my breath away.” When he returns his gaze to me again, I melt. Every part of me becomes liquefied, and I want nothing more than for him to take me in his arms. I’m falling for him. Against my will. “I see you, Charlie. I see it all.”
I don’t doubt he does. He seems to have a way of breaking me down and seeing who I really am. Right now, I’m worried about him. I also feel vulnerable at the prospect of what’s to come, and for once, I want to forget. “And what do you see?”
“I see a woman who has had to fight for everything.” His hand pushes my hair back. “I see how strong you are, even when most would be weak. I see the fucking sexiest woman in the world.” He steps forward, and I take a step back. My knees hit the bed. “I see how your mind never stops working, but you want someone to make it stop. Let me take it from you, baby.” Mark holds my head in his hands, waiting for me to say something. It’s the first time he asks for permission.
“And what about you? You don’t think you need someone?”
“I’m tough.”
“We should talk about what’s really going on,” I say.
Mark tilts my face and subtly shakes his head. “Not tonight. I need you to let me take it.”
I can’t answer right away. Part of me is stunned, while the other part of me is scared. I have a feeling Mark needs me to take it away from him, not the other way. He’s being hunted, and I’m sure he knows it. This kiss will change everything between us, though. It isn’t an act. It isn’t part of a mission. This will be just Mark and Charlie. It’s me giving him an opening that I’m not sure I should. But when I look in his emerald eyes, all I want to do is say yes.
My fingers rise and touch his face. “Take it tonight, but if you hurt me . . . I’ll kill you.”
Mark smirks and tightens his hold as he slowly draws my mouth to his. When we finally touch, I explode. Our lips mold to each other’s as passion erupts. It’s weeks of toying around the edges of desire. It’s months of wondering what this would feel like. It’s a year since I laid eyes on him and believed this could never happen, but it is. He takes, and takes some more. But really . . . I’m giving it up. I free myself of anything but him.
His hands drop, and he grips my ass to pull me tight against him. The lust that has lingered is now in full force. I’m surprised we’ve lasted this long. Mark’s tongue pushes against mine. When he moans, I surrender.
My hands tear at his shirt and rip it off. We break the kiss so I can remove it, and I toss it across the room before we both come back for more. I don’t ever want to stop. I know this is reckless, but I’m completely at his will. My fingers descend against his skin, feeling every ridge and valley of his chest. There’s not an ounce of fat anywhere. His hand glides up my back as he unhooks my bra then slowly pulls the straps off. Mark steps back and we both devour each other with our eyes. My breath halts for a moment as I get to admire how absolutely perfect he is. His arms are covered in color, his muscles are defined, and his waist tapers in, leaving a very delicious V. What stops me are the tattoos that he’s covered in. Each one is intricate and beautiful. His right arm has Poseidon emerging from the water. Around it are vessels as it climbs higher. On his left arm, he’s covered in tribal ink surrounding a frog skeleton that I’ve come to know means he’s lost a SEAL brother on a mission.
My eyes travel up his chest until I reach his eyes. I’ve never been self-conscious, but right now, I’m filled with nerves as his intensity rivals mine. Feeling awkward, I raise my arm to cover myself, but Mark stops me. “Don’t even think about it. I want to see every inch of you. You’re fucking stunning.”
I don’t reply. I close the gap between us, pull his head toward me, and kiss him with everything I have.
His hands glide down my back and he grips my thighs. The feel of his rough hands on my skin causes me to burn. He lifts me and wraps my legs around his waist. I feel him walk forward but I keep my mouth fused to his, enjoying the way his kiss tastes.
Mark holds me effortlessly before he lays me on the bed. He hovers above me, again giving me a way out. I won’t take it. There’s no way in hell I’m stopping this. I want to forget everything that’s happened. I want a moment, and as much as he’s giving it to me . . . I’m taking it. “Take it, Mark.”
“There’s no going back, Charlie. Be warned, I’m going to fuck you so hard you’ll never think of another man. I’m going to take everything and you’re going to give it to me.”
“What makes you think I’m not taking something?”
“Oh, I don’t doubt you’re taking something.” He rises up on his knees and unbuckles his belt. I watch as he unbuttons his pants with a gleam in his eyes. I wait, growing wet as he takes his time. “You’re going to take it all. Every inch of you will be filled. I’m going to ruin you, princess.”
“Why are you still talking and not naked?” I taunt him.
He smirks as he removes his pants. The only thing between us is our underwear. As if he can read my thoughts, he looks down to where I’m still covered. His lips twitch as he touches his mouth lightly against my ear. “First, I’m going to fuck you with my mouth.”
His tongue glides down my neck, leaving a hot trail as I squirm beneath him. The feather-light touches of his lips, then the heat-searing feel of his breath against my skin sends me into overdrive. I moan when he reaches my breast. His lips wrap around my nipple and he pulls it into his mouth. “Holy shit,” I cry out. Mark licks and sucks as I writhe in pleasure.
Mark tortures me in the best way as he moves to the other side to repeat the same motions. His hand moves lower and slips into my panties. Slowly he presses his finger lower. “Not sure you’re ready yet,” he muses as I clearly am. His finger explores me, applying pressure against my clit before he removes it. I nearly sob. I need more.
“Why are you trying to kill me?” I ask as he does it again.
He sits back up and removes his hand from where I need it most. Ever so slowly, he moves to my hips, and the Neanderthal tears my underwear off. I start to protest but his gaze stops me. His eyes appraise me. “Because I’ve had to suffer.” His voice is thick with want. “I’ve had to imagine this. Now, I’m going to drown myself in you. Be ready, this is going to be a long fucking night.”
