Sapphire (11 page)

Diamond sniffed. “Well, just be sure that you understand the rules, Sapphire. When it comes to men like Jase Malone
and
Ian Ross, you cannot keep your defenses high enough. They simply assume that they are irresistible and it is only a matter of time until they add you to their long list of conquests.”

Startled at Diamond’s inclusion of Ian Ross in her male bashing diatribe, Sapphire glanced over at Ruby. Seeing the redhead’s widened eyes and arched brow, it was clear that Ruby was as surprised as she was by Diamond’s telling remark. Striving to capture control of the conversation Sapphire nodded.

“Trust me, Diamond. The only thing that I want from Jase Malone is a partner worthy of me. I know he is arrogant and accustomed to running the op. And, yes, I know I’m inclined to chafe under that kind of leadership. But, I assure you, I will not disappoint you. If Col. Malone is as good a commander as
he
thinks he is, it will be a pleasure to work with him. And to let him know that he isn’t the only agent on the team with a corner on danger. I’ve faced down men more compelling than Jase Malone. A lot of them didn’t live to tell about it.”

Diamond didn’t hide her contemptuous grunt but the twinkle in her eye that disappeared almost as quickly as it came, confirmed that she understood Gabriella’s saucy claim. For a moment Diamond almost seemed human, less a real life Gamora, the anti-heroine sprung from the Guardians of the Galaxy. Sapphire mused silently; maybe her boss actually was warning her in a good way, not merely to harass her.

Walking out to the parking lot, Ruby reached over and grabbed her arm. Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Now wasn’t that an interesting remark from the Ice Queen? Ever since I joined this crazy company everyone from the janitor to the limousine driver has been trying to get a take on the Ian-Riley connection. We all know that he fronted the money that allowed Diamond to start the company and he has a damn big say in who gets hired and who gets fired. I trust you know that if Ian hadn’t spoken up for you that you’d be history. But that tinge of bitterness in our boss’s voice when she warned you about Jase Malone made me think that maybe the stunningly handsome Ian Ross provoked the gem hard Diamond.”

Sapphire wasn’t the least bit interested in the Ian-Riley dynamic except as it affected her. She shivered uneasily. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate the handsome man’s endorsement but it hurt that Diamond only kept her on because Ian encouraged her to. An unwelcome thought crossed her mind and without thinking she blurted it out.

“Do you think the reason Mr. Ross supported me…is because I fit the physical description of the woman they needed for the op?”

Ruby shrugged. “Probably. And also likely because you might be the most beautiful woman I’ve seen, except for the Ice Queen.”

Gabriella frowned, not hiding her disappointment. Ruby picked up on it immediately and squeezed her arm.

“Look Sapphire, I saw that damn video. The whole company is whispering about it. The rest of the
‘ladies’
including yours truly thought it was sensational. Damn, girl, Diamond gives you not one but
two
direct orders and you not only ignored her but you tossed off your com as if she was a nosy mother nagging in your ear.” Ruby laughed her delightful laugh. “Gotta tell you, girlfriend, that was one of the more ballsy moves I’ve seen.”

Sapphire gave an embarrassed chuckle. “Okay, I’ll admit it wasn’t the smartest thing I could have done. But, dammit, I was so close to getting the documents we’ve been after for four months and she was telling me to abandon ship, turn tail and run like a coward.”

Ruby shook her head in appreciation, “Like I said, honey, that was one ballsy move.”

Ruby tugged on her chin as if considering her next statement, then blurted out, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

“But I’ll tell you who
did
appreciate you telling your boss and her money bags sidekick to fuck off: Jase Malone. Bad boy that he is, he was clearly amused that you ignored their direct orders. He all but told the imperial Diamond Legree that she needed to take the stick out of her ass and appreciate your audacity. It didn’t help that Ian Ross agreed. Both about your willingness to go it alone
and
that Diamond is one uptight babe. Which, as you might guess, didn’t go over well with our, stick up her ass, boss lady.”Before Sapphire could give into the pride that swelled though her, knowing that at least she’d convinced the men on the team that she could hold her own, Ruby knowingly zeroed in on the reason Sapphire still felt vulnerable.

