Читать книгу Exposed - Samantha Keith - Страница 13

Chapter 5

Dammit, he hadn’t wanted to see her again. At least not until they were on the ship and surrounded by thousands of people. In a normal situation, he would have called her, so they could talk. But the safest situation was in person. He’d knocked on the door, but she hadn’t answered and that had sent his blood pressure through the roof. With his pulse racing and his heart in his throat, he’d jimmied the lock and the sound of the shower running had reached his ears the second he stormed in.

She hadn’t even heard him. Her lack of self-preservation was fucking terrifying. He’d done a quick sweep as soon as he’d made it inside, and had come up empty-handed. Thank god, otherwise he really would’ve had to jump her in the bathroom and made sure she kept quiet.

He leaned against the kitchen counter and took in the untidy kitchen. An empty bowl with popcorn kernels sat in the sink, the bag still sat on the countertop, and butter and salt filled the air. He massaged his closed eyelids with his thumb and forefinger. It was too damn late for this. He’d been on the brink of sleep, warm and naked in his bed, when his phone had vibrated. He had almost ignored it. But of course, the first thing that had come to mind was Maddie.

The bathroom door swung open and Maddie stomped toward him. A white towel wrapped around her slim frame, the end tucked between her moist cleavage.

His head pounded. He didn’t move from his spot, and there was no way in hell he was going to get close to her. If he did, he’d regret it later.

Her eyebrows snapped low over her eyes in a deep scowl. She folded her arms across her chest. “What are you doing here?”

“We need to talk.”

One perfectly shaped eyebrow bounced skeptically. “You could have called.”

He exhaled deeply through his nose and dug his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. Her wet hair hung loosely over her shoulder, and her ivory skin was free of makeup. His gaze dropped down to her bare legs, drops of water rolled to collect at her feet. His teeth bit into the inside of his cheek.

“I told you not to talk to anyone in this apartment.”

She snorted and her arms swept around her. “Hello, look where we are.”

He closed his eyes and opened them. She was always so damn difficult. “I just finished sweeping the place, it’s clean.”

Her lips twisted. She shifted her weight to the side and tapped her foot. “So then, talk.”

“Go get dressed, and then we’ll talk.”

Her eyes flashed. “I’m not getting dressed. I’m going to bed the minute you leave.” Her arms fell to hang at her sides and she stepped farther into the kitchen. The small of her back rested against the island adjacent to him and her hands reached behind her to rest on the edge of the counter. The towel barely reached the tops of her thighs, and this close, her warm fruity fragrance invaded his senses.

His chest constricted and his blood pressure dropped. God, he wanted her. Her soft, heart-shaped mouth relaxed and the denim of her blue eyes turned dark. His fingers tingled with the need to touch her, to tear away the towel and lift her onto the counter. His hands curled into fists in his pockets.

He cleared his throat. “Then get your pajamas on, or something. I can’t talk to you when you’re half naked.” His tone sharpened more than he’d intended. Her chin lifted. She brushed her hair to fall behind her, exposing the slim line of her shoulder. A spark of fire lit her eyes. Ah, hell. Here comes the attitude.

“I sleep naked, Nate. So like it or not,” she said, her fingers plucked at the towel around her waist. “This is how I’m staying until I crawl into bed.” She lifted her chin and smiled.

Annoyance layered with desire simmered inside him. The muscles in his neck tensed and he worked his jaw. An image of Maddie curled in bed, naked and still damp from a shower, flashed through his mind. And that wouldn’t be the only place she’d be wet. All it would take was one touch, one step in the direction of her room, and she would come.

Over and over.

“Look, if you’re going to stand there and stare at me, I’m going to bed. Lock the door when you leave the same way you managed to unlock it.” She pushed away from the counter. “See ya.”

He brought his hand out and caught her wrist. Her silky smooth skin burned through him. Heat spread through his body and a deep, desperate pulse surged inside him. He needed her more than he’d ever needed anyone in his life. She swiveled to face him, her gaze fell to his hand on her arm, but she didn’t pull away. She stepped closer, her body pulled him like an intense magnetic field. Her eyes locked with his, every instinct told him to turn away, to run… If he had her once, he’d want her forever.

His fingers snapped open, dropping her wrist. Her small white teeth caught her bottom lip and her gaze fell to his jaw. A muscle in his neck twitched. He moved his jaw, and forced his brain to make a sentence.

“What happened for him to change the plans?” His tone was low and rough. If he didn’t get out of here soon, he’d lose all of his resolve.

Her lips jerked into a mocking grin, but she didn’t move away. “Tony attacked me in the parking lot when I left work,” she said flatly. “I had no choice but to handle it.”

Nate’s heart slammed against his ribcage. He clenched his hands into fists at his sides. If the bastard had hurt her… “What happened?” he ground out.

