“He’s a delivery guy. When he came in, he had a quick word with the cook then went into the storage room and dropped off a couple of boxes.”
Well, there aren’t any alarms going off about him. Though, there’s still something I don’t like. Could be the man. Could be the situation.
“He checked the door to the dining area then waited for her to come back to the kitchen,” Kassy recounts. “Then he tried to act all smooth when she came close to the storage area.”
Bunny glances to the camera, a quick and possibly unconscious action. Yet, her hold on the clipboard tightens. What’s going through her head? I focus on her expression, the tense set of her shoulders, and the way she’s leaning away.
“I can check the video feed in front of the building and see if I can read the name off the side of the truck.”
It’s not aversion. Is this something she doesn’t want to pursue?
“Check against the guy who emptied her account.” I push off the bed, slipping into my boots as I run my hands through my hair, smoothing it in place.
“Gotcha.” Kassie taps away at the keyboard. “No, her ex is a Border Patrol agent.” She brings a picture up on the screen. “Saul Mares was stationed in El Paso after training.”
“I’m not impressed,” Dante says drily.
No, he’s easy enough to dismiss. So, who is this guy, a former fuck friend?
“Come on,” Kassy breaks in. “This guy’s…he’s…” She grins. “Well, I’d grab a screen shot of him.”
Just as I thought. My fingers curl into my palm. It’s all I can do to keep from tightening into a fist.
“She doesn’t seem agreeable to the attention,” Montoya offers.
“No, she doesn’t,” I agree. I’m heading out of her room when Noah, her delivery guy, comes in the door. The relief on her face is unmistakable.
“Excuse me,” she says, handing back the clipboard. “I have to prep delivery orders.” Then she turns, and I can’t see her lips any more. She busies herself at the counter and throws a goodbye over her shoulder as the guy leaves. Her body relaxes as soon as the door closes.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Bonnie
I’m rinsing off the facial scrub when the air around me changes. The pressure in the room dissipates, letting the area inside the stall cool down. It’s what happens when the door’s opened during a long, hot shower. Which can only mean one thing, Tino’s here.
My heart beats faster as I fumble with the knobs, cutting off the water. The metal’s shrill protest cuts through the silence, loud enough to make me cringe. Swallowing hard, I curl my toes against the floor tile. Should I wait?
“Planning on staying in there?”
His deep voice breaks the silence, making me jump. From the sound, he’s by the door…waiting on me.
The headiness of anticipation rolls through me, lending weight to my swelling sex. I nearly gasp over the intensity of it. How can a man I just met do this to me with just a few words?
Hooking a finger into the curtain, I peek out. Tino’s leaning against the linen closet, arms crossed over a midnight-blue shirt, relaxed as can be.
He doesn’t move, doesn’t coax, and doesn’t look beyond my face. It’s unnerving the way he does that. A second later, he pulls away, reaching into the small closet for a fresh towel.
I pull open the curtain, stepping onto the bath mat. There may have been a split-second’s hesitation when I catch sight of the tall, rectangular cardboard box he’s left sitting by the cabinet. It’s time...
Tino unfolds the towel. The fluffy teal terry cloth looks soft and inviting against his hard angles and ever-present darkness. I reach out, but he takes each corner, stretching his arms. My breath catches at what is clearly an invitation. My pulse pounds harder, racing at my neck, as the image of him holding me fills my mind.
As I take a few steps closer, he doesn’t look anywhere but at my eyes. Even when I’m in front of him and he’s patting the side of my face. He finally breaks eye contact, his attention going to my cheek, where he’s drying my skin with a gentleness I find astonishing. Something I wouldn’t have expected in such a fierce man.
The sharp, searching look in his eyes is missing. Instead, he’s pulling away the towel to discover all of me.
He moves along my body to my shoulder, arm, my side then the underside of my breast, where he takes his time. My nipples have pebbled into hard peaks, thanks to his attentions. Will he touch? If so, will he use his hand or his mouth? The anticipation inside me is coming to a rolling boil while he’s still on discovery.
