Love at High Tide (11 page)

“In you go.” Once the glass door clicked shut, Darcy stood in the warm spray. It mostly hit her back, but a few wet trails cascaded down her chest, instantly pebbling her nipples. Coop sucked in a breath at the sight.

“You’re getting a head start. I’d better get right to it.” He let her top fall to the tiles. With one hand he soaped, and with the other he mimicked every motion. Slow circles around her breasts. Long swipes down to her navel. Then a switch, to lather the other side. On fire, Darcy tried to arch her nipples into his touch. “Not yet,” he said in a husky warning.

Coop dropped to a crouch. After another talented tug of his teeth, the bottom of her suit joined the top. She anchored her hands in the blond hair she’d swear had lightened at least a shade in the last three days. Then he began running the soap in patterns up and down her legs. Between his feather-light touch and the pinpricks of water on her back, Darcy’s skin felt over-sensitized. Every swipe of the soap sent cascades of heat through her entire body. They hadn’t even kissed yet and she hovered on the brink of orgasm.

Quickly he shucked his trunks. Darcy double-blinked to clear the water from her eyes. He was the living embodiment of every naked male statue she’d ever goggled over, from Greece to Egypt to Italy. Twice as tan, though, and seemingly ten times as hard. Ridges of muscle lined his abdomen. Thighs that looked like wide enough to support the freaking Chrysler building were slightly paler, missing the gold-dust tan that covered the rest of his body. And between them stood the honest-to-God largest penis she’d ever seen. Long, thick, deep red and standing straight out, straining towards her.

She wanted it. She wanted him. Now. Darcy grabbed the condom off the top of the door and ripped it open with her teeth. At her first touch, his hips bucked forward. Nice to know he was as revved up as she was. In a hurry, she rolled the condom down his length.

“I said, not yet,” he panted between gritted teeth. Without any of the care he’d taken with her, Coop briskly palmed the soap across his body. Then he swiveled her until her back was against the blue tiles. Ever so slowly, he rubbed against her. Thanks to all the lather, they glided across each other with warm slickness.

Darcy’s eyes almost popped out of her head. Or maybe they rolled backward. She just knew she’d lost the ability to see as sensations buffeted her from, yes, head to toe as he finally drew her into a kiss. A wet, salty, tangy kiss that didn’t remotely resemble the tender ones he’d given her the night before. This kiss was all heat and possession and the taking she’d craved. Moaning, she clawed her hands through his hair.

Hands anchoring on her ass, Coop lifted her. Darcy didn’t need any more of a hint. Trusting in his obvious strength, she wrapped her legs around his waist. One hard thrust and they were joined. With the slick cushion of soap between them, there was still constant gliding and friction everywhere they touched. But all the pulls of passion from each limb centered in the pulsing between her legs.

Coop set a steady rhythm, driving into her with a strength she welcomed. Hard, fast, tireless, he filled her over and over and over again. The fullness grew, spreading outward like a supernova of heat and thrill and satisfaction. Shouting his name, Darcy broke into a white-hot cascade of pure, physical joy. A few more hard pumps and Coop joined her with a guttural groan. He buried his face in her neck, gasping for air as if he’d just run a marathon. Huh. Maybe even his super-human strength had its limits. She reset her feet on the tile. It would be nice if he could catch his breath without worrying about dropping her.

“Woman, you drained me.”

A spurt of female satisfaction rolled through her. Knowing she’d fulfilled him made her want to purr like a kitten. And then lick him clean all over. “Does that mean you’re not up for a second round? Because I didn’t begin to touch my fill of you.”

Coop straightened, then nudged her under the center of the spray. “It means that I can’t go again in the shower. However, there’s a bed about twenty feet away calling our names.”

She rinsed his chest with her hands, then cranked off the water. “A bed, huh? I just spent too many months on a camp cot. A real bed is still the height of luxury to me.”

Hurrying, the first sear of passion barely sated, they blotted more than dried off and rushed into the bedroom. Again, Darcy caught no more than a glimpse of navy blue walls with white trim before her whole world became his cocky grin. Coop had her flat on her back in a blink, sprawling across her.

“How’s this?”

“Heaven.” No exaggeration. Entirely relaxed, thoroughly happy and thrilled to her core, nothing could make this moment any better.

“Guess this is as good a time as any to ask.”

“Ask what? ’Cause right now, after the awesome sexing you just did, I’d give you anything. I’d run out and learn how to speak all twenty Mandarin dialects if you asked.”

“Good to know.” Coop slowly fanned her wet hair out on the pillow, using his fingers as a comb. “If I admit to being a selfish bastard, will it drive you away?”

“Depends. Are we talking hogging-the-remote selfish? Which is bad, by the way. Or uses-up-the-last-of-the-coffee selfish? Which, for the record, would make me run out of here faster than an Olympic sprinter.”

