More Than a Mission - Caridad Pineiro [55]
Lizzy broke into a run, her long legs quickly eating up ground. He could have watched her run, the elegance and fluidity of it, but he was much too competitive to just let her win the challenge.
He dashed after her, trying to make up the ground that he had lost, although it did occur to him that even if he did lose it would still be a pleasurable experience. Lizzy on top, he thought, and stumbled for a moment.
Dashing that thought from his mind because it was too distracting and the blood was shifting to places that weren’t conducive to speed, he slowly closed the gap between them as Lizzy kicked up the sand before him.
He reached the cottage just paces behind her. Heard Lizzy’s delighted laughter at the door as she said, “I win.”
“Why don’t I feel like I lost?” he said, his voice tinged with humor and sex because all he could think about was making love with her.
Lizzy shot him a suddenly shy smile, but threw the door open and backpedaled into the room, all the time motioning to him that he should follow.
He did and plastered himself to her as they paused for just a moment in their headlong flight toward what he hoped was Lizzy’s bedroom.
As she gazed up at him, there was a look in her eyes that said she truly cared for him.
Normally he would have banked money on knowing that look was real.
But lately, and particularly around Lizzy, he no longer could be certain. His gut, however, was telling him that nothing wrong was going on right now. That he should have no fear. No concern.
He hoped it was right.
Chapter 19
Great, Lucia thought as she flipped from one camera feed to the next and realized that someone was jamming the signal. And with Aidan deciding to go incommunicado, she had no idea whether or not he was in any kind of trouble.
Over and over she tried to restore the signal, but the cameras were unresponsive. Whatever was screwing up the transmission was pretty powerful. Which meant that she might be able to track its location and shut it down.
But first…
She rose from the table and snatched her binoculars from the tabletop. Hurrying to the windows, she searched the beach, but there was no sign of Aidan or Ms. Moore. Shifting downward, she noticed the lights were on in the cottage. Through the window, she was able to pick out Aidan and Lizzy as they…
Well. It sure didn’t look like Aidan was in any kind of trouble. Well, at least not of the physical kind.
Emotionally…That was a whole ’nother issue. She had sensed his indecision during this assignment. Realized that he was either unwilling or unable to get past his attraction to the Sparrow.
There was more going on than just the mission. That was not good. And as for what was about to happen in the cottage…
Lucia walked back to the table holding her laptop and the surveillance monitors. She needed to find what was jamming the cameras and how Elizabeth had managed to activate it with Aidan literally at her side the whole time.
She would give the Sparrow credit. She sure seemed to know her spy stuff.
Let’s hope Aidan realizes that, Lucia thought.
Aidan wrapped his arms around Lizzy’s waist and dragged her close. Her shirt accidentally rode up with the action and his forearm brushed along her bare back. It was slightly damp, probably from their mad dash up the beach.
It was happening so fast. Too fast, he thought, doubting he had the patience to finish this upstairs in her bedroom.
As she eased her hand beneath his jacket and under the hem of his T-shirt, he knew he couldn’t wait.
He gripped her to him tightly and bending his head, he laid his forehead against hers, brushed a kiss there before moving lower to meet her lips in a kiss.
Opening his mouth against hers, he tasted her, savored the slick slide of her tongue along his. Imagined it sliding along…
He groaned and pulled away, his breathing rough. “Lizzy, I can’t—”
She placed a finger on his mouth, a sexy smile on her face. “I won’t let you run from me now, Aidan.” She didn’t wait for his answer, choosing instead to stand on tiptoe and run her tongue