Brody stood outside the door and waiting for Tess when she came out, he pulled her down the hall into the dark corner. Holding her against his body, he leaned down and whispered against her ear. “Come back to my room.”
Wrapping her arms around him she looked up at him. “I need at least a few minutes sleep or I’ll be useless in the morning.”
She was right and he knew it. Neither of them would get any sleep if they were together. Nodding, he dropped a kiss on her mouth and then released her. “Go.”
With a slow appraising look down his entire body, she smiled at him and then turned and went up the stairs. He stood at the bottom and watched as she climbed them, each step revealing more of what was under his shirt. Absolutely nothing was against her skin but the shirt. Blowing out a loud breath he shook his head and finally went up the stairs. He probably wouldn’t sleep a wink now, not with that image burn
Tess couldn’t remember the last time she felt this relaxed and content, it was the same reason she was tired. She could hear the others moving around in the next room, probably going over what Grayson had told her and Brody earlier. Staring into the coffee in her cup, she smiled when her thoughts went back to Brody. Being with him hadn’t been what she had thought it would be.Brody stepped into the kitchen and stopped when she looked up at him. Judging by the state of his sandy hair he had just stumbled out of bed.“Hey.” She felt her face flush when he smiled as his eyes moved over her with intimacy.“I didn’t hear you get up.” Moving from the door towards the coffee pot, he rubbed a hand over his face. “Did I miss anything?”She watched him as he moved around, his movements were graceful for a man his size. “I’ve only been up a few minutes.”
Brody rounded the corner almost running over Tessa. Grabbing her arms, he steadied her. “Where are you running to in a hurry?” Her warm hands rested against his chest, burning him through his shirt.“Grayson called us all to the basement—you didn’t know?”He felt like he was drowning in her soft eyes. “I was working out then hopped in the shower.”“Oh.”It was hard to not do more than hold her arms when her eyes caressed him. When she reached up and brushed his damp hair back from his face, he had to remind his brain of what she had just said. “Why the basement?”Easing her hands slowly down his chest to rest by his waist, she shrugged. “I’m not sure, but he said to leave anything electronic up here.”“Let’s go see what’s up.” Hesitating for a few seconds, he reluctantly
Crouching down, Brody moved a little further over the knoll. “They have both containers loaded up.”Tess watched through the binoculars. “Everyone is gone but the driver of the truck and that jeep parked at the end.”Brody looked over to Joslee. He’d been filling Dom and the others in on what was happening. He shook his head. “They don’t have an ID yet.” Glaring at the truck, he clenched his jaw a few times. “Too bad we can’t get close enough to disable the truck to stall until the Captain gets it together.”Lowering the binoculars she looked at him and then back to the truck. “Tell me what to do and I’ll pop down do it and get back here.”“What if you can’t get back just like that?” He didn’t want to agree with her idea, but a part of him knew it was probably the only chance they had. They
Tess tried not to think of how pissed Brody was going to be that she’d tricked him into agreeing to let her near the containers. If Gray’s little contraption worked and jammed up what was inside the container, it would be worth it. Of course the only ones that knew about it were her and Grayson—that wasn’t going to sit well with the others either. She slid along slowly on her belly on top of the cool steel container, trying to keep her body low enough to not be seen.Lifting her head, she spotted the truck coming up fast. All she had to do was somehow get from this trailer to the truck Joslee was driving like a madman. No biggie, how hard could jumping from one moving vehicle to another be? Swallowing she shuffled around so she could come down the back of the container feet first. If her ability worked, it would save a whole lot of stress, but regardless of whatever they’d done to ensure the t
Brody didn’t take his eyes off Tessa as Jennah mothered him and cleaned and bandaged his shoulder. Tess was chewing her bottom lip as she read over the list of known associates of the guy they’d identified. Of course it turned out to be someone everyone knew or knew of—and taking him down was going to have to be a very precise operation. Getting close enough to the man in charge wasn’t going to be an easy thing to accomplish.Tessa lowered the pages and leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes for a few seconds. It was long enough for him to allow his eyes to travel over her without being caught. When she opened them again, he looked away and met Joslee’s glare. Lifting his eyebrows, he tried to look repentant for tormenting the man that could hear what he was thinking—which at this moment was something he couldn’t wait to be doing to Tess.The Captain came back into the room and glan
