False Match Read online

  “Let’s try this.” With every protesting nerve in his cock, he sat up and moved away from her, so he rested on his knees and pushed her gently back onto the bed. The children’s truck-themed comforter crumpled into a messy heap under their sweaty bodies.

  Her thighs fell open and he planted his face between them, letting his tongue go to work. At one point he thought he’d have to clap a hand over her mouth, because her pants turned to gasps, which evolved into squeals and prayers. He did not want Luca waking up and interrupting this heavenly moment.

  When he determined that she was wet and ready enough, he crawled over her body. “Condom?”

  Her face fell. “I don’t think I have one. I can’t believe I forgot before.”

  “I have some in my apartment.” But the distance between her apartment and his was the equivalent of a flight to Australia from New York. At least that’s how it seemed to him. Plus, it wasn’t as if he was going to go sprinting through the campus buck-naked with his hard-on leading the way.

  “Check the bathroom,” Samara suddenly said. “Maybe the last occupant left some behind.”

  Praying like he’d never prayed before, he hurried into the small bathroom and practically tore apart the cabinet under the sink. No luck there. Next he attacked the medicine cabinet above the sink. He must have been damn lucky in another life, because there, lying on the bottom shelf of the cabinet, lay one lone wrapped condom. And it didn’t even look that old. After this, he’d never go out of his apartment without a wallet full of condoms or sticking them in his socks, next to the knife he strapped on for missions.

  Or maybe if he did his job right and convinced Samara this shouldn’t be a onetime thing, he could get her to go on the Pill. He wanted to bareback her and feel all that slippery wetness against his bare cock so badly he could taste it. Oh wait, he just had.

  Grinning to himself, he ran back to the bedroom to see Samara tucked under the white sheet, hiding her luscious breasts from view. The truck-patterned comforter was in a pile on the carpet next to the bed.

  “Help me,” he said, holding out the condom and feeling his cock harden even more under her gaze. She smiled and accepted the foil square.

  Her hands were magic as they opened the condom and rolled it on him. He knelt on the bed, rising on his knees over her, and leaned in for a deep open-mouthed kiss. He positioned himself between her thighs and started to nudge his way in. This time, there was no resistance. He slid home like a player rounding the bases with a ball coming in quick to the catcher.

  He looked down at Samara, but her eyes were closed tightly, shutting out everything but the bliss they shared. He studied her pert features for a moment, but then she did something with her hips that had him closing his eyes against the need to come and the impossible pleasure radiating through his body.

  He hooked an arm under her thigh and angled himself even closer, pressing their bodies tighter where they met. Her hips met his thrusts over and over until they were both blind to everything but the impending orgasm.

  “Chase, I’m close,” she said on a gasp.

  “Me too,” he grunted. God was he. The alluring suction of her warm, welcoming body dragged him under its spell over and over again until he realized he was hammering his hips hard enough to take her whole body, shifting up the mattress on each thrust.

  She didn’t seem to mind. If anything, her hips were pushing back with equal velocity. Until he felt the orgasm climbing its way through his balls and out his shaft. Desperately, he unhooked his arm from her thigh and squeezed a hand between their sweat-soaked bodies to find her swollen nub.

  The second his finger touched her clit, she went off, squeezing his orgasm out of his cock in ever tightening little ripples of sheer delight. He stayed in her, thrusting as long as he could until finally he felt her orgasm slow.

  He heaved his body off her and became dead weight at her side. Paulson and all his goons could walk in the room at this moment and he’d probably only manage to smile. It was that good. He rolled his head to the side and kissed her cheek. “Best sex ever.”

  It was the wrong thing to say. He’d made a joke of the most beautiful, intimate time he’d ever had with a woman.

  Her body stiffened and he braced himself for what was coming.

  “You need to leave.”

  And there it was. His dismissal. “Wham, bam, thank you, ma’am? Is that it?” he asked.

  “Sir.”

  “Huh?”

  “You’re male, so it would be wham, bam, thank you, sir.”

