Silence surrounded her, all the occupants of the house rather suspiciously finding activities outside or in the shed at the back of the property. Writing in the notebook in front of her, Bella tried to focus on her ideas about leaking their audio files, but the settling of the old pipes and the moan of the wind continued to distract her. It would most likely rain soon, but for the time being, it was merely windy and dark from heavy clouds.
A creak caught her attention, and she paused, something settling at the back of her neck; a precognition or an instinct. As far as she knew, they were safe—relatively speaking. Blithers couldn't bother them anymore, and Barrett didn’t seem to realize the Cullens were onto him. For the most part, Tito had kept to himself since returning—likely because he knew they’d kick him out of the house to fend for himself otherwise—and Dylan blended in fairly seamlessly with a group of strangers. Currently, Holden was at the CIA offices, doing what he could to reinstate his security clearance so they could pass on the information they’d gained to the president.
And yet, Bella couldn't help the uneasy feeling tickling her nape. Sensing movement to her right, she reached for her revolver at her side, only to remember she hadn’t been carrying indoors.
Lifting her head, she glanced around her. The dining room was well-lit, but the clouds blocked the sun beyond the windows. Lights glowed softly in the distance, winking at her when the wind picked up again.
Frowning, she told herself to stop being ludicrous. There was no one in the house with her. No reason to feel so on edge. But movement caught her periphery again, and she stood abruptly, nearly knocking over her chair.
“Okay, guys. This isn’t funny.”
The hair on her arms spiked as he rounded the corner from the kitchen, a black ski mask obscuring his face.
“You’re all alone,” he intoned softly, leaning casually against the door frame.
His deep tone made her belly quiver. “My family is just outside right now.”
Stalking forward, he moved stealthily closer—as she’d often noticed, he emulated a predatory jungle cat’s smooth and silent movements—stopping inches from where she stood. “Pity for you.”
“Is it?” Tilting her head up to meet the challenge in his sizzling gaze, she bit her lip to stop the threatening grin. “Or am I ripe for the taking?”
Seizing her shoulders, he mashed his mouth to hers, giving her the taste of the fabric mask. Bella brought her hands up to his chest and pushed, managing only the barest movement against his considerable breadth.
“Most definitely ripe,” he mumbled as she forced him back a step.
“My husband won’t take kindly to you being here, much less to that stolen kiss.”
“Can’t steal that which is freely given,” he returned.
She tossed her head haughtily and glared. “Nothing is freely given to a thief. I must warn you, you’re wasting your time. There's nothing of value here.”
“Plundering your virtue could never be a waste of time.”
Bella couldn't repress her snort, but she covered it with a cough. They’d had few chances to be alone recently, and their time to play was likely limited. If the sky opened up, it would force anyone enjoying the outdoors back into the house.
With the printed skull hiding all but his verdant eyes, she couldn't tell if he was grinning ear to ear or remaining serious. Either way, she intended to play along. “You’ll have to take it by force, then. My virtue belongs to only one man.”
“We’ll see about that.”
He reached for her again, and she darted to his left. As she knew he would, he gave chase, circling the table before she took off up the stairs. Various doors lined the hall, most of them closed. She knew their best bet was to keep the antics to their own bedroom, but she could at least make him work for it first. Sprinting up to the third-floor attic, she second-guessed her idea as her breathing struggled to catch up with the unexpected exercise.
Behind her, his footsteps could be heard stomping up the staircase. She’d moved fast enough that he paused on the second-floor landing, but then his footsteps echoed as he climbed up after her.
“Playing cat and mouse won’t stop me,” he said in a taunting voice.
In the attic, there were a few beds strewn along the walls and one bathroom built out from the dormer. Her only option was to circle the room and beat him back to the stairs.
“Here, kitty kitty.”
A grin slashed across her face at his teasing, and she tried her damndest to restrain her giddiness. “I’m the mouse, and you won’t catch me.”
Backing to the far wall, she planted her palms behind her. Out the window, several leaves blew past as the early fall wind reminded her they had a time limit.
So she bolted for the steps when he started forward, hoping she didn’t fall and break a hip as he charged after her. His strong grip missed her upper arm by millimeters, whispering against the fabric of her shirt as he swore.
Knowing where she must go, she went down the hall to their bedroom door, opening it just as he caught up. Slamming into her back, he pushed her through the doorway and closed it behind them, clutching her against his chest.
“Caught you,” he murmured, spinning her and lowering his head inch by inch. Watching her eyes the entire time he descended toward her, he lifted the mask enough to expose his mouth, finally releasing her gaze to touch his lips to her cheek and the side of her neck.
