Sex, Lies and Midnight. Tawny Weber
fingers itch to see if the fabric was soft enough to touch that glorious flesh.
No. Even though his hardening body screamed in protest, he put on the mental brakes. That wasn’t a road he was going down. She was a case. A tool at the most. Sexy, gorgeous and apparently fun, but still a means to an end.
She was so damned hard to resist. Telling himself it was all in the name of the job, he took her hands again, lifting them both to his mouth. He brushed soft kisses over her silky knuckles, then placed her hands, palms flat, against his shoulders.
“I need to get this out of the way,” he said quietly. “It’s got nothing to do with the deal, and everything to do with how I’m feeling.”
She shook her head, looking like she wanted to protest. But instead her fingers dug into his shoulders.
Thighs brushing a tempting invitation against hers, his hands smoothed down the tiny curve of her waist to the sweet roundness of her hips. Her breath shuddered, just a little. Simon almost groaned aloud. She was so delicious. Was the reality of her as tasty as the promise?
Totally forgetting his plan—hell, his own name—Simon pulled her closer, so their bodies were close. So close, but not quite touching. Her warm scent wrapped around him like its own caress, making his mouth water, his dick harden.
Crazy, he thought, as he leaned down to take her mouth with his.
Their lips brushed, soft and sweet. Just this side of innocent. Safe, he told himself. A Happy Holidays kind of kiss. Totally acceptable.
Then she made this tiny sound. Somewhere between a purr and a growl, deep in her throat.
And he lost it.
His mouth took hers. His tongue slipped between her full lips, taking hers in a dance as old as time. He coaxed, he battled, he challenged. And damned if she didn’t do exactly the same.
Simon’s body screamed in pleasure. Passion, way out of line for such a simple kiss, demanded release. His muscles tensed as he forced himself to not grab her and find a dark corner to explore just how good this could get.
Having to grab control before he went over the edge, he pulled his mouth from hers. Her eyes were closed, thick dark lashes curving over the tops of her cheeks. She took a deep breath and slowly lifted those lashes.
Absolutely crazy. Breathless, Simon stared into her deep, golden eyes and wondered if she was the answer to his prayers. Or the curse that would finally take him down.
Her hands were trembling and there was a sheen of shocked worry in her pretty gold eyes. Like she’d been just as overcome by that as he had. Before, he’d have taken her as a woman used to using her body to get what she wanted. He’d have been wrong.
“This wasn’t what I offered to pay you for,” she protested breathlessly. “I was offering to pay you cash. To help you with your investments. I don’t barter with anything else.”
Simon had no idea why it thrilled him that she’d never pulled a con using the oldest lure in the book. That made their kiss, well, special. And that, he winced, made him a sap. A horny, deceiving sap.
But still, he couldn’t lie to her.
“Look,” he said, risking the case by reaching out to take her hand, “I’m not going to deny I think you’re a gorgeous woman. You’re fun and I’m very attracted to you.”
Her fingers stiffened and she tried to pull away. But Simon didn’t let go.
“But I’m not the kind of guy who takes advantage of women.” At least, not in the way she was worried about. “This deal is for me going home with you for New Years. I provide distraction and run interference with your family and that woman who keeps bugging you. That’s all you’re paying me for.”
Her fingers relaxed and she gave a shaky sigh.
Then, because he couldn’t help it, Simon added, “Anything else that happens? That’s between us. Just you and just me. No deal, no investment, no family stuff. Just attraction.”
He saw her throat move as she swallowed nervously.
“I know it was my idea, but I have to think it through. This is my family we’re facing. I have to be sure it’s not a mistake,” she said. “If you give me your number, I’ll call you in the morning.”
Then, as if she were scared of what else might come out of her mouth, she gave him a quick smile, turned on those sexy heels and hurried back into the ballroom.
Simon watched, mesmerized by the sweet sway of Maya’s hips as she waltzed away. All curves and sweeping dark curls, she was pure female. Pure delight. Pure temptation.
And she was going to be difficult to resist. But if Simon prided himself on anything, it was on his control. Which, he realized with a sigh and shake of his head as she shot him a look over her shoulder before leaving, was going to be sorely tested.
At least, it would be if she took him up on his offer. And he was pretty sure she would. She needed to go home, and was desperate to do so on her terms. The loss of pretty boy put her at a disadvantage.
Simon grinned. Things were working out even better than he’d hoped.
Before he could really dig into the joy of gloating, his cell phone rang. He glanced at the display and frowned.
“Don’t you need probable cause to spy on me?” he answered.
“No clue what you’re talking about,” Hunter shot back, sounding amused. “I’m just checking in, seeing if you’re ready to report to work tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow is Sunday.”
“Technically, today is Sunday. Which makes tomorrow the day you are due to report to the Savannah office for your next assignment.”
Hunter must be on the east coast since it was only ten here. Still, Simon glanced around the atrium, narrowing his eyes at the windows and dark corners.
“About that…”
“Yes?”
There was no inflection in Hunter’s voice, but still, Simon had the feeling that the man knew exactly what he was about to say. And wasn’t happy about it.
“I’ve caught an opening on a cold case. I’m going to touch base with Roberts about pursuing it for the next week instead of taking a new assignment,” he said, referring to his director.
“No.”
“No?” Frowning, Simon strode to the back of the atrium, squinting at plants and barrels as he went. Did Hunter have that authority?
“As of now, you’re temporarily assigned to my division. Your permanent move to the task force will depend on your work over the next month.”
Stopping midstride, Simon struggled to decide how he felt about that. He’d worked damned hard for that transfer to Savannah. It was the next step up the ladder and he’d worked his ass off for it. But working with Hunter? That’d make his career.
All he’d have to do was give up his shot at Tobias Black. The shot he’d just cemented.
Maybe he should fill Hunter in. He instantly decided against it, though. He wanted to make this bust himself. He wanted to prove he deserved the promotion he’d just been offered.
Why had he just been offered that promotion?
“I didn’t put in for a transfer. What’s the deal?” he asked.
“I have need of your talents.”
Simon was good. Damned good. But he had no illusions. Other than the fact that he had a photographic memory for numbers, there was nothing he could do that dozens of other agents couldn’t. Not as well, but that was beside the point.
“Why do I doubt you?”
“Because you’re an untrusting soul, Barton.”
True.