She opened her mouth then closed it. Twice. There really was nothing to say, no way to bluff her way out of the situation she’d somehow found herself in. Trapped with Cruz at her side and Austin soon-to-be on the other side of that door, her ass was toast.
Dahlia bit the inside of her cheek and stared up at the ceiling. Sprawled out on her back, arm shackled as Cruz stared her down, she felt the walls closing in.
Fast. Tight.
Sweat slid down her spine, betraying her nerves where no one could see. Fighting the rising nausea, she resolved to make it very hard to either man—Austin or Cruz—to kill her.
Fuck if I’m going down without a fight.
The shrill sound of Cruz’s phone broke the stillness. Dahlia ignored it, concentrating on the evenness of her breathing and the loud thumping of her heart. She’d continue searching for a way out until they took her life away.
Cruz climbed off the bed in all his naked, delicious glory and she kept her gaze on him as he spoke into the phone. Those bulging muscles looked so good on him, his tanned skin glowing under the soft touch of sunlight spilling through the sheer drapes at the windows.
He’d fucked her six ways to Sunday, took her in more ways than one, would he find it easy to kill her? To put the gun to her head, between her eyes maybe, and squeeze the trigger?
Her chest hurt, constricting at the thought.
He’d do it without blinking once he knew. Once he learned of her betrayal of his sister. Hell, she’d do it. Still, was she a fool to wish Cruz cared? To wish this wasn’t all about revenge to him, that somehow in some
miniscule way she meant more than a convenient fuck and bargaining chip? “Yeah, come on up.”
She jerked her chin at his words. What now?
Phone to his ear, he grinned. “That’s my business, but you’re free to butt in. I know you will.” He paused then laughed, a genuine belly laugh, pu re and unrestricted.
Dahlia had no rhyme or reason for the white-hot jealousy streaking through her veins in that moment. She envied the person who made him so at ease, who knew him so well.
“All right, see you in a bit.”
Cruz ended the call and turned to her. “We’re having company but don’t worry, I won’t let you out of my sight.” He winked and pulled the covers up and over her nakedness.
“Can’t I at least get some clothes?” She tugged at her caught wrist. The cuffs rattled.
“Nope.” He shook his head. “Not yet, but soon.” Turning away, he stepped into a pair of jeans, pulling the dark denim over his taut ass in slow motion.
Shit. “Cruz, please.” Fuck, the bastard had her begging and that didn’t sit right with her.
“Be very quiet, Dahlia.” Dragging his fingers through his hair, he sighed and straightened. “I don’t want to gag you but I will.”
She gasped.
“Just keep your mouth shut and you’ll be fine.”
The elevator doors opened with a smooth woosh, cutting off her words and captu ring his attention.
A woman stepped out clad in a tight black dress stretched over stunning curves and pale skin, and pink stilettos. Bright red hair framed her face and fell to her waist in shiny waves. Unusual blue-green eyes flicked over Dahlia and discarded her presence instantly.
over his head and widened in pleasure. Perfectly plump lips parted on a smile.
“Cruz.”
“Damn, Ricki. You look amazing.” Cruz reached the woman’s side with a quick stride and wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her way too tight for Dahlia’s peace of mind.
Ricki chuckled. “I’ve got me a hot date later.”
Cruz pulled away and cupped her cheek before brushing a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Poor bastard.”
On the bed, Dahlia gritted her teeth at the urge to tell the bitch to get her hands off Dahlia’s man. The familiar way they bantered and touched each other set her teeth on edge.
Not fucking cool.
As if she heard Dahlia’s thoughts, Ricki lifted her gaze and met Dahlia’s. They stared at each other, Dahlia threatening bodily harm through her glare. Ricki’s mouth lifted at the corners, eyes laughing out right at Dahlia.
The woman spoke to Cruz without taking her gaze off Dahlia. “Parece
que a mocinha fica com ciúmes de mim.”
Dahlia nar rowed her eyes at the unfamiliar language as Cruz’s back stiffened and he spoke.
“Não vamos lá agora.”
The fuck, were they going all secret language on her? ****
Cruz kept his back to Dahlia. Ricki stared at him with those damn eyes all deep and shit. She’d launched into Portuguese, telling him his little lady looked jealous. He didn’t want to think about what Dahlia meant to him.
If he did, he’d be losing his mind at the thought of allowing the bastard Har rington anywhere near her. The tight coil in his gut didn’t really count as losing his mind.
“Qual é o seu plano?”
Cruz scoffed. Plan? He had no plan. None. He took Ricki’s hand and led her into the bathroom. She pulled away once they entered, crossing her arms over her chest as he locked the door.
“Are you sure about this?” she asked when he faced her.
“No, I’m not sure about anything right now.” Shoving stiff fingers through his hair, Cruz heaved a weary sigh.
“You’re dangling her under his nose,” Ricki pointed out. “That’s a very dangerous game to play with someone as ruthless as Austin Har rington.”
Cruz nar rowed his eyes. Was she doubting him? “And what? I’m not as ruthless?” Ricki knew better, she’d been right there with him since the beginning.
