“How did everything go?”
“It’s complicated,” I said.
“Yeah, tell me something I don’t know. Falling for a law enforcement officer definitely complicates things.”
“No, I mean the mission itself. It… turned out to be… part of a bigger picture. Even though I got the crown… they might want my help sneaking it into place.”
“No,” she said firmly. “Nope. No. You’d need a new immunity contract, King. One that protects you in Budapest.”
“That’s why I left before they could rope me into it. I needed time to myself to think.”
MJ smiled in understanding. “Well, you know those two are going to fall asleep on the sofa for their morning nap,” she said, tilting her head at our grandfathers. “So why don’t you do the same in your own bed.”
“You read my mind,” I said. “Have fun with Neckie. There are extra Metro maps in the kitchen drawer if you need one.”
She held up her phone. “Got it all on here from my last visit. Thanks.”
Once they were gone, I made my excuses to the dozing men on the sofa, taking a moment to appreciate how sweet they were curled up together. Grandpa lay behind Doc with an arm tucked firmly around his middle. Doc’s hand rested on top of Grandpa’s with their fingers entwined, and Grandpa kept sneaking little kisses to the back of Doc’s ear as he murmured something to him.
I wanted that so fucking badly.
As I made my way back to my room, I thought about how much effort I’d spent shoving those desires down since the Van Gogh job. It was obvious to me my feelings for Elek were more a result of wishful thinking than actual love.
I’d had more intimacy and affection in a few stolen moments with Dirk Falcon than I’d ever had with Elek Kemény.
My shower was sparkling clean and more inviting than usual. I blasted all the jets and stepped inside, rolling my shoulders and blowing out a big breath.
It’s over. Relax.
Easier said than done. But I tried my best, and by the time I finished the shower, I’d scrubbed myself raw with my favorite loofa and jacked off to the memory of Agent Falcon pounding my ass in Mykonos. I threw on some lounge pants and fell face-first into my comfortable pile of blankets, seeking oblivion.
And that’s what I got, for at least a few hours. But then I was woken up by a decidedly nonpaternal hand stroking down my bare back to the top of my ass.
I jumped up with a gasp, thinking one of my grandfathers had finally descended into dementia when I saw Falcon’s familiar square jaw and dark stubble. My heart flipped around in my chest.
“What the fuck,” I croaked. “You scared me half to death.”
I moved back to lean against the headboard before clutching my chest and trying to calm myself down. Falcon sat on the side of the bed and reached out to run fingers through my hair. It was such an affectionate gesture, it didn’t help slow down my heart rate at all.
“Sorry,” he said. His eyes were soft, and the edges of his lips curled up. The man liked me. He may have been sent there to retrieve me for the job, but there was no doubt in my mind the stoic FBI agent wouldn’t soften his gruff demeanor for just anyone.
And that made me putty in his hands. All I’d ever wanted was to be cared for like that. It was a dangerous temptation. It meant I’d do anything for him.
I cleared my throat. “What… what are you doing here?”
“Did you know there are two old men having sex on your sofa?”
I scrambled off the bed and was halfway out of my room before I realized I didn’t want to see that. I turned and slunk back to my spot on the bed.
“Gross, but yeah, that doesn’t surprise me. They’re horndogs sometimes when they think we’re not looking. It’s kinda sweet.”
Falcon nudged me over so he could sit next to me. He kicked off his shoes and got comfortable, leaning his head on my shoulder the way I did to him on the plane.
“Why’d you leave?”
I reached for his hand and began playing with his fingers in mine. “I needed to think. I needed some sleep.”
I needed perspective.
“I understand. Nadine hasn’t been in the field for a long time. She’s forgotten how hard it is to come straight off an op and be thrown into another one.”
“Yeah, that sucks for you guys. But once she made a point of excluding me, I remembered quite happily that I didn’t work for her. So I came home.”
Falcon lifted our hands to his mouth and began leaving openmouthed kisses on my knuckles.
“She wants you to return the crown for us,” he said. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
I wasn’t either, but I wondered if it was for the same reasons. “Why not?”