“Do you have visual?” Dom turned and looked at Brody, one eyebrow quirked. “You keep asking Smithy that every ten seconds and we’re going to spend all night standing out here.” Lowering the binoculars long enough to send the other man an annoyed look, Brody shrugged. “I’ve only asked twice. There are so many arriving right now; I don’t want to lose her.” “She’s moved a total of twenty steps since she and the Colonel got there Brody, relax.” He knew he was tensing up, but as hard as he tried he couldn’t seem to bring it under control. “I am,” he lied. Dom snorted. “Bullshit! You are so friggin tense my nerves are twitching—back it down a few notches or I’m going to have to send you to sit in the truck.” Taking a deep breath, Brody tried once more to reign in the emotions that were trampling him. He was ready to send himself to the truck for a time out when a voice came over the mic that ha
“The only thing that would be worse than sitting here staring off into space would be if Tess let us listen in on the speeches. What could they possibly take this long to say? We need donations, please open your damn wallets.” Jennah hissed into the mics.Dom chuckled. “Patience doesn’t seem to be your strong point lately, lady.”“Trade you places, husband.”Brody shook his head and glanced at the man beside him to see an idiot’s grin on his face.“If only I could, wife.”“Talk time is winding down,” Joslee informed all.“It’s about time.” Brody muttered to Dom.“Yeah.” Dom turned back towards the building. “All eyes on Tess until we have her.”“Might take a few—the Councilman seems to be leading her all over the place, even holding her arm.”S
Tess couldn’t have turned around and looked behind if she had a chance; she was sandwiched between the Councilman and one of his goons. When the earpiece attached to her earring had gone dead, she could only hope that Brody got her signal. Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she cautiously looked at the man sitting beside her. He hadn’t uttered one word since they’d gotten in the car. The driver kept looking at her in the mirror and she tried to avoid making eye contact with him as well.When the car turned a corner in a rush speed, the councilman’s weight hit her. The only reason they would speed up had to mean they were being followed. She knew Dom well enough to know if he was the one driving there was no way this driver was going to be able to lose him—the man had chased down a perp on foot more than once; in a vehicle he was a demon. All she had to do was hold it together until backup got here.
It took Tess a moment to pull away from Brody’s kiss when she realized she’d brought them to the backyard instead of inside the house. “You had me all distracted and I didn’t focus hard enough.” Putting his arm around her, he pulled her against him and turned them towards the door. “Oh I’d say you were focused on the right thing.” Unzipping the vest, Brody shrugged out of it as soon as they entered the house. Tess kicked off her heels and sighed in relief to be free of them. Before she could turn around he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, cuddling her against his warm body. “Can I bribe you to wear those shoes again, later?” Tilting her head she closed her eyes as his mouth moved over the side of her neck. “I believe it’s illegal to bribe a police officer.” “Mmm, I’ll take my chances.” “Oh, good you’re back.” Jennah moved slowly into the room. Tes
Brody zipped the vest and pointed at the screen. “Get me to there and I’ll hoof it around get in behind the car.”“Got it.” Grayson announced as he accelerated and went barrelling down into the ditch the second they cleared the road barriers.“Smithy, you’re on scope. Anyone so much as breathes on Tess and you take them down a peg.” He growled into the com.“Won’t take my eyes off her.” The sniper in the group responded.“Colonel and I are in position. His men on are the ship with the containers and surrounding the yard.” Joslee reported. “I got your ass covered, Dom, whenever you’re ready.”Brody grabbed the door handle. “No one fires until Tess is clear.” He knew it didn’t need to be said, but he wasn’t taking any chances with her life.As he hit the ground for the second time tha
Tess couldn’t have turned around and looked behind if she had a chance; she was sandwiched between the Councilman and one of his goons. When the earpiece attached to her earring had gone dead, she could only hope that Brody got her signal. Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she cautiously looked at the man sitting beside her. He hadn’t uttered one word since they’d gotten in the car. The driver kept looking at her in the mirror and she tried to avoid making eye contact with him as well.When the car turned a corner in a rush speed, the councilman’s weight hit her. The only reason they would speed up had to mean they were being followed. She knew Dom well enough to know if he was the one driving there was no way this driver was going to be able to lose him—the man had chased down a perp on foot more than once; in a vehicle he was a demon. All she had to do was hold it together until backup got here.
