SEAL by Fate Read online

  She shifted uncomfortably. “Why can’t we get on the snow mobile and get out of this place?” She shook her foot in restless energy. “I hate it here. I’m more of a beach type, not an ice queen. We’ve dunked so much money into this plan of yours, money we could use on an island and strawberry mojitos. You say the man is smart, don’t you think he’s going to figure this all out?”

  “In due time, darling. In due time we’ll move on. My mission is incomplete, and Phantom never leaves things incomplete.”

  “You do realize if we left the country like we discussed you’d be home free. None of the Hawks will find you in Bali. I’m starting to think you enjoy this cat and mouse game too much.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re losing your focus in all this revenge bullshit.”

  “The man shot me,” he seethed. “If he hadn’t thwarted my plans that day all of this would have been my ticket to glory.” He pressed his hands together and looked at her over the tips. “How I see things, Carlisle exchanged his puny life to save several strangers that day, he just doesn’t realize his fate yet.”

  She rolled her eyes. “This is getting old. Let’s just get the hell away from all this.”

  “I can see why you think running is right. You have nothing. No values to speak of. I am a warrior and have committed myself to showing the world—”

  “I know. I know.” She gave her head a frustrated shake. “You’re on a mission. Blah-blah-blah.” Getting up, she took her empty glass with her and filled it to the rim with more Scotch. “You’ve made promises that you keep putting off. Maybe I should consider taking a trip alone.”

  “We’re dedicated to this assignment, Natasha. Or Dory. Whatever I should call you at the moment. I’ll not tolerate bickering or renegotiation at this point.” His jaw hardened. “Your bullshit is making me lose my focus. I can’t even get the fucking number that Carlisle dialed. Everything is encrypted these days.”

  “This isn’t bickering. This is only me stating facts. You’re joy in playing with explosives, and people, is getting tiresome. Can’t you move on to something else? Try a hobby like sailing or painting? Or threesomes. I don’t mind sharing. Anything but this shit.”

  Phantom smirked. “I think you’ve been popping too many pills. By the way, I heard your snide remark to the lawman about my choice of coffee and my lack of understanding of your “pipes”. You certainly showed your unworldliness. Why didn’t you tell him that you lasted as a barista for all of five minutes? Or that you worked as a stripper to pay for those acting lessons you keep raving on about? Honey, if you were any good, you’d be somewhere else besides supplying me with pussy demand.”

  “Fuck you.” She threw her glass, aiming for his head, but he ducked and the glass shattered against the wall. Scotch splattered him and the floor.

  His lips tightened into a firm line, then he pushed his chair back, the legs scraping loudly against the wood. He took three long strides across the room. Once he was upon her he reached out and grabbed her around the neck, pressing her against the edge of the counter. Her eyes widened, but she recovered and tilted her chin, keeping her gaze steady with his. “I once found it possible to overlook your behavior because this is delicious.” He reached down and cupped the mound between her legs. “But so help me, bitch. I’ll strangle you and throw you into the nearest trash can to rot. Don’t forget who you’re dealing with.”

  “Of course not. How could I forget that you believe you’re a God? Or that you thrive on seducing sweet innocents like S—”

  He smacked her so hard that her head knocked back and hit the corner of the cabinet. “Don’t say her name!” he whispered.

  The slight tremble in her bottom lip was the only sign that she knew how dangerous he could be when he was pushed.

  “Now apologize for your naughty behavior.”

  “Sorry.”

  He dropped his hand and straightened the neckline of her torn shirt. “There. Now why don’t you be a good girl and clean up the mess you made?”

  Without another word, she grabbed a rag and headed to the puddle of glass and booze.

  Phantom looked at the clock and then at the phone. It was time to make a call.

