Smoke & Fire - Adult Paranormal Romance Series, Book #1

by Michele Wesley

  Taking him to Victoria’s Secret, she asked him to help her pick out underwear. Although being put to the test, Mycale found that he was having fun, a rare occurrence that had been elusive to him for a very long time.

  On the drive back, he felt they had connected enough for him to nose into her personal life. He said, “Seems like you don’t commit yourself to anything, not even your clothes. I say that because you mentioned not really having any clothes because you donate them all to Goodwill after you finish your assignments.”

  She smiled, not realizing he paid that much attention to her. “That’s right. I feel like once you start committing to too many things, especially people, it takes away from the effectiveness of this type of work. I was pretty much fearless before I found out I had brothers. Now, I find myself being a bit more cautious in some of the things I do.”

  Confused by her response, he asked, “Are you sorry your brothers found you?”

  Shaking her head, she said, “No, they are actually one of the best parts of me. Before I met them, I didn’t know how it felt to have someone care for me. They accepted me without criticism or demands. Although they never mention it, I know they worry about me doing this job. They also worry about my happiness, and that is one of the only reasons I agree to go on those blind dates they are determined to set me up on.”

  She paused for a second. Then continued, “At first, I didn’t understand it, the family dynamic. I feared it, and didn’t know how to let them in. My brothers wouldn’t allow me to push them away, and I eventually accepted the fact that they had no intentions of turning their backs on me. They really showed me that there is nothing wrong with sharing myself with them, that I didn’t have to change who I am if I let them into my life. I had been alone for such a long time that alone was all I knew and understood. They were a much-needed intervention that came at a time when I desperately needed something to tether me to this world.”

  Mycale then asked, “Would you say that you have committed yourself to them?”

  She wondered why all the questions. If it had been anyone else, she would have told them to stay the fuck out of her business.

  Taking a breath, she answered Mycale’s question, “I have never really thought of it in that way, but I guess I have.”

  While she was in deep thought over the realization, Mycale glanced over at her. Maybe there is hope for me after all.

  CHAPTER 13

  Code Names

  Early Wednesday morning, the couple flew to Miami in preparation of boarding the cruise vessel Sparks of the Seas. They both voiced their excitement as neither had ever had the opportunity to go on a cruise.

  Arriving in Miami without a problem, they retrieved their luggage and were whisked away to their destination by a private car. They discreetly kept watch as hundreds gathered at the ships’ docking point.

  The cruise line had a building set up at the embarkation point so customers could comfortably sit, relax, and check in. The building was divided into sections based on booked cabin locations.

  Sori and Mycale checked in, gave the attendants their checked bags, and received cards that served as their suite’s key and ship credit cards. As they sat and waited to board, they gave each other a quick knowing look, immediately recognizing Jeanine and Fredric Gonzales heading toward the check-in counter. The files they received on the couple had been spot-on.

  After checking in, the couple sat right across from Mycale and Sori, code names: Sophie and Michael Hernandez.

  Upon finding out that this would be the new couple’s first cruise, the Gonzaleses immediately held them captive in conversation. The Gonzaleses were excited to share their past cruise stories and buzzed about how much fun they would all have.

  This being their first cruise, Sophie and Michael had a legitimate excuse to keep bothering the couple for instructions and advice on everything cruise related.

  * * *

  A few minutes after walking into their suite, the team received their bags from the attendant and started unpacking. The room was set up like a small studio apartment. There was a small living and sitting room complete with a love seat, desk, entertainment center, and TV. The area was connected to a small kitchenette and dining area with a microwave, sink, table, and chairs. The room was adorned with crystal figurines, large portraits of sea animals, and knickknacks that gave the room a more sophisticated feel.

