Desire & Deception (Entangled Ignite) (4 page)

She unbuttoned her top and shrugged out of the ruined garment.

Cruz’s labored breathing came from somewhere nearby. Bitterness simmered in her gut. The disgusting pig was waiting to move in on her.

She glowered at Kris, addressing him in fragmented Spanish. “You want me clean. Fine!” She sent the balled up shirt flying at his chest. “But I’m not putting on a show for your benefit, or theirs.”

He didn’t blink at her rebellious act. Instead, he merely let the garment fall.

Seething, she opened her belt and button. The zipper’s rasp grated her resolve. To add insult to injury, she had to shimmy out of the snug pants, which she also balled up and launched at him. The belt sent her missile toward his hip before the ping of metal hitting concrete echoed through the enclosure.

Only her matching underwear remained.
I can do this. Better him than Cruz.
The possibility of having Cruz’s hands on her made her skin crawl. A moment later, she worked the bra clasp with her bruised arm, releasing the weight of her breasts. She couldn’t think about him standing there. What if her body reacted the way it had last night? Her face heated, and her breath echoed around her, but she hooked her thumbs into the elastic at her waist. Swallowing hard, she swept her panties down, baring her body, then sent both pieces flying toward him.

She didn’t stop to check if he was staring, merely wrenched the valve open. The pipe sputtered once before spitting out an icy stream. Her gasp brought a painful reminder of her raw throat. Gathering her resolve, she ducked beneath the water despite its sting.

She chanced a glimpse from the corner of her eye while she tore apart her intricate braid. Kris hadn’t budged, his powerful arms remained crossed over his chest and his long legs splayed. His steady gaze didn’t ogle her as she’d half expected. He just made sure she followed his orders. That did nothing to help her block out his imposing presence, or the shock of anticipation rippling through her.

She reached for the sliver of dry, cracked soap, then washed her hair and body. Weak bubbles slid down the drain much too soon.
I need more time.
She lathered up her hands and scrubbed away any makeup residue from her face. Precious seconds ticked by while she rinsed off.

He reached into the stall. “Enough.”

Awareness tingled through her, making her retreat a step. The powerful hand twirled the butterfly valve, mesmerizing her until the metal squeaked to a stop. The last drops fell from the pipe with a throat-tightening splatter.

She wrung her wet hair and pulled the ends forward to offer cover. Her eyes darted around in a vain search for a towel. Finally, she looked up at him through spiky lashes. Nervous energy made her continue to wipe away droplets from her face as she waited to learn her fate.

A car door slammed. The country boy’s lilting voice announced his return.

God, please don’t let him take me out there like this.

“Son of a—” He grimaced, perhaps realizing her predicament.

Long, tapered fingers worked loose one button after another, revealing tanned chest muscles. She stared at the base of his throat as solid shoulders came into view. Peripheral vision teased her with tightening biceps until he stepped forward and held the shirt open for her. She stepped closer and turned, slipping her arms into the long sleeves. The shirt held the heat from his body, making her feel like she’d crawled into his skin. Skin she would’ve loved to admire under other circumstances.

Her fingers flew over the buttons until the last one slipped into place. She pulled the damp material away from her breasts and hips before she turned around, bracing for whatever came next.

“Pick up your clothes, little girl.” The term grated on her nerves, bringing forth vulnerabilities she’d tried hard to suppress.

She crouched and gathered each item she’d tossed. The hellish night had covered her new, hand-tooled leather boots in scratches and scuff marks. An uncharacteristic, impulse buy that had served her well in the end.

His fingers rubbed her scalp as they closed around her hair, one by one. She flinched. Apparently, Kris had little patience, and she’d taken longer than he was willing to wait. She straightened before he had the chance to yank her up. With a death grip on her clothes, she stepped forward, head tilted back so she couldn’t see the floor.

He propelled her through the main room, past the doorway to freedom and several men, including the country boy. Their lust-filled faces were a blur at the corner of her eye. Felipe watched her approach, his lecherous stare darkening as she went by. She sent up a silent prayer of thanks that Kris wouldn’t allow her to be passed around the motley crew.

