by Ciar Cullen
“Is that okay?” His voice sounded dangerous, exciting her more than ever. “Mmmm…again…”
He spanked her a bit harder and she began to move her derrière in a steady rhythm under his pats and rubs. Layla looked over her shoulder to see his dark grin. He kissed and bit at her neck as he reached down to part her soaked lips. “Still okay?”
“Oh my God, Kevin, now or I’ll die.”
“Good girl. That’s very good. Say that again.” His voice hissed in her ear.
“Damn you.”
She felt the tip of his cock against her, and then he withdrew slightly, only to follow with a hard push. He repeated the sweet torture…again and again. Finally, he held her hips with both hands and drove hard into her. Layla cried out at the wonderful feel of his size, his heat. He quickly built his rhythm, and she matched it as he stroked in and out and from side to side. They came together in a beautiful, violent storm of release, and then lay on the floor next to the bed until Kevin climbed up and folded Layla into his arms, cradling her, rocking her.
He gently kissed her neck and whispered into her ear, “That was amazing. You’re amazing. I’ve never done that before. Well, I mean, I’ve done that before, but only after, you know…”
“I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about, Irish. And that was so good, I barely give a damn.” She laughed. “What are you trying to say?”
“I’ve never had a one-night stand. I mean, with someone I barely know. Never with an employee.”
Layla squeezed shut her eyelids against the pain his words cut through her heart.
A one-night stand? Of course, what had she thought?
Oh, Layla, you idiot!
“Well, I have. And it’s good fun, eh, Irish? So how about you run along to your room and I’ll get a little shut-eye.”
“Hmmm?” His hold on her loosened.
Layla extracted herself from his embrace and moved toward the bathroom. She looked around the door and winked. “See you tomorrow, boss.”
Kevin nodded and began dressing as she started to close the bathroom door. When she heard him leave the room, she sat on the floor and cried. I’m so not ready for…anything much at all.
CHAPTER 4
Layla walked to the balcony of their new room and pulled back the curtains to reveal another magical view, this time of a small town. A jumble of red-roofed houses hugged the hillside, giving way to plazas and shops lining the quay, fronting the deep blue sea. An odd small building floated on a tiny island squarely in the middle of the cove. Small fishing boats bobbed in the gentle waves. Layla walked the length of the balcony and looked up to see the towering medieval Venetian fortress that dominated the town. A thousand steps to the top, she recalled. Ugh. Heights. She squeezed her eyes shut to block out the thought. Nafplion. They’d meet Ardros today, work a little magic and be out of Greece in a few days.
Can we stay here forever, Irish? Can’t we have a million one-night stands?
“Nice view.”
“Hmmm.”
Layla turned to see Kevin locking his gun in the safe. He eyed her purse and lifted a brow. She nodded. He reached into her bag, took her gun and locked it away, then started to unpack his clothes.
“Do you like the top or bottom?”
“Excuse me!”
“Drawers, Layla. You know; the place where you put clothes?” Kevin neatly folded his T-shirts, smoothing the wrinkles. He didn’t look up, but she caught his grin before he turned his back. “Of course, if you want to talk about sexual positions, I’ll be patient and listen.”
“You’re really hysterical, boss. So clever.”
She rolled her eyes and looked away so he wouldn’t see her blush. He got you again, Layla. Watch it. Last night meant nothing to him. The teasing means nothing now. She still felt the effects of their lovemaking—bruises on her hips from his tight grasp, soreness from the size of him… Forget about it. It’s just a job. Layla wandered back to the balcony.
Kevin joined her a few moments later, a bottle of ouzo and two glasses in hand. “Drink up. Yassas.” They clicked glasses.
Layla pointed to the island. “That’s the prison? The…”
“Bourzi, yes. We can take a boat there, but there’s not much to see.” They drank in awkward silence for a few moments. Layla was tired of the silence. The drive to Nafplion had felt like a lifetime of unspoken questions.
“Layla, Look at me.”