She lifted her eyes to the ceiling and dropped them back down. “He came on to me and threatened to tell Carlos that I had hit on him if I didn’t sleep with him. He got a little grabby and I used some self-defense moves.”

His eyes dropped to her neck, a faint reddish-purple mark stained her skin. He cursed and brought his fingers to brush the spot. Her skin was warm from the shower, faint drops of water scattered across her chest.

“He choked you?”

Her shoulders trembled beneath his touch. Her lashes lifted and the intensity in her eyes hit him like a punch to the solar plexus. Her fingers curled around his forearm and she pulled his hand away and stepped out of his reach.

“I’m fine. You should know I wouldn’t let him get away with anything. I don’t think he said anything to Carlos. He was drunk. And aside from that, he’d look like a wuss for getting his ass kicked by me.”

She was right. If Tony had been drunk, he’d have been careless. Security cameras littered the interior and exterior of the club. If Carlos found out he’d assaulted one of his women, he’d kill him.

“Now Tony knows you’re skilled. That’s a problem. Even if he won’t chance saying anything to Carlos, it means you’re on his radar.”

Maddie’s forehead crinkled. “What was I supposed to do? Screw him to keep him quiet?”

Irritation flared through him. “Of course not, dammit.”

“Then why are you insinuating I did something wrong by protecting myself?”

His patience waned. He dragged his fingers through his hair. “That’s not what I said.”

“What did you say?”

He snorted. “I don’t need to explain myself. You’re itching for a fight.” He waved his hand in the air, sidled past her and headed toward the door.

“You’re the one who can’t even look at me without running away.”

His footsteps faltered. Had it not been for the shake in her voice, he would have kept walking. Christ, did she think he couldn’t stand the sight of her? Had he given her that impression? He turned on his heel, and opened and closed his hands at his sides. Her fists balanced on her hips, her hair scattered around her shoulders. She scowled, making her lips pucker. That damn, full bottom lip of hers made his pulse quicken. He closed the distance between them, and stopped in front of her. Desire surged through him with the force of an electrical current. His hand swooped into her wet strands and cupped the back of her head. Her eyes widened and her fingers curled into his shirt. He sealed his mouth over hers and licked his tongue between her teeth.

Her body melted against him and her head fell back to allow him deeper access. Her warm wetness filled his mouth, and his pulse beat against his eardrums. The slick caress of her tongue over his brought a deep, guttural groan from his throat.

Her waist inched closer to his dick, hard and straining against the confinement of denim. She squirmed in his arms and he pulled away from her. The fiery blue in her eyes searched his. Her lips were pink and swollen from his kiss and a deep stain darkened her cheeks.

“You should go,” she said softly. Her breath came out in shallow gasps. Her hands fell away from his shirt and she backed away. “Goodnight, Nate.” Her hand rose to tangle in the hair at her temple as she scurried down the hall and shut the bedroom door.

Pain exploded in his chest.

Jesus Christ. He couldn’t trust himself around her. Not anymore.

* * * *

“Holy shit, that thing is massive.” Dylan leaned closer to the town car’s window, his neck craned back as they approached the soaring ship. Nate pulled his phone from his linen pants and checked the screen. Still no word from Maddie. She should have arrived an hour ago.

“Aren’t you afraid of boats?” Ashley smiled and her brown eyes sparked mischievously. She wore her curly dark hair secured in a bun at the top of her head.

He turned his attention to her and reined in his annoyance. “No, I’m not afraid of boats. It’s being hundreds of miles from shore in the middle of the damn ocean that I don’t like.”

Dylan crossed his arms and chuckled. His green eyes crinkled with amusement.

Nate narrowed his gaze at him. He wasn’t in the mood to be hassled by his team. But Ashley and Dylan were two of the best agents he had. With their help, he’d been able to secure one of the penthouse suites–which alone had been an enormous hurdle. But with the order from the FBI and a high priority investigation, they’d managed. He and Ashley would stay in the penthouse across from Maddie and Carlos. Dylan had a deluxe room on the floor directly below them.

“Something funny?”

Dylan’s lips dipped and he shook his head. “Not at all. Just don’t go swimming and you’ll be all right, boss.”

“Ha ha, very funny. Keep it up and you’ll be the one swimming.”

Ashley whistled and turned her head to look out the window.

The driver pulled up to the arrival area and Nate stepped out of the car. He craned his neck back and took in the enormous vessel. Nausea bubbled in his stomach. Goddamn it to hell.

To be stranded in the middle of the ocean with Maddie was the last thing he wanted. He needed distance from her. The only good thing was that they had to be cautious of Carlos. They couldn’t take any chances. Something as little as too much eye contact could put them in the crossfire.

Nate’s mouth twisted at the long line to board the ship and he accepted their bags from the driver. This would take all fucking day. Ashley linked her arm in his.

