She and Dean walked into their cabin, set the food on the table and immediately swept the room for listening devices.
“I’m not getting a replacement drone,” Dean said once she confirmed the room was clean. “If we do that, Spalding will try and separate us again.”
“Not happening.” She held up the scanner that identified any possible transmitting devices. “I’ll go check out the truck.”
“The truck can wait.” Dean reached across the table and closed the curtains at the window. “Come sit down and eat first.” He pulled out a chair and then shrugged out of his jacket.
Although she missed the gorgeous mountain view, the small measure of privacy was a relief. She didn’t want to be on display, not with the post-adrenaline let down building. For her, it usually came down to chills and shaking. Dean helped her out of her jacket, hanging it with his on the hook near the door.
The blackened smudge left by the bullet caught her eye, mocking the bravado she’d been clinging to. Close call was an understatement. The trembling started in her fingers. She gripped the back of the chair, to no avail. Soon, her entire body was quaking like the last leaf of autumn facing off against the first winter storm.
Today’s near-miss ranked right up there at the top of her list of bad days. Probably higher than the car bomb in Afghanistan. At least she’d known that one was coming.
Behind her, Dean swore.
“S-sorry,” she stammered.
“Don’t you dare apologize to me.” The next thing she knew she was wrapped in his strong arms, her cheek tucked against his warm chest.
He cuddled her close, the heat radiating from him easing the terrible chill. Listening to the steady drum of his heartbeat, something unwound inside her and she gave in, letting the tears fall and the negative emotions pour out with them.
He kissed the top of her head. His hands slowly stroked a path up and down her back, his touch so soothing she nearly purred.
“Today scared the hell out of me, Mel.” He cleared his throat. “Atwell’s a wild card. I can’t lose you. I can’t.”
She soaked up the comforting reassurance that she wasn’t the only one affected. They were up against a dangerous, cunning enemy, but she wouldn’t give up. Wouldn’t let Atwell win. Thank goodness, Beck was up to speed, handling the search for who had helped him start over in Colorado.
“You didn’t lose me.” She smoothed her palm over his muscular chest, wishing his shirt wasn’t in the way. “You won’t. I’m just messy in the fallout.” Easing back, she looked up into his face. The stark emotion, the sheer determination she sparking in his blue eyes, stole her breath.
“I heard that gunshot and I couldn’t get to you fast enough.” His ragged voice cut straight to her heart.
“Didn’t mean to make you worry.” A flutter started low in her belly, a longing for something she shouldn’t ask of him. “I would’ve answered your first call, but I had my hands full.”
“Surviving, protecting. I know the drill.” Under her hand, his chest rose and fell. “Keep doing both of those things.” He tipped up her chin and brushed his mouth across hers.
A blast of awareness flashed through her, from her lips to her toes. She lost track of everything else as desire and instinct took over. Twining her arms around Dean’s neck, she pressed close, kissing him back with all the urgency that had been clamoring through her system since the first bullet hit the drone.
She had no idea where all of this was coming from, but her body knew where it was leading: straight to that big sturdy bed behind him.
“Melody.” Her name was a hot brand against her throat. “Are you sure?” His hands gripped her hips, holding her still.
Oh, she definitely was. All of her earlier hesitations didn’t seem nearly so important. She needed him, needed this new connection. “We’re adults, right?”
He made a sound caught somewhere between a laugh and a groan. “Yes.”
Her fingertips moved over the definition of his ripped shoulders and biceps. The man was built so damn well. Still, they were partners. They shouldn’t cross this line only for the sake of blind lust. “Do you want to stop?”
“Hell, no. But—”
“This is more than being scared,” she said carefully. “More than peer pressure.” The other four Athena Project teams had recently fallen in love, taking their partnerships into romantic territory.
Dean frowned, then laughed. “Leave it to you.”
“You have to wonder if the others waffled over work and partnership ethics.”
“No.” His thumb stroked her lower lip. “I don’t. They aren’t here. As long as you know…”
“We’re different,” she finished for him. Pushing up on her toes, she kissed him soundly on the lips. “I know how you feel about relationships, Dean.” If he never shared more details about his ex and that dark time in his life, that was fine by her. His past didn’t matter. She wanted the man he was today. “Right this second, I’d like to know how you feel inside me.” She ran a hand down his chest, over his tight abs, to the erection straining against his jeans.
“Mel.” His body tensed, turning her on even more.
If he meant it to be a warning, it didn’t work. He might as well have tossed gasoline onto a blazing fire. “One thing first.” She brought her hands up, linking them behind his neck. Her breasts pressed against his chest as she took a deep breath. She needed to get this right.
“More rules?” he teased.
“Just this one.” She cradled his hard jaw between her palms. “This isn’t about fear or an adrenaline rush. It’s all about you.” He blanched and she plowed on. “I don’t need more than you want to give. I confess, there’s a riot inside me right now, but it’s not something just any random guy could help me fix. Know what I mean?”
Please, let him understand.She wasn’t sure how to be more direct. She already loved Dean as a friend and partner, and she didn’t want to damage that bond.
At last, he moved. “I think so.”