“Especially not me.” She drained her mug, set it down, and sat back. Relaxing was beyond her, but she could at least pretend. “I loathe the man.” And that was the kindest word she could come up with.
“Why?” Zaxe leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and his chin on his clasped hands. He really was relaxed. It was hard not to resent him for it.
“Why not? He abandoned my mother when she was pregnant. Then he came back a few years later, threw some money around, got her pregnant again, and left.” She pressed her lips together. He didn’t need to know her sordid family history.
“Then why is he back now?” There was something in his tone that made her straighten. He knew more than he was telling her. Secrets, they all had them.
“Why don’t you tell me? You seem to know more about this than I do.” Exhaustion weighed down on her. She was hot and sticky, her head throbbed from all the tension of the evening, and her stomach was in knots.
“His other son is dead.”
“Reman said as much.” It had come as a complete shock to her, but it did explain her father’s sudden interest in Esau. Of the two of them, he’d always paid more attention to her brother, coming to visit on rare occasions after he was born. She’d tried not to resent it, but it hadn’t always been easy. “I don’t care what you do to Helldrick.” The man was little more than a stranger, even though he’d had a huge impact on her life. “My only concern is my brother.”
“You’re protective of him.” It wasn’t a criticism, exactly, but her back went up.
“I’m all he has. Our mother was weak and left us to fend for ourselves. I was the one who took care of us. I never even laid eyes on Helldrick until I was five.”
She needed to stop talking. Being so tired and worried about her brother had loosened her tongue. And then there was Zaxe. He asked questions and waited, surrounded by a quiet intensity that drew her in. He wasn’t asking to be polite so he could get past it and talk about himself. Nor was he rushing to fill the silence. He genuinely seemed interested.
It’s a trap.
It had to be. Not like he really cared about her. She stood and rubbed her hand over the back of her neck. “Look, I know you want information, but I need to look out for myself.” And that meant taking care of Esau, too. “You can sleep on the couch or crash in my brother’s room.” She pointed to a door off to her right. “The bed will be too short for you.” It was too small for her brother but a larger one wouldn’t fit in the space. “But it’s cozy enough.”
Zaxe flowed to his feet, unfolding himself to his full height. At six feet, she was used to looking men in the eyes, but she had to tilt her head back slightly to meet his gaze. “And where will you be?”
She jerked her head to the third door down. “I’ll be there. Bathing chamber is in between.” Tipping her chin up, she glared. “Don’t get any ideas.”
His eyes darkened and the mood in the room shifted, becoming sensual. Or maybe that was her imagination. He cupped her chin and ran his thumb along her jaw.
Move away. Move away.
Her feet were glued to the cool tiled floor, anchoring her in place as he leaned toward her. “Too late. I already have ideas.” Then he kissed her.
Chapter Six
This wasn’t smart, but it was essential. She tasted like fresh mint, warm and inviting. Ever since he’d kissed her this afternoon, he’d yearned for something deeper. There was a sizzle in the air whenever they were together. Both of them were dancing around to try to avoid it, neither of them willing to acknowledge the physical connection.
He had a mission he couldn’t afford to fail. Not to mention Baraj was outside along with more of Reman’s men.
It all took a backseat to Jamaeh.
He ran his tongue over her bottom lip before catching it between his teeth and nibbling. When she gasped, he took advantage and slid inside. Not aggressively. It was much too soon for that. Her protective instincts would kick in and she’d shove him away.
And that would be a crime.
Instead, he coaxed a response, teasing her, encouraging her to explore. She was a contradiction—bold and forthright when it came to business, but guarded when it came to the personal. He wanted to know all her secrets.
The file he’d compiled had listed all the pertinent details of her life—personal data, education, and work history. But it told him nothing about her as a person. How had she coped with the disappointments in her life? What were her hopes and dreams? Was there someone special in her life?
Anger speared through him, hot and unexpected. He didn’t want to think about her with another man.
Then she moaned, gripped his face in her hands, and deepened the kiss. His anger morphed into a burning need so deep it jolted him. His dick went from hard to titansteel, making the battlesuit beneath his clothing too tight for comfort. He was more than ready to lay her down on the floor, strip her bare, and fuck her.
It wouldn’t be enough. For the first time in his life, he wanted more. Sex was a physical hunger, easily sated when the need arose. This was something altogether different.
She’s Helldrick’s daughter.
The reminder did little to discourage him. She had nothing to do with the man he was hunting. If anything, she was his complete opposite, taking care of her mother and brother because there’d been no one else to do it. Her public image was one of toughness, a woman who got things done, who’d go toe-to-toe with any man and come out the winner. And that was a part of her. But she was so much more.
Her home had been a revelation. It was an explosion of color, a garden oasis in the midst of a desert of despair. This was a woman who found beauty where she could, even though life had been unkind and hard.
He’d bet everything he had that there was feminine clothing in her closet, hidden behind the masculine garb she wore on a daily basis. Being forced to hide the softer side of herself to the world, it had condensed it, made it richer and more vibrant.
He’d bet good money that few saw this side of her. She was too self-contained. Most people spoke freely, loving to hear themselves talk and sharing information whether you wanted it or not. It made his job easier. But not Jamaeh. What little she’d offered, she’d immediately regretted.
This was a woman who understood the power of information, how it could be manipulated and used against you.
Zaxe wanted to make everything right in her world. It made no sense, but it didn’t have to. Instincts older than time had him shifting closer, his chest barely brushing hers. Using his thumb, he tilted her head back slightly and deepened the kiss.
The sound she made in the back of her throat had chill bumps racing down his arms. Made him wonder what kind of sounds she’d make if they were both naked with his face buried between her legs pleasuring her.
Her hands pressed against his abs and slid up his chest. He silently cursed the layers of clothing separating him from her touch. When she applied the lightest of pressure, he lifted his head.
Her eyes were slightly glazed over, the green deeper than normal. When she licked her lips, his balls clenched. “We shouldn’t do this.” The husky tone of her voice sank into the very marrow of his bones. Some women would play games, try to seduce information out of him, or use the attraction to distract him. He wasn’t sure it would even occur to her to do such a thing. This was not a woman who relied on her feminine wiles.