Code Name Desire (11 page)

“Jaeda,” he whispered against her mouth.

“Hmm?” She closed her lids and drank in the
feel of him. The scent of him. The taste of him. If her assignment
had been to give Teague
her
heart, she could consider her
job done and done well.

“What now?” he asked, pressing his bristly
cheek against hers and hugging her close.

“I’m not sure.”

“Promise me something?”

“What?”

“Promise you won’t point that gun at me
anymore.”

She chuckled. “Under one condition.”

“Name it.”

“Kiss me properly.”

His eyes closed, he took her lips in a
devouring assault on her senses. His hands, his mouth, his entire
body consumed her. At some point, she realized he had pulled her
onto his lap, yet she didn’t remember getting there. A place deep
inside, left dormant for so long, came to life in a blaze of heat
and energy. She returned his kisses with every ounce of passion he
had unleashed in her. Letting her hands roam, she explored him
through his clothing.

“How was that?” he asked, his gaze hooded and
his voice deep and raspy.

“Gee, I don’t know. Maybe you should try
again so I can get a better idea.”

He laughed, the sound filling her with
happiness. Dread, however, crept up her spine and prevented the
happiness from progressing into joy. He was unlike any man she had
ever met, and when her mission ended and she went on her way, she
would leave a piece of herself behind. A vital piece.

He grimaced. “As eager as I am to peel my
clothes from your delectable body and have my way with you, I must
ignore the needs of my loins in favor of the needs of my stomach.
Are you as hungry as I?”

She opened her mouth to say no and talk him
into taking her to bed when her rumbling stomach rudely answered
for her.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” He lifted her from
his lap and set her on her feet. “I wonder if Mrs. Chesley has
found her way to the kitchen after this morning’s ordeal.”

Did he have to be so charming? And so right?
If she faced imminent danger, she would need her strength.
Defeated, she went to the door. “There’s only one way to find
out.”

Downstairs, the smell of baking bread filled
the hallway leading to the kitchen. Jaeda’s stomach folded in on
itself, making her realize how great her hunger had grown.

Sutton pushed through the swinging door with
a covered tray and blocked their way. “Ah, I was about to send for
you,” he said with a grim smile. “The morning room has been
prepared. You may break your fast there. Please follow me.”

The butler passed, and Teague winked at her.
“Please follow me,” he mocked quietly, imitating Sutton’s stuffy
tone and stiff posture.

She swallowed a laugh and tried to make a
disapproving face. She suspected she failed, however, when he
grinned.

The morning room hurt her eyes at first with
its snow-bright light glaring through walls of windows and catching
on silver domed trays lining an antique sideboard. Had the sun
shone on the white-blanketed ground outside, the room would have
been blinding. She didn’t hesitate to move inside, though. A
surprising warmth welcomed her along with the mouthwatering smells
of breakfast.

In a corner, an ornate blue and white ceramic
brazier gave off delightful heat and glowed red through the grates
on its door. Jaeda’s toes curled into an incredibly plush Persian
wall-to-wall woven in a huge flower pattern of oranges, pinks,
yellows and creamy white. In the center stood a rectangular table
covered in a fine ecru tablecloth with six cushioned high-backed
chairs.

“Are we expecting company?” she asked.

Teague chuckled and shook his head. He
indicated she should move to the sideboard then followed. “Mrs.
Chesley does this whenever I have a houseguest. Though it’s rare
that I have fewer than three guests when I entertain. It could be
worse.”

“How?” she asked, lifting a shiny dome and
spooning a poached egg onto her plate.

“She could have sent a prepared tray to my
room, assuming we wanted to break our fast in bed.”

Heat rushed to hers cheeks.

“You’re adorable when you blush,” he said.
Leaning close, he whispered, “I wouldn’t expect a spy to blush so
prettily.”

“Operative.”

At the doorway, Sutton asked, “Would either
of you care for a hot beverage. Tea, coffee or cocoa?”

Jaeda spotted a pitcher of orange juice at
the end of the buffet. “No, thank you.”

“I’ll have Earl Grey, Sutton,” answered
Teague.

“Very good.” The butler bowed and turned on
his heel.

“Does he always do that?” she asked. “Bow, I
mean.”