“I said you shouldn’t go back to Africa. Wrong move for you.”

Darcy scrunched her face up tight, then released it, like letting off a pressure valve on a steam pipe. “I know. I think I’ve known all along. I was just afraid to admit it to myself.”

“Well, it’s probably just seventy percent the wrong move for you. The other thirty percent? That’s because it’s the wrong move for me.” His gaze bored into her like a blue laser. “I don’t want you to go. No, I don’t want to let you go.”

“Oh, Coop—” she began, not really knowing what to say next. Because who could think when the most amazing man in the world put his heart on a doily-trimmed silver tray and offered it to her?

“You’re more than entitled to a post-thesis fling. But I want to be more than that. I don’t want to let someone so sweet and smart and loyal slip away. Definitely not all the way to another continent. A commuter relationship between D.C. and New York is hard enough. But no way could we sustain something this new across an entire ocean. So I know you can’t figure me into your plans. Not after just three days. But I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I didn’t at least tell you.”

Darcy wanted to smother him and kisses and promise to stay. To tell him how she could barely breathe with the joy of his statement. It wouldn’t be fair, however, to say anything like that until she knew if she could promise him anything more than a beach fling. Instead, she asked, “Does this mean I’ve earned the right to know your favorite food?”

Coop inch-wormed his way down her body until his warm breath feathered over her navel. “Fondue. Something about getting to play with your food and all the warm gooeyness—it can’t be beat.”

“How very metrosexual of you.” She giggled. And then, as his tongue lapped at her, Darcy couldn’t giggle anymore. All she could do was moan.

Chapter Eleven

“I can’t believe you didn’t let me wear the wig,” Trina groused as they slid into a red leather booth at the back of the restaurant. True to its name, the Red Terrapin boasted red, well, everywhere. Red carpet stamped with little gold turtles. Red turtle salt and pepper shakers. Red wallpaper. That is, what Darcy could see between the enormous plasma screen televisions taking up most of the wall space. She counted thirteen already, each showing a different sports channel. It was the first time, outside of an Olympic year, that Darcy had ever seen badminton televised. The Red Terrapin elevated the term
sports bar
to a whole new level.

“Which wig?”

Trina threw up her hands. “Any of them. We’re on a stakeout. And then we’ll do my first official interrogation of a witness. If I can’t be in a trenchcoat and carrying a magnifying glass—”

“Right. Because that wouldn’t make you stand out when the most anyone here is wearing is a tank top. We’re at the beach, not skulking down an alley in Red Square.”

“—then I should at least be in disguise.”

“Last time you wore a wig it tripped you.” Darcy didn’t want to be a joysucker. On the other hand, Trina rarely thought in practical terms unless someone else pointed them out.

“We’re sitting down. How would a wig trip me now?”

Lacking a good answer, Darcy motioned for a waitress. “We should order. We’ll look less suspicious with food on the table. Plus, it’ll keep them from kicking us out.”

“What do you think mystery girl would like? I mean, the potato skins here are terrific. They double cheese them, on the bottom, then sour cream and bacon, then another layer on top. If she doesn’t come right at five, though, they won’t be hot. So we should order some chips and salsa, too. Beer and a margarita and a frozen daiquiri. She’ll have to like at least one of those. Everyone does.”

She’d rattled off that monologue faster than Darcy could blink twice. “Trina, are you nervous?”

“A little.”

“Don’t be.” She squeezed her best friend’s hand. “We’re in this together. And Cooper and Brad are in the booth right behind us, remember? We couldn’t be safer.”

“I know. I’m not nervous about Ivan showing up. If he did, I’m pretty sure the guys would break his big fat nose.”

“Then what’s got you babbling? More than usual, I mean.”

Sucking in a deep breath, Trina slowed herself down. “I don’t want to screw this up. Ivan hit me. Didn’t even phase him. I bet it wasn’t his first time. Chances are good he’s raised his hand to one of these girls. Whatever the reason, whatever his secret, it needs to stop. I don’t want to let them down.”

Darcy couldn’t be prouder of her friend. “Your heart is bigger than that whole ocean out there. We’ll find a way to make a difference, I promise.” And really, that wasn’t any different than what she was trying to do with the string of letters after name. Or Coop, putting his life on the line to save someone else’s.

Their buzzer went off. They’d prearranged with the hostess to let them know when somebody tried to enter with their pretend coupon. Moments later, she led over a girl with hair the color of Nebraska wheat swishing down to her waist. A cropped white tee showed off the glint of a belly ring and lots of tan skin above the waist of a faded jeans mini. Best of all, she didn’t look the least bit suspicious. She greeted them with an open smile and a friendly half-wave.

“You here for coupon, too?” she asked in a thick, Eastern European accent.

