Read Online The Omega Team: Precious Cargo (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Brenna Zinn - Free Book Online Page B

not far from an old console television. Across the room was a four-poster bed outfitted with comfortable-looking bedding. Two sets of French doors leading to Juliette balconies provided a nice view to the city. And, halle-freakin-lujah, there was no smell. No mold or mildew. The room would do. God knew he’d stayed in much worse places.
    After locking the door and setting the security chain in place, for all the good it would do, he made a quick search of the closet, under the bed and in the bathroom. The place was empty. No bad guys. Nothing suspicious to worry about. No dirty linens.
    “It’s not too bad.” Mila picked a piece of lint from the top of the chair and examined it. “This isn’t the Ritz, but we’re only here for a few hours.” Brushing her hands, she looked around the room then stopped when her eyes found the bed. Her gaze traveled quickly from the bed to Duke and back again.
    “Are the sleeping arrangements going to be a problem?” he asked, genuinely curious.
    “Ah, no. Not at all.” She tossed her purse onto the chair.
    The slight quiver in her voice and the lack of color on her cheeks suggested something entirely different.
    She continued glancing around and zeroed in on a brochure lying on a side table. She picked it up, her hand shaking slightly.
    “They have room service. Thank God. I want an order of everything. And wine. I’m dying for a glass of wine.”
    “And I’ve been dying for a chance to do this.”
    Duke plucked the brochure from her grasp and pitched it, not caring where it landed. He grabbed hold of her arms and drew her close, reveling in her familiar scent. She wore the same perfume as she had in Crimea. The sweet floral fragrance triggered an ache deep within, taking him back to when they had first been together. Chemistry, passion, love. They had all three in spades, and he still desired her as much as he had then.
    He leaned to cover her lips with his then stopped.
    Mila hadn’t moved. Nor did she make an effort to return his affection. Other than a brief shiver that rippled down her back and arms, she stood still, her breathing fast and uneven.
    He placed a hand on her chin then lifted, guiding her gaze to his. He searched those light brown eyes, hoping to find some indication of her feelings. There he saw shadows of fear and uncertainly lurking in the warm depths.
    She was nervous. Most likely, she didn’t trust him. He couldn’t blame her.
    As badly as he wanted to taste her sweet pink lips, he simply couldn’t. Not yet. He had to move slowly.
    He let go of her chin.
    “This is hard for me,” she whispered on a choppy exhale.
    “I know.”
    “A big part of me wants to rip off your shirt and pants, and toss you onto that bed.”
    That revelation caused a zip of lust to shoot directly to his groin. He’d like to rip off her shirt and pants too, and then take as much time as he liked getting reacquainted with every inch of her delectable body.
    “That sounds pretty good to me, darlin’. If you make a move, I won’t try to stop you.”
    She sighed. “But there’s another part of me that realizes I don’t even know who you are. I’m not even sure if Duke is your real name.”
    “It’s not. That’s my nickname. My real name is Marion. My dad was a big John Wayne fan. So when I was born, he named me Marion after John Wayne’s real name, but ended up calling me Duke. The name stuck.”
    “Marion.” She said the word as though testing it. “It’s a good name. Do you have any family?”
    He didn’t doubt her question was geared toward discovering if he was married. She was, indeed, very much like her father.
    “I have a sister who lives in Texas. My parents are alive and living in Louisiana. I have a bunch of relatives there. I think just about everyone who lives in our parish is related to me in one way or another.”
    “Oh.” She frowned.
    Evidently he hadn’t given her the information she’d wanted.
    “If you’re wondering if I have a wife at