by Sophia Rae
“I won’t deny that’s true, but I’m more sorry that you got hurt. That was the absolute last thing I wanted to do. You mean something to me.”
Eve’s eyes snapped back to the mirror. “Don’t throw my words back at me like they should mean something now. You’re too late if you ever thought I would be anything more than a great fuck.”
“It was more than that and you know it.”
That was the bitch of it. Their time together had meant something, but she couldn’t dwell on that now. If she did, she would break.
Eve shut off the car and got out, not at all surprised when he followed her to her hotel door.
“You’re not coming in.”
She made the mistake of turning to him and laying a hand on his chest to stop him from moving farther. For just a second, she allowed her hand to linger on his signature black tee. She breathed in his fresh scent, pretending they were in a different time and place.
The hard pecs under the soft material molded into her palm. His heartbeat quickened beneath her touch.
When he brought his own hand up to cover hers, she had to lock her knees in order to stay upright.
“Eve, please.”
“No.”
“Just let me in for ten minutes,” he pleaded.
Her gaze traveled from their joined hands up to his handsome face. The features she’d once thought of as hard were now softened.
Something inside her shifted. “Five minutes.”
His chest fell as he let out a pent-up breath. She slid her hand out and turned to unlock the door. She wasn’t foolish enough to believe he’d actually leave after the allotted five minutes.
Eve flipped on the light switch, causing the lamp by the bed to come on. She tossed her keys and her bag on the sturdy desk in the corner, breathed in a good dose of strength, then spun back around to face Nick.
For the first time since she’d met him, he looked nervous, out of place.
Good.
“You’d better start talking.”
She wanted to be as firm as her voice sounded, but she really feared if he crossed to her just now, she’d go into his arms, then tumble with him onto the bed. Her body ached for his touch. Now that she’d had it, she didn’t know how to do without.
“I know you hate me,” he began.
She remained silent, allowing him to draw his own conclusion.
“If I didn’t care for you, I wouldn’t have hung around this long. I would have told you the truth the second I found out and let you go off on your own to bring Roman down. But I didn’t tell you and if I could go back and let you in from the beginning, I would.”
As he spoke, he inched closer. Once his face made it into the light, she could see the bloodshot eyes, dark circles and just plain fatigue. He still made her heart skip beats.
“You’re tired,” she said before she thought better of it.
He shrugged. “I’m not asking you to forgive me, I know you won’t, but I’m at least asking you to let me help on this. Roman will kill you without a second thought if you’re not properly prepared. No one knows this bastard like I do. Even though I haven’t seen my brother for years, a man like that doesn’t change his ways. I can’t sit back and wonder if you’re okay. I need to be near you, to know you’re safe.”
Eve listened to his defense and she had to admit, he did have every reason to be involved. Roman Burke had more than likely anticipated this blow-up between her and Nick, so Roman wouldn’t be expecting Nick to still be around.
“Okay.”
Nick’s brows shot up. “Okay? You don’t care if I work with you again?”
“It would be stupid of me to put my pride before bringing down the guy who killed my father.”
“I promise I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe.”
“I believe you will.”
He took a step closer, his eyes roamed over her body. With that one look, her nipples responded, pressing against the thin cotton of her halter.
Why did her body always have to betray her?
“I think your five minutes are up,” she said.
“You don’t want me to go.”
“You have to.”
“You want me,” he said.
“So what if I do? You hurt me. You destroyed a part of me. Wanting you doesn’t change that.”
“No, it doesn’t. I can’t undo past mistakes, Eve, but I can make you feel better.”
She stepped back as he advanced on her. “Stop, Nick.”
“Tell me you want me to leave this room without making love to you. Without making you come at least three different ways.”
His voice had dropped to a near whisper as he continued to stare at her with compassion and heat. She truly believed he was sorry, but he’d still made a mistake that could have cost her everything.
“I can’t,” she whispered.
Close enough to touch now, Nick trailed his rough hands up her bare arms. “Let me show you how much I still care for you.”
“This isn’t right,” she insisted.
“You can’t stay mad forever, Eve. Just let go for a while.”
Eve’s hands came up to toy with the hem of his shirt. “I can’t resist you. I want to, I know I should, but I can’t. Make me forget everything that’s happening now. Make me forget about what might happen tomorrow.”
“With pleasure.”
His mouth came down on hers, hard. Not an ounce of gentleness came through in his touch anymore. She all but tasted the sexual frustration in his kiss, felt it radiate from his hard body.
He untied the bow at the base of her neck, allowing the straps to fall. Their tongues intertwined, their hands impatient.
Nick freed her breasts as walked her backward. When she came in contact with the wall, she arched her back, needing to feel more.
The bruising way he squeezed her tits made her so hot, so moist, she thought she’d come without him. She unbuttoned his jeans, pulled down the zipper and reached inside his briefs to free his erection.
She swallowed his low moan, all the while stroking him. Up, down.
