Chapter 47
He left me a note.
No one has ever left me a morning note.
I run my finger over the edge of the hotel stationary paper.
Hey, sleeping beauty. I went to talk to Scout. The boys had a look around and there is no sign of rebels in town this morning. Come over when you wake up. We can talk through the case. X. L
I grin at his closing line. X. L.
Did he mean X as in hug and kiss, XO?
Or XL as in Extra Large… Because it sure fits. God knows I still feel him everywhere.
That makes me blush. I’m still grinning as I sit down at the table to peel a fresh orange. The bright smell of citrus fills the air.
I might even be humming a little. Why am I in such a good mood?
Surely, a little note wouldn’t do that.
No, it’s because he’s going to help me with the case. I might not even lose my job.
But a little kick of embarrassment hits me. I’d be employed because of a favor, not because of my merit as an asset.
I toss the peel in the trash and finish the orange, as I contemplate how I feel about this fact. I don’t mind a leg up, but a downright bribe…
No, wait, it’s blackmail…
Isn’t it?
Tugging the notepad and pen toward me, I start to collect my thoughts about the case.
I jot down:
Unaccounted for and lost donations.
Money disappearing from the FamFind coffers.
+ Always from the discretionary fund.
No receipts.
Ralph’s unexpected airplane ownership? Secret?
Ralph sending unknown man to talk to me about inventory.
Mysterious cargo on the truck.
I circle the last one. This is going to be for Lucas to explore. I know he can use his stealthy superpowers to check out the crates.
As I sit, staring down at the list, I search my mind for other things that I might have overlooked.
Come on… where is the missing piece?
After a while, I admit, I’m not seeing anything new. Staring at the paper isn’t helping. Time to go talk with Lucas.
A little flutter hits my veins. Thinking about seeing him makes me feel warm all over. Damn him for having such an effect on me.
I hurry to the bathroom and check my hair. Yikes. Where is my brush? I dig it from my pack and attack the tangles.
That’s when I spot it… a smudgy purple mark on my neck.
That devil!
A smile creeps on my face as I press my palm over the tender spot.
I close my eyes and let the memory of his mouth moving over my neck play out. My skin goosebumps all over. Heat builds in my core.
There’s no way I can go meet with him and anyone else in his team right now, I’ll be a hormonal disaster.
God. Lucas…
I let my hand slide down across my nipple. An ache builds there as I rub my fingers back and forth.
I need his mouth there. My fingers are a poor substitute for the heat, the edge of his teeth.
When I let my hand skim down my stomach, I shudder.
How can I be close to orgasming by just thinking about Lucas’s mouth?
My clit is already swollen, and my panties soaked when I push my