Page 131 of Silver Fire

And then he freaking disconnected.

Damn Viktor. What was he playing at? She had been apprehensive when this assignment threw her back into his world. She had avoided close contact with him for eight years. They had not ended well. He had been too intense for her and she had to break it off. But she was older now, more experienced and in control. She could face him, remain unaffected and hopefully this would be the last assignment they would find themselves working together for a long time.

* * *

Damian Stoltz was never heardfrom again. It was rumored that he was being held in a maximum security prison and was prosecuted, found guilty, and sentenced by a mythical international court that dealt with crimes committed across several continents. SASTac was dismantled and absorbed by other security companies in South Africa. There was not enough evidence to prosecute Christopher Blackstone for his role in the zefinium bomb debacle, but Silver Fire Research had cut off all ties with Blackstone International and had contracted with a different mining company to procure zefinium. Eric Opperman had managed to secure all his files and data before the CIA could capture them and promptly vanished. He was put on the CIA watchlist. After Stan Morgan was detained by the CIA Clandestine office, he was released a week later. He was not charged for his zefinium bomb involvement, but the buzz down the wire was that he had cut a deal with the agency and could be now working for them.

20

Three weekslater

Derek sat backat the bar of the crowded restaurant, observing the two women seated by the window: Sophie and Theresa Cassidy—Sophie’s estranged mother of thirteen years. The past few weeks had been a time of healing. Old scars that had not healed right were reopened and mended, while making sure the fresh emotional and mental wounds were repaired in a way so as not to leave lasting ones. Sophie went back to her therapist, Dr. Hunter, to close the chapter on Adam in her life and work through the death of Justin Bishop. She had to fabricate the whole story around Bishop, of course, because the whole zee bomb operation was classified top secret. Derek hated that she had to relive those experiences, but he knew it was a necessary step if she were to move forward with him. On her last visit to the therapist, she asked if Derek would go with her. He agreed with no hesitation. Dr. Hunter had eyed him suspiciously at first, and Derek wondered if any of his past hook ups had become one of his patients. But after the doctor had pretty much roasted him by asking him all the uncomfortable questions both regarding his past and his intentions toward Sophie, the psychiatrist was satisfied.

Derek himself had found that session cathartic. With no life hanging in the balance, with no city to save, and bomb to stop, everything was stripped down to his relationship with Sophie. And with clarity, he realized, he still felt the same. He was still in love with her with such fervor and such intensity. It wasn’t about saving the damsel in distress. It was her. All her. Her quirkiness, her innocence, her beauty.

All.

Her.

He took a sip of his beer and shifted his gaze back to the women and froze. They were both staring at him. Sophie with her goofy “I’m so in love with him” smile and, as expected, Theresa Cassidy had a frown and a “You corrupt my daughter” look. He sighed. Sophie should stop looking so damned innocent because that little minx could bring a man to his knees.

Derek remembered their return from South Africa. After a grueling trip, they were sequestered immediately to the AGS “war room” for a debrief. Sophie was commended for her calm in the face of a crisis, but she was also teased mercilessly, first for being “made” in public so quickly, and second, for the drama in the warehouse where she had declared her love for him.

“I have a recording of the whole exchange if you want it,” Tim told them. Sophie blushed furiously, and Derek flipped Tim the dirty middle finger.

For the next two days, Sophie did nothing but sleep. Derek was beginning to wonder if there was something wrong with her—a depression of some sort. She had not even let Beth and Stephen know that she had returned.

On the third night, he was sitting in front of the television watching some pre-recorded sports channel and feeling frustrated because he had been basically a walking erection all day and his woman had done nothing but sleep. He did not want their first time after almost a week to be a simple slaking of his lust. He wanted her to be cognitive and actively participating. Man, was he in for a surprise.

Sophie walked into the living room, freshly showered and dressed in a baby doll nightie that barely covered her ass. His mouth immediately watered.Jesus Christ, she better be ready. He eyed her warily as she stopped in front of him. His erection had no problem springing to life.

“I think sex is long overdue,” she murmured as she got down on her knees in front of him.

“No shit,” Derek muttered as he tried to haul her up. He did not want her on her knees like any other woman he had fucked. But she resisted and instead pulled out his cock and began to suck him off. And she did it beautifully. Derek could feel his eyes roll back into his head as he tried hard not come too quickly.

“Fuck, Sophie, if you do not…fuck,” Derek grit his teeth. “Stop… I want to be inside you.”

Sophie pulled back and smiled in a way that made him harder if that was possible. She immediately mounted him and held his wrists on either side of him in a gesture of domination.What the fuck?Derek thought. How had his innocent Sophie turn into a dominatrix? And she was not wearing underwear. He could feel her moist heat teasing his cock at the tip. She was going to kill him.

“My play,” Sophie purred.

“Angel, this is well and good, but if you delay much longer, I might blow without you,” Derek said with amusement, although his voice came out a bit strangled.

And then she sank down on him slowly, and his mind went blank except for the sensation of her feeling so tight and warm around his cock, squeezing and deliciously milking him…

He snappedout of his reverie when Sophie started waving him over. Time to meet her mother. Derek walked to the corner table and put on his most charming smile. Theresa Cassidy’s smile was frosty.

“Mom, this is Derek,” Sophie said. “Derek, Theresa Cassidy.”

“It’s a pleasure, Ms. Cassidy.”

“Theresa, please.” She nodded for him to sit down.

“I understand you helped my daughter come to terms with her past,” Theresa said. “And for that, I am grateful. But your reputation precedes you, Derek and I want assurances—”

“Mom, we talked about this—” Sophie hissed.

“I know, Sophie, but a mother always looks out—”