Kyle ran his hand down his face and fell backward into his chair. "Look, I've already blown my cover trying to get you out of here, so listen up. Rick has been up to some nasty stuff, but we've never been able to prove his involvement. I've been working my way up in his organization for the past two years trying to find out all I can."

"And you ended up running a dating service?" Jenna felt sorry for the poor bastard.

"I thought it was a crap assignment too, until your name made its way into the system." Kyle gave Ben a good long stare. "My superiors thought it was odd a man of your reputation would enroll with a dating service."

Jenna didn't like where this was going. "Look, we haven't done anything wrong here. We wanted to know who was running Perfect Match and you've given us that information." Jenna stood up. "Ben, we should go."

When he didn't move, Jenna grabbed his arm and tugged hard. Ben wrapped his fingers about her hand and gave it a light squeeze. He didn't take his eyes off Kyle.

"Let me make something perfectly clear," he spoke in slow measured words. "I have no love for Rick Jennings. If your superiors want to try and catch this bastard, that's fine. But I plan on taking him down. Don't get in my way."

95.

Ben finally stood in one smooth motion. Jenna couldn't contain her surprise at the anger in his stance and on his face.

"I wouldn't suggest that." Kyle stood, and for the first time Jenna got a true sense of who the real man was.

When she thought they were going to come to blows, Jenna threw up her hands.

"Do you two just want to take your dicks out and compare? I can wait outside."

They both snapped their heads around to look at her, Kyle with his mouth gaping and Ben with his tightly shut.

"We're all on the same side with the same goal. If we want to figure out what our friend Rick is up to, we better pool our resources." She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at them.

Kyle finally looked at Ben and broke out into a grin. "You've got your hands full with that one."

"You have no idea," Ben said in a serious tone, but his face betrayed the barest hint of amusement.

"You're right, Miss Robins. But I don't think my superiors are going to be easily convinced of your intent. It's best if we keep this alliance low-key for the time being."

Kyle sat back down behind his desk and set his foot on the edge of the desk.

"Agreed," Ben nodded before he turned to face Jenna.

The pull of his body, the instant attraction whenever he stood close to her, was too much. For a moment she forgot they weren't alone. If they were, she would have pulled him in. Jenna gave her head a shake, trying to clear it. Looking into Ben's eyes showed he was feeling the same pull. Like they had back at the dig site.

"What's in this building?" she asked Kyle, who clearly hadn't missed the interchange between them.

He shrugged. "You've seen most of it. The front lobby, two viewing lounges and the can. It's a pretty chickenshit operation."

"Did you-" she started.

"Yes," Ben cut her off and gave her a look that told her not to say anything else.

It was probably for the best if they didn't reveal that little fact to Kyle just yet. Not until they knew they could trust him.

"Look, we don't have much time left with the blocker. It muffles our speech beyond comprehension, but it's limited." Kyle nudged the small black device with his toe. "My boss will start to wonder what's going on. Is there someplace we can meet later? To talk about this?"

"We can meet at my place," Jenna offered, but both men instantly shook their heads.

"No, it's one of the first places they'd look." Ben took out an e-business card and quickly tapped in an address. "I got this place after Rick and I parted ways. I doubt he's even aware of it. Come by tonight at nine. We'll talk."

96.

Nodding once, Kyle leaned forward and hit the button on the jammer. "Look, buddy, I don't care how much money you have, I'm not giving up my boss. Screw you and your slut girlfriend."

Jenna thought for a moment he was serious until he winked at her. Ah, he had to maintain his cover. She'd enjoy herself then.

"Fuck you," Jenna hissed and stormed out of the office.

"Don't think I'm going to let you get away with that."

She heard Ben slam Kyle against the wall and Kyle gasp, trying to regain his breath.

"I'm sorry, buddy, fuck!"

Jenna's heart began to pound. Even though she knew it was all a ruse, there was something about the way Ben stood up to defend her that was intoxicating. And downright sexy.

"Ben, let's get out of here. This jerk isn't worth it."

"Yeah, I'm not worth it. Listen to the lady."

Ben growled and let Kyle fall to the floor before he stormed out of the office. Jenna had to fight the urge to giggle as the look of anger and disgust on his face when he wrapped an arm around her waist and escorted her out the door.

Neither of them said anything until they were sure they were out of sight of the store. Only then did Ben slow down his pace and drop the angry scowl.

"Well, that was interesting," Jenna said as she looked back over her shoulder. "I certainly wasn't expecting him to be one of the good guys."

"Maybe. I find it hard to believe Rick let a protector into his organization.

Undercover or not."

