She did want to hear them. Badly. Her body sizzled with heat, her pussy growing wet and achy with need. It had been so long. Too long. She wanted a man, wanted the comfort that kind of closeness could give. She also wanted an orgasm that someone else made happen. She was tired of getting herself off in the loneliness of an empty bed.

When was the last time she’d slept with a man? It was over a year ago, that much was certain. She and Mark hadn’t been together anymore, not like that. She’d started dating a guy, another agent—the sex had been decent but not memorable. They’d gone their separate ways, and that was the end of that. It was difficult, quite honestly, to find time—or the right sort of person—in the job she was in.

Too hilarious that she’d been playing a pornography talent agent in order to insert herself into Conti’s operations. If she’d had to be on set for any of that stuff, she’d have probably gone straight to the adult toy store and bought a vibrator after it was over.

Her breathing grew heavier, her nipples tingling as they beaded tight under the T-shirt. All she had to do was reach out and touch him. Just touch him, give the signal, and he’d end this drought for her. Hell, even if he sucked, at least he had a big cock—which would probably be enough to send her over the edge once he slid it inside her.

He’d gone back to reading on his phone, clearly not believing she would take him up on that offer.

And really, she couldn’t. It was a nice thought—a thought that made her whimper—but this was not the time to start messing around with a Navy SEAL. She needed her wits about her—and she needed him to have his. Sex was a distraction.

The light on his phone winked out, and then he laid it on the bedside table. He settled down beside her but not touching her.

“Try to sleep,” he said into the stillness. “We’re safe here for now, I promise.”

“What if somebody remembers seeing us switch to the Dodge? What if Conti’s men are right behind us?”

“It’s possible, sure. But they won’t have seen where we went, Miranda. The Dodge is equipped with a signal scrambler. Nobody’s going to be able to pinpoint our location using the GPS.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I am. Sleep tonight. Tomorrow we’ll find out what we need to do next.”

She lay in the dark and listened. When his breathing evened out, she experienced a moment of elation. She could leave if she wanted. Take the truck and go. But where would she run? Who would help her? She couldn’t turn to Badger. He would want to help, of course, but if she was compromised, then so was he—which meant she couldn’t trust that any communication she had with him wouldn’t be intercepted.

She turned onto her side and let her gaze slide over the form of the man beside her. No, she wasn’t leaving him. For good or bad, he was her only hope right now. It was such an odd thought. She didn’t know him. They’d never worked together. But from the moment she’d pushed her pistol into his side, he’d been calm and deliberate in his actions.

Yeah, he looked like a hot cowboy in his boots and faded jeans—except that he needed a hat, though she was kind of glad he didn’t have one. He’d be much too appealing with a cowboy hat.

As if he wasn’t already too appealing. Miranda worked on her breathing, tried to calm the thudding of her heart. It was as if she’d drank an entire pot of coffee when she hadn’t had any at all. Jesus.

She turned onto her back and folded her hands over her middle, closing her eyes and praying for sleep. But she knew it wasn’t going to come. She was too keyed up, her brain spinning as she tried to process everything that had happened in the past few hours.

Who would want to discredit her? And why? Why would this person betray her to Conti?

Because he or she has been paid off, that’s why. It’s not personal.

No, it probably wasn’t personal. She was just the one caught in the middle when the shit hit the fan.

She had been lying there for a long time, listening to Cody breathe, trying to sleep and figure out what her next move should be, when Cody’s body began to jerk. He twitched and moaned, calling out once or twice, though it was nothing intelligible.

She recognized bad dreams. She had them herself sometimes. You didn’t do a job like this and not get nightmares. It was only if the nightmares interfered with your life that they became a problem.

She thought about waking him, but that might not be a good idea. Instead, she decided to ease out of the bed and give him space. If it went on too long, she’d wake him. She flipped back the covers and slipped a leg out from under them.

And then a hand clamped down on her arm, scaring her enough to make her squeak. But it didn’t stop there. He dragged her toward him and then flipped her so she was on her back and he was on top of her, his entire length pressing into her. His hard, hot, incredibly fit body. Pressing. Into. Her.

Miranda bit back a moan even though common sense told her that wasn’t the proper reaction at the moment.

“Cody,” she said, keeping her voice as calm and soothing as possible. Not daring to move in case he decided she needed more restraining than she was already getting. “It’s Miranda. Your CIA pal. The one you’re helping escape from the bad guys. You’re dreaming, cowboy.”

He didn’t say anything for a long moment. And then he seemed to shake himself. “Miranda?”

“Yep, it’s me. How’s it going, buddy?”

He shuddered. It wasn’t the best maneuver for her sanity because he was at least half hard from the contact and his cock was pressing into her mound. Right up against all those sensitive nerve endings. Not to mention that the T-shirt she was wearing had gotten twisted and dragged upward so that everything from her belly button down was exposed.

And her cotton underwear wasn’t much of a barrier between them.

“I was dreaming. Sorry.”

“Yeah, I figured. Everything okay?”

He moved his head in the darkness. Shaking it? “It will be.”

She lifted her arms and put her hands on his biceps. Touching him gently. Lightly. But her fingers trembled as she did so. Was she that out of practice? Or was it him and this effect he had on her?

“Do you want to talk about it?”

He stilled at her words. Or maybe it was her touch. She wasn’t sure.

“No,” he grated.

She thought he might make a move to get off her, let her go. But he didn’t. He stayed where he was, his body pressing hers into the mattress, and a shiver of anticipation rolled over her. She wet her lips, her pulse racing, her body humming.

“What do you want, Cody?”

“Honestly? I want to strip you naked and make you scream my name.”

Her belly twisted with hunger. Her pussy throbbed as another surge of heat rolled through her. She ran her hand up his arm, into his hair. He was warm, so warm. Solid and comforting.

“Maybe I want that too.”

She felt his response instantly. His cock pressed against her, harder than before, and she tried to wiggle her legs apart so she could shift her hips and apply the pressure just where she wanted it. But he didn’t let her move.

“You don’t know what you’re saying, Miranda. Your life has been turned upside down, and you’re reacting in ways you probably wouldn’t otherwise.”

She put her hand over his mouth to stop any other ridiculous words from exiting. “I’m pretty sure I’m a grown-ass woman, Cody McCormick. I can make up my own mind about who I fuck. It’s just sex, for God’s sake. We aren’t talking about a marriage proposal here, or a future together. I’m not so weak-minded that I fall apart at the first sign of trouble and screw whatever red-blooded male is available, you know.”

She took her hand off his mouth and was rewarded with laughter. Not quite the reaction she’d expected.

“You do realize what you just said is pretty much every man’s wet dream? No-strings sex with a gorgeous woman.” He shook his head. “Is it fucking Christmas or what?”

“Listen here, smart-ass. I can’t sleep, I haven’t had sex in over a year, I’m horny as hell, and you’re not only male, but you’re pretty hot too. So either shut up and kiss me, or get the fuck out of here and leave me alone. Because I am done sleeping in the same bed with you unless you keep your promise to make me scream.”