“Wait—what?”
“Shh.” He held her still beneath him. “We both need a change of clothes, I want to grab my laptop and there are a few other things to take care of.”
“What other things?”
“Well, for one, I want to see if anyone is scoping out the place, maybe watching the investigation with a little too much interest.” Without giving her a chance to react to that, he said, “And I want to make sure your buddy is still locked up.”
Cat felt a moment of embarrassed panic before she remembered that the lockbox, with her “buddy” locked inside, was in the guest bedroom and well hidden. She scowled at Leese. “That’s not funny.”
For an answer, he sat up and opened a few more buttons. “I’m sure Sahara’s lawyers will have the cops wrapping it up sooner rather than later, but I want to see everything for myself. Maybe there’s a clue they’ll miss.”
Trying not to be distracted by what he did, she said, “I guess that makes sense, as long as you’re sure it’s safe.”
“With an active investigation? Yeah, it’ll be safe, and I’ll be careful.” He cuddled her naked breasts. “I plan to make it back to you. Now, no more talking.”
“So you don’t have to make any promises?”
“How about I promise to kiss you all over.”
“Um...”
He curled his fingers in the waistband of the bottoms and peeled them down her legs. To help him along, she lifted her hips and quickly kicked them off.
“And, Cat?” Expression intent, he looked her over. “I promise you’re going to moan.”
Cool air washed over her body, but she wasn’t chilled. Not anymore. Not with Leese looking at her like that. “Okay.” She shifted her legs, curled her toes and anticipated what would happen.
He parted her legs and knelt between her thighs, his gaze on her breasts, her belly and down. While stroking her inner thighs, he said, “You are so fucking sexy.”
She didn’t feel sexy. She just felt lost. Lost to the fear of the future. Lost to the lust of the moment.
Lost in the love she felt for him.
With her legs draped over his thighs, he leaned forward, closed his mouth around one nipple, and drew her in. He sucked gently, his hot, rough tongue rasping.
Sensation coursed through her and she closed her eyes.
He moved to the other nipple, licking, then sucking, leaving it equally wet and ripe. He caught her in his teeth and tugged, and she felt it like a direct pull to her core. Her belly tightened and tingled, and he’d just gotten started.
“I promise,” he rasped, his hands now low on her hips, “to make you come.”
“And you?” she managed to ask breathlessly. “You’ll come too.”
“No, not this time.” He parted her sex with his thumbs, making her squirm as he took his time looking at her, his eyelids heavy, his cheekbones flushed. “I don’t have any condoms.”
“Then—”
“No. I’m fine, I promise.” His gaze briefly locked with hers. “I’ll just enjoy watching you.”
But that sounded so...uninhibited. “I don’t know about this.” He wore his boxers, but she was naked, and he left her completely exposed.
“I do.” His thumbs moved over her, petting, teasing. “Just relax.”
If that’s what he wanted, then she’d try. Breathing deeper, she nodded.
He turned one hand and briefly cupped her sex, then used three fingers to stroke her, getting her wetter. “So hot.” As he said it, he began working his fingers into her, twisting, pressing.
Cat dug her heels into the bed and tightened all over.
“Relax.”
She gave him the moan he wanted, especially when she felt him filling her.
He looked at her breasts, licked his thumb and reached for her nipples. With the first damp glide of his thumb, she caught her breath. He wet them both, leaving her aching, then lightly pinched until each nipple was stiff, before tugging, rolling, going from one breast to the other, all while keeping three fingers pressed firmly into her.
Leese seemed tireless, determined to make her scream. She needed more.
So much more.
Like everything he had to give.
Just as she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, as the rough whimper rose from her throat, he repositioned himself flat on the bed, nuzzled against her, then softly sucked on her clitoris while rasping with his tongue.
Cat held him close, her fingers in his hair, her thighs clasped around his ears as the climax exploded. Leese kept her there, on that sharp edge of pleasure, until she whimpered again.
He kissed his way up her limp body, then settled them both beneath the covers.
Cat could barely breathe, much less think. Lassitude stole her worries, and when Leese whispered, “Much better,” she figured that might have been his purpose.
He drew her into his arms and held her close. Just before sleep claimed her, he vowed, “You’re mine, Cat.”
She smiled...and faded away.
*
TESH IGNORED THE code beeping on his phone. It had been going off for hours now. Over and over and fucking over until he wanted to crush it in his fist. Instead, utilizing tight control, he turned off the phone, dismantled it, then dumped the pieces, one by one, on his drive to a secure location.
It was past midnight, the sky black, the air so cold it hurt his lungs to breathe. Exhaustion tried to drag him down, but he ignored it. In his assignments for Platt, he’d spent many sleepless nights doing what needed to be done.
What he’d enjoyed doing.
From here on out, he’d be on his own—and hell, that suited him just fine.
Not that Platt realized it yet. Once he’d been picked up near the Body Armor agency, the senator had expected him to show. He wanted an accounting, maybe retribution.
Tesh snorted. Not bloody likely.
Platt could rot for all he cared. Did the delusional prick really think he still called the shots? Was he arrogant enough, stupid enough, to think Tesh would answer a summons at this point? Hell no.
Things had gone wrong. Horribly wrong.
The bodyguard was still alive, but Johnson and Miller were both in the hospital. By now the cops would be all over them, and no doubt Catalina had been moved.
If they recovered, Tesh wasn’t worried about either of his men talking, not when they understood the consequences. But if anyone started backtracking, they could find a vague trail that led to him.
Or Platt.
Better Platt, Tesh decided. Let him take the heat.
All Tesh wanted was his kitten.
Once he got her, he’d seed the trail with information that would lead authorities straight to Platt’s door. As Platt’s most trusted cleanup man, Tesh had it all, every detail, dates and times and names, reservations and itineraries, everything needed to show the world what a sick, cruel, perverted bastard their favorite senator really was. He’d bury Platt so deep, there wouldn’t be money enough or influence enough for him to dig himself out.
Then Tesh could live out his life in peace...with little Catalina.