  Picking up the receiver he dialed a familiar number and it was answered on the second ring. “I’m checking in…yes, keep her…she’s leverage. Then keep her quiet…you know how. I’ll be there soon to take over.” He looked over at Natasha who was busily scrubbing the stain from the floor. “She’s a smart mouth…I suggest you teach her in a very creative manner.” Phantom noticed how Natasha stiffened. He smirked and felt very superior. He liked seeing the weaker sex squirm—liked the control that gave him.

  Hanging up the phone, he strolled to where she was knelt on the floor and he unzipped his pants, pulling his already throbbing cock from the confines of his slacks and squeezed the shaft. He pumped himself until he was fully erect.

  He didn’t have to voice any commands because she understood his need. That’s what he liked about her, outside of the fact that she could suck a ping pong ball through a straw.

  “Remember, darling, you’re in this scheme as deep as I am. Do I need to remind you that you were driving the car that almost killed the lawman? I do believe attempting to kill an agent is a federal offense. And…have I mentioned, you write such meaningful letters. Who would have thought?”

  Staying on her knees, she positioned herself in front of him, taking his length deep into her mouth. Her teeth scrubbed against his sensitive skin and he jerked. “Behave yourself, Natasha,” he warned, threading his fingers in her lush hair as he rammed himself deeper…and deeper, feeling her throat clasp around his tip.

  Yeah, he liked a deep throat.

  *

  Gray put on the snowshoes that were a little snug, but better than wearing only his boots and headed outside with a shovel. Lola followed behind him. “Stay close, girl.” The dog looked at him as if she understood.

  Stormy was taking a shower and anywhere he moved inside the small cabin, he could hear water splashing which conjured images and raw fantasies of the water streaming over parts of her beautiful body. He needed to do some strenuous work and fast before he did something very stupid.

  His knee still throbbed and he limped off the porch where he thought the sidewalk must be. The snow had finally stopped but it was still cold enough to freeze a man’s balls. He pulled his hat low to cover his ears and stared into the bright white landscape. Last night he’d demanded that Stormy take the bed and he the couch which, as expected, she’d argued but what type of man would he be if he hadn’t insisted.

  The lumpy couch had been like sleeping on the cots across the pond. He growled and stabbed the snow with the shovel.

  There was an image stuck in his head. That morning, early, the sun was just shedding light and she must have thought he was still asleep because he’d opened his eyes and found her tiptoeing across the living room toward the bathroom. He’d almost swallowed his tongue when he saw her. The pink cami had been like a bow on a present. The deep scoop neck exposed the tops of her braless breasts, which he knew because he could see the outline of her thick nipples under the lace material. The hem landed at her flared hips where a pair of boy shorts cupped her tight bottom. They were anything but “boyish” or “shorts”. They were lethal weapons designed to wrap a man around a woman’s finger in record time.

  When she came back out of the restroom he had his head buried in the cushion so he wouldn’t look, although he thought he chipped a tooth because he’d had his teeth clenched so tight.

  He stabbed the snow again. Scooped. Tossed it to the side.

  There was something wrong with him being out here shoveling snow. He needed to do something because, as his thoughts for Stormy became more frequent and naughtier, he was feeling like a bastard. Even jacking off wouldn’t ease the pain.

  Lola bounced across the yard, barking at something in the woods. “What is it, girl?” he called out. Before he managed to get halfway across the
snow-covered space, Lola had darted through the tree line and disappeared. “Ah, shit!” Gray tossed the shovel to the side and took off at a jog, ignoring the stabbing ache in his knee. Stormy would never forgive him if something happened to the dog.

  Lola’s barking sounded loud through the woods. By the time Gray had breached the tree line, he couldn’t see her any longer. “Ah fuck, girl! Come back and save me some energy,” he grumbled.

  Following her tracks, he stopped. Unless Lola had shifted into a human, the footprints that continued were not a dog’s. Gray turned and looked where he walked. The tracks ended, but from the position where he was standing, a person had a clear view of the cabin. And they were fairly fresh prints. What the hell?

  Who had been out here watching the cabin?