Ruby cocked her chin and said pertly, “Speaking of bad boys, let me tell you, girlfriend, if you make it through this mission without spreading your legs for that seriously gorgeous hunk, you will be a better woman than I.”

Gabriella gasped unable to hold back her shock at the thought that Jase and Ruby had been together. Oh God, wouldn’t that be the worst? The fact that the guy she’d practically begged to take her had already made the rounds of her agent team? Forcing herself to ask the question she didn’t want to hear the answer to, she stammered, “You…you mean that you…and Jase…”

Ruby let out a peal of laughter and shook her head.

“If you are asking if Jase Malone has ever looked at me the way that I saw him looking at you today? Sadly, sweetheart, my answer is no. To my regret, I haven’t. But Diamond was right to warn you. The guy is a first class player. But he’s also one of the best agents you’ll ever meet. No doubt about it, he is one commanding hottie. He’ll even make
you
toe the line.”

She gave an exaggerated shiver and chortled salaciously, “But, I gotta believe that following his commands could be one of the most exciting things you do in a lifetime of sex. Just think, you’ll be able to tell the grandkids, ‘I was fucked by the most gorgeous man alive.’” Ruby whistled in appreciation. “Talk about crossing a big one off your bucket list!”

Sapphire was still trying to deal with Ruby’s outrageous remarks when she rounded the corner and saw Jase lounging lazily against her car. Seeing the impish glint lighting his bewitching emerald eyes, Sapphire closed her eyes and admitted to herself with a heartfelt sigh, “Damn, woman, you are sooo screwed.”

Chapter 11

T
aking a deep breath, Sapphire bit down on her lower lip. Hard. She didn’t care if it bled. It was the only way she could hope to control the rioting sensations raking her body. Shaking her head in dismay, she admitted that the daunting man draped against the hood of her car, was simply not to be believed.

She’d only allowed herself surreptitious glances at Jase in the meeting, which wasn’t easy. As he strode across the front of the room, describing their target and what the team could expect, it was hard not to gape at him. It was challenging enough to pretend she didn’t notice his tight black jeans cupping a world class ass or the black t-shirt hugging his lean muscled chest and arms. The fact that he chose rugged leather boots and an equally interesting leather belt confirmed that the guy knew how to dress to impress his audience. Particularly if the women in the audience were as besotted with him as Gabriella was.

Doing her best to fight the heat she felt on her face—and she admitted, on her body—she aimed for nonchalance.

“Oh, hi. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Jase’s soft chuckle and arched brow confirmed that she was as transparent as she felt. As if to rub in the fact that she hadn’t fooled him in the least, he drawled, “That’s something we are going to have to work on, Agent Shaw.”

Gabriella frowned, then stepped back trying to ignore the fact that he‘d collected his lanky frame from his resting place against the side of her car and was moving toward her. Swallowing what seemed to be the last drop of spit she had in her mouth, Sapphire lifted her chin to ward him off. Forcing herself to reply to his taunting assertion, she held up her hand.

“What exactly are we going to need to work on, Col. Malone, in addition to your overbearing presumptuousness?”

By this time Jase was mere feet away from her, and his provocative scent sucked the remaining air out of her chest.

Finding it virtually impossible to catch a deep breath, to make matters worse, Jase reached out and lightly stroked her cheek. His low murmur made her knees buckle.

“We’re going to have to work on your truthfulness, Gabriella. Or at least teach you to lie more convincingly.”

At first not understanding what he meant, she rushed to defend herself. “I don’t
lie
.” Then shrugging dismissively she added, “Unless I have to for the job.”

Jase grinned. “Or to protect yourself from overbearing men who are threatening you?”

His calm assumption that his presence threatened her infuriated her.

Grateful for the reinforcing anger washing over her, she sniffed.

