Intense Pleasure

FIVE MONTHS LATER

Well now, it would appear he owed his brother a sizeable payout on the bet

they had, Falcon thought in disgust.

How the hell had she managed to fool him so easily?

The last time he'd seen Summer Bartlett, aka Summer Calhoun, she'd

been lying sobbing in a bed in her brother's home in DC, long black strands

of hair lying around her, her hair a neat little cap of jagged cuts no more

than two or three inches long. All those long soft curls had been gone and

he'd felt like a part of his heart had been cut from his chest.

He'd stomped out of the bedroom after warning her to get ready for an

upcoming mission, so pissed that she'd cut her hair that he could barely

stand to breathe, and it had been a damned ruse, nothing more. A trick. A

carefully staged gimmick guaranteed to make him mad enough to stay away

from her, for a while at least, when she slipped away again.

A month later there she stood on the balcony of a beach house she'd

been staying in, nearly waist-length waves of raven black hair blowing in

the ocean breeze, her slender, petite body clad only in a short nightie,

allowing that breeze to caress tanned flesh as she tipped her head back in

sensual enjoyment.

And she had him so damned hard it was all he could do to breathe.

"I warned you," his brother, Raeg snorted behind him. "Summer

wouldn't cut her hair. She gets off far too easily on having you brush and

braid it for her."

He slid a look to his brother, his jaw tightening at the scathing tone of

voice. There were moments he wondered what had made him believe Raeg

would be the best partner for this job. Perhaps he'd made a mistake in

giving his brother first choice in accompanying him to inform Summer of

the coming danger and protecting her from it. There had been other options.

Options that would not have been so critical of the agent Summer had been,

or the woman she was.

Was he wrong, he wondered, to believe Raeg's manner toward her held

more than it appeared to on the surface? That the sensual enjoyment it

seemed Raeg had found in Summer in DC was only in his own

imagination?

Hell if he knew anymore.

"I didn't ask your opinion on her reasons why, they are obvious," he

assured his half brother. "Searching for a woman with short black hair,

made finding her more problematic if I continued searching for her. She

would have known this."

"The point is, she ran, Falcon," Raeg pointed out, quite confident he

knew Summer well enough to understand motivations that Falcon doubted

even Summer understood. "If she gave a damn either way about how her

abrupt absence affected you or anyone else, then she would have stuck

around long enough to explain it."

Yes, she had run. Just as he had known at the time that she would do.

Evidently, Summer was serious about getting out of the covert and

security work she'd been a part of for so long. Just as she was serious about

refusing to return to the political social center that was DC.

But Raeg was wrong, she had attempted several times to tell him she

wanted out, and Falcon had been so loath to lose her that he'd talked her

into staying instead. That was a mistake he should have never allowed

himself to make. A mistake he would not make again.

I'm so tired, Falcon, the note she had left at the house in DC stated.

Tired of being shot at, tired of shooting at others, and tired of learning that

friends were enemies and tried and true enemies could be friends.

Belle was being retired forever.

And could he truly blame her? In the space of only a few years, she had

lost so much. The woman who had helped shape her as an agent and as a

person had died unexpectedly, and she'd been forced to kill someone she

had believed was a friend for most of her life.

To save him.

She had taken that life to save him, because he hadn't believed the

woman would actually attempt to pull the trigger.

"I would be dead were it not for her," he reminded his brother softly.

"She pulled the trigger when I could not, Raeg."

He'd kept his weapon holstered rather than pulling it and being prepared

for what may happen.

Raeg said nothing. Instead, he lifted the water bottle to his lips and

sipped as they stared at the vision still standing on the balcony, the sun's

rays caressing her from head to toe, loving the breeze even as it loved her.

"I didn't say she didn't have her good points," Raeg finally stated with

no small amount of ire. "I said she fooled you. You let her fool you."

Falcon pushed his fingers through his hair wearily, glancing at his

brother and wondering if he could ever convince him that the reasons he

fought so hard to find fault with Summer wasn't because she had the faults

he wanted to see. Summer made Raeg see what he refused to acknowledge

in himself. A man who hungered for a woman so much that he could not

refuse who he was, what he was, if he was to have her. A man who knew

that, even though he would have to walk away from her in the end, having

her would be worth the agony of releasing her later.

If they could release her, Falcon thought, something he rarely allowed

himself to consider because he knew too they'd have no choice but to let

her go far too soon.

