Chapter Seventeen

G etting them off that cliff safely became Inda’s first priority and she stuffed all her feelings into a mental box and slammed it shut. Right now, she had to focus one hundred percent of her attention on the task at hand.

“Stay here,” she said, a plan forming in her head.

“I’m going with you.” Lucas grabbed her arm, but she shook her head.

“No, you can’t climb with that hand. At least not without some help. I’ll scout the situation out first—see if Selma left—then go back to the SUV and grab my bag. There’s rope in there. I’ll toss it down and, after you get it securely tied around your waist, I’ll help guide you up. That way, in case you slip, you won’t fall. At least not very far.”

She wasn’t taking no for an answer and he must’ve realized it because he clamped his jaw shut then gave her a sharp nod. “Fine,” he grated out, then reeled her in for a quick, hard kiss. “Stay safe. I’ve got plans for you tonight.”

She arched a brow. “Hold that thought.”

Turning, she stepped out from beneath the shadow of the overhang and looked up. There was no sign of Selma and Inda hoped she was long gone. Otherwise, there was going to be a problem real fast. But, at this point, her best option was up.

Studying the rocks, she quickly picked out a path then reached out, grabbed hold of a crevice, tested its hold, then swung over.

Focusing on finding the best places to hold onto, Inda quickly began to ascend. It was an easy climb, but she kept expecting Selma to appear. Luckily, she didn’t, and Inda made it up to the top in no time.

Selma’s car was gone. Thank God. Inda still couldn’t believe the woman had killed her husband point-blank. Sure, she’d been having an affair with Cross Mills, but the move had caught Inda completely off-guard. It had been unexpected and reckless, which made Inda think the assholes behind The Agency were slipping. That maybe things weren’t quite so hunky-dory on their end.

Good. She hoped her team was getting under their skin, shaking things up. If they were resorting to acts of murder within their own organization, they could be getting desperate to tie up loose ends. That could make them sloppy, but also even more dangerous.

Inda jogged back to where they’d stashed their rental, opened the back and unzipped her small duffel bag. She always liked to be prepared and brought it with her on every mission, regardless of the purpose. It held all of her favorite gadgets, plus an array of other things she might need—from her nunchucks to a pair of handcuffs to a First Aid kit. Digging to the bottom of the bag, she plucked the neatly coiled length of rope out, slung it over her shoulder and headed back to the cliff’s edge.

Getting Lucas up went more smoothly than she anticipated, but she kept her head on a swivel, eyes and ears open in case Selma came back. He was a quick learner and listened closely as she directed his every step back up the side and to safety. Once his feet were on solid ground again, a look of relief filled his face. The fact that he’d been so close to falling, that she’d almost lost him, made a lump form in her throat.

“I think that’s enough excitement for one day,” he said.

The sun had set, Selma was long gone and Inda needed to report back to her team about all that had happened.

“Agreed.” I’m just glad you’re safe. She didn’t say the words, but she felt them down to the marrow in her bones.

◆◆◆

Once they were back at the resort, Lucas looked down at his hand, which Inda had carefully cleaned and wrapped for him. She’d also given him a couple of painkillers to help manage the burn and now it was a low, steady throb. Nothing he couldn’t manage. He was just damn grateful he hadn’t ended up smashed against the ground beside Marcus. That would’ve really been tragic. Especially since he had plans for the amazing spitfire who had saved his life. Plans for tonight, tomorrow and the next day. He just hoped Inda was on board.

Nearly dying had a way of opening one’s eyes. And right now, Lucas’ eyes were wide open and he could see more clearly than he ever had before. Long, wavy, dark hair, caramel-colored eyes and a small, curvy body filled his vision. Hell, it was all he could see, and he was ready to do anything to make that sassy warrior all his.

He just had to convince her of two very important things—she could trust him and he was a chance worth taking.

While Inda hopped on a conference call with her team, Lucas headed into the bathroom. It was one of those dream bathrooms that looked like it should be in a celebrity home. Double sinks with tons of marble counter space ran along one wall beneath a huge, ornate mirror. A sunken tub in front of a large picture window offered a serene place to soak and admire the mountain view. And, his favorite part, a luxurious walk-in shower, completely open and surrounded by rocks, boasted a waterfall shower head.

Covered in a sheen of dust, dirt and sweat, he couldn’t wait to clean up. Stripping out of his clothes, he stepped into the massive shower, turned the water on and moved beneath the spray. As the water washed away the grime, he let his head fall back and sent up a silent thank you that he was still alive. He knew his mom had been watching over him and emotion punched him in the gut. The pain of losing her would never go away, but he’d try to focus on the good memories rather than the last few painful months.