“Really, Col. Malone, you must have a life as challenging as Atlas. Carrying that enormous ego around would have to try even a man as arrogant as you are.”

Jase threw back his head and laughed. Before she could step back he reached for her arm and tugged her up next to him.

Leaning down, he brushed his lips across her earlobe, nipping at the sensitive flesh. Reeling from the unexpected assault she found herself leaning against him for balance. His husky drawl, sent shards of heat straight to her groin.

“
That’s
better. Lean that hot body of yours against me and we can both stop pretending that we aren’t turned on.”

Pressing his bulging erection against her stomach, Jase stroked her back, and then grasped her curvy hips in his large hands. His breath was hot against her cheek. “I told you last night that ignoring the attraction between us isn’t going to work, Agent Shaw.”

Taking a raspy breath, Sapphire shoved at him. “And attacking me in the parking lot
is
going to work?”

Buoyed by her assertiveness, Sapphire put her hands up to ward him off. Glancing around the lot, she was thankful that they seemed to be alone and gathered her courage. Pulling his hands off her hips, she managed to free herself.

“Also, if my memory serves me, Colonel, you made it very clear last night that this mighty attraction you refer to is definitely ‘on again, off again’ to you.”

Remembering her anguish at the way he had shut down last night and left her panting against the wall, Gabriella’s fury flared.

“Let me be clear, Colonel Malone. I am not a plaything to be toyed with. One of the legions of women begging you on bended knees to fuck them. I’m your partner in a dangerous mission. If you are anywhere near the righteous hotshot commander you think you are, you will agree that there is no room in the danger we face for whatever, um, hormonal twinges are between us.”

To her surprise, Jase frowned slightly. For the first time since he’d shanghaied her in the parking lot, his expression was serious; his teasing amusement decidedly absent. In his hardened gaze, Sapphire saw the commander everyone respected—and feared. But she also saw the way his eyes darkened as he studied her through narrowed eyes. The deep emerald eyes held a warning that she didn’t miss. It reminded her of the way his eyes gleamed with passion when he kissed her last night. The edge in his voice confirmed that she hadn’t misjudged his intent.

“It’s important, Sapphire, that
you
are also very clear.” He grabbed her hand and pressed it against that the hard bulge tenting his jeans.

“This, sweetheart,
is not a mere hormonal twinge.”

Grasping both of her arms he pushed her back against the car door. His lips were close to her ear. She could feel his hot breath against her cheek. Shoving his hand between her legs, he cupped her sex and added with a husky growl, “And neither is your wet pussy merely a twinge.”

As Jase stroked her swollen folds through the damp satin of her panties with his probing fingers, Sapphire was unable to stifle the ragged moan that escaped her lips. She tried to pull away but Jase merely tightened his grip.

His voice was low, strafed with a potent warning. “One more thing, Gabriella. You can lie to our marks or any other damn person you want. That’s your call. But you cannot lie to me. Or to your body. Accept it, Tiger, what is between us is powerful and it’s going to be hard to control. Pretending it isn’t there won’t work. But you are correct. Our mission
is
dangerous, particularly the role that you will be playing. We need every element of cunning and courage we have. Roberto Ventrilo is a demented man.
I
would be lying if I didn’t tell you that it’s killing me to introduce you to him. To use you as bait.”

Hearing the heated concern in his voice, Gabriella surprised herself by wanting to reassure him.

“I’m strong, Jase. I’ve been trained by some of the best MMA fighters in the world. You saw what I did to those two Diablos Cartel thugs. Each of them weighed at least twice what I do, and they were loaded with weapons. You may note, I killed one of them and badly injured the other. If you recall, I walked out of the room without a scratch
and
with the documents that brought down the whole fucking gang.”

Holding his frowning gaze Sapphire continued. “I don’t doubt that Roberto Ventrilo is as dangerous as you described. I’ve read his sheet—make that sheets. But I’m good, Jase. Ask any man I’ve worked with, even those who call me a ball-busting bitch. They’ll tell you that I’ve never lost a fight and saved many of their sorry asses in the process.”