Taking the Bait: An ARC Operatives Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

then his lips were on hers, hot and insistent. She froze, fingers curling in on her palms against his chest as her breath stopped still in her chest.
    “You… you do not go back out there. That man? That man is never… never going to look at you, no. Not again,” he had pulled away to breathe for a moment and then shook his head. Given how shaken he seemed, she opted to go for nice-gal-Daria and not punch him in the teeth. She could put aside the whole inappropriately-kissing-your-op-partner thing for now, maybe-sorta-kinda because she had liked it a little too much.
    “You wanna clue me on on what’s going on here, Seabiscuit?” she asked gently, wriggling a bit in his arms. He unbent, letting her step back and his shoulders dropped, his head hanging as he ran a hand through his hair.
    “I know his type. I saw it, in my neighbourhood, men like him would… they would grab the girls, and… he was touching you, Daria. He had plans for you, and I…” he trailed off, looking away. She reached over slowly and grabbed his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. There was a hurt in him that she didn’t understand, a layer of protectiveness he was showing her that she’d never expected. She could roll with it, be whatever he needed. She’d seen it between Balfour and Rykov… they were always there for each other. Partners.
    “Hey, it’s okay. That was supposed to happen. Remember? Me? The bait. You? The escape. That was the plan. But it’s fine, really, we can go back out there and do our thing. I can even just put on a new dress, it’s not too late at all.” She smiled at him encouragingly, but he didn’t return the expression.
    “You do not understand,” he said, dropping his hands to hang loosely at his sides. “If you go back out, I will not go with you. I will not let…. I will not watch that vreću za smeće touch you again.” He set his jaw stubbornly and she sighed, realizing why Balfour had stormed out in exasperation. Nicolai was being insufferable, and difficult to work with. Balfour was a saint, but even saints had limits. Plus she was pretty sure Nicolai had just called Mr. Bouvier a trash bag, but she wasn’t sure.
    “Okay, fine. Then… whatever. Let’s just, get some sleep or something, and we’ll deal with Balfour and Rykov in the morning,” she walked to the bedroom door, but he caught her by the arm and looked down at her with burning eyes.
    “Promise me you do not even think to go back down there, or anywhere, without myself or Balfour.” It wasn’t a question, and his fingers trembled on her arm. Something, or someone, had scared him badly, bad enough that he was willing to risk Rykov’s ire and a Balfour-is-Disappointed-in-You face for her safety. She swallowed, throat dry. It was obvious she was taking too long to answer, because he shook her arm a little. “Daria, promise me.”
    “I promise,” she said, patting her hand against the one wrapped around her arm. “Now, let go, and let me sleep. Okay?” He nodded and dropped his hand. She paused for a moment and reached up to brush a kiss over his cheek. “It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere. Balfour’d have my ass anyway for going out without my partner.” With that she left him to his thoughts and pulled the bedroom door just to but not quite closed, and got ready for bed. She didn’t want to think about what had passed between them, or the feel and warmth of Nicolai’s body against hers. Not right then, when adrenaline was still running hot through her veins. When she finally curled up under the sheets, she turned out the light and called to him. “Goodnight Nicolai.”
    She didn’t hear anything back, and oddly she was surprised.

Chapter Three
    Hours later, she sat up in the dark, sheets tumbling off of her in the silence of the room. Something had woken her, and her heart thudded in her chest. A shadow passed over the bedroom door, now open wide, and she gulped in a breath of air. Her hand snaked under her pillow