Up in Flames Page 4

  He took it from my hand and opened the door to my suite, then pulled me inside.

  I hoped this meant he wasn’t leaving.

  With one hand, he slammed the door closed, then picked me up and carried me to the sofa, where he sank down with me in his lap before grabbing my face and continuing to kiss me senseless. He seemed as hungry for me as I had been for him. His mouth trailed from mine to my ear and then focused on my neck. I arched to give him more access, loving the feel of his whiskers on my skin. Every touch sent tiny jolts through my body. I couldn’t get enough of him.

  “Fucking squirming in the car,” he muttered. “Watching you like that was driving me insane. Goddamn, I wanted to bend you over the seat and fuck you while the driver watched me pound your ass.”

  Oh, my God. Who talked like that? Was he even serious? That was naughty and taboo. I liked the mental image in my head.

  His hand slid up my thigh until his fingers brushed my panties. “This what you’re offering?” he asked, kissing my collarbone and then lifting his head to look at me. The tender places he’d been too rough with earlier he now soothed as if they were precious to him. My heart melted, and I leaned into him, opening my legs more so he could touch everything. All of me.

  I was pretty sure I’d offer him anything at this point if he’d promise me another orgasm. I’d never experienced one like the one on that flight. My body had lost all function, and the sensation had taken me with it. Not caring about where I was or who saw or heard me. The pleasure was all I craved then. I wanted more.

  “Yes,” I replied in a whisper.

  He held my gaze as he moved a finger inside the silk and lace, and I held my breath. The gentle touch was almost too much. When you were wanting something that badly and you finally got it, you lost your stuff.

  I heard the cry of pleasure that ripped through me as I held on to his shoulders tighter.

  “That’s fucking hot,” he said, and although I could feel his eyes on me, I couldn’t open my eyes just yet. Not with his finger sliding over the heat pooled between my legs. “You ignited for me when I took this pussy hard. Now you’re purring like a kitten while I gently stroke it. So hungry for sex. You want it all, don’t you? Stingy and needy.” He paused and ran a finger up my clit. “I want you to come for me. Like this. Right here in my lap.” The fact that it sounded like a command sent my reaction to a new level of intensity. If he told me to come one more time in that thick voice, I would scream the place down with what was building up inside me. I was almost scared to let it go. To reach what he could give me. It was more than I’d felt before, and I knew it would rock my world, but was I ready for that?

  He moved his mouth back up to my ear and in a low, deep growl, said, “Come.”

  And the lights went out as my body exploded. I knew I cried out his name. I remembered bucking my hips up to meet his hand as he pressed it harder into me. But other than that, it was all a blur. The bliss was even more than I had feared, and I didn’t want to return from it. I wanted to live in this moment forever, even if it killed me.

  However, like all good orgasms do, this one faded slowly, and my eyes eventually fluttered back open. My body was completely spent, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever walk again. When my vision cleared, I could see that Gannon was watching me. The hardness underneath me told me this had turned him on. Did I have the energy to help with that? I wasn’t sure I could move.

  “Which way is your bed?” he asked, his voice tight and a little pleased with himself.

  “To the right,” I said, sounding exhausted.

  He stood up and carried me to the bed. If we were going to finish this, he needed to give me a moment to return from the clouds he’d sent me to. I wasn’t back just yet.

  With a gentleness I didn’t expect from a man who looked like him, he laid me on the bed, slipped off my heels, and covered me up.

  “Take a nap. We’ll get something to eat when you wake up later tonight.”

  I opened my mouth to respond, but he turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

  He wouldn’t insist that I relieve him? That didn’t seem fair at all. I would have told him so if my eyes weren’t closing and my body slowly sinking into sleep.

  Major

  I fucking loved Vegas when I was here purely for fun. Not when I had work to do. Rush hadn’t offered any more details before he’d sent me packing, so I’d have to comb over the entire town for the little redhead. In his eyes, he was testing me. I could understand a little, because I’d grown up watching Mase protect his little sister, Harlow. I got the whole sibling thing, even if I was an only child.

