Page 2

CHAPTER 1

Two weeks later…

“You ready?”

DEA agent Nova Martin blinked, giving herself a mental shake as she glanced up at Cooper before pushing off the side of his truck, hoping he hadn’t noticed that she’d been drifting for the past five minutes. “Sure.”

He sighed, moving over and pinning her against the door. “Were you sleeping on your feet?”

“What? Of course not.”

Cooper merely chuckled when she yawned a moment later.

She gave him a shove but the jerk barely moved. “Fine, so I’m a bit tired. It’s nearly midnight and we haven’t gotten more than a short nap in since Moody’s takedown.”

Cooper frowned. “That implies you were sleeping well before that. And don’t think I haven’t noticed how you’re still pushing down all that shit regarding Tate. Everything Moody’s death brought to the surface.”

Nova pursed her lips, holding her head high. “The bastard’s dead. Justice was served. It’s over.”

“Rumor has it if you keep lying to yourself long enough, you’ll start to believe it.”

“I do believe it because there’s nothing else for me to do.”

“Other than forgive yourself for Tate’s death. Seeing how it wasn’t on you.”

She looked away, aware nothing she said would sway Cooper’s opinion. Especially when he had a point. She’d been a few thousand miles away when Tate had made the impromptu decision to deviate from his scheduled meetings in Virginia and rendezvous with Moody in Texas. What had led to Tate’s ultimate demise. But that hadn’t stopped the voices inside her head.

Or the nightmares. Which Cooper had been gracious enough not to call her on, yet.

Cooper palmed her cheek, waiting until she made eye contact. “How about I make you a deal? I won’t ask you uncomfortable questions, and you won’t dwell on Tate or Moody or anything else work-related for the next twenty-four hours.”

Nova tiptoed up, brushing her mouth across his. “Now that’s a deal I can get behind so… get us home, slugger.”

Cooper gave her a ghost of a kiss then eased her sideways before opening her door. He boosted her into his truck then circled around to his side — letting Whiskey hop in first and move into the back before he jumped behind the wheel. He waved to Bellamy when his buddy nodded at them from the porch before backing up the truck and pulling onto the street.

Nova waited until they were on the long, deserted road back to Cooper’s cottage before lifting the middle console and sliding over until she was pressed against his side.

Cooper gave her a quick side eye, still focusing mainly on the road. “You’re not buckled, sweetheart.”

“Are you considering crashing the truck for the ten minutes we’ll be on the road?”

“No, but Murphy and all that.”

She nuzzled his neck, nipping at his ear as she ran one hand along his thigh, stopping short of grabbing him through the denim. “I’m pretty sure that what I have in mind is worth the risk.”

He swallowed. Hard. And she knew he was replaying how he’d promised to ravage her once the mission was wrapped up. The fact it had been over for forty-eight hours only highlighted how much control he had. Though, that had more to do with the endless meetings with the FBI and all the patrols Cooper and his team had arranged for Bellamy’s place. What she assumed was their way of ensuring they hadn’t missed any of Moody’s entourage who might have hung around with the hope of exacting some form of revenge.

Cooper glanced at her. “I should warn you that if you put that sexy mouth on me, I’m liable to drive us off the road and into the damn ocean. But, once we’re home…”

Home. He’d been using that term a lot lately, and she had to admit, she loved the sound of it.

Nova kissed his neck, smiling against his skin when he moaned. “I’m gonna rock your world. So, I suggest you map out how you’re going to last more than five minutes in the few we have left before we get there.”

“Oh sweetheart. I love how you think I’m going to let you get me off before I’ve licked every inch of you. In fact, you might want to close your eyes for the last few miles because you won’t be catching up on any sleep tonight.”

Nova nipped at the muscle at the base of his neck before resting her head on his shoulder. Five minutes. That’s how long she’d rest because she was holding Cooper to his word.

He was loving her all night.

“No!”

Nova jolted awake, chest heaving, a light sheen of sweat beading her skin. She sucked in a quick breath, scanning the room as she tried to place her surroundings — shuffle her memories. Because the last thing she remembered was snuggling up to Cooper in his truck — promising to rock his world.