She held up a hand. “Listen to what I’m saying before you jump the hell down my throat. You can be as bad as him if you have to, yes, but there’s a marked difference between you and Har rington. You have a conscience.”
“Fuck that, conscience takes a backseat to revenge tonight.” And every
other night as long as Harrington is out there messing with people’s lives.
Ricki absorbed his outbu rst with a raised eyebrow. “Where does the naked woman in your bed come in?”
Cruz turned away with a shrug. “Your said it yourself, she’s bait.” Ricki laughed. Cruz wrinkled his brow and met her twinkling gaze. “What’s funny?”
“Even you don’t believe that shit you’re spouting. She’s moved way past bait for you, way past a means to an end. You have to decide what matters most: Dahlia with you, or Austin dead.”
Cruz leaned against the closed door, ignoring the hollow in his chest. “Why does it have to be an either or? If—and I stress if—I want Dahlia, I can get rid of Harrington and still have her.”
Pity flashed in Ricki’s clear gaze for an instant. Cruz frowned.
planned. Especially with someone as unpredictable as Har rington. How sure are you that you’re holding all the cards?”
Cruz regarded her silently. For all the years they’d been friends and lovers, this was the first time Ricki blatantly questioned his actions on a mission. Sure this one wasn’t sanctioned by the people they usually contracted with, this was personal, but shouldn’t she know him well enough to know he’d never jump into anything without considering all the angles?
She rolled her eyes. “I can see what you’re thinking, but come on. It needs to be said and who else but me to do that?”
He smiled. Yeah, she was right. Ricki didn’t pull any punches. He moved away from the door and pulled her into a hug.
“I love you, Ricki.” She squeezed him tight.
Cruz took a breath against her neck, inhaling the familiar expensive perfume Ricki favored, applied subtly of course. Her touch was familiar, body soft but firm. Normally being this close to her would have him hard, but not today.
Not since he’d had Dahlia.
Ricki pulled away, brushing a kiss on his lips. “I love you, too. And you may not want to hear this, but I’ll say it anyway.”
He remained quiet and watchful as she cupped his cheek, eyes somber. “I think you care for that woman out there way more than you’re letting on. You may even be in love with her.” She pressed a finger over his mouth when he parted his lips. “From the death glare she pinned me with earlier, I think she feels the same way.”
Cruz’s heart thumped, his pulse sped up. Ricki couldn’t possibly know, but hope filled his body at the thought that Dahlia may care for him.
Ricki dropped her hand and moved toward the door. “I hope none of us have reason to regret going up against Austin Har rington.”
Cruz walked Ricki out the bath room, planting a soft kiss on her forehead before she headed off to put stage one of their plan in place.
Tonight they’d bring down that bastard Har rington, make him pay for Ciske’s death.
And once he had revenge for his sister marked off his to-do list, Cruz vowed to spend some time really figuring out where Dahlia fit in his life.
She had to fit, he couldn’t see himself waking up the next morning without her in his bed.
In his life.
He turned away from the closed elevator doors and met the censure in Dahlia’s nar rowed eyes.
Yep, she was pissed.
“You used to fuck her, didn’t you?” The handcuffs clanged as she pulled on it. The covers he’d draped over her naked body shifted when she moved, sliding down the curve of her full breasts.
Cruz licked his lips. “Ricki and I are long over.”
“Yeah?” Nostrils flaring, Dahlia asked, “What was that sojourn into the bathroom about?”
“Business.” Unbuttoning his jeans, Cruz tugged it down and kicked it off. He kept his gaze on Dahlia as she followed his movements. He really liked the way her moist lips parted and she brushed her legs against the mattress. The faraway look in her eyes said her actions barely registered to her.
“I don’t like the way you are with her.”
Dahlia spoke so softly, Cruz had to go back over the words in his head to be sure he’d heard them right. He knelt at the edge of the bed, his heart pounding in his chest, and circled her left ankle. “How am I with Ricki?”
Her throat worked. She broke their gaze, shifting her attention so somewhere over his right shoulder. “Familiar. Carefree. Loose.”
Hiding a smile, Cruz lifted her foot and flicked his tongue over her toes painted deep red.
She inhaled audibly as her body jerked.
“And how does that differ to how I am with you?” He continued his journey, tasting her toes one by one.
Dahlia’s breath and the handcuffs holding her vied for the loudest rattle. Her spicy musk wafted to him, teasing his nose and setting his taste buds on a frenzy.
“You-you’re tense and secretive with me.” Her eyelids fluttered and her legs widened.
Cruz pulled away the covers, flinging them to the floor and exposing her naked body to his hungry gaze. The creamy smooth of her skin deserved a thorough licking and lucky for her—and him—they had ample time to indulge. His cock throbbed at the thought.
“I’m just a means to an end for you.”
He raised a heavy-lidded gaze to her, but her eyes were closed, face turned away from him. Tightening his hold on her ankle, he slid his free hand down her leg, brushing the satiny skin of her inner thigh before tracing the dark outer lips of her pussy with two fingers.
She gasped.
“Look at me,” he ordered.
