“No. You didn’t tell me.” He released his ironclad grip and pushed off her. The movement was abrupt and harsh. He adjusted the blanket over him. Heat radiated off his body and the air crackled between them. “Don’t you think it’s fucking strange that we haven’t had sex yet? Because I sure as hell do.”
She stared at the ceiling and clenched her hands into fists on her stomach. How she reacted was the key to him suspecting her or not. She spun onto her hipbone, pushed herself up to her elbow and snapped her eyebrows together.
“You know, it’s not my fault you got sick on the yacht, nor is it my fault you decided to stay out gambling all night. I don’t care, do what you want, but don’t complain that we haven’t had sex when you’re hardly around. And guess what else? I’m a woman, and I get my damn period. I didn’t time it, and I sure as hell can’t do anything about it.” The words flung out of her mouth rapid-fire. The planes of Carlos’s face hardened as she flopped back down, fisted the covers in her hand and yanked them as she turned her back to him.
Her insides quivered but she kept her muscles tense, fighting the shake that wanted to overtake her. Silence fell around them like a heavy cloak. Carlos didn’t move and the urge to turn to face him tugged at her.
He let out a deep, rumbling groan and the bed swayed beneath her as he moved. His hand curled around her shoulder and his hot breath blew over her ear.
“It’d better be gone in a few days.” He spoke carefully, his words carried the weight of a man who’d always gotten what he wanted—she would be no exception. His thumb bit into her shoulder and she dug her nails into her palm to prevent grabbing his hand and snapping his wrist.
“Have a good sleep,” he mumbled. His words drawled into a long, drowsy slur and a snore split through the air before he finished. Maddie exhaled a long, low breath. There was no way to tell if he’d even absorbed a single word she’d said. She probably could have agreed to have sex and stalled and he would have passed out.
She closed her eyes and pretended she was in bed with Nate. His warmth surrounding her and the soft timber of his breath on her neck. She drifted off with the memory of his mouth on hers.
* * * *
Maddie tucked her hair behind her ear and bounced on her toes as she rapped her knuckles against Nate’s stateroom door. Once Carlos had passed out last night, he hadn’t woken up until his alarm this morning. She, however, had jumped every time he moved, fearful he would come on to her again. Thank god he hadn’t. Footsteps sounded inside, paused, and the lock snapped open.
“What the hell are you doing?” he breathed. His fingers snaked around her elbow and he towed her into his suite. She planted her palms on the smooth cotton of his T-shirt, his muscle bunched beneath her skin as he closed and locked the door. “I didn’t know you were coming,” he chastised. But his hands landed on her hips, almost as if they had a mind of their own.
“Carlos is gone, he and Hector left for the excursion. I didn’t want to waste time texting.” Not when she could be in his arms instead. His lips curved into a grin and he pulled her closer. He sucked her bottom lip into his, his teeth bit gently and she moaned.
He pulled away and took her hand. “As much as I want to continue with that thought, we need to take this opportunity to go through Carlos’s computer.”
She curled her fingers into the heat of his palm, and he slipped his shoes on and grabbed the key card from the entryway table. He stopped, his gaze landed on her bare legs and the short hem of her fitted blue summer dress. His fingers grazed the top of her thigh and slid in between them.
“Mmm. I like this.” He bent and pressed a kiss to her shoulder, his hot, wet tongue flicked over her bare skin and goosebumps erupted over her body. She fisted her hands into the front of his shirt and lifted to her toes. Her nipples tingled and tightened, aching for his attention. Nate straightened and slapped his palm to her ass. “Let’s go.”
Disappointment coursed through her, but she followed Nate into the hall. He took the key card from her and swung the door open, propelling her in after him. He shut the door, and secured the chain and lock.
“How’d you manage to stay behind today?” He slipped off his shoes and she quickly stepped out of hers and led him to the office where Carlos kept his computer. Housekeeping had visited while they were at breakfast, so every surface gleamed and the scent of lemongrass hung in the air. She’d left the windows open and the warm ocean breeze floated about the massive space.