  But holy fuck, how was I supposed to find her here? All my tracking equipment was handled by Cope—who was also missing and more than likely here watching my every move, just like he was watching hers. Jackass. I wasn’t sure why he thought this was the way to prove his point. I got it. I had fucked up. I needed to give Nan more attention and take this seriously. If she didn’t love me and trust me, then I was never going to clear her name. Truth was, that was what I intended to do. That girl was not mixed up in the shit Cope thought she was. I knew from spending a little time with her that she was too self-absorbed to care about something like that.

  I was going to start with the top two casinos that sounded like Nan’s taste: Caesars Palace and the Bellagio. If I could figure out which one she was at, I would stalk the place until I found her.

  The cab driver pulled up outside the Bellagio. The flash of the fountains reminded me of Nan. She liked attention. I’d started to reach into my back pocket for my wallet when the door opened, and Cope climbed into the cab.

  “Back to the airport,” he barked at the driver.

  “What the fuck?” I glared at the bossy son of a bitch.

  The driver looked from me to Cope. “He’s staying in the cab. Airport now.” Cope’s demand was even more intimidating this time.

  The driver didn’t argue.

  “I’ve got her. You go back to Rosemary Beach. I don’t need you here. She’d go back with you, and I wouldn’t be able to stay close to her there. There’s no reason for me to be in Rosemary Beach. She’d question that. Go get this shit for hot tail out of your system, and prepare to focus only on Nan when she gets back. But you’re not needed here. I’ve got it completely under control. Good chance we’ll have our answers before she leaves.”

  I wasn’t sure I’d ever heard him say that many words at one time. “How do you have it under control?” I asked, not sure I liked this. “I want her safe.”

  Cope scowled. “She’s safer now than she’s ever been. I know her every move, unlike you.”

  That wasn’t what I meant. “I want her safe from you. She’s innocent in this. You’ll see that soon enough.”

  “Maybe. But unless she proves otherwise, she’s safe with me.”

  I didn’t want to leave. I felt like I was giving in. Handing over what was mine, even if it was just a job. “I want to see her.”

  Cope looked amused. “I bet you do. But you had your chance and fucked it up. Now you’re not needed here.”

  I might have actually hated the man in that moment. He was so detached from the world; he had a coldness that seeped through him. Nan would see that. She wouldn’t get close to him. “She’ll never open up to you.”

  He grinned this time. “Yes, she will. I just tucked her into bed after giving her an orgasm that almost made her pass out.”

  The tight knot in my chest exploded, and I had to use every ounce of strength in me not to attack the jackass. I hated what he was saying. I didn’t believe him, but then, why would he lie? “You’re lying,” I snarled, angry that she would even let him near her.

  He didn’t deny or confirm my accusation. “You can let me out here. He needs to return to the airport,” Cope told the driver, and he tossed a wad of bills into the front seat. One glance at that, and the driver pulled over at the end of the Strip. Cope climbed out without another word to me.

&n
bsp; When the door slammed behind him, I let out a frustrated growl. “Take me to old Vegas,” I told the driver, leaning back in the seat. I’d get some food and head back to the Bellagio. I wasn’t leaving Nan unprotected.

  I would try to text her again. Maybe she’d answer if she knew I was here. That I’d come after her.

  I’m in Vegas. I’ve come to see you.

  I hit Send. I could only hope that Cope was lying and she wasn’t letting him into her bed. At least I enjoyed the things I’d done with her. He was straight up using her for a job. She was better than that. Motherfucker didn’t deserve to touch her.

  “Will that be your last stop, sir?” the driver asked, probably beyond confused at this point.

  “For now,” I replied, and watched my screen, waiting for a response.