“Usually. He’s in rare form this morning,
though. I think he likes you.”

Her plate full, she set it on the table and
went for juice. “I wouldn’t think he knows me well enough to decide
that.”

Teague put two sausages on his plate with a
set of tongs. “They talk, you know. Caster. Sutton. I heard Mrs.
Wilson speaking with you in your room last night, and you were very
kind to Mrs. Chesley this morning. You don’t treat my staff like
servants. You must know that wins you points.”

“To be honest, I hadn’t given it a thought.”
She took two sets of silverware wrapped in napkins from a pile then
sat before her plate. Taking a sip from her juice, she cut a glance
at him through her lashes.

He took a seat next to her. “I have a
disturbing confession to make.”

She didn’t like how somber he looked. Handing
him silverware, she asked, “Disturbing for you or me?”

“You, I’m afraid. I’m sorry for it.”

Chapter Fourteen

Here it came. Now Teague would tell her about
his nefarious dealings and she would have to pretend it didn’t
matter so he could feel free to fall in love with her. Bracing for
his confession, Jaeda put the napkin on her lap then stabbed her
fork into some fruit salad.

“I wasn’t surprised to see the paperclips in
your coat pocket. I saw them sticking out of my desk drawer last
night.”

“But you acted like you hadn’t seen them
before this morning. You pretended to be upset?”

“Hell, no. I was angry. I thought you might
be up to something, but when I saw my card, I knew it for certain.
It’s not right to go through a person’s drawers, especially when
they’re locked. What did you find?”

“What are you hiding?”

He narrowed his eyes. “Is that your spy look?
All calm and in control? I see the turmoil in you.”

She chewed and swallowed, taking her time.
“You didn’t answer my question.”

“And answering a question with a question
isn’t an answer, either. What did you find?”

“If you’re so upset about my unlocking your
desk, why did you take me to bed last night?”

“Did your agency teach you this – answering a
question with a question?”

She quirked the corner of her mouth. “Like
that?”

“Touché. So what did you find?”

He was persistent, and he rose another notch
on her respect gauge. “Nothing. I wasn’t fast enough. I didn’t even
open the drawer.” She eyed her plate and wondered how she’d eaten
half her breakfast already.

He studied her a moment then rested against
his seatback.

“Are you relieved?” she asked.

“No. I’m glad you told me the truth.”

“Good. So what are you hiding?”

He set his fork on his plate and turned to
fully face her. “You think I’m some sort of criminal because your
agency sent you after me. Well, I’m not. You say you have no idea
why they’ve targeted me, and I can assure you I haven’t the
slightest clue. Do you want to see what’s in that drawer?” He took
her hand and stood, drawing her to her feet. “I’ll show you what’s
in that drawer right now.”

“How do I know you didn’t remove your secrets
from it?”

Before he could answer, a sharp crack broke
the stillness of the morning. One of the windows shattered.

Jaeda’s senses sharpened. Listening for
another shot, she slammed a hand on Teague’s shoulder while kicking
a foot out from under him. He dropped to the carpet, knocking the
chairs askew. Before he could release a grunt upon impact with the
floor, she joined him.

“Ssh,” she hissed, putting a finger to her
lips. “Are you shot?”

He shook his head, his eyes wide and his face
flushed.

“Stay here.”

In combat fashion, she lizard crawled on her
belly to a low, intact window. Freezing air poured through the
smashed one. At the far right of the rear lawn, a movement shifted
shadows at the corner of the stables. Then a rifle barrel eased
into view a moment before a face peered her way.

“Rush.” Damn him. She should have taken that
jackass out at The Barrister’s Press.

“Who?” Teague asked, inches from her ear.

Jaeda startled. How did he move so silently?
“I told you to stay put.”

“Someone just fired a gun at me. I’m hardly
going to lie about and wait for the finishing shot. Now, what did
you see?”

Frowning, she pointed toward the stable.

“I know him,” he whispered, a deep scowl
hardening his features.

“That’s impossible. He’s my contact with the
agency.”

Teague slowly shook his head. “He’s a new
client of mine. He works for an emir in Saudi Arabia who hired me
to manage money market investments for a portion of his portfolio.
I knew there was something I didn’t like about him.”

