Hard Risk by Sidney Bristol
Chapter Seven
Orleans, LA.
Holy crap.
Robin’s knees practically knocked together.
Harper stepped smoothly away from her, creating much-needed distance for the sake of appearances.
Shit.
This had been her plan all along, so why was she ready to throw something at her family for coming back when they’d said they would?
Was it really a mystery?
She glanced at Harper, already smiling at Dad and Uncle Daar.
There was a good chance Harper would never know her true intention. She might never have to tell him. That didn’t help the overwhelming wave of guilt trying to drown her right now.
She was using him. Plain and simple.
It would be easier if she didn’t want him quite so much. If he were some guy she could break up with without a second thought, her heart might not be so conflicted.
Why did he have to be such a perfect guy? Why couldn’t he have some sort of bad personality trait? Why couldn’t he be mean or at least grumpy?
“What trouble are you two getting into?” Dad asked.
“Oh, nothing. Just about to get a snack. Are you guys hungry?”
Saaina brought up the rear, openly scowling at Robin.
What for this time? For offering food to people?
It could be anything with her. Robin never knew when she was putting a foot wrong because as far as she could tell with Saaina, everything was her fault.
“Go sit down, I’ll bring out what I prepared this morning,” Saaina said loudly.
Both Dad and Uncle Daar looked at her in surprise. It was uncharacteristic of her to be that loud, but they acted like they hadn’t even noticed she was there.
Was it because Robin was taking over Saaina’s thing in the kitchen?
Who knew?
Robin smiled brightly. “Oh, you had something ready? I didn’t know. That’s wonderful. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Dad had his hand on Harper’s back and was guiding him into the sitting room. Uncle Daar followed, hands clasped behind his back.
Saaina waved Robin aside. “Go.”
Well, at least she tried.
She padded after the men now settling onto the sofas. Harper glanced up at her, smiled, and patted the seat next to him.
Robin had never brought a boyfriend around her family. She didn’t quite know how to act when blending the two worlds. How was she both the quiet, obedient daughter while also being whoever she was with Harper?
She kicked off a slipper and sat on the sofa next to Harper, one leg curled under her. He reached over without looking and settled his hand on her legging-clad knee. It was such a casual gesture. He didn’t even look or wink or anything, just placed his hand there and left it. Like it was natural. It felt more like a claim. Like he was saying she was his to her family. But that was silly, wasn’t it?
Robin felt heat crawl up her neck. Mom had died before they could talk about boys and dating. Dad had never asked and Robin didn’t know how he’d react. She peered at her father but found him saying something in an animated tone to Uncle Daar. Clearly, she was the only one who thought the moment was significant.
Silly her.
As if thinking his name called his attention, Uncle Daar turned his focus on Harper. “You’re a military man, aren’t you, Harper?”
Harper swiped his thumb across her knee and studied her uncle for a brief second as if gathering his thoughts. Then again, discussing politics and the world with Uncle Daar could often be littered with landmines.
“Ah, yes. I was in the Navy.” Harper smiled at Uncle Daar sheepishly. “I knew when I graduated high school my parents didn’t have a lot of money for me to go to school, so I enlisted. I can’t say I did so with any real purpose in mind other than surviving.”
“Did you go to school? University, I mean?” Dad asked.
Harper nodded slowly. “I did. Not all at once, and not as well as your daughter. I have a Bachelor of Business degree. Didn’t have much of a plan when I got it, I’ll be honest, but it’s worked out alright for me.”
Uncle Daar propped his elbow on the armrest and narrowed his gaze. “Your consulting business, do you work for someone, or are you independent?”
Harper chuckled and launched into an answer. It was as if he could sense the potential pitfalls and he skipped right over them.
Robin was still partially holding her breath. Harper might not understand what his answer did, but she saw it. American military presence in the Middle East was a hot button for Uncle Daar. The way she saw it, everyone was to blame, and no one was innocent, but she could never say that to him.
Harper had done something amazing with a simple honest answer.