She glanced at the clock, groaning when she realized two hours had passed since she’d all but thrown herself at him in the cab. That she’d likely fallen asleep during those scant few miles and Cooper had, once again, taken the high road and slipped her under the covers after only removing her boots and jeans.

Not that she’d expect anything less, but after pushing the boundaries of their no-sex pledge as far as they could, she’d planned on jumping the man the moment they’d bumped their way through his door. Preferably already entwined.

Cooper roused beside her, mumbling something in his sleep as he tugged her against him, brushing one hand across her waist before drifting off again, easing the panicky twist in her gut. The one that usually lasted long after the dream had finally faded.

He did that to her. Grounded her when she thought she’d either float away or sink beneath the surface.

Which wasn’t helping her get her head focused on her career. In fact, the longer she hung out with Cooper, the more she craved sharing the same space with him. Waking up to him smiling down at her every morning. Falling asleep with her head on his chest at night. Even Whiskey seemed content having Nova around, often curling up at her feet at the foot of the bed.

As if the three of them simply fit together like puzzle pieces.

She’d never had that before. Growing up in foster care — running off at sixteen — she’d been on her own for what seemed like an eternity. Tate had taken a shine to her from the first day they were partnered together, and he’d done his best to be a father figure. But he hadn’t been much different. More of a loner than most. Always opting to live in the shadows — taking the riskiest jobs because they kept him isolated. Just the way he liked it. Losing him…

She hadn’t been prepared for how much it had hurt. As if a part of her had been ripped away.

More images of the dream replayed in her head, and she untangled herself from Cooper then gently crept off the bed. She could wake him up — have him love the unsettling feelings away. But that seemed dangerously close to admitting he held a piece of her she couldn’t reach, and she wasn’t sure if giving him that much control was wise. Not with her emotions prickling beneath her skin like an exposed nerve, ready to burst free and utter a few words that would likely send the man running for the hills.

Whiskey raised her head, jumping off the bed then trotting behind Nova as she made her way onto the lanai. The same spot Cooper had found her two weeks ago. The start of her descent into madness because despite all the reasons to return to Columbia — her desire to take Tate’s place as a senior agent in the office — her heart wasn’t really in it.

It wanted to stay here. See if she and Cooper might be able to make a life together. It wasn’t as if she’d stopped calling him because she wasn’t attracted to him. In fact, she’d known from the start he was the kind of guy she could really fall for. But she’d also known she’d never be able to keep lying to him if they jumped into bed together. That sooner or later, she’d break and confess that Octavia was alive. And that singular thought had scared her soul deep.

That Cooper had the potential to mean more to her than her job. More than Tate’s expectations.

So, she’d let their string of dates slide. Fade into the past until Tate’s death had brought it all full circle.

What was beginning to look like an act of providence.

The thought bounced around inside her head as the light breeze lifted her hair — cooling her skin as she stood staring out at the moon. Enjoying the way it silhouetted the hills in the background as shadows danced across the lawn. Whiskey sniffed around the yard then settled at Nova’s feet. Nova gave the dog a scratch behind the ears, loving the way her fur tickled her palm when hands cupped her waist and yanked her backwards.

She inhaled, reacting on instinct before she had time to think. A drop of her weight then a twist and she was free. Was able to put some distance between her and her attacker. She rose, shifting to balance on the balls of her feet. Hands up and ready to defend. She was already working through her series of strikes, when the guy laughed.

“Easy, Nova. I was trying to be romantic, not send you into a full-blown panic.”

She blinked, chest heaving, all those moves still reeling inside her head before she cursed then lowered her hands. Doing her best to shake out some of the tension as she stared at Cooper, torn between admiring how damn hot he looked in nothing but a pair of boxers, his muscular frame outlined in the pale moonlight, and wanting to punch the guy in his ridiculously handsome face. The one she already wanted to kiss.

Nova rolled her eyes, batting at his hand when he reached for her. “Seriously, Coop? I’m still wired from the takedown and you’re sneaking up behind me? You know how hyper vigilant I can get. I damn near decked you.”

Cooper grinned, the ass, then shrugged, brushing some of his dark hair back from his face. “I don’t mind a bit of physical foreplay if you don’t.”

She swallowed. Hard. “You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?”

