Aubrey tilted her head. What? How was that seductive?
“You get me,” he explained. “We’d be able to talk until the sun rose—if we weren’t busy doing other things. Do you have any idea how rare it is that I meet a woman who’d understand what I did at work in a day and who’d realize that I’d rather spend a night playing Starcraft II than go clubbing?”
“I’m nearly through with the latest expansion pack in campaign mode.”
“We could play together.”
“You mean on the same side or against each other?”
His eyes narrowed. “Do I sound like a competitive ass if I choose against each other?”
“No, just like a man about to be handed his ass.”
Seth laughed. He closed the remaining distance between them. His hand reached out and his fingers traced the strap of her dress, brushing her skin. He left a trail of fire behind. “Your skin is so soft. You have beautiful shoulders.”
Her breath shivered out. “You won’t do it—what I want—I mean, what my company wants.”
“What if I will?”
“You won’t.”
“I think you’re underestimating your appeal.”
She stepped back—right into the wall.
He put his hands on either side of her head and leaned in.
“This feels like another game… one where I lose no matter what you decide,” Aubrey said.
“Spending this weekend with me would be a loss?”
She shook her head. “No, but the moment I tell you, you’ll walk away and I’ll feel as foolish as I did earlier.”
His gaze feathered across her face, ending on her mouth. “You’d have no reason to feel foolish if you gave it your best shot. It’s like a business proposal. If I trust you by Sunday night, then I’ll go along with what you’re offering.” He nodded at the suitcase. “Don’t run. Stay and play.” His lips brushed hers in a soft kiss. “With me.” His gaze devoured her, making her skin tingle and heat up. He wanted her. Her! When he looked at her like that, she felt different—alive. She felt like she could maybe seduce him into going along with the FBI’s plan. She could convince him to risk his freedom. It was crazy.
“I’ve never seduced anyone before.”
“I’ve never had someone try. We’re both noobs.”
“How can I be sure that you’re not just doing this to get me into bed and you have no intention of accepting?”
“By the end of this conference, either I’ll go along with whatever plot your company has in mind for me or I’ll give you my Serenity scale model signed by Joss Whedon.”
Her eyes widened.
“It’s 1:250 scale, and has cutaway parts. You can open up the hull and put Mal in the cockpit. Well, stand him on top of it. He won’t fit and he’ll look like a giant but I think he’d enjoy that.” He reached down and grabbed one of her hands and lifted it to his mouth for a kiss. “Also, to show you I’m completely serious. I won’t have sex with you here in Vegas. You’ll have to wine and dine me back in the Bay Area.”
Why was she suddenly feeling like she was the one being seduced? “When you go back to your room, you’ll be able to find out who I’m employed by in seconds. Are you going to pretend you don’t know?”
He raised his eyebrows and twined their fingers together. “It will be a temptation. One I might not be able to resist.” He didn’t move back. “Maybe you shouldn’t leave me alone.”
She smiled. “You can’t be trusted?”
“Not on this. I’m too curious about you. If you’re not satisfying my… curiosity, who knows what trouble I’ll get into. And if you really work for a government agency, I might get more than my hand slapped for digging into your employment.”
She gulped a breath. “So, one weekend…”
“Two days really.”
“Two days and I get either your agreement on my, uhh, employer’s thing or Serenity?” The Firefly model would look fantastic on her desk or at home in her room. Definitely in her room. No one at work would really appreciate it anyway. She could gather the crew all around it.
“Yes. Every browncoat needs a ship.”
Giddiness bubbled up in her chest. She was really going to do this. It was like stepping onto the high dive. Her grin was so wide it almost hurt. “Okay.”
His eyebrows raised. “Okay?”
“Yes.” She should probably tone down her smile. It really didn’t fit with this super spy mission she was embarking on.
“I’ll go grab my dinner from next door and we’ll eat.”
“There’s a Doctor Who marathon on.”