“The only thing that would be worse than sitting here staring off into space would be if Tess let us listen in on the speeches. What could they possibly take this long to say? We need donations, please open your damn wallets.” Jennah hissed into the mics.Dom chuckled. “Patience doesn’t seem to be your strong point lately, lady.”“Trade you places, husband.”Brody shook his head and glanced at the man beside him to see an idiot’s grin on his face.“If only I could, wife.”“Talk time is winding down,” Joslee informed all.“It’s about time.” Brody muttered to Dom.“Yeah.” Dom turned back towards the building. “All eyes on Tess until we have her.”“Might take a few—the Councilman seems to be leading her all over the place, even holding her arm.”S
“Do you have visual?” Dom turned and looked at Brody, one eyebrow quirked. “You keep asking Smithy that every ten seconds and we’re going to spend all night standing out here.” Lowering the binoculars long enough to send the other man an annoyed look, Brody shrugged. “I’ve only asked twice. There are so many arriving right now; I don’t want to lose her.” “She’s moved a total of twenty steps since she and the Colonel got there Brody, relax.” He knew he was tensing up, but as hard as he tried he couldn’t seem to bring it under control. “I am,” he lied. Dom snorted. “Bullshit! You are so friggin tense my nerves are twitching—back it down a few notches or I’m going to have to send you to sit in the truck.” Taking a deep breath, Brody tried once more to reign in the emotions that were trampling him. He was ready to send himself to the truck for a time out when a voice came over the mic that ha
Brody didn’t take his eyes off Tessa as Jennah mothered him and cleaned and bandaged his shoulder. Tess was chewing her bottom lip as she read over the list of known associates of the guy they’d identified. Of course it turned out to be someone everyone knew or knew of—and taking him down was going to have to be a very precise operation. Getting close enough to the man in charge wasn’t going to be an easy thing to accomplish.Tessa lowered the pages and leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes for a few seconds. It was long enough for him to allow his eyes to travel over her without being caught. When she opened them again, he looked away and met Joslee’s glare. Lifting his eyebrows, he tried to look repentant for tormenting the man that could hear what he was thinking—which at this moment was something he couldn’t wait to be doing to Tess.The Captain came back into the room and glan
Tess tried not to think of how pissed Brody was going to be that she’d tricked him into agreeing to let her near the containers. If Gray’s little contraption worked and jammed up what was inside the container, it would be worth it. Of course the only ones that knew about it were her and Grayson—that wasn’t going to sit well with the others either. She slid along slowly on her belly on top of the cool steel container, trying to keep her body low enough to not be seen.Lifting her head, she spotted the truck coming up fast. All she had to do was somehow get from this trailer to the truck Joslee was driving like a madman. No biggie, how hard could jumping from one moving vehicle to another be? Swallowing she shuffled around so she could come down the back of the container feet first. If her ability worked, it would save a whole lot of stress, but regardless of whatever they’d done to ensure the t
Crouching down, Brody moved a little further over the knoll. “They have both containers loaded up.”Tess watched through the binoculars. “Everyone is gone but the driver of the truck and that jeep parked at the end.”Brody looked over to Joslee. He’d been filling Dom and the others in on what was happening. He shook his head. “They don’t have an ID yet.” Glaring at the truck, he clenched his jaw a few times. “Too bad we can’t get close enough to disable the truck to stall until the Captain gets it together.”Lowering the binoculars she looked at him and then back to the truck. “Tell me what to do and I’ll pop down do it and get back here.”“What if you can’t get back just like that?” He didn’t want to agree with her idea, but a part of him knew it was probably the only chance they had. They
Brody rounded the corner almost running over Tessa. Grabbing her arms, he steadied her. “Where are you running to in a hurry?” Her warm hands rested against his chest, burning him through his shirt.“Grayson called us all to the basement—you didn’t know?”He felt like he was drowning in her soft eyes. “I was working out then hopped in the shower.”“Oh.”It was hard to not do more than hold her arms when her eyes caressed him. When she reached up and brushed his damp hair back from his face, he had to remind his brain of what she had just said. “Why the basement?”Easing her hands slowly down his chest to rest by his waist, she shrugged. “I’m not sure, but he said to leave anything electronic up here.”“Let’s go see what’s up.” Hesitating for a few seconds, he reluctantly