“Randy, I’m not kidding. The man was holding my hand. Yes, I’m positive it was Benny Bianchi.” Luke paced around his apartment impatiently. Angry. Though, truth be told, he wasn’t sure who he was so angry at. Mostly himself. He should have guessed this could happen. He’d gotten in too close. Had allowed himself to be distracted. All that damn do-gooding with Katie had thrown him off.

Yeah, like Dani hadn’t gotten him so twisted around that he couldn’t tell up from down anymore.

Randy wasn’t usually at a loss for words. “She called him Uncle Benny?”

“Yeah. She asked him for $100-grand. Said something about it being a tradition.”

There was a brief silence while he digested it. “Did she get it?”

“He said next time. That she was too old for such things.”

“Heaven help me from ever being too old for $100,000. Did he make you?”

Luke threw himself down onto the couch, one hand shoving through his hair in frustration. “I think she did, but she told him I was her old man’s therapist.”

“Therapist! That’s a good one. I would say more like a priest, trying to get the confession.”

“Ha-ha. The guy threatened me. It’s hardly funny, Randy.”

“Benny?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you sure he didn’t know who you were? Why would he threaten you?”

Luke sighed. “He warned me not to break her heart.”

“From what you’ve been telling me, putting her old man away wouldn’t really upset her,” Randy said after a minute. “But if she’s dirty, too…”

“I don’t think she is.” Freakin’ A, don’t let her be—

As if able to read his thoughts, Randy’s voice took on a hard edge. “Listen, your girlfriend has a blind spot where her brother’s concerned, so don’t go getting one about her. Keep your head in your mission. Don’t get too close.”

You mean like fucking her? Too late.

“I’m not getting too close, for shit’s sake. Right now, though, I’m in further than we’ve ever had anyone.” At least he thought he was. Who could even say anymore? That last little bombshell she’d been about to drop… if it was what he thought it was…

“I know.” There was a pause, a hesitation as Randy thought this through. “I still don’t like that Benny threatened you personally. I think you’re in too deep. Tell me, do you want to come out?”

“No.” Luke said it too quickly. Like Randy wasn’t making note of that right now, wouldn’t tell his superiors. He’d be pulled off by morning if he kept that up. “Listen, it would take a long time to get someone else into the family. Hell, I’m even allowed in the house without a leash. You may never get that again.”

“We’re better than you think, you know. You’re not the only hot-shot genius here.”

“No!” Luke said, and held the phone away from him for a while until Randy spun himself out. “I know, I know. I don’t mean that I’m better than you or anyone else. But I’m already here. You don’t want to start over. It took months for me to reach this point.”

The doorbell buzzed.

“Randy, I have to go, someone’s here.”

“It’s late,” Randy said. “I was going to bust you for waking me as it is. I don’t like this. What kind of asshole would call at this time of night?”

“Thanks.” Luke moved across the room, and stared through the peephole of his door. “It’s legit. Nothing to worry about. Gotta go. ‘Bye.” He hit DISCONNECT on his phone, not doubting for a second that Randy had eyes on the place and knew precisely who was at his door despite all his protests. Randy was damn good at his job. It’s why he’d been assigned as Luke’s handler.

In the meantime, Luke needed to play the analyst. Or whatever the hell Dani thought he was. He kicked the dirty laundry that dotted the living room into the hall closet and opened the door.

He probably should have changed. Threadbare pajamas certainly weren’t the height of sexy. At the least he could’ve grabbed a shirt but figured, since she’d flashed him, why the hell? Besides, she’d seen him with less on than this.

Dani stood in the hallway, her face an interesting mixture of condemnation and hope. She was still wearing the shorts and t-shirt she’d worn while climbing. She looked absolutely beat. And beautiful. “You’re a cop.”

“And you’re a soldier,” he said, leaning against the doorframe, crossing his arms. Maybe he could have denied it, continued to play the game, but she already knew better and, frankly, this was Dani. Something in that steel-gray gaze of hers, the way she stared him down, the way she dared him to let him down had struck a chord within him. Despite all his training, he vowed he was done with deception and lies. At least in regard her.

“Can I come in?”

Luke turned and retreated into his apartment, leaving it up to her if she wanted to close the door. She did. “Who are you after? David?

“Did David do something I need to worry about?”

“You know he didn’t.”

“Then I have no need to catch him.” He brushed past her, heading for the kitchen. “Care for a drink? Non-alcoholic.”

Dani thought for a moment and nodded. She took a seat on the couch Luke had so recently vacated without being asked. She didn’t even flinch when a bit of stuffing escaped through the torn cushion and drifted to the floor like snow.