The towel moves on. He may be drying my chest, but his gaze is devouring every inch of skin he uncovers.
The first night he had that same sharp edge of wanting. Like he was holding himself back from something. Again, I’m wondering if he wants to touch but won’t.
He’s at my belly. I tighten the muscles under his hand, knowing I’m carrying more weight at my midsection than I’d like. His brow twitches, and he stays in the same spot. Reluctantly, I relax the band across my waist and he pauses, taking me in at a natural pose. What is he thinking? Insecurities start rearing their ugly head.
The damp terry cloth lowers, covering the triangle at the juncture of my legs. My inner muscles clench. But he goes across to my hip then slowly slips down. He pulls my leg up to set my foot on the box before going behind my thigh. Long fingers brush my sex, pressing the towel between my legs for endless seconds.
A gasp escapes me as a shot of electricity runs through my body, circling the inside of my head, showering sensation through every limb. I could come so easily right now. But I’d be finishing alone.
He continues to my calf and foot. A full second later he starts on the other leg. His gaze following his progress along my body. By the time his hands are at my thigh, his focus is between them. He lingers, and I wait to see what he’ll do.
The delicate skin is tingling. I can barely breathe. Every fiber of my being is screaming for him to do something, but I’m not sure what.
Yesterday, his mouth was focused at my most sensitive spot. I could still feel the pleasure in the middle of the night. So much so, I would have welcomed him coming through the door, regardless of the time.
He rises from his crouch at a maddeningly slow pace. His attention is on my body, at every level he passes, until he’s standing straight.
My body is buzzing, focusing need between my legs and at my nipples. I reach out, curling my fingers along the counter to hold steady. Dear Lord, I’ve had sex before, but I’ve never had this kind of sexual experience. I’ve never wanted to rip a man’s shirt open to press myself against the hard muscles at his chest.
Yet, Tino just studies my face. His hand skirts my pussy, reaching up to run the towel along my hip. He puts both hands at my waist, bringing me to stand fully on the box, facing the wall, to finish my back.
With the oval mirror covered in fog, I’m blind to what’s happening. All I can do is ride the wave of sensation as he moves over my ass to put pressure on my inner thigh. I clutch the counter with both hands and adjust my footing at each edge of the box.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as he drops the wet towel next to me with a heavy thud. There’s nothing else to do now…
A zipper’s teeth gives way behind me. I shoot my gaze to the mirror. I barely recognize my outline, my lips parted to drag in enough air, while he fills the rest of the frame.
The condom wrapper he discards lands at the edge of the sink, falling to sit next to the drain. I have yet to see his cock, but the memory of it leaves me wet and ready for him.
He isn’t going to touch, or kiss, or any of the other things I’ve told him not to do. He’s sticking to the deal we made, and I’m the one regretting it.
Placing his hand on my shoulder, he bends me over, just as I’d asked. The tip of his cock probes my body, finding my entrance and sliding in with an achingly slow stroke.
My shuddering breath echoes around me while he lodges himself t
o the hilt. My lashes lower, blinking of their own accord. Why did it have to be him to do this to me?
His right hand comes around me, unerringly finding my clit. One brush of his index finger, and my body bucks. A second brush and I whimper. Two fingers slide deeper between my folds, and I clutch his wrist. The intensity of what’s building inside me is nearly enough to overwhelm me.
“No.”
The word escapes before I can catch it.
*****
Tino
The blasted woman wants to stop when I’m already buried inside her. Is it because of him? The douche who had her tripping over herself yesterday.
“This wet cunt, squeezing me so tight, would suggest otherwise,” I say through clenched teeth.
Her gasp fills the room. It’s the exact reaction I was going for. “No. You-you—”
“I took what you offered,” I remind her. “In trade for my services.” She’s clutching my wrist, but I’m not giving in that easily. I spread my fingers over her pussy, claiming what’s mine. I tunnel my middle finger between her folds, going right to where I was before.