“I told him I had been up half the night with cramps. I was surprised he was still willing to go snorkeling, but I guess Hector made him get out.”
She swung the office door open, Nate made his way to the desk, and slid in the chair in front of Carlos’s computer.
“Did he say anything else about Tony?”
She nodded as her hand steadied the door, keeping it ajar so they would hear if someone came in. Not that it would help much. They’d be screwed if Carlos came back early, though they were scheduled to be gone until dinner.
“Don’t worry. Dylan and Ashley are snorkeling on the same tour as Carlos and Hector.”
She tangled her fingers together in front of her waist, slowly crossed the room, and stopped at the desk. All she’d wanted since last night was more of Nate.
“He asked me if I had seen Tony when I stepped out to take Ethan’s call.” She rested her hip against the desk and Nate brought the computer to life. “I made it obvious I was offended and hurt by the accusation, and he apologized and admitted Hector had given him the idea. I think he’s going to be a problem.” The cool, slickly polished surface reminded her of the dining room table in Nate’s suite. Desire pooled in the pit of her stomach and warmth spread to the insides of her thighs. God, she wanted him.
He didn’t take his attention away from the screen. “He’s a hell of a lot sharper than Tony. He confronted me in the hall last night and asked me if I’d seen Tony when I left dinner, the observant bastard. I think I sidelined him for now, but we need to be really careful.” His eyes lifted to hers and his lips twitched. “We can push through a few more days.”
He was so damn sexy. He’d gotten a lot of sun since they’d boarded the ship a few days ago, but Nate had always been tanned. She studied the thick column of his throat and dragged her gaze down to the strained seam of his shirt around his biceps.
C’mon, Maddie. Back to business.
“Have you been in contact with Davis?”
Nate dragged his gaze from the screen. “Yeah, I called him last night. He was hoping we’d have some intel by now. I told him we’d get into Carlos’s computers today and hopefully have some leads.” He nodded his head at the screen. “Any idea what his password is?” Nate pounded on the keyboard and a soft beep sounded from the device “Shit. Well it’s not that.”
Maddie tucked the corner of her mouth in. She’d been trying to watch his keystrokes for weeks now, and hadn’t had much luck. “I know it starts with a V. V-I-E something. It must be Spanish.”
Nate’s lips compressed. “Hmm. Well that could be tricky.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Was it a long word or short?”
“Definitely short. Maybe five or six letters.”
He moved his thumb over the screen of his phone, no doubt searching Spanish words. She lifted herself and sat on the desk, her knee scant inches from Nate’s fingers. Her mind drifted to the many Spanish words she’d overheard Carlos speak, but nothing came into focus.
“Could it be a place?” Nate mused, as he rested his back in the chair. His gaze drifted down her body and landed on her slightly parted knees. Her pulse kicked up and sent a steady vibration through her nerve endings. His eyes focused on the hem of her dress and her mouth went dry. She’d deliberately forgotten to wear panties. She swung her foot gently in the air, and her bare ankle brushed against his knee.
Her spine straightened. “He always talks about Old San Juan
. Maybe it’s a street or something?”
Nate tore his eyes from her legs and typed on his phone. His mouth twisted into a smile. “Smart and beautiful. Old San Juan is also known as Viejo.”
“That’s it,” she cried. She bounced on the desk and shook Nate’s wrist. He chuckled and adjusted his fingers over the keyboard. “I’ve overheard him on the phone a few times and he’s used that word. Kind of strikes me as strange, being it’s also his password.”
Nate shrugged. “Some people have trouble remembering their passwords so they pick a common word.”
“Or something they know they won’t forget,” she said, pinching her chin between her thumb and forefinger.
Nate lifted his brows at her. “What are you getting at?”
“It’s just strange. The last time I heard him say ‘Viejo’ is when I overheard him talking to Hector about needing new bouncers for the club. I assumed he meant the one in Miami, but he also mentioned Diego would take care of it.”
