by Taylor Lee
“I owe you an apology, Boss Man.”
Ian started in surprise, then shrugged. “If anyone is owed an apology, it’s you, Grayson. I misled you intentionally, even though I knew at the time it was a mistake to keep you in the dark. I had no business acceding to Maya. It was wrong. I can only say in my defense, that I’ve never had a clear head when it comes to my niece.”
“Yeah, Ian, you were wrong but you’ve already apologized. I’ll admit, now that I know that niece of yours, I can understand how she might have clouded your vision. I’m doing my damndest not to let her cloud mine.”
Ian huffed a sigh. “It won’t be easy, Gray, she’s very persuasive. But I wouldn’t have let you take command if I didn’t think you could control her.”
“Forewarned is forearmed, Ian. That said, I was wrong to keep you off the mission. You belong at Maya’s side. Of course, her uncle, her only living relative, wouldn’t let her connect with her kidnapper solo. It makes total sense that you would insist on going with her.”
Ian blinked back the moisture filling his eyes. His emotional response was cut short by Noah striding toward them.
Noah met Gray’s gaze, his eyes dancing. His partner’s voice was intense, ramped with banked excitement. “You did it, buddy. You laid the trap and the fucker walked right into it.”
At Gray’s and Ian’s questioning looks, Noah crowed, “Torres bit. The message just came over the wire. The fucking son of a bitch invited ‘Mia Kobayashi’ to visit him. In Torres style, he indicated that he’s sending a private plane to pick her up. She needs to be in Tokyo on Tuesday. Three days from now.”
Chapter 18
Topaz stared at her reflection in the mirror, then began methodically brushing her hair until it flowed in gleaming black waves around her shoulders. She critically acknowledged that the wide-eyed woman returning her gaze was unusual-looking, even exotic. Unfortunately, in her considered opinion, her features were too complicated, sent too many mixed messages to be considered truly beautiful. Unbidden, the names she’d been called, particularly in her pre-teen years, flooded her brain. Chinkaboo, Blaxican, Caublasian, Nigook, Spigger, Spink and countless other epithets rattled around in recesses of her memory.
She remembered her erudite father’s response when she told him some of the names her classmates called her. He’d nodded thoughtfully then suggested that she decipher the various slurs so that she could understand their origin. He then recommended that she study each of her heritages, documenting the feats and victories particularly those of famous women from each race so that she could appreciate the magnificence of her birthright. In the process, he’d taught her to glory in her “rainbow” heritage as her Caucasian grandfather called it. Until the kidnapping. After the kidnapping, the slurs were no longer “rainbow” like. Rather they were as ugly as the people who called her those names intended them to be.
Topaz was so absorbed in her memories that she didn’t see Gray enter her dressing room. She didn’t know how long he’d been silently observing her when she finally realized that he was there. Startled, she tried to cover her surprise, but her inane comment just made it worse.
“Gray, how long have you been here? I… I didn’t see you.”
His lip curled up at the corner. “Yeah, baby, I’ve been told I’m easy to miss.”
Knowing that his impressive six foot four muscular physique would be hard to miss except by the most clueless or, in her case, self-absorbed woman, his bland understatement confirmed the foolishness of her remark and made her feel even more ridiculous.
She flushed, embarrassed and frustrated that she’d made what she knew was going to be a difficult conversation even harder. Putting her hairbrush down on the dressing table, she took a deep breath and turned to face him. Rather than trying to come up with a decent conversation starter, she blurted out the truth.
“I’m sorry. I was distracted. I was… I was looking at myself, and remembering some of the names that people have called me.”
Gray’s frown confirmed that she didn’t have to explain what kind of names she was referring to. Instead, he went to the heart of the issue.
“I presume that you associate those names with the kidnapping?”
