limousine and allowed herself a moment of rest. She was wrung out, her cheeks aching from holding a smile so long. The delicate layers of her evening gown felt stuck to her skin with perspiration.
And her lips still tingled from his kiss.
Alone in the car, she could indulge herself and just let go of the façade that was her life in favor of recalling exactly how it had thrilled her to be back in Vitusâs arms.
Maybe fate was finally being a bit kind. Granting her a last taste of what she wanted before she struck out on her own. She indulged herself in a smile, letting the knowledge of her coming liberation lift her spirits. Carl could suck her dick. Blunt, crass, and very definitely not the sort of thought her sire would approve of.
Which made it perfect.
She wasnât going to be Jeb Rylandâs little princess bride, nor was Carl going to saddle her. Oh no, she had plans. Ones that were going to come into play very, very soon. Sure, there would be plenty of people who would condemn her for using her fatherâs money to finish her education, but sheâd paid him back in all the simpering he demanded of her.
That wasnât going to be part of her future.
No, sheâd made her own plans and made her own arrangements. In some ways, she was her fatherâs daughter all right. Sheâd learned to play shadow games and deal in secrets. There were advantages to knowing everyone in Washington, D.C. One of which was the fact that she had been able to arrange a posting to a very classified laboratory just as soon as her doctorate in contagious diseases was processed. She was about to become a doctor of contagious diseases when those little germs were rapidly becoming the weapons of the new era. Small pox, polio, Ebola, and even the Black Death. Sheâd studied them and was going to spend her life learning more about them and their containment.
She was going to serve her country and humankind, and there wouldnât be a damn thing her sire could do to stop her.
Her smile faded as she contemplated the other thing sheâd get from going into a sealed facultyâprotection. The one thing she needed if she was going to leave Jeb Ryland behind. He had enemies, ones who had proven theyâd use her to get to him. That was why she couldnât go just anywhere. But a classified level-five laboratory? It was the perfect haven.
You mean prison â¦
No, she meant haven because her life with her father was a prison, and that was the only way she was going to allow herself to think about it.
She resented that fact, resented him for not being a decent person. Not that being angry helped her any. Thinking her circumstances through had. Sheâd devised a way to be free, and it was about to come to fruition.
Success, but it would not include the man she loved. Vitus Hale was not the sort of man that any woman should ever make a pet out of. So she wasnât going to even think about suggesting he join her. Heâd likely face off with her father and be furious with her for trying to protect him.
She indulged in a smile. Yes, Vitus wouldnât accept her shielding him, at least he wouldnât if he ever discovered what sheâd done. That didnât stop her from contemplating telling him. She always pulled away from reaching out to him though. The reason was simple. Sheâd told him she was a woman, so sheâd shoulder her load, in the same way heâd come to her rescue and protect her.
After all, it wasnât his fault her family was whacked. Loving him meant letting him make a clean getaway.
So that was exactly what she planned to do.
*Â Â Â *Â Â Â *
âSomethingâs got your attention,â Kagan said.
Vitus considered ignoring his section leader as he opened the first few buttons on the top of his dress uniform. Back in the parking garage, he was finally free to dispense with the formalities. He dropped the Medal of Honor into his pocket, pissed
And her lips still tingled from his kiss.
Alone in the car, she could indulge herself and just let go of the façade that was her life in favor of recalling exactly how it had thrilled her to be back in Vitusâs arms.
Maybe fate was finally being a bit kind. Granting her a last taste of what she wanted before she struck out on her own. She indulged herself in a smile, letting the knowledge of her coming liberation lift her spirits. Carl could suck her dick. Blunt, crass, and very definitely not the sort of thought her sire would approve of.
Which made it perfect.
She wasnât going to be Jeb Rylandâs little princess bride, nor was Carl going to saddle her. Oh no, she had plans. Ones that were going to come into play very, very soon. Sure, there would be plenty of people who would condemn her for using her fatherâs money to finish her education, but sheâd paid him back in all the simpering he demanded of her.
That wasnât going to be part of her future.
No, sheâd made her own plans and made her own arrangements. In some ways, she was her fatherâs daughter all right. Sheâd learned to play shadow games and deal in secrets. There were advantages to knowing everyone in Washington, D.C. One of which was the fact that she had been able to arrange a posting to a very classified laboratory just as soon as her doctorate in contagious diseases was processed. She was about to become a doctor of contagious diseases when those little germs were rapidly becoming the weapons of the new era. Small pox, polio, Ebola, and even the Black Death. Sheâd studied them and was going to spend her life learning more about them and their containment.
She was going to serve her country and humankind, and there wouldnât be a damn thing her sire could do to stop her.
Her smile faded as she contemplated the other thing sheâd get from going into a sealed facultyâprotection. The one thing she needed if she was going to leave Jeb Ryland behind. He had enemies, ones who had proven theyâd use her to get to him. That was why she couldnât go just anywhere. But a classified level-five laboratory? It was the perfect haven.
You mean prison â¦
No, she meant haven because her life with her father was a prison, and that was the only way she was going to allow herself to think about it.
She resented that fact, resented him for not being a decent person. Not that being angry helped her any. Thinking her circumstances through had. Sheâd devised a way to be free, and it was about to come to fruition.
Success, but it would not include the man she loved. Vitus Hale was not the sort of man that any woman should ever make a pet out of. So she wasnât going to even think about suggesting he join her. Heâd likely face off with her father and be furious with her for trying to protect him.
She indulged in a smile. Yes, Vitus wouldnât accept her shielding him, at least he wouldnât if he ever discovered what sheâd done. That didnât stop her from contemplating telling him. She always pulled away from reaching out to him though. The reason was simple. Sheâd told him she was a woman, so sheâd shoulder her load, in the same way heâd come to her rescue and protect her.
After all, it wasnât his fault her family was whacked. Loving him meant letting him make a clean getaway.
So that was exactly what she planned to do.
*Â Â Â *Â Â Â *
âSomethingâs got your attention,â Kagan said.
Vitus considered ignoring his section leader as he opened the first few buttons on the top of his dress uniform. Back in the parking garage, he was finally free to dispense with the formalities. He dropped the Medal of Honor into his pocket, pissed
Similar Books