  Nan

  The smell of pizza broke into my dreams, and I opened my eyes and inhaled deeply. I never ate pizza, but I was so hungry, and it smelled delicious. Looking around my dark room, I could only see the light from the cracked door leading to the living area of my suite. The pizza was in there. With Gannon. I’d given him the second key to my suite before he’d left me to take my nap. A smile pulled at my lips, and I stretched my body, feeling pleased and sated.

  It was his turn next, and I was looking forward to it. I wanted to touch his body and watch him as he came. The idea was exciting. He was everything a man should be. Strong, fierce, sturdy, and ruggedly handsome. Nothing like the guys I normally dated. I rarely came into contact with men like Gannon. I realized now what I had been missing.

  I pulled back the covers and climbed out of bed. My hair was probably a mess, and I wanted to change into something more comfortable, since we were apparently staying in for the evening. Not that I had a problem with that. I liked the idea very much.

  I took the brush from my Louis Vuitton toiletry bag, brushed through my hair, and quickly changed into a pair of pale blue pajama shorts that had a flirty ruffle on the hem and a matching camisole. I decided against a bra. The whole ensemble was sexy yet comfortable. I wanted him to get the fact that I wasn’t done just because I’d gotten off.

  When my reflection in the mirror was good enough, I headed to the door and slowly pulled it open to peek into the room.

  Gannon was lounging on the sofa with his feet propped up on the ottoman and a book in his hands. His eyes immediately swung to me as I stepped into the room as quietly as I could. He either had amazing hearing or great peripheral vision.

  “Hey,” I said in greeting, feeling a little shy now that I was barely dressed and he was in his jeans, T-shirt, and boots.

  “I ordered pizza. Not sure what kind you liked, so I ordered a few. Waited for you to join me before I dove in.”

  He continued to take me in as I walked over to sit on the sofa a few inches away from him. The glint in his eyes said he liked my choice in clothing. I knew I looked good in it. Heck, I knew I looked good naked. I used that as a superpower with men regularly. I found that my looks and my body only drew them in, though. I had nothing deeper to keep them. I was a hot fuck, but the next morning, they were usually done.

  The idea that this was all I’d be to Gannon stung some. But I had to get over it. Men didn’t keep me. I was a toy.

  “You must not like pizza.” Gannon’s voice broke into my thoughts, and I lifted my gaze to meet his. He had a concerned frown.

  “Oh, no, I actually love pizza. The smell lured me from my dreams. I’m just not awake yet, I guess. What kind did you get?”

  He closed the book he had been reading and placed it on the armrest of the sofa. I glanced down at it as he stood up and walked over to the dining-room table. A worn copy of As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner. I hadn’t expected something like that, but then, maybe I had. Gannon wasn’t a man of many words, but from the way he spoke and handled things, it was obvious he was intelligent. I looked at him standing where room service had left the pizzas covered with silver-domed lids. He picked up the first lid. “Pepperoni.” Then he lifted the next one. “Greek.” That was my favorite. I loved feta cheese and olives on my pizza. Then he unveiled the last one. “Buffalo chicken.” I had a feeling that one was for him. It was a guy’s type of pizza.

  “Greek is my favorite,” I replied.

  He reached for one of the plates, put a large slice of the Greek pizza on it, and walked over to me. “Vodka cranberry?” he asked, as I took it from him.

  He was waiting on me. No guy had ever done that before. I normally had someone wait on us, or I waited on them.

  “Please, thank you.”

  He didn’t respond but went to make my drink, exactly the way I liked it, with three ice cubes. He paid attention to details. Again, not something I had experienced before.

  Just as I expected, he picked up three slices of the buffalo chicken and put them on a plate before joining me on the sofa. “If you’d like to turn the TV on, we can, but I don’t usually watch TV. I prefer conversation or quiet.”

  I was good with whatever he wanted. “Conversation is fine,” I replied, and took a bite of my pizza.

  We began to eat in silence. I wanted to watch him eat and see if his jaw worked in that sexy way it did when he was angry. But I restrained myself and didn’t stare at him. He was relaxed, and I liked that he felt at ease with me.

  When I finished my slice, I really wanted another, but I hated to eat one more piece in front of him. Besides, it would go to my hips. I wasn’t sure I’d get a chance to go to the hotel gym in the morning and work it off.

  “You need more?” he asked, setting his plate down and standing up as he reached for mine.

  Did this man read minds? “One more slice would be good,” I replied.

  He took my plate and walked back to the pizza. He picked up another large slice and brought it back to me. I wanted to admire the way he looked in those jeans, but this was such a friendly and comfortable meal, and I wasn’t sure if we were supposed to be acting like he hadn’t given me two of the best orgasms of my life or what. He was so confusing.

  And he was also slightly perfect.

  “You keep looking at me like that, and you won’t get to eat that pizza,” Gannon said, with a fierce glance in my direction that made my female parts tingle. I quickly took a bite of my food, and he chuckled before looking back at the book he had put down.

  A smile tugged up the corners of my lips as I chewed. It was a happy smile. I didn’t have many of those. That idea made me sad.

  Had I ever had a relationship with a guy who actually made me happy? I couldn’t think of one. Even the one I had with Major hurt more than anything else. This was a guy I’d met in Vegas and might never see again. He could be married or engaged. And he was making me happy.

  “You’re thinking deep thoughts.” He didn’t miss anything. Not one change in my expression.

  “Are you married?” I asked, needing to know.

  He grinned. “No.”

  “Engaged?” I continued.

  “No.”

  “Wanted for a felony?”

  This time, he chuckled. “For future reference, it’s a little too late to question a guy if he is wanted for a felony when you have him in your suite and trust him enough to stay there while you sleep.”

  Good point. I nodded and took another bite of pizza.

  “That all you wondering?” he asked.

  I finished chewing, then took a sip of my drink. “What do you do for work?”

  He thought about that for a moment and then replied, “Construction.”

  Construction? How was he in Vegas for business if he was a construction worker? And how could he afford the Bellagio? “Really?”

  “Really. I own a construction company that builds casinos.”

  Well, that made a lot more sense. “Is that your book? It looks like it’s been read a lot,” I said.

  He glanced over at the book, and a smile touched his lips. “I’ve had it more than twenty years. It’s my favorite. I’ve read it thirty-five times.”<
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  Wow. The layers on this man just got deeper and deeper.

  Major

  My Texas charm wasn’t totally lost on the Bellagio receptionist. She gave me the name of the tower Nan was staying in, but she wouldn’t give me a room number. That was all she would do for me. At least I knew Nan was here.

  Which meant I’d been sitting at the bar beside the elevator bank, drinking and watching for any sign of her. Cope had probably already spotted me and was making sure she didn’t come this way. Either that, or he was playing games with my head.

  The waitress with the tiny halter top and the paid-for tits that I’d like to get my hands on kept flashing me a flirty smile. As tempting as that was, I didn’t have time for that. Girls like her were why I was in this fucking mess in the first place.

  Focusing on one girl, especially one as shallow as Nan, was hard to do. I liked variety, but I sure as hell didn’t like the idea of Nan having variety, so what did that mean? That I was being a bastard? Yeah, that’s what it meant. I was calling her shallow, but I was pretty damn shallow myself.

  The waitress walked over to me and slid a new napkin my way. This one had writing on it. I saw a phone number and a name. She was making it pretty easy for me to fuck her. How was I supposed to work with shit like this? Jesus, if I was like Cope, I wouldn’t have this problem.

  I glanced up at her and winked. She was sexy as hell but not the sexy I needed tonight. I had another girl to win back. If I could find her first. By ten, she would be heading to a club, I figured. Only thirty minutes until ten. I needed some food, but leaving this spot wasn’t possible.

  “Y’all got anything to eat back there?” I asked.

  “Nuts and pretzels,” she offered, with a hopeful smile.

  Not exactly food, but it would help. “That’d be great.”

  She quickly fixed me a large bowl and put it in front of me.