Way of the Shadows (Shadow Agents 8)

* * *

“NOELLE? BABY, LOOK AT ME.” Thomas yanked the wet clothing off Noelle and tossed the items away. He’d made it back to the cabin with her. He’d locked the doors, secured the place in seconds, and now he was trying to get her warm again.

Her lips were totally devoid of color. Her face far too pale. Her skin was icy beneath his touch, and shudders racked her.

“It’s okay,” he told her, aware his voice was ragged. “I’ve got you.” Fear still raced through his veins. When she’d gone through the ice, he’d been terrified he wouldn’t be able to get her out in time.

“T-Thomas?”

“Yes, baby, I’ve got you.” He knew he was just repeating himself, but he didn’t care. He settled her on the rug in front of the fireplace and wrapped the blanket around her. Her fingers fumbled as she tried to hold up the fabric.

Get her warm. Keep her safe. Those were his two priorities. He stoked the fire, building up the flames, then he stripped as quickly as he could. But Thomas made sure to keep his gun close by. He was pretty certain the perp they wanted was still out in that storm, but he wasn’t going to take any chances.

He wanted to search the whole cabin again, but he couldn’t, not until he took care of Noelle.

He turned back to her. The blanket had slipped down to her hips.

“Baby...” He dropped beside her and pulled her close. He stretched out with her, and he wrapped his body around hers as best he could. Flesh to flesh. His body could warm hers. He positioned the blanket around her and he just... He just held her. Held her and tried to fight the gnawing fear in his stomach.

He’d stared down terrorists, looked into the barrel of a loaded gun during a particularly brutal game of Russian roulette.

He’d battled through hellfire.

But he’d never been as afraid as he’d been when she screamed his name and fell through the ice.

Never again. He had to find that SOB out there. He had to stop him before the man came after Noelle once more.

His hands slid over her back. She was shivering, and her lips were pressed against his neck. He wanted to take all of her pain away. He wanted to do anything, everything to protect her.

Yet the only thing he could do was hold her. Hold her and try to give her his warmth.

The fire crackled, and gradually, the shivers eased from her body. His hands curled around her hips. She felt warmer. At least, he hoped she did.

“Thank you...” Her soft whisper blew against his neck. “I was...a-afraid I wasn’t getting out of the water.”

His hold tightened on her. “I never would’ve left you.” If necessary, he would’ve gone in that water and found a way to pull her out.

He’d left her once before. Followed orders, even though every instinct he possessed had screamed against it. He wouldn’t make tha

t mistake ever again.

Her lips pressed against his throat. The lightest of caresses.

Thomas swallowed. “You should...probably not do that.”

When she’d been shivering with cold, they’d had to be close and naked for survival.

But she was warmer, and he—he always wanted her.

She kissed his neck again. “Thank you.” He felt the light lick of her tongue against his skin.

His eyes squeezed shut. The woman didn’t seem to realize just how fragile his control was. When it came to her, hell, he couldn’t keep control in place. Not a possibility.

Her legs shifted against him, parted so her thighs were on either side of his.

Bad, bad mistake. “Noelle...”

She kissed him again. He’d never realized how sensitive his neck was. When Noelle kissed him there, when she licked him with that delicate little tongue of hers, a wave of arousal shot right through his body. He was already hard for her, with her naked body rubbing against his, how could he not be? But now...