“This pussy is mine, Bunny.” There can be no doubt. I circle her clit, sending another jolt through her body. “For another week.” Her arms and shoulders are tight, her muscles defined as she squirms. To her credit, she hasn’t told me to stop.
Bunny groans, leaning back against me and pulling away from my cock as we straighten. “Please.” A breathless plea.
I hook my arm under hers, going across her body, to stop at her neck. Capturing her, holding her against me without actually touching where I want.
Her pulse is hammering at her neck, and I have to fight the urge to put my mouth there. Not that she’s had a problem with having my mouth on her. Especially not last time, when she was melting into her bed with every stroke of my tongue.
She rests her chin to her shoulder, eyes downcast. Why won’t she look at me? Then she rolls in her bottom lip into her mouth, letting it slide out slowly.
Temptation… This woman doesn’t know who she’s messing with. But I’m not letting her off the hook.
“Tell me again you don’t want this when you’re on the verge of coming.” I curl my fingers over her wet folds. Her hand moves down to cover mine. She shifts her hips, pressing her incredible ass against me as she gains on my cock.
“I want you not to end it so fast.” Her lashes lift, and her eyes come up to meet mine. Her pupils are dilated, wide enough I may have gotten lost in them for a minute. But her glistening lip is calling to me, begging me to claim it while I still have the sense to do so.
The kiss I expected is sweet and searching. Like the one in the staircase. But Bunny is beyond that. Way beyond that. Her hungry mouth opens under mine while she brings my hands to her chest.
I close my fingers around her, taking the weight of her breasts in my palms, enjoying every curve she’s offered. The hard tips are begging for attention. I comply, taking pleasure in rolling them between my fingertips. She’s still covering my hands, pressing herself against me until her generous breasts are pushed over my grip.
Tightening my hold, I swallow the satisfying sounds of her response. I pinch harder, and she tears away from my mouth. Her whimper is somewhere between pleasure and pain, but she doesn’t release me. Instead, she rocks against me, teasing the tip of my cock until my hold on my control starts to crack.
I bend her over, burying myself inside her. The heat of her body surrounds me, and, for one brief moment, life is perfect.
As much as I’d like to stay where I am, I can’t. The need to move, to bring this woman to orgasm, is clawing at my gut. Soon, I’m driving into her, sending the loose bun at the top of her head tumbling to her shoulder. Bunny’s braced against the counter, the smooth slope of her back muscles drawing the eye down to her heart-shaped ass. Her legs are spread for me, her pussy greedy for every inch of cock I give her.
When she’s stifling a cry, and her legs start to tremble, I slip between her folds. My fingers glide over her clit, circling the little button and pushing her over the edge.
Her cry echoes in my ears as she tightens her grip around my cock. I’m lost, pressed against the cushion of her ass, my body slamming past the walls I’ve put up around myself.
Every ripple of her inner walls is an affirmation I can’t let this happen again.
CHAPTER NINE
Tino
This thing with Bunny wasn’t supposed to happen again, but for the third morning in a row we fuck after she showers. I at least manage to keep a distance. Once we’re done, she heads downstairs to start the day while I stretch out on her bed for a few hours of much-needed sleep.
Slinging my backpack over my shoulder, I glance toward the bed one last time. The bedspread has a few indentations showing I was there. Does that bother her when she comes back?
The single time I came in to find her asleep was enough to stay stuck in my head. She was peaceful despite nearly getting herself killed.
I thought there’d never be a sight more beautiful than Bunny’s bare ass. I was wrong. I prefer the last image I had of her in this bed. She came so hard, her legs were barely able to hold her. Never been much for eating pussy, but I made my point. And damned if I’m not tempted to call her up here and do it again. My cock stirs just thinking about it.
Fuck. I have to get out of here.
I go through the apartment without slowing my pace. Turning, I go to hit the button on the lock and hesitate. Seven, seven, fifty-nine. The amount of money the son of a bitch took from Bunny. I have half a mind to…
Behind my thigh, I curl my hand into a fist and glance above the door before continuing. Kassy’s watching—or she damn well better be. The phone rings before I reach the last step.
