Chapter 28

Alec woke up in a slow lazy way, so totally not like her at all. She smiled with her eyes still closed as her mind replayed the night before. In the shower with Ian, well there was something to dream about for the rest of her life. She felt so sated and relaxed, and why wouldn’t she after that and later when Ian had woken her? He was pressed up against her back, his hands roaming all over her and then making love to her with slow sensual movements. If she were a cat, she’d purr for the next month.

Her lower body tightened as she climbed through the haze of sleep. As consciousness surfaced, she realized she was breathing hard and needy again. Opening her eyes, she looked down to see Ian lying between her legs, licking along her inner thighs. Her breath caught in her throat.

Lifting his head, he smiled at her. “Morning, beautiful.” He pushed her legs open wide and held them there. “Just lie back and let me wake you up properly.”

Alec tensed and was just about to pull from his grasp when his mouth closed over her sensitive bud and sucked lightly. Heat shot through her and she dropped her head back on the pillow and gasped. Never had she been woken up like this. It felt so... he thrust his tongue inside her, and she groaned. Unable to think of anything but what he was doing to her, she closed her eyes and let the feelings consume her.

He didn’t slow until her legs were shaking, and her breathing was so heavy it sounded like she was wheezing. Lifting his head, he kissed his way up her body, crawling slowly on top of her. When his lips reached hers, he pushed into her and ravished her mouth with a deep passionate kiss.

Moving into her with slow steady thrusts, he continued to kiss her until they were both unable to breathe. He lifted his mouth off hers and looked down at her, his face dark with a few days’ growth and his black hair hanging over his blue eyes that were giving her such an intense look she was mesmerized. It took her a moment to realize that her hands were free to wander wherever she wanted. She wanted them to wander over any part of him she could touch.

He groaned and thrust into her harder as her nails skimmed down his back.

“You feel so good, I’m drowning in you, Alec,” he whispered beside her ear.

She couldn’t have formed words if she’d tried when he reached down and lifted her leg, bending her knee and pushing it as far up as it would go. It allowed him to go further into her, more than she’d ever know possible. As he slid out again, he rubbed against a part of her that made her groan and cling to him.

“That’s it, just let me make you feel good, babe.” He did it again, harder and she felt her insides begin to quiver. Just that fast he could make her peak. She’d ask him how, but he increased his speed and her whole mind began to cloud over with nothing but the sensations he was creating.

As she crashed over the edge, he moved into her with hard thrusts until he was groaning against her ear in his own release.

His hot breath brushed against her neck. “Morning.”

Smiling, she buried her face in his neck. “Hi.”

Lifting his head, he looked down at her with a grin. “I love that you’re blushing.” He pulled from her and rolled onto his side and watched her.

“I might just be overheated.” She couldn’t help but smile back at him.

“Hmm, I don’t think so.”

Stretching, she shifted and pulled the sheet up. “What time is it?”

Groaning, he rolled over and sat on the edge of the bed. “Seven.”

Alec sat up and clutched the sheet to her chest. “I slept until seven?”

Grinning over his shoulder at her, he got up and walked to his closet. “I like to think I exhausted you.”

Alec sat there and admired the view of his naked body. To her eyes there wasn’t a part of him that wasn’t toned to perfection. Not overdone, just completely...perfect.

When he turned and walked back toward her with clothes in his hand, he grinned wide at her. “Admiring the view?”

“I have to get showered so we can go.” Grabbing the sheet, she got up and darted to the bathroom. Once she got there, she closed the door and heaved out a long breath. She knew she was a coward, but this was so far out of her depth that she didn’t know what else to do.

***

Ian sat in the chair beside Jac, and both of them watched Alec as she moved around the room with furious movements.

Muttering, she dropped the pages onto the nearest table and went back over to Brent.

“She’s like a wind-up toy today, only I don’t think she’s going to wear out easily.”

Ian grinned at the description. “No. It’s going to be a long day.” He looked around the room, they were the only ones here so far. “I guess the other team only does nine to five?”

Jac laughed. “I wished Reid did those hours. He started pacing around the house at six today.” She motioned to Alec, “Did she get any rest?”

Smirking, Ian glanced at Alec again. “A little.” Every move she made, he tracked with his eyes. A part of him liked that she was wearing one of his shirts and hadn’t insisted on going to her place to get one of her own. He knew she’d be pissed about the blown meeting and he also knew she was agitated after this morning. He had hoped waking her up the way he had would prevent the morning after awkwardness, but apparently not.

“You keep stalking her with your eyes and she’s going to poke them out,” Jac said in a quiet voice.

Grinning, Ian dropped his head down and looked at the table. “Too obvious?”

“Just a little.” She leaned closer. “What did you do to get her so wired this morning?” Her eyebrows lifted in suggestion.

Glancing at Alec again, he sighed. “I don’t think it was anything I did.”

“Mmhmm.” Jac got up and went over to Brent.

Ian continued to watch Alec pace around a few tables and then go over to the coffee maker. There was no coffee to brew. That was going to piss her off further. Pushing up from the table, he went over to her. “Front desk is supposed to be sending coffee.”