  He found a smile, even though his insides were ice that he’d given her everything, and she’d used him for sex.

  She rolled on her side so they lay nose to nose. “Luca is confused,” she said. “I don’t want him waking up and finding you here.”

  He understood her reasons, but it hurt anyway. Hell, it was usually him looking for an excuse to slip out as soon as the condom was slipped off. Given that all his previous sexual escapades had been with near strangers in hotel rooms or their homes, it made sense. Here on the Program campus, you didn’t have relationships until your genetic match was found for you. And then they expected a wedding within weeks.

  As if any of the guys had a clue what to do with a sudden wife other than have sex with her. Man, no wonder his cohort was balking at the idea of Shep’s enforced matching and mating. He was with a woman he truly liked for the first time in his life, and he didn’t have a clue how to handle it. What to say, what to do.

  They’d known each other a few weeks, it was too soon to propose despite his lame mention of it before. But she meant more to him than a one-night stand. Wasn’t there some middle ground? Not in his realm of experience. He couldn’t ask her to go steady as if it were high school or something. Could he?

  He smiled up at the plaster ceiling with its dingy paint job. His Jonesie would laugh in his face. “I’ll leave, but I want to ask you something first.”

  “What’s that?” He was pleased to note her voice didn’t sound calm yet.

  “Will you go steady with me?”

  He’d predicted it. She laughed. Right in his face. And then she stopped and examined him. “You’re serious?”

  He nodded. “I like you, Jonesie.”

  “I like you too,” she whispered. “But…”

  “But nothing. No pressure. I’m only asking you to give us a chance.”

  She laughed, but it was more of a scoff. “No pressure? We made love a room away from my son. I’m a mom, Chase. I don’t get to do casual.”

  The fact she called it “making love” instead of sex gave him a glimmer of hope. “I’ll get dressed and go, but please don’t hide from me tomorrow. I will come find you. Okay?”

  After a long pause, she scooted back against the pillows and pulled the sheet up to her chin, hiding her body. “Chase, I told you I can’t do casual. And you are Mr. Casual. Have you ever even been in a relationship?”

  “Well no, but—”

  “See? How can I risk Luca for that kind of emotional upheaval?”

  “You’re hiding behind your son.”

  “I am not.”

  “You are. You’re afraid because you like me, and for some reason that scares the shit out of you.”

  “Of course it does,” she practically exploded. “Look at the facts on paper, Chase.” The sheet dropped and she held up a hand to tick off her reasoning. “For one, I’m older than you.”

  “I don’t care. Women outlive men. All women should date younger guys.”

  She ignored him and kept ticking. “Two, I have a son.”

  “I love your kid.”

  “Three, your boss and all your friends hate me.”

  “Can’t argue with that, but they’ll come around once they get to know you.”

  “Newsflash, Chase. Lots of people know me, and I’m still not a very popular person. But you’re ignoring the biggest reason of all.”

  “What’s that?” He tried not to stare at the tantalizing glimpse of her
nipple peeking out from behind the sheet.

  “You’re a soldier for the Program. You are required to find your genetic match and marry her.”

  And there was the elephant in the room. Even though he’d learned this week he was not a true enhanced specimen, would he still be obligated to fulfill his commitment to breed the next generation? He didn’t know. And right now, he didn’t care. “They can’t make me. Legally, it’s in my contract that I have the right to say no.”

  “But would you say no?”

  “Hell yes.”

  She looked at him skeptically. “Really? Let’s say, for example, I agree to this and things go well. We get married and have another child together. What happens a few years from then when they find your genetic match? You’ll want her more than you want me. What then?”

  He couldn’t imagine ever wanting someone more than Samara. And, really, he’d kind of stopped listening after she’d listed an amazing scenario in which they had a child together.

  “Chase,” she said, with a slight bite in her voice. “I’m serious. I don’t want to be the one to keep you from true happiness, and I don’t want you to stay with me out of loyalty when your heart would belong to another.”