“Not a bad way to go.” He motioned her closer. “Another dream?”

She shrugged, closing the distance as he took her in his arms.

He sighed. “You could have woken me.”

“I just needed some air. Besides, I knew if I woke you, we wouldn’t just sleep.”

“Is that your way of telling me you don’t want me to ravage you?”

She scoffed. “Were you even listening in the truck? Because I would have brought you to your knees in that cab if I hadn’t fallen asleep. But after you’d been a complete gentleman, it seemed wrong to wake your ass up just because I’d had a nightmare.”

Cooper smiled. “In that case, I have a promise to keep.”

Nova grinned, staring into his eyes and inhaling at the desire reflected back at her. The pupils so large there was only a thin ring of deep blue around the black.

She snagged her bottom lip, running her palms down his chest and along his ribs. Tracing the sculpted muscles across his abdomen. How the thick bands created dark shadows on his skin. The man was rugged and strong and so damn gorgeous it made her chest hurt. Right there in the center.

Coop closed his eyes, clenching his jaw as if her touch tore at his defenses. As if simply looking at her would push him over some internal tipping point. Make him lose control.

Good. She wanted him to lose control. Wanted the warrior side of him to take over. The one she’d been privileged enough to see in action these past two weeks. And she had to admit, the man was incredible. Strong. Fearless. With an easy rhythm to his movements that made it almost hypnotic in nature. And the way he handled Whiskey… She’d never seen a team of dog handlers so in sync with their partners as Cooper and his mates.

All of which had only made her want him more.

Nova inched closer, drawing her finger along the waistband of his shorts. “Something wrong, Coop? Because you look as if I’m torturing you.”

He squeezed his eyes tighter before prying them open — meeting her gaze. Stealing the breath she’d just taken because the way he was looking at her was nothing short of lethal.

Cooper wrapped his hand around her wrist, stopping her just shy of squeezing him through his shorts. “Sweetheart… Nothing’s changed since the truck other than me wanting you even more. Which means if you touch me like that, I’m liable to come in my damn shorts. So, let’s mix this up…”

He moved, lifting her and spinning — backing her against the wall like he had that first night. That promise he’d talked about. How he wanted to pick up from that moment, with her pinned to the wall. So damn needy for him the only survivable answer was yes.

She opened when he crushed his mouth to hers, tangling her tongue with his until black dots flitted across her vision, and he finally eased back. His breath mixing with hers. The sheer size of him holding her captive. He brushed his thumb across her lips, inhaling when she sucked it into her mouth. A visual of how she hoped their encounter might start.

Had he growled? Or had it been Whiskey? Maybe a car engine somewhere out front? Because she’d definitely heard a raspy sound fill the air as the vibration of it had rattled through her chest.

Cooper leaned in, one arm braced against the wall as he drew a path down from her shoulder, circling her nipple until it stabbed at the shirt she’d borrowed from him. “Dangerous. Because with how primed I am, this could last the rest of the night.”

“I’d be disappointed if it didn’t. So… get us inside, slugger. Unless you want me to go to my knees, right here?”

He clenched his jaw, making the muscle in his temple jump then kissed her — deeper than before. A hint of what he was capable of. As if he’d only been teasing earlier. Nova wasn’t sure how long they stood there, her back pressed into the wall, his body hot and hard against her before he finally seemed willing to move.

He snagged her hand, pausing one last time. “Are you sure? If it’s still too soon…”

Nova jumped at him, grinning when he caught her, helping her wrap her legs around his waist before he started walking. Kissing her the entire time as they bumped their way back to his bed. He didn’t bother stopping, just launched them both onto the mattress, laughing when they bounced once before his weight settled on top of her, and everything clicked into place.

She palmed his jaw, beckoning him to her with a tilt of her head — allowing her fingers to slide along his cheek and into his hair. Anchoring him to her when he ate at her mouth before finally shifting his weight onto one elbow as he reached for the hem of her shirt.

Whiskey yipped, and a moment later, someone pounded on the door. Cursing, Cooper glanced over his shoulder as he huffed out a breath. Nova looked, too, hoping maybe they’d imagined it when the person knocked, again. Louder than before.