When Summer finally turned and reentered the house, Falcon hid his

disappointment and continued to watch the area. Tonight, they'd sneak into

the house and he'd have to tell her why he had chased her so relentlessly

over the past month. She was running out of time and had no idea of the

danger building with each day that she stayed out of sight. If he didn't tell

her quickly, the consequences could prove disastrous.

"We will go in tonight," he told Raeg, hating the fact that what he would

tell her would shatter any security she may have found in the past six

months since leaving DC.

She was serious about getting out, he could see that now. He even

accepted it, and after the past month of considering all the reasons why she

would want out, he couldn't blame her.

She was a hell of an agent, but she was also a woman, and women did

not see the world in the same terms, with the same logical choices that men

saw it in. For a woman, friendships meant far more than they meant for a

man in some ways. The rules were different in their hearts and taking the

life of one she considered a friend would have altered everything she felt

about the life she was living.

"You're not being logical about her, Falcon," Raeg advised. But Falcon

heard the regret his brother tried to hide in his voice. "You know what

you're risking. What both of us are risking."

The bleak lessons of the past couldn't be forgotten.

"Should I just allow Dragovich to kill her then?" Falcon turned to his

brother, watching him curiously. "He nearly did in Russia. That was my

fault because I all but begged her to take the job. Because of that, she was

betrayed by Gia, her identity sold to the bastard and now he intends to

finish the job." He couldn't even consider not protecting her, watching over

her, after the many times she'd saved his life. But he understood Raeg's

concern as well. "Why do you not go back to DC? I'll inform her of the

problem and call Lucien Connor to come out and help me with this. She

knows him, she works well with him."

Oh, he just bet she did, Raeg thought furiously, forcing back his anger at

his brother's offer. She might get along fine with Lucien Conner, and that

was all well and good, except for the fact that Lucien wanted nothing more

than to get Summer into his bed.

"Why don't you just stop with the demands that I return to DC," Raeg

snorted, "and stop making excuses for her."

"When you stop making excuses for yourself," Falcon stated with such

disgust that Raeg could feel his frustration level rising. "For pity's sake,

Raeg, protecting her from this will not endanger her from our enemy.

Keeping her, loving her would. This will not."

Raeg couldn't convince himself of that, no matter how often he tried. He

knew far better than Falcon the cost of forgetting the legacy that haunted

them. He'd known a taste of that hell once already. He didn't want to revisit

it. Especially not for a woman who affected him more than any other

woman ever had.

And maybe that was part of it. She made him ache like nothing or no one

ever had. She tugged at a part of him he hadn't known existed and made

him admit to things he had never known he wanted, and all the while she'd

bat those perfect, heavy black lashes of hers, smile with such feminine

charm as those oddly colored violet eyes gleamed with seductive promise,

right before informing him of what a prick she considered him. She could

tear a strip off his hide in a voice so perfectly beautiful it made his dick

harder than hell despite the insults she'd heap on him.

The fact that she was usually right, didn't count as far as he was

concerned. He'd say he was a prick because she couldn't decide if she was

a black-hearted agent or a sweet Cinderella wannabe, and he couldn't

decide if he should make up her mind for her. The truth was, being a prick

was the only way to keep her at arm's length.

"You still refuse to even discuss this," Falcon accused him, his voice

low, his gaze still on the beach house. "Do you believe you'll be able to live

in the same house with her and not eventually give into your needs? To

what we both need? That, or you will make her hate you?"

Raeg didn't even deign to answer that question. He wouldn't touch it

until he simply had no other choice and he damned sure wasn't going to

listen to his brother lecture him on it.

"I think we should go in now." Placing his empty water bottle on the

console of the vehicle they were sitting in, he narrowed his eyes on the

house again. "She'll run again before nightfall."

"And you know this how?" Falcon bit out, frustration edging at his

voice.

"She was on the balcony, full view for all the world, playing the lazy

socialite," he pointed out. "We've been watching this damned place for two

days, and you couldn't even tell anyone was there. It was a distraction. Any

reasonable attempt to get to her would come after dark and she knows it.

She intends to be long gone before that could happen, laughing her ass off

because she fooled us again."

He knew her better than Falcon gave him credit.

His brother was silent, thoughtful. The explanation had at least gotten his

brother off his back though, Raeg thought in relief. He didn't want to think

about what he was going to do once they told her what was coming, who

was coming. And he didn't want to consider the consequences of the only

plan they'd been able to come up with to ensure she didn't end up dead.