“So?”
“So there’s no one named Diego at the club in Miami.”
Nate sat back in his chair and drummed his fingers on the desk. “If that’s right, then he could be operating a business from San Juan that we have no record of.” He shook his head. “We’ll have to do some more digging. In the meantime, let’s see if it works.” His fingers glided over the keys. His shoulders relaxed and his eyes met hers. “Well, I’ll be damned. That was pretty easy.”
Yes. Now maybe they could focus on sex and worry about the investigating after she got her fill. She smiled and stretched her foot closest to him to his opposite leg, parting her knees. His body stiffened and a dark stain crept across his cheekbones. He pushed up from the chair and moved his hips between her legs. Her arms looped around his neck and his hands dropped to the outside of her thighs.
“God, I was hoping to get some of this done first, but there’s no way in hell I’m going to be able to focus with you sitting here.”
She trailed her hands down the wide breadth of chest and stopped at the snap of his jeans. “We can make it quick,” she whispered, her voice husky as she arched her back and caught his lip in her teeth.
He groaned and melted into her. His hands coasted over her hips and his fingers inched her dress up. “Baby, there’s no way I can be quick with what I want to do to you.” His voice was gruff and thick with need. His tongue parted her teeth and his warmth filled her. Her toes curled on the sides of his thighs.
She stiffened. “Uh, Nate, can anyone hear us right now?”
His fingertips dug into her skin and his movements stopped. “Sonofabitch.”
Maddie turned as he left her side. He bent under the desk, and plucked a small audio bug from beneath the table.
He strode out of the room and returned a minute later.
“That’s the last of the bugs?”
“Yeah. I put them back in the case outside the room. They won’t be able to pick anything up from there, and besides, no one is around to listen. Those bugs are routed to Dylan’s room, so they wouldn’t pick up where they are snorkeling. Remind me to put it back before we leave.” He went back to his position before he’d left, spreading her wide for him. And just like that, she was pulsing with need.
A thrill raced through her and she tugged on his pants until the button freed. He took her hands and planted them firmly on the desk at her sides. He pulled away and pressed his forehead to hers, his breath came out in sharp pants. His fingers slid between her thighs and grazed over her bare flesh. His eyes locked with hers and his breath sucked in.
“Jesus Christ,” he breathed.
She smiled and grabbed his wrist, preventing him from breaking contact, but his roaming fingers did anything but stray. “I wanted to surprise you.”
A deep guttural moan sounded from his throat as he pressed a finger into her. “Mmm. You’re so wet,” he hissed. Her breath lodged in her throat and her hips bucked forward, demanding more.
“Only for you,” she said on a wave of pleasure as his this thumb brushed against her clit. He dragged his finger out and slowly slid back inside her, bringing her to another cusp of intense pleasure. Wetness swarmed between her legs and she clung to the hard wall of his waist for support.
His mouth came down on hers and his other hand threaded into the hair at the back of her head, sending tingles down her spine. Her mouth opened on another gasp of pleasure and his tongue mingled with hers. Her insides tightened around him as he moved, in a slow steady rhythm that had her senses ready to combust. She cupped the back of his neck with her free hand, needing every inch of him inside her. He shifted his hand, and a second finger slid into her, joining his other.
She let out a deep moan and her body vibrated at the invasion. A cry tore through her throat and she dug her nails into his forearm as her orgasm sucked her off the cliff of sanity. She throbbed around him and her legs convulsed as she came back down to earth, her body limp and spent.
Nate chuckled, his laugh deep and throaty as his thumb coasted over her clit again, sending an intense ripple through her loins. “I could watch you come all day.”
“Nate, please.” She squirmed and laughed until he broke their contact, but she didn’t let go of his hand. “It’s your turn now.”
“I thought you’d never say so.” He grabbed her hips and pulled her off the desk. Her toes sunk into the thick carpet beneath the table and she frowned.
