Page 28 of Reid

“Let’s get Lopez to do some digging into that and see if anything pops. In the meantime, I’ll ask Mitch to keep close to the investigation or as close as he can.”

Reid quickly shot off a text to Mitch outlining what they had discussed. Sitting back, he watched the hedges fly past as the Herefordshire’s familiar vista came into view. This small part of the world that nestled itself on the border of Wales and England had become home the last four years, and he felt a rightness that he’d only ever felt at home in the South before. Or maybe it was the people that made him think that. Either way, he was glad to be home, knowing more people had his, and now Callie’s, back was a relief.

The night was drawing in as they pulled into Eidolon’s secure compound. As the car stopped, he saw Callie sit forward and rub her eyes. She looked cute and rumpled, and his skin went tight with the desire to see that rumpled look as she looked up at him from a warm bed—the hazy look of lust on her face. Reid almost groaned when she stretched, and the silky expanse of skin at her midriff was exposed, his mouth watered for the sweet taste of her.

He heard a chuckle as Liam slipped from the car and knew his friend had seen it too. The man was a menace with his correct assumptions.

“I need to check in with Jack and the others real quick. Would you rather wait for me in the conference room, or I can see if one of the guys are around to keep you company?”

Callie looked up at him; her head tipped to the side as if she was unsure before she shrugged. “Whichever is easier for you.”

“No, Callie, I asked you a question, and that was which you’d prefer. I see you do that a lot. Put other’s feelings and wellbeing ahead of your own, and it pisses me off.”

Callie glared at him as she put her hands on her hips and thrust out her chin. “I do not!”

Reid tried not to smile as a flare of desire rushed through him. She was so fucking cute when she stood up to him. Callie thrusting her tits and chin at him wasn’t helping either. It was taking everything he had not to throw her over his shoulder and take her to the closest bed so they could finish what they’d started earlier.

He folded his arms across his chest, rocking back on his heels, deciding to have some fun with this for a second. “In New York, when they asked if you wanted the black swimsuit or the red, you said you didn’t care. That was a lie. You did care. You hated the red one but still let them choose because you didn’t want to cause a problem. In Ibiza, when the manager of the hotel asked if your room was okay, you said yes. That was a lie. You’re allergic to the duck down pillows and they make your sinuses hurt, but again you didn’t want to make a fuss.”

“How?” Callie looked shocked and flustered, her mouth agape.

Reid leaned in closer to her, so they were almost touching. “Because, sunshine, it’s my job to see things others don’t and also because it pisses me the fuck off that you do it. You don’t value yourself, and that stops right now.”

Callie’s eyes flashed fire at his admittedly arrogant command. He knew he had no right to tell her how to conduct herself, but he wasn’t lying when he said it pissed him off. Callie deserved the moon on a stick, but she didn’t think so, and he hated that.

“Listen to me, you arrogant jerk. I get that you might be used to bossing people around, and normally sane women drop at your feet and lick your boots on command, but I’m not one of those women, and I don’t take orders from you.”

Reid held back the grin on the edges of his mouth, knowing she wouldn’t find it amusing but he couldn’t resist baiting her little more. She was so fucking hot when she was mad, his dick throbbed with the need to be inside her.

He watched as the pulse in her neck pounded, her breaths became shallow as he moved closer until he could feel her breath on his neck. He pointedly looked at her tight nipples, just begging to be sucked. “You may not like taking orders from me, Callie, but your body sure does.”

Heat hit her cheeks, but she didn’t deny his words. He watched her a beat, fighting the desire to kiss her but loving this game too much to give in. He stepped back and walked two steps away before turning back to her. “And, sunshine, just for the record, that feisty side you’ve been hiding makes me hard as nails.”

He watched her eyes widen and drop to his hard cock before he turned and walked away, leaving her to either follow or stay put. Either way, she would be safe here. He was secretly pleased when she stood her ground and stayed where she was.

Somehow the attraction between them had just moved into new territory and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had so much fun with a woman—if ever.

He walked into Lopez’s operations room which had five monitors and a constant hum of life from the servers in the place.

Lopez was already talking to Liam but turned to him when he entered. “Hey, Reid. How is supermodel duty?”

“Interesting to say the least,” he replied, not wanting to say more. “Has Liam brought you up to speed on what we need?”

Lopez nodded. “Yeah, full backgrounds on everyone on the list you sent me, and I’ve just added Jolie McConnell to the list too. I agree with Liam, it’s suspicious she’s delayed the autopsy.”

Reid nodded. “Good. Can I leave that with you? I need to talk to Jack.”

“Sure. And if you need any help with the supermodel, let me know.” Lopez was a total flirt and had the clever, bookish geek charm that woman loved. “You’re not going near her. Not in a million years, brother.”

“Like that is it?”

“It is now.”

Reid headed out ignoring the laughter of his teammates behind him. He walked down the corridor towards Jack’s office and past the conference room. He stopped when he saw Callie inside talking to Waggs. If anyone could put Callie at ease, it was the ex-Delta medic. He knocked on Jack’s door and entered when he heard him call out.

Jack looked up as he placed the receiver on his desk phone down, his face a mask of anger.

Instantly Reid knew something was up. “What happened?”