Shit!
The guy was moving huge amounts
of money out of the Middle East? “No, he’s not. He’s a double
agent. Do you know the source of his funds?”

“Of course. I have to know everything – bank
accounts, wire transfers, origination papers. It’s not legitimate
without the proper signatures and documentation.”

Her purpose came into pinpoint focus. “I need
your computer.” She had to let the agency know.

Teague adjusted his position and accidentally
knocked into the sideboard. The pitcher of orange juice teetered
and two trays clanged.

Rush went into action. Rifle raised, he ran
toward them through the snow while firing. His gait made his aim
lousy, but he could get lucky.

“Run!” shouted Jaeda. On her feet, she shoved
Teague out of the morning room then stopped him in the next
doorway. She spoke quickly. “Look, I know you’re innocent. Your
life is in danger, and everyone else here in the manor. Go to the
kitchen and get your staff someplace safe. I’m sure he’s working
alone, so if you can, try to get to the stable. I’ll keep him here
so he won’t double back.”

Teague gripped her arm and shook his head. “I
can fend for myself. I’m not leaving.”

She swallowed, recognizing the significance
of her assignment. “Do you love me?”

“What?” he squawked.

The shooting stopped and crunching footsteps
approached outside. “I’m serious. You’ve got to tell me this
instant. Do you love me? For real?”

“Yes, damn it! I love you.”

“Then you know you can trust me. All the
games, they didn’t mean anything. You know you can trust me.”

“Yes.”

“Then do as I say.” Glass clinked in the
morning room. He was coming through a window. “Get your people
safe.”

He hesitated for only a moment, warring
emotions playing across his features. With a curt nod, he sprinted
for the kitchen.

Turning, Jaeda skulked to the doorway of the
morning room. The rifle tip protruded past the doorframe, and she
assumed a kicking stance. The moment the agent’s hand came into
view, she struck the weapon with a powerful X-kick and knocked it
from his grip. It went sliding too far, however. She couldn’t go
after it.

She formed a tiger paw fist and sent braced
knuckles into his windpipe. He clutched his throat and staggered
backward. She took a step to go after him, but he already had a
dagger in hand and appeared ready to block an attack. She needed a
weapon.

Launching into the air, she went for the
rifle. She hit the floor in a shoulder roll and snatched the gun.
When he came through the doorway, she had it ready. She pulled the
trigger. Nothing happened. It occurred to her that he’d stopped
firing because he ran out of ammunition.

He came after her, but she anticipated his
attack. On her feet before he could get to her, she flipped the
rifle, caught it by the barrel, and sent the stock into his chest
baseball bat-style. He hit the wall and swore at her.

Flinging the useless weapon, she raced for
the stairs. Fear for Teague threatened to slow her, but she shoved
it aside. To save him, she had to keep her emotions out of it. She
drew upon her training.

Rush gave chase, his shoes pounding against
the marble floor. At the staircase, Jaeda took the steps two at a
time. She ran for Teague’s bedroom door and her gun, but the agent
caught her near the end of the hall.

He grabbed the back of her neck and hurled
her against the door of her guestroom. Pain exploded in her cheek
and behind her left eye. Not letting it stop her, she gripped the
handle and opened the door. Hugging it, she moved inside as Rush
went flying past. He bounced off the back of an overstuffed chair
but recovered almost immediately.

Still, it gave her time to reach the shoes
she had discarded in the middle of the carpet. She fell to a hip
and slipped one on then thrust her foot upward at an angle. He
lunged at her. The steel spiked heel caught him in the gut.

Rush roared. Arms flailing, he fell backward
and bumped against the chair. The heel remained embedded in his
abdomen, and the shoe came off her foot. With pain and anger
contorting his features, he honed in on her and threw his
dagger.

The blade sank into her chest, right below
her left shoulder. She screamed. Fire burned the strength out of
her, making her want to collapse, but she had too much to fight
for. Thinking of Teague, she picked up her other shoe and jammed
the spike into the agent’s thigh with all her might. The movement
caused another shot of piercing fire through her chest. She
clenched her teeth then gasped as the pain released its paralyzing
hold.