Amy Rench - Fallen Rogue

“I was done, too.” She shook her head, remembering how shattered she’d been. “I was a mess. I never wanted to go into the pool again. But Bobby convinced me not to give up. So I started over.”

She thought of the long years in between her injury and now. The endless rehab and the pain. The rigorous training. But it had been her dream to make the Olympic team once again. Only Bobby had known how badly she wanted it. Her ego was too big to let anyone else know just how much it meant to her. So when she destroyed her shoulder, no one was there to help her pick up her concealed pieces.

Except Bobby. She had wanted to forget it all ever happened. Forget all her wasted years of training just to have had it taken away in a split second on one greedy move. But Bobby wouldn’t let her give up her dream. He said she had the strength to see it through once more. So she’d started over.

And now look where she was.

“Your brother’s right. You are strong. Inside and out,” Rome said, resting a warm hand on her knee. She could tell he was watching her carefully. “Besides, I’m not sure I would have had the focus and discipline for the pros, anyway. I don’t have your drive.”

“Oh, I think you do.” She mentally shook off the futile thoughts of her swimming and thought about how strangely alike they really were. “You just channel it differently.” She watched a smile crawl onto his face and then turned her attention to the television as the start screen of the game appeared. “So, how did you evolve from hockey player to government agent?” Her fingers moved on her controller, selecting a team.

“I have a degree in political science,” he answered. She raised her eyebrows. He looked affronted. “What? Hockey players skate on the ice, not through the classroom. What was your major? Or did you even go to college?”

“Double major. Computer science and systems engineering,” she countered with a disarming grin. “Stanford.”

“Well, goody for you,” he grumbled, turning back to the television. She laughed and watched him pick a team for himself. “Anyway, after I blew out my knee-and yes, I graduated-I got a job with the government, working for intelligence. My parents were both intelligence officers. But I was bored with just planning the ops. I wanted to be out there doing it. So I applied for field training. I had an excellent mentor who said I had great instincts. I then became an agent.”

Harper noticed the fondness in his voice when he spoke of his mentor. She was beginning to think that underneath his tough-guy shell was an adorable softie she really wanted to explore. But right now, she just wanted to relax and forget everything and lose herself in his easy company.

“Are you ready to get your tushie thumped?” she asked, returning her attention to the game.

“What is it with you?” he asked through a chuckle. “Why don’t you just say ‘ass’?”

“Because I’m a lady,” Harper answered with a grin, and pressed the Start button.

After a few hours, they were fully immersed in their second game. Harper had won the first and was now ahead by two touchdowns. To his credit, Rome wasn’t too upset, as most guys she effortlessly beat usually were. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so much.

“No!” The exclamation came from Rome after her player intercepted an ill-advised pass from his quarterback, sealing the game in her favor. He dropped his controller to the floor and held his head in his hands, groaning.

“It’s okay, Rome,” she said through her chuckling. “I’m a pro.”

“Lady, my ass.”

She full-out laughed now and impulsively reached over and threw her arm around his thick shoulders in a consoling gesture.

She could feel his warm body tremor through his Tshirt from his laughter. Then he turned his head to face her.

So close. His face was so close to hers. It would be so easy to just lean in. Her laughter sifted away as she was drawn in by the vortex of his powerful blue gaze. She could feel his soft breath against her face. She watched his glance move to her mouth.

Harper knew what he wanted. She didn’t fight it. She wanted it, too. More than anything in the world. At this moment, all she wanted was to feel his parted lips against hers.

And with the slightest shift forward, Harper got her wish. Firm yet featherlight. The kiss seared and soothed all at once.

Then his mouth asked for more and she gave in without hesitation. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth, allowing his tongue to dive in, sliding and savoring. Sensual shivers of pleasure danced through her body, radiating from the sizzling bliss he was forging.

Her game controller slipped from her hand and hit her foot with a startling thud. A reflexive jump broke the kiss. Slowly she opened her eyes to meet his scorching gaze at very close range. Rome leaned back with a heavy, ragged sigh.

“I’m not sorry,” he said with a rumble so deep, she felt it roll around inside of her like a pinball. Giving her a rakish grin, he stood up and reached to turn off the game. “I think we need to get some rest.”

“Sounds good,” she said, returning his smile with one of her own after a few calming breaths.

You know, she wasn’t sorry either. Goodness, that kiss felt nice. More than nice. The thought that she’d had her birth control shot a few weeks ago quickly passed through her mind.

“You take the bed. I’ll take the couch.” He gave her the sexiest wink she’d ever seen and strutted out the door.

Pressing her fingers to her moist lips, she was sorely tempted to invite him into bed with her or follow him to the couch. Her body didn’t seem to care that she didn’t trust him. But she knew he was right.

Exhaustion washed over her, only this time it was mixed with a warmth from the lingering essence of the man who had decided to be her ally. And who let her have the comfy bed.

Harper didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time since she stepped onto the bus for this fateful trip, she was looking forward to it.

Music floated from the large speakers in his Land Rover as Rome drove carefully through the crowded streets on his way to meet with Jeff. He was pretty sure no one knew yet he’d helped Harper escape. He’d find out for certain the moment he stepped into the facility. If he was seized and dragged down to the romper room for some of creepy Dr. Andy’s lovin’, chances were Jeff knew.

He tapped his fingers against the steering wheel in time to the ABBA song on the radio. A smile cracked his face when he recalled Harper idly doing the same just days ago while sitting in the seat next to him. Only then it was “Dancing Queen,” not today’s “Super Trouper.”

Hmm, they had similar taste in music. He wondered what other tastes they had in common. He had certainly enjoyed the taste of her lips against his. Deliciously sweet and savory. He hadn’t meant to kiss her. He had sure as hell wanted it. And he knew without a doubt she’d wanted it, too. But knowing the crazy, unstable situation they were in, a kiss should have been the furthest thing from his mind.

Only the kiss, plus planning future ones, was the foremost. The more time he spent with her, the more he was drawn to her. And not just physically. Something in her strong and spirited soul called to him. And something in her sinewy and sexy body roared to him.

Shifting in his seat, he mentally slapped himself. He had to focus, or they could both end up dead. He wouldn’t be able to explore Harper Kane and her luscious lips if that happened. And that was more than enough incentive.

After their much-needed sleep earlier, they had spent more time hashing things out over grilled cheese sandwiches. She’d told him everything that had happened to her after her bus ride, up to the point where they squared off in the lab. Seeing her brother murdered, the inadvertent injection of the serum, unwittingly using her powers. Everything she’d gone through had just seemed to fortify her fierce determination to resolve this whole mess. And it reinforced his belief that Harper was an unbelievably remarkable woman.