"And what was with that little..." she struggled to think of a name. "The thing between us back there."

Ben stopped and looked down at her. Again, she couldn't help her attraction to him every time he looked at her like that. Her chest tightened and she couldn't take a deep breathe. When she tried, her nipples hardened as they rubbed mercilessly against her thin camisole she wore under her shirt. Gods, she wanted him. Even if she couldn't be the type of woman he needed and there was no way he'd change to be the man of her dreams. She still wanted him.

"I signaled Matt as we were walking. He should be here soon with the car," his voice was a deep rumble as he spoke. "Let me take you home."

She should refuse. After having spent the night and most of the morning cursing him, she should turn around, hop on the tube and not see him until their meeting later on. But despite everything that had happened between them, she couldn't deny the thread of attraction.

Ben didn't say anything to pressure her and she had to wonder why. He was never subtle with these things. The moment of refusal passed as Matt honked the horn and pulled the limo up behind them. He didn't get out, instead Ben walked to the back door 97 and held it open for her.

"Are you coming?"

Not a command or an order. A simple question. Jenna only battled her internal demons for a moment before striding over and placing her hand on the door.

"Only if you promise to behave yourself. I'd hate to have to tie you up again."

She didn't wait to see his reaction and climbed into the darkness.

98.

Chapter Eleven.

Ben couldn't take his eyes off Jenna. He could tell she was trying to avoid looking at him too by the way she half looked out the window before examining the floor between them. He made sure to take the seat opposite her when he climbed into the limo. It was the only way he'd be able to keep his hands off her.

And it was still a challenge.

"If there is someplace else you'd like to go, Matt can drop you off."

He watched as her eyes widened for a second before narrowing. She still didn't trust him. He couldn't really blame her after being such an ass to her last night. So what if she went to work for his competitor? Jenna didn't owe him anything.

So why did the idea piss him off so much?

"I should stop by the dig. I promised Roger I'd make an appearance today."

Ben's cock jumped to life at the idea of being with Jenna near the device. Merely the thought of what that thing did to him, did to her, set his libido on fire. Fuck! He adjusted his position on the seat to try to cover up his straining erection while reaching to hit the intercom.

"Matt, can you take us to the dig?"

"Sure thing. But it'll be slow going. We'll have to pass through old Mars to make it."

"Thanks, Matt," Jenna piped up and looked out the window.

He remembered she'd lived there as a kid. "Is your old home still standing?"

She shook her head. "It was torn down a few years ago to make way for condos. It's too bad really. We're losing all our history because the damn government keeps tearing them down."

Gods, she was gorgeous, especially when she was angry. He must have moaned, because she instantly looked at him. Jenna's eyes roamed over him and he swore he saw desire in her gaze. He didn't understand this push-pull attraction between them, but damn if he didn't want her right now.

Ben dropped the leg he had resting across his knee to the floor and spread his legs.

Unless she was blind, she wouldn't be able to miss his cock pushing against his pants.

Jenna's gaze flicked to his crotch and he instantly felt the effects as his cock thickened.

She sucked in a breath and ran her tongue over her bottom lip before biting down lightly.

"How long 'til we get to the site?" she asked breathlessly.

"Fifteen. Twenty minutes if there are people walking on the street."

99.

He watched her emotions race across her face. Jenna shifted forward on the seat, her knees pressed tightly together. She sighed so softly he didn't think she'd done it.

"Regretting your decision?" he asked when she shifted restlessly back deep into her seat.

"The tube would have been faster. And not as stuffy."

Jenna reached up and ran her hand from the back of her neck down the side until her fingers stopped just above her cleavage. She began to play with the neckline, the top button of her blouse threatening to come undone under the pressure. He couldn't look away.

"If you're hot, we can do something to fix that."

She looked at him that time, her expression a mix of longing and annoyance. Ben prayed her annoyance would lose the battle in her mind.

"What do you suggest?" her voice was barely a whisper in the small space.

He could tell she wanted him, that she was ready to play his game this time. The way she sucked her bottom lip as she let her gaze roam over him. His cock was painfully full, but he fought the urge to reach down and squeeze it. No, he wanted Jenna's hands and mouth to do that.

"Get on your knees," he ordered, his voice firm with desire. When she didn't move right away, he added softly, "Trust me."

Still she hesitated. Ben wasn't about to ask again for fear it would ruin the spell they'd both seemed to be under. Finally, she sighed. Without taking her eyes off his, Jenna slid to the limo floor three feet away from where he sat. Her hands dropped to her side as she waited for his next command.

"Unbutton your shirt."