Topaz didn’t know why she was surprised that he knew the precise cause for her “‘distraction.” She was learning the hard way that she couldn’t put anything over on Gray. Topaz admitted that she used her formidable intellect to keep opponents off guard in order to protect her privacy. But she was learning, to her consternation, that beneath his famed congeniality, Gray had an unerring, intuitive instinct that made it impossible for her to dissemble. The fact that he was likely her intellectual equal was becoming apparent. Even more disquieting was his ability to read her and “get” her at her core. Not surprisingly, given her solitary lifestyle, it was a trait that she was categorically lacking. Even so, the fact that he could cut through her crap as easily as the proverbial knife through butter put her at a decided disadvantage. Particularly, knowing the challenging conversation that was looming.
Deciding to take the offensive, she shrugged and met his gaze.
“I know you’re angry with me, Gray, about what I said earlier. It was a thoughtless, unkind remark and I apologize.”
Gray shook his head and grinned at her. Unfortunately, there was a decided lack of mirth in his frosty grin.
“Uh uh, Princess. You’re not going to get off so easily. We will discuss your revealing remark later—with decidedly fewer clothes than you have on now.”
Topaz felt her face flame and her breath hitch. She was wearing the white lounging outfit that she wore the first night he came to her condominium. The way that he was ogling her bottom confirmed that he knew she’d foregone anything but the skimpiest underwear making it clear the state of undress he was envisioning. Trying to ignore the tingling sensations between her thighs, she attempted a nonchalant shrug and rising to her feet, did her best to glare at him.
“Fine. I’ve apologized. You don’t have to accept my apology, but as far as I’m concerned the subject is closed. Now, what else is on your mind?”
At her snappy rejoinder, Gray tossed back his head and laughed a loud, rich sound.
“Ah, Princess. I really do need to be on guard. If I’m not careful, I might believe that bravado is real. Fortunately, I’m a hell of a good special operative, who’s made my living seeing beneath the facades people build around themselves. Unfortunately for you, my lovely antagonist, you don’t have a prayer to deceive me or frankly anyone else. That’s the price you pay when the antagonists you deal with are characters on paper who can’t talk back.”
Topaz rose to her feet and, gathering as much dignity as she could muster, shot him a scathing glare.
“I presume, omnipotent one, that you will deign to tell me what specific traits I’m lacking, and how you will help me overcome my considerable shortcomings.”
Gray smiled at her and nodded to the door.
“How about we take this conversation out of your dressing room where I will be less distracted by the notion of undressing you?”
Reaching for her hand he led her into her bedroom. To her relief, she saw a bottle of wine and two glasses on the occasional table in the sitting area. Grateful that she wouldn’t have to face the upcoming conversation without the support of alcohol, she breathed a sigh of relief. Gray obviously read her expression because he chuckled and went over to the table.
“No worries, Darlin’. I’d never make you face what I’m about to do to you without the protection of a bottle of wine.”
Aghast that he knew her weaknesses so well, she bit out a curt response.
“May I presume that you won’t mind if I pick up the bottle and use it as a club to defend myself?”
He smiled at her as he uncorked the wine then handed her a glass.
Nodding to the overstuffed chair, he said, “Sit down, Topaz. We need to have an important conversation, and if a glass of wine helps me get through to you, all the be
tter.”
Taking the chair across from her, he pinned her with a serious expression.
“As I said, Princess, we will deal with our sexual issues shortly. Right now we need to discuss Dante Torres.”
Startled, Topaz said, “What… what about him?”
When Gray merely studied her rather than answering her, she reached for her glass and took a healthy drink of wine, then unable to slow herself took another swallow.
Gray raised his glass to her, then reached for the bottle and refilled her glass.
“Relax, Darlin’, this isn’t going to be as hard as you are imagining.”
Gray settled back in his chair assuming a relaxed, non-threatening position. When he spoke, it was in a conversational tone as if they were discussing the weather, not the man that she was about to meet fifteen years after he had assaulted her. Seeing the knowing expression in Grayson’s cobalt eyes, Topaz gave into the fact that Gray had intuited the truth about her kidnapping. The whole truth. The truth about what Dante had done to her that she’d buried in her psyche. The closer she got to seeing him again, the more the truth began to emerge in terrifyingly real detail.