By explaining his enlistment as the only choice to a young man with few prospects, she knew that resonated with Uncle Daar. No, her uncle might not completely forgive Harper, but it let them understand each other. How many times had Dad regaled her with stories from when they were kids and how his glorious big brother made things work out for them? How he’d turned things he had to do into personal victories?
Dad liked to forget that he hadn’t come from money, but Uncle Daar never did. Harper’s story would resonate with him, Robin was certain.
Saaina brought in a platter of finger foods. Snacking broke up the conversation, but not by much. Both Dad and Uncle Daar seemed committed to grilling Harper.
At first, Robin was nervous on his behalf. What if they chased Harper off? But Harper replied with a smile or a laugh, often with a charming story thrown in. She kept her own questions and input to a minimum. This was about letting Harper bond with her family so that maybe he might learn something she didn’t.
Her phone buzzed after a while. She peered at the screen to see a text from Jessica. Just seeing her friend made Robin smile.
Sometimes it felt lonely being here, but she wasn’t. She had friends like Jess, and now Harper.
Maybe there was a way to use Harper without his awareness?
She’d have to sleep on that. For now, she needed to stay the course.
“It’s three,” Saaina announced out of nowhere.
Both Dad and Uncle Daar paused then looked at each other.
“Sorry to cut this short, my boy.” Uncle Daar stood and held his hand out to Harper. “We have a prior engagement.”
Harper stood and clasped the hand. “Thank you for the hospitality.”
“Don’t get up on our account,” Dad said. “Stay. Head upstairs and watch a movie?”
There was an idea.
Soundproof room. No distractions. She could apologize in there without feeling like she needed to whisper.
Saaina gathered the dogs and disappeared, leaving the food tray out.
Robin grabbed the tray and carried it into the kitchen while everyone else talked. She was putting the food away when Harper joined her.
“You never mentioned your dad is an expert cross-examiner,” he said under his breath.
She winced. “I’m so sorry.”
He chuckled and stroked his hand down her back. “Don’t be. I think I won them over.”
Robin slid the tray into the fridge. A part of her was relieved.
He wasn’t running. Not yet at least.
“So, we watching a movie or what?” he asked.
“Do you have the time?”
He edged closer and dropped his voice to a whisper. “For you, I’ll make the time.”
“Seriously. You don’t have to if you’re busy. I understand.”
He glanced at both doorways before lifting his hand to cup her face. “I don’t do anything I don’t want to.”
His words were simple and yet they carried meaning with them. Her body warmed, and she wished they were completely alone.
She reached out and took his other hand. “Well, let’s go pick a movie then.”
He bent his head just a bit more and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was fast and brief. She almost wondered if she’d dreamt it.
But there was a lot more where that came from.
Robin led him to the stairs and up to the second floor. She avoided pointing out which room was hers and instead guided them both into the theater room.
“This is nice,” Harper said.
“Isn’t it? The owners before Dad had it done. He’s done some updating on the equipment and chairs, but that’s it.”
The door clicked shut followed by the sound of the lock turning into place.
Robin froze and stopped breathing. An electric current shot down from the top of her head to her feet, locking her in place. She was afraid, excited, and uncertain.
She licked her lips and glanced over her shoulder at him.
The lights in this room were dimmer, much like they would be in an actual theater. It cast Harper’s face into shadow, save for his generous smile aimed at her.
He took two steps, closing the distance between them. “I’d rather not be interrupted.”
Her gaze flew to the door behind him.
Harper cupped her cheek, bringing her attention back to him. “Is it wrong I want to corrupt the good girl image a bit?”
Her throat tightened. “Corrupt? What are you talking about?”
Conflicting emotions flung themselves at each other within her. She wanted him. She wanted to feel like her own person. She was so tired of trying to fit a mold. Why couldn’t she do this? Why was the guilt holding her back? Why was she letting it?