“Don’t worry, Cruz,” Kris shot in parting. “She’ll pay her dues.”

The insane moment of gratitude evaporated. For a fleeting moment, she’d actually been stupid enough to believe in him. She tightened her hold on the bundle in her arms and pointedly blocked out the wall of testosterone at her back. Her focus should be on the area ahead and any possibility for escape.

Cruz’s laughter taunted her. “That’s how it’s done,
jefe
!” He clapped his hands in glee.

Kris guided her though the doorway and called over his shoulder, “Make sure we’re not disturbed.”

CHAPTER THREE

Kris kept Tessa on a tight rein while he led her down the narrow hallway, past the vault, a storage room/bedroom, and the kitchen. Water trickled down his wrist as anticipation grew in his belly. She’d make another attempt to escape. Her opportunity was coming up in a few more steps. They went out the side door, through the gravel moat, to an outdoor staircase without a railing.

“Step up.” They continued to the second floor with her sandwiched between him and the wall. Once they reached the small landing, he angled around her and opened a slide lock. He nudged her into the sparsely furnished bedroom and closed the metal door before loosening his grip on her wet hair. The trip had been too easy. He turned, eyes narrowed, trying to figure out what she was up to. When he caught sight of her profile, his lips curved with amusement.
Little Fox looks murderous.
Good. He didn’t like her pale and frightened.

He pried the filthy garments out of her hands and tossed them to the corner. “Tessa, we need…” She’d shifted her weight, widening her stance. He stopped, forgetting he’d intended to pull her close for a quiet talk. Alert, he focused on her hands, trying to anticipate her strike.
Stomach, foot, or crotch, Tessa?
He quickly gripped her left elbow to protect his jewels.
I’d prefer the jugular instead of the crotch right now.

Her sharp pivot brought a right cross dangerously close to his neck. He let go of her elbow and caught her forearm with a resounding smack. One quick jerk and her arm lay safely against her lower back. A curtain of red hair splashed across her cheeks. With narrowed eyes, she pulled back, squared her shoulder, and used the momentum for an open-handed punch toward his face. His arm shot out and deflected the blow.
Hmm, better than I expected.
That arm went behind her, also.

Full, ripe breasts pressed against him, fueling his raging erection. She wrinkled her nose, baring her teeth as her foot slammed into his ankles.

“That might have hurt if I wasn’t wearing boots.” He grinned.
What else ya got, kitten?

She growled at his flippant remark.

He waited, fascinated by her fury and the fiery strands plastered to her face. “Settle down, Tes—”

She drew back and slammed her forehead toward his nose. Kris recognized the snake strike and tapped down the urge to retaliate. Instead, he pulled up, sending her against his jawline. She gained a solid hit, but cried out in agony.

“Damn it, woman!” He winced, releasing her. In the excitement, she’d likely forgotten about the nasty bump on her head.

Tessa stumbled, knocking over a shoddy dresser. A wooden drawer splintered against the concrete and an ancient, blue lamp shattered at her feet.

“Tessa, stop.” He reached out to keep her from stepping on broken glass.

He grimaced. Disoriented, she reverted to panic mode, her slender arms flailing as she pushed him away. The throbbing from his jaw reminded him she wasn’t a bit helpless. He had no business feeling sorry for her. He swept a nearby shard away with his boot. Her leg hit right behind the knee supporting him.

Stupid move!

His leg crumpled, sending them both straight to the heavy bed. He wrapped his arms around her and flipped to take the brunt of the fall. Her back and shoulder landed across his chest, sending his breath whooshing out. Their impact sent the scarred, wooden headboard slamming into the wall. Tessa struggled against him. He trapped her legs between his, making her scream at the top of her lungs.

“Stop it!” His words were rough and clipped. “I’m not going to hurt you, Tessa.”

She wheezed as she dragged in breath. Either she didn’t believe him or couldn’t make sense of his words. Adrenaline had a way of wiping out basic functions.

