“Think of it as a reward. I won’t ever touch you again if you don’t tell me, Kat. That’s how it’s going to be. You know how good the sex is between us and won’t risk losing that. I’ve been studying you.”
“What does that mean?”
He hesitated. “There are cameras inside your cottage. I’ve been watching your every move since you arrived at Homeland. It’s time to stop avoiding my questions. You don’t like your boss and you have already betrayed his trust. Give me the name, Kat. Otherwise you will be escorted beyond our gates.”
Her expression shut down. “I’ll go pack.” She tried to step around him to leave the bedroom.
He grabbed hold of her upper arm. “That’s it? You’ll just leave?”
He almost wished she hadn’t looked up at him—pure pain showed in her eyes.
“You had me under surveillance as though I’m some criminal. I get what that means. I’m your assignment. I’m tired of this game, Darkness. I thought there was something between us but it was all chess moves to you. You win.”
She jerked hard and he let her go. He hesitated then followed her down the hallway. “Kat?”
She stopped and turned. “What now? Do you want your towels?” She tore the one off her head and threw it at him. It hit him in the chest. “Don’t ever say I took anything from you. God forbid you give anything to anyone.”
“I warned you that I wasn’t mate material.”
“You did. I just thought you had issues. Instead you’re ice cold inside.”
“What does that mean?” He didn’t understand.
“You’re an excellent judge of people. You were trained to be. Was I that easy to read? Did you enjoy watching me when I wasn’t aware of it? Did you profile me?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit. Do I scream ‘lonely’ to you? I thought you wanted me because you were attracted to me. Instead this was just some mind game to you. No one can shut it down that fast if it’s real. It wasn’t though, was it? You played me.”
He shook his head.
“Right. Spare me the token denial. I was just a job, right? Seduce the lonely chick and use sex to get her to open up to you. Great job. You did it. Now you can fry my ass for being stupid enough to fall for it. Go for it.” She spun and stormed toward the slider. “Don’t forget to add that phone call to your report. It’ll end my career. Thanks for screwing me over in every way possible.”
He moved before he thought, grabbed Kat around her waist and jerked her off her feet. He held her against his chest and refused to let her go when she struggled. He grunted when she elbowed him in the side and slammed her heel into his calf. Her head came back and nearly caught him in the jaw. Only his lightning-quick reflexes prevented the hit. He spun and stomped toward the couch. He twisted her in his arms and fell, landing on the cushions with her under him.
She threw a punch that bounced off his cheekbone. It hurt but he snagged her wrist and shoved it above her head. She tried to slam her other palm into his throat but he managed to capture it before she could make contact. He used his weight to pin her tightly under him until they were nose to nose.
“Shut up,” he snarled.
“Fuck you.”
She was breathing rapidly and her towel had come loose, revealing one breast. He lifted off her a little and stared at it. “You think I don’t really want you?”
“Stop it. Game over.”
He growled and glared into her eyes. She was furious too. “I didn’t seduce you because anyone asked me to.”
“Ah. You did that on your own. I’d pat you on the back but you are too strong.” She tried to break his hold on her wrists but he just squeezed a little tighter. She stopped and he eased his hold enough not to hurt her.
“Calm down, Kat.”
“Get the hell off me.”
“I don’t want you to leave believing I lied to you.”
“We’re dressed…well, I have a towel on at least. It’s what we do, remember?”
“I could fix that.”
“Don’t you dare. I’m done being screwed by you.” She glanced around the living room. “Are there cameras in here? Is your security team watching?”
She really believed he’d only bedded her to gain an advantage. He lowered his face and buried it against her wet hair. She smelled like him after using his shampoo and conditioner. It turned him on but he refused to give in to desire. She’d made it clear she didn’t want sex any longer.
“No, Kat,” he rasped. “It’s just you and me here. No one is watching. Pretend no clothing is between us.”
“Let’s not. Get off me.”
“I never wanted to get this close to a female again but I couldn’t resist you. The smart thing was to never touch you at all.”
“Whatever. I have packing to do, remember?”
She refused to listen. He should just leave it at that but he couldn’t. Kat didn’t deserve to hurt the way he’d seen in his bedroom. He’d been used before and it still hurt. He didn’t want her to go through life believing he’d done the same to her. She’d given him her trust when she’d warned him about those agents. He wasn’t certain why she’d done it but it couldn’t be beneficial to her in any way. She’d said trust went both ways. He couldn’t tell her NSO secrets but he could share one of his own with her. It would at least make them somewhat even.