“I swear to god, it that’s Bellamy or Ethan or Rusty, I’ll freaking kick their ass.” He rolled off her, extending his hand. “Come with me.”

Nova took his hand, nearly banging into his chest when he pulled her off the bed. She arched a brow, allowing her gaze to sweep down his body. “That’s what I thought I’d be doing, but…”

He’d definitely growled, the low sound accentuating the needy roil of her stomach. “Hold that thought, because this is only a minor interruption.”

He struck off, their hands intertwined, Whiskey trotting along beside them. Nova stopped just shy of the entrance, leaning against the corner of one wall as Cooper checked the upper window, glancing back at her before opening the door.

He didn’t bother trying to hide anything, simply cranked it aside, allowing Whiskey to stand beside him. “Hawk? This is unexpected. Wait. Are Bellamy and Octavia okay? Were there more tangos? Shit, I can grab my gear…”

“Whoa. Slow down. You know, Bellamy claimed you were the mother hen of the bunch, but I just hadn’t seen you in action, until now. And no one’s bleeding out, but there’s a situation that needs your attention.” Hawk glanced back at her, obviously taking in the way her hair was likely spiked up in all directions from Cooper fisting it and how she was only wearing his shirt.

Cooper waved the man inside. “Is this your way of telling me I have a mission that can’t wait?”

“Not exactly…” Hawk sighed. “I’m actually here for Nova.”

“Me?” Nova joined Cooper, leaning against him when he placed his hands on her hips. A sure sign they were far more than friends. “Only Bellamy’s parents and my boss know I’m on the island… Shit. Please tell me he didn’t call you?”

Hawk winced, and Nova knew things were about to go off the rails. The reckoning she’d been dreading since Tate’s off-the-books mission involving Octavia had come to light.

The man sighed. “He said something about you not answering your cell. I guess because of Bellamy’s parents being DEA, they had my number and…”

Hawk braced some of his weight against the door frame. “I called Bellamy and got the address for that rental you’d booked, but a very disgruntled host said you’d checked out a few hours after checking in. So, I took a chance that you were staying with Cooper.”

She snorted. “Looks as if I’m not half the special agent I thought I was.”

“You two are rock solid in your professionalism. You don’t let a hint of whatever you’ve got going on here show through… until you look at each other. Then… Let’s just say I’d be horrible at my job if I didn’t see the connection. You both glow.”

Nova glanced up at Cooper, and the way he looked at her was more than just a simple glow. It was neon. Blinding in its intensity and she couldn’t help but wonder if all his buddies had noticed, too. If it had been futile attempting to keep their budding relationship a secret.

“It’s not that we care if anyone knows, it’s just…” Cooper sighed. “With the non-stop threats, we thought it best to have everyone focused on the mission and not razzing us.”

Hawk chuckled. “Right. It’s all for the greater good. Anyway, your boss is waiting to have a video chat at the office, so if you think you two can keep it clean for an hour, we should go.”

“Now?” Nova tensed. “Cartwright wants to talk at two o’clock in the morning?”

“Guess he’s impatient.” Hawk grinned. “Is that a problem? Do you two need to finish what I obviously interrupted first? Or can you slip on some pants, tamp everything down with a shot of Glenfiddich, and pick this up later?”

“You know Whiskey’s trained to tackle a person on command, right?” Cooper eased back, grabbing Nova’s hand. “Give us five and we’ll follow you back to the ranch.”

Hawk snorted as if he didn’t quite believe they’d keep to the schedule then headed out, jumping into one of the Brotherhood trucks.

Cooper tugged her close, nibbling at her neck as he blew out a rough breath. “If this wasn’t our first time together, I’d throw caution to the wind and bend you over the counter so we could take the edge off. But…” He turned her in his arms. “I need this to be special.”

Nova tiptoed up, claiming his mouth to the point it was indecent. “I’m with you. Special’s a given, but five minutes isn’t going to cut it, so, we’ll have to pick this back up later. After I get fired.”

“Cartwright isn’t going to fire you. He’s not a fool, and you’re one of his best agents.”

“Was, until I went rogue.” She waved off Cooper’s frown. “We’re down to four minutes. Think you can kiss me the entire way back to your bedroom and still have us out on time?”

“That sounds like a challenge. And I never fail those.”