“You okay?” Kassy lowers the volume on her favorite superhero anime.
“Yeah.” I drag in a breath, going toward the parking lot. The scents in the air are savory now that the kitchen turned to the lunch menu. My stomach growls in appreciation.
“Going for a shower and something to eat.” So I’m not covered in Bunny’s scent. I pass in front of the kitchen window, making it a point not to turn.
“Okay.” But there’s a note of doubt in her voice. “You just seem kind of uptight.”
“I’m good.” She doesn’t need any more details. “Anything to report?” Like I didn’t just spend the last ten minutes watching Bunny move around the kitchen and dining area. She’s wearing one of those damn aprons with Piping hot then the coffee label printed across her chest.
“No.” Kassy sighs. “There’s still nothing to report,” she says with a hint of annoyance. “I would have called you if she’d come by.”
Kassy’s been part of the team long enough for me to know she’d wake me if the target was on-site. Somehow, I still can’t help asking any more than I can keep from logging into the camera feed. Is it Bunny’s safety I’m thinking about? Maybe I just need to see her for myself.
“Ugh, damn.”
I stop short, glancing around as I backtrack to hug the wall. “What?” Should I switch to the camera, or will I miss what she has to say?
“It’s them.” The change in Kassy’s voice drags me from my thoughts.
Instinctively, I pull the phone away from my ear and switch screens. I need to know what I’m up against.
Pinching the screen, I widen the picture. Two women are heading toward the front door. Neither is Conrado’s mother. “That’s not her.”
“No, it’s the busybodies I told you about.” The underlying annoyance in her tone is impossible to miss. “Can you do the lipreading thing and tell me what they’re saying?”
Bah. Of all the things to be concerned about. Annoyed, I exhale loud enough for her to hear.
“They might be speaking Spanish, but I know they’re being bitches,” she spits out. “Just watch their body language.”
Pettiness shouldn’t bother me. I’m here for one reason, and I don’t need to compromise my cover. Yet
, as the two women approach, I’m somewhere between concerned and annoyed.
Switching screens again, I type a quick message. Fix me a bacon-and-egg taco. I’ll pick up. Flipping through the views, I stop at the dining room. Bunny reaches for her phone, glances at the camera then pushes through the doors into the kitchen.
“Are you still there?” Kassy asks.
“Yeah.” I grasp the lanyard on my ID holder, pull it over my head. The fact it can pass for a detective’s credentials usually keeps people from asking questions. “Where are they?”
“Oh,” she says, sounding surprised. She pauses for a second. “They’re halfway down the block.”
I check on the two women. They’re in their late twenties to early thirties, in uniforms from a nearby bank. One’s in a skirt, the other has slacks with a zipper struggling to stay closed. Overall, they don’t seem too happy. Doesn’t surprise me they’d be nasty to Bunny.
“Cover me.” This is a practiced setup. I turn the corner, phone at my ear. Kassy knows to keep an eye on the camera while I pretend to be deep in conversation.
“You got it,” she replies. “You’re about three paces ahead of them.”
I shorten my stride so we can get to the door at the same time. “Everything is linked and ready to go,” I say into the phone.
My attention is on the sidewalk, as if I’m focused on the call. Damn women are taking their sweet time, but their shadows finally come into view. “Sure, I can review the footage, just give me a few to grab a bite.”
I end the call and step forward, looking over in time to stop in front of the door, as if I’m giving them room to pass.
Both women stop and stare at me.
“Oh.” The one in the skirt juts out a hip, inspecting me like she’s about to place a bid.
Perfect.
“Um, we’re going in there,” zipper girl announces, sucking in her gut.
“Ah.” I exhale and produce an apologetic smile, aiming to put them at ease. “Sorry, ladies.”
Saving Bonnie: A Dark Mafia Romance (Blood Ties Book 2) Page 8