The senator continued. “They’ve listened to it and substantiated that it was indeed Agent Evans on the tape admitting to Rinaldi’s murder and their attempt to release the Leopold virus. They’ve also verified the bullets that shot Fink came from Evans’s gun.”

The female agent took a step forward. “We’re sorry for any inconvenience this situation may have caused you. You are free to go with the FBI’s thanks and appreciation.”

Logan stormed toward the agents, stopping right in front of them. “That’s it? Two of your agents not only tried to pin a murder on us, but attempted to kill us.” He turned and motioned at her. “Rachel saved the lives of thousands of people because of her heroic actions today. And all we get is an apology for the inconvenience and a thank-you from a couple of agents low on the totem pole?”

She joined Logan at his side, hooking her arm around his waist in an effort to calm him. “They want to bury the story, don’t they?” she asked the agents.

“Is that true, Agent Gossner?” Senator Hutton said in an admonishing tone.

Giving away her nervousness, the female agent wiped her hands on her skirt. “The FBI feels it would be best if the American people weren’t alerted to the nature of today’s events.”

“What’s your opinion, Senator?” Rachel asked, angling her body toward him. “Do you believe the American people should be kept in the dark?”

The senator strode to stand next to her, his gaze on the agents and his eyes narrowed into slits. “Bioterrorism is the number-one threat to this country, and that’s not going to change simply by pretending it doesn’t exist. I understand your agency’s inclination to sweep the embarrassment over your rogue agents under the rug, but I’m afraid I can’t allow that to happen.”

He’d delivered his statement in the same controlled yet forceful manner as he had delivered his speech during the filibuster of Senator Byron’s bill. The man didn’t have to shout to demonstrate his anger with the agency. His clipped tone and the fire in his eyes were enough.

Agent Gossner took a step forward. “Senator Hutton, with all due respect—”

The senator pointed at the door. “You tell your boss they’ll be hearing from me. Now get out of here.”

The two agents quickly exited, no doubt relieved to remove themselves from the room. Rachel couldn’t blame them. She’d hate to be on the other side of the senator’s wrath.

Once the door closed, Senator Hutton’s demeanor softened. “Ms. Dawson, Mr. Bradford, you saved my life. If there’s anything I can ever do for you, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

Logan nodded curtly. “Thank you, sir, that’s—”

“I would love to do an exclusive interview with you about your thoughts on the afternoon’s events,” Rachel said.

The senator blinked rapidly. “Of course. Unfortunately, I’m due to return to Washington, DC, tomorrow night.”

Excited by her idea, she pressed on. “I could get a crew by this afternoon. We could even do the interview in the comfort of your hotel room.”

This interview would not only bolster her career, but would help to inform the American people about the crimes that had occurred at the hands of Evans and Fink. She needed to get the truth out there so that people wouldn’t continue to believe she and Logan had committed murder.

What better way than to interview the senator whose life she had saved? A senator who had gained recent notoriety for his filibustering.

The senator frowned, clearly unconvinced. She could tell he was about to turn her down.

She couldn’t let the opportunity slip away. “The longer we wait to tell the story, Senator, the lesser the impact it will have on the American people. While I don’t want to incite panic, I do believe our nation has the right to know that a biological terrorist attack was thwarted today. This story is just what you need to sway public opinion and get the votes you needed in the Senate to prevent the Homeland Security spending cuts.”

“Yes, it is.” A light shone in the senator’s eyes as he mulled it over. He bobbed his head. “Very well, I think I could alter my schedule for the evening. I’m staying at a donor’s home in Lake Las Vegas.” He took out his wallet and produced a business card then handed it to her. “Call that number on the bottom and you’ll reach my assistant. She’ll coordinate it with you.”

After the senator left, Rachel grabbed Logan’s hand, adrenaline pumping through her veins. “Let’s get out of here. I need to make dozens of phone calls for tonight.”

He backed her into the door and nuzzled her neck. “Make your calls, but then plan on spending a couple hours in bed with me.”

Heat spread throughout her lower belly. “So our original bargain has changed?” She raked her nails over her scalp. “Because I seem to recall we agreed I’d only submit to you until we cleared our names.”

“Yeah, things changed and you know it,” he said huskily. “This isn’t about sex, although I plan on fucking you well and often. This is about me wanting to hold my wife in my arms at night and wake up with her beside me every morning.”

She inhaled sharply. “You want to stay married? What if the chapel doesn’t file our marriage license?”

He intertwined his fingers with hers. “I spoke my vows to you and you to me. Granted, they were on the short side,” he said, laughing. “But I take them seriously. I don’t care whether they file the license, because in my mind, in my heart, you already belong to me. If it’s not legal, we’ll make it legal.” His eyes twinkled. “That is, if you want to be married to me.”

She waited for the panic to set in, but all she felt was a sense of peace. The idea of falling in love had always frightened her. Until Danielle and Cole, she hadn’t ever really spent time with a married couple other than those from her old church. Cole was a Dominant, the owner of a sex club, and yet Rachel never saw him try to control Danielle. Cole treated her like a queen and hung on every word she spoke as if it was Shakespeare. And from what Rachel understood, they were in a twenty-four/seven Master-slave relationship.

But unlike Danielle, Rachel wasn’t certain she was submissive. Sure, she enjoyed Logan’s domination of her in the bedroom, but that was all fun and games. She didn’t need it like her friends.

Her inner voice called her a liar. If she didn’t need the domination, why hadn’t she ever had an orgasm during sex before? She hadn’t even liked sex until Logan and his ropes. If she was honest with herself, it was his dominance that had attracted her in the first place. It was also the reason she had fought so hard not to fall for him. No one had ever challenged her the way Logan did. She couldn’t manipulate him as she did the other men she’d been with in the past.

But he didn’t try to control her.

He treated her as his equal.

“What do you think about my interviewing the senator?” she asked in lieu of answering his question.

He raised a brow. “I think the interview will get you all the accolades you deserve. It was a brilliant move convincing the senator to use it to promote his cause.” He cupped her cheek. “I’m proud of you.”

That was all she needed to hear.

She stroked her fingers up and down his chest. “I never wanted to get married. To me, marriage meant giving up your hopes and dreams and losing your identity.” She fisted his shirt. “I can’t allow marriage to change who I am. If my job entails putting myself in danger in order to get a story, I’m going to do it. Although, I promise you I’ll use every available safeguard to limit the risk. Will you be able to accept that?”

He paused, his lips pressed together in a thin line, then blew out a breath. “Honestly? I’d like to say yes, but after worrying about you today, I don’t know if I could go through that all the time. And it’s not because I don’t support your career. It’s because I want you safe. I’d feel the same if you were a cop or fighting fires. I admire your strength and your tenacity, but I’m not sure how I’m going to react if I know you’re in danger.”