Chapter 14

Chapter

Fourteen

N oah opened his eyes to the bright sun coming through the windows. Zara was draped over his body in sated slumber, and he was loathe to wake her. Reaching for his phone, he brought up the application for the security feed of the cottage. No alarms had gone off during the night, but he questioned whether he would have heard them. He was incredibly happy, and not just because he had spent the night in the arms of a woman whose erotic nature seemed to know no bounds. With Zara, he had found not just a life partner but the serenity he’d been seeking his whole life.

He leaned down and kissed her gently. Her eyes fluttered open, and she smiled, returning the kiss.

“Again?” she murmured.

“Greedy and wanton… my kind of woman.”

She laughed and nuzzled him before settling her head on his shoulder.

“I’m going to get up and make a quick check of the property…”

“Anything wrong?” she asked, coming awake.

“No, sweetheart,” he soothed. “The alarms would have gone off. I think we’re secure. I’m just not taking any chances with you here. I didn’t want you to wake up, find me gone, and worry.”

“What makes you think I wouldn’t see that as cause for celebration? After all, I wouldn’t be in danger of getting my ass beat, and I could get some sleep.”

He laughed. “Don’t misbehave, and I won’t beat your ass. And as I remember it, I’m not the only one who initiated things last night.”

“That’s not my fault. You have me in your sexual thrall, and resistance is futile.”

“I see. So, my waking up to you with your mouth around my cock is somehow my fault?”

“Yes, it is,” she said, trying to stifle her own amusement.

“Well, then, why don’t you just take advantage of this very brief respite from my amorous attentions. I’ll make us something to eat when I get back. I also need to go over the security we have in place with you in case it becomes an issue.”

“You’re really concerned about Fariq, aren’t you? What can he do? Isn’t he in FBI custody?”

“He’s tried to take you out twice while in custody. I don’t mean for the third time to be the charm. Thom should have a secure phone for you today with a panic button installed. He’ll explain it to you. If you aren’t with me, I want you to have it with you at all times.”

“I only carry my cell phone when I leave the house. Otherwise, I leave it on the charger.”

“On your person at all times unless you’re with me. That means if I’m not sleeping next to you, it had better be on the nightstand… under your pillow would be even better.”

Before the argument could develop, Noah’s phone rang.

“Taylor.”

“Thom here. Anything I need to pick up?”

“Actually, Zara wants me to make my scallop risotto…”

“Good choice. I love that. Can you send me a list of what you need?”

“Absolutely, and I’ve got a list of other items we need. What’s your ETA?”

“I’m in Monaco now. I was able to catch an earlier flight. The market is open, so two hours?”

“We can make that work. We’ll see you then.”

Noah disconnected the phone.

“Thom will be here in a couple of hours.”

“Damn.” She pouted. “That means I have to wait until he leaves to have my way with you again.”

Noah laughed. Zara was good for him. She made him laugh more than he had at any other time in his life. Her very presence gave him such joy.

“Hmmm… that could be a problem. I didn’t ask him about his return flights.”

“Does that mean if he stays, you won’t fuck me tonight?”

“Not at all… I’ll just have to figure out a way to keep you quiet.”

Zara blushed, which he found incredibly charming. Who was he kidding? There wasn’t anything about Zara he didn’t like… save her stubborn streak about risking her neck, but he meant to get a handle on that.

“I thought you were going to check the perimeter, then feed me,” she chided.

“Yep. Do me a favor and get dressed while I’m outside… provided you can walk.”

She rolled her eyes and hit him with a pillow.

“Out!” she said, pointing to the door.

He pulled on a pair of jeans and his shoes, then reached for the shirt she’d worn the night before.

“Give me that.” She snatched it away. “I want to picture you outside half-naked, then watch you come back through the door without your shirt on.”

He shook his head. “Shameless.”

“And whose fault is that?” she teased.

He leaned over and kissed her. “Mine,” he said, barely moving his lips away from hers. “All mine.”

S he watched him leave their room, then the cottage, and sighed. He wasn’t half wrong; moving around was not without pain. Not only were the welts still exceedingly uncomfortable, but her entire body was protesting the intensity and frequency with which he had taken her throughout the night.

