Page 27 of Just This Once (Blackhawk Security)

The previous night rushed back to him. The intruders. Catching them in the woods. The FBI taking them away.

Sierra, waiting for him in the safe room. Throwing herself into his arms when he opened the door, worried sick about him.

Making love with her the night before. Twice.

He glanced at her honey blond hair, tangled around her shoulders. He brushed his hand over it, tucking it behind her ear so he could see her face. She was still asleep, and Cody brushed a kiss over the soft waves of hair that tickled his nose.

He eased closer, telling himself this was his last chance. They’d agreed that last night was a one-time thing. Once they left the safe room, it was back to the status quo.

Cody sighed into her hair, sending a soft curl fluttering against his cheek. They’d completely destroyed the status quo last night. He’d force himself to keep his hands off Sierra, because that was his job, but he wouldn’t like it. Now that they’d made love, he wanted her with a fierceness and an intensity that alarmed him.

He couldn’t do serious. With his job, it wasn’t possible. He was gone for long periods of time, on dangerous missions. Coming home was never a given. When he’d joined the CIA, he’d sworn he’d never get into a serious relationship. Never leave a woman grief-stricken and mourning if he didn’t make it home.

He’d seen how the wives and girlfriends of his fellow agents had been destroyed when they lost their partner. Watching them grieve had just reinforced his decision to never fall in love. Never put himself out there. A decision he’d made when he was young, after watching the tumultuous, terrifying battleground that was his parents’ marriage.

Up until now, he’d never been tempted to break his rules. But Sierra? He was afraid she’d be difficult to walk away from. Impossible to forget.

He felt a connection to her. He’d thought they were polar opposites, and in some ways, they were. But she was more like him than he’d realized.

She was a loner, just like him. A thinker. She was good at her job. And she was hiding secrets.

He had a few of his own from his time with the CIA. But as close as he felt to her right now, there was no future for them.

As he tried to ease away from her, she made a tiny noise in her throat. Slid backward, tucking her sweet ass into his hard cock. Cody closed his eyes.

Waited a few minutes, then tried again to slide out of the bed. But Sierra stretched beside him. Rolled over and smiled at him. “Good morning,” she said, her voice still husky from sleep. She reached between them and curled her fingers around his cock. “Looks as if you had the same idea as I did when I woke up.”

“Morning wood,” he said, trying to sound casual and afraid he’d failed completely. “It happens.”

Sierra’s grin widened. “Really? That’s all this is?” She swirled her finger over his tip, and her eyes twinkled when his cock twitched. “Looks like part of you doesn’t agree.”

When had closed-off Sierra turned into this playful seductress? He had no idea, but he hoped she stuck around.

No.That couldn’t happen. “We shouldn’t do this, Sierra,” he said, telling himself to move away but pressing closer instead. “We agreed last night would be a one-off.”

Her mouth curved into a sinful, beckoning smile. “And it turned into a two-off,” she said, leaning over to kiss him. “Besides, I thought it was a safe room thing. As long as we’re in here, it doesn’t count.”

Without waiting for him to answer, she slid down and took him into her mouth. Cody closed his eyes with a groan. “You’re playing dirty,” he managed to say.

“Yeah,” she said, licking him gently. “Because dirty is so much more fun.”

He was going to explode if she kept her mouth on him. Knowing he was physically incapable of walking away from her now, he eased away and fumbled in the still-partially-open drawer for another condom. Put it on with shaking hands and pulled her on top of him. “One last time,” he said. “Since we’re still in the safe room.”

Sierra smiled down at him, her face and chest already flushed. She lifted and lowered herself onto his cock, one excruciating inch at a time. He wanted to arch up and into her. But he let her take her time. Control their lovemaking.

Lovemaking?

Just a word, he assured himself. Sounded better than sex. Meant nothing.

But when Sierra bent to kiss him again, he wrapped his arms around her and drew her closer. When she moaned into his mouth, he broke the kiss and swirled his tongue around her nipples. First one, then the other.

When she started to move, he held her hips. Watched her face as she closed her eyes and her breathing quickened.

When she threw back her head and screamed as she came, he poured himself into her without taking his eyes off her face. He’d never forget how she looked right now, consumed by passion, her hands gripping his shoulders, her eyes closed and her mouth open.

Finally she collapsed onto his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her. Held her tightly against him, stroking her back and kissing her neck. Her ear. The corner of her mouth.

After a long time, she lifted her head. Smiled at him. “What a way to start the day,” she said with one final kiss. “I guess it’s back to real life now, huh?”

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