“No.” Ugh, here it comes. “Okay, what?” She turned and his eyes were mere dark slits as he regarded her seriously. “You caught me off guard last night. I’m a little out of practice at fieldwork. I wasn’t quite expecting that kiss to…well…affect me that way—to lead to sex. Anyway, I’m sorry. It was really unprofessional of me.”
“No worries, Irish. It’s all good. So, when do we meet the target?”
You son of a bitch.
***
More. I want more, Layla. Let’s stay here forever. Why did you kick me out? You seemed to love it. I know I’m out of practice. Wasn’t it good enough? Of course, she’s been with many men. Andrea grew bored with you, too, didn’t she? She stopped wanting you long before she died. Maybe you’re just a hack in bed…
Kevin ran his hand through his hair and poured himself another shot of the licorice liquor. You’re completely screwed, Colin.
Sarah’s call this morning had stunned him. “What do you mean he’s in custody? Why the hell is he in custody?”
“Geez, Colin, I thought you’d be happy,” Sarah had answered.
“They caught Ardros red-handed—almost literally. He had a priceless red-figured vase in the trunk of his car. Can you imagine? They caught him dealing antiquities out of his trunk like they were fake designer purses. Kevin? Are you there?”
“Yeah, just surprised. Well, that’s all good, then,” he replied, feeling as though he had lost more than this case. He felt downright miserable.
“Sure. They said you can keep the retainer and a third of the final fee in exchange for a little discretion, so I told them ‘no problem.’ So, when do you think you’ll be back? A lot of new cases are piling up on your desk.”
“Ummm, let me get back to you on that one, Sarah.”
“Kevin, what’s going on…?”
He cut the connection to his cell phone, tossing it on the bed as he sighed. It would be over that quickly.
Now, he looked out at the scenery as Layla’s question pounded through his head.
“Kevin, when do we meet Ardros?” Layla looked curiously at him, finally snapping her fingers in front of his face.
She’ll be furious. She’ll quit. She might even sue me and I don’t care. Once more, just once…
“Oh, I meant to tell you. I got a note from his people. Ardros had to go on to Monemvasia for a day or so to check on a possible find. So, we’re stuck here in Nafplion for a little longer. I’ll scrounge up something fun for us to do. There’s a nice beach nearby. And Tiryns and Mycenae are day trips.”
“Kevin, you’re paying me a hundred grand. You don’t have to make this trip enjoyable.” Layla got up from the chair and called back over her shoulder. “I’m going to have a shower. Stay out here.”
Kevin watched the occasional pedestrian make their way down the quiet street at the height of afternoon siesta time. He listened to the shower water and tried to shut out the images that flooded his senses. What if he went to her right now? What would she do? Asshole, forget it. Her words rang in his ears. “I’ll get a little shut-eye.” That’s what you mean to her, Colin. A paycheck and a quickie.
He walked in the room and pulled off his T-shirt to change into fresh clothes. He froze. Layla stood in the doorway of the bathroom, dressed in a towel, her hair dripping onto her shoulders and chest, staring at him.
“What’s wrong?”
She sat on the bed, still staring. “What is it, Layla?”
“Please put on a shirt.” She closed her eyes.
“What? Man, sorry. You didn’t seem
to think I was that repulsive last night…”
“Put on your shirt and keep it on. And put on shorts that don’t fall below your underwear. I can see…too much stomach…and hair.” She kept her eyes closed.
Kevin smiled. “Nope. You’ll have to get used to my hideousness.”
Oh my God, she thinks I’m hot. Maybe… Breathe, Colin, breathe. He felt his groin heat up in hope.
Layla popped up quickly and grabbed clothes from her drawer. “You’re not playing fair. You’re an asshole, Irish.”
“What did I do? You’re the one in a towel. Shit. What are you going to do when we go to the beach with Ardros? I don’t swim in a tuxedo, you know. How about if we actually do end up naked in front of him, Layla? Remember the script?” Why are you doing this? He’s behind bars and you’re carrying on the lie. She really will hate you.