Well, if he was going to grin like a fool she was probably allowed to. “So, we’ll watch the Doctor, eat, and then I’ll take you downstairs and impress you with my blackjack skills.”
“You’re good at blackjack?” That was more in line with a spy mission. She’d watched Casino Royale enough times that she might even be able to fake belonging beside him at a table.
He tilted his head. “Well, card counting. And if I have a sweet, sexy woman next to me for luck—they might not even catch on.”
She blinked. “Card counting is illegal?”
“The casinos don’t like it. I run the risk of being tagged as a card counter and triggering another facial recognition spot. Last time I purged my picture from their system was about five years ago. They’ve updated their software since then and closed the backdoor I used so I’ll have to be even more careful.”
“I can’t believe you’re telling me this.”
“Well, as Mal would say, ‘My work’s illegal, but at least it’s honest.’” He went still. “Wait, you’re not employed by the Gaming Commission, right?”
She laughed. “No. I’m… no, I’m not.”
He grinned. “That could have been bad.”
She licked her lips before biting her lower lip. He was still so close. The heat in his gaze as it dropped to her mouth made her heart beat faster. “And we wouldn’t want things to be bad.”
“Not until after dinner at least,” he murmured before he pressed a soft kiss against her mouth.
She was killing his concentration and he didn’t care. Oh, sure, he wanted to impress her, but she’d wrapped her arms around his bicep and was hugging up to his side. Even with a noisy casino surrounding him and other players, he was aware of every breath she took. Her scent encircled him, enticing him. Every inch of her was soft and warm and female. He could die a happy man right now.
As if this Nirvana wasn’t enough, she’d hop up and down whenever he won. He could be winning more often, but not with her anywhere near him. Life was give and take.
The player to the left of him in the third base seat was trying to smother a smile as Aubrey nearly vibrated with excitement when he won again. Seth bit his lips, fighting his own smile. Her distracting presence had already chased a couple of other serious players from the table. Originally, when he sat down, Seth had played multiple hands simultaneously as he normally did. He’d switched to playing a single hand so the house couldn’t take him to the cleaners because he was too busy sniffing the girl next to him.
Aubrey froze and frowned down at her purse. Pulling out her phone, she peeked at the display before excusing herself with, “I’ll be right back.”
When she left, his entire right side felt cold and empty. It was hard to believe she’d only been there for forty-five minutes. Even more implausible, he’d woken up not knowing a thing about Aubrey Lowen.
“Your girlfriend is sweet,” the middle-aged player on his left said. He had the look of a hardcore player—lean and grave. He’d been chewing on a toothpick most of the time, but he pulled it out and stuck it in his front shirt pocket.
Seth dampened both the pride and the jealousy that comment inspired. He definitely wasn’t going to correct the man about Aubrey being his “girlfriend”—especially since there wasn’t a better description for their relationship. “She is.” Seth shook his head. “She’s hell on my concentration though.” Typ
ically, he’d switch tables around this time so the casino wouldn’t nail him for card counting. There was no worry about that tonight.
The other player laughed. “Hey, I’m not even reaping the benefits, and I think I’m breaking even.” He nodded at Seth’s chips. “You’re not doing too bad. You were smart to just play the one hand, though. Are you here for one of the conventions?”
“Yeah. Computer Security.”
He sat back, shaking his head. “Oh hell. I usually avoid the tables when the conventions like that are going on. I’m surprised there was room at any of the tables. Usually you MIT geeks fill them up. Well, when you’re not off scamming ATMs or stealing identities.” He eyed him. “Though you look too high-class for that.”
The other players looked at him curiously. There was a break in the dealing for a second as the dealer seemed to be making a mental note.
“This is a smaller conference—very specific to my company’s type of security.” It was no Black Hat or DEF CON. He went to those too, as well as a few others. Then, there was Comic-Con and that sort. If only Aubrey was at all these, it’d be his version of trips to Disneyland. “And I didn’t go to MIT.” Some of the more famous card counters had.