Bella couldn't resist the moan crawling up her throat. If nothing else had revealed his identity, the solid angle of his sharp jaw was a dead giveaway. Fighting the urge to mold her hands to his ass and slide them up his back to pull his hair, she instead turned her head to refuse him access to the tender skin behind her ear.
“Wanna play tough, do you?”
Meeting his eyes once more, Bella said, “You’re a stranger who broke into my home. I’m honor-bound to fight you off every chance I get.”
“Sounds like a good time to me.”
With that, he scooped her up, carrying her to the bed and spreading her out on top of the comforter. Scrambling up, Bella tried to weigh the pros and cons of running off. First, he’d chase her, and wouldn’t that be fun? Second, he’d undoubtedly catch her, especially within the confines of their bedroom.
But, oh, God, to let him have his way with her would be exquisite.
“What shall it be?” he demanded, the mask pulled back down to cover his mouth and jaw.
“Perhaps . . . perhaps you’ve won.”
Her heart beat thickly in her chest when he lowered his powerful frame down over her. She’d never tire of the feeling of domination, of letting him throw her around a little as though she weighed nothing. It was thrilling and made her feel so feminine and delicate, when otherwise she’d prefer to be seen as strong. Between them, in the confines of their intimacy, she could be anyone she wanted.
“Of course I won,” he declared, aligning himself between her thighs. “You can’t resist me.”
Tipping her head back, she glared at him defiantly. “Maybe you should have to work for it, then. Prove to me how irresistible you are.”
Her goading worked, and he raised up enough to jerk his shirt over his head. Dear Jesus, the years had been entirely too kind to him. Then again, he never gave up his running and lifting routine, and the extra training in Colorado had only helped carve out his muscles. There was something indescribable about seeing his ink marrying perfectly with his sinew, especially with his waistband riding low on his hips. . . and all of that added to the skull mask.
Before she caved from that sight alone, she bucked her hips in her fake attempt to dislodge him. Knowing his strength could outmatch hers basically any given day, she appreciated the way he responded by moving back a few inches.
“Does the wench protest too much?”
Unable to stop the girlish giggle from escaping her, Bella laughed up at him. “Of course not. There’s simply never been another man between my legs other than my husband.”
“Finally, the truth.” Dipping his head, he whispered in her ear. “Perhaps you’d enjoy the feeling of another man’s thick cock sliding inside you.”
The breath against her ear made her shiver again, and she warred with herself once more. Giving in was so damn tempting. “Never.”
He shrugged, pulling back enough to look down at her disheveled hair. “By force, then?”
By the way he paused, she wondered if he sincerely thought she needed a minute to decide. Though it was true that a man nearly managed to force her to submit by sheer brute strength, Bella would never look at her husband and think of that man.
“If you think you can.”
One hand shot between her thighs, and he cupped her over her pants. “Oh, yes, my dear, I most certainly can.”
Tugging and twisting, he removed her clothes while she weakly fought him off. Left with nothing but a flush covering her skin, she had to admit he’d made her body pulse in need for him. Firmly holding her hands above her head, he covered her, rocking his fully clothed lower body against her nakedness. He was so hard for her, she felt it straining against his zipper.
“See how wet you are already?” To prove it, he swiped a finger along her clit and brought it up to show her.
That touch alone made her shudder. “Then you’ve won your prize.”
Bringing his finger to her lips, he pressed it inside her mouth, his pupils dilating as she swirled her tongue over him. “What a tasty prize.”
As much as she enjoyed the mask—and the game—Bella dragged it off over his head, revealing his mussed-up copper hair and gleaming grin. “At least my captor is a handsome rogue. Lucky me.”
Chuckling, Edward leaned down and sucked on the side of her neck until she squirmed. “Do I get my reward now?”
“God, yes.”
Moving fast now that she’d given in, Edward threw his pants on the floor and brought her knees up to her chest. Pushing inside her with one swift motion, he groaned as she gasped loudly.
“Fuck, baby.” He moved languidly at first, allowing them both a chance to adjust before picking up his pace.
Throwing her head back against the mattress, Bella clutched his shoulders, her nails leaving divots in his skin. He hissed at the contact, but she couldn't find it in herself to care whether she’d truly hurt him. Edward’s thrusts grew erratic, his hips slamming into the backs of her thighs while her orgasm drew nearer.
“Fuck, fuck,” he ground out. “I can feel how close you are.”
Picking up her head, she met his gaze and bit her lower lip hard. A trembling had begun in her thighs, and she felt the heat and rush of pleasure crowding her senses. He changed position, leaning back on his knees so he could circle her clit while perfectly hitting that spot inside her. At that angle, she watched him disappear inside her repeatedly.
