“It’s not over,” she said. And then she gave him the sexiest wink he’d ever seen. Promising more.

And he’d be ready. Harper, more than anyone he’d ever known, was worth waiting for.

Clearing his throat, he rolled off the bed and grabbed two sodas from the minifridge, hoping the chilled cans would help cool him off.

“So, what were you downloading?” He walked to the other side of the bed and plopped down next to her, but kept as much distance as he could manage. Her fingers brushed his as she took the Coke, sending a sizzle down his arm. Pulling back fast, he opened the can and took a long, cool drink, ignoring the tickle of fizz as it burned down his throat.

“Some of the files in the Harpie folder had extra levels of encryption,” Harper answered after a big gulp of her own. He watched her read as she pushed the laptop lower on her thighs so she could place the can between her legs. Holy shit. Didn’t she know he was trying to simmer down? “I had to create a little program to decode and extract those files.”

Rome stared as she leaned over and set the laptop on the floor. Then she stretched her arms high above her head, pulling the fabric of her T-shirt taut against her chest, clearly outlining her perfect-sized breasts.

His gaze fell to the hem of the shirt as it lifted an inch or two to reveal tight abs rolling under silky, tan skin. He couldn’t wait to taste the tempting flesh there.

“This next download will take some time,” she said, bringing her arms back down to rest on her thighs. He had to shift his position on the bed a little when she reached between her legs for another swallow. “Maybe we should get some rest. I think my eyes are about to stick shut from reading that screen.” She scrubbed her face and turned those eyes to him, taking his breath away with their emerald allure.

“You’re right,” Rome said, looking for a place he could sleep that was a safe distance from her, where he wouldn’t be sorely tempted to ravish her body. He couldn’t find one.

“I’m showering first,” she declared as she stood and sauntered to the tiny but surprisingly immaculate bathroom.

He tried so hard not to think about her stripping off those clothes and standing in that tiled stall, the hot water running all over her naked body. Shaking his head, he tried to change the subject in his mind to what they should be concentrating on instead of how much he wanted to jump in the shower with her. She obviously didn’t need to trust him to have sex with him. But surprisingly he realized he wanted her trust first.

“Harper,” he called softly. She halted, half in, half out of the bathroom door with a questioning look. “I think we need to get a second look at the facility where Bobby’s lab was. Put some proof with that data. After we shower and rest, let’s plan.”

“Sounds good to me,” she agreed, and laughed playfully. “I’ll be out in a few minutes. Keep the bed warm for me.” And then she gave him another one of those scorching winks that boiled his blood and seared his insides before disappearing behind the chipped door of the bathroom.

A deep moan escaped his lips. She was obviously flirting to lighten the mood, but just the thought had him very close to bursting through that door and joining her, keeping her warm instead of the sheets. He was going to offer to sleep on the floor, but it sounded like she planned on sharing the queen bed.

Lying flat on his back on the ugly bedspread, Rome knew that he wouldn’t be getting much sleep with Harper’s tempting body next to his under the sheets.

He just couldn’t decide whether the night was going to be ecstasy or agony.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Harper crouched on the moist, leafy ground, waiting for Rome to return. Disabling the perimeter cameras of the Five Watch facility without anyone noticing was his task. He’d been gone for about five minutes and she expected to be alone for precisely five more.

Watery rays of sunlight gently filtered through the moss-draped trees around her. A misty drizzle cast a light sheen among the brush that was providing her cover.

She’d never been in this area in the daytime. The only two times she’d come to Bobby’s lab, it had been the dead of night.

She hadn’t even known there was a vast facility adjoining the lab in the front. Bobby’s lab was underground and seemingly far from the gray buildings she could barely make out in the distance. Apparently they connected through a myriad of hallways. But there was another concealed bunker about a hundred yards from the entrance she’d used to get to Bobby’s lab.

That was where she and Rome were headed.

Over a package of surprisingly tasty store-bought cinnamon rolls, they’d decided this morning that they needed to find some tangible evidence of what was going on. They trusted Bobby’s notes, but wanted to see for themselves exactly what they were up against.

She glanced at the timer counting down on her digital watch-4:30 blinked back at her. Rome had been very specific about the timing. And gone over and over it before they’d even left their tawdry motel room this morning.

Mmm…this morning. Waking up with Rome spooning her had been, well, heavenly. The combination of warmth and strength and the vulnerability in his sleep had nearly undone her. When he’d been kissing her the night before, she’d never wanted anyone or anything more in her life than she’d wanted him. Not even an Olympic gold. She still didn’t fully trust him, but my goodness, she was fully attracted to him. But when they made love, she wanted plenty of time to explore his delicious body. And this morning they’d had other things to contend with.

Another glance at her watch-2:10. She had to clear her mind or she’d jump him the second he returned.

As much as she’d initially wanted to claim vengeance on her own, she’d come to realize that she couldn’t do this without Rome. Harper knew nothing about this spy stuff other than what she’d seen in movies and the video games she played. She desperately needed his expertise and endless resources.

And not only was he trained in this kind of stuff, but his steadfast support was beginning to mean a lot to her. She’d lost so much already. She didn’t think she’d survive losing Rome, too. Even if she did have a limited life span.

His betrayal still stung. And she still wasn’t ready to forgive it. Yet she was smart enough to know he was a real asset. She needed him to help her get revenge for Bobby, given she didn’t know how long she had to live.

She knew she should feel something about her imminent death. But somehow, she felt that the moment she’d decided on revenge, she realized it would end in a oneway ticket to mortality. And surprisingly, she was okay with it. As long as she got vengeance first.

A slight rustling of brush to her left spurred her out of her absorbed thoughts. Glancing at her watch, she saw the digitized numbers count down from ten. Rome slipped through the leafy barrier with hushed ease.

“I’m surprised I could even hear you,” she said softly, flicking her gaze back to see the seconds tick down to zero. Amazing.

“It was on purpose,” he said quietly with a smile, hunkering down right next to her. “I didn’t want to scare you.” He placed his hand on her shoulder, warming her through the fabric of the black microfleece coat he’d given her to wear. “Are you ready?”

Sure, she was ready to break into a supersecret underground government facility that, unbeknownst to everyone but the two of them, was being used by a traitorous faction with unscrupulous plans, willing to murder in order to keep their secret.

“Yes,” she nodded, knowing it really didn’t matter whether she was ready. They were doing this. For Bobby. For his research. For the good of everyone. They would put the wrongs of the faction right. “Let’s go.”