Maverick (Elite Ops 2)

He disconnected the call before moving to the closet and pulling free the silk suit that had been delivered along with Risa’s dress.

He took it and the hunger to shower with her and left the room to retreat to the spare bedroom where he would shower. Alone.

He needed to remember what being alone was like. Soon he would be without her, and he needed to prepare himself for that. If tonight went as planned, then by tomorrow night, Risa would be safe.

And he would be leaving. Without her.

Without her.

It echoed in his mind, his heart, and his soul.

He would be leaving, without her.

THE GOWN WAS gorgeous.

Risa felt the swish of the skirts around her as she and Micah walked along the hallway to the elevator. He held her hand and kept her close to him. She could feel the warmth of him, the power, and the tension that radiated in his body.

It was a tension that seeped into her as well. She could feel her stomach tightening with fear, her heart racing with it as the elevator doors opened and they stepped inside.

The moment the doors closed, she found herself in Micah’s arms, against his chest, his lips on hers as he kissed her with a hunger that seared her to the bone.

“You’re making me crazy,” he groaned as he lifted her against him, pressing her hips into his so she could feel the erection raging beneath his slacks. “You look like a banked, glowing flame in that dress, Risa. So beautiful you take my breath.”

Her lips parted as she saw the hunger in his eyes, his expression.

“You should have built some time in for a nap before we left,” she murmured.

“Just a nap?”

“Well, we’d have found something to do in that bed if we didn’t sleep.” She tried to tease him; she tried to ease her fear and his tension.

“Many things,” he agreed as the elevator beeped a warning that it was reaching the lobby. “Things that would have made us incredibly late.”

He released her as the elevator doors opened, though he kept his hand on the small of her back.

“Ah, Miss Clay, you shine like the brightest star.” Clive Stamper was standing in the lobby, his smile beaming as she walked toward the door.

“Thank you, Clive.” She smiled back at him nervously as he held the door open.

“Have a very nice night, Miss Clay, Mr. Sloane.” He nodded as they passed.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” she whispered as the chauffeur opened the door and Micah helped her into the passenger area.

He moved in beside her, his arm going around her as he pulled her into his lap. The door closed behind them, and seconds later the limo was pulling away from the building.

“I’m here with you, baby.” He held her close to his chest, his hand stroking her back as he pressed a kiss to her neck. “Nothing or no one will touch you tonight but me. Okay?”

She pulled in a hard, nervous breath. She wanted to scream at him. She wanted to fight. She wanted to demand that he turn around and take her back home.

“Do you remember the night we met?”

She felt his breath against her neck and shivered with the pleasure. She nodded.

“I watched you walk into the nightclub. I was sitting at the bar when you entered. You looked around nervously. Your eyes were wide with fear, but you forced yourself to walk across the room. Your courage amazed me. Awed me.”

She shook her head. “That was different.”

“How could it have been different?” His nose brushed against the lobe of her ear in a curiously gentle caress.