Cyber Seduction: Across A Crowded Room (IATO Series Book 3) (2 page)

She arched into him again. This experience was more than she bargained for. Could she endure this much pleasure? “Please, Jason, please, now, now, don’t make me wait.”

He took her left hand and placed her middle finger against the pulsing nub at her entrance, pressing, rubbing, rotating, and he stepped back while she groaned and writhed beneath her own hands.

Watching him watching her was killing her. This was more erotic than anything she’d ever imagined. She looked her fill as he cupped his balls in one hand and stroked his other hand up his cock.

She tried to imprint this moment to memory. His masculine beauty, his dark brown chest hair, the trail dividing those perfect abs, and the short, tight curls surrounding his long, thick erection.

His hand wrapped around his shaft and he pumped once, twice.

She wiggled her eyebrows and then gave him a shy smile. “Don’t make me beg. Get over here. We’ll take more time later, and I promise I’ll make it worth your while.” She bribed him with a bigger grin and crossed her bare breast on the promise.

Jason shook his head, and he gave her his famous half smile, dimple and all. “This time’s just for you, babe.” With that, he bent his head and feasted on her folds with his mouth and his tongue, taking her until she screamed out his name and a curse. Her body shuddered and spasmed with the power of her release.

Only then did Jason allow himself to consider taking his own satisfaction. It was pleasure enough knowing he could finally make love to her the way he’d always imagined.

He rose, straddling her again. This time he teased her mouth with his lips and his tongue, not allowing their bodies to make contact. She arched, struggling to bring them skin to skin, but he wound his fingers with hers and kissed her. Then he relaxed his arms, lowering himself to her, covering her body with his. He moved between her spread thighs, pressing against her wet velvet opening, and slowly kissed her soft lips. He wanted to merge soul deep with her and when she responded with as scalding a kiss as he’d delivered, he thrust deep.

Finally he realized he was at home in her arms and hopelessly in love with her. Her tight, moist heat welcomed his aching, hard cock as he drove her higher, wanting to give her more, give her all he’d withheld these last few years.

She returned his thrusts and dug her nails into his back, gripping him like she’d never release him. He loved the way her climax clenched around his cock like a fist, taking everything he had to control his need. “Come again for me, Emily,” he whispered. “Come again. Say my name.”

The pressure built, and he held back, waiting for the thrusts to take her to the next level. Her breathing was labored, and he knew she was close. He slipped his hand between their bodies, touched her sensitive flesh, and she arched, stiffening.

She muffled her screams against his shoulder as the first wave of her orgasm brought him to his. “Jaaaason!”

His name on her lips made him smile as the last of his orgasm shot into her and they both collapsed onto the mattress.

She had no idea what she did to him, what she meant to him, how she made him feel whole, peaceful, completed. She smoothed the edges of life for him, and he couldn’t tell her. Not yet. But soon, though. If only it wouldn’t be too late.

“I’m starving.” She pushed his weight off her, rolling him to one side. “Get up.” Emily rolled off the bed in a heap. “Let’s go see if that scrumptious food can withstand the rigors of microwave reheating.”

She popped out of bed, jiggling just enough to force Jason to avert his attention. They’d end up dying of starvation here in bed if his body had any say in the matter. He had just finished with her again and felt himself firming up from just looking at her ripe little body. The groan escaped, but he squeezed his eyes shut. He let her bounce naked into the kitchen as he headed for a cold shower. They still needed to get to his yacht tonight. There was no way he’d be able to protect her here if he needed to.

Actually, the food reheated well, and Jason tried not to. Reheat, that is. He sent Emily into the shower after they finished eating. “Let’s get out of here before I start all over again. We’ll have the rest of the night at my place, and I’ll feel better when I feel safer.”

“You could feel better?” she teased him, running her hands over his bare butt.

He reached back and smacked her hand away. When she emerged from the shower, he had her clothes laid out, a backpack, and her suitcase in hand.

Emily dressed quickly into her jeans and tank top, slipping on her sandals and hopping from one foot to the next as she headed for the door. She took an opportunity to grab his butt playfully again. “Yes, you are feeling better all the time!” She giggled.

Jason opened the door. “Show a little respect.” He couldn’t suppress the smile. Her light-hearted teasing soothed his wariness. He needed this—he needed her. No one messed with his head the way she did.