Lost in his thoughts, Lucas washed up, then lingered. He propped a hand against the rocky wall, mindful of the bandage, and let the falling water wash away everything that was holding him back. It was time to move forward. To convince the woman in the other room that he had good intentions toward her. He was on her side.

A sound snagged his attention and he looked over to see Inda slowly undressing.

“Since you’re taking your time in here, I thought you might want some company,” she purred. Her dirty clothes dropped to the floor beside his and a streak of hot electricity zapped through his entire body like a jolt from a live wire. He raked an appreciative gaze over her nakedness.

“Get in here,” he growled, reaching for her and pulling her beneath the falling water. Their mouths crashed together and he drank deeply. His tongue pushed past her lips, sliding into her mouth, demanding entrance, laying claim and urging her to yield. There was an exquisite tension between them, so hot and fierce, unlike anything he’d ever felt before. Taking control, he slid his fingers through her wet hair and angled her head back.

Inda succumbed, molding her small frame to his much larger, harder body. Even though he knew how strong she was, right at that moment, she felt soft and almost fragile in his arms. Maybe he should slow himself down, be more gentle, but he couldn’t. A hazy, relentless desire pulsed through his veins, straight down to his dick, and he needed her more than he’d ever needed anything before in his entire life.

Overcome with the need to be inside her, to lose himself, Lucas reached for her hips and easily lifted her. She wrapped her legs around his waist, settling her hot core against his steel cock, and they both groaned. Even though he was desperate to drive up into her, he needed her slick and ready. As their tongues tangled, he lowered his uninjured hand, found her clit and began rubbing.

As soon as he found the right speed and pressure, Inda’s legs tightened around him and she bucked against his hand. Sliding a finger between her seam, coating it in her wetness, his control slipped a notch. She rocked harder against his hand, grinding her pelvis.

“Lucas, please…”

Hearing Inda beg made the last of his self-control snap. He lined their bodies up and sank home with a muffled curse. Her inner muscles squeezed in welcome and he held her up, thrusting in and out, mindful to keep her back away from the rough stone walls. Gripping her hips, he helped her move up and down his cock, and they found the perfect rhythm.

He’d never seen anything so beautiful as this woman in his arms riding his thick cock. The image of her parted lips, the way her perfect breasts bounced, and the titillating sound of her breathy whimpers made him move faster, harder. Fuck, she felt like heaven, and he couldn’t get enough. He knew right when he found the exact angle that allowed him to hit her sweet spot over and over because her nails dug into his skin and her breaths became harsher.

She gasped, arched and dropped her head back. Her cry echoed around them when the orgasm hit her and her pussy clenched around his cock, not allowing him to hold back another second. The pressure became too much at the base of his spine and his balls tightened. With a shout, his control detonated like a stick of TNT.

The moment he erupted inside her, his lust-addled brain registered that they hadn’t used protection. Shit. That was so unlike him. But as he came hard, his entire body shuddering through his release, all he could do was bury his face in the soft curve of her neck and empty every last drop deep inside her. If there were consequences, they could deal with them later.

And would that really be so awful? a wicked voice asked. A child would keep them connected forever. Christ, he was beginning to sound like a possessive psycho. Or, maybe just a man falling really damn hard for the most amazing fucking woman.

Beneath the falling water, they clung to each other, still connected, unable to move or process what had just happened. Saying Inda Diaz had found a way under his skin and into his heart was an understatement. He was feeling things he’d never experienced before, and it was all because of her. They shared an insane, inexplicable connection that he didn’t understand.

All he knew was she was special, and whatever was happening between them had left his world spinning like a top. Somehow this tiny force of nature had left an indelible imprint on his heart.

Reaching out, he blindly shut off the water, turned and reached for a fluffy towel. Inda kept her face buried against his shoulder as he wrapped her up and headed toward the bed, carefully laying her down and cuddling her close. Neither of them said a word, and he had a feeling she was trying to make sense of things just like he was attempting to do.

Because what just happened was more than merely sex. They’d come together on a deep level and in a more intimate way than he’d ever connected with anyone before. It was throwing him for a loop, making him incredibly excited and scaring the shit out of him all at once. It was the most goddamn exhilarating thing he’d ever felt in his life.

“ On?a ?” He pulled back, trying to see her eyes. “Look at me.”

When she finally looked up, her gaze reflected everything he was feeling.

“Talk to me,” he said, brushing her damp hair back. “I need to know where your head’s at.”

“I just…” Her voice trailed off as she searched for the right words. She let out a low, shaky breath then locked eyes with him. “I’m just so happy you didn’t die.”

He chuckled. “Me, too.”

◆◆◆

Her entire body was still floating among the clouds after the most epic orgasm she’d ever had. Lucas was looking at her differently, too. Almost like she was something precious. No one had ever looked at her like he was doing right at that moment, and she was doing her best to wrap her head around it.

