The Espionage Effect(36)

He shifted his stance, increasing the distance between us by an inch, then nodded off right. “In a pocket community past the line of resorts to the south.”

My lips twitched at his subtle defensive response, but I abandoned my taunting in favor of gaining information. “Is it on the beach?”

“Yes.”

“What style is it?” I wanted to envision where he went when he left here, where he slept—know the exact location and description. “You know, in the event I decide to drop onto the terrace from a coconut tree.”

“Style?” He ignored my quip and tipped the tiny espresso cup back to finish whatever remained, then turned toward me.

Shadows played across his ruggedly handsome face as the palm fronds behind me filtered the terrace lights from the adjacent building. His brows drew together, his confusion evident as he stared down at me.

I turned fully toward him and waited, enjoying the moment as I held his searching gaze. Me in his shirt. Him with his pants half-fastened. Both of us denying the electric chemistry sparking between us, out on a balcony where he’d stumbled into my world, mere feet away from where he’d rocked mine irrevocably.

I pursed my lips in thought. “You know, adobe, mission?” I couldn’t think of the names of any others down in Mexico. It wasn’t like I dabbled in architectural design or real estate sales. “Territorial…” The last popped into my mind, but by the time it fell from my lips, it came out slow, heavy.

His eyes widened a fraction, then he relaxed them. In slow motion, he shook his head, never saying a word, but chastising me nonetheless for my loaded tone.

He leaned closer, the heated skin of his arms brushing against mine, his chest inches from my face, forcing me to tilt my head up. “None of the above,” he whispered. Then he dipped his head down, stopping his lips a hairsbreadth from mine.

I froze, waiting to see what he’d do, needing anything he’d offer, wanting all he had to give.

Only in this cat-and-mouse game we played, he’d had more practice than me. Instead of a decadent kiss, he pressed his mouth to mine, close-lipped, chaste. The brief contact only lasted a heartbeat before it vanished altogether.

Yet it seared me.

Before I processed anything further, I blinked and realized he’d left the balcony.

I rushed inside to follow.

He bent over the bed, scooping up the abandoned black blindfold and silken ties before dropping the items into his open bag on the ground. He finished zipping up his pants, threaded the button closed, and fastened his belt.

“A Japanese long house.” He stepped into his boots, one foot, then the other.

“What?”

“The style.” He glanced up with smug expression, clearly pleased with how he’d flustered me. His gaze dropped down to my chest. “Gonna need that shirt.”

I fought the urge to narrow my eyes at him. He’d done nothing wrong. Actually, he’d done everything to me that I’d wanted and half a dozen things I’d never even imagined. And now he was moving on. Treating what had happened between us lightly, making the event exactly what it needed to be: casual.

“Fine.” I pulled his shirt over my head, unabashedly baring my nakedness. My nipples reacted to the cool air, hardening as I tossed his shirt across the ten feet that spanned between us.

His gaze swept down my body, expression pained.

That’s right. Get a good look at what you’re denying yourself. I didn’t bother crossing my arms or hiding my body in any way. For some reason, knowing he wanted what he couldn’t have, just as much as I wanted it, took the sting away from the inexplicable frustration that I struggled to tamp down.

“Will I see you again?” I knew the answer. He thought he held all the cards, but if I was to enter the world of espionage, I had to be resourceful, seize opportunity.

Or make it.

Confusion flickered over his face again before he pulled his shirt over his head. When the material fell to his hips and settled, he shot a hard look at me. He took two full breaths as we stared at each other.

“Sure.” He shrugged. “Ever snorkel before?”

“No.” I almost laughed. He kept throwing me off-balance. And yet, I was hungry to get started with my hidden agenda of covert spy training, eager to learn. “But I’m a quick study.”

He gave me a curt nod. “It’s pretty easy. Breathe. Float. Repeat.”

Now I narrowed my eyes at him.

He fought a smile. “Get some sleep. I’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m.”

He didn’t wait for my reply. Simply turned, picked up his bag, unlocked the two locks on the door, then left, letting the door slam shut behind him.

I grinned, jumped, and landed facedown onto the bed, thrilled at how powerful the tension remained between us. Slowly, I stretched, inhaling the scent of our sex that clung to the sheets.

I wanted more from Alec than what he’d provided in this bed.

And although he didn’t know it yet, he was going to give it to me.





After a 9:30 a.m. wakeup call, a shower, and a smaller breakfast I’d arranged, I had one of the resort’s drivers take me to the hospital to visit Anna. And if I had my determined way, she’d be coming back to the resort with me, regardless of her therapeutic hot-doctor agenda.

“Back in ninety minutes?” That would give me enough time to convince her.