I lean on my forearms and stare him down. “Good. Now shut up and put your money where your mouth is.”
Mark’s hands push against the backs of my legs and thrust me up on the bed. I gasp at the sudden move, but before I can say a word, his mouth is against my pussy. He doesn’t tease me or make me wait. He devours me. “Oh, my God!” My eyes close as he licks and circles my clit. It’s been too long since I’ve had someone go down on me. I almost forgot the amount of pleasure that comes with it. Mark is playing my body like I’m his own instrument.
The pleasure builds, and I could explode at any second. He hooks his hands under my legs to pull me closer to him. His tongue pushes, circles, and swirls, drawing me near the edge. When his tongue enters me, I detonate. My toes curl while everything around me flashes. It goes on and on. He’s relentless and I can’t breathe. I can’t think. It’s too much. I fall further than I’ve ever fallen before. I lie there trying to remember my name.
When I open my eyes, he’s above me. My hand snakes around his neck, and I pull him closer. He kisses me like he owns me. I flip him on his back; I need to drive him wild.
“No,” he protests.
I straddle him before he can say anything more and place my hand on his chest. “I need this, too.”
“Tonight is about you.”
“It’s about us. Don’t deny me.”
Mark’s hand cups my neck, pulling me so we’re nose to nose. “I’ll never deny you. You’ve got me all turned out, and for some reason, I can’t say no to you.”
I briefly press my lips against his. “I feel the same.” I want to reiterate that this is a one-time thing. That once we get back, I have a feeling things will change for him. There’s so much going on that I don’t think he’s fully accepted.
“Don’t think.” His voice is desperate. “Be here. Take what you need, Charlie.”
“What if I don’t need anything?”
“You’re lying,” Mark replies. “You need more than you’ll admit. You need this. You need me to make you feel good, don’t you?” His hand moves to where I lay open to him. He doesn’t waste time, he inserts a finger and my head falls back. “That’s it, baby,” he coaxes. “You need a man who will put up with your shit. Someone who can handle your need to control, and know you want to be out of control for once.” Mark inserts another finger. My back arches, rubbing my breasts against his chest. He removes his fingers suddenly and my eyes fly open. “Now, do you need this?”
“Yes.”
“That’s it,” he says before my lips meet his again. “Now, take what you want.”
I break away and move down his body. Our eyes remain on each other as I slide slowly to pull his boxers and free his cock. He puts his arms behind his head as I look at his length. I press my lips against his stomach, kissing all the way down.
“I hope you’re ready for payback.” I smile before I take his length in one pull.
“Holy fuck!” His hand flies to the back of my head.
I bob up and down, twirling my tongue around the tip. I moan, adding vibration, and enjoy each noise he makes in return. Mark’s muscles tense as I continue to blow him. Each time his breath hitches, I suck harder and deeper.
“Charlie,” he groans. “You gotta stop, baby. I’m gonna lose it.”
I suck one more time before I come up.
Mark doesn’t give me a second to recover. He practically throws me on my back, puts a condom on, and is back on top of me. “Tell me your name.” He puts the tip of his dick in and waits.
I look at him and wish he could understand, but there’s no way. I won’t give that part of me to him. “No.”
“No?”
“It’s the only thing that’s mine.”
“I need to know.” He presses just a little bit deeper.
I wiggle beneath him. I need more. “Don’t stop,” I beg.
“Tell me.”
“I need more.”
Another inch deeper.
“Mark!” I practically scream while I try to push him using my heels against his ass. I fight with myself. It’s just a name, but it feels like a complete surrender.
“I can’t fuck you if I don’t know your name.” He pulls out a little.
I whimper at the retreat. Then I get pissed. Fuck him. How dare he use this moment to extract information? “Wrong way, you son of a bitch!”
“Ahh!” He smiles. “There you are. Not so calm and badass when you want my dick?”
He thinks he’s so smart. Well, he’s not the only one trained. I slap him across the cheek. I watch the shock flash on his face and know I only have a second before he’ll recover. So, I push him on his back and impale myself. “Looks like I got what I wanted anyway.”
Of course, this is just the beginning. There’s no way I’m not going to pay for that. Sure enough, he uses the fact he’s double my size and rolls me back. He pushes so deep inside me that I can barely breathe. “You want this?” he growls.
“Yes!”
Mark sets an unrelenting rhythm as he takes everything. We fuck like animals, clawing, grabbing, and pounding into each other. I climb higher and higher as the sweat drips down my face. The smell of sex is all around us. I scrape my nails across his back, hold on, and teeter on the verge of another climax. “I’m gonna come,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Give it to me.” Mark pounds harder. “Squeeze my dick. Take it, Charlie.”
My head rolls back as he continues to slam into me. “Mark!” I moan as I get closer.
“Fuck, baby. I’m close. Look at me. Look at me when I own you.”
We lock eyes as he slips his hand between where we’re joined and presses against my clit. That’s all I need. I fall over the edge, screaming his name and clawing at his back.
Mark thrusts a few more times and follows me to the finish line.
After a few minutes of lying there to catch our breaths, we get up to clean up. I head into the bathroom and look myself over. My hair looks like I’m Medusa, my makeup is smeared, and I’m flushed. I lean back against the door, letting it sink in. I had mind-blowing sex with Mark. The man who drives me insane and makes me wonder what the hell is wrong with me.
This is bad. This is very, very bad.
I’m a stupid woman. I know better than this. But there was something in his eyes. A part of him I’ve never seen before that beckoned me. I wanted to take it away. And now, I don’t know what the hell I’m supposed to do.