They broke apart and he looked down at her with smiling eyes. Her heart leaped to her throat. She loved those eyes.
“Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”
Not yet, but he could. But did it matter? She was already a goner. “No, the tequila’s wearing off and my shoulder’s throbbing.”
Leaning her backward, he laid her on the bed. The corners of his mouth tipped up in a delicious grin. “Maybe I can help take your mind away from the pain.”
She swallowed hard. The pain he could inflict on her tender heart was much worse than the cuts and scrapes on her flesh. But as she stared deep into his kind eyes, the last strings of resistance fell away. Graham wanted to protect her, not hurt her. Raising her arms, she wrapped them around his neck. “Come on, tough guy, show me what you’ve got.”
A low growl rumbled from his chest as he lowered on top of her. Her heart picked up its pace as he lifted himself up on his elbows and stared down at her. His T-shirt hung away from his stomach, and she let her hands roam over his hard muscles before peeling his shirt over his head. Shifting to her side, he grabbed her hand and laced their fingers together. He placed their joined hands on her breast and her skin tightened. The pad of his thumb brushed over her hard nipple and she sucked in her breath. Even over her shirt, she was sensitive to his touch.
He twisted their hands so his was no longer pressed against her nipple. Instead, her breast rested in her own palm. “We need to get rid of this.” Releasing her hand, he tugged at the hem of the shirt and pulled it over her head.
His bare skin scorched her and he pulled her back down to him, resting her on her side. He tucked one arm under her while the other glided over the curve of her side. His hand slid over her knuckles, gently guiding it back to her breasts. “Do you like to be touched here?”
Her mouth became dry and she licked her cracked lips. His fingers manipulated hers as she rubbed and pinched the hard nub of her nipple. A moan hummed in her throat and she squirmed against the long length of his chiseled body. The hardness hidden beneath his rough jeans moved against her side and her mind raced with all the things she wanted to do to him.
Shifting her free hand behind her, she reached for him. A hiss sounded in her ear, and he grabbed her hand and brought it high above her head. “Not so fast. This is about distracting you. But if you’re ready to speed things up a little…”
He lifted her fingers and moved them to her breastbone and then led her hand down her stomach. The center of her stomach dipped in as her fingers moved lower, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. Graham’s hot breath caressed her neck, but not even his lips touched her body. “You might need to speed things up more than just a little.”
Husky laughter tickled her ear and her breath came out in short gasps. He dipped her fingertips past her skirt and into the soft material of her panties, pressing lower until her fingers invaded her own warmth. All thoughts fled her mind and nature took over, pushing her to take what was hers.
His hand released hers and he stroked her skin. Up her back, down her arms, over her breasts…as if he couldn’t figure out where he wanted to touch her. It only heightened the sensation building insider her. The arch of her back bowed and a firm reminder of Graham’s increasing desire snuck into her empty mind. She turned toward him and took his mouth in hers. He met her hungry kisses head on, and his tongue pushed deep into her mouth.
She pulled the hand above her head free, wiggled out of her skirt and panties, and wasted no time in yanking his clothes off, springing him loose. She wrapped her hand around the base of his shaft, and his muscles tightened against her. He reached out and stopped her, gazing deep into her eyes.
Doubt nagged at her. “What’s wrong?”
The light from above shone down, illuminating his face. Creases at the corner of his eyes showed his concern, and he reached out and cupped her chin, lifting it toward him. “I don’t want to take this too far if you’re not ready. I wanted to distract you, not trick you into sleeping with me.”
Her heart swelled to the point of bursting as she stared back at him. He was a good man, a man who cared about her. A man she wanted more than anything right now, and dammit she would have him. She shifted onto all fours, her legs straddling him, her hands brushing against his elbows. Her eyes never wavered from his when she said, “Trust me, I’m more than ready for this. Now tell me where you keep your condoms.”
Lust sparked in his eyes, darkening them to slate. He nodded toward his pants on the floor. “In my wallet in the back pocket of my jeans.”
She stretched to the side and grabbed a condom. Sitting back on her heels, she unwrapped the package and delicately slid it on. Graham groaned and his head dropped back on the bed. Mickey crawled back on all fours, leaned forward, and sucked his bottom lip. His mouth lurched up and he bit down with his top teeth.
Giggling, she pulled back. She traced her fingertips along his chest before she positioned herself above him, just to lower herself onto him. He filled her, stretching her until she’d taken in every inch. She rolled her hips and his fingers dug into the side of her thighs.
“My God, Mickey.”
He closed his eyes as she rocked back and forth, up and down, riding the waves of pleasure whichever way they took her. Pressure built at her core and heat consumed her. She flipped back her head, letting her hair fall down her back. Graham’s fingers dug deeper into her hips as she pushed him further and further until the heat caught on fire and she yelled his name during her release.
A primitive grunt roared from Graham and he pulled her mouth to his. Her hips rocked forward and his hands moved around to her ass. He ground her into him again and again until his body went lax from his own climax and he fought to catch his breath. She fell onto him, her chest raising and falling with each desperate attempt to take in air.