She did so slowly, reluctantly. Once their gazes met, Cruz kept his eyes on her as he flattened his tongue down the bottom of her foot and dipped his fingers into her soaked center.
“Hmm.” Body arched, head thrown back, Dahlia gripped the sheets. “Fucking look at me!” he snarled. The couple fingers inside her became a threesome and he screwed them into her tight heat in measured strokes. Pre-cum dripped from his hard cock and onto the sheets as he came up on his knees between her legs.
She looked down at him, shocked arousal brightening her dark eyes. “You’re more to me than a means to an end.” He fucked her sure and steady, enjoying the wet squeeze as her vaginal walls worked over time to keep him trapped inside. “You’re more than a bargaining chip to use against Har rington.”
Under her wide eyed, slack-jawed stare, he sucked her toes into his mouth, slurping on them as he pulled his fingers out and rammed them back in.
“Argh!” She propped herself up on her elbows, hips lifting to meet his thrusts.
Heat blossomed in his groin, swelling his cock even more and making him ache, but he ignored it. He was on a mission to prove something and he wouldn’t stop until he’d done just that.
“You’re more than just a tool, Dahlia.” Pressing his thumb on her clit, he felt her pulse beat triple-time. “From the second our eyes met in that bank, you’ve been more than just a job.”
Harsh breaths left her body as she rode his fingers, hips snapping, plunging down as he stabbed into her again and again.
He dropped her ankle and crawled over her, the need to come drawing his balls up close to his body. He wrapped his hands around his erection and stroked. Movements uncoordinated, he worked them, both their bodies tense and expectant.
Dahlia kept her shimmering gaze on him, fingers twisted in the sheets. Cruz straddled her lower body, stroking his cock and curling the fingers inside her.
She jerked, walls clamping down around him.
He groaned, blood rushing through his ears and mingling with her cries as she came. The sound of her release triggered his and he exploded, tugging roughly on his hard-on as creamy seed poured through his fingers and dripped on her pussy and the inside of her thighs.
Cruz rubbed his cum into Dahlia’s skin, hand trembling. Laying prone, legs splayed, she regarded him with wide eyes, pupils dilated. Those eyes were unreadable and he couldn’t look into them anymore so he leaned forward, pressing kisses to her stomach.
Tentative fingers shifted through his hair, scraping his scalp. She held him to her, her chest and the fingers in his hair the only part of her body
moving.
He looked up. Her eyes were closed, nostrils wide.
“I wish I didn’t care what you think about me,” she whispered. “But I do. I care what you think and how you feel even when I have no right.”
Cruz crawled up her body, laying atop her, his semi-hard cock settling nicely between the damp heat of her parted thighs. He slid his hand under her head and lifted her off the pillow before cupping the back of her neck.
She opened her eyes then, reaching deep into his soul with the raw emotion swirling behind her dark gaze.
“I care about you,” he said thickly. “I care more than I should.” He expected joy from her, not the heavy sigh she expelled. “You shouldn’t, but I’m glad you do.”
Cruz nar rowed his eyes. “Why shouldn’t I?”
Dahlia cupped his cheek with soft hands. “I care for you more than I should, as well. I care.” Her voice wobbled and her eyes shimmered brighter. “But I think we should table that discussion until after we’ve dealt with Austin. You may not feel the same.”
What the hell was she talking about? Cruz opened his mouth to voice the question, but she placed a finger over his lips.
“Later.” She kissed him, open-mouthed and wet, tongue sliding inside his mouth.
He rolled them until she lay on top of him. Never breaking the kiss, he slid his hands down her back, one hand tracing her spine while the other dipped lower, fingers dragging down the cleft of her buttocks.
She wiggled on him, nipples pushing into his chest, moaning into the kiss. He pushed a finger into her ass, breaching the tight ring of muscle with help from her slippery juices.
He sank all the way inside and she flinched, walls contracting. The heat of her channel scorched his fingers, making his cock throb and leak where it lay trapped between their bodies.
body. She dug her fingers into his shoulder, nails biting, stinging. The sharp pain hardened him more. He rolled his hips up into her wet softness.
“Umm.” She gentled the kiss, teeth nipping at his bottom lip. He doubled his fingers, scissoring them to stretch her.
“Ungg. Yes.” She threw her head back, plunging down on his fingers. The hot tight clasp of her walls made him wince.
He grabbed her hair, bunching the thick locks in a fist as he held her steady, fucking her. “Yes, ride my fingers. Love how your hungry ass holds me tight. Fucking hot.”
She shivered. Mewls left her throat.
“You want more, don’t you?” He leaned forward and slid his tongue down her throat. “You want more than my fingers inside that ass, fucking you hard.”
She whimpered.
He added another finger, taking his time to work it into her. Her breath hitched, but she took him greedily, body opening wider to accommodate.
“Yes, just like that.” His words, meant to encourage, came out as a growl. “Good girl. So tight in here. Go on, take it. Take it.”
Dahlia lifted up and off him. Palms flat on his chest, she sank down on his fingers.
“Oh, God!” Her cry echoed in the room.
“Oh, fuck!” Cruz squeezed his eyes tight. His balls ached and he had to