Gray broke through her tortured musings.
“Seeing Torres in the flesh isn’t going to be as hard as you’re thinking it will be. Honestly, Princess.”
At her disbelieving snort, he added, “Because, Topaz, you aren’t going in there alone. I will be with you every step of the way.”
Something in his voice made her look at him and to her surprise saw that he looked like a different man. Gone was his pleasant, easy demeanor. In its place, she saw a steely hardness that was frankly frightening, particularly when he continued speaking in a quiet, conversational tone.
“In case you don’t know this about me, baby, it’s best you know now. No matter how many people Torres has personally killed or maimed, it doesn’t begin to compare to the notches on my belt. I’m a trained killer, Topaz. It’s what I do. And I’m extraordinarily good at my job. When a villain needs to be killed, the first person in Ian’s squad of professional killers they call is me. The difference between me and the man who assaulted you is that I go after evil men and eliminate them like the vermin that they are.”
He took a hearty drink of wine and refilled both their glasses, then met her incredulous stare.
“I tell you this, Darlin’, so that you clearly understand that Torres will not survive this mission. Moreover, he will die at my hand. The reason you need to know this is because in addition to taking him out for myriad professional reasons, for the first time, I will be killing a man for personal reasons as well. Fifteen years ago Dante Torres made the biggest mistake of his life. He didn’t know that since that time he’s been a dead man walking. By this time next week, he will know.”
Topaz stared at Gray, stunned by his quietly impassioned announcement. After a long moment, to her surprise, Gray’s determined visage made it possible for her to take a deep breath. For the first time since she envisioned coming face to face with Dante she realized she was able to suck in enough oxygen to fill her constricted lungs. A moment later she was able to respond to the man who held her gaze.
“Thank you, Gray. I didn’t know until you told me this that I was terrified to see him again. I’ve been planning to wreak revenge on him in one way or another since he captured me. I… I didn’t know how I was going to do it, but now I do. You’re going to do it for me.”
Gray shook his head. “Uh uh, Princess, don’t sell yourself short. The plan that you conceived is masterful, if entirely unworkable. In a million years I wouldn’t have participated in what I first thought was a harebrained idea hatched by an unstable woman.” He held up his hand to stop her protest.
“Just so you know, Baby, it wasn’t Ian who convinced me. It was you. When I saw the information you’d assembled—that crazy wallpaper as we’ve come to call it—I finally understood the brilliance of your plan. And, Princess, I saw the courage it took for you to conceive it much less plan to implement it. But you’re correct. There is no way that you could have pulled this off without my help and the rest of our team. We are going up against an international Cartel leader, an accomplished killer who is as dangerous as he is handsome. And even I will admit, that is saying something.”
He paused for a moment then added with a confident wink, “The only person more dangerous, sweetheart, is yours truly.”
They sat quietly for a moment, then Gray rose to his feet and extracted her glass from her hand.
“That’s enough wine for you, Princess. I want all your senses intact for the next part of our discussion.”
Tracing his eyes over her body, he stopped first at her breasts then moved on to her hips. When his gaze landed on the V between her legs he licked his lips and grunted a soft male sound. Topaz couldn’t decide if the lewd gaze he pinned on her was filled more with lust than desire. Without a doubt, his intention was clear. He leaned back, his forearms resting on the arms of the chair, looking like some potentate about to command his subject to obey. With a sly grin he motioned for her to stand.
“Now, Princess, if you would please. Stand up and take off your clothes. All of them, baby. Now. ”
Chapter 19
Gray watched her expression evolve, ricocheting from surprise to fear and then to anger. He welcomed her anger, knowing how easily he could transform that heated response to lust. He reveled in the tension stiffening her shoulders, in the set of her jaw. The fire burning in Maya’s topaz eyes shot an explosive blast of heat to his already aroused dick. Her chin jerked up and she clenched her fists at her side and glared at him. Her open challenge triggered his dominant streak. The image of laying her out on the floor and pounding into her hardened him more. With an effort, he held back.
