Glitter and Gunfire (Shadow Agents #4)(19)
Author: Cynthia Eden

He didn’t buy it anymore. “No. You’re the woman who didn’t flinch when the Executioner had his knife at her throat.” Even though she’d flinched when she’d touched Cale’s chest.

So many contradictions.

So much mystery.

That was Cassidy.

“You’re strong and you’re smart, and you don’t let fear control you.”

Her gaze met his. She didn’t stop touching him. “That’s because I can’t let it control me. I won’t.”

She was so much stronger than he’d realized. I was a fool.

“They’re going to try to take me away from you.” Cassidy’s soft words made him furious—because he knew they were true.

He’d screwed up. He hadn’t protected her as he should have, and now Mercer already had other EOD agents there to take over her case.

One agent in particular…

Drew Lancaster. The guy was good—cold but good. Former Delta Force, Lancaster had a reputation for emotionless hunts. Some said he had ice that pumped through his veins, not blood.

“I guess that’s the way it works, right? Agents come, agents go.” Her smile was bittersweet. “But I’m not going to forget you as easily as I have the others.”

“Damn straight, you’re not.” He sure wouldn’t be forgetting her anytime soon, and—he didn’t want to let her go.

So he tightened his hold on her.

“Why did you kiss me in that basement?” Cale asked her, unable to hold back the question. She hadn’t needed to seduce him then.

“I did it for the same reason that I kissed you the first time.”

The first time her lips had brushed against his, Cale had thought that she was trying to manipulate him with sex.

A trick that wouldn’t have worked coming from most women.

Only she wasn’t most women. He was finding that he would do just about anything for her.

“What was the reason?” he pressed, because he wanted to hear her confession.

“Don’t you already know?” Then she leaned toward him. Her lips feathered lightly over his. “Because I want you, Cale Lane. I kissed you the first time because I needed to feel your mouth on mine, and the second time—it was about need, too. About me wanting you, needing you, as a memory to hold against anything bad that could happen to me in that terrible place.”

Had she thought that she might not escape the Executioner alive?

Her lips molded to his.

His mouth opened as he took control of the kiss. He wanted more than just a light touch from her. He wanted everything.

That was exactly what he was determined to have.

He’d never get used to her taste, a combination of sweet and rich flavor—like champagne and chocolate. He felt like he could get drunk from her. Touching her, tasting her, made the blood pump harder in his veins. Her br**sts pushed against him, the ni**les tight peaks, and he wanted to strip away her clothes. To see all of her.

But not in some run-down clinic that was sinking into the jungle. Not with half a dozen agents waiting outside the door.

He wanted her, and he wanted them to be far away from the rest of the world.

That’s not happening now.

As if in echo of his thoughts, a knock sounded at the door. Cassidy tried to pull back. He didn’t let her go.

The door swung open.

He kept his mouth on hers, because he wasn’t done with her.

“That’s a really bad idea, Lane,” Drew Lancaster said as he entered the room.

From where Cale sat, it was the best idea that he’d had in a long time.

Because he hadn’t ever wanted someone as much as he wanted her.

Taking his time, Cale lifted his head. Then he eased from the table, making sure to keep Cassidy close. “You’re interrupting, Drew.”

Drew shook his head. “I’m just here to tell the lady that her ride is waiting. Mercer pulled his strings, and our flight leaves in just over an hour.”

Mercer was always pulling strings, playing them all.

Drew turned to Cassidy. “He wants you back on U.S. soil.”

“Is Cale coming with us? Because I told you—I won’t leave without him.”

Drew showed no surprise at Cassidy’s demand. “Don’t worry. He’s coming. The director is particularly looking forward to a little chat with him.”

Wonderful. He’d just joined the EOD a few months ago, and now he might find himself getting kicked out of the division because he’d refused to follow orders.

Being a team player didn’t always work so well for him.

“It’s okay,” Cassidy said to Cale. “I’ll make Mercer understand what happened.”

Hard to do. Cale realized that Cassidy didn’t fully understand what had happened herself. She thought that she’d duped him, that she’d escaped.

She still didn’t get that he’d used her as bait.

What the hell was I thinking?

“Mercer wants you to call him, Ms. Sherridan,” Drew said as his attention swept between her and Cale. “You need to check in with him before we leave for the flight.”

“Right.” She pushed back her shoulders, as if bracing herself. “Better get this over with.” Then she was heading for the door.

Cale didn’t move. He just watched her walk away—his focus on the slight sway of her hips.

He was drawn to everything about her.

He was in so much trouble.

The door shut behind her with a soft click. As soon as Cassidy was gone, Drew gave a low whistle. “Don’t get me wrong, man. I can understand the temptation.”

Since when did Agent Ice understand any kind of temptation?

“But you don’t seem to get who you are messing around with,” Drew continued. “Mercer will crucify you for this.”

“I kept Cass—I kept the asset safe,” Cale corrected himself deliberately. Mercer might not like his methods, but he’d done his job. “And I brought down an internationally wanted killer. I think Mercer can stand to cut me some slack.”

Drew rocked back on his heels. “You need to pay more attention to what’s right in front of you.”

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

“You need to watch yourself with Cassidy Sherridan.” Now it sounded like Drew was giving him a warning. “She’s not at all what she appears to be.”

He’d already figured that out on his own.

“A woman like her will burn you, and if you aren’t careful, there won’t be anything left but ash.”