Layla went back into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. She opened it immediately and added, “I’m supposed to be your girlfriend already. You’re flirting with me.” She closed the door.
Kevin sat on the bed. “I am not flirting with you. I only took off my shirt!”
“Well, don’t do that anymore. Because it’s not going to make me want to jump you, if that’s your pathetic pass,” she retorted from the other side of the door.
“I wasn’t trying to get you to jump me.” Yes, you were, asshole.
Layla was quiet again.
Kevin struggled with what to do next. Surrender.
“Layla, was it really that bad last night?” He winced, hearing how childlike his tone sounded.
***
Layla peered out from behind the door again and stared at him in surprise. Her heart raced at his expression. Sheepish. Embarrassed. The Almighty Colin was unsure.
“Well, it wasn’t so bad, actually,” she relented.
“I’m out of practice, you know. Since Andrea.” He lay back on the bed and propped up his head with one hand.
Layla slowly entered the bedroom, the towel still clutched around her wet body. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
He nodded. “Four years. I know, get that expression off your face. It hasn’t been pretty. I guess I’m a little slow to get over things.”
“It was fine, Kevin.” She looked at the floor. “It was more than fine. Way more.”
“Tell me.”
For a full minute, they stared at each other from a distance of four feet.
Oh my God, Kevin thought. I’m looking for more. How stupid. You let yourself fall for your employee in the space of a few days.
Layla turned away. “It was a really good one-night stand. The best.”
Kevin sighed. So there it is. Ego saved and crushed with one sentence. Well, you’ll tell her about Ardros tonight and deal with the consequences.
And she’ll hate you…
***
Layla oohed as they stepped into the main square of the town. “My God, what an enchanting place.”
The large plaza faced a huge official-looking yellow building. Open-air restaurants and a few souvenir shops lined the plaza’s other three sides. Colorful umbrellas vied for attention.
Kevin chose a spot in the corner of the square. A handsome, tired-looking waiter approached, and Kevin ordered Greek coffee for two. “Presumptuous.” Layla frowned at him. “What if I don’t want coffee?”
“You? Don’t you remember? I even know how you like your café latte.” He snickered. “That really was priceless. The look on your face when you realized it was me in the coffee shop…”
“We’ve already discussed many times how clever you are.” Layla scowled, yet her eyes twinkled.
Kevin laughed harder. “All right, then, let’s discuss something else. Let’s discuss how clever you are. Why don’t you tell me about life in the Agency?”
“Nope. You’re after my dirty past, and you’re not getting it. All I owe you is a professional job, and I promise, you’ll get your money’s worth.”
Kevin nodded seriously, thinking he might never get the truth of why she was so wounded. He put his hand on hers and felt her hand twitch. She kept her face neutral.
“You do have a good game face. Well, if you ever want to talk about it, I’m your man.” He began rubbing her palm with his thumb. Her cheeks flushed. He brought her hand to his lips and brushed them across her skin.
“So, tell me how Ardros has supposedly managed to steal priceless artifacts from his country.” Layla pulled away her hand and picked up the coffee set before them.
“I won’t tell you that. The less you know, the more genuine the whole affair will come off to him. Don’t underestimate him. He’s as clever as the two of us put together.”
“And as handsome as two men put together.”
“Oooh, that was pure evil, and aimed to make me jealous. Admit it.”
“Why the hell would I want to make you jealous? Never mind. This is child’s play, Kevin. I don’t know why you don’t get that. I’ll flirt with him, whatever it takes… So, relax, change the subject. Tell me about your brother, the archaeologist. You took very different paths.”
“It didn’t start out that way. I always intended to be a history teacher. Stop laughing. I would have been very, very good. But I couldn’t make myself care about classes. I didn’t have the discipline.”
He shrugged. “Alan cornered the market on discipline. I joined the military, and after that, tried law enforcement…well, it’s a boring tale.”
“No, it’s not. Tell me.”