“We’re VIP, darling. Over to this line.” She tugged him through the crowd, and a small freestanding sign read: VIP boarding.

Thank god.

Dylan’s bag dropped to the ground and his mouth hung open. “Are you kidding me?”

Nate chuckled and saluted him as they stepped in their much shorter line. They were on the ship and checked-in twenty minutes later. Nate took in the opulent crystal chandeliers and Persian rugs as Ashley led the way to the elevator banks.

“This is gorgeous,” she breathed.

Nate squeezed her arm in the crook of his. They had to act the part of a happy couple at all times. Which was pretty damn difficult of a task for two agents. “Shhh. You’re not supposed to be impressed. No one else here is.”

Ashley grunted and they stepped into the elevator. His nerve endings hummed through his body. What was taking Maddie so long? She should have been here a long time ago. The ship would be leaving in an hour. There was no way in hell he could deport without hearing from her. When they got to the room, he’d contact their other agent on the ship that had been placed with the concierge. He’d be able to see if she had checked in.

His phone buzzed against his thigh. Anticipation shot through him as he dug his hand in his pocket and pulled it out.

I’m here.

She was safe. Relief washed over him and the vise that had been squeezing his chest loosened. He turned the screen to show Ashley, and punched the eighth floor button.

The elevator dinged and the doors started to close.

“Hold the elevator,” a voice called, as a long, olive-skinned arm slipped between the crack. The doors bounced open, just as Nate pressed the button.

“Sorry about that, I didn’t see you.”

Two men brushed through the door. The smaller of the two pulled his sunglasses off and Nate curled his hands into fists.

“No problem. There’s a wave of people coming behind me, so we’d better hurry up.” Carlos loosened the tie at his throat and cuffed up the sleeves on his suit jacket. Ashley’s fingers dug into Nate’s forearm in warning—as if he didn’t know who he was.

Nate released the open button and the doors glided shut. He cleared his throat. “Floor?”

“Eighth.” Carlos leaned back against the elevator wall and smiled at them. His gaze lingered on Ashley. Disgust roiled through Nate. The breadth of his bodyguard’s shoulders spanned the width of the elevator. The cart lifted off the ground and after a few floors, the elevator shaft turned to glass and they had an expansive view of the atrium.

Nate forced a smile. The muscles in his face strained in protest. “Beautiful ship. Have you been on it before?” he asked. Ashley squirmed next to him, and he tightened his hold on her arm. The bodyguard didn’t look at them. Hector Jose was a rough and hard sonofabitch.

The elevator slowed to a smooth stop and the doors opened. Carlos extended his hand to let them off first. “First time. Although it first sailed in January so it’s still very new.”

“Ah, well you guys have a good time.” Nate waved and led Ashley through the doors and down the hall. Ashley waggled her fingers and followed Nate. They stayed close at their heels and fire scorched up Nate’s back. He tucked Ashley’s hand close to his side as they proceeded down the cerulean blue-carpeted hallway.

He stopped at the wide double doors of their suite and fished his key card from his pocket.

“Look at that, we’re neighbors.” Carlos gave him a jovial smile, but his green eyes darkened a shade. He dug his hands in his pockets. Hector rapped his knuckles against their door.

“Small world.” Nate smiled and swiped the key in the lock. Carlos’s door swung open and Maddie stood in the doorway. Her long hair tumbled in loose waves around her shoulders, blond highlights flashing through the chestnut strands. Goddamn, she’d changed her hair. His breath caught in his throat and he froze with his hand on the door.

Carlos beamed and turned to face Maddie. Her arms wrapped around his neck, her slim fingers tangled in his hair as her mouth closed over his. Carlos groaned and turned to press her against the door. Her lashes flicked open and landed on Nate. Her eyes went wide and she froze in Carlos’s arms.

Carlos’s dark brows snapped down and he frowned at her. Like a slate wiped clean, Maddie straightened and flashed her perfect teeth. “Hi honey, you made it.” Her neatly manicured fingernails curled into his hand. “Come see the room, it’s gorgeous.”

Ashley covered his hand with hers, opened their door, and nudged them inside. He moved through the door just as Hector closed Carlos’s door behind them. His eye caught Carlos’s hand slide over Maddie’s ass as she led him into their suite.

Pressure built against his temples. Ashley sidled in front of him and shut the door. Her brown eyes flashed at him and the corner of her mouth twitched.

“Don’t even think about it,” she hissed. Her long finger pointed at his chest. “Whatever is going on between you and Maddie, you need to leave that shit on land. Got it?”

Hot air blew through his nose. He rubbed his face with his hands and turned from the door. Christ, what had he been thinking? That he could break the door down and knock Carlos out for touching Maddie? If he didn’t get his emotions in check, he was going to fuck everything up.