“Yep. Take a seat. Would you like a drink? A beer? Maybe a margarita? We’re thinking of ordering potato skins, ourselves. You look hungry, though, so maybe a burger, too?” Trina was off faster than a racehorse on Derby day.

“I like gin and tonic. I like the fizzies on my nose.” She giggled, and definitely looked a few years shy of the legal drinking age. Darcy reminded herself that people in Europe started much younger. They weren’t really contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The fact that two police officers were seated just inches away didn’t stop her from ordering a round for the whole table, along with the potato skins to shut Trina up on the subject. As soon as the waitress left, Darcy decided to slow roll into the meat of the conversation. Otherwise Trina might just jabber her way through a recitation of the entire menu.

“I’m Darcy, and this is my best friend, Trina. What’s your name?”

“Ilona.”

“Unusual, but pretty,” Darcy hastened to add. “Where are you from?”

“Moldova.”

Trina dropped her elbows on the table and cradled her face. “Gosh, I don’t know anything about your country. What’s it known for?”

“Nothing! We are poorest country in Europe. It is why I come to work in America.” She looked around the room. “I don’t see any studs yet. Is early. Lifeguards not done with shift yet. Maybe too early.”

Ah. Guess the free food was the lesser part of the incentive for Ilona to show up. Trina had chosen the location well. She’d told Darcy it was the biggest pick-up joint in town. In case a hottie did walk in and catch her attention, they’d better work fast. “Ilona, do you mind if we ask you a few questions?”

“Sure.”

Darcy waited for Trina to take the lead. After a couple of beats, she decided to charge ahead. “We saw you on the beach today. I, um, noticed your adorable blue and orange plaid bikini.”

“Is cute, no?” Smugness warmed Ilona’s voice like a cup of hot cocoa on a rainy day. “I get asked out every time I wear it.”

Aha. A perfect opening to bring up handsy Ivan. “Even today? Maybe by the older man we saw you talking to around lunchtime?”

“The guy with the big, hairy belly,” Trina added, rounding her hands in the air.

“No.” Ilona turned her head and spat on the floor. “I never date Pavel. He is a dog.”

Blinking in wide-eyed innocence, Trina said, “Really? I thought I saw him squeeze your ass.”

“What does it matter? You want him for yourself?”

“No.” Darcy took a chance and leapt straight to the point. “I want to protect you from him. We know he’s bad news. Whatever trouble he’s gotten you into, I promise we can help get you out of it.”

All the color drained out of Ilona’s face. She gripped the edge of the table while shrinking lower in the booth. “Are you police?”

Whew. Darcy had insisted that Coop and Brad not sit with them until they’d teased the truth out of her. Now she wouldn’t have to lie at all. “Nope. All we want to do is help you.”

“See this?” Trina pointed to the butterfly bandage on her cheek. A thin, red line peeked out both ends. “Pavel did this to me. Have you seen him hit other girls?”

A long, slow nod. “Yes. My friend Nadia. And I hear stories about what happens if we are late. He is not a nice man.” She spoke in a near whisper.

“If you’re late with what?”

The waitress set down their drinks. Ilona sucked at hers through the tiny stir straw. She practically dunked her nose in the tiny film of bubbles coating the surface. Not wanting to push her, Darcy took a long pull of her piña colada.

“I’m not supposed to tell any Americans. Only okay to share with other foreign girls.” Her voice shook, and tears trembled at the edge of her lashes. “But I’m worried I won’t have enough money to pay him off by end of summer. Ice cream store where I work doesn’t pay much compared to friends who earn tips at bars.”

Foreign girls? A big pay off? What the hell had Trina unwittingly stumbled upon? “Ilona, you sound scared. You’re shaking and pale. Do you want to be scared all summer? Or do you want to be really brave right now and trust us? I promise we will find a way to help you out of this mess.”

Trina scooted out of the booth to go sit next to Ilona, an arm around the girl’s trembling shoulders. “You’re safe here. And we can help make you safer, if you tell us.”

That broke the dam. Ilona slammed both hands flat onto the table and spat out words like nails. “He promised us all fake green cards. Good fakes. Not just for summer, but to stay in country forever. We have to pay Pavel every week, in cash. But I can’t give him as much as he wants and still send money home to family. How can I come up with enough before my student visa runs out in August? I have to stay here. Even ice cream shop pays more than what I make at home. There I just work in day care. No pay except free meals. And I want to be a nurse. Graduated first in class, but can’t afford school anymore.”

Oh. Wow. Pavel was running a counterfeit green card operation? Thank goodness Coop and Brad were listening on the other side of the booth, or they’d never believe it. Darcy’s heart broke for this motivated, desperate girl. Her mind rifled through all the contacts she had after eight years at different universities. There had to be a way to fix this. For once, instead of sitting around observing people, she had the chance to help. To make a difference in someone’s life, instead of just recording it.

