Brody put his hands up in the air, palms out. “I’m sorry, Lydia. I don’t normally force myself onto anyone. It was a test.”
Lydia placed her fist on her hips. “A test to see how much of an asshole you could be?” Lydia pointed to the door. “What if that had been Marlaina? Would that have wiped that smug smile off your face?”
Brody chuckled and walked across the room toward the bench. He picked up his towel, wiping the sweat from his face. “I did it to make you mad and get you fired up. Now that we verified your gift is tied to your emotions, we can use that to make you stronger.”
Lydia let her hands drop to her sides. “You did that on purpose? You wanted me to throw you against the wall?”
Brody gave her a cocky grin. “Yep, and it worked. Now we just need to figure out how to tap into that specific feeling so we can practice tomorrow.” He leaned over and pulled out two water bottles from the cooler by the bench and handed her one. “Start thinking about all of the times you’ve used your gift. Try and remember what you felt, and we’ll start there tomorrow.”
Lydia took a swig of her water. “Then what? What’s after that?”
Brody walked over to the box on the wall and placed his palm on it. “Then we figure out how to suppress it.” His grin widened. “We may have to practice with extra kissing until you can control it.”
Lydia raised her brow. “You need to come up with another plan. You won’t be using that one anymore.”
Brody chuckled. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Besides, you probably need to go explain to Romeo.”
Lydia followed behind Brody down the hall to her room. They stopped outside the door. “You know he’s not my boyfriend. He’s only here because I’m an unsolved puzzle; a game, nothing more.”
Brody started walking down the hall. “Good, then maybe I’ll eventually talk you into letting me take you to dinner.”
Lydia hollered after him. “Keep dreaming.”
Lydia pushed to open her door, but before crossing the threshold, she heard him holler back. His words were threaded with a confidence she’d seen him use most of the day. “Don’t worry, I’ll wear you down. I’m good like that.” He stopped and turned. “Oh, and for the record, Marlaina and I are just friends.”
Lydia rolled her eyes. Mentally, she was exhausted. Using her gift always wore her out, almost like a diabetic needing a sugar fix. She was mentally and physically drained, just like the general had warned her. The five hours they’d been practicing had done a number on her endurance. She was going to sleep good tonight. If practicing with Brody was going to tax her body and mind so much, she was going to have to find a way to stash some chocolate in her room. A quick pick-me-up to help combat her exhaustion. She shivered at the thought of Jaime giving her combat training. She wasn’t physically ready for any of this. If the general hoped to break her down, he had her on a schedule to collapse in less than the two weeks like he’d promised.
Chapter 8
Jimmy let his gaze linger on his informant’s body. Her creamy skin begged for his touch. He’d never get his fill of their encounters. Jimmy pulled the zipper up on his jeans and buttoned them. They grew tighter every minute he was in the same room with her.
He glanced down at his watch. “Damn.”
He would have made love to her again if she hadn’t shown up bringing him news of Lydia’s “special gifts” and possible outing. He climbed back on the bed fully dressed. He pressed his lips to her breast, ravishing the extended nub. He placed heated kisses up her chest and neck until he found the lips he craved. After pressing a kiss to the swollen red flesh, he pulled back and whispered, “I’ve got to go.”
She purred like a kitten and stretched, turning into his body. Her arms wrapped around his neck. “I know.”
He placed one more kiss on her cheek. “I’ll see you same time and place tomorrow.”
She nodded.
Jimmy pushed up from the bed and straightened his shirt. His little goddess leaned up on her elbow, the sheet slipping to her waist. She frowned, sticking out her bottom lip. “Are you sure we can’t just kill her?”
Jimmy chose his words carefully before he replied. “Baby, I already told you if it were up to me I’d say yes, but Floyd wants her alive.”
His goddess plopped back down on the bed and narrowed her eyes. “Fine.”
Jimmy glanced one more time at the woman that had come to mean more to him each time they’d spent together. She was so much more than just an informant. He was falling in love with the little vixen.