Aegis 01 - First Exposure Read Online Free PDF Page B

left. A console separated their seats. He opened a folder without looking her way. “Memorize what’s in there. You’ll need to know it all before we land. Since you’re such a good actress, it shouldn’t be that hard to do.”
    The words felt like a slap, though why, she didn’t know. Hand shaking, she pulled out several sheets of paper, a woman’s wallet, and a passport. She flipped the passport open and looked down. Her new face stared up at her. Right after she’d done her makeover—before the waxing and fittings and wardrobe discussions—they’d taken her picture, but she hadn’t realized it had been for a passport. Aegis worked fast. She scanned the information and froze when she read the name.
    Her pulse picked up speed, and her hands grew sweaty. “What is this?”
    “Your alias.”
    “I see that. But why this name?”
    “Undercover Work 101: you stick with your real first name so you don’t get caught in a lie and forget to respond when someone’s talking to you.”
    “Ava is not my first name.”
    He huffed out a sigh and finally looked her way. Irritation reflected deeply in his eyes. “Yeah, but we’re trying to get people not to think you’re Avery Scott, so it makes sense not to use Avery. I knew you’d respond to Ava, so Ava it is.”
    He looked back at his folder like the name meant nothing, even though he knew he was the only one who’d ever called her Ava. Back when they’d been kids, she’d loved that he’d used that nickname. Now…? Now it set off a host of repressed emotions deep inside her chest. But it was the other name that made her lungs feel like they’d grown three sizes too small. “And the last?”
    “The last I know you’ll respond to as well. Welcome to married life, Mrs. Black.”
    Mrs. Black.
    Black had been his legal last name as a kid, and she’d been called that only once before. Before her life had turned to shit. Before he’d left her. Before he’d cut all ties to her and Coeur d’Alene and changed his last name. When he’d convinced her to run away with him, leave her family and friends, fake her age, and marry him.

Chapter Three

    W e’ll consider that lesson number one.

    The words were still ringing in Cade’s ears. As was Avery’s admission she’d rather cut his dick off than fuck it.
    Cade didn’t believe either. There’d been passion in that kiss, even if she didn’t want to admit it. She might be able to fool a lot of people, but she couldn’t fool him. He’d seen her kiss plenty of other guys on-screen, and though he wanted to punch every single one of them in the face, none of the steamy scenes he’d seen had looked at all like what he’d felt. She’d wanted him. She still wanted him. Before this weekend was over, he was going to get her to admit that much.
    He placed a hand on her thigh in the back of the town car they’d climbed into after landing in Montego Bay and squeezed. Seated next to him, she glanced at the driver’s rearview mirror but didn’t push him away. And he took that as a good sign.
    He leaned close to her ear but spoke loud enough so the driver could hear. “You look gorgeous, princess. Though I wish you’d worn a skirt so we could play on the way to the resort.”
    Her leg tensed beneath his hand. She glanced at the driver’s mirror again, then turned to look out at the shacks and palm trees whizzing by. “I thought you liked the way my ass looked in these pants.”
    She was falling into the role. He had to hand it to her. When she put her mind to something, she was good. But he wanted to see how far he could push her. Better to find out now than when they were at the resort.
    Lightly, he trailed his fingers up the inside of her leg. The denim was thin and soft, but it was the heat between her thighs he wanted to feel. She sucked in a breath and held it when his fingers grazed the top of her inner thigh, just centimeters from her mound. “Are you sure? We’ve got at least an hour’s drive.”
    She