“What does that mean?”
He hesitated. “There are cameras inside your cottage. I’ve been watching your every move since you arrived at Homeland. It’s time to stop avoiding my questions. You don’t like your boss and you have already betrayed his trust. Give me the name, Kat. Otherwise you will be escorted beyond our gates.”
Her expression shut down. “I’ll go pack.” She tried to step around him to leave the bedroom.
He grabbed hold of her upper arm. “That’s it? You’ll just leave?”
He almost wished she hadn’t looked up at him—pure pain showed in her eyes.
“You had me under surveillance as though I’m some criminal. I get what that means. I’m your assignment. I’m tired of this game, Darkness. I thought there was something between us but it was all chess moves to you. You win.”
She jerked hard and he let her go. He hesitated then followed her down the hallway. “Kat?”
She stopped and turned. “What now? Do you want your towels?” She tore the one off her head and threw it at him. It hit him in the chest. “Don’t ever say I took anything from you. God forbid you give anything to anyone.”
“I warned you that I wasn’t mate material.”
“You did. I just thought you had issues. Instead you’re ice cold inside.”
“What does that mean?” He didn’t understand.
“You’re an excellent judge of people. You were trained to be. Was I that easy to read? Did you enjoy watching me when I wasn’t aware of it? Did you profile me?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit. Do I scream ‘lonely’ to you? I thought you wanted me because you were attracted to me. Instead this was just some mind game to you. No one can shut it down that fast if it’s real. It wasn’t though, was it? You played me.”
He shook his head.
“Right. Spare me the token denial. I was just a job, right? Seduce the lonely chick and use sex to get her to open up to you. Great job. You did it. Now you can fry my ass for being stupid enough to fall for it. Go for it.” She spun and stormed toward the slider. “Don’t forget to add that phone call to your report. It’ll end my career. Thanks for screwing me over in every way possible.”
He moved before he thought, grabbed Kat around her waist and jerked her off her feet. He held her against his chest and refused to let her go when she struggled. He grunted when she elbowed him in the side and slammed her heel into his calf. Her head came back and nearly caught him in the jaw. Only his lightning-quick reflexes prevented the hit. He spun and stomped toward the couch. He twisted her in his arms and fell, landing on the cushions with her under him.
She threw a punch that bounced off his cheekbone. It hurt but he snagged her wrist and shoved it above her head. She tried to slam her other palm into his throat but he managed to capture it before she could make contact. He used his weight to pin her tightly under him until they were nose to nose.
“Shut up,” he snarled.
“Fuck you.”
She was breathing rapidly and her towel had come loose, revealing one breast. He lifted off her a little and stared at it. “You think I don’t really want you?”
“Stop it. Game over.”
He growled and glared into her eyes. She was furious too. “I didn’t seduce you because anyone asked me to.”
“Ah. You did that on your own. I’d pat you on the back but you are too strong.” She tried to break his hold on her wrists but he just squeezed a little tighter. She stopped and he eased his hold enough not to hurt her.
“Calm down, Kat.”
“Get the hell off me.”
“I don’t want you to leave believing I lied to you.”
“We’re dressed…well, I have a towel on at least. It’s what we do, remember?”
“I could fix that.”
“Don’t you dare. I’m done being screwed by you.” She glanced around the living room. “Are there cameras in here? Is your security team watching?”
She really believed he’d only bedded her to gain an advantage. He lowered his face and buried it against her wet hair. She smelled like him after using his shampoo and conditioner. It turned him on but he refused to give in to desire. She’d made it clear she didn’t want sex any longer.
“No, Kat,” he rasped. “It’s just you and me here. No one is watching. Pretend no clothing is between us.”
“Let’s not. Get off me.”
“I never wanted to get this close to a female again but I couldn’t resist you. The smart thing was to never touch you at all.”
“Whatever. I have packing to do, remember?”
She refused to listen. He should just leave it at that but he couldn’t. Kat didn’t deserve to hurt the way he’d seen in his bedroom. He’d been used before and it still hurt. He didn’t want her to go through life believing he’d done the same to her. She’d given him her trust when she’d warned him about those agents. He wasn’t certain why she’d done it but it couldn’t be beneficial to her in any way. She’d said trust went both ways. He couldn’t tell her NSO secrets but he could share one of his own with her. It would at least make them somewhat even.