He should have been embarrassed, but why the hell should he care anymore? No one had thought any of the primary targets would ever show up his apartment. It was a local address where he could sleep, furnished by the nearby thrift store. Had anyone realized he’d be getting intimate with the daughter of the prime suspect, they’d probably have paid for some window dressing.

They’d also have bugged the place.

If they hadn’t already.

“Why did you fuck me?” she called as he crossed over to the cupboard, just out of her line of sight. He turned and leaned back to look at her. Her eyes were suspiciously bright, but she met his gaze without flinching. “At the party, in the conference room. Was that to get closer to David, or to my father?”

He didn’t answer right away, but instead took his time finding two glasses and pouring some juice from the fridge. “Does it occur to you?” he asked as he came back into the room and handed her one of the glasses, “that maybe I wanted to get closer to you?” He sat on the edge of the couch, there being a distinct lack of other chairs, and hitched up his pajamas which were riding dangerously low. “Don’t give me that sour face; I didn’t even know it was you.”

“Excuse me?”

“I mean, when we were in lock down, when we kissed. I didn’t know that Edwin Rinehart was your father then.”

“So you’re not after David.”

Luke sighed and shook his head. What the hell, the mission was either completely blown or not at all. There wasn’t any more point in letting information go in dribs and drabs. “No, I wasn’t. I don’t know anything about your brother except that he was thrown out of three universities for ‘unspecified issues.’ I didn’t find out what those were, although I do know that all three of the schools were later gifted with large grants from Markland.”

“I didn’t…” Dani started, but he ignored her. Enough of letting her run the show. He was talking now, and she could just shut up and listen for once.

“College said it was their problem, and they were happy to deal with it without us, so nothing was thought of it. Then I met Katie.”

Dani blinked. “Katie? What the hell does she have to do with anything?”

“No.” Luke shook his head. “That’s her story to tell, not mine. Ask her yourself.” He lifted his nearly forgotten glass in a toast. She ignored it and drank deeply.

“What branch were you in?” he asked.

“My father allowed me to join the Air Force. He thought it was noblesse oblige, same thing as the king and queen of England do, to show the peasantry that they’re willing to fight for their country, too.” She snorted. “He figured the Air Force would be a cushy seat in front of a terminal somewhere safe.”

“You’re no radar operator.”

“Rangers.” She smiled at his reaction. “I never told Father.” She swallowed hard and looked toward the window. “And you?” She turned back at him. “I know you didn’t get those instincts walking a beat in Atlanta.”

“Marines,” he said, lifting his glass to all the Marines throughout history.

“Beret?”

He shook his head. “Some… black ops.”

This time, she was the one who offered a toast. “Why do you want my father?”

“You know why.”

Dani stared at him a moment and then finally shook her head. “I know what he used to be, I suppose. I never wanted anything to do with all that. But from what I understand, he’s left all that. He turned his back on it all when Markland took off. Said he was going legit.”

“Is that what he told you?”

She crossed her arms, coming dangerously close to adding to the stains on the couch as the glass knocked against her elbow. “Fine, you tell me.”

“Actually, he was probably right about leaving,” Luke admitted. “But it wasn’t because his investments were paying off. He came into a windfall.”

“Windfall?” Dani repeated. “From where?”

“That is what I and a few others want to find out.” Luke sat upright again. He leaned toward her for emphasis. “All we’ve been able to find out is that he suddenly had enough to get Markland out of debt and put in the black for the first time ever. Plus, he paid off that house you’re in.”

“How much was that?” Dani’s forehead crinkled in surprise.

Luke considered the question, but it was Dani. His life was in her hands now. There was no more reason for lies. “In excess of $23 million.”

“Holy shit.” Dani sat back hard against the couch and looked at Luke, begging him to say he was joking, he was wrong, something. The denial was in her eyes. In that moment he could read her openly, and it tugged at his heart. “Are you sure?”

Luke nodded.

“That stupid bastard,” she whispered. “No wonder Benny’s looking for him.”

“What do you mean ‘looking for him’?”

“My dad’s gone,” Dani said with a shrug. “Remember? He vanished while we were rock climbing. No one’s seen him.”

“Wait a second. You mean, gone gone? I thought you meant he wasn’t home. What about his bodyguard?”

“He sent them all out after us, after I called him about the vandalism.”

“They left him on his own?”

“Now you sound like Uncle Benny.” Dani set her glass down. “Damn, I wish that were wine.” She shook her head. “Benny has been tearing the place apart all evening, trying to figure out where my dad went. I had to get away, but I couldn’t think of anything to tell him. When I was trying to not trip over my tongue… I… he thought…” She looked up at him more vulnerable than he’d ever seen her.