  The bedroom area was the meat-and-potatoes of the suite. It contained bedside tables and lamps, a large king-size bed, and a large flat screen mounted to the wall, with other electronic devices sitting in the nearby entertainment area. The bedding and linens were advertised as premium, a vibrant array of color and comforting textures. The bedroom was accented by a large sliding glass door that was mounted into a wall of glass, making the entire back wall a window that would undoubtedly present a spectacular ocean view.

  While unpacking, Sori noticed Mycale’s puzzled look. She asked, “What’s wrong?”

  Looking around the area, he said, “The brochure mentioned being able to convert the king bed into two twin beds.”

  “That’s only in the regular rooms, not the suites, my dear husband. What’s the matter? You don’t want to sleep with me?”

  She teased, but the question was loaded. He stared at her with those intense green eyes. Clearing his throat, he replied, “I don’t have a problem sleeping with you, as long as you’re okay with it.”

  Sensing a hint of flirt in his voice, she said, “You don’t have anything to worry about from me—except occasional snoring or maybe a little sleep talking, but I don’t bite.”

  He said, “On that note, we are going to be fine, but I must warn you, I do bite.”

  Giggling playfully, she countered his statement, “As long as you nick the right places, we will definitely do well.”

  Not expecting her reply or where the conversation had gone, Mycale nearly spit out the gum he was chewing.

  Pausing, she stared at him hard, concentrating and realizing that out of everyone she had met, he proved one of the most difficult to read—even harder than her brothers.

  Speaking through his continuous stare, she said, “I take back some of what I said. You have that good-guy look about you, is always quiet and poised, but I can pick up your inner bad-guy. And let’s not forget what you do for a living, which says you are as bad as I think you are. You just know how to hide it.”

  Only the smallest corner of his mouth turned up into a hint of a smile, eyes telling a story of hell at his hands.

  She didn’t say anything, but that shit was turning her on in a major way. Her reaction surprised the heck out of her. She had become a pro at turning her feelings off so completely that no one could get through her impenetrable mental shields, but for some reason she allowed him in more than she should have.

  Am I unconsciously letting him in?

  Several times he had gotten through, and she began to wonder if she were underestimating him or if she needed to improve her skills. The only time she had halfway opened herself to anyone was Archer Santos because she knew it would work to her advantage. Mycale was always so quiet and unassuming that it was hard not to be intrigued by the mystery of him.

  Staring over at him once more, she slid the curtains to the door aside. Instantly, she lost her breath at the view of the sun setting over the ocean. The view showcased a priceless painting, a work of art done by an artist named Mother Nature.

  Both standing at the door, they stared entranced by the breathtaking view. Finally sliding the door completely open, they stepped onto the balcony. Walking like zombies, they reached for the rail’s edge.

  Sori felt totally captivated. “I can stand out here forever.” She closed her eyes and raised her face to what was left of the sun, welcoming its rays and the salty taste of the cool ocean breeze.

  Mycale stole a few glances at her, realizing that with all she h
ad done as an agent and the legendary reputation she had, he found it hard to believe she would take a moment to enjoy the view.

  They stood there until the sun was almost completely eaten by the ocean floor. Sori reentered the room and threw herself across the bed with a deep sigh, still watching the view and listening to the sounds of the ocean kissing the ship. She asked, “Would you mind leaving the door open?”

  “Of course not.” He joined her on the bed.

  He was reluctant to ask, but his curiosity had gotten the better of him. “If you don’t mind me asking, how are you and your brothers related?”

  Giving a smile, she said, “I can imagine it looks confusing. I am black and they are white.” She shrugged. “It’s actually not that difficult or uncommon. Their mother is white and my mother was obviously black, but we all shared a father. I have never met our father, but my brothers describe him as a light-skinned black man. So here we all are, blood relatives.”

  Mycale spoke through his thoughts, asking, “So if your father was light-skinned, you’re possibly of mixed heritage?”

  She’d never thought much about it. The fact that her brothers were passably white with a black father meant that her father had to be on the verge of being white himself. “Yeah, there is a good chance that I am a mutt, but I see myself as the world sees me, black, so I stick with that.” To Sori it was clear that she was black, but she was often asked about her heritage and guessed others might see in her what she was unable to see in herself.

