Her Body of Work

by Marie Donovan

  “Your poor mother.” Rey bit her lip, remembering how scared she had been at first when Stefan had threatened her in the Art Institute. “All alone on the ocean with no one to come to her rescue.”

  “No one but me, a skinny twelve-year-old. I staggered to my feet. He was kissing and groping my mother while my brother whimpered. I bashed him in the head with an oar. We tied him up with duct tape we’d used for patching the raft.” His hands made fists on his thighs.

  She grabbed his left hand. He turned to look at her, his eyes dark with old memories. “You saved her, Marco.”

  “No. She saved us, my brother and me. She was willing to do anything to keep us alive. And now I repay her by getting twisted up in El Lobo’s sick machinations.” He managed a dry laugh. “If he doesn’t get me, my mother will. I can just hear her now. ‘I didn’t take you out of Cuba for you to go back there and get into trouble.’”

  “Your mother supported your father when he confronted evil, and she’ll support you, too.”

  Marco stared straight ahead, lost in his memories. “That man is pure evil. I saw it in his eyes when I was just a child and saw it again years later. He regained consciousness right before the Coast Guard found us. The hate shining from his yellow eyes was chilling. He was deported to Cuba, years later emerging as the head of a Caribbean drug-smuggling ring. He’s got connections to the Colombian cartels. His real name is Juan Carlos Rodríguez, and he’s the man I have to testify against.”

  Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, my God. How did he even learn about your investigation?”

  He shook his head. “Over a year’s work, thirteen months living with those animales, thinking like them…one day it all fell apart. We had all the evidence we needed, but we got greedy and wanted a little more just to make sure Rodríguez would never see the light of day again.

  “Except my cover got blown. He’d paid enough drugs or money to someone at DEA to find out who I really was. And with his money, with his connections, it didn’t take long before he found my mother and my brother.”

  He clutched her hand, his words coming out painfully. “Reina, what have I done? To fight crime I became like a criminal. For what? Vengeance? When my family discovers what I did, I will lose their trust. Just like I have lost yours.”

  “And this whole story is true.” It was a statement more than a question. “Hiding at the salsa club, you carrying this gun. You really are a federal agent.”

  “I swear on the soul of my father.” He clasped her hand to his heart.

  As soon as he said that, a weight lifted off her. “Since we’re revealing our deepest secrets, I guess I’ll have to reciprocate.”

  He watched her warily, his fingers tight around hers.

  She took a deep breath. “Even before you told me the truth I fell in love with you.” She’d never told any man that before, not even in her infatuated youth.

  “Do you—” He stopped to clear his throat. “Do you still feel the same way?” His gaze was molten gold, burning her until heat pooled between her thighs.

  “Of course.” She slipped her hand inside the deep V of his robe, his heart pounding under her fingertips.

  “Oh, thank God.” He swept her into his arms, murmuring long, sexy streams of Spanish as he feathered kisses on her closed eyelids, cheeks and jaw. She relaxed into his embrace, kissing him eagerly before shoving him away.

  “Whatever you told me sounded very pretty, but I didn’t understand a word. If you have something you want me to know, tell me in English.” Her stomach clenched in nervous anticipation.

  “I was speaking Spanish?” He laughed. “I always do when I’m excited.”

  “So?” she demanded.

  “What I was saying is that I’ll love you forever and never want to be without you.” He lifted her off his lap and went down on one knee in front of her. Rey covered her gasp with her fist.

  His face was serious as he took her hand. “Until I take the witness stand, I’m not free to ask you for anything, Reina.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If something happens to me, I don’t want to leave you behind to grieve.”

  “You stupid man.” She shoved him with her free hand, toppling him onto his ass.

  “If you want me naked, all you have to do is ask,” he joked, adjusting his robe where it had flown open, revealing his thighs and crotch.

  “Do you think I wouldn’t grieve for you, cry for you, miss you forever just because you won’t ask me for a commitment?” She was gulping in deep breaths, trying to keep from screaming her pain and frustration.

