Naked in Death (In Death #1)(77)

“If you had illicit income, why would you be stupid enough to document it?”

“A question for the ages. But people do. Oh yes, they do. Yes,” he said, answering her unspoken question as to his own bookkeeping methods. “Of course I do.”

She shot him a hard look. “I don’t want to know about it.”

He only moved his shoulders. “The point being, because I do, I know how it’s done. Everything’s above board here, wouldn’t you say?” With a few commands he had the IRS reports merged on one screen. “Now let’s go down a level. Computer, Simpson, Edward T., foreign accounts.”

“No known data.”

“There’s always more data,” Roarke murmured, undeterred. He went back to the keyboard, and something began to hum.

“What’s that noise?”

“It’s just telling me I’m hitting a wall.” Like a laborer, he flicked open the buttons at his cuffs, rolled up his sleeves. The gesture made Eve smile. “And if there’s a wall, there’s something behind it.”

He continued to work, one handed, and sipped his wine. When he repeated his command, the response had shifted.

“Data protected.”

“Ah, now we’ve got it.”

“How can you — “

“Ssh,” he ordered again and had Eve subsiding into impatient silence. “Computer, run numerical and alphabetical combinations for passkey.”

Pleased with the progress, he pushed back. “This will take a little time. Why don’t you come here?”

“Can you show me how you — ” She broke off, shocked, when Roarke pulled her into his lap. “Hey, this is important.”

“So’s this.” He took her mouth, sliding his hand up her hip to just under the curve of her breast. “It could take an hour, maybe more, to find the key.” Those quick, clever hands were already moving under her sweater. “You don’t like to waste time, as I recall.”

“No, I don’t.” It was the first time in her life she’d ever sat on anyone’s lap, and the sensation wasn’t at all unpleasant. She was sinking, but the next mechanical hum had her pulling back. Speechless, she stared at the bed gliding out of a panel in the side wall. “The man who has everything,” she managed.

“I will have.” He hooked an arm under her legs, lifted her. “Very shortly.”

“Roarke.” She had to admit, maybe just this once, she enjoyed being swept up and carried off.

“Yes.”

“I always thought too much emphasis, in society, advertisement, entertainment, was put on sex.”

“Did you?”

“I did.” Grinning, she shifted her body, quick and agile, and overbalanced him. “I’ve changed my mind,” she said as they tumbled onto the bed.

She’d already learned that lovemaking could be intense, overwhelming, even dangerously exciting. She hadn’t known it could be fun. It was a revelation to find that she could laugh and wrestle over the bed like a child.

Quick, nipping kisses, ticklish groping, breathless giggles. She couldn’t remember ever giggling before in her life as she pinned Roarke to the mattress.

“Gotcha.”

“You do indeed.” Delighted with her, he let her hold him down, rain kisses over his face. “Now that you have me, what are you going to do about it?”

“Use you, of course.” She bit down, none too gently, on his bottom lip. “Enjoy you.” With her brows arched, she unfastened his shirt, spread it open. “You do have a terrific body.” To please herself, she ran her hands over his chest. “I used to think that sort of thing was overrated, too. After all, anyone with enough money can have one.”

“I didn’t buy mine,” Roarke said, surprised into defending his physique.

“No, you’ve got a gym in this place, don’t you?” Bending, she let her lips cruise over his shoulder. “You’ll have to show it to me sometime. I think I’d like watching you sweat.”

He rolled her over, reversing positions. He felt her freeze, then relax under his restraining hands. Progress, he thought. The beginnings of trust. “I’m ready to work out with you, lieutenant, anytime.” He tugged the sweater over her head. “Anytime at all.”

He released her hands. It moved him to have her reach up, draw him down to her to embrace.

So strong, he thought, as the tone of the lovemaking changed from playful to tender. So soft. So troubled. He took her slowly, and very gently over the first rise, watched her crest, listened to the low, humming moan as her system absorbed each velvet shock.

He needed her. It still had the power to shake him to know just how much he needed her. He knelt, lifting her. Her legs wrapped silkily around him, her body bowed fluidly back. He could take his mouth over her, tasting warm flesh while he moved inside her, deep, steady, slow.

Each time she shuddered, a fresh stream of pleasure rippled through him. Her throat was a slim white feast he couldn’t resist. He laved it, nipped, nuzzled while the pulse just under that sensitized flesh throbbed like a heart.

And she gasped his name, cupping his head in her hands, pressing him against her as her body rocked, rocked, rocked.

She discovered lovemaking made her loose, and warm. The slow arousal, the long, slow finish energized her. She didn’t feel awkward climbing back into her clothes with the scent of him clinging to her. She felt smug.