Page 47 of Stand Fast

Jaliya’s breathing halted at the sheer heat in his eyes, her toes curling in her boots when the warmth of his lips brushed across the sensitive skin of her inner wrist. He didn’t just want sex? How much more did he want? And didn’t he realize that was impossible, given their jobs?

His lashes lowered as he lingered there, the kisses growing longer and firmer. Her fingers twitched, restless with the need to stroke his thick, dark scruff, then dig into the muscles at his nape and drag him up to kiss her properly.

Zaid inched his lips higher, blazing a heated trail all the way up to her inner elbow. She sucked in a breath when the hot, damp stroke of his tongue lit nerve endings she hadn’t even known she possessed on fire.

But instead of continuing upward, he reversed course, retracing the path he’d made. Slowly he kissed his way back down her inner arm, each touch of his lips and the erotic caress of his tongue making her blood race and her heart pound.

By the time he reached her open palm, she was having a hard time keeping her breathing steady, her mind already having made the mental jump to picturing them in bed together and him being this attentive to all of her body.

Her utterly naked body.

She sucked in a breath as he gently sank his teeth into the base of her hand, then he kissed each fingertip before lowering her hand, still keeping hold of it. “What about now?” he whispered, his eyes gleaming with a hot mix of desire and mischief. “Still a firm no on the sex part?”

She was dizzy. Overheated. And unbearably aroused. She was tempted to push him flat on her desk and crawl on top of him. “Still no.” It sounded like she had severe asthma.

Zaid laughed softly and shook his head once. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

No. And she loved his version of trying. A lot. She wanted him to do it more, only on her face and down her neck to every part of her that was now aching and throbbing way worse than the scrapes he’d just cleaned. Except she didn’t want just sex.

There had to be more than that between them before she would ever consider sleeping with him. She might have broken free of her conservative upbringing, but casual sex would never be okay for her. Maybe it was partly her religion, and maybe it was just the morals ingrained in her from her upbringing, but that’s who she was.

Clearing her throat, she looked down at the floor and changed the subject. “I had fun tonight. Thanks for inviting me.” It hadn’t been a smart move on her part, to participate with them on a social level and muddy the waters in what should be a strictly professional relationship, but guess what? She wasn’t perfect. And she didn’t regret a moment of it.

“Thanks for coming.”

Her eyes darted up to his.Coming.

That’s all she could think about right now, him making her do just that, and her returning the favor. God, how was she ever going to live with herself for holding back when she wanted him this much?

A sharp knock at the door made her jolt and pull her hand from Zaid’s. The door opened and her boss popped his head in. “Hey.” He looked from her to Zaid and back again. “Any progress on those files yet?”

“Not yet.” Not with Zaid making her work ethic fly out the window and setting her entire body on fire. “Any luck finding out about the shooting?”

“Got the names of the shooters, but still trying to figure out whether they’re linked to The Jackal.” He nodded at the pile of folders on her desk. “Text me if you find anything.” After shooting Zaid a hard look, he left.

Zaid waited a few seconds to make sure he wasn’t coming back, then stroked a hand over the side of her face and over her hair. “I’d better let you get to it.”

“Yes,” she murmured, disappointment flooding her. It was definitely best that he leave now, though, before she did something else she would regret.

“Good luck. See you tomorrow sometime?”

She wasn’t sure how much longer the agency would keep her here at Bagram. As soon as they found her team a secure location in Kabul, they’d be moving. “Sure.”

His hand tightened around a fistful of hair for a moment, then he leaned in and kissed her softly. Slowly. As though savoring the feel of her lips beneath his, until she swayed toward him and had to put a hand on his shoulder for balance.

His thick, heavy arms wrapped around her, pulling her tight to him. Giving her the hug she’d been craving so badly. She let out a shuddering sigh and cuddled in close, savoring the sense of instant security.

He rubbed his bearded cheek against hers, gave a soft growl that sent shivers through her. “I want you so damn much,” he whispered fervently.

She closed her eyes and pressed her cheek to his, savoring the faint scratch of his short beard.I want you too. So. Damn. Much. But I can’t give you what you want unless there’s more.

Either way, the logical part of her brain knew she couldn’t have him. Not if she wanted her heart intact when he went back stateside in a few weeks’ time.

Without warning he pulled away, but his gaze was so full of heat and need it sent an arrow of pain through her. “Good night.”

She forced a smile while her entire body screamed at her to take what he was offering. “Good night.”

When he walked out and the door closed behind him, it felt like the room became a vacuum, sucking the air from her lungs. Her knees gave out and she dropped into her chair, staring sightlessly at the mound of paperwork in front of her. She felt cold and…empty now that he was gone.

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