Gray reminded himself that before he took her, before he buried himself in her luscious heat, he needed to push her, force her to deal with her insecurities. He had to eliminate the fucking tapes rattling around in her fearsome brain. The tapes that told her she wasn’t desirable, that she didn’t have the “vibe.” Christ, the fact that she even compared herself to Candy and Lucy, unfavorably at that, was enough to make him want to spank the hell out of her. But he needed to hold back that little treat as well. First he had to show her what happened to a beautiful woman who thought she could control a master of control. When she tipped her chin up higher and shot him a defiant glare, he grinned and murmured softly, “Game on, Darlin’.”
As he reached for her, she twisted away from him and made a dash for the door. He caught her with one strong arm and reeled her in capturing her struggling body next to his. She fought against him, wildly kicking her feet and beating at his arms and chest with her fists.
Her voice was a high-pitched shriek.
“Damn you, Gray. Let me go! I mean it. You can’t do this to me. I won’t let you!”
He chuckled, wrapping his arms tighter around her thrashing body.
“Do what, baby? What won’t you let me do to you?”
He scraped the rough beard shadow decorating his chin against her tender cheek then pressed his lips against the sensitive spot below her ear.
“Is this what you won’t let me do, Darlin’?” Nipping at the tender skin, he reveled in her soft groan. “Or maybe it’s this that you don’t like!”
God, he wondered if she had any idea what that she did to him. How she drove him crazy with her churning cement mixer of emotions. Her vulnerability triggered every protective urge in his powerful body, making him determined to shelter her, protect her from her real and imagined demons. But at the moment it was her defiance that had him surging in excitement. Christ, if she only knew what that rebelliousness did to a dominant control freak like himself. How her resistance turned him on at the most visceral primal level. How her sweaty body struggling against him made his cock hard enough to break a board. It made him want to bend her to his will, to teach her the pleasure that would come if she let herself go. He didn’t want to frighten her—at leas
t not enough to turn her off. But he did want to show her the erotic heights she could climb if she gave into her passion, submitted to his powerful body, his well-honed expertise.
Christ, she was wound so tight, it was a miracle she didn’t snap. But even now he could feel Maya’s resistance easing somewhat. Her fists beating against his chest were less fierce and her threats less frantic. When she cried out a plaintive sound closer to a sob and leaned into him, he knew he had her where he wanted her.
Reveling in her surprised gasp, he lifted her up and stood her in front of him. She gazed up at him, confusion apparent in her lust darkened eyes. The rosy flush staining her cheeks betrayed her arousal. Biting nervously on her puffy bottom lip, she clung to his forearms to steady herself and stammered, “What… what’s wrong, Gray? Did I do something?”
Holding her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he forced her to meet his gaze. His voice was a low taunting rumble.
“You tell me, Princess.”
When she shook her head in confusion, he said, “Hmm, I believe I gave you a simple command. I’m not sure how I could have been more clear.”
Smiling at the startled expression streaking across her flushed face, he said, “It seems as though I’m going to have to work with you, teach you how to follow instructions. Ensure that you do as you are told.”
When she jerked back, a frown replacing her confusion, he tightened his grip and lowered his voice, adding an implied threat.
“Help me out, Princess. Is there something about ‘Take off your clothes’ that you don’t understand?”
Keeping his voice low, he frowned at her and stepped back, gratified to see that she was trembling, shaky. He wanted her aroused, confused. He wanted to see if she would obey him, although he wasn’t sure what he would do if she didn’t. Obviously he could strip her, tear off her clothes, and be done with the foreplay. Or, hell, he could wrap her in his arms and take her tenderly, the way she deserved to be taken. But something in his soul told him that this was a defining moment. He needed her to understand him as a lover. He wanted her to know what turned him on and the glorious things he could do to her body if she was willing to concede, swallow her fears and let him love her the way he was aching to. He stepped back, putting distance between him.