I Spy a Dark Obsession by Jo Davis Page B

“You mean killed or taken into custody?”
    “Locking him up didn’t work out so well before,” he said with a hint of bitterness. “So stone-cold fucking dead works for me.”
    “Mr. President will have something to say about his punishment, since it was the government’s weapon Dietz stole.”
    “He already spoke. Bastian and I have full authority to stop the bastard however we see fit. And I intend to use that authority to put him in the ground.”
    “I see.”
    He frowned. “You don’t approve.” It wasn’t a question.
    “I can’t approve of killing, no matter how badly a man deserves it. But it’s not my call, and the idea of Dietz leaving this earth isn’t what bothers me most.”
    “Then what does?” Michael studied her in puzzlement.
    “How big a scar your vendetta against him is going to leave on your soul.”
    “ Mine ? I didn’t start this little war, but I’ll damned well finish it. Where he’s going, he’s the one who ought to worry about his soul, not that he owns one for the devil to take.”
    Just like a man to think in black and white, regardless of the personal price.
    “Hearing you talk that way . . . concerns me. I’m afraid your hatred will blind you to the danger or affect your judgment, and that scares me for you.”
    “I don’t know whether to be flattered or insulted.”
    “Neither. It’s not a slam against your ability to get Dietz, which I have no doubt you will.” She gave him an earnest look. “It’s a question of how much of you will survive the bloodshed.”
    “I never knew you cared about me.” He sounded pleased about that idea.
    “You miss a lot of signals from those around you,” she said, thinking not only of herself, but also of Bastian. “Or you ignore them.”
    “Is that right?”
    “Yes.”
    As they reached the end of the building, he pulled her around the corner and down the alley a fair distance from prying eyes. Pushing against her, he backed her into the brick wall, placing his palms on either side of her head. He leaned close, his lips almost touching hers.
    “Tell me, Katrina . . . am I getting the signal scrambled now?” His eyes were dark pools, his body hot as he pressed close. “Do I need to back off?”
    Oh, God. How she’d wanted this. But what about Bastian? “No, but—”
    “That’s a yes or no question.”
    Her nipples tingled and her pussy warmed. “Your men—”
    “Won’t say a word. Yes or no?” Lightly, he brushed her lips with his.
    “What was the question?” She was only half kidding. The man made her insane, all common sense drowned in a flood of desire. But he was serious, waiting for an answer. “There’s nothing wrong with your powers of deduction, but if you need me to be perfectly clear—kiss me, dammit, before I die from the wait.”
    He dove in, lips capturing hers hungrily, tongue delving inside. She moaned and leaned into the kiss, reveling in his taste, thinking, At last . Every sensitive part of her cried out for his touch, his taste. Sinking into him was like coming home.
    Before she could dwell on that feeling too much, rough fingers plucked at her nipples through the thin fabric of her blouse and the bra underneath. Hitching the edge of the material, she took his wrist and moved his hand underneath, placed it on her stomach, nudged it upward. Taking the hint, he cupped one breast, rubbed his thumb over the taut nub through the silk. Then he deftly flicked the front clasp and spilled her into his questing hand.
    Arching into him, she marveled at how good it felt to be bared to him. How much better if there was no clothing at all to get in the way. Breaking the kiss, he bent and nuzzled her hair, whispering into her ear.
    “Jesus, you’re so soft. Are you silky all over?” His palm skimmed downward. “Are you smooth, perhaps hot and wet?” His journey paused at the button of her pants.
    “Why don’t you find out?” She could barely keep from panting as he undid the fastening, parted the