Graham’s fingers snaked into her tangled tresses. She rolled to his side and propped her head on her fist. Her lips curved into a small smile. “Well, that was a hell of a distraction.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Good. Did I hurt you?”
“Trust me, you did everything exactly right.” Snuggling in closer, she closed her eyes. No nightmares invaded her thoughts as she drifted off to sleep. Instead, images of Graham and his smiling eyes stayed in her mind and in her heart.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Anxiety dipped low in his stomach like a sinking ship as he studied Mickey’s face. Her freshly washed hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, and the pale green tank top showed off her battle scars. He didn’t want her to fly home by herself, but he didn’t have much of a choice.
She’d been through hell last night, but she wasn’t going to crumble to pieces and demand his protection. Instead, she insisted he give his full attention to talking to Pete and finding Becca.
His rental car idled on the curb near the arrivals at the Cancun International Airport. Cars crawled by his window, searching for their own spots to drop off friends and loved ones. The hard leather of the steering wheel bit into his hands. Every ounce of his being screamed at him to pull her close to him and refuse to let go until she agreed to stay. Instead, he kept his hands at ten and two and focused on the way the leather chafed against his skin.
“Any idea what time you’ll take off?” A car honked behind him, and he peered out the window, waving the impatient bastard along.
“No. My boss understood why I needed to take a few days off, but she couldn’t get me on a direct flight home. A few flights go to Chicago today, so hopefully I can weasel my way onto one of them.”
“And if you can’t?”
Mickey shrugged. “Then I’ll be here waiting for you.”
“You should be here with me anyway. Wait a little while and I’ll book us a flight home together. You might not even be able to get home on standby.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m sure I’ll be on a flight in no time.” She reached out and squeezed his forearm. Her touch warmed his skin despite the frigid air blastin
g from the vents and his muscles relaxed. “I’ll be waiting for you when you get home.”
The heat from her touch spread from his arm until it filled his whole body. The idea of her waiting for him was more appealing than he expected. “I like the sound of that.”
Her full lips curved up and his heart constricted in his chest. “Me too.”
His hands dropped from the steering wheel and reached out to frame her face. He rubbed the pad of his thumb over the mole above her lip and she grimaced. She was so damn cute. “I gotta go meet Eric. We need to talk about our next move. Did you program my number in the phone you picked up?”
“Yes. I’ll text you when I know my flight time, and you keep me posted as well.”
He pulled her to him and crushed his mouth on hers. He needed one more taste before he let her go, even though it would never be enough. A rush of emotion flooded his chest, warming him to his toes. He broke away, his forehead pressed to hers, and inhaled the smell of strawberries and citrus. “I’ll let you know as soon I can.”
Mickey sighed and her warm breath skimmed over his face. She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek and then turned to open the door. The hot morning air swept into the car and pushed back the cold air he preferred.
Leaving the car idling, he stepped outside. His dark aviator sunglasses blocked out the glare of the sun, but couldn’t hide the brilliant blue of the sky. The salty ocean air swirled around the slight breeze, settling on his skin. Palm trees swayed along the wide sidewalk winding into the airport. He walked around to the back of the car, popped open the trunk, and grabbed Mickey’s carry-on bag. The wheels squeaked over small pebbles as he rolled it to where she stood on the sidewalk.
“Thanks,” she said and reached for the handle.
He pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms around her. “Have a nice flight,” he said, his mouth pressed into a mass of hair above her ear.
“I will.” She pulled away, offering him one last smile, before she turned and walked toward the entrance.
He stood watching after her like a puppy waiting for its master. When she stepped through the threshold and the doors shut behind her, all the air left his lungs. Damn, he had it bad. His phone vibrated against his thigh and he fished it from his pocket.
Dude, where are you? You were supposed to meet me ten minutes ago.
Shit. Between sex with Mickey this morning and getting her to the airport, he’d lost track of time. His thumbs moved over the keyboard with a reply.
Sorry. Leaving the airport now. Be there in five.
Somehow Eric had managed to have Pete sent to a prison in Cancun instead of Playa Del Carmen. Graham didn’t ask questions, just took the small luxury of having a partner with connections inside Mexican jails.
He put his phone in his pocket, climbed back into the car, and took off for the coffee shop where he’d agreed to meet Eric. The small shop had parking in the back and he found a spot easily. Heat pounded down on him and sweat gathered at his temples as he stepped into the hole-in-the-wall coffee shop. The cool air was thick with the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Taking a deep breath, he let the coolness chase the god-awful heat from his skin. He glanced around the room and quickly spotted Eric at a table for two in the back corner. Caffeine called to him, but Eric’s pinched face and rigid body had him walking straight to the table.
“Hey, man, what’s going on?” he asked as he pulled out a chair and sat down. “Did you get Pete to talk last night? Any word on how long it will take to extradite him?”
Eric ran a hand over the day-old scuff on his chin and sighed. “He’s closed up tight. He knows he’s going to jail regardless of what he says. I couldn’t crack him.”
He hadn’t expected anything different. He’d take a stab at him. No way he was leaving without sitting down with the bastard. Maybe he’d have better luck. Graham leaned back in his chair and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll head straight there once we’re done. Maybe I can pry some information out of him.”