Harper brushed his lips over hers. She sucked in air and fisted the front of his sport coat in both hands. He pressed closer, pushing her just enough off-balance that she had to take a step back. He moved with her, forcing her back farther until her shoulders hit the soundproof wall.
She’d been trapped by him before. Excitement shot through her.
If she didn’t say no, would he take over? Would he lead her the tiniest bit astray?
His lips moved over and with hers, faster then slower. She groaned into his mouth and shoved her hands under his jacket so she could touch him instead.
Harper pulled away just enough to speak. “There’s something I want to do…”
She was lightheaded and a tiny bit dizzy. “What?”
He tipped his head down and one side of his mouth hitched up. Dark promise glittered in his eyes. She pressed her thighs together and resisted the urge to squirm.
“I want to make you feel like a queen,” he growled.
Her body heated and her pussy clenched. “O-oh?”
Robin’s brain was already short-circuiting. The rational thing to do would be to stop this, but she didn’t want to. Not one bit.
“Do you trust me?” he asked in that same low tone that made her nipples tighten.
She licked her lips and swallowed, willing her voice to be steady.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Harper leaned against her and pressed his mouth to hers in a gentle kiss. Her body relaxed, and she reached up to touch his face. His lips made love to her. She wanted to do nothing but this for the rest of the day. How was it a man could be this sweet and sexy?
His knee slid between hers.
Her insides quivered.
Harper’s hands slid under her shirt to rest against her stomach.
She immediately wished she weren’t wearing the cardigan. Waves of lust and heat did not need superwash wool.
His thumbs slid down to dip beneath the waistband of her leggings. She pressed closer to him. Only, his hands didn’t stop at her hips. Harper’s hand continued its southern journey, pushing past her panties to her mound.
She opened her eyes, staring at him. “H-Harper?”
He cupped her, pressing his fingers against her folds and deeper. “Do you want me to stop?”
Robin should. That would be the right thing to do, but where had that gotten her?
He flexed one finger, caressing her clit.
She shuddered and licked her lips.
“Don’t stop,” she whispered.
Over the years she’d done things that broke the rules, but never like this.
Harper’s mouth crashed against hers. She groaned and shifted her hips against his hand. His touch was so gentle by comparison, it almost seemed like he was two different people.
“These need to go,” he said.
Her mind was spinning. “What?”
Harper dropped to his knees, taking her leggings and panties with them while she leaned against the wall. She stared at the light glistening off his jet black hair and wondered how they’d gotten here. She was lost in her own thoughts, watching him as if she were watching TV or something happening to someone else. Which might have been why her brain didn’t fully process Harper grabbing her knee until he was lifting her leg over his shoulder.
“What are you—?”
The rest of that question died on her lips.
She fisted handfuls of his thick hair as his lips kissed her pussy. Her mouth hung open, and she stared across the room without seeing any of it as his fingers and tongue began a new exploration.
“Oh my—Harper?”
She let her head drop back on a groan as he filled her. Was that his fingers? His tongue? Did she care?
“Right there!” She did her best to be quiet, but the words felt torn from her.
Robin tossed her head back against the wall. Her thigh muscles began to quiver. She shifted her hips in time to his movements.
“Yes,” she whispered.
His lips pressed a kiss to her clit, right before he sucked. Her spine bowed, and she opened her mouth. Only a squeak escaped before she slapped her hand over her face to muffle the moan rising up out of her. It sounded inhuman.
Her insides tightened all at once, like a last-ditch effort to catch herself before she fell off a cliff. And then it was endless falling, all while her body rippled with pleasure. She tingled from head to toe, the sensation drawn out by the continued ministrations of Harper’s mouth.
What was he doing to her? Did he intend to ruin her for all other men? How was this fair?
She whimpered and pushed up on tip-toe in an effort to get away from him. His hold on her tightened, but his touch turned gentler.
Robin tugged on his hair. “Stop. Stop, Harper. Oh—fuck.”
She sucked down air as her body seemed to come apart again.
Was that…two? Two orgasms?
He stroked her long and slow, teasing the sensation out for as long as possible before easing away from her.
