Angel’s Guilty Pleasures

Gage could barely contain his emotions as he swung his Harley into the hidden parking lot at Artemis Security. A week earlier, Alexa had alerted the security officers at the entrance that he would be coming to the company to see her. The June sunlight showed off the Virginia rural area to perfection. It was a far cry from the dry desert of Afghanistan. He parked his bike in the underground parking lot beneath the 1850s restored farmhouse. If he hadn’t been in email and Skype contact with Alexa since she’d left Bagram, he’d have been fooled, thinking that this was a working farm.

As he walked to the elevator, he noticed the tight security. From Alexa’s encrypted emails back and forth between them, he’d learned a lot more about Artemis and the role it played in trying to protect their eighteen hundred charity locations around the world. At the elevator, a guard took the pass that Alexa had sent to him. The guard took it, nodded, and allowed him into the elevator then the sentry called Alexa on his radio, letting her know that Gage was coming up to the fifth floor. The officer keyed in a code for that floor only and then stepped out, giving him a nod.

His heart beating hard in his chest, Gage wondered how Alexa was going to react when she saw him. No longer did he have his beard. His longish hair was cut military short. He wore a pair of jeans, a black T-shirt, a black leather jacket, and motorcycle boots. Pushing up his red baseball cap with the Marine Corps emblem embroidered on the front, he settled his wraparound sunglasses above the bill, as well. He wondered what her reaction would be to him today.

When the elevator doors opened, Gage broke into a welcoming smile as he saw Alexa waiting for him. The joy in her eyes reminded him of the old Alexa before the kidnapping. She was wearing a pink linen pantsuit with a tasteful white silk tee beneath it. Her red hair was a shining mantle around her shoulders. The Turkish gold earrings she wore fell halfway to her shoulders, giving her an exotic look.

“Gage!”

He gave her a bashful grin and opened his arms to her after he stepped off the elevator. The lobby was empty and he was glad. “Hey, you,” he growled, taking her into his arms. She smelled of sweetness as she launched herself against him, her arms going around the shoulders of his black leather jacket, reaching up, smiling. Alexa was warm and happy, and if Gage had any doubt that their relationship was real, that was answered as her lips met his in a soul-stealing kiss that rocked his world.

His world was focused completely on Alexa, the warmth of her mouth against his, her feminine scent, the softness of her breasts pressed to his jacketed chest, drove him hard with need. Love welled up through him swiftly, and he eased his mouth from hers, framing her face, drowning in her sparkling hazel eyes, which danced with unfettered happiness. She was so alive, like a wriggling puppy in his arms. He smiled down at her, his heart lifting, opening. He wanted her so damn badly.

“You look beautiful.” He grinned, lightly kissing her smiling mouth.

“And you look incredibly handsome! Gage, you could pose as a model!”

He flushed, feeling heat rush to his face as he released her. Alexa immediately stepped back but reached out, sliding her hand into his.

“Well,” he muttered, “I don’t know about that,” and he gave her a hesitant grin.

“Phooey! Are you tired? Do you want to rest? Or would you like a tour of our offices? Tal and Matt are here. They’re down in the Bunker, the first two floors below ground, and they’d love to see you, too.” And then she added, giving him a coy look, “Tal has something she needs to speak to you about. Maybe we could go there first? And then I can give you the nickel tour of Artemis.”

“Sure, whatever you like. It took me three days to get back here from Camp Pendleton, where I separated from the Corps. I’m not real tired. Let’s go.”