Eric set his coffee on the table, circling the cup with his hands. “Good luck. He knows he’s screwed so there’s no need to cooperate.” Hesitation had him dropping his gaze and fidgeting with his cup. “I don’t know if we’ll find those girls if he doesn’t talk. And you won’t have much time to talk to him. I had to grease a few palms to get us access.”
“Maybe I can slip the guards a little extra today to turn their heads. I’d love to get my hands on that piece of shit.” An image of Mickey bruised and bloody popped in his mind and his blood thundered in his ears.
Eric snorted. “I wouldn’t blame you for trying. Did you get a hold of Harper last night?”
“No, I was connected to Mary when I tried to reach him. She said he’ll be gone for a few days, but couldn’t give me any details. Have you ever known Harper to disappear?”
All humor left Eric’s face and his mouth dropped into a frown. “No, never. Where do you think he went? Vacation?”
Graham shook his head. “He would have given us a heads up. This is different. I can feel it in my gut. Harper’s been weird about this case, and it’s damn coincidental he drops off the map as soon as we catch a break. I don’t buy it. He’s hiding something.”
Eric furrowed his brow and his eyes flitted around the room, as if searching for the answer. “I don’t know, man. But I agree, it can’t be a coincidence. I booked a flight home, so I’ll do some digging once I get in. I’m going to head straight to the airport from here. All the paperwork to get Pete back to Chicago can be done at home.”
“Let me know if you hear anything, but I shouldn’t be far behind you. After I talk to Pete, I’ll be able to jump on a plane home.”
“You’re not planning on talking to Paula?”
Graham shook his head. “Nah. There’s no point anymore. We’ve found Pete.” Not like he’d needed to anyway. Mickey had already told him everything Paula had said. But he didn’t want Eric knowing about Mickey’s involvement. She’d overstepped a few times, and leaving her name out of things was for the best.
“Makes sense.” Eric grabbed his to-go cup of coffee and stood from the table, extending his hand. “Good luck. See you soon.”
Graham stood and shook his hand. He hoped like hell his interview with Pete went fast, and he got the information he needed to find Becca and the other girls. Without Pete’s cooperation, he’d be screwed.
…
Gravel crunched beneath his tires as he pulled into the parking lot outside of the jail Pete had been transferred to. Peering over his steering wheel, he gazed up at the large white walls jutting out in four different directions. A watchtower stood tall in the center. Two armed guards looked out the square windows, their assault rifles ready for action.
Graham stepped out of the car and checked to make sure his Glock was in the back of his waistband. Chances were the guards would make him take it off, but he’d at least try to get it inside. He’d only been inside a Mexican jail a handful of times, and it wasn’t a place he wanted to be left unarmed. Shouts of undistinguishable Spanish penetrated the walls. He locked his jaw, kept his head high, and his mind alert as he walked into the jail.
The smell hit him first, and he struggled not to cover his nose with his hand. Sweat, urine, and feces mingled together in the stifling heat, making bile burn his stomach. He held his breath and walked up to the office Eric had told him to find. He knocked on the closed door, and was greeted by an overweight Mexican guard with an assault rifle dangling at his side.
“Que deseas?”
Graham searched his mind for the limited Spanish he knew, but came up blank. “Hola, yo soy Graham Grassi. Yo necesito ver Pete Bogart.”
A deep laugh rumbled up from the guard’s belly and out of his mouth. He turned and sat down on his chair, leaning back and crossing his ankles on top of his desk. The chair squeaked under his weight, and Graham feared the chair would fall backward.
“I met your friend last night. He said you’d be around, and you’d have something
for me.” The guard’s thick accent made the words come out slow and broken.
Graham nodded and pulled a wad of bills from his front pocket. “This should cover it.” He extended his hand, the bills hidden in his palm.
The guard leaned forward and grabbed the money. Shifting through the bills, he nodded his head and a large, crooked grin showed off brown stained teeth. “This will do nicely. I will take you to a room where the prisoner will be brought in. You’ll be alone, with one guard outside the door. You’ll have twenty minutes.”
“What if I need more time?”
“Too bad for you,” the guard said with a laugh as he stood. “Follow me.”
Graham followed the man out of the office and down a long corridor. Cells filled either side of the hall, and men shoved their hands through the bars and yelled as they walked by. Graham ignored them, his attention focused solely on Pete. Twenty minutes wasn’t much time, but he’d have to make it work.
A young man with dark skin and dressed in military style fatigues stood outside of a white steel door. Dark stains…blood?… ran down the door and dents made it bow in several spots. One small window looked into the room. The man’s lips were set in a grim line and he fixed his eyes straight ahead.
The head guard spoke to him in Spanish, and the young man gave one nod.
“Okay, he’s already in there. If you need help, Hector will be right outside the door. Remember, veinte minutos.”
Graham reached out and opened the door. The room was small and the stifling air inside had to be close to a hundred degrees. Beads of sweat coursed down his face and gathered on his back. A rectangular table sat in the middle of the room and the only light hung down from the ceiling over the center. One empty chair sat pushed into one side of the table, and Pete Bogart sat on the other side.
Bound by Danger Page 18