“I’m letting you go.” As soon as his grip went lax, Tessa jabbed his ribs and tried to kick herself loose.

“Damn it, Tessa!” He clamped down on her, enraged. “You’re gonna hurt yourself again!”
And my ribs
. The whites of her eyes swallowed her features. Tears drew a thin line along her lower lashes, banking his fury. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he whispered.

She groaned as she dropped her head back against his shoulder.

They were skin-to-skin where the shirt opened and had gone askew during the struggle. His chin pressed against her temple, his arm lay across her bared breast, and his erection was right below the curve of her bottom. How could she possibly believe he meant no harm?

Resigned, he stared at the ceiling and moved his arm to her stomach. “The hard-on can’t be helped,
preciosa
. It started when I saw you last night and hasn’t let up.”

Her head jerked away; she was obviously unconvinced.

“I spent some very uncomfortable minutes watching you bathe. I’m only friggin’ human!” he finished through clenched teeth.

After a moment, she gave a stiff nod.

He released her and bolted up, straining to identify a distant sound.

“Someone’s coming.” The unmistakable labored breathing of their enforcer announced his approach. Cruz was surprisingly quick. The bastard wouldn’t expect them to be chit-chatting.
Damn.
He had no time to explain or to prepare her for what he had to do, much less to gain her acquiescence.

“I can’t bloody believe this,” Kris muttered, moving toward her. With a foul curse, he picked her up and tossed her to the center of the mattress. She yelped, pushing herself up on her elbows while he followed her onto the bed.

In the space of Tessa’s jaw dropping, he opened his belt and pushed down his jeans. Her eyes rounded, zooming in on his crotch. She jerked back, her arms coming up to struggle against him.

No time for this.
Kris caught both her hands in one swipe. “Convince him,” he spat, nodding toward the entrance.

Her wide eyes darted to the door and back. She gave a short nod. He released her hands to unceremoniously toss open her thighs as he pushed her into the mattress.

He tried to relax before capturing her startled expression with a hard kiss.
Damn you,
Cruz! Forcing me to act like a goddamn animal!
There was nothing he could do about thrusting against her. It was unfortunate, but her struggle made the scene more believable.

The kiss started abrupt and demanding as the hard muscles of his abdomen pressed against her softer one. By the time her breasts, bared during the struggle, were flattened against his chest, she let her body relax against his.

A low moan vibrated against his lips as her body went soft beneath him. Warm hands caressed him, curled into the muscles at his sides, all but destroying his concentration. Her full lips parted, inviting him to deepen the kiss. His hips slowed, letting the hardest part of him move sensually against her welcoming folds. She shifted beneath him, bringing her legs up to cradle his hips, sending every muscle in his abdomen into rigor.

Jesus
.

Even though he should know better, Kris allowed himself a moment to take pleasure in her heady response. He moved past her lips and stole a taste of the forbidden. Sweet, hot female played against his tongue. He cupped the curve of her bottom, adjusting their angle to apply pressure against her most sensitive spot. The door hinges squeaked in protest. Tessa’s hard nipples pressed into his chest, her hands slid down to the small of his waist, pulling him closer.

Cruz gave an appreciative laugh, shattering the tenuous connection between them.

Bastard! Damn you to hell!
Although every fiber of his being urged him on, Kris went still. He tore his mouth away to snarl at Cruz. “What the hell are you doing in here?”

“Heard a commotion,
jefe
.” His gaze lingered where Kris nestled between her slender thighs. “Just making sure everything’s alright.” He closed the door and started back downstairs. The footsteps faded while he called out, “He’s got
everything
under control.” The amusement in his voice made Kris’s stomach clench.

Her unexpected response left him huge, and hard, and hungry for so much more. He dropped his chin to her shoulder and closed his eyes, struggling to focus. Normally, keeping his emotions in check came as second nature. At the moment, he struggled to drag in a few calming breaths while he fought for control over his body.

The woman beneath him also labored for breath. Her chest heaved and her soft skin was flushed, whether from the exertion of their struggle or the situation, he didn’t know. Her fingers had dug into his lats while her body cradled his. His cock lay against slick folds and his chest covered further evidence of her arousal.