  Staring up at the ceiling, Mycale said, “It can’t be a coincidence. We are all mixed in some manner.” The comment piqued Sori’s interest. He continued, “Everyone at MIA is of some type of mixed heritage. I wonder if your brothers meant for it to be that way. Smart if they did because it takes the bias out of our decisions when it comes to race in decision making.”

  He had a good point, and it had been nagging her that she couldn’t pinpoint Mycale’s heritage. She asked, “I can tell by your waned accent that you lived in or were born somewhere in the UK. Where are you from exactly? Although your accent is saying UK, your look says something more exotic.”

  Impressed by her level of insightfulness, he replied, “My father is from Liverpool, England. I lived there until I was ten years old. My accent has diminished over time, so not many can pick it up anymore. My mother’s Colombian, from Ibagué. My father met her there visiting one of his friends, and as far as I know, they have been inseparable since. Thanks to my mother, I inherited a year-round tan, two Spanish dialects, and a cultural heritage that I am proud of and appreciate. I have visited Ibagué, and although I have never lived there, my mother ensures I embrace my Colombian heritage.”

  She’d never given much thought about them all being of some type of mixed heritage, but now that she thought about it, it was quite a coincidence—or was it? Not only were her and her brothers a mixed bag of nuts, but all of MIA seemed to be also. Even Dr. Willie with his albino roots had some spice in his heritage. Too tired to think about the relevance of it all, Sori continued to watch and listen to nature’s music. The natural lullaby called forth sleep.

  Quietly enjoying every second, they both lay facing the view.

  Slowly kicking her legs up and down like a kid, Sori rested on her stomach. All cares were swept away by her pose, so carefree and lovely. While staring out at the view, the two talked about everything and nothing at all.

  Glancing over at Sori, Mycale pointed at his shirt. “Do you mind?”

  “No.”

  He really wanted out of all his clothes, but tonight he would compromise. Mycale slid to the edge of the bed. His back to Sori, he pulled his shirt quickly up over his head, arms crossing as the shirt raced over them.

  Losing her breath at the sight of his bare back, her mind captured the moment in a picture that would forever be stuck in her head. He was an impeccable vision. The movement of his shoulders and spine so in sync and flowing under sinewy perfectly tanned muscular perfection. That he could make her ponder this view and appreciate his masculine splendor, was an amazing endeavor he was completely unaware of.

  Thankful he had his back turned, Sori enjoyed the view. Nearly 70 percent of his back was covered in tattoos. They weren’t just a collage of badly decided misprints; Mycale’s tattoos were undoubtedly a collection of symbolism that held meaningful intent. Tilting her head, Sori fixed her eyes on Mycale’s back. The markings seemed to create a bigger, meaningful picture from afar. She almost reached out and touched him.

  All of that beautifully tortured flesh.

  She was sorry he turned back, until she saw that the tattoos cascaded around his side and a fair amount was on his chest and shoulders. She wanted to touch them so bad she had to ball her hands into fists. The amount of art and history he had on his body was phenomenal and surprisingly amazing to look at.

  She couldn’t believe it, but he seemed to have misinterpreted her staring and looked almost embarrassed. Speaking quickly, she said, “Those are amazing.” Her statement, a positive stroke to his ego, shined through his eyes. He had no idea that he had made her forget that amazing view outside. She wanted to study him, observe him slowly and thoroughly, but feigned calm disinterest to maintain a semblance of her unruffled appearance.

  She eventually fell asleep, the ocean’s hypnotic songs the background to the arousing reproduction of Mycale in her head.

  Waking up with a beautiful woman snuggling with him put an instant smile on Mycale’s face. She had evidently gotten chilly and snuggled up to the warmest thing she could find—him. Her face buried in his side, her arm thrown over his stomach, he could feel the warm flow of her breath caressing his side like warm hands. Afraid to move, he didn’t want her to back away from him.