  Several thoughts fired across his brain cells. Could it be the ex looking for Stormy? Yet why was he watching from the woods?

  Who else could it be? Only the team knew Gray was on the mountain.

  Damn, he’d left his gun back at the cabin.

  Following the tracks, Gray ducked under the branches until he came down an incline onto the road where the prints faded into a snow drift. He looked up and down the empty road. Listening hard for any sounds in the distance…or for Lola who had also vanished.

  He whistled through his teeth. “Lola? Come on, girl.”

  Nothing but the shrilling sound of the wind blowing through the trees could be heard.

  “Fine. Hopefully you go home.”

  About to turn and head back to the cabin, he saw a contrast in the snow. Lola bounced up, her tongue hanging out the side of her chops and her ears perked.

  “Did you find what you were looking for?” he asked in frustration.

  The dog stood at Gray’s feet, lowering her head slightly as if asking for forgiveness.

  “What was it, girl?”

  She lifted her head, her ears erect, and she whimpered. He had a feeling Lola caught the scent of someone.

  Gray looked as far as the eye could see. Whomever had been in the woods was long gone. It was in his blood to be suspicious of anything out of the norm, but the prints could easily have been Lola’s owner, possibly looking for her. But if that were the case, why didn’t the person come up to the door? It didn’t make sense.

  “Come on, girl.” He scratched her head. “I don’t know about you, but I’m cold. Just so we’re clear, if your owner doesn’t come soon, Stormy will want to keep you.” Lola barked. Gray laughed. “Yeah, I’d want her to keep me too.”

  He didn’t want to leave Stormy alone too long, especially now that Gray wasn’t sure who was sneaking around. Although it didn’t seem possible, what if Phantom had been close?

  His chest tightened.

  A lot didn’t add up.

  He hurried back to the cabin and once inside, he yelled for Stormy but he didn’t get an answer. “Stormy?”

  “I’m here.” She stepped from the hallway looking like a gift from the gods with her long hair hanging in soft ringlets over her shoulders. The pretty blue of her shirt caught the color of her eyes and the shorts exposed her nice, toned legs.

  The view made him momentarily forget that he’d found tracks in the snow.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked. “You look like you’re upset.”

  “No, but I did find footprints in the woods.”

  “What?”

  His adrenaline was starting to slow, but now that he knew someone had been watching, he would need to be on his toes. “Lola took off into the woods and I followed her. There were fresh tracks.”

  She crossed the space and laid her fingers on his arm. “You wouldn’t be telling me this unless you had a reason. Do you think it’s Duncan?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t see any reason to believe it was him.” And yet he didn’t see any reason not to think it was her ex. He met her glassy eyes with understanding.

  “He could have been watching the cabin?” She crossed her arms over her chest and worked her lip.

  “Stormy? We’ve danced around the subject, but I have to ask and need the truth. Are you afraid of your ex?” Although she hadn’t said anything that would lead him to believe she was scared, looking at her now, how worried lines appeared around her eyes, made him wonder.

  “No.”

  He watched her closely, not exactly believing her, but not wanting to pressure her. “Okay.”

  “What if it’s the man you’re after?” She narrowed her eyes. “Is he dangerous?”

  Gray blew out a long breath. “Yeah, but he doesn’t know I’m here. That ex of yours must have a good idea that you’re close. It’s pretty obvious with your car stuck in a snow drift.” He zipped up his jacket and grabbed the snow boots. “There’s only one way to find out.”

  “What do you mean? Where are you going?”

  He grabbed his gun from the closet and pushed it into the back of his waist and strolled to the door. “I’m going to explore the area where I saw the tracks. I’m curious to say the least.”

  “You’re leaving me alone?”

  “Lola is here with you. She’ll protect you, won’t you, girl.”

  The dog perked her ears up from where she lay in front of the fireplace.

  “This isn’t safe.” There was a tremble to her voice.

