Free Coming Undone by Avril Ashton Page A

upgrade, at least not by much.
    He got his feet, and, after throwing one last glance at a sleeping McKenna, he made his way to the living room where he shrugged into his jacket then let himself out through the back door. His stomach growled with hunger, and he’d seen a Jamaican restaurant a block over that boasted breakfast. He’d get him and McKenna some grub and maybe they’d be able to talk, hash out some things between them.
    His phone rang as he stepped out of the restaurant. He held the food with one hand and fished the loud thing out of his back pocket. He had to remember to turn the freaking ringer down. Shit.
    “Yeah, Carter.”
    “Could be nothing,” his brother said softly, “but I think we may have something.”
    Ren stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and almost got run over by a woman and her humongous stroller. “Tell me.”
    “One of our contacts may have sported Stella.” Carter sounded distracted. Ren figured he was focused on the video and other surveillance they had on Salim. “In Amsterdam.”
    He frowned as he resumed walking. “How does he know?”
    “He’s not certain, but he described someone who looks a lot like her. He’s sending me a photo in a bit.”
    “All right.” Ren knew better than to get his hopes up. “Keep me posted.”
    “Will do.” Carter paused then cleared his throat. “How is, uh, McKenna?”
    “Sleeping.” He kept the answer short since he knew his brother disapproved of him spending more time than he had to with McKenna. Maybe anytime he spent with her was time he had to.
    “The old man called, wanted an update.”
    “Did you give him one?”
    He heard Carter’s shrug. “Told him we were getting close.”
    “Yeah. Close.” He snorted at that.
    “He wants to speak with you.”
    He clenched the phone tightly. “No.”
    Carter cursed in his ear, sharp and savage. “RJ, come on.”
    “I said no.” He let himself back into McKenna’s house and kicked the door closed. “I’ll be over there in a bit to check out the photos.” He ended the call on his brother’s protests. He wasn’t ready, so both Carter and the old man had to accept his wishes.
    After placing the food on the kitchen counter, he made his way back into the bedroom. The covers had dropped from McKenna’s shoulders and slipped down her body, exposing the glowing skin of her naked back and hip. He hadn’t put back on her panties last night, simply carried her to bed. She wore her bra still, although the clasps had come undone.
    As he watched with hunger fisting his gut, her legs dragged along the mattress and she moaned, low and sexy. His cock jerked in the tight confines of his jeans. Damn. The effect she had on him. He didn’t remember feeling like that since he was nineteen and Stella was—
    He caught himself before that thought fully formed and reached out to tap McKenna’s right ankle.
    “McKenna.”
    She stiffened but didn’t answer. He sat back down in the chair he’d slept in and regarded her. Her hair was a dark, wild mess against the pale of her pillows. Come to think of it, the contrast between her brown skin and the sheets was striking.
    “I know you’re up, McKenna,” he said softly. “I brought you breakfast so come get it. Besides,”—he cleared his throat—“we need to talk.”
    A loud sigh reached his ears. McKenna rolled onto her back, clutching the sheets to her chest. With her lips in a pout, she sat upright with her back against the pillows and directed her gaze to somewhere over his shoulder.
    “I’m up.” She brushed a lock of hair from her eyes and swallowed. “What did you get for breakfast?”
    He wrinkled his brow at her obvious discomfort in meeting his gaze. “I went to the Jamaican place.”
    She nodded. “Okay. I like their cornmeal porridge.” She licked her lips as her gaze darted to his chest. “It’s thick and sweet.”
    So are you. He was beyond tempted to speak those words out loud. Instead he asked, “Why aren’t you