She faced the wall, her pulse pelting against her neck. His voice was heavy with regret when he whispered by her ear, “I’m sorry,
chiquilla
.” She nodded without sparing him a glance. “If I hadn’t claimed you, they would’ve expected I share you.”
And I’m not about to do that.

Pushing up on his forearms, he studied her submissive pose. The open garment displayed her torso and the generous swell of her breasts. A delectable nipple peaked out, teasing him with every ragged breath. Below, her narrow waist flared out to well-rounded hips pressing intimately against him. His cock bucked, drawing an unexpected quiver from her body.

Gasping, she turned to face him. Desire and confusion laced her big, brown eyes. He froze in place as her trembling hands clutched his shoulder blades. The air sizzled around them. Seconds ticked by and her eyes seemed less and less confused. The urge to shift his hips and thrust into her became more overwhelming with every heartbeat. He’d be able to take her lips again, to coax them open to explore, feel her arms drawing him close, and revel in the sounds of her pleasure.

Something inside him collapsed. Losing himself in this woman would be so easy, but the emotional turmoil that brought them here left a bitter taste in his mouth. Without breaking eye contact, he brought her palm to his lips for a soft kiss.

She blinked, pulling her hand back as she turned away. Her fingers tucked into a fist as she drew her arm over her breasts.

He climbed off the bed and regretfully arranged himself back into his clothes. With palms against his hips, he breathed deep. The last few minutes were seared into his memory.

“Tha-thank you.” She gathered the shirt, and her tattered dignity, around her.

Nodding, he acknowledged her words, but remained silent for a moment before he turned to scrutinize her. She sat stiff and silent, her lips a thin, unwelcoming line. He reached for her, half-expecting to be slapped away.

Her temple bore an angry gash that disappeared into her hairline. He reached down and folded up the shirt cuff past the abraded wrist to examine her arm. After finding her skin intact, he folded up the other sleeve. Finally, he pressed against her ribs where he’d seen the beginning of a bruise.

She drew away from him. “I don’t think anything’s broken, just bumped and bruised.”

He nodded, his fingers lingering before they dropped away. “Does your hip hurt? You had a red spot.”

“No.” Crimson stole up her cheeks. “I don’t know how long I was lying on the floor.”

The color dissipated little by little. “There’s a doctor downstairs right now. I’ll have him check on you. Doc knows the lifestyle of the people coming through here,” he cautioned, “so don’t get any ideas that’ll cause trouble.”

He picked up the dresser and drawers, putting the splintered one at the bottom. He double checked the room for anything she might use as a weapon. While Tessa looked like an unassuming puzzle piece waiting to be placed, she was likely planning her next move. He studied her subdued bearing, the slope of her breasts hidden beneath the front pockets, the shapely legs that had cradled him so intimately, and the dainty toes hovering well above the floor.

Frowning, he knelt before her to pick up the fragments of the broken lamp. He carefully piled each atop another until he was certain her bare feet would be safe.

He looked up to find her eyes on him, unfocused, her fingers folding under and over the shirttail.

Was she thinking about the moment her body responded to his? Because he sure as hell couldn’t get the image out of his head. Those richly fringed, chocolate eyes became aware. She broke contact, so he got up and walked out before he gave in to temptation.

…

The loud snap of the lock clicking into place made her flinch.

Tessa brought trembling fingers to her lips and dragged in a calming breath.
What just happened?
Her face heated at the vivid memory.

While she’d had a moment of panic when he’d pulled open his belt, she’d quickly caught onto his plan and had every intention of playing her part. She wondered about his expression, resignation tempered with anger, but one hot kiss and her brain had turned to mush.

Her heightened senses welcomed the weight of the man she’d wanted. By the time he’d pressed her into the mattress, she craved the enticing erection sliding against her. Heat ran up her cheeks and across her breasts, leaving her aching for more. What was it about this man that set the pulse between her thighs thrumming? He didn’t smile and didn’t flirt, but those eyes caressed her with luscious promise.