“He thought that you wanted to get away to spend time with me,” Luke finished. Dani nodded. “So he knows you’re here.”

“Two of his men drove me here. They’re probably still outside.”

That was news he could do without. It had to make the street pretty damn crowded, though, what with Randy’s team keeping an eye on the place and Benny’s goons lurking in the parking lot. Luke rose, set his glass beside hers. He extended a hand and brought her to her feet. “Then let’s make them wait,” he said, his smile wicked.

Dani looked at him for a long time. Considering the invitation. He found himself willing her to say yes. Not get involved? Hell no, he was already in up to his neck. Not to let her become a blind spot? He was smarter than that.

Right?

Was there any way he could do this, tonight, with her, and not let his heart get involved?

She seemed to be thinking through the same things. He saw the tiny frown, the way she tilted her head to the side as she thought things through. It was both endearing…and vulnerable. “I need something…” She got up and placed her hand on his chest. “Less of a workout than last time.” She stepped toward him, looking up. Open. Vulnerable. “Is that okay?”

Luke put a hand to her cheek and lay a thumb on her neck. “Good.” His voice was soft, barely more than a whisper. Let them listen if they would, but he sure as hell wasn’t about to make it easy for them. “You damn near killed me last time.”

She reached up on tiptoes and pulled at his lip with her teeth. “Marines are wimps.”

She yelped in surprise when his hand connected with her ass.

Then fell into his arms as his lips met hers.

 

 

The lights from the streets soaked the room in reflected yellows and oranges. The occasional siren called from a distance, and the city moved and breathed in the night far beyond the room where Luke and Dani stood.

Her lips were already feeling bruised, but she decided that it was anticipation, need, that had swollen her mouth as much as his had. His hand on her back was warm, and left trails of heat like an afterthought across her skin.

She lay her hand on his chest; it was like a strong wall, with sparse hair at the top, little curls of chest hair, perfect for tugging and entwining fingertips. His hand moved up under her shirt and she shrugged it off rather than play games that would only become trapped in the fabric. Her bra followed quickly. She’d wanted to come to him without underthings, wearing only the shorts and the shirt, but when Uncle Benny insisted on his boys giving her a ride, well, she’d already seen the way they tried to not look at her legs and her ass.

Her hair was bound in a ponytail and she reached up and pulled the elastic band from her hair, sending it cascading over her shoulders as she looked into his eyes. He smiled at her, a real smile that came through his eyes. Of all the people she’d known, ever, family, friends, lovers, no one had ever shown her that. She’d begun to believe that it wasn’t true, just an expression, that joy couldn’t been shown in the eyes.

But Luke’s eyes positively gleamed. Maybe there was a bit of naughtiness hidden in there somewhere as well, but nothing cruel. It was as though he was delighted that he had found a friend to share in his mischief. She suspected that were he more serious, none of this would be happening. He would already have moved on, disappearing out of her life as quickly as he’d appeared. It was a thought that left her breathless, that someday he wouldn’t be there. She didn’t even know his name, and for his safety never dared ask.

Let him be Luke Milligan to me. Just for tonight.

His eyes locked on hers, even as he reached for her breast with his left hand and fumbled with her shorts with the right. His thumb expertly caressed her hardening nipple and she dared to close her eyes for a moment, reveling in his touch.

But he was able to unsnap the button of the shorts, and while he tussled with the zipper she reached out and unceremoniously tugged his pajama pants off in a single pull.

She opened her eyes in time to watch him bounce as the pajamas pulled down his erection, and it sprang back up as if to point an accusation at her for such ignoble treatment. She’d been so rushed in their last encounter, with no time for curiosity, so now she held it, looked at it, really enjoying the idea of holding him like that. He was her prisoner. Her fingers came around his shaft, squeezing him hard enough to make him gasp. Not just her prisoner, but hers to do with as she pleased.

Only, his hand reached under her panties and she gasped. Okay, perhaps, she was his prisoner. He held her mound in between thumb and forefinger and massaged her even as she stroked him. With a suddenness that left her gasping, he let go of her breast and pulled hard on a fistful of her hair, forcing her head back.

Her mouth opened in protest and he was on her in an instant, stealing whatever she would have said. Lips…tongue. Words no longer mattered as they sank into his kiss, reveling in his rough treatment of her. She let go of him to wrap her arms around his neck; he grabbed her around the back and under the shorts that were open but not gone. Then just like that, he picked her up as though she weighed nothing at all and carried her into the bedroom.

It felt so girly, so helplessly female, that she giggled.

He paused and looked at her in confusion.

“Just so we’re clear,” she grinned, lying luxuriously in his arms. “I could just as easily carry you.”