Zara slowly made her way into the bath and showered without him, deciding she much preferred when he was the one lathering up the sea sponge and using it to get her clean. When she dried her hair, she found someone had included minimal makeup and hair products for the safehouse.

She dressed in a pair of loose sweatpants—both jeans and leggings were uncomfortable against her punished backside. Noah had really done a number on it. She examined herself in the bathroom mirror—not only was her derriere still showing a lot of residual color from his hand, but the welts were still pronounced. She went to grab one of the tops someone had sent for her but opted instead for one of Noah’s sweaters. She liked the feel of it and that it was his.

Zara exited the bedroom and made her way to the kitchen. If he was going to cook, the least she could do is clean up the kitchen. Once order had been restored, she found the coffee grinder, beans in the freezer, and the French press. By the time Noah entered the cottage, the coffee was ready, and Zara had put the bouquet in a makeshift vase with water.

“I feel bad,” she said as he hugged her.

“Physical or…”

“My ass still hurts, if you’re interested, and the rest of me is reminding me it’s been a while since I had a romp in bed and never with anyone of your skill… or size,” she said, nibbling his ear.

He chuckled. “Don’t start with me. Thom will be here in a bit. What has you upset?”

“Not upset, really. It’s just you knew how I like my coffee, and I think you said you liked honey as well. I see we have organic honey.”

“And if you check, you’ll find they have clotted cream as well.”

“You really do pay attention to small things.”

“I’ve found over the years, it’s the small things that end up meaning the most.”

She nodded. “It’s funny the things you miss.”

“About Damian?”

“No, actually, when I was in the shower, I thought I liked it better when you were in it with me, which is weird.”

“How so?”

“I always like showering alone. I’ve never once invited a man to share a shower with me, but I missed you being there this morning.”

He kissed her neck. “I’ll make sure to be there when I can.”

Zara went to hop up to sit on the counter and was reminded immediately why that was a bad idea. “Sonofabitch!”

He laughed and deflected the half-assed blow she directed at him.

“Give it a couple of days, and don’t do it again. I could put you on your belly on the counter and kiss it to make it better.”

“I thought you said we don’t have time for that.”

“We don’t, really. I could just tell Thom to stay outside until I’m done having at you.”

“Will you ever truly be done?” she teased.

“Doubtful. I’ll probably be hounding you even after I’m dead.”

He started preparing the filling for an omelet.

Zara’s heart clutched. “That’s not funny, Noah. Please don’t say things like that.”

“Shhh, sweetheart. I have no intention of getting myself killed. I am one hard sonofabitch to kill, and now, I have you to make me want to make it back home. Does it bother you to think about Damian?”

“Not really, and I feel bad it doesn’t. It isn’t that I didn’t love or care for him, but we lived such separate lives in so many ways. Does it bother you if I talk about him?”

Noah shook his head. “If something were to happen to me, I wouldn’t want you to stop thinking or talking about me. I would hope your memories would help you push through your grief and find your way back to happiness. I’m not afraid of Damian’s ghost.”

“And there you go being all kind and sensitive. It really was much easier resisting your charm when you were tranq’ing me in the ass and beating me.”

“I don’t beat you, and you know it. As you said earlier, resisting me was a losing proposition for you even then.”

“You think you’re irresistible?” She rolled her eyes.

“No, I think you and I were inevitable. And I think, for you, I’m catnip for your very greedy pussy.”

The heat of her blush spread across her cheeks. What was it about him that called to her in such a fundamental way? He was a primitive force of nature yet could make her feel shy and unsure of her own footing.

“And what am I?”

He turned from the cutting board and bussed her lips.

“I told you… you’re my everything.”

“I’m going to remind you of that the next time you have me facedown over your knee, spanking me.”

“Sweetheart, I’m never more aware of it than when I have my hands on your ass.”

Zara laughed in spite of herself. He really was insufferably arrogant and incredibly wonderful. She left him in the kitchen, intending to sit on the couch. Thinking better of it, she went back into the bedroom and returned with the two bed pillows. Noah turned around and cocked his eyebrow, the hint of a smile playing across his lips.

“Not one word out of you.”

“Not a peep. By the way, I notice you appropriated my sweater this morning. I have to tell you, I rather like that you seem to keep doing that.”

They shared breakfast, and Noah went over some of the safety protocols already in place. He also showed her where all the guns were kept in case of an emergency.

“I’ll double-check with Thom, but my guess is this vintage-looking seeded glass is actually bulletproof.”

“You think they could have had all the windows replaced in that amount of time?” she asked.

“You’d be amazed what a little flex of reputational muscle and a lot of money can accomplish. Thom is the best at wielding both. We may have had this place in the works for a while. That’s more on the operational side, something I avoid like the plague.”

“Do you think Mac might be willing to sit down sometime for an interview?”

“Doubtful.”

“Not any kind of exposé. I think people would be fascinated by all you guys do, how Mac put the team together… that kind of thing. I think it would be great advertising.”

“I hate to burst your bubble, but we don’t need the advertising. Mac picks and chooses what we take on. We have a lot more business than we can handle. In fact, we’re always on the lookout for another operative. But again, that’s operational, and you’re welcome to ask him. By the way, thanks for cleaning up the kitchen. You didn’t have to.”

“I know, but I figured turnabout was fair play. You cooked it, so I tided up. Given your prowess in the kitchen, that’s a deal I’m happy to make.”

“I didn’t think it was my cooking prowess you enjoyed.”

“What can I say? I’m a lucky girl. I got a man with both. Do you think we might go for a walk on the beach?”

“I think I can arrange that. Let me finish dressing. You might enjoy seeing me half-naked, but I’m really not Thom’s type.”

“Good to know because I don’t share.”

He pulled her tight and kissed her with a dizzying intensity that made her weak at the knees.

“Neither do I.”

She watched him walk away. He really was delicious eye candy.

Noah showered and was pulling on the loose-knit cotton sweater as he re-entered the sitting room. She saw him notice the flowers he’d picked for her on the coffee table and smile. He stretched his hand out to her, and she took it as they headed outside.

The property was truly inspiring. Noah pointed out its strategic location and setting. She enjoyed hearing what he had to say and liked that he was so willing to share things with her and not try to keep her at arm’s length from what he did.

“It’s too bad they don’t have a boat,” she said.

“I’ve been wondering about that. For an escape, you’d want something with a motor, but to accommodate that, we’d have to build a dock. I plan to ask Thom about it. It might prove useful. Do you like the water?”

“I do. If I didn’t live in the mews in London, I’d be somewhere with water close at hand. I love this place and the one in Wales as well. Just beautiful. You go trail riding? I try to indulge myself at least monthly with a private cruise up the Thames. Very peaceful and serene. I find I can gather my thoughts there and get centered. How about you?”

“I like the water, but I’m more of a whitewater kind of guy. It’s like a very wet roller-coaster. A bit like fucking you.”

She batted at him. “You’re such a jackass.”

“I can’t be a jackass.”

“Oh, but you are.”

“No, Croft is the jackass. Ask Finn. He says he now thinks of it as her pet name for him.”

“If he’s anything like you, it is most likely deserved.”

He laughed, and they walked back to the cottage. There was a vehicle parked in front, and Zara stiffened until she realized nothing in Noah’s body language indicated there was cause for alarm. It was an expensive convertible sports car. In most places, it would be wildly out of place, but in Monaco, it fit right in.

“That fool leaning against the car is Thom Lynden. My guess is he decided to wait where I could see him.”

“Ah, so the brains of the operation.”

“Careful, sweetheart. Just because your ass is still sporting those welts, don’t think I won’t give you a good swat when you need it.”

Deciding to take the bull by the horns, she called to Thom, “Does your employer know his field operatives have a bad habit of beating the women in their protection?”

Noah laughed as did Thom, who called back, “Not only does he probably know, I’m sure they have his full support.”

“Jesus, I’m doomed.” She extended her hand. “Noah says you’re Thom Lynden. I’m Zara Hughes.”

“I’m aware, Ms. Hughes…”

“Zara, please.”

Thom nodded. “Zara, then. I’m a big fan. This guy been taking care of you?”

She looped her arm through Thom’s as she led him back to the house.

“In ways you can’t even begin to imagine.”

Thom looked haplessly over his shoulder at Noah.

“Oh, don’t be afraid of the big bad wolf. He’s really rather pleasant as long as he gets laid often and well.”

Zara smiled as Thom blushed, and Noah laughed.

“Don’t worry about the supplies. I’ll be happy to bring them in,” Noah said, still laughing.