  He sat next to her on the chaise. “Not just a commitment. Marriage.”

  “Marriage?” She gaped at him. The M-word hadn’t even crept across her subconscious, but now it was the perfect idea. “But you can’t ask me now?” She was dying to say yes.

  “Reina, please.” He placed his hand over hers. “A man does not make commitments and put himself into danger.”

  “Like your father?”

  He sighed and twined his fingers between hers. “Yes. He did the right thing but at a terrible cost to all of us. I won’t do that to you.”

  She smoothed her palm over his tight jaw, the tiny black hairs tickling her. “I understand. I’m willing to wait as long as I know what’s in your heart.” She feathered kisses across his cheek.

  He captured her mouth with his and pulled her onto the soft pillows. He opened the silken lapels of her robe so his hands covered her breasts.

  She was just as eager, shoving his robe off his shoulders. He tossed the heavy terry cloth away, diving onto her.

  “I promise, I’ll return to you.” He nudged her knees apart and rubbed his hair-roughened thigh against the swollen folds of her sex, his penis fitting into the groove where her leg met her hip.

  “I want you inside me.” She twisted against him, wanting more, wanting him to fill her.

  “I can’t,” he rasped, a bead of sweat trailing down his temple. “I used the last condom in the box.”

  She drew in a shaky breath. “Without one.”

  His pupils dilated until only a narrow amber rim showed. “I shouldn’t, but…” He moaned as she cupped his penis and rubbed the bare head against her clit, the silver bead at the tip mingling with her own juices. She grew bolder and shifted her hips so his hot, pulsing flesh teased at the entrance to her wet passage. “Oh, God, that’s so good.” He jerked against her, almost slipping inside.

  She’d never even considered making love without protection before, but she trusted Marco. “I’m healthy and on the Pill.”

  “I had a full physical and blood tests before I went into protective custody. Everything came back clean.”

  “Do it. Give me your bare cock inside me.”

  He succumbed to her enticement and slid into her with a gasp. He was scorching hot inside her. The thick ridge around the head of his penis rubbed every inch of her as he moved in and withdrew slowly. The satiny skin of his shaft stretched her until she spasmed around him, a mini orgasm that only gave her a tiny taste of what he would do to her.

  Marco gritted his teeth. “You feel so good, I can hardly stand it.” Her wet, hot vagina clenched around him. Making love with his beautiful Reina was always incredible, but this was phenomenal.

  He rocked against her as she clutched his shoulders and wrapped her long, strong legs around his waist, pulling him deeper until his cock was buried to the hilt.

  The pink robe framed her breasts like a work of art, the color matching her tight nipples. He sucked on one perfect peak as it elongated and swelled under his tongue. He ran his tongue around the rim of her areola, almost coming at the memory of her licking her own nipples.

  Since he wasn’t ready to give up the mind-blowing pleasure of his bare flesh inside hers, he released her breast, admiring how rosy-red and engorged the tip had turned. Rey made little mewling sounds, tossing her golden hair and caressing his butt. He bent to the other breast, giving it the same loving attention
until she surprised him.

  He threw his head back as her cool fingers stroked and squeezed his balls.

  “More,” she whispered huskily. “Move inside me.” He obliged and reached between them, flicking her clit until she moaned. He increased the pace of his thrusts, her tight, wet sheath squeezing his penis from head to base.

  He knew he couldn’t last much longer, was surprised he’d lasted as long as he had. All the while she cupped his balls, rubbing the rough flesh behind them as she matched his rhythm, grinding her hips into his.

  She stiffened against him, her heels digging into his calves. “Oh, Marco, I’m coming.” Her words trailed off in a gasp as her inner muscles tightened on him, an erotic flush creeping up her breasts. Her fingers tightened almost painfully on his sac as she came, sending him over the edge with her. He slammed into her, his hot seed bursting free for the first time in his life to mingle with her own juices and lubricate his frantic thrusts.