“In this millennium?” she quipped.

Stepping closer, he lowered his head so he wouldn’t have to speak loud. “Relax.”

Huffing out a breath she looked at him, her eyes searching his face, several conflicting emotions going through her eyes. “Look, I’m sorry about earlier.” Her eyes moved back to his mouth. “I...”

“We’ll talk about it later.” He said it as softly as he could, trying to bleed understanding into his tone.

“I freaked out. Am freaking out...”

He gave her a teasing look. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Her face flushed slightly. “Yeah. Do that.” She glanced at his mouth again.

Ian moved closer. “Keep staring at my mouth and I’ll have to use it,” he warned in a whisper.

The door closing had both of them turning and watching Reid walk in.

Ian didn’t know him all that well, but his expression was grimmer than usual. He watched as Reid went over to Brent and said something. Brent cursed.

“What now?” Alec muttered and went toward them.

For a brief moment, Ian regretted ever going to Lucky’s that night, and then he watched Alec tense as Reid spoke to her. No, he couldn’t regret going into the bar, then his life wouldn’t be turned upside down by a sexy blonde detective.

Glancing at Jac, she shrugged and they both moved over to see what was going on. “Something happen, Reid?” Jacinda stepped over and stood between the two men.

“Yeah,” Reid ran a hand through his hair, “the guy we have tailing Bill followed him to Ian’s apartment building last night. He sat there for over an hour.”

“How the hell did he find out where I live?” Ian glanced from one male to the other.

Reid shook his head. “We have no idea, but you’ll both have to stay somewhere else tonight.”

“Son of a bitch.” Alec exploded. “We have six days left before the meeting and so far we’re not getting anywhere.” She paced away. “How many people knew we were missing?”

“All of this team, both sides,” Brent informed her.

Ian watched her for a moment. “It can’t have come from anyone working on this. I trust you guys and the other ones are like Rambo hardheads when it comes to justice.”

Alec’s eyes flicked around the room. “They’re finding out somehow and it’s just recently.” She snorted. “When we were operating from your place no one knew what was going on.”

“Hotel staff?” Jac suggested.

Reid sighed. “They haven’t been allowed in here unattended.” He motioned to the board the other team had set up. “And that doesn’t give anything away.”

“There has to be something we’re missing.” Alec paced a few feet away, studying the floor. “How did Bill find Ian’s? No one even knows his real name.”

Ian jammed his hands in his pockets, he’d forgotten they all used his alias, Dante. “The apartment isn’t under either name.” He informed them.

Alec looked up and stared at him, then lifted her hands and waved them around. “I don’t even want to know.”

Those little alarms that go off inside a person’s head when they messed up large triggered in Ian’s brain. Just that easily she’d find a reason to push him away. “I don’t know about you guys, but if I don’t get coffee soon, I’m going to get really irritable.” He sent Alec a serious glare. “Let’s go down the street to that little shop and grab everyone a drink.”

The others nodded to the idea. Alec gave him a skeptical look and then sighed. “Yeah, okay.”

He headed to the door before she could change her mind. Once through it, he almost had to run to keep up with her. It was going to be a long day.

When the elevator doors closed, he moved over beside her and lifted her chin so she would turn and look at him. “The apartment is in my brother’s name. I was halfway across the globe when I called and told him I was coming home. He found a place for me.”

“The brother married to Brent’s sister?” The doubt faded from her eyes.

“Yes.” He didn’t release her chin; he wanted to do a lot more than that. “I’m not the devious man you keep expecting to find, Alec.”

She sighed loudly. “I just don’t...”

He brushed his lips over hers lightly and released her. “Let’s get past this other crap and then we’ll figure things out.”

Exhaling again, she nodded. “Okay.”

Tugging on the sleeve of his blue t-shirt she wore, he gave her a teasing smile. “I think this looks better on you than it does on me.” Her cheeks flushed. His stomach tightened and his lower body heated when he saw that blush. Chuckling, he turned as the elevator stopped. “I love that you blush, babe.”

While they got the tray of coffee Alec was quiet, a serious determined look on her face. Ian didn’t need to ask what she was thinking about, because it would be the same thing he was. He’d gone over everything they’d done since he walked into that basement office, trying to figure out who was leaking what they were doing. Alec was right; it was going well when it was just the six of them working on it.

Turning with the tray of coffee, he waited for her to grab the other. “Any luck cracking the case?”

She gave him an exasperated look. “No. I can’t figure out who or how.”

He held the door open for her and was pleased she didn’t glare at him for it this time. Ian grinned but lowered his head so she wouldn’t see it. He released the door and stepped outside, almost walking into Alec’s back as she stood ramrod stiff in front of him.

Stepping around her, he saw the source of tension standing right in front of her. Bill stood there looking as shocked as Ian felt.

“Alec.” Bill looked around the neighborhood, a guilty look on his face. “What are you doing here? I heard what happened and thought you’d be recovering.” He briefly looked the length of her.

“Maybe you heard wrong,” her tone was low and unfriendly. “What are you doing here?”