“But—”
“Like this, babe.” His voice dropped an octave as he turned her around and bent her over the desk. Heat spread through her and a rush of anticipation curled in her stomach. He wriggled her dress up, exposing her bare ass.
She sucked her breath in. “What are you…oh.”
His hands spread over her cheeks, kneading the round flesh her rigid squat routine had earned. He laughed, and then his breath tickled the small of her back. She tensed.
His teeth nipped into her cheek and a new wave of wetness warmed her center. “Nate…” Her voice broke as the heat of his wet tongue replaced his teeth. Embarrassment tingled her cheeks and she dropped her head to her forearms.
“Oh, hell yeah.” Nate’s voice was hoarse as his hands settled on her hips and his breath left her skin. His thumbs went to the crease of her cheeks, separating them.
The head of his dick probed her entrance, spreading her wetness. He inched his way inside her, and her body fought to stretch around his thick shaft.
“Oh, my God,” she breathed through gritted teeth. His fingers flexed on her hips as he filled her to capacity, his member throbbed inside her as he moved slowly in and out. Pleasure spread through her and she arched her back, pressing him harder against her clit. Nate let out a deep, carnal cry and his palm splayed on the small of her back, holding her in place.
“Jesus, you feel so good.”
Her body warmed on another thrust and the collapsible wall of her orgasm built higher. She pressed her hips back against him. “More, Nate,” she said on a pant.
He grunted his agreement and rested his abdomen to her back. He shifted his hips so he was even deeper and rocked into her. His arm slid in front of her, his fingers lacing with hers. She gripped his hand and arched her back more, welcoming him further.
“Oh yes, like that,” she cried as he pumped into her. A scream lodged in her throat as her second orgasm ebbed through her, blocking out her vision and sending a shockwave over every inch of her. “Nate!” she cried and clung to his hand for dear life as she fell off the cliff into oblivion, a kaleidoscope of colors flashing through her mind.
Nate let out a harsh breath against her shoulder as he jerked inside her, his body going rigid and then falling limp onto her.
“Oh. My. God.” She dropped her head to the cool wood of the desk, her breath came out in fast puffs against the wood. His stubble tickled over her shoulder blade as he pressed kisses up to the crook of he
r neck.
“You are amazing,” he said into her ear as he nuzzled her.
She giggled and wiggled against him. “Can we do that again?”
His laugh rumbled against her spine and he nibbled her earlobe. “You bet your sweet ass we can.”
Maddie laughed and let him help her to her feet. If she had anything to say about it, they’d be doing it more than once.
Chapter 15
His phone vibrated on the table. Carlos glanced at the screen and irritation rippled through him. He didn’t have the fucking patience for Hector right now. All he wanted was to get balls deep in the redhead across the room. Her tits spilled out the top of her tiny black dress, her hair tumbled over one shoulder.
She was sexy as hell but lacking what Maddie had… class, grace, and jaw dropping beauty. But, Maddie couldn’t fill his needs, so he’d go somewhere else. She was stupid if she thought he wouldn’t move on. But damn, he still wanted her. Maddie was the first person since Barbara that had made him think about permanence. He lifted his whiskey on the rocks to his lips and drank. One darkly arched eyebrow lifted on the redhead. She jerked her head toward the door and got up from her chair.
And his phone vibrated again.
Hector.
The incompetent fuck. He’d been as lost as a puppy since Tony had gone missing, lapping at his heels every goddamn minute. He held a finger to the woman, and answered his phone.
“This better be good,” he growled. He kept his voice low and menacing, but Hector didn’t balk.
“Oh, it’s good all right. Can you come to my room? I have something to show you.”
Carlos’s eyes rolled to the ceiling and back to his nearly empty drink. “Christ, what is it with you? Tell me over the phone. You don’t want me to have to walk up to your room right now, believe me.” His tone cut through the air around him; a man next to him twisted his face and then went back to his drink.
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