Adult Vara was going to be a hell of a lot of fun. He watched her step into the tub and pull the curtain back. Only then did the ability to breathe return to him. He sucked down the humid air, more focused than ever on his goals. On Vara and what they could be if she'd give them a second chance.Alec shucked the rest of his clothes in record time. He pulled the curtain back just enough to step in. Vara stood facing him, her face tipped up to the shower head. Her dark hair was slicked to her shoulders and chest like some kind of silky cape. Her nipples poked through the tendrils, dusky brown discs against her olive skin.God damn she was beautiful.And he wasn't going to pounce on her. Not yet.He grabbed the tiny bottle of hotel soap and squirted most of it in his hands while she watched."Going to scrub my back?" she asked."Yup." And the rest of her.She pivoted, and he slicked the soap over her skin then down her arms. She leaned back against him and he stroked her stomach th
VARA CLOSED HER EYES as the pilot announced their preparations for landing.The last twenty-four hours were a dream. A sweet respite from reality.Deep down she knew that she should have never allowed Alec to tempt her. It wasn't as if she'd resisted him all that hard. She'd thought she had more pride than she did.Boy was she wrong.Alec's hand closed over hers and he squeezed.This was almost over.If things went remotely according to plan, they'd join his team in Cairo and fly back to the states tomorrow. She doubted things would be quite that clear cut, but in short order she would be back in the states with little clue as to what she should do after turning over the intel to the CIA."Relax," Alec muttered."I am relaxed." She sighed at the sound of her lie."Whatever you say."She turned her hand over and let him thread their fingers together.Jules was one seat in front of them sitting with a throne of pillows making the ride more comfortable. True to her word, she'd
ALEC STARED INTO THE camera, willing Joe Neilson to remain calm. Panicking in this situation would accomplish nothing."Your sister is safe and in CIA custody. That's all we know," Alec said."You told me she could be home by now." Joe's voice was clear, even, until the last word. His voice broke and ten years worth of anguish over his missing sister fractured it."Could be," Alec reminded him. "Our estimate was that it would take two to seven days to bring her home. She's in US custody. She's almost home. The CIA won't allow her to be taken again."The rest of Alec's team sat around the long table, not saying a word. Things had happened fast since the airport and were still racing out of control."Joe?" Ryan leaned forward and Joe's attention shifted off Alec. "What matters now is that Jules is safe in America custody."The two men stared at each other, some invisible communication passing between them. After the events that had gone down in Seattle, the Senator and Ryan had a s
"Vara?" Alec calld out."In here." Vara's voice echoed off the tile coming from the bathroom.He circled the bed to the bathroom. When they didn't have guests, the guys fought over who got to use it. Between the shower that could host a party and the two person soaker tub, it was lavish living. Vara lay with only her head poking out of the bubble bath. Her hair was wet and draped over the side, dripping onto a towel. She continued to stare at the bubbles, not looking at him. Whatever had happened at the airport must have been bad. It wasn't his place to pry or ask questions. His security clearance probably wasn't high enough, but damn it. She was upset, and he wanted to fix it."What's wrong?" He eased himself to the floor with his back to the wall and faced her.She didn't answer much less acknowledge that he'd spoken. Her eyes were empty and wherever her mind was, it wasn't here."What happened at the airport?" He dipped his hand below the water and found her ankle, satisfying
VARA HAD FORGOTTEN HOW draining flights across the ocean could be. With layovers, it had taken them a full day and then some to reach Atlanta where they said goodbye to the rest of Alec's team. No one had commented on their plans to depart for Miami on their own. It was simply accepted."Did we ever hear about the rest of my team? If they got to the states?" Vara turned her head toward Alec."Uh, I don't think anyone mentioned them, so I assumed no news was good news. Want me to find out?""Yes, please?" It would allow her to relax some knowing those three were safe."Let's call my boss." Alec pulled out his phone and jabbed the screen.The line rang through the rental car's speakers. He'd splurged on a convertible and she couldn't pretend it didn't make her happy."Who is dying?" a dry male voice asked."Zain, you're on speaker with me and Vara." Alec chuckled."Sorry, Ms. Price." Zain's tone went all business. "Has something happened?""No, Vara was just curious if you knew
ALEC LISTENED TO THE sounds of Vara's shower for a moment before retreating to the kitchen. He should be dragging and ready to drop. He hadn't slept much on the plane. But he couldn't waste time on a nap. He was under the same roof with Vara and he didn't know how long it would last.In theory, seven days. That was how long they'd booked the condo for. It didn't mean they'd actually stay that long. Anything could happen. She could get called in by the CIA. He could have a job come up. For however long they got, he wanted to use that time to reconnect with her.It hadn't gone unnoticed that she hadn't blinked an eye when he'd put their things in the master bedroom. There'd been no hesitation, no glancing around. Nothing. Which he took as a good sign. Besides, he didn't intend to sleep without her so long as they were together. Every minute had to count. This was his campaign to show her that they could be something together for real this time and not just a lust-driven fling.He'd go
DINNER ON THE PATIO was a relaxed affair. Vara and Alec stretched out on the lounge chairs and piled the food on a few plates between them, eating what they wanted. They didn't have much of a view through the wrought iron bars of anything except the vegetation bordering the lush lawn. It was still nice to sit outside without worrying. Vara almost didn't know what it felt like to be without concern for her safety."You and your mom on speaking terms?" Alec asked out of nowhere."Yeah. I call her every couple of weeks." Vara did the math. She was due for another call. "I should probably let her know where I am.""Things still rocky between you two?""That's nothing new." Vara wrinkled her nose and swung her legs over the side of the chair. She wasn't yet used to the feel of air on her bare legs."Hey." Alec reached over and took her hand. "She's your mom.""And I was a child she didn't want. It's no secret. I know she loves me, but let's face it. I wasn't an easy kid to parent and
VARA OPENED THE DOOR to the bedroom and found Alec standing on the other side, his hands braced on the frame."Hi." He grinned at her and even though there was plenty of space between them she could feel ghost touches along her cheek and inner knee. Places those lips had been."Hi. Come here often?" She gestured at the master bath behind her."Only when I need to." He lifted one shoulder."Move." She chuckled and shooed him to one side."Done?" He backed up, giving her space, which was a little disappointing."It's all yours." She strolled across the bedroom.The door snicking shut cut off any fantasy of him enraptured by the sight of her.What the hell was up with him?Alec had kept things fairly G rated. Even once it was just the two of them all he'd done was flirt a bit, hold her hand, kissed her fewer than five times-but nothing more. She'd fully expected him to pounce on her as soon as they were behind closed doors. Instead they'd spent a relaxing evening in front of the