  Watching her sleep kept him in place, captivated him. It was difficult to believe that someone that looked so delicate and innocent could be so deadly and dangerous. She had taught him more ways to kill a person with his hands than most people knew with weapons.

  Knowing that she felt comfortable enough with him to unconsciously get this close, kept a smile on his face.

  She stirred, moving her hand excruciatingly slow over his stomach. She was unconscious of her movement he was sure, but Mycale couldn’t help enjoying her sleight of hand. He had no intention of stopping her as her hand continued to slowly make its descent down his stomach toward an area that was beginning to throb. He took a deep breath, preparing himself for a high he wasn’t sure he was ready for.

  She had such excellent control over her mind that even during sleep, she started to process what her body was doing. Simultaneously, she stopped, woke herself, and pulled her hand up and away from his stomach. Surprised, she couldn’t believe she had allowed herself such liberties.

  Now awake, she looked up into Mycale’s well-rested and amused eyes. She spoke quickly, “Sorry about that, I wasn’t trying to get freaky—didn’t bite much, I hope?”

  Sitting up on his elbows, he smiled down at her. “Good morning. Unfortunately, no biting.”

  His look said he was perfectly okay with whatever she wanted, but she ignored it. She suspected, on and off, that he liked her a bit more then he let on, and after the way he had kissed her, she was sure he was interested. She had made a conscious effort to not lead him on, but now that her brothers had thrown them together again, she wasn’t sure how it would all play out.

  She silently hoped his mind was strong enough to handle what she was going to do to him, if she had to. Realizing her last thought sounded a bit arrogant, she long ago accepted that she could be quite the vixen and seductress when she needed to be. The visual of Mycale’s body would make her job easy if she ever had to let loose her inner seductress. She erased thoughts of Mycale’s steamy hot, sexy body from her brain and as she entered her morning shower.

  * * *

  Just as Sori and Mycale were about to exit their suite, the Fredrick and Jeanine
Gonzales knocked on their door, inviting them to breakfast. They gladly accepted and spent most of the day learning all they needed to know about cruising, but nothing yet about drugs and murder.

  The Gonzaleses were a friendly, fun-loving couple, but they were just hard to read. Sori couldn’t tell if they were good actors or genuinely sincere.

  The Gonzaleses took a quick liking to Sophie and Michael and went out of their way to make sure they had a good time. Over the course of the next few days, Sophie and Michael accepted offers to be shown around, shared lunch and dining tables, and shared a number of other fun adventures with the Gonzaleses. The group went to the ship’s security brief together; climbed the rock climbing wall together; played ping-pong; went to a movie, the casino, a live theater performance; and sat out in the solarium and enjoyed the view together.

  As the couples departed the theater, the Gonzaleses suggested they walk up to the upper-front bow of the ship. A taped-to-the-wall sign told the couples the area was closed to passengers, but Fredrick and Jeanine insisted the area had the best view on the ship. As they all stepped out, the view literally grabbed them and held them in its grasp as they walked the path to the front of the ship.

  The view and path was lit only by moonlight, and they were up high enough that at certain areas on the deck it appeared as if you were levitating stories high over the dark and waving moonlit water. The water lapping at the ship’s bottom was louder than in their cabin, the sound echoing off the walls. Standing at the railing, the group enjoyed the dark view as the moonbeams licked at the ocean and provided a view that was postcard perfect.

  CHAPTER 14

  Shit Just Got Real

  Sori and Mycale both froze as if ice had been rubbed down their backs. He glanced toward Sori, somehow knowing she had felt what he felt—trouble. They both turned slowly around and waited. She could hear footfall coming from the far end of the ship, but darkness kept the figure or figures in shadow. Clueless to the trouble headed their way, the Fredrick and Jeanine were still talking about the view.