  Shit, he had to remind her about his parents, but ruining the afterglow of making love to her would suck. His stomach churned and for a moment he worried the bed was opening into a ditch below him, sinking him into the mire. He was facing the same situation his father had, and he didn’t know how to handle it any better. He stared unhappily at Samara. “Maybe you’re right. I’ll leave. See you in the morning.” He leaned over to press a kiss on her cheek and wrapped the robe tightly around his torso. Everything that had seemed clear ten minutes ago was now hazy and confused.

  *

  The next morning, Samara dropped Luca off with Emma who’d again volunteered to watch him. Maybe she felt so grateful to the Program for rescuing her from Paulson, she was willing to work for free. Either way, if Samara stayed on the campus much longer, she’d have to rally for a daycare. Apparently the three toddlers they had didn’t warrant one, but to her, Luca was the tipping point. If they expected her to do her job, they had to provide daycare.

  As she opened the door to her assigned office, just off the main lab, she wondered if Chase would be acting as her bodyguard again today. After yesterday’s shooting, they didn’t need to worry she was ditching the safety of the Program any time soon.

  There was someone in her office, but it wasn’t Chase. A petite woman with long, glossy black hair was waiting for her. The woman had a similar body type to her own, but she owned it in a way Samara had never felt comfortable doing. Though the woman wore the standard white Program lab coat, she had a cleavage-revealing tank top under it.

  “Chase isn’t here yet,” she said to the strange woman, who was probably one of Chase’s former lovers. The woman positively radiated a sexual glow.

  “I’m not looking for Chase,” the woman said. “I’m looking for you.”

  “Me?”

  “Are you Samara Jones, the new genetic specialist?”

  “Um, yes.” Samara grasped the proffered hand and shook.

  “I’m Thea.” She paused, as if waiting for Samara to recognize the name. “Thea Lopez?”

  When Samara gave no visible signs of recognition, she smiled slightly and continued.

  “I work in the lab also. I want to work with you.”

  “You do? Why?” She wasn’t sure how to handle the request. Didn’t Doctor Wise assign positions? And why would this woman want to work with the least-popular person on campus?

  The woman laughed. “A little suspicious, are we?”

  “I don’t understand why you’d want to work with me. I’m kind of hated around here.”

  Again the woman released a throaty chuckle. “Oh honey, compared to me, you’re Little Miss Popular.”

  Samara started to ask what sins Thea had committed when Thea went to sit on the small couch in the office and started to talk.

  “I was the informant,” Thea said.

  “What informant?”

  “You have been living in a bubble, haven’t you?”

  “Well, yes,” she said, starting to get a little annoyed. What did this woman expect? She’d been in captivity for a year. There were a lot of newsworthy facts she’d missed. Paulson hadn’t allowed her much internet access. And she’d only been allowed to make phone calls to her mother, and only with another person in the room.

  “Up until a few weeks ago, the Program and all of its genetic enhancement technology was top secret.” Thea paused dramatically. “I was the one who went to the press.”

  Samara eyed her. “Are you sure you should be telling me this?”

  “I had my reasons, and I’ve been tried and punished.” A secret smile passed over her lips, almost as if she’d enjoyed her punishment.

  Samara blinked, trying to clear the cobwebs out of her head. She hadn’t slept well after Chase left last night and was paying for it this morning. “Why do you want to work for me?”

  “Two reasons. My coworkers are a little suspicious of me right now. They don’t know whether to trust me or not.”

  “Are their concerns valid? Other than your penchant for running to the media?”

  “I won’t be running to the media again. When it comes to work issues. I am one hundred percent trustworthy. I’m not a fan of some of the Program methodology, and if asked to testify in the upcoming hearings on the Program, I will be honest in my opinion. But I’m a hard worker.”

  “What was your other reason for wanting to work for me?”

  “I want your help. I’ve suffered two miscarriages, and I want a baby. My husband’s baby.”