His frantic hands moved from her breasts to her shorts. In no time he had them undone and shoved down her legs, along with her string panties. She kicked out of them and jumped up to wrap her legs around his waist.
“Now, Nick.”
He slammed into her so hard, so fast, she cried out and convulsed around him. Her climax hit not a second too early.
Nick’s mouth feasted on her taut nipples as he drove her over the edge two more times. Her quivering body clung to his.
“Fuck,” he muttered as he tried to pull out.
“No, Nick. Don’t.”
“I need a condom,” he told her.
“Where is it?”
“My back pocket.”
Eve reached around with one hand, keeping her other arm wrapped around his shoulder. She dug into his pocket, thankful when she felt the foil square.
She pulled it out, ripped it open with her teeth and handed it to him.
“Here.”
“Put it on me,” he growled.
He pulled out just enough for her to roll the condom on. The second she let go of him, he drove into her again.
Eve let go of his shoulders, her arms hanging to the side as she used the wall and her back to create the leverage she needed.
Nick’s creative hands fondled her. One on her breast, one on her clit. The fourth orgasm came out of nowhere just as he reached his own release.
Their hips pumped in synch, their breathing heavy.
He leaned against her body for support once their spasms subsided.
“In about two minutes, when I catch my breath, I’m going to take off the rest of our clothes and do this all over again,” he promised her.
Eve barely noticed her top bunched around her waist and she really didn’t care that Nick was still fully dressed.
“Don’t go to all that trouble on my account,” she said into his ear.
�
�It’s no trouble. I want to feel your skin against mine, in that bed, for the rest of the night. I want to inhale your sweet scent, I want to watch you fall asleep after hours of pleasure.”
A new set of shivers raced down her body.
He lifted his head to look her in the eyes. “Does this mean you forgive me?”
“No, but I’m shameless, and I’ll let you screw me as long as you want until we’re finished with this case.”
Something shifted in his eyes, his lips thinned. “Fine. In that case, I don’t want to waste anymore time talking about it inside this room.”
The matter-of-fact tone made her cringe. Had she sounded so cold as well?
All thoughts vanished when he literally tore the rest of her top away from her body, leaving her in only her high-heeled sandals.
She unwrapped her legs from his waist and slid them to the floor. The determined look in his eyes should have frightened her. Instead it heated her up all over again.
He jerked his own shirt over his head while he toed off his shoes. With quick movements, he shucked his jeans and briefs, kicking free of them. He yanked off his socks, then with more gentleness, he discarded the used condom into the trash beside the desk.
“Get on the bed,” he told her.
Eve kicked off her own shoes, did as he asked and propped herself against a pile of pillows against the headboard. She allowed her legs to fall open, inviting him.
“On your stomach.”
Eve drew her brows together, then without a word, she scooted down and rolled over. Nick came up beside the bed and grabbed a pillow.
“Lift your ass in the air.”
Again, she did as he asked. He shoved the pillow under her hips and she knew he wanted her from behind.
Could he not bear to look at her face?
Eve cursed herself for being such a wimp. This had been her idea, hadn’t it? She didn’t want anything more from him other than his body and obviously he only wanted her body in return.
This arrangement would work out just fine.
Maybe.
With no kind words, no gentle caresses or kisses, Nick got on his knees behind her and entered her with a groan. All anger melted away at the new sensations streaming through her.
Eve grasped onto the pillow in front of her. Nick’s hands dug into her waist as he held on and pumped in and out. With each thrust, he hit her so deep she didn’t know how much longer she would last.
Finally, he entered her, stilled and rocked his hips. That’s all it took to send her sailing over the brink once again.
His fingers tightened around her, his body shook against hers—that’s when she felt the warm, sticky liquid.
“Nick!”
He pulled out…too late.
“Oh, God. Eve, I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? You think that’ll fix it?”
She scrambled out from under him and ran into the bathroom. Nick’s pleas for her to stop followed.
Eve grabbed a white hand towel from the edge of the marble sink to wipe herself off—as if that would undo the damage. Her heart beat so hard, so fast, Eve feared she’d throw up. This couldn’t be happening. Not now, after all she’d been through.
In the back of her mind, she did some quick math to know if she’d wanted to get pregnant…she would’ve had sex tonight.
Dammit.
Most women would cry right about now, but what would that accomplish? If they’d made a baby—and God help the poor child if they had—she would have to just face the consequences.
Alone.
“Eve.” Nick tapped on the bathroom door. “Open up.”
She tossed the towel back onto the counter and unlocked the door. When she turned the knob and peered out, Nick leaned against the doorframe—still gloriously naked.
“What can I do?” he offered.
“Nothing can be done now.”
“Where are you at in your cycle?”
Eve laughed. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t tie you down to anything.”
Nick reached in and grabbed her by the bare arms. “That’s not what I asked. I want to know if this was a bad time.”
Dammit, why did the tears pick now to show up?
“The worst,” she confirmed.
Nick swallowed and nodded. “Then we’ll deal with this together.”
