Agent M4: Riordan Read Free Page A

through every tanned pore of his scarred skin.
    She sighed. “Riordan, let’s keep things profess-”
    His soft chuckle stopped her mid-speech. “When I first saw you, I thought that’s why Mitchell brought you here.”
    Stilling, she stared at him, hoping sand wouldn’t blow in her mouth. “Are you implying that I look like a-“
    “Prostitute?”
    This time, he stared straight into her eyes, his dark with appreciation. Her body tingled in places she hadn’t realized were still around, his smile rueful.
    “No, but I thought that could be the only reason Mitchell would bring a woman to me. He knows I’ve been without a long time. You’re just not my type.”
    What a complete and total Neanderthal . “Nor are you mine.”
    With a shake of his head, he looked down at the water again. “Hell, I could see that right off.”
    Something in his soft tone told her more stood behind that statement than the obvious. He considered himself beneath her. Growing up in the ranks of high society, Natalie abhorred pretentiousness. She’d been scolded a few times herself for speaking her mind in front of high-ranking officials.
    In her eyes, equality ran across the board, regardless of social class or ethnicity. In Riordan’s case, they were just… different .
    Regardless, she’d gained no headway traveling down this road. She needed to find some camaraderie.
    Pulling off her college ring, she held it between her thumb and forefinger. “May I? It’s made of nickel.”
    Glancing at her, his gaze dropped to the ring before returning to her face. “You’re proposing? I’m not a virgin so you don’t have to marry me to get me on that lounger.”
    She cocked an eyebrow. “Wow, that was so… not original, St. James. Did you spend the last three years coming up with that?”
    He laughed outright, the sound echoing off the cavernous canopy. Natalie couldn’t contain her grin. Laughter looked darned good on him.
    “May I?” she said again.
    His sober gaze studied her. Did he fear her touch, or the idea of going against his preconceived notion?
    Probably both. “I promise I don’t bite.”
    Rather than the smart remark she expected, he gave a brief nod.
    With tentative movements, Natalie reached for his now dry hand. He felt warm to the touch, raw strength emanating from his artificial bones and rough flesh. He had capable hands, limbs that were just an extension of the man himself. Natalie had a feeling he could be enlisted to perform any task and would eagerly face it head on. When it came to dares, the word no would never enter his vocabulary.
    If she ever went on one of those survival shows, Natalie wanted Riordan St. James with her .
    Holding his hand, she set the ring upright on top before slowly moving away. It stood erect, just shy of his knuckles.
    She felt her smile grow of its own volition. “You do have magnetic hands.”
    His sky blue gaze roamed over her face. She felt heat bloom in her cheeks.
    “I do. Once my enhancements are complete, my pull will be more powerful. I’ll have to control it with my brain.”
    Cocking her head, she said, “And, you’re okay with that? With someone altering your body that way?”
    He graced her with another bright smile. She took a deep breath and let it out.
    “To be the only man in the world with the ability to attract and repel objects with his hands? To be one of The D.I.R.E. Agency’s super agents? Damn straight, I’m okay with that.”
    The man knew what he wanted when it came to his career. It didn’t sound like Riordan had made a forced decision out of some sense of loyalty to Mitchell. If he lacked self-confidence as Mitchell said, his assurance proved a step in the right direction.
    Clenching his hand into a fist, Riordan watched the ring tumble into the clear water. No sooner had she gasped than he dropped into the pool.
    She waited for him to resurface. When he didn’t show after long moments, her heart started to pound. “Riordan?”
    The water lay calm,