  Samara studied Thea. For all her bravado and posturing, there was a sadness etched into the tiny lines around her eyes. She noted the thin, tight silver choker around her neck, with a tiny heart dangling off it. It was the only jewelry Thea wore, other than a narrow gold wedding band. “Okay, I’d like an assistant. Let’s give it a try.” She hadn’t collaborated with anyone other than Paulson in the past year, and she’d missed the camaraderie of a lab, and of having other people off whom to bounce ideas.

  Thea smiled warmly. “Thank you. You won’t regret it.” She hopped off the couch and stood at attention. “What are you working on? What can I do first?”

  “I guess, first we need to clear this with Commander Shepard and Doctor Wise.” When a hesitant look passed over Thea’s face, she offered to take care of it.

  “Good,” Thea said, looking relieved. “The less I’m in Shep’s face right now, the better. Ryan, my husband, squared things up with him, but I’m still persona non grata in some offices around here.”

  “I know what you mean,” she muttered. And then she wondered how Ryan had handled Thea’s betrayal. All of the Program soldiers seemed so cocksure and alpha. She was a little surprised they were still married after what Thea had done. Part of her wanted to ask, but she’d just met the woman.

  The question of whether Chase was still on guard duty was answered a moment later when he came strolling through the door, whistling and holding a mug of steaming coffee. Before he even noticed Thea’s presence, he brushed his lips on Samara’s cheek and handed off the coffee.

  “For me?” she asked, gripping the warm ivory ceramic mug.

  “For you,” he confirmed. “I noticed you have to gulp down your coffee with Luca around. This you get to savor.”

  She wanted to savor looking at him this morning. He’d obviously showered again, and was wearing what passed for him as a professional outfit. His solid gray t-shirt was devoid of cartoon characters.

  He noticed her intent stare. “See, I clean up,” he said with a grin.

  Ahem. A small cough from Thea had them both whirling to see Samara’s new assistant.

  Thea held up her hands. “I’m not saying a word.” But she was grinning from ear to ear. “Are you two a match?”

  “I thought you weren’t saying a
word?” Samara asked.

  “That was five words.” Thea was smart enough to hide her smile and pretend to be busy at the microscope on the chest-high lab table.

  “I came by to say good morning and tell you I was off guard duty from here on out. But don’t go off campus,” Chase said.

  She remembered the scare from yesterday and shuddered. “Don’t worry. I won’t.”

  “If there’s something you need that you can’t get here, come find me.”

  “Or ask me,” Thea said. “I’m your assistant now and I have my off-campus privileges back.”

  Chase looked to Thea and nodded. “Thank you.”

  He leaned in for another kiss to her lips before exiting. “See you at lunch.” She stared a moment at the now closed door.

  “He’s a force of nature, isn’t he?” Thea asked. “But he’s a great guy. He’s one of the only men on campus who didn’t judge me after what I did. He knew I had my reasons.”

  That sounded like Chase, always willing to listen and hear both sides of a story.

  “Now what, jefe?” Thea asked.

  She turned to face Thea and forced her brain cells to concentrate. “Now we go to work. And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone about me and Chase. I mean, there’s not much to tell.” Her cheeks started to heat. “And we’re not a match, and nothing’s going to come of it, anyway.” Even she thought her excuses sounded weak.

  “Mmm hmm. My lips are sealed.”

  Samara covered her embarrassment by launching into a minutely detailed description of her current project.

  They worked well together, with Thea quickly understanding Samara’s methodology. At one point, Samara even mentioned wanting to study a little more about Alzheimer’s since it affected her mother. The other woman actually looked excited by the prospect.

  “But we have to keep it quiet. I’m not being paid to study it.”

  Thea shrugged. “Correlations happen all the time in the lab. Wasn’t Viagra meant to cure baldness? If you and I happen to move Alzheimer’s research forward in our quest to create a more perfect human, well…oops?”

  Samara laughed, liking the camaraderie in the lab. For the first time, well ever, it felt as if she might gain a girlfriend to talk to. They continued working until it was nearing lunch. She finally asked the question that had been on her mind since meeting Thea that morning. “How far along were you?”