With his mouth pursed, he examined Seth. “Berkley?”
Seth gave a quick nod. Berkley wasn’t slumming it when it came to computers. It churned out a decent amount of his kind also.
Aubrey returned. “What did I miss?” Noticing the interest of the other players on her, she raised her eyebrows.
The third base player made eye contact with her. “How smart is your boyfriend?”
Aubrey glanced at Seth in askance.
He shrugged, curious what she’d say. She didn’t correct the “boyfriend” bit either. That was good, really good. It made his chest feel warm and his mouth dry, but in a good way. The play went on as they talked, though it was slower as everyone listened in while trying to be casual about it.
“He’s probably smarter than all of you combined,” Aubrey said as she wrapped her hands around his arm again. Her being by his side—it was like coming home. It was like nothing he’d ever experienced. He could be Seth Lawrence and Savage Lynx.
Everyone smiled at her indulgently—especially since she looked all dreamy when she said it. He was proud and in the clear.
Apparently, she was just getting started. She drew in a big breath before saying, “He graduated high school when he was twelve. By seventeen, he had three undergraduate degrees and had been working toward a doctorate. He’s been a member of Mensa since he was four years old, and he holds the patent on his elementary school science project. Unless he sold it.” She turned to him. “Did you sell it?”
He cleared his throat. “I sold it.” Wow, she knew a lot about him. She hadn’t been kidding when she’d said she knew who he was. Hopefully she’d learned all this due to interest and not because it was in some dossier on him that her company had provided. It sounded like the stuff that had been in the newspapers at the time of his arrest. At least she hadn’t mentioned the hacking that had slowed his run at a doctorate. It was probably best not to bring that up here.
“Oh, and he hacked into several Department of Defense networks at sixteen just to see if he could. It was amazing. He was unstoppable.”
There it was.
Now, everyone was staring at him. “On that note, I think I’m done,” Seth said to the dealer since they’d just finished a hand anyway. Time to get out while the getting was good. For once, he was glad he’d only done moderately well in the casino.
Aubrey looked at him ingenuously. “You’re done?”
“Don’t you want to ride on the gondolas?” he asked as he tipped the dealer. “They stop at midnight, I think.”
He nodded at the other players.
The player in the third base seat said, “It was nice to meet you. Didn’t catch your name.”
“Seth Lawrence.”
He laughed. “I’ll be damned. Savage Lynx. I wondered when she mentioned the Department of Defense. You were a scrawny kid and the king of hackers all those years ago. I must have watched them escort you out of your folks’ place in cuffs a dozen times. I can’t wait to tell people I played blackjack with a world famous hacker.”
Play had definitely ceased as all the other players gawked at him. His skin flushed with heat. Damn, he was blushing. Meanwhile, Aubrey was beaming.
The third base player leaned in. “You know their first question is going to be how you did. Don’t worry, I’ll talk you up.” Then, he waved a hand in Aubrey’s direction. “More importantly, I’ll mention her. Maybe that’ll convince my nephew to go into computers like I recommended.”
Grinning, Seth said, “Tell him the geek shall inherit the earth.”
Three hours later, they were up against her headboard, and he was learning the meaning of the word “temptation.” They’d piled pillows behind them and turned back on the Doctor Who marathon. She’d fallen asleep almost immediately and had snuggled up to his side. Her head was on his shoulder while his arm was around her. She had her hand placed squarely over his heart. If Aubrey’d been awake, she’d have noticed his heart rate wasn’t at all in a restful state.
“Mm,” she murmured, pressing herself even closer.
Sighing, Seth closed his eyes. He’d always found sleep to be a waste of time. There were an endless number of things more useful than sleep. If only he could fall asleep now. Keeping his eyes closed didn’t stop him from imagining all he wanted to do with the woman in his arms. A few ideas weren’t of a carnal variety so he should get credit for that.
