Niall (Vigilance 2)

I glared at Marco. “I won’t let you down, sir.”

“I know you won’t. I don’t think either of you will. Go over everything you need and check in with me by the end of the day.” X ended the call before I had a chance to say anything else.

Marco gave me a slow once-over. “We’re going to need to practice. We can’t have you forgetting your place once we’re on the island.”

Was he asking me to punch his smug face? “No fucking way.”

He shook his head. “You really think we’re going to stay in the same room on the island and not fuck.”

“I don’t like you.”

“I don’t like you either. You’re arrogant and uptight, and you have control issues.”

“I have control issues? You’re the one who doesn’t want to work with a team. You’re the one who can’t take orders.”

“So you’re going to take orders from me?”

“Fuck no.”

“Actually, you are, because otherwise you’re not going to be able to play your role. I definitely think we should practice.”

Was there any chance I was misinterpreting him? “What does this practice entail?”

“Get on your knees.” He pointed at the floor in front of him, and anger seared through me.

“No.”

“Say that to me on this trip and you might blow our cover. To save us, I’ll have to punish you.”

This mission was going to be even harder than I thought. “That’s enough playing games. Tell me who you contacted and what rumors they’re going to be spreading.”

“I won’t tell you my sources. You’re going to have to trust me.”

“We’re working together on this, and I need to know what’s going on. If there are names you can’t give me, I understand that, but I need to know what’s being said.”

“I told you I’d get the invite. That’s enough.”

I’d fucking had it. “Do you not even care about those kids? You said you rescued one of them, but now you can’t get over yourself enough to work with me on it.”

“Of course I care. You’re the one acting like it’s more important we follow some procedure than just getting shit done.”

“Procedures are in place to keep us all safe.”

“This isn’t the fucking FBI. You don’t have to play by the rules now. Or at least I don’t.”

“I’m not going into this without knowing what Arlington thinks you’re up to.”

We were standing only inches apart now, both of us breathing hard. I couldn’t help but think about him ordering me to kneel. I was half-hard just from the thought. What if I did? What would he do?

No. That would be a major mistake.

You’re stuck working with him. You might as well have some fun.

That was not the kind of fun I wanted to have.

Are you sure?

I should be, but I wasn’t.

Marco smirked as if he could read my thoughts. “Maybe if you asked nicely instead of trying to order me around, I’d tell you.”

“Quit playing fucking games.”

“I tried that. You didn’t like it.”

“That’s it.” Marco grabbed my arms and pushed me toward the wall. I struggled, but his grip held. I tried to bring my knee up, but he blocked it. I’d assumed he was a strong as he looked, and I hadn’t been wrong. I managed to break his hold just as he slammed me against the wall.

I shoved at his chest, surprising him with the force. Many people assumed I wasn’t a contender in hand-to-hand combat since I wasn’t a huge, hulking mass like Leo or Devil, but I could hold my own. I may have believed in upholding the law and following the rules when I was with the Bureau, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t fight dirty when I needed to.

5

Marco

I blocked Niall’s first attempt at a punch, but he managed to connect with my abdomen on the second try. It was a solid hit, but I held my ground. We struggled, neither of us getting a clear advantage until Niall slipped on something on the floor. I drove him into the wall with my body and pinned his arms at his sides.

“Are you going to fight me like this every step of the way?” he snarled.

I shrugged. “That’s up to you.”

“You’re so fucking arrogant. You think your way is best no matter what, don’t you?”

“Maybe that’s because it is.”

I let go of his arm, slid my fingers into his hair, and yanked, forcing his head back against the wall. He squirmed, trying to get a knee up, but I avoided it as I crushed my mouth against his.

I knew it was wrong, but the second my lips touched his, I also knew I wasn’t going to stop.

I wanted to subdue him, to show him he wasn’t superior, that he wasn’t in charge of everything, but I also just fucking wanted him.

This was a huge mistake, yet it also seemed inevitable.

We might not like each other, but our bodies didn’t give a fuck about that.