“I’ll throw around a few threats, add in a few punches and I’ll send the guy packing. He’s not a big guy, is he?”
“Nah, late forties, in decent shape but nothing on you. We followed him around, kept an eye on him like you asked, but listen… there’s been a murder over that way. I didn’t want to say anything when we dropped your stuff off, but, get this, it’s an ex porn star.”
“Shit. You think it was him?” I scrub a hand over my face.
Mitch lets out a long exhale. “What do you think? Bit of a coincidence.”
“The cops have any leads?”
“You know how it is… they’re making enquiries. Who knows if they’ll pin it on him. You need to be careful. Let us go with you.”
“No. I need you with Jess. I can deal with this, don’t worry. This guy spent years hiding behind his position. I’m telling you, Mitch, I know people like this. They can’t handle confrontation. I’ll scare him easily enough.”
“If you need to pay him off…”
“I know, I appreciate it. I owe you big time for everything you’ve done already, but money isn’t going to cut it with him. I need to scare the shit out of him.” Over the noise of the shower, I hear the bed creaking. “I’ve gotta go. Text me Lucas’s number.”
“How are you going to get him to meet you?”
“I’m going to offer him the one thing he can’t refuse.”
“What’s that?”
“Jess.”
The door handle rattles and I slam shut my phone as Jess creeps in. She greets me with a sleepy grin. “You’re up early.”
“Yeah, couldn’t sleep. Been spending too much time in bed.”
Jess sidles up to me and presses herself flat against my chest. Coming to tip toes, she sweeps her lips over mine.
“Haven’t brushed,” I protest but my body doesn’t care. The feel of her curves and the silky skin of her thighs brushing my bare legs is enough to send me into overdrive. I finger the expensive silk thing she’s wearing, thoughtfully provided by Mitch. I scowl. He better not have pictured her in it.
“Don’t care,” she murmurs and snakes her arms around my neck. “Were you going to take a shower?”
I glance at the running water. “Yeah. Care to join me?”
Jess nods, lip tucked under her top teeth. I push off one flimsy strap, then the other. The material hangs for a moment on her breasts before pooling at her feet.
“Oops.” She giggles.
“Goddamn.” I take the sight of all the golden skin and the delicate paler bits. In the bright light of the bathroom, I see everything. There’s no hiding anything and every inch of her is perfect to me. “Get in the shower,” I order.
She hurries under the water, giving me a good view of that lush ass that’s driven me mad for so long as I slip off my boxers.
“I could lick you all over,” I tell her and climb in next to her.
With sparkling eyes, she gazes up at me. “You already did.”
“Oh yeah.” I recall last night and how I had her writhing and begging for mercy beneath me. “Well, I could do it again.” Another big smile. I sweep aside a wet strand of hair from her face. “I love you like this.”
“Like what?”
“Make-upless and happy. Confident, I guess.”
“I like me like this too. It’s only for you.”
“I get that. I don’t mind the make-up and everything but I’m damned glad you don’t feel you have to use it around me anymore.”
“I don’t think I could hide anything from you anyway. I always felt like you stripped me bare.”
I grab her rear and slot her against me. My arousal rubs against her and I groan. “Damn right.”
The thought that I nearly lost this drives me forward, pressing her hard against the wall. Water beats my back. I take her mouth and claim her body with rough squeezes. She gasps but quickly catches on, skimming her hands over my shoulder blades and ass. I shudder in spite of the warmth of the shower.
There, against the pristine white tiles to a backdrop of luxury and the splash of water, I take her, hard and fast until she shatters around me. There, she steals any part of my heart I may have still had. It leaves me with no doubt that I will do whatever it takes to protect her.
When I have her dried off and bundled up in a towel, I make a trip down to the hotel lobby under the pretence of asking for more towels. I hope she listens to my order to remain in her room. She seemed pretty sated and the accident has made her more obedient.
Sitting myself by the ornamental fountain, I try not to remember what Jess’s skin looks like all wet. Half the things that have occurred recently have been due to my lack of focus—and that sexy woman. I need to concentrate. Her life is at stake here. I shut down my heated thoughts. Nothing gives a man motivation like the thought of the woman he loves getting hurt.
I punch in the number Mitch texted me and wait, breath held.
A click. “Yeah,” a gruff voice greets.
“Lucas Delgao?”
“Who’s this?”
“Someone who can help you.”
“What? What is this?”
I allow myself a grim smile. “It’s regarding a Jess Callahan.”