Opening his eyes again, he used his free hand to brush a lock of her glossy brown hair back from her cheek. He followed the strand down the tip. She was gorgeous and fascinating, inside and out. Whatever the next two days cost him, it was worth it.
Her thick, brown eyelashes fluttered before opening. Aubrey’s all too kissable mouth pursed in confusion. “Did I ever tell you, when I saw you, I thought you looked like Link from The Legend of Zelda?”
He grinned at her drowsy confession. “No, you didn’t. Does that make you Zelda?”
She squinted at him. “In which game?”
“Uhh. Twilight Princess. She had brown hair in that one.”
She nodded, her chin rubbed against him, tickling. “But she has blue eyes.”
“Your eyes are not blue,” he agreed. “They’re beautiful, though. Sexy.”
“Mm. I like how you see me.”
He felt the same way.
Her eyes drifted closed again.
He hooked the bed’s blanket with his foot and pulled it up to where he could grab it with his free hand, drawing it overtop them. Seth closed his eyes. There was something peaceful about holding a sleeping woman. Especially one who thought you looked like a fantasy warrior.
Chapter Five
The first thing she saw when she woke up was Mal. He was laying on the pillow beside her, staring at her. She sat up and stretched with a giant, silly grin. Last night had been so amazing it felt like a dream. If not for the lingering smell of his cologne, she might have thought it was. Craning her neck, she peered around. Speaking of her hot hacker… where was he?
Pushing out of bed, she went to a note scribbled on the hotel’s stationary laying on the dresser.
Had to run to a business meeting and stop by the company’s booth. Tempted to play hooky but I’m the damn CEO. Find me! I put a tracking app on my phone to make it easy for you. Who knows what trouble I’ll get into if you’re not watching over me. Last night was incredible. Not bad for noobs. S.L.
He’d underlined “find me” several times.
She picked up her phone. Sure enough, there he was. He was in the exhibit hall of the convention center as of two minutes ago. Sweet. She picked up the conference schedule. He had another panel in a little over an hour. Crap. It was at the same time as another panel that she could use for her job as a consultant. After grabbing some breakfast, she could get in on one of
the panels. Which one, though?
Maybe she’d make that decision when the time came.
Seth: WHERE ARE YOU?
Aubrey: Around
Seth: Said to find me!
Aubrey: Know where you are.
Seth: Aubrey!
Aubrey: Aren’t you in a panel?
Seth: Exactly. Where are you?
Aubrey: Should you be texting?
Seth: Aubrey!
Aubrey: This other panel fits with my work.
Seth: Not Greg Paulson’s panel! Traitor!
Seth: Seriously?
Aubrey: Pay attention to your own panel.
Seth: Paulson couldn’t secure his own ass. Get in here!
Aubrey: Getting the evil eye from everyone.
Seth: Get in here!
Seth: Left yet?
Aubrey: Just slid by whole row with my ass at their eye level.
Seth: They loved it. Wish I’d been there.
Aubrey: Thought I distracted you.
Seth: This is more distracting.
Seth: I’m answering a ? now. See. Skillz. I pwned that ?
Aubrey: Can’t believe I’m enabling you.
Seth: I see you in the back.
Aubrey: EVERYBODY saw me come in.
Seth: You look hot.
Aubrey: Shut up. Can’t believe I came.
Seth: That’s what she said.
Aubrey: ;-P
Aubrey: Great answer. You shut that guy down.
Seth: Skillz.
Seth: Did that guy hit on you?
Aubrey: He had a ?
Seth: Like hell.
Seth: Tell him your boyfriend is up here.
Seth: Tell him I’m Savage Lynx.
Aubrey: LOL
Seth: Serious.
Seth: He checked you out.
Seth: Find out his name.
Aubrey: You’re not hacking his identity.
Seth: Can almost see his name using zoom on camera. Have him hold still.
Aubrey: I’m taking away your phone.
Seth: No way. Next panel we’re sexting.
Covalent Bonds Page 4