Summer was a hell of an agent and he fully admitted that, but she wasn't

Wonder Woman and she wasn't bullet resistant. And the enemy wanted to

make a point, hence the reason a sniper hadn't been dispatched to just pick

her off.

"We should go in now then," Falcon said softly, anticipation rumbling

just below the soft tone of his voice as he started the Suburban and put it in

gear. "She runs again, and we may not find her until she is but a corpse. If

then."

That was a probability, Raeg thought, pushing back the arousal and the

anticipation he couldn't help but feel.

It had been five months since he'd seen her. In the past eight years, five

months had never passed that he hadn't seen her, argued with her, touched

her, even if it was in the most impersonal way. She always seemed to bring

the sunshine with her, he thought wearily. What was it Falcon called her

sometimes? Summer-shine. That was what it was like, feeling the warmth

of that season when she was around, whether she was charming them to

distraction or driving Raeg insane with the sugary little jabs.

And Summer was like a drug. Didn't matter if it was the argument or

merely seeing her now, her physical presence lit up a room with her smile

and her bright violet eyes. It was still a fix, and he hadn't had his in far too

long.

"Fuck this up, Raeg, and you and I will have words." Falcon surprised

him, not just with the warning, but also with the fact that he was dead

serious. "Do not antagonize her to the point that she refuses to allow us to

watch her back."

Raeg stared at his brother thoughtfully. In all the years they'd argued

over Summer, Falcon had never given him an ultimatum before.

"We're always having words where Summer's concerned," he finally

pointed out, knowing even as he said it, it was a mistake. "What would

make this time any different?"

"This time, I doubt I would forgive you. Especially if she's hurt because

of it." Falcon flicked him a determined look as they turned into the drive

leading to the beach house. "And I will definitely not forgive you should

anything happen to her because of your animosity toward her."

And that, Raeg knew, Falcon wouldn't threaten lightly.

The fact that Raeg was going to eventually lose the woman was a

definite, but he never considered losing his brother as well.

Dammit.

Now things were just going to get complicated.

"And if something happens to her because we are trying to protect her?"

he asked his brother. "What will we do then?"

Falcon shook his head. "As far as we know, the past is dead."

"The past never really dies, Falcon," he sighed heavily. "Only its

victims. Let's try to keep that in mind until we at least have Dragovich

taken care of."

Then, maybe, he could ensure Falcon at least stayed with her, if that was

what he decided to do. Raeg couldn't discount the possibility. If he simply

played the third, hid his own ever deepening hunger, his own need for more,

maybe, he could protect his brother and the woman both of them ached so

desperately for.

*

Dammit.

Now how had Falcon managed to find her?

Summer stepped into the private beach house before throwing a glare

back at the white curtains billowing in the breeze and blowing through the

open French doors.

He should have never found her so quickly. Hell, he shouldn't have even

been looking for her after the last run-in she'd had with him.

Evidently Esteban de la Cortez Falcone, or "Falcon" as most who knew

him, called him, was far more stubborn than she'd believed him to be.

But five months?

Really?

After four months he should have given up. Especially after believing

she'd committed the unpardonable sin of chopping off all her hair to only a

few inches in length. He'd always sworn he'd never forgive her for that.

Not that she would ever dare cut more than just the ends of her hair. Her

family would just disown her, she was sure, if she did such a thing. Besides,

she loved her hair. There wasn't a chance she'd willingly mutilate it in such

a way.

Making Falcon believe she had, then running, would be enough to

convince him to just go home and give up. She was certain of it.

She'd obviously forgotten how stubborn he could be. That was her bad.

Now, she'd simply have to deal with it. And if she knew Falcon, she might

just have enough time to get dressed.

Maybe.

She'd make certain to throw his little system into overdrive and just wear

the nightie if she hadn't glimpsed someone in the vehicle with him. God

only knew who he was working with now, and flashing an unknown male

wasn't her favored sport.

At least, not this week.

Thankfully she knew how to be quick as well.

The short, casual white chiffon skirt and matching white cami tank were

already laid out, along with strappy, flat thong sandals. She'd intended to

pack and leave after she'd had her coffee and a piece of the crumb cake

she'd made the night before for the drive home. It was a good thing she'd

made a full pan rather than just a few muffin-sized ones.

Brushing her hair, she pulled it over her shoulder and quickly braided it.

Maybe while he was arguing with her, Falcon would braid it for her. Her

hair hadn't been properly braided since she left Arlington, come to think of

it. She hadn't had a chance to get to her favorite hairdresser either. But

Falcon had always found such pleasure in playing with her hair that she

actually found it quite relaxing.