He had to laugh at her antics before he tried a more serious approach. “I called Harrison. He and the team are clearing us to move out of here within five minutes. It should take us that long just to get downstairs. Remember, don’t make a sound. I don’t have to spend time on lengthy explanations.”

Jason followed closely behind Emily while making their way to the stairwell. He wanted to avoid the elevator and any possible noise. Although her neighbor watched TV with the sound turned up, there was always the possibility someone with better hearing would pick up the old lift’s groan. He decided on the stairs. The neighbor's TV blasted loudly enough to cover the squeaky door to the stairwell. It sounded like something out of an old horror movie.

Jason pushed her through the opening and practically sent her sprawling down the stairs in his haste. He took hold of her upper arm to keep her from toppling over. “Sorry, I heard the elevator door open.”

Emily stepped down the stairs cautiously in the dimly lit stairwell. “Who would be coming into the building at this hour?” she whispered. “Most of my neighbors don’t go out socially, and if they go out at all, they’re usually home by this time of night.”

As they reached the lower landing, Jason’s phone began to vibrate against his chest. He put his hand out to stop her on the last step. Putting his finger to his lips, he indicated his coat pocket. He pulled the phone out and put it to his ear without saying a word. He listened, closed it, and placed it back in his pocket.

He frowned at Emily, still preventing her from moving forward. He waited. The phone vibrated again, and this time Jason moved Emily out toward the front door, blocking her body with his as he replaced the phone.

“Someone’s out front watching your apartment. Leave the bag in the hallway. Harrison will come back for it. I have the backpack.”

They’d need to make it out the back in a hurry, and they didn’t need any excess baggage slowing them down. “A team member will bring your bag to us later. I’ll keep you with me until you leave with Kate and Jorge in the morning.

Jason took Emily’s arm and stilled her against the side of the building with his body as he listened for the men he knew still searched for them. Pulling her against him through the shadows, they ran to his waiting car.

He bent to whisper in her ear. “This is really important. I’d just as soon not have those goons to deal with. Who knows what’s going on in their heads? Hopefully if they didn’t notice us leave, they’ll expect me to stay here all night. We’ll give them the slip. I’d rather not have them show up at my place, and I don’t feel like staying up all night here worrying about what they’re doing.”

Emily’s eyes were large as dinner plates, and he could see her pulse throbbing in the little crevice at her neck. He wanted to calm her, reassure her. But he knew danger still threatened.

“I have a private place for us to stay safely until we meet Kate and Jorge in the morning. Her designer job and Jorge’s position with Columbia University make them unlikely candidates for corporate espionage, so they’re safe.”

For outward appearances, their plans remained as normal as possible. Because a multitude of available data existed regarding the three friends’ long-standing relationship, everyone felt comfortable that their backgrounds were clean and their cover secure.

“Okay. Do they know about this change?”

“Yes, I had Harrison get a message to Jorge with the details.” Jason helped her into the car.

He was satisfied with his new plan to get Emily back to Boston, hopefully before anyone suspected the nanotech chip was switched and the information compromised. Their original plan called for her to tour France, traveling up to Paris for a few days with her old friends. But that was before they knew about Kincaid. Kate’s fake illness was going to interrupt their plans in order to get them out of the country.

“I need to get you all back to the US and safety as soon as possible. Kincaid shouldn’t be here.” He couldn’t risk being seen by the one man who knew he wasn’t Jason DesJardin.

They rounded the corner to Harrison’s car, and Jason found Emily’s bag already in the backseat. He slipped back into the driver’s side, checked his mirrors before pulling into the dark back alley, and kept his headlamps off.

“Harrison is going to have one of the other team members take my car to my place later. That should keep any potential tails busy.” He reached over to pat Emily’s knee, ostensibly to reassure her, but left his hand there for his own peace of mind. She affectionately put her hand over his and squeezed. The gesture reassured them both.

Jason considered their plans in his head. There was enough evidence to make the whole trip appear totally innocent. When Kate feigned illness tomorrow, her hospital arrangements made everything credible. After the doctor examined her, Dr. Rincon knew to recommend the ambulance trip to the heliport and then the helicopter to the airport in Nice. From there, it was a straight trip to Massachusetts General and home.

“You’re thinking too much.” Emily tried to reassure him. “Stop worrying. I’ll be careful. They aren’t going to suspect anything for a while, at least until I’m back at the farm and maybe not even then. There’s nothing to link the chip degradation to me, any more than to anyone else who had access to it. Does your informant tell you when he thinks the terrorists plan to take possession of the chip and make the first strike?”