Dani had expected laughter. Anyone else might have felt his masculinity threatened, been angry or bitter. She hadn’t expected the reply he gave her.

He became very serious and tilted his head to look at her, to really look at her. “You have nothing to prove,” he said. “Not to me.”

She stared at him for a long moment, waiting for the other shoe to drop, looking for the action, the glimpse that would call him a liar. It wasn’t there. He was serious. He acknowledged her as an equal.

It was a heady feeling.

And so she decided that, just now, in this particular case, maybe it was okay to feel a little girly.

He brought her into the bedroom, murmuring apologies for the mess. Luke was no housekeeper, and he stumbled over a pair of sneakers left by the door and almost sent her head into the wall. She ducked, laughing, twisting in his arms to get a glimpse of the bed, seeing the scattered blankets, and shook her head a little, trying to imagine him laying her out like a princess or a porcelain doll in that disarray. But Luke took the matter in stride, and simply tossed her to the bed, following her down with a hand landing on her ass that did not let go. She found herself screaming with laughter, face-down on the bed, ass raised in the air. In a moment he had her shorts off, her legs trying to go with as he peeled them off of her. She scrambled back up, shoving pillows and comforter aside, not caring that the pillows tumbled to the floor even as he snagged an ankle and brought her back around so that she was lying on her back, breathless and happy, truly happy for the first time in…well, a long time…and staring up into his face.

He was on top of her in a moment. There was no time to analyze the way he made her heart pound, the violent anticipation that left her wet and hungry for him. He covered her, sliding between her legs. She spread herself for his entrance, but he surprised her again, this time as his mouth covered hers and then, remarkably, moved down so he might kiss her neck.

He took the time to explore her fully, his mouth moving down her throat to her collarbone. His hardness was retreating from her as he moved. She felt him bump against her knee and almost whimpered at the loss, her hips rising, seeking, finding only frustration until she realized that in this he was taking charge, the way she had last time. Fair was fair. She stopped trying to anticipate, and grabbed the thick blanket under her and let him set the pace, only whimpering a little as he drew things out with infinite patience.

His mouth got to her nipples and stayed there for a while. He softly bit, played and licked the nipples and areolae. Each taste, his movement of his lips, drove her to the point of insanity until she was ready to shove him off and mount him, just to quell the ache he’d created that screamed to be set free.

Eventually he trailed down over her stomach, his tongue playing with her navel, then teasing, lower and lower until she thought she’d die from the anticipation of his head between her thighs. She abandoned the blanket and instead buried her fingers in his hair, holding him against her as his tongue touched her clit. Only that tiny, infinitesimal touch and she exploded. It wasn’t an orgasm, not really. It was… passion and lust and frustration built to a fever pitch. She supposed that the slightest touch anywhere on her body would have been just as electric. At this point each kiss and flick of the tongue had its own signal, each one running through her body, combining, racing each other between the clit and the brain.

His mouth covered her sex and she rose to meet it.

She held his head in her hands, begging him to use that thickness in her. She’d never begged, she’d never had to, but this… this was sheer torture. This was pain intermingled with pleasure, lost in white light and loss of breath and the tumbling questions in her mind of why didn’t he take her, and how much more could he do this to her and…

When at last he lifted up and thrust into her, she arched and screamed. Her hips rose to meet his and then, as he pressed her into the mattress, she bent and anchored herself against him, her teeth biting into his shoulder, her fingernails scraping long welts on his back.

She spasmed while he thrust, her orgasm coming fast and hard. She shook under him, around him, and still he thrust and moved in her, his driving passion pinning her to the mattress until this particular orgasm subsided. But he didn’t stop, and didn’t stop and didn’t stop until another orgasm built, mounting and finally cresting.

This one would be stronger. This would shatter her, sending her into a thousand pieces. This one would…

He arched and slammed into her. She could feel him throbbing. His orgasm triggered hers, and the light exploded behind her eyes and she wrapped her body around his. Arms, legs… she held him with everything she had and rode the orgasm, screaming into his shoulder, the faint taste of blood on her lips. She couldn’t have let go if her life depended on it.

She held on through muscles that wouldn’t release, that refused to be opened, and she waited while wave after wave after wave of pleasure tore through her, leaving her spent and exhausted.

She slid, barely able to let go, while he was still inside of her, and she fell a thousand miles into the soft arms of the mattress and stared at the ceiling without seeing a thing.

Her body was a warm puddle of goo and her muscles refused to respond.

He fell beside her. One arm around her, one leg over hers.

“Aahh,” she whispered, and was impressed that she could make anything that sounded even remotely like a word fall from her lips.

He nodded in full agreement and pulled her, unresisting, into his embrace.