Damn, this was messing with her intended schedule. Her family was

expecting her home soon. She was supposed to leave in a matter of hours if

she wanted to get there tonight in time to get some sleep before Sunday

breakfast.

She'd promised her sister Aunjenue she'd been there tonight as well.

Evidently Auna was having problems with some guy and wanted to talk to

Summer about it. Auna, love her heart, had far too many admirers.

Finishing the braid and tying it off, Summer checked the mirror quickly.

No makeup was required, she didn't believe. She was going for casual yet

relaxed. She looked fine.

Good enough for a former partner and his current partner at least.

The thought of that current partner had her inhaling without regret, but

still, a bit of bitter sweetness. She and Falcon had worked very well

together. The few times he'd convinced his brother Raeg to join them, Raeg

had actually put aside his animosity for her, and they'd functioned so well

that when he'd left, she'd found herself missing him.

When Raeg wasn't being a prick, when he wasn't trying to make her feel

like she wasn't only helpless, but just shy of an actual IQ quotient, then

she'd been fascinated by him. He was quick, as intelligent as Falcon and

just as instinctive on a mission. He could look at the operational plan, pick

its flaws apart, and by time he and Falcon finished yelling out the strengths

and weaknesses of each move, it was flawless.

Senator's chief of staff indeed. She suspected he did far more for Davis

Allen than any chief of staff had ever been wrangled into. She remembered

her godfather nearly having a melt-down when Raeg had mentioned

resigning the year before and perhaps doing something else. He hadn't just

gotten a handsome pay raise as incentive to stay, but several exceptional

perks as well.

And when he and his half brother, Falcon, were together, it was like

finally getting a glimpse of the heart and soul of both men. Apart, they

simply lacked something that came together whenever they worked side by

side.

They were an interesting combination. Unfortunately, she'd only had a

chance to work with them together a few times. Once Raeg returned to his

duties with the senator, the prick came back in full strength and it was like

trying to get along with a rabid wolf.

A roughly handsome, sexy-as-hell, but still entirely rabid wolf.

Smiling at the analogy she left the bedroom and swept through the beach

house. The wide hallway, open living room, dining and kitchen areas had

seaside views, full-length windows, and a multitude of French doors left

open, long white sheers fluttering in the sweet breeze drifting through the

house.

She could have actually stayed a few more days before heading to her

hometown, just to be certain she wasn't being followed. There was an odd

certainty she might be, but once she'd glimpsed the Suburban Falcon used

for long-distance trips, she had a pretty good idea who was shadowing her.

He just wasn't giving up ...

Sweet Jesus.

And here she thought she was one of his favorite little Southern girls.

If that were the case, Falcon wouldn't be standing in the kitchen as she

stepped from the bedroom with the one partner guaranteed to give her a

headache. Because if she wasn't on the mission with them, then she was

still public enemy number one.

This wasn't a mission, which meant Raeg was going to make her

completely insane. And no doubt, the second his lips opened ...

"And here Falcon blubbered into his beer for hours over the mutilated

hair," Raeg snorted, leaning lazily against the white wood and marble

counter, a smirk tilting his lips as his gaze went over her. "I even felt sorry

for him."

From the corner of her eye she watched Falcon shoot his brother a hard

glare. A warning. Which wasn't exactly unheard of between the two of

them.

"I see he survived it." She lifted a brow as she shot Falcon a grin. "None

the worse for wear, right?"

Falcon merely snorted. She'd one-upped him, he wouldn't be angry over

it, but she'd never get away with it again.

Damn, there were days she was certain she just might love Falcon far

more than she suspected. He hid his powerful, stubborn will with an easy

charm that even managed to keep her at ease, and had a habit of charming

her out of any anger she might feel far too quickly. Wicked and sensual and

filled with teasing warmth, she'd missed him more than she wanted to

admit.

But then, she'd missed his exasperating, infuriating brother just the

same.

"He was fine after I convinced him there wasn't a chance in hell you'd

cut your crowning glory." Raeg slid his brother a mocking look. "I'm

disappointed he didn't know better at the time though."

Mr. Know-It-All, she thought. No wonder Falcon was glaring at him.

"I'm just curious how you knew I wouldn't cut it," she muttered, moving

for the coffeemaker on the kitchen island. "You must have taken your smart

pill that morning."

Wasn't she the lucky one that he didn't take one every morning?

Raeg merely grinned rather than rising to the bait.