Darcy leaned forward, reached across the sticky wood table and grasped her hands. “Ilona, I want you to listen to me. I promise to move heaven and earth to get you into a nursing school.”

“How much do I pay you?” she sniffled.

“Oh honey, you don’t pay me a cent. I’m helping you, not extorting you. Everyone who wants an education should get that chance. There has to be a way, and I’ll find it. We will stick to you like glue until that man is put behind bars.”

The waterworks started again, but brimming over onto a relieved smile this time. “This is wonderful. Even better news than free drinks!”

The waitress dropped off the potato skins. Trina held up a finger. “Hang on a sec. We need some menus. I think we’re going to be here awhile.”

“Order me a burger. I’m running to the bathroom.” After giving Ilona a parting squeeze, Darcy got up, crooking her finger at Coop as she walked past. She had to find out how he and Brad planned to proceed. Obviously the police—who knew how many different divisions—had to be called in at this point. Carefully, though. Darcy didn’t want that girl traumatized any more than she already was. Her view of Americans must be sketchy after Pavel’s treatment.

Vacation was officially over. Ilona needed an advocate. More importantly, she needed a friend, someone to hold her hand. Between the two of them, she and Trina could make sure Ilona would never be scared or alone. Darcy hitched herself up on one of the extra bar stools lining the hallway by the bathrooms.

“Hey gorgeous, want to get naked later?”

* * *

Coop watched Darcy’s eyes flare, then narrow to a squint. She gave a look of disgust. Would’ve made a lesser man slink away. Prompted by caveman-level survival instinct, he fig-leafed his hands. Her foot flexed. He stepped back, just to be safe.

“Yes. Mutual, shared nakedness would be very gratifying.” One hand lifted, holding him at bay. “But only if you promise to never, ever use that pick-up line again. For the good of women everywhere.”

“Not a pick-up line.” He kissed her upraised palm, then nibbled his way up to her elbow on the petal-soft skin of her inner arm. “I already picked you. And drove you up. Three times, if I remember right. Which I do. Because you were amazing.”

Darcy giggled. “Stop it.” She sounded less than convincing. “Someone could walk out of these bathrooms any second.”

“Have you ever been to the Red Terrapin before? Nothing less than third base would raise an eyebrow in this hallway.” But he straightened up. They definitely had issues to discuss before there’d be any naked time.

“Did you hear?”

“Every incriminating word. Brad’s texting Captain Riggs right now. He heads up the OCPD. We’ve worked with him before. Good guy. Straight shooter.”

“What’s going to happen next?” Darcy asked.

“Brad’s hanging in the booth, in case she spills more of anything interesting to Trina. He’s got to notify our captain at the MSP that we’re involved in an inter-jurisdictional case. Department of Homeland Security and the ICE—US Immigration and Customs Enforcement—will roll in as soon as they can drive here from Baltimore and D.C.” Coop’s adrenaline spiked. This would be a sting of epic proportions. Once everyone in charge got past the fact that two civilians had done all the preliminary legwork.

“Hang on. You can’t let the police storm in here and scare her. Or harass her. And you definitely can’t let them put her in jail.”

Look at his woman, putting up the verbal dukes. If he didn’t respect her so much, he’d have to call it adorable. “You’re dictating terms like you’re her defense attorney.”

“Oh, I’ll defend her, all right.” She jabbed her finger way too close to his nose. “Pavel took advantage of that girl. I won’t let it happen again.”

“Fiercely loyal. No wonder I’m crazy about you.”

“I probably shouldn’t take all the credit you’re heaping on me.” Darcy ducked her head. “I have to admit, there’s a foundation of selfishness. Realizing I could help Ilona gave me more satisfaction than the entire last eight months I spent watching the Fulani and Tuareg tribes. Even though I love studying a cultural subset, it made me feel impotent. Tonight? I feel empowered.”

“That’s not selfish. Everybody wins. No harm in that.”

“Except Pavel. He won’t win at all. You and all your white-hat friends have to make sure of it.”

“If we can get Ilona to talk to him while wearing a wire, the case will practically be open and shut. You guys witnessed him talking to, what—about a dozen girls over three days? Ilona says she pays him once a month. Even conservative math would estimate he could be taking payments from at least fifty girls. They put their trust in him. But six months, a year down the road? When they try and get a job with that fake green card? They’ll be jailed and deported.”

Darcy hugged her elbows tight. “That can’t happen to Ilona. She can’t get in any trouble.”

No shit. The poor kid already had enough stacked against her. “I don’t see that as an issue. Sounds like she’s here on a valid student worker visa. So far, she hasn’t really done anything wrong. She gave him money, but hasn’t received anything in return. If she helps us bring him down, is a witness for the prosecution, the government is going to be very, very grateful. They’ll be willing to cut her all sorts of deals.”

“Help her find a way to extend her visa, go to school here?”