  He finally slowed to a stop but stayed inside her for long minutes, not ever wanting to leave.

  Rey lay in his embrace, his heart beating against hers. “That was amazing.”

  “I never knew it could be that way.” He rolled over and cradled her head on his shoulders. “Someday we’ll make love without any kind of protection.”

  “We just did.” She twirled his chest hair around her fingers, glad he hadn’t taken her silly suggestion to shave it off.

  “Without any protection,” he emphasized, “for me or for you.”

  “Oh.” She looked up into his loving gaze and he nodded.

  “I want to take you to Miami to meet my mother, play Cuban cabana boy on her pool furniture and ask you to marry me.”

  A tear spilled down her cheek. She wanted to hear the words so badly but knew he wouldn’t propose until he was sure the danger was over. Fear clenched her stomach. “But it’s not safe for you here. Those men might be able to find you.”

  “We gave them the slip at the club, thanks to Antonio. Everything’s okay for a little while longer.” He tried tickling her sides, but she smacked his hand away.

  “Don’t try to distract me!” She dashed away her tears with the back of her hand. “You need to leave Chicago right away. Put some distance between you and this man Rodríguez until you have to testify.”

  “I am leaving Chicago.” His expression was grim.

  “When?” A band of pain tightened in her chest. She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She knew it was safer for him, but it would kill her to see him go.

  He moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her, his warmth unable to dispel the chill that had settled into her bones. “As soon as I make arrangements for a car. I need something inconspicuous and untraceable.”

  Rey figured he meant a stolen car. Under normal circumstances she would have disapproved, but now she would hot-wire a car herself if it would make him safe. “Promise me you’ll tell me before you go.”

  His body tensed. She turned and gave him a hard stare. “Promise me you won’t leave without telling me.”

  “No.” He shook his head. “I’d be lying to you if I promised that, and I don’t want to lie to you anymore.”

  “Marco!” Her frustration bubbled over. “You just can’t leave me to wonder if you stepped out for a newspaper or if you had to go on the run again.”

  “Reina…” His arms tightened around her, almost squeezing the breath out of her. “It’s killing me to have to leave you.”

  She heaved a shuddering sigh, knowing he might be killed if he stayed. They sat together on the edge of her bed for several silent minutes, not wanting to let go of each other.

  He finally broke the quiet anguish surrounding them. “I’ll give you my friend’s cell phone number. If something happens, call him.”

  “All right.” She nodded, eager for any scrap of information.

  “If you do need to call him, try to use a pay phone. If you can’t get to one, block the caller ID before dialing his number. And when he answers, ask for Lalo.” He clasped her hand tight and stared intently at her. “You need to remember that so he knows I sent you. Lalo.”

  “His name is Lalo?” That name was unfamiliar. “Does he speak English?”

  Marco finally cracked a smile. “Somewhat. He’s a cowboy from Texas.”

  She laughed at his small joke more than it deserved, trying not to cry again.

  “Don’t worry, mi amor. Soon we’ll have a wonderful, happy home, maybe with a handsome little boy with black hair and blue eyes and a beautiful little girl with golden hair and golden eyes.” He stroked her hair and kissed her brow gently.

  Rey swallowed hard past the lump in her throat. She wanted that ideal life he described. But would facing that drug dealer cost him his own life?

  JUAN CARLOS RODRÍGUEZ sat smoking his cigar and looking at the blue waters of Biscayne Bay. His yacht lay at anchor nearby, ready for whenever her master cared to sail away. The luxury vessel was a far cry from the first boat he’d sailed to America. Losing his raft and his freedom twenty years ago had made him appreciate the fine things he owned now. Things that would be seized by the American government if he did not kill Flores.

  Gabriel knocked on his office door and entered without waiting for permission, an unusual breach. “What is it?” He set his cigar in the gold ashtray. “What is it?”

  His assistant’s narrow face was uncharacteristically flushed with excitement. “Señor, the García brothers have found Marco Flores in Chicago.”

