Heated Pursuit (Alpha Security #1)(30)
His gaze drifted toward the running water. “I can think of one way to pass the time.”
Her eyes rounded as she fought not to misinterpret his meaning, but the upward curl of his lip and the matching glint in his eyes said she hadn’t misread a damn thing. “Seriously? You want to take a shower? Now?”
“It’s as good a distraction as any. Water conservation is the eco-friendly thing to do. What do you say, Red? Do you want to help me save the planet?”
CHAPTER TEN
Showers would never be the same for Rafe again, not after lathering Penny in soapy suds and running his hands over every square inch of her gorgeous body. Watching her eyes light up with arousal as she came was a damn addictive sight to behold, which is why he made her come on his hand a second time in the shower before letting her drop to her knees.
And Jesus. He was glad he did. If being inside her warm * was the ultimate heaven, having her tongue wrapped around his cock took a damn close second. His strut had a spring to it as he inconspicuously scanned the room for bugs, pocketed them, and then located the camera in their room’s unused fireplace. He gave Penny a heads-up and then left her to prepare for dinner.
As he navigated the halls of the mansion, he drew a mental blueprint of points of entry and exit, of every door and corridor and security detail. The entire time, one of Fuentes’s homegrown militia shadows followed, but he didn’t care.
The howl of curses brought Rafe straight to Diego’s door.
“I do not f*cking care if it has become difficult for you,” Diego snarled into a phone. “Take care of it or I will take the f*ck care of you, you arrogant son of a bitch! Comprende? Fix this. Now. Or I’ll have your body parts spread over the entire southern hemisphere. Try spending my money then!”
Fuentes hurled the phone against the wall, making it splinter into a dozen pieces.
“Breaking up with your service provider?” Rafe joked dryly, announcing his presence.
The older man ventured over to his wet bar, his face back to an eerie calm. “It is an unfortunate case of entitlement issues, I am afraid. But I do believe I made my stance on the matter clear. And if I have not, I will soon enough. I trust that you and your beautiful se?orita have found your accommodations to your liking?”
“The bathroom’s quite roomy.”
Diego’s twisted smirk tested Rafe’s control. Yeah, the bastard had seen the show in the bedroom. Rafe was suddenly very glad he’d moved them into the bathroom.
He dropped the mics onto the mahogany desk and let his displeasure be known. “I could’ve done without these. The kind of business relationship you’re proposing requires trust, Se?or Fuentes. This isn’t what I call trust.”
“You must pardon me, Rafael, but I do not trust so easily.” Diego slipped a drink in Rafe’s direction. “Nor, does it seem, do you. However, I do apologize for the necessity, and for the invasion of your privacy.”
“And I have your word that no more will be put in their place?” Not like he’d believe the man for a minute.
“Sí. Sí. Of course!” Diego gestured to one of the plush leather seats. “Come. Join me for a predinner drink and then I will allow you to fetch your beautiful lady friend. You must tell me how a man from your rather humble background has acquired so much success.”
*
It was Vince, Penny’s friend and mentor, who told her that using the attributes given to her by God and genetics sometimes couldn’t be helped. It was the way of the world, and the men they often sought after in bail enforcement didn’t expect a curvy vixen in fishnets and a micromini to tote around a shiny Glock 19 and an arrest warrant beneath her garters.
It was a tactic she’d never felt truly comfortable executing, and it wasn’t any different now than it was then. Except for the fact that Fuentes wasn’t a parole jumper with a penchant for beating on prostitutes…and she wasn’t armed. It wouldn’t have mattered if they had been able to sneak in their handguns. Although it covered her body from neck to knee, the snug fit of her blue Asian-style dress couldn’t have hidden the outline of a matchbook, much less a weapon.
The sleek material hugged her every curve as if it were airbrushed onto her skin. All the clothes she’d brought on this op fit the same way, as if they were designed and made just for her. It made Penny wonder if Maria had somehow managed to take her measurements while she was sleeping.
Penny turned sideways, looking into the bathroom mirror from different angles. No matter which way she turned or how much smoky-eyed makeup and lip balm she applied, the woman staring back at her looked uncomfortable.
The click of the bedroom door followed by the complete lack of footsteps broadcasted Rafe’s arrival. “Our host is waiting for us, Roja,” his voice echoed from the bedroom.
She peeked around the corner and watched him act casual as he did another electronic scan of the room with his Hot-and-Cold watch. “I’ll come out, but you’re not allowed to judge. Also, don’t make me bend, laugh, or expect me to breathe too deeply. In other words, anything physical is pretty much off the table. But if we need one of those living statues, I’m your girl.”
Pulse pounding, she showed herself in the doorway and felt her heart plummet to her stomach at the sight of Rafe’s wilting smile. “Oh God. It’s bad, isn’t it? I look ridiculous? I knew it.” She turned, prepared to hide her head in the nearest hole.