Jason shook his head in the dark as he drove through the back alley streets of the city. His forehead creased in worry. “That’s just it. They’re real careful with everyone who has worked anywhere near that project. If it wasn’t for Mosel’s attraction to you, you wouldn’t have had the freedom to come and go as you pleased.”

She could feel the muscles of his leg bristle with tension beneath her hand. Latent jealousy, she surmised. She leaned over and kissed his neck. “It’ll be all right. And we’ll find the men who were responsible for that night.”

As the car moved to the larger streets, Jason turned on the headlights and opened the windows. The soft Mediterranean air slipped past. They drove along the scenic boulevard, the hills above twinkling with lights reflected off the dark sea below. “Where are we going?” Emily asked, sounding curious now.

“I thought we’d stay someplace a little out of the way. My place is too obvious. There’s a safe house, well, not exactly a house, down by the yacht basin.” He pulled into the parking lot where nothing but multimillion dollar yachts were moored in the quiet cove, just off the docks.

“Not a boat,” Emily mumbled under her breath.

“Grab your backpack. I just need to check in with Harrison.” He pulled out his cell phone and walked toward the skiff at the nearest point on the illuminated dock. Emily could see him nod but couldn’t make out his words. “Is everything set?” Jason asked Harrison.

“Yeah, everything checked out. The team went over everything, and they’ll be keeping watch all night. You can relax. We have your backs, for tonight anyway.”

Chapter Two

Jason took her bag and threw it over his shoulder as he helped her into the small boat. He followed her down into the skiff and untied the rope. Emily went to the other rope and helped. Years sailing and boating back in Eatons Landing came back naturally. Jason went to the back and started the engine as Emily settled next to him. They headed for an absolutely gorgeous yacht some thirty yards from the wharf.

“This is just enough room for the team to keep the perimeter under surveillance. We’re surrounded by open water and safe.”

Déjà vu.
She wanted to freak out, but Jason didn’t notice. “Okay, but what about fireworks?”

The scowl that followed her question matched his. “You know fireworks didn’t blow up Mosel’s boat as well as I do. I’m sure no one knows we’re here tonight. Harrison says your apartment is still staked out.”

He pulled his gun from his back waistband and put it in Emily’s hand. “Until we get aboard, you hold onto this and stay sharp.”

She turned over the heavy gun in her hands, examining it. “I’d rather use my own.”

“Unfortunately, my hands are full and yours is in the bag.” He maneuvered the skiff alongside a larger vessel.

She noticed the name, “My Angel.” She remembered admiring it several times when she was aboard Mosel’s. Was this the surveillance location?

While Jason secured the smaller craft to the larger one, he gave her a hand up. She climbed the steps up to the upper deck. Once aboard, he took the gun back and shoved it back in his waistband. His hand remained possessively on the small of her back as he directed her to the main cabin. Chills quickly spread through her in anticipation.

Jason took Emily’s back pack from her and tossed it on the chair beside the small, low table, the same place where he set his gun. “Let me get you something to drink while we review the plans for tomorrow. What can I get you?”

Emily sat down in a pale oyster chaise. Now that they were here she let herself relax. She leaned back and flipped off her shoes before tucking her feet beneath her. “I’m fine, maybe just some Evian water.”

She hoped shadows beneath her eyes didn’t show the strain of the past few days. Exhaling and glancing around, she said, “Wow.” Taking in the opulence of her surroundings for the first time, she realized this yacht was more upscale than Mosel’s. “Hmm. This place is great. Is it ‘ours?’” The suite was decorated in light-colored shades of white against the deep, rich dark tones of the wooden trim.

“No.” Jason pulled a bottle of Perrier water from a small refrigerator under the bar. “This okay? Looks like this is it. I didn’t restock.”

She nodded. “ Anything’s fine with me.”

He unscrewed the top of the bottle, poured the fizzing contents into a glass of ice, and handed it to her before answering her question. “This vessel is mine, actually. Part of the image I portray.” He shrugged, and she raised one brow at his answer.

“Real estate’s been lucrative?”

“You probably don’t remember, but you’ve been here before.”

Emily frowned, and then looked as if something registered. “Oh, yes. Harrison picked us up the night of the explosion in this craft. Right?”