  “Those two clowns found him? Not his brother?” If they sent him on a wild-goose chase, it would be the last thing they ever did.

  “They spotted Flores in a dance club. He and his date left in a cab, and we happened to have connections to the cab company. The driver was happy to tell us their destination.” Gabriel handed him the address and a map printed from the Internet.

  “How do you know it is Flores and not his brother?”

  “The brother has been auditioning for a Spanish soap opera in L.A. for the past three weeks. He got cast as the lead and the production company posted a press release as well as his photo on their Web site. There’s no way the brother was in Chicago at that dance club.” His assistant’s eager demeanor reminded him of a puppy that had just brought a stick to its master.

  “Muy bien, Gabriel.” Rodríguez allowed himself a rare smile of approval. “Make travel arrangements for me to fly to Chicago.”

  “Señor, if the court finds out you have left Florida…”

  Rodríguez cut him off with an impatient wave. “Do it!”

  “Sí, señor.” Gabriel nodded obediently and hurried out.

  Rodríguez pulled the information toward him, which included a photo of the blond woman who had been with Flores. He traced a finger over the lines of her beautiful face. “So, Señorita Freya Martinson, you enjoy Cuban men?” His smile widened. “Perhaps you and I can enjoy each other when I come to visit you.”

  18

  MARCO THREW MORE OF Francisco’s fancy modeling clothes into his bag. Good thing his brother was such a clotheshorse, since Marco hadn’t exactly wanted to hang out at the Laundromat. Confessing his true background to Rey three days ago had drawn them even closer together. They had spent the entire time since Saturday holed up in her loft, finishing her sketches and making love.

  Leaving her this morning, even for an hour as she fixed them breakfast, was terribly painful. How was he supposed to leave her tonight? But he’d pushed their luck far enough and his continued presence would only drag her further into danger.

  Marco also grabbed the red-and-black cardboard box that held his spare ammunition. He wasn’t sure if he’d be back to the apartment and he didn’t want to leave anything incriminating behind. Next to the box was another untraceable cell phone.

  Before he left Chicago, he needed to talk to Eddie. His friend had promised to poke around at the office and track down anything new.

  His call went through immediately. “Jones here.”
From the engine noise, Eddie was driving his big diesel pickup on one of South Florida’s freeways.

  “Lalo, it’s me.”

  “Goddamn, it’s good to hear from you. The shit’s hit the fan here.” His friend’s Texan accent thickened with emotion.

  “What the hell happened?” Marco stopped messing with sweaters and concentrated on his friend’s information.

  “They found one of our computer geeks in the swamp with his throat cut. What little blood he had left was full of cocaine, and his bank statements had some mysterious deposits starting right before your cover got blown. They’re going over his PC with a fine-tooth comb, but it’ll take a while to break the encryption.”

  Marco swore a long, foul stream of Spanish obscenities. “Damn it all, that prick got my informant killed and nearly got me and my family, too.”

  “Amigo, I hope you’re in a different city than the last time you called me.” Eddie’s voice was muffled as he shoved a cigarette into his mouth and clicked his lighter.

  “I will be tomorrow.” Marco wanted to curse his own break in professionalism, but a selfish part of him couldn’t regret falling in love with Rey.

  Eddie coughed. “Buddy, get your ass outta there! And try to change your look. You still have that mess of hair?”

  “It’s going right now.”

  “Good. Shit, I’m pulling into the office now. I was here until two last night and they called me in for a nine-o’clock meeting, probably about you.”

  “I am sorry, Lalo, for getting you involved.” He’d dragged yet another person into his mess. “I don’t want you in trouble with the bosses, too.”

  “Aw, hell with them. Call me later today if you can. I’ll try to get a fix on Rodríguez for you.” Eddie hung up.

  Marco ran his fingers through his hair and cursed as he found yet another tangle. He couldn’t untangle all the snarls in his life, but by God, his hair was one thing he could fix. He gathered his supplies.