Robin sagged against the wall, staring down at him with new wonder.
He couldn’t be real. There was no way this man was genuine. Except her dreams didn’t fuck her within an inch of sanity.
Harper stood up smoothly and once more pressed his body to hers while she was still off-balance from having two feet again. He took her hands and held them in his against the wall on either side of her.
“You taste sweet,” he whispered.
Her face flamed hot.
He chuckled and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
“Is making me blush your new hobby?” she asked.
“My new favorite one.”
“Is that what this was about?”
“No. This was about you.” He pressed another kiss to her forehead.
Her how? What did that even mean?
While she was busy pondering that question and remaining upright, Harper scooped her up in his arms. She tensed, but after the other night at his apartment, she knew better than to protest.
He carried her to the plush center sofa and laid her down. She tugged her long T-shirt down to cover herself, but she needn’t have worried. Harper grabbed a blanket off the end chair and spread it out over her. She couldn’t exactly stay pantsless in the theater room, but she also wasn’t about to move any time soon. As if he knew what she was thinking, he brought her wadded-up leggings and panties to her and set them on the carpet.
“I’ll be right back,” he said softly.
Robin stretched out, luxuriating in the languid feel of her body.
Why did she have to meet Harper right now?
She wished this were happening in a few months or next year. This summer she’d begin applying to places and establishing her own life apart from Dad and his expectations. Or his lack thereof. She’d be free to be herself. Would Harper stay with her long enough to reach a place where she didn’t have to worry about what other people thought?
The theater room door opened and closed.
She lifted her head and peered into the dim corner.
“Just me,” Harper said.
Where had he gone?
He circled the furniture to kneel beside her. “I brought you a washrag if you’d like to use that.”
Handsome, sexy as hell, and thoughtful. Was he real?
“Oh. Thanks,” she muttered.
“I do have a little bad news,” he said slowly.
She pushed up onto her elbow. “What’s wrong?”
His face creased in disappointment. “Nothing terrible, I just have to head back to work.”
“Oh.” Her disappointment was sharp and bitter.
“Don’t look at me like that.” He let his head sag forward. “I don’t want to, but I can’t say no.”
“I get it. Don’t worry. We’ll just make up for it later.”
He peered up at her with a mischievous smile. “Making up can be a lot of fun.”
She grinned back at him, and suddenly she didn’t feel quite so bad about it.
Friday. New Orleans, LA.
Harper backed his car out of the driveway and hit the call button on his phone. His insides were frozen. He couldn’t feel anything. If he did, he’d probably do something truly idiotic.
“Wright, what are you doing?” Samuel asked.
“Leaving.”
“Why?”
“I just needed to.”
“Okay, I need you to replay what just happened because I can’t hear anything from the microphones in your pocket.”
Harper pulled the car to the end of the lane then scrubbed a hand over his face. He could still taste and smell her all around him. It was driving him out of his mind.
“How’s the signal on the other bugs?” he asked instead.
“Don’t duck the question.”
“I had a crisis of conscience,” Harper snapped. “Don’t worry, it won’t happen again.”
“Don’t be like that, man. Don’t do that, Harper. You know what the job is.”
“That doesn’t mean I have to like it,” Harper bit back.
He leaned forward and rested his forehead on the wheel.
Samuel was quiet a moment, which was a blessing.
“I understand this job is tough and maybe it’s too much for you, but you have to remember what the goal is. We’re doing this so that people like Nadine aren’t blackmailed into working for the enemy. We’re doing this so—”
“So people don’t die. I know.” Harper straightened, glanced left then right before easing out onto the street. “I know what’s at stake here. I know I fucked up. Don’t forget this is the first time I’ve done something like this.”
Today it was real. And he had to face the reality that he was willfully misleading a good woman to stop a bad man. In the end, all he could do was hope that the bad he did was outweighed by the good they would accomplish. Otherwise, he was no different from Daar and others like him. And that was a hard pill to swallow.