Page 19 of The Agent

“T HIS WAS A GOOD IDEA ,” Marley said, shooting Caleb a smile that made the drive to Coronado worth the traffic they’d encountered on the way.

Caleb watched as she dug her bare toes into the soft warm sand of Coronado Beach.

After leaving the Kincaid house, he’d suggested coming to the beach in order to give AJ enough time to take care of the security cameras.

His partner had said a couple of hours, but Caleb didn’t want to risk bringing Marley back too early.

He’d raised the beach idea on impulse, but now that they were here, he was glad they’d come.

The tranquil turquoise water lapping against the shore a few yards away soothed him, making him feel more relaxed than he had in months.

Still, he remained vigilant, just in case Grier had followed them.

“I can’t imagine growing up here,” he admitted, looking out at the water. “It’s so different from the east coast.”

“Yeah, I don’t think I’d like it over there,” Marley said. “I would miss the Pacific Ocean too much.”

“The Atlantic isn’t bad,” he protested. “Just a little cold.”

She snorted. “A little cold? Tell that to the passengers of the Titanic .”

She slid a hair elastic off her wrist and tied her hair up in a messy twist. Wavy strands framed her face and Caleb reached out to tuck some behind her ears. She smiled, then took his hand, interlacing her fingers with his.

“Thanks for coming to my dad’s today,” she told him as they moved closer to the water.

They’d taken off their shoes and left them on the sand, and the warm water splashed over Caleb’s toes.

The late-afternoon breeze felt like a soft caress on his face, the scent of sand and salt bringing a wave of serenity over him.

Yet, even as his muscles loosened and his face tipped up to soak in the sun, in the back of his mind he couldn’t stop thinking about how Marley would react when he told her who he really was.

On the drive out here, he’d considered not telling her at all.

Just packing up and taking off, letting another agent handle the stakeout and the hunt for Grier.

He knew Marley would be hurt, sure, but better a minor broken heart than another major dose of betrayal.

But now, as he watched her smiling at a squawking seagull that swooped by, as the warmth of her fingers seeped into his palm, he knew he couldn’t leave without telling her the truth.

After all the lies Grier had told her, she deserved honesty.

“My dad likes you,” she said. “Sam does, too, but he probably won’t admit it.”

“He’s just being protective. I’m sure they were both pretty shocked and pissed off when they found out about Patrick.”

Marley dropped her eyes. “Yeah, they were. But I don’t think anyone was as shocked as I was.”

Caleb tightened his grip on her hand. “You shouldn’t blame yourself. It sounds like your ex was a pretty smooth liar.”

“Let’s not talk about him anymore,” Marley said suddenly. “It’s such a beautiful day. I don’t want to spoil it.”

“What do you want to talk about then?”

“I don’t know. Anything. Tell me something. What do you do in New York when you’re not working?”

Caleb scrubbed his free hand through his hair. “Honestly? Not much, really.”

It was true. Now that he thought about it, he rarely took time off.

It was one assignment after the next, and when he did have some down time, he usually spent it consulting with other agents about their cases.

He and Russ had played poker every now and then, gone out to a bar a few times, but his partner had been a workaholic, too.

“You don’t go out? Ball games? Movies?” Marley prompted.

“Nope. I just work.”

She sighed. “There’s more to life than work, you know.”

“Not for me.”

“Do you ever get attached to people, or are you only attached to your job?”

A wave of discomfort swelled inside him.

He’d heard this before, from women he’d had casual flings with, women looking to turn it into something more.

Somehow, though, hearing the criticism come from Marley bugged him.

So what if the only real relationship he had was with his job? Was it really that unusual?

“My job is all I need,” he said with a shrug.

Marley shot him a knowing glance. “That’s what I thought, too, ever since Patrick took off. I told myself I didn’t need anything or anybody else.”

“And now you need that?”

“Need, no. But I want it.” A smile stretched across her face. “It’s because of you, you know.”

His mouth ran dry. “Yeah?”

“I’m having fun again, Caleb, thanks to you. You reminded me that there are still some good guys left in the world.”

