He stood and walked to her, his once-hidden emotions instantly palpable in his eyes. “Elle, I don’t want to lose you. If you’re giving me an ultimatum of choosing between you and my job, at this moment, there’s no way I can choose. Not tonight anyway. There’s too much at stake to walk away now—from you or the job. It’s a no-win situation for me. If you love me, give me more time to see this through.”
“Give me a time frame. How much more time do you mean? Days? Weeks? Months? Years?”
“At the rate it’s going now, it’ll only take a couple more weeks to wrap it up once I go back. Of course, anything can happen between now and then.”
“Go back where?”
He smiled, knowing she was testing him. “Miami.”
“When are you going back?”
“In a couple of days.”
“You flew all the way across the country to stay here for a couple of days?”
“I’d fly here from anywhere in the world if it means I’ll have a couple of days with you.”
Tears spilled over her bottom lashes, and Devon gently wiped them away with the pad of his thumb while he waited for her decision. “Well, that sweet-talking just earned you two weeks. You’d better finish whatever it is you’re doing and get back here to me two weeks from the day you leave me.Two. Weeks. Devon.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
They spent the following forty-eight hours in Elle’s bed, only leaving her bedroom to restock their supply of food and drinks. Devon alternated between being dominant and possessive, gentle and affectionate, employing his full arsenal of moves and maneuvers to help remind her how much she missed him when he was away.
He waited until she’d passed out from exhaustion the first night, then raised up on one elbow to watch her sleep. Thoroughly relaxed, she wore a peaceful and contented expression—he’d even dare to say she was truly happy. She’d confessed her true feelings to him when she said those magic words. Naturally, he already knew she was in love with him and had been since their first encounter. No doubt she’d waited for him to confess his undying love first, then decided she couldn’t wait any longer when she issued her ultimatum.
“Here’s something you don’t know about me,” he said, his whisper barely audible. “I love you, Elle. You captured my heart that first day in Miami. The first time we made love, I knew I never wanted it back. But you can’t know any of this. If the day ever comes that I let you go, believing I don’t love you is the only way to make sure you’ll stay far away from me.”
Neither of them slept the second night. Devon had an early flight out of LA to get back to Miami and finish the job. The hours of driving into her core, slow and deep, didn’t quench his desire. It only caused him to crave her more. The taste of her skin, the aroma of her arousal, the sound of her moans and screams were the equivalent of throwing gasoline on a raging fire. Hour after hour, their sweat-slick bodies remained joined as one, drawing out their pleasure and delaying their separation as long as possible.
Just before daylight broke, Devon begrudgingly left her bed to head to the airport, with the promise of returning two weeks later. He settled into the private jet and waited for the pilot and crew to finish their preflight check. The taste of her wet, salty goodbye kiss lingered in his memory. He wasn’t likely to forget the feeling of releasing her from his arms either. Every time he had to leave her was harder than the last. That realization drove him to make a decision right then and there.
Once this case was over, he’d resign from the CIA and only work for Steele Security. With the way Noah’s company had grown since its inception and continued to thrive, a bicoastal security firm was most definitely in the cards. Ideas formed one after the other, visions of how his life would change created excitement for the future. He spent the flight working up a full plan of attack for their new life together once his current assignment ended.
Wheels down in Miami, his undercover cell immediately began ringing.
“Shadow, our business associates are lined up and ready to move forward with our joint venture. I hope you’ve kept your promise to me.”
“Of course, Richard. Have I ever let you down before?”
“Our meeting with the board of directors is in one week. I need you to be there with me. They want to meet you in person,” Richard demanded.
“Let me know where and what time. I’ll be there,” Shadow replied.
“One of my men will contact you the day of the meeting with the exact location. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you.”
Richard Hollingsworth had been in the Army with Shadow and his brothers. He was missing for three years, presumed dead, after an illegal arms deal went south on him. He’d recently been released by his captors in the Middle East and was back in the States, in the market for a dirty CIA operative who could reestablish his supply chain without questions. Part of Shadow’s covert operation was to be the middle man and take down all the players financing Richard’s treasonous acts at once.
“My plans are already falling into place,” Shadow said to himself as he jogged down the plane’s steps to the tarmac.
After switching to his secure cell, he called Steadman. “Hi, Uncle Steadman. Just wanted to let you know the order for the birthday cake is being placed. They’ll call me back later to give me a time to pick it up.”
“I hope you ordered the chocolate cake. You know it’s my favorite,” Steadman replied with a chuckle.
“Is there any other kind? I’ll call back later when I have more information. Get the family ready for our big dinner celebration next week. This cake has several layers.”
Over the following week, Shadow gave his all to his assignment. He ensured every T was crossed and every I was dotted. The stars seemed to align when the cache of weapons arrived on time, cementing his cover and ensuring the deal would go through as planned. Once the money was exchanged and they took possession of the illegal arms, every federal agency identified by initials would swarm the spot and take them all in.
Then his undercover life would come to an eventful end.