“God, Edward. So close.”
“I feel you squeezing me.”
Her eyelids tried to slip closed, but she wanted to watch him fuck her. Struggling to keep her eyes open, she let out a high-pitched moan when he touched her just right. “Yes! Right there, please!”
“I got you, baby. Let go.”
She tried to respond, but nothing leaving her mouth made sense.
“Come for me, is tú mo rogha.”
The coil snapped, making her limbs shake and her teeth grind together. Nothing could have stopped her loud cries as she came, and Edward smiled triumphantly as he leaned back down to kiss her. Slower now, he pumped in and out of her, spearing his tongue into her mouth and nibbling her lower lip.
“Tá tú go hálainn, aingeal.”
Finally, he stilled with his hips tightly against her, and she knew the satisfaction of an afternoon well spent.
“Can’t win a game of cat and mouse against a mountain lion, now can I?” she mumbled, curling over his chest as he came to a rest beside her.
“Guess I need to bring one of those masks home, huh?”
Her laugh was loud and carefree. “That’s a perfect idea.”
Circling her nipple with his fingertip, Edward kissed her temple. “Looks like it’s raining finally.”
Her face grew hot. “God, that means someone probably heard me.”
“Good,” he whispered, nuzzling her ear. “Let them hear how much you love me.”
“Ha. If it were merely that, I’d shout it all the time. This is different.”
“Don't be embarrassed, mo aingeal fiáin. You’re not the first woman to have an orgasm.”
“You shouldn’t sound so smug.” Her chastising was half-hearted at best. Nobody would be crass enough to say anything to her.
Well, maybe Emmett.
Or Seamus.
Or, God forbid, Tito.
“I feel you tensing up.” Brushing her hair off her face, Edward kissed her cheek. “Wanna hide out for a while?”
“Maybe—”
The ringing of a cell phone cut off her response.
“Is that mine or yours?” he asked.
Sitting up, Bella shoved her hair back and glanced around the darkened room. “No clue.”
They both got up, searching through their pockets for their phones. It turned out to be Edward’s, so he hastily answered it.
“It’s Holden,” he told her, sitting on the end of the bed and putting the phone on speaker. “What is it?”
“I’m in,” James replied. “All my old security clearances are live again. I’ve arranged a meeting with the director and the president for three days from now. I tried to make it earlier, but they’re busy people.”
“Understood. Anything else?”
“Well, I made sure to arrange questioning of the men who were working for Blithers, but not so shockingly, one of them turned up dead this morning.”
“I had a feeling something like that would happen,” Bella said, pulling Edward’s shirt over her head. “And the other one?”
“Still breathing—for now.”
“They should hang him for treason,” Edward growled, snagging Bella by the waist as she walked past.
Frowning at him, she sat on his lap when he tugged. “Will it just be you at the meeting, Holden?”
“I should be able to include the two of you, considering you saved the man’s life and all.”
Edward smiled grimly. “I’d like to think that still counts for something.”
“There is a real weird vibe around the office, though.” Holden paused. “I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s almost as though everyone is waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
“Maybe they all know something you don’t,” Edward replied.
“Maybe, but it’s not that kind of feeling.”
Bella huffed a laugh. “Their boss was beheaded, for fuck’s sake. Maybe that’s the weird vibe.”
“I guess. Anyway, I’ll only be here for another half hour or so, then we can hash out the conversation we plan on having with the big boys when I get back.”
“Okay.” Edward said goodbye to Holden and hung up, tightening his hold on his wife’s waist. “I don’t like it.”
“Don't like what?”
“I can’t place it, either, but he’s right. If everyone there is acting suspicious, then it’s almost obvious that he’s the subject of some gossip.”
Bella cradled his face between her hands, kissing him softly. “We’re days away from putting this crap to bed. Don’t let the little things get to you.”
“I’m mostly tempted to take you back to bed.”
“It’s dinnertime, baby.” It was her turn to brush his hair off his face and kiss his temple. “I love you, but I’m hungry.”
Chuckling, he picked her up, cupping her ass cheeks. “I see where I rate on your scale. Food first, then sex.”
“No, we had sex first. Now we eat.”
Edward nipped her earlobe, and she squeaked. “And then we meet with the president and hope he knows how to solve the issue with his VP.”
Damn, her breathing was picking back up again. “He better, because I’m ready to go back home where we don’t have a houseful of strangers listening to us make love.”
“What they heard was me rearranging your guts, go hálainn.”
“Such tender words from my beloved.”
He dropped her on the bed, and she squealed. “Get dressed, beautiful, so we can eat.”
“Such a romantic,” she grumbled, but she couldn't wipe the smile off her face.
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