Bill glanced at the tray of coffee she held. “I just stopped to grab a coffee before I track down some information.” He shifted from one foot to the other and then looked down beside Alec’s feet. “So, when are you coming back to work? Or are you still doing top-secret things for the captain?”

Ian watched Alec clench her jaw a few times. “I’ve...”

Stepping forward he extended his hand. “Dante Maloy. You must be Alec’s partner.”

Bill took his hand and shook it quickly. “When she’s not busy elsewhere.”

Ian nodded. “Keeping up with her can be a challenge.”

Bill frowned and studied Ian for a moment. “Oh, you’re working with her?”

Shaking his head Ian laughed. “Me? No, I’m just a data processor.”

“So, you’re dating?” Bill looked at Alec again.

Ian pulled Alec into his side. She smiled up at him with a smile that would look sweet to anyone watching, but they didn’t see the fury in her eyes. “Yes.” Clearing his throat, Ian gave her a serious look. “We better get the coffee back before it gets cold.”

Alec nodded and looked at Bill. “Yeah, we have to go.”

Ian pushed her along with a hand at her back, before Bill had time to say anything further. Turning he watched him walk into the cafe.

“What is he doing here?” She growled. “It’s too coincidental for him to pick here to stop for coffee.”

Ian ushered her to the hotel side door. “I agree.”

Running up the stairs beside her, he stopped when they reached the door. “How the hell did he find my place last night?

Gritting her teeth, she shook her head. “I don’t know, but something’s really off with all of this.”

By the time they reached the meeting room, Alec had that pissed-right-off-beyond-determined look on her face. Pulling the door open, he motioned her into the room.

Reid was halfway across the room, looking at Alec. “What happened?”

Setting the tray down, she pulled a cup from it. “We just ran into Bill outside the cafe.

“He’s here?” Jac asked looking between Alec and Ian.

Ian grabbed his cup. “Yeah.”

Brent crossed his arms over his chest and studied Alec. “He’s tracking you.”

Alec shrugged. “How?”

“Well it can’t be your phone, because it’s not here, the Captain still has them.” Jac started pacing around the room.

“I don’t wear jewelry on the job,” Alec added.

“Do you always carry your badge?” Ian leaned back against the table and sipped his coffee.

Shaking her head, Alec lifted her arms. “I had it on me when we went to Lucky’s the night we got grabbed. I don’t even know where it is right now.”

Reid looked her up and down. “For most of the recon you’ve been in dresses and different shoes.”

Alec nodded. “There’s nothing the same anytime.”

Ian studied her silently, picturing each time they’d gone out. There was no one thing that was the same. He looked down at her roughed-up boots and remembered the first time he’d seen her and how she complained about Bill never wearing any. Bill. Boots. He straightened. “You were wearing your boots that night at Lucky’s, and last night and now.”

Everyone turned and looked at him and then at Alec’s boots.

She gave him a stern look and then leaned down and pulled her boots off. Setting them on the table, she stood there and looked at them.

Jac went over to the nerdy tech guys’ table and started pawing through all the gadgets on it. Nodding she picked one up and came back over quickly. Flicking a switch on it, she moved it over Alec’s boot and then the other. A red light came on and it emitted a quiet beep. Frowning she moved it away from the boot and did it again.

“Son of a bitch,” Alec swore venomously. “The bastard.”

Brent stepped over and put his finger to his lips, telling her not to say anything. She stopped and everyone began looking around the room.

Just then the door opened, and the Captain and Agent Bastion walked in. Reid moved quickly and met them a few steps inside the door and put a finger to his lips then motioned to Jac.

Jac moved the sensor from one boot to the other and then looked over at them when it lit up.

The agent scowled and came over, taking the gadget out of her hand. With a serious look, he began walking around the room, holding it over any object.

When he reached the coffee table, it lit up again. Setting it down, he picked up the empty brewer and looked at it, tipping it upside down he shook his head and then turned it so everyone could see the small device stuck to the bottom.

Setting it back down, he picked up the sensor and ran it up and down his own body. When it didn’t light up, he held it out for Reid to take. Clearing his throat, he spoke in a normal tone. “We have a ton of leads to follow up, so we’re going to be splitting off in pairs today and seeing what pans out.” He looked at Alec as she felt along the seams of her boot. “I’ll need a few to stay here to process things as they come in.”

Ian took the scanner from Brent and ran it over his body. The idea that he might have a tracker on him bothered him more than he could let on. He was used to being the shadows, being untraceable. Being alone. Finishing the other side of his body, he almost heaved a sigh when nothing happened. Moving over, he started doing Alec, as she pried the in-soul out of her boot. The light stayed off.

With a satisfied grin, she held up a small device and set it on the table before taking the scanner from Ian and going over her boot again. When nothing happened, she set it down and put her boots back on.

The Captain came over and held a notepad in front of him and Alec. ‘Take a cab with Brent. He knows where we’re meeting. Leave the car here until it’s cleared a sweep.’

Nodding at the Captain, Ian glanced at Alec. She acknowledged that she understood and then stormed to the door.

Ian exhaled slowly and made eye contact with Brent on the way to the door. The look on Brent’s face said they were on the same page. Bill was going to be a deeply sorry man for crossing Alec.