“No, we won’t. I mean it, Nick. Once this case is closed and over, I’m going back to Virginia. I want my job back. Hell, I want my life back.”
He drew back. “You are in a hurry to get back to tending bar at a titty club? What kind of life is that?”
Guilt flooded through her. Of course that was how he’d see it… She’d told him no different. That only made her a hypocritical bitch for the way she’d acted when he’d lied.
“I just want to be done with all this so I can go home,” she insisted.
Nick pulled her against his sweaty, hard body. “I’m sorry. It will be over soon. One way or another.”
Yeah, that was what scared her the most.
Chapter Twelve
Allison forced herself to relax when Roman came into her room with a new guard—or at least one she hadn’t seen before. If she showed any sign of fear toward the new man, Roman would punish her later.
The slinky white dress Allison had been ordered to wear slithered over her naked body as she moved toward the two men.
The new guard caught her breath when he came into the room, but she had to remind herself, Roman’s looks had been striking at first as well, until she got to know him. If this guard and Roman were friends, or even acquaintances, the new guy couldn’t be much better than her captor.
This must be the “ass kisser” she’d overheard the other guards talking about.
“Allison,” Roman said. “This is Max. You will be entertaining him this evening while I go out. I trust you will take good care of him.”
Like the dutiful whore, Allison smiled. “Of course, Roman.”
Allison kept her smile locked into place as Roman leaned forward, planting a kiss on her cheek. Without another word, he turned in his Italian leather shoes and left the room.
“You’re so beautiful,” Max whispered the second they were alone.
Allison jerked her gaze away from the newly locked door to the new stranger. “Excuse me?”
As if to clear his thoughts, Max shook his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect someone like you.”
“Like me?”
“When Roman said he had someone for me to meet, I had no idea it would be someone as purely innocent-looking as you.”
Allison couldn’t help it. She laughed. “Pure and innocent are not words to describe me. You do know why Roman brought you here, don’t you?”
Max nodded, but unlike most men, his eyes never wavered from her face. Not once had she caught him looking at her breasts.
The man had to be gay.
Great, Roman had brought her his newly employed gay friend to try to convert over to the straight side. Not that she had a problem with gay men, but obviously that was not where her expertise lay.
“If it’s all right with you,” Max said. “I wouldn’t mind just talking to you during our time together.”
Allison froze. “Why?”
It had to be a trick. Some sort of setup by Roman to test her abilities to get this gay man into bed.
He shrugged and moved toward the sitting area. “I don’t know you and Roman didn’t supply very much information. Is there a problem?”
Allison continued to eye him as he took a seat in one of the matching burgundy wingback chairs. This guy couldn’t be for real. No sex, just talking? Unheard of.
It always seemed like such a shame when a man this hot turned out to be gay. Allison sighed and made her way over to the other chair beside Max.
The man did dress nice, she mused. Black slacks covered his long legs, a baby-blue button-up shirt looked as if it had been made for those broad shoulders, not to mention the fact the material matched his eyes perfectly.
He’d removed his jacket that all guards were required to wear and laid it over the arm of his chair. It made him seem a little more human when he rolled his sleeves up his forearms.
Nice, golden-tan forearms. Strong forearms.
“Allison.”
Her name slid from his lips like he’d said it a thousand times before. She couldn’t explain it, this instant attraction to someone so unobtainable. He’d been brought here for one reason and one reason only.
To get laid by a high-class whore.
“I’m sorry,” she said, shaking off her unwanted thoughts.
“It’s okay.” He grinned, flashing a slight dimple to the right of his mouth. “You were staring like we knew each other.”
“Do you know me?” she wondered aloud.
He shook his head. “Should I?”
Allison’s hope faded. “No. I just didn’t know if you’d ever seen me before now, maybe at The Excalibur.”
Again, Max shook his head. “I’ve never been in there. Do you work there?”
“I used to.”
Who knew she would wish her life back into that hellhole? Who knew she’d give anything to be back dancing on a pole?
“What do you do now?” he asked.
“This is it.” Allison spread her arms, glancing around the room. “I sit within these four walls all day. I do what Roman asks me to and I entertain his friends and some employees.”
“This is my first week as a guard.”
“Down by the front gate?”
“Yeah,” Max replied. “Roman told me when he hired me that he had a bonus for employees he deemed worthy.”
Allison smiled. “I guess you did something right, but won’t your partner be upset with this setup?”
Max’s blond brows drew together. “My partner?”
“You’re gay, aren’t you?”
For a second, Allison didn’t know if he’d heard the question, but when Max nearly rolled out of his seat with laughter, she knew he had. And now she knew the answer.
“You’re not?”
“Oh…God…” His warm, rich chuckle filled the cold, somber room. “No, I’m not gay.”
“Oh, well, I assumed when you said you only wanted to talk,” Allison defended herself.
Max leaned over, placed a hand on her bare knee that peeked through the slit in her dress. She couldn’t suppress the shiver that erupted under his warm palm, nor could she ignore the way he looked her right in the eye.