“Trust me, it is. I learned a good deal about law enforcement, of course, was promoted quickly to detective… Then I met Andrea. When she became pregnant with Molly, she wanted to return to the States to be closer to her family. It seemed easiest to start my own detective agency than to start from scratch on an American police force. I was very, very lucky with a few jobs and got a reputation, largely because of Alan and some of our friends, for recovering fine art, jewels, antiquities…that sort of job. You pretty much know the rest about the company. We do the standard stuff as well, but you’ll never get those jobs, of course.”
“Why did I get hired? Sarah hounded me after I left the Agency. I finally gave in.”
Kevin smiled. “Sarah is a hound. A bloodhound with an ear for gossip and a nose for talent. She’s only been with me for a half-year or so. A godsend.”
“And Andrea?” Layla winced.
Kevin tried to smile. He didn’t manage. “When Molly was one year and one day old. Cancer.”
Layla shook her head.
“There’s nothing to say, so don’t fret. We do fine now. My parents moved to New York three years ago to help care for Molly and—”
He broke off and looked intently at a figure rounding the corner at the far end of the square.
“What is it?” Layla followed his gaze.
“Don’t turn.” He whispered. “It’s odd. I think I saw that man in the Athens airport. He was looking at us a bit furtively. Not very sophisticated.” How could it be about Ardros, now that he was in prison? What was going on? “Well, the country is full of tall, handsome men, so I suppose I’m mixing him up with someone. You do grab attention. Maybe he’s just copping a look.”
Layla had gone deathly pale and goose bumps broke out on her arms. Game face gone.
“Layla, what is it? I’m sure it’s a coincidence, don’t worry.”
“What did the man look like? You said a Greek? Are you sure he’s not Middle Eastern?” Her voice sounded thin, far away.
“Could be, I suppose. A trim beard, tall, very dark complexion.”
Layla sipped her coffee and wouldn’t look up.
“Qatar. That’s it, isn’t it? Tell me.”
She met his eyes and nodded. “It might be one of them. And since it might put you in danger, I’ll tell you.” When Layla shivered, Kevin grabbed her hand. She squeezed his fingers and took in a deep breath. “Four days, three nights.” She laughed nervously. “Sounds like a vacation. I was shadowing Senator Morton on his goodwil
l mission—ha ha ha—what a joke…through the Middle East. Let’s just say that the borders aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Of course, you know that. They were waiting in my hotel room—three of them—and my partner was never found. I didn’t have a chance. I was put into a truck and taken to a small building, maybe an old prison or hospital. I was blindfolded for most of the time. I learned later we’d actually crossed into Iran.”
Her words cut into Kevin’s soul. “Oh my God, honey, I had no idea. I’m so sorry. How did you escape?”
“Real American heroes.” She smiled. “Well, one Brit. And I don’t even know their names. But I’ll tell you something, Irish, I’ve never seen three more beautiful men in my life, and I don’t expect to again.”
“I didn’t hear anything about this…on the news or… Oh, of course. Because you were CIA.”
“Yes, and because I was rescued before they could use me as a pawn on television.”
Kevin wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her until the pain and memories drifted away. The thought of someone hurting her tore into his gut. Oh, you’re falling badly, Kevin.
“And so you left the Agency. Are you okay now? I mean, have people helped you…”
“Get over it? I don’t know if there’s going to be a time when I’m over it. No, don’t look at me like that. At least I wasn’t harmed, if that’s what you’re thinking. I wasn’t fed and I was a little roughed up, but that’s all.”
“That’s enough.” He moved his chair close to hers and pulled her head to his chest. He felt her tears soak through his T-shirt and her shaking sobs.
She finally sat up, brushing away her tears and looking around, embarrassed. “Well, seems I’ve made a spectacle of myself. Sorry about that.”
“And you believe that man may be after you? Honey, don’t you think you’re just jittery from your experience? I mean, why would they track you now, here?”
“Because I saw them. They would want me dead. They probably think I’m still with the Agency. Maybe revenge, I don’t know.”
Kevin sighed. Could it be? He’d have to call his friend in the army and check out the likelihood that she was still in danger. No, she was paranoid; PTSD. And with good reason.