“Are you working for The Agency?” he demanded, ignoring her desire to be in charge of whatever was happening between them. He had no intention of giving her the upper hand in the situation. Except he was currently naked and unarmed, which wasn’t exactly ideal.
“I believe you’re the one who was working for The Agency and then went rogue,” she said evasively.
“So that’s a yes.” He stepped out of the shower and she instantly pulled her pistol, aiming it at his chest. Innocently lifting his hands, he tilted his chin toward the rack of towels. “I was just going to grab a towel.”
“I suggest you stay right where you are, Graves. Besides, there’s not one inch of you I haven’t seen before.”
“True. I can say the same for you, Cherry.”
Her nostrils flared at the old nickname. From the first moment they’d met and she’d swept into HQ like a boss, red hair flowing, shoulders set, face determined, she’d reminded him of a powerful red firecracker. A cherry bomb.
“Don’t call me that and don’t move another muscle. It’d be a shame to have to shoot you.”
Brax knew she’d do it, too. Maybe not in the head or heart, but she’d put a bullet in his shoulder or thigh without blinking. Yet, her attention was currently focused a little more central than his thigh.Fuck.He didn’t want her to shoot his dick off, but he didn’t put anything past her.
No, he wanted to keep the jewels intact, thank you very much. Not that he’d put them to much use lately. After she left, he’d felt so blindsided, so utterly lost, that he’d vowed never to let himself be that vulnerable again. Although he’d considered a fast fuck on a few different occasions to satisfy the physical urge, he decided it was much easier to just jerk off.
Their gazes locked. And she still had the prettiest sage-colored eyes he’d ever seen. A perfect blend of green and gray. Unwanted heat began to infuse his body.Oh, shit. This could get embarrassing fast,he thought, unable to control his response to her.
Forcing his mind away from the memories of her naked body writhing beneath him, he pictured the evil assholes of The Agency. Remembered the way Tanner had been shot down and bled out in Ryland’s arms. How Cross had betrayed them.
Back in control of his traitorous dick, Brax propped a shoulder against the shower door and crossed his arms. “I’m waiting.”
Before she could respond, a noise came from the hallway and she quickly turned the gun away from him, directing it toward the sound. Brax immediately launched forward, grabbing her hand holding the weapon in a tight fist, spinning and slamming her against the wall. His naked front pressed down the length of her back and, goddammit, she still fit him perfectly. Despite the situation, he felt himself getting hard.
God, he hated the power she wielded over him.
She cursed under her breath when Neo skidded by, playing with one of his fuzzy mouse toys. “I hate cats,” she ground out, tugging against his hold, trying to wrench her wrist free.
“No, you don’t,” he responded, remembering how she’d fed the stray cats they’d encountered during their time in Hawaii.
Without warning, her body went from tense to loose, and she stopped fighting him. No point, really. He held her firmly and, even though she was smart and fast, he was much stronger.
So the vixen fought him with her feminine wiles instead.
“Miss me, Graves?” she taunted, wiggling her ass just the slightest bit.
He gritted his teeth, mentally chastising his unruly dick, as he growled in her ear, “You wish.”
For a long moment, neither spoke. Brax noticed the moment their breathing aligned. His eyes closed and his hold on her altered into more of an embrace.
“Should we be expecting your team back any time soon?” Her husky voice touched him in all the right places.
He perked up, eyes popping wide open at her question. Why? Did she want to take this somewhere?
“Maybe.” He shifted slightly, pushing his hips closer against hers. Just enough to remind her of what she was missing. “Why? Are you feeling nostalgic?”
He didn’t miss the soft sigh that escaped her lips. “Let me go,” she whispered.
“You’re the one who wanted to play, Cherry. So let’s play.” He lightly blew on her ear, knowing how she used to like that, and expecting to feel a shiver maybe…but certainly not an elbow in his gut.
With a grunt, he released her and she spun away. Gun aimed at his head this time, she began walking backward. “I’m not in the mood, Graves.”
When he took a wary step forward, she sent him a warning look and he froze. Maybe he should’ve disarmed her when he had the chance.
“I wouldn’t,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “I suggest you stay put or I’m going to blow away your best asset.”
Brax flinched. “Why did you come here?”