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Khalid glared at the black BMW as it sped down the driveway to the security gates that protected the estate His teeth were clenched, his body vibrated with frustration--and not sexual frustration, either

She washi he couldn’t give her, not yet Explanations Details of a past he didn’t want to remember, let alone talk about But in her eyes had been the clearless

Khalid kneomen, and he knew his avoidance of the questions in Marty’s eyes was hurting her And God above knew he hated hurting her

As he ran his hand along the back of his neck, he bit off a curse before jerking his cell phone fro a speed dial nuht it to his ear and waited

Shayne answered the call on the first ring with a brief "yeah"

"Have you learned anything?" The assailant who had attacked Marty was er filled Shayne’s voice "I knohat the bastard looks like now, Khalid I know the general area where he’s supposed to be hiding But I’ll be damned if I can find him"

"No infor of the contacts he had sent Shayne to for help

"Plenty of inforhed "Whoever he is, he was definitely sent by your brothers to do et and preparing to hit it No word on what that target is yet, other than the fact that they consider it a strategic hit"

"That could be anything" Khalid sighed "Any word if Ayid and A," Shayne stated fir All I have for certain is that they sent so it’s the mission you and the FBI broke up in DC Other than that, I really have jack shit At theyou and Zach Jennings concentrate on protecting Marty"

Khalid frowned at that "I thought you were alone"

"I was until the bastard decided to play the invisible runted "I’ the lead I ht Until he makes a move, or he’s seen, my hands are tied"

"Did you see Marty while you were following your leads?" Khalid asked

Shayne chuckled "I’ure, if she’s not suspicious yet, then she will be soon I know her too well The very fact I’ve spent so much time away from the two of you will have her radar up And trust me, it’s up She’s suspicious as hell"

At least she had stayed out of Shayne’s ht that she would begin poking her nose into his brothers’ cri fro?"

"I’hed "The Bureau ave me I have a picture now, and it’s definitely him But he’s as slick as butter so far"

"Will you have some free ti but tily face," Shayne said

"Perhaps you would like to join Marty and ested

There was silence on the line So far he hadn’t given Shayne an invitation that had been extended the past few nights to ht noas much more important Khalid could feel Marty’s readiness now, the tension filling her, the need, the desire to have their third finally, fully, join them And perhaps it would distract her froed within her

"Do you think she’s ready to take it that far?" Shayne asked "It’s pretty soon, Khalid"

"I believe she is more than ready, as am I I believe it is time we see where her adventurous nature takes her" He turned and paced to the s, frowning as he looked into the gardens spread out before him, opposite the front of the house

Was that what she wanted? He knew that sexually she was ready She had been ready for years For Marty, the knowledge of the lifestyle he lived was as fae of sexual intimacy was to other women

He couldn’t see her stressed out over the act of a e itself, but perhaps she was concerned that he hadn’t mentioned it, that his commitment to her required it

"I’ll be available," Shayne promised "Whatever our black-hearted terrorist is up to, he’s notquickly But if he does poke his snout out of his hole, then I’ll be on the run"

"Agreed" Khalid nodded "I’ll arrange everything Meet us at Defacto’s at seven for drinks before dinner"

"I’ll be there," Shayne assured hih, does Marty know about this little dinner date?"

Khalid gri me insane, Shayne She comes to ry Rather than anger, though, she was a seductress stealing my soul, only to blow cold an hour later"

"In other words, she fled your bed as fast as you fled it the first tirated on Khalid’s nerves

"No, I mean exactly what I said," he snarled, uncertain what to do with the frustration tearing through hihtforward," Shayne stated "If she has a probleures out you’re too stupid to figure it out yourself And I’d say a suessed that she’d appreciate the truth I’otten around to tell her about Lessa"

He hadn’t He intended to Each day he planned to, but daer, change to disappointuilt that he hadn’t protected Lessa, that he hadn’t considered what could happen if his brothers escaped the trap laid for thehed on him The fault ith hiht of seeing that knowledge in Marty’s eyes was nearly ardens, though the look was directed more toward Shayne’s coe, no matter hoished it were possible

"She’s well protected She knows she’s in danger There is nothing where the past is concerned that could help her in protecting herself"

"You’re not as s this froain you any brownie points when she finds out the full truth,in my bed, isn’t she?" he snapped out tersely