Chapter 10
The first thing Scout was aware of when she woke was Cole’s strong body curved protectively against her back. She smiled, stretched, and turned over to face him, surprised to see his eyes open.
“Good morning,” she said with a smile.
“That it is,” he replied.
She ran her hand down between their bodies to fondle him, finding him hard. “Hmmm,” she murmured appreciatively. “What do you want to do today?”
Cole chuckled. “Honey, you really need to ask?”
Scout laughed along with him. For the past two days they’d been like a couple on their honeymoon, the lovemaking broken only by the need for hunger or sleep. She couldn’t remember being happier. She didn’t want their time to end, afraid that when he left tomorrow to return to work, everything would change. The magic would end.
“Well, in that case…” She started to slide down, kissing her way along his body. Cole stopped her before she reached her destination.
“As I recall, it’s my turn,” he announced.
“Says who?” she argued, still wiggling lower, hanging on to his erection.
“Say’s me.”
He pulled her back up and rolled her over on her back, taking her hands and raising them up above and behind her head. “Grab the headboard, sugar.”
Just then her phone rang. She ignored it for the first four rings then swore and rolled to the side of the bed to answer. “Windrider.”
Jonas’ voice came back to her. “I’ve considered your plan.”
“And?”
“It’s a go. I’m making arrangements now to establish contact with the target. As soon as I have a confirmation on date I’ll be in touch.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Scout replied and hung up the phone.
“Who was that?” Cole asked “Jonas.”
“What’d he want?”
“CBI business. You hungry? I am. We don’t have much to choose from, but I can scramble some eggs and make toast.”
“What kind of business?” he asked as she got up from the bed and threw on a t-shirt.
“I’m not really at liberty to discuss it,” she said as she started for the kitchen “Why?” He followed her into the kitchen She turned to see the cross expression on his face. “I just can’t, Cole. You know I work with the CBI from time to time and that work isn’t something I can talk about.”
“Oh, I see,” he said and turned away and disappeared through the doorway.
She chased after him. “Hey, come on!”
“No, you come on.” He turned on her, his face a hard mask of anger. “You tell me you don’t trust me then you want to make it like I’m the one with the problem?”
His words struck deep. Scout didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him to keep the information to himself. She had no doubt that he would keep it in confidence. But if she told him, she was sure he would try to talk her out of being involved and she couldn’t risk that. This was something she had to do. Alone.
“You know that’s not true.” She walked over to him. “My god, Cole, all that you know about me? How could I not trust you?”
Cole knew his anger was a little irrational. He didn’t even completely understand it himself. Or maybe he just didn’t want to. The fact was, now that he’d had time to digest the information he’d been given in the connection with Scout, he felt a bond with her that was stronger than anything he’d imagined. He wanted to shield her, protect her, and take care of her.
And he wanted her to want that from him. He wanted to be the one she confided in, trusted. The one she came to when the world was too harsh or when she needed comfort. He wanted to be her hero.
That realization gave him a degree of discomfort. He’d never had such needs and he wasn’t sure how to deal with them. And he felt a little guilty. He knew she had to trust him. Otherwise, he’d not have spent the last three days in her home, sharing her bed, seeing her at her most passionate, and her most vulnerable. And she would never have allowed the connection if there was no trust.
“I’m sorry,” he said after a long moment. “I understand.”
“No, I don’t think you do,” she replied. “I trust you, Cole. More than I’ve trusted anyone except for Jed. There are just some things I’m not at liberty to discuss and this is one of them. Please try and understand.”
He nodded and pulled her to him. “Weren’t we discussing breakfast?”
“Well, as a matter of fact, we were,” she replied with a smile, grateful he’d let the tension fade. “So, what would you like?”
“Scout and honey,” he said with a grin.
She pressed close and wiggled against him. “Well, cowboy, this just might be your lucky day. I think we have that very thing on the menu.”
“Then serve it up, baby, cause I got a powerful hunger.”
Scout laughed and jumped up, winding her legs around him. Her lips crushed against his, her passion every bit a match for his. Not breaking the lock of their lips, Cole carried her to the sofa, need burning hot inside him.