10
MEETING ERIK
CAROLINE
Caroline didn’t like the vibes Willie Boy was putting out. Her gut-reaction to him was not a positive one, but she stayed silent. Grey had a handle on his family, plus she had enough on her mind with the Day of Destruction. In true Caroline form, she’d been obsessing over it. Though she considered it a stretch, she wanted to revisit the out-of-order men’s rooms at the FBI and Justice.
“You’re quiet,” he said as they ate. “How’s the eggplant?”
“Delicious.” She offered him a piece.
While she fed him, her gaze floated over his face. Eyes that pierced her soul. Sculpted cheekbones to die for, a deliciously sexy dark brown beard that tickled when they kissed, and hair that rivaled her own. Yes, he was stunningly handsome, but she was falling in love with his character. He was beyond courageous, brimming with confidence… and somewhat insane.
“Try the swordfish.” He cut off a piece. When he slid a bite into her mouth, he murmured, “Your beautiful mouth was made for sucking my cock.”
Beneath the table, she squeezed his thigh. “I love your dirty mouth.” She held his gaze for an extra beat before sipping her water. “The fish is excellent. Everything here is perfect.”
The server returned with a bottle of wine. “This is from Willie Boy.”
“I’m good,” Grey said. “Caroline?”
“No, thanks,” she replied before finishing her eggplant.
After the server left, Grey said, “Pretty much everyone I know drinks. Why don’t you?” He moved an errant tendril away from her face.
She set down her fork. “About six months after I became a handler, Sydney and I threw a party. I had too much to drink and crashed in bed. In the middle of the night, one of my IOs called me. He’d received intel from an asset and wanted to run it by me. My gut reaction was not to believe the intel, but I was still drunk and my judgment was clouded. Turns out, it was a set-up and he got killed.”
Her guts churned. She hated talking about this, but he needed to know.
“I told my superior what had happened, took responsibility for my decision, and asked to be removed from the position. I stopped drinking. Several months later, I asked to be reinstated. They sent me to an in-house therapist who cleared me. Though they never blamed me for his death, I blamed myself.”
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“When I started up again, you were one of my first assignments. I was so happy to be a handler again, but terrified I’d mess up.”
“Why?”
“Your assignments were different from the other IOs I worked with. With you, I had to be on call twenty-four seven. I think I’ve aged like two decades working with you.”
He chuffed out a laugh.
The server topped off their drinks, then asked about dessert.
“Coffee with cream,” Caroline said.
“Espresso,” Grey said. “Tiramisu, two forks, and the check.”
After the server left, Caroline said, “Thank you. Next time, my treat.”
He flashed her a smile. “All I heard was next time and treat.”
She leaned close, whispered, “We’re going to the Dungeon so I can show you off, then we’re out. I need to ride you like a bucking bronco at the state fair.”
“I’m gettin’ hard.”
She pressed her hand to his crotch. “God, I love your cock. It’s too big for my pussy, way too big for my mouth, which makes it perfect. I love taking you inside me, draining you dry, and giving you all the pleasure.”
“If you keep touchin’ me, I’m gonna have a very different kinda problem.”