Self-reproach crushed his chest. “Marley,” he started, his voice thick. “I wanted to tell you—”

She cut him off with a kiss. He tried to pull back, but the feel of her lips on his drained all common sense from his brain. As Marley looped her arms around his neck, he curled his fingers over her slender hips and bent down to deepen the kiss. Their tongues danced. His pulse sped up.

“How do you always manage to do that to me?” she said breathlessly.

“Do what?”

“Turn me on so hard, so fast.” She laughed. “You have a gift.”

Caleb took her hand and guided it to the bulge in his jeans. “I think you’re the one with the gift,” he sighed.

He nearly came apart as she gently rubbed his erection. With a strangled groan, he moved her hand and said, “We’re not alone.”

Marley looked around, her eyes widening when she spotted another couple walking hand-in-hand on the beach, as well as three teenagers horsing around in the water a hundred yards away.

She laughed again. “Okay, I guess you can add making me forget my surroundings to the list of things you’re good at.” Her brown eyes sparkled. “Wanna get out of here?”

Hesitation crept up his spine. He knew exactly what they would do if they left the beach and went back to her place, and talking wouldn’t be on the agenda. If they stayed here, out in public, he could fight the temptation to tear her clothes off and muster up enough courage to tell her the truth.

But then Marley kissed him again, and the wave of lust that hit him was so powerful he could barely remember his own name, let alone anything else.

She took his hand and led him toward the narrow staircase leading up to the parking lot where they’d left his car. He followed her blindly, unable to combat the potent force of desire pulling him. When they reached the car, Marley hopped in, her enthusiasm bringing a smile to his lips.

He shut the driver’s door and moved to start the engine, but Marley intercepted his hand. Before he could blink, she climbed onto his lap.

Heat coiled in his belly at the feel of her firm thighs straddling him. “What are you doing?” he choked out.

“What do you think?”

His cock thickened as she unbuttoned her shorts and began to wiggle out of them.

All the wiggling succeeded in making him even harder.

Fire seared through his blood, his mind turning to mush.

All he could do was lean back and let her take control.

Tossing her shorts onto the passenger seat, she stroked him over the denim then unzipped his jeans.

A streak of raw lust shot through him. He’d never done it in front of audience, but the notion of getting caught was an odd turn-on. There were no other cars in the lot, but someone could pull in at any moment.

Marley must have considered it, too, because as she slowly drew him out of his pants, she glanced out the window and said, “We’ll be quick. I…I just can’t wait.”

He knew the feeling. He’d never wanted anyone as badly as he wanted Marley, and yet there was more than just desire pulsing through his veins. Emotions he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in years bubbled up to the surface. Tenderness and sorrow and something hot and painful he couldn’t quite label.

His head lolled to the side as she stroked his stiff shaft, bringing him to a level of pleasure he’d never known before. Gulping, he met her gaze, and everything he felt was reflected right back at him.

“You’re amazing,” he said in a quiet voice.

Surprise and joy filled her face. Then she laughed. “You don’t have to woo me with sweet words. I’m the one doing the seducing here, remember?”

“I’m not wooing.” His voice cracked, much to his dismay. “I mean it, sweetheart, you’re amazing. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met.” Caleb cupped her breasts through the fabric of her top, fondling them gently, then moved one hand down to her stomach. “And the sexiest.”

A pretty flush rose on her cheeks. “Now you’re talking crazy.”

He slid his hand under her tank top. Circled her belly button with his index finger, then stroked his way between her legs. “No,” he disagreed. “It’s true. You’re sexy, Marley, so unbelievably sexy.”

She gasped when he pushed aside the crotch of her panties and began to prod and tease her damp folds.

She was more than ready for him, but he toyed with her for a few more seconds, drawing a series of soft, anxious purrs from her throat.

Finally, when he couldn’t stand it any longer, he withdrew his finger, covered himself with the condom she produced from her purse, and thrust his cock inside her.

They released simultaneous groans, pressing their foreheads against each other for a moment. And then Marley started to move.

She rode him furiously, while he dug his fingers into her waist and moved his hips to meet each frantic motion. Something primal unraveled inside him, a wild and inexplicable need to claim her, to push deep into her and show her it was where he belonged.

Where he wanted to belong.

“You’re so beautiful,” he muttered, watching the pleasure seep into her face.