  “Sweetheart, this is my job. I understand the rules of safety and the first rule, it’s better to be the hunter than the hunted. If you and I are stuck here for another night or two, I need to know what’s out there and if there’s any risk.”

  12

  STORMY SNUGGLED UP on the corner of the couch with Lola sprawled out next to her. The lights were turned off and the fireplace cast a little bit of light in the room. She felt safer with the lights turned off.

  Knowing that Gray was part of an elite team who specialized in hunting down bad men, she felt a bit safer that he was out searching. No wonder he carried himself like a warrior heading into battle. She had no doubt that if someone had been out there watching, whether her ex or someone else, Gray would find them.

  She pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her chin on her knee. She’d only known Gray for such a short time and yet she felt like she’d known him much longer. He was the dictionary definition of strong and powerful, both physically and mentally. He had shown his concern in her well-being, and she’d like knowing he cared enough to watch her back. It could be dangerous relying on him when she had no clue what tomorrow would bring. She couldn’t become his obligation or responsibility.

  Yet, he would protect her.

  Staring into the flames of the fire, she rolled her tongue along her bottom lip. Her headache had finally vanished and she was thinking clearer, didn’t feel as vulnerable, and still she felt a connection with Gray. She guessed it was possible for two people to meet, under any circumstances, and feel a strong attraction. A part of her wanted to stay at the cabin forever, just she and Gray. But another part of her knew she had to find her sister. They needed to talk.

  Her rational side warned her she was getting too close to a man—a stranger—who was only in her life temporarily. Who would drift away as quickly as the weather. However, she couldn’t quite shake the feeling that they were bound by something unexplainable. Her sister would say, “Follow your heart. It’ll never lead you astray.” Maybe she had a point.

  Gray was a real life 007.

  Now she was being dramatic. He wore a badge, but he didn’t say he leaped from tall buildings or shimmied his way through perilous disasters. Yet, he had the brawn to do both. Did he jump through rings of fire to catch the enemy? And why did her heart skip several beats.

  He had said he wasn’t dating or attached, but a man who looked like him could have any woman he wanted, and most went for modelesque types. Stormy, well, she worked at a floral shop. Worse, a floral shop that had just shut down.

  Oh wow.

  What would Duncan think if he’d known she’d been rescued by a Special Agent? One that looked amazing. That body alone made her
feel like she was having a constant hot flash. He was protective—not surprising considering his career. He was kind. Very much so.

  Stormy realized she should have listened to the medicine man she met in Bali while on a trip with Colette two years ago. He took one look at her hand and made the amazing prediction that she lacked a love life, then proceeded to tell her three things. She’d be pushed, no shoved, out of her comfort zone. That she’d face trouble. And three, she’d find her heart where she’d least expect it. She’d brushed off the Yoda-looking man, but now, maybe all his prophecies were coming true. Colette had warned her not to discount the predictions.

  Of course, her sister had always lived life to its fullest—always the adventurous one. She believed in destiny. Stormy had never believed in fate and an aligning of the stars, but as of lately, maybe something had brought her and Gray together.

  The core issue here, maybe it was high time she did something impulsive, outside of walking away from a church in her gown.

  If she were available, she would want to follow her emotions and see where they led her.

  I am available.

  Her eyes widened and goosebumps swept up both her arms. There was no going back after leaving someone at the altar. The contrast of her thoughts of Gray and the uneasiness in her stomach could easily be chalked up to the swift pace of events over the last few days. Anyone would gravitate toward a pillar in a time of weakness.

  Slowly getting up so not to disturb Lola, Stormy then wandered around the small space, finally taking a seat in the chair in front of the window. She pulled back the curtain just enough so she could see out. The snow had finally stopped. The white was beautiful against the backdrop of the grayish-purple sky. She imagined it would be a good day to be snuggled in bed in front of a fire with a lover. An immediate vision of Gray came to mind, both naked, lying between the sheets. Instead, he was outside, in the cold, searching for…who really knew. She wished he’d come back soon.