“Yup, this was it. Listen up, now.” Jason turned all business, sitting forward in his chair across from her with his elbows on his spread knees, his hands clasped as if in prayer. “The plan is for the three of you to visit every touristy spot in the city before Kate feigns a mysterious ailment. She should wait until you’re at lunch with Mosel. Then, you and Jorge will take her to the Princess Grace Hospital. Take a cab, if you have to. But I think Mosel will probably arrange transportation.

“When you get to the hospital ask for Dr. Anjanette Rincon. She’ll be waiting. She knows what to do. After she examines Kate, she’ll suggest that Kate return home to be seen by her regular physician. We’ll get Kate confirmed with something serious enough that you’d be expected to accompany her.”

Jason got up and paced the small space between the table and the bar, reciting the arrangements clearly.

“How will we leave the hospital?” Emily questioned, taking a sip of the bubbling Perrier.

“Dr. Rincon will take care of that. She’s got all the instructions. She’ll fill you in with the details when you get there. We’re comfortable with the plan. After all, you wouldn’t possibly be expected to let your sister out of your sight under the circumstances. Everyone knows how close you two are.” Jason finally stopped pacing like a caged animal and sat down beside Emily, a cold beer in his hand.

“The doctor will make the necessary preparations for transportation via ambulance to the heliport, then on to the airport in Nice. Mosel will probably try to assist. Let him. Rincon will make sure he follows her orders. Don’t talk to him yourself. At the Nice airport, you, Kate, and Jorge will take a private chartered flight back to Boston. Massachusetts General will be awaiting your arrival.”

“What are we going to do when they find out there’s nothing wrong with Kate?”

“Don’t worry, our contacts are set up to meet you when you arrive in Boston. You’re to be taken directly back to the agency for debriefing. Kate and Jorge will be secreted out of the hospital together later. After your debriefing, you’re to meet them at the farm. Harrison and the boys will all be there by then.”

“And you’ll join me there in what, two weeks?” Emily asked.

“Yes, as far as I know, barring any complications,” he replied hesitantly. “There are a few loose ends I have to tie up here, first.” Circumstances had changed, and he felt the need to share some of his speculations with her before she got back to Boston. He worried that further knowledge could be dangerous for her, but he had an idea, and if she went along with him, it would improve his chances of exposing Avery’s murderer. Once that was done, he’d be able to move on with his life, and hopefully that would include her.

“Emily, think about this carefully before you agree. I want to give you information, and I have a plan that would benefit from your help. But here’s the drawback. When you return to go through debriefing, you’ll have to do it without divulging our plan.”

“Whatever you think. When I go through debriefing, will they know if I’m withholding information?”

“Maybe. They’ll suspect something. I believe your inexperience and the ‘post mission’ fear factor will fool them. The emotional state caused from suppressing our information will probably pass for excitement and nervousness over your first debriefing.

“If there’s any doubt in your mind about pulling this off, tell me now. The information and the setup of this plan are instrumental in capturing the people responsible for your father’s death. The agency can’t know what we’re up to. Someone in the agency is up to his eyeballs in your father’s death.”

He paced, lecturing. “I know that’s a lot of pressure to put on you, but I don’t think I can pull this off without you.” That was an unfair tactic, but he was a desperate man.

They both knew she couldn’t turn him down, no matter what he wanted. “It will mean you’ll have to continue to play Mosel—you’ll have to gain his trust and his interest again. Can you con him all the way to Eatons Landing?”

“If you think for one minute we can get the people responsible for my father’s murder, I could do anything."

“That’s what I’m afraid of. Before you jump into this, remember for a minute what happened the last time you were alone with Mosel. You’re attracted to him.”

“Yes, I won’t deny it. He’s a remarkable man.”

“And maybe a killer.”

Emily could see the concern in Jason’s eyes. He knew she’d felt a sexual attraction to Mosel back then. There was no denying that she may have succumbed to Mosel’s seduction. Then there was the unknown factor. Who blew up the yacht? Someone wanted Mosel dead—or was it her someone wanted dead?

She walked over to him and took his hand. “We don’t know who all the players are, do we?”

“No,” Jason murmured. “It appears unknown levels of activities are taking place, and that scares the shit out of me.” He grabbed her arms and turned her toward him so she could see just how serious he was. “Are you sure about this? Can you pull this off?” He turned away, and his voice cracked forcing him to stop on the next sentence. “Because if anything happens to you...” He couldn’t finish his thought. He dropped his head, his shoulders slumped, his hands fell to his side.

Emily stroked his face. “He was my father.”