Because, yeah, he’d just annihilated her entire body like a heat-seeking missile. But, he’d also lit up her heart and soul in a way that made her feel more than just wanted or desired. That look in his bright blue eyes was…love.

Inda dropped her face back against his damp chest and squeezed her eyes shut. Falling in love was even more dangerous than facing The Agency. It meant baring every vulnerable inch of herself and exposing each terrible secret. And she didn’t think she had the strength to do it. No matter how much she wanted to.

He was giving her space to deal with the rampage of emotions pummeling through her, but she needed to say something. What though? Revealing herself and her darkness would only scare him away. Some demons were better left in the shadows where they belonged. Besides, once she confided in him, she wouldn’t blame him for not looking at her the same way any longer. And she wasn’t sure she could bear that. No, she’d rather be selfish and hang onto him for a little longer.

“Let’s get rid of this,” he murmured, pulling the wet towel away from her body. When he dragged it lower and gently cleaned between her thighs, her heart began hammering harder. No condom. The two words blinked in her head like a flashing neon sign. She wasn’t concerned about STIs—her medical situation was one she closely monitored and she suspected he did too— but there was always the chance of…

No. She couldn’t let her mind go there. They had morning-after pills for exactly this kind of scenario, right? The last thing she wanted to do was involve an innocent baby in the clusterfuck that was her life. Even more so, she feared she would end up being like her mother. The thought had always haunted her.

A shiver ran through her and she reached for the blanket, drawing it up over her chilled skin. Dammit, she never should’ve stopped taking her birth control. But it had seemed so unnecessary since she hadn’t been sexually active in an embarrassing amount of time.

Lucas tossed the towel, as well as his wet bandage, and slid beneath the sheet. She could feel the weight of his stare, and when she dared to look over, she saw those intelligent, ice-blue orbs intently focused on her, trying to see into her soul and discover her secrets. All she could do was look away like a coward as she picked at the edge of the blanket.

“You got your hand wet,” she said in a quiet voice.

“It’s fine.”

“It’s a bullet graze,” she admonished. “We should re-wrap it.”

“First tell me what’s going on in that gorgeous head of yours. Talk to me, On?a , or I’m going to think you don’t like me anymore,” he said, striving to keep his tone light and teasing.

For a long moment, she didn’t say anything.

“I do like you, and that’s the problem,” she finally admitted grumpily. Those enticing dimples of his appeared and she swallowed hard. “A part of me wishes we could go back to when you were still just Cipher and I was Bruja.”

“Can’t go back,” he stated and covered her hand with his much larger one, stilling its nervous movements.

“It would make life easier right now.”

“Were you happy with how things were before we met? Tell me the truth.”

“Happy isn’t the right word. I was comfortable, not scared like I am right now.” She could hardly believe those words just came out of her mouth.

He scoffed, threading his long fingers through hers. “You’re the most fearless woman I’ve ever met.”

“Not when it comes to you.”

“If it makes you feel any better, the things you make me feel scare the crap outta me.”

She pulled her hand away. “I can’t get serious with you, Lucas. Or any man. Whatever is happening between us…it’s only temporary.”

“Okay…but why?” he asked, voice soft and so damn understanding that she wanted to scream in frustration. Why couldn’t he just be an asshole and make this easy?

“Because!” she huffed, voice full of frustration.

“I’m going to need a better reason than that,” he murmured, studying her intently, “because you need to know that what just happened between us…it’s worth fighting for. What I’m feeling right now for you…I’ve never felt for another woman. This thing between us is rare and so fucking amazing that I don’t want to let go. I physically can’t. Whether you like it or not, I’m going to hold on to you and somehow make you take a chance. On me, on us. And, if you let me, I’m going to love you something fierce, Inda.”

Love. Her heart caught when he said the word, and even though every part of her yearned to try, she knew she’d only end up disappointing him.

“You don’t get it,” she whispered. “I’m not worthy of your love. I’ve done bad things. Things I can’t even forgive myself for, and I wouldn’t expect you to understand.”

His brow furrowed. “Are you talking about being an assassin? It’s your job, I get it. You eliminate bad people.”

She shook her head, moving further away, needing space from his penetrating blue gaze. How was she supposed to tell a man who’d loved his mother so much that she was the reason her own mother had died? Guilt weighed heavily on her heart as she turned away, facing the opposite wall.

“Inda—”

“Goodnight, Lucas,” she interrupted, squeezing her eyes shut, ignoring the hot tears that seeped from beneath her lids. Dammit, she didn’t ever cry. At least, not before meeting Lucas Sheridan.

She heard Lucas sigh. He was disappointed in her, but better now than later. The light clicked off and she told herself this was for the best. End it now. Before she made the mistake of falling harder for him.

Before she was completely and stupidly head over heels in love.