Free 9781618854704HolidayGemBeckNC by Paloma Beck Page B

set in the sky with rifles
trained on the location. Take any of the bastards out long-range on the go.
Caedon will be our eyes and ears from the surveillance location. Nico and I
will pull in first and take out anyone between us and Van before circling to
clean up the scene.”
    Madden added to the
instruction one final thought, “If Abdul-Nassir is present, kill him. And I
want his body as proof.”
    Fuck, Madden was still
furious at the man for using Layla as hostage. Nassir would be lucky if one of
them got to him first. Madden wouldn’t kill him quickly. He heard an intake of
breath at his neck and realized Gemma had snuck into the room. He reached
around and pulled her onto his lap, breathed in her fresh scent and allowed
himself to relax a bit.
    While Seamus listened
to Caedon, he also took in her clothing. She wore stretchy leggings with a
large mens’ shirt. He liked seeing the shapely curves of her legs but wondered
about the shirt.
    “Who’s shirt?” Seamus
asked with an arched brow. He was certain he didn’t hide his disapproval.
    “Mine. I like big
shirts over leggings. It’s comfortable.” Gemma shrugged.
    Seamus smiled then.
“Good. You can borrow some of mine anytime you want. I think I’d like seeing
you in my shirts.”
    “Wait a minute. That’s
what that look was for a minute ago. You thought I was wearing another man’s
shirt?”
    Nicolaus covered his
laugh with a cough. Seamus was smart enough to look contrite. “Well, I – I,”
Seamus stuttered.
    “Don’t even bother. I
love even this possessive side of you,” Gemma spoke against his lips before she
surprised him with a soft kiss.
    Then their focus was
back on the monitors as new information began streaming live on the screens in
front of them. Caedon had collected any data TEU or the CIA ever had on
Abdul-Nassir and some of it they’d never seen before. Now that they knew these
were connected, Caedon was piecing the situation together and suddenly the
random acts were making better sense.
    “Okay. That’s all from
our end for now. Madden and I are scheduled out of
here in two hours. We’ll meet the team on location. Everyone
in position at twenty-two hundred hours.” Caedon disconnected and the energy
in the room dipped. For a long time, no one spoke.
    Seamus stroked Gemma’s back
as she sat curled in his lap. He continued reading from his screen but was so
grateful she was here with him. Being away from her during this period of
Acclimation had been a risk for both of them. As their new bond grew, they needed
to be near one another and to drink from each other as often as possible. Just
the short time Seamus was away the past few days was already upsetting the
balance of their blood levels.
    Seamus kissed the top
of her head. “I have to finish reading this information and then I’m all yours.
We’ll have some breakfast and then find our way back to bed.” He thought he’d
spoken soft enough but by the groans he got from Gage and Nicolaus, he guessed
they’d heard. Gemma giggled and sat up to look at him.
    She placed her tiny
hand against his cheek and gave him a smile that lighted his world. Her eyes
remained sad though, and his likely mirrored the sentiment. Saying goodbye to
her for another day would be painful, but he’d prepare her again as he’d done
before he left the last time. Seamus could feel through their bond that Gemma
was afraid; not for herself , but for him. She was
aware that this mission was far more dangerous than the first. And he couldn’t
do anything to reassure her but to remind her that the Valendite Breeds were
stronger than anything they would come up against.
     
    * * * *
     
    When Gemma had sensed
Seamus in the house, instant relief had flooded her. She was anxious to get
downstairs to see him. Her hands trembled even now as Seamus’ emotions mixed
with her own in an amazing symphony of relief. Here in his arms, she knew he
was safe. Thank the Goddess, her mate was safe.
    After the