Jason glanced back at her, composing himself, he nodded. “And you remember what we agreed? Can you handle a little white lie to a lie detector?”

“For this I can!” A stubborn expression masked her fear.

Jason picked up the bottle he’d placed on the bar, downed his beer, and sat pointing the neck of his empty bottle up at her. He looked directly into her eyes, warning. “Don’t get so cocky. Remember, there’s a leak in the agency, and Franklin will be the one questioning you. He’s a pro. Debriefing is his specialty.”

Her expression held. “Bringing my father’s assassin to justice is enough motivation for me. For that, I could bald-face lie to Saint Peter at the pearly gates, and he’d never know it!”

“Why does that not pacify me?” Jason put his bottle on the bar and returned to sit next to her. “Just make sure you never try it with me again.”

He was thinking about the night he hauled Mosel and her out of the water, both practically naked. She raised her brows at him. “Does that go both ways? Cause there’s plenty I don’t think you’re telling me.”

“I’m your boss.” The dimple started. “Your clearance isn’t as high as mine. I’ll never be able to tell you everything.” His smile teased, but she was out of energy for this kind of banter.

“Right, I get it. Just don’t think you can play that card on a personal level with me.” The last of her sentence drifted off into a low mumble. “I believe in tit for tat. Don’t ever forget that.”

She had dozed off talking to him, unable to raise her heavy lids. He peeked at her through her lashes. She smiled a lazy grin at him. He lifted her easily and carried her to the bed, gently depositing her there. Jason removed her clothes, placed a loose throw over her, and then went back to the galley and grabbed another beer.

He sat at the table and reviewed his facts. Within the week, Emily would be securely back at Eatons Landing, and then he’d meet up with her as soon as he could. Jointly, they would entrap the agency mole. They would discover Avery’s killer. Whoever had been involved when that bomb was planted three years ago had also given up information to the terrorists related to the nanochip technology. And they planned to sell it through Mosel’s company.

Someone in the agency, or with close ties to the agency, had given them up that night. Avery had the meeting with Ahmet, who was going to give them the terrorist contact’s name.

According to the information Jason gathered, discovery of the chip switch would take a couple of weeks at least, maybe longer, before anything even seemed suspicious. Hopefully they would have enough information to intercept the terrorists before they planned to deliver the chip to headquarters. Besides Emily, now Professor Rankin was the only person capable of identifying the fake, and the US had him back. At least Jason could breathe easily on that count.

Jason knew Mosel’s contact at the agency revealed Avery Holmes’s identity to the Eastern European terrorist group. But he wanted the team member who gave Avery’s identity to Mosel’s contact. This time Jason would be ready to pick up Mosel’s DC contact before he made his getaway.

Jason didn’t think Mosel was involved directly with Avery’s murder. But whoever was behind the bombing and the chip sale was endangering the world, and Mosel was a freelance weapons dealer without conscience. If he didn’t broker it, someone else would. That’s just the way the rotten underworld worked. Mosel always worked for the highest bidder. From what they’d been able to uncover, he didn’t concern himself with consequences, or what he was doing when he put the information out there. He was detached, emotionally uninvolved. It was his contact, the insider, Jason blamed. Jason wanted that man. The man in the agency.

And he thought he knew who it might be, but he’d need irrefutable evidence, unquestionable proof, and that would take setting one more trap. Mosel’s attachment to Emily was unusual for the man. He’d need her to play Mosel for a little bit longer, but very carefully. When Mosel showed up in DC, it would take more self-control than Jason thought he had to set up and follow through with this plan. Mosel’s very presence in all this was a wild card and they couldn’t afford any surprises. Although he expected Mosel to be attracted to Emily, he’d never expected him to be this obsessed. Jason smiled. She sizzled. In hindsight, why shouldn’t the man be just as infatuated as Jason was? Mosel’s feelings worked to their advantage, but personally, it worried him. It made the plan easier in one way, but more difficult in another. He didn’t want to take any chances with Emily, but the painful rehashing of her father’s assassination had gone on long enough for both of them. He had to expose the traitor.

Because he couldn’t be seen with Emily, she’d be on her own after tomorrow. He’d called in Cade and the boys to watch over her when he wasn’t around. She’d be safe with them until he could get home.

Jason turned off the lights, went into the cabin, and undressed. Emily was curled up with her back to him under the throw. Touching her was becoming an elemental need for him. He slid in behind her and held her against him, pressing his erection between her thighs.