The last word came out more like a groan.
Jo scooted back, and he followed, planting one knee then the other on the bed. She shoved his shoulder, surprising him enough it knocked him off balance. He sat down on the mattress. She moved in fast, straddling his thighs.
Everything about this moment was surreal. She was looking at him like he was the prize, the thing she’d been wanting. And he felt the same way about her.
She leaned over him with one hand on his shoulder. He eased back onto the plush pillows while his mind tried to take it all in, commit the sight of her to memory. The way her hair caught the light. Her breasts were bigger than he’d expected. She had freckles down her sternum, pale barely there dots.
He was still in that state of breathless aw when Jo went a step farther. Holding his cock in one hand, she sank down onto him.
All at once Elias’s mind went blank, his entire being focused on the sensation of her soft skin against his. Her wet heat enveloped him, hugging him tightly.
Jo slid her hands up and down his chest. She arched her back, a shift he wouldn’t have thought he’d notice, but he did.
“Jo?” he managed to get out.
She rose up slowly. He felt the tremble in her thighs. She was a strong, physically fit woman, which meant that tremble wasn’t from exertion. She was feeling this every bit as intensely as he was.
Jo sank back down without warning.
Elias gripped her hips as his vision went hazy.
Fuck, she was amazing.
“Eli?” She panted for breath.
“Yeah?”
Her cheeks were pink, her eyes bright with need. “Touch me.”
He lifted his hands and cupped her breasts, exploring her tight nipples with his thumbs. She groaned and tossed her head back as she moved over him.
She was a thing of beauty, embracing and demanding what she wanted.
He planted his feet on the bed and using his good leg thrust up to meet her.
Jo’s eyes went wide, and she moaned.
He’d always wanted to be closer to her, but he never thought he’d get this close.
“Again?” she asked in a breathy, needy voice.
They moved in time.
Jo leaned over him, her hair making a sort of curtain so the only thing that existed in their little world was each other. He stared into her eyes, committing every gasp and moan to memory.
“God—Eli. Eli!” She threw her head back as her pussy tightened around him.
He thrust up again, harder this time and felt the surge of pleasure rush through him. It seemed to roll up from his very soul. He tilted his head back and groaned through the wonderful, earth shattering pleasure of it.
Jo’s body shuddered over him. She pitched forward, barely catching herself before flopping on top of him.
Beautiful.
He wanted to see that again.
Jo’s shoulders slumped, and she blew out a breath, kindly aiming at the pillow instead of his face.
He reached up despite the rubbery quality of his arm muscles and smoothed hair off her face.
Her eyes popped open, and she stared at him with wide eyes.
“You didn’t come?” she asked.
He grinned at her. “yeti did.”
“Oh, good. I just, sorry.”
Elias wrapped an arm around her and pulled her down to lie across his chest. She pillowed her head on his shoulder and squeezed him.
There was no more denying it. Elias had been, and might always be in love with Marjorie Walker. No other woman made him feel things like she did.
And tomorrow he’d have to send her into battle alone.
It just might kill him.
WEDNESDAY. AEGIS GROUP Safe House, Seattle, Washington.
Jo stroked her fingers up and down Elias’ arm. He held her so tight, as if he never wanted to let go.
Why had she waited? What was wrong with her? Why now, of all the times?
She turned her head, burying her face in the pillows.
They’d taken turns in the bathroom, then collapsed back into bed. Half the lights were on, casting the room in a comfortable glow. She half-hoped they’d fall asleep and skip the talking bits. But sleep was avoiding her.
When she’d known she needed help, Elias was the first person she’d thought of. Granted, after hearing the target was in Seattle, Elias had been in her head, anyway.
Why couldn’t she tell him the whole story?
He worked for Aegis Group, who did government contract work. There was a good chance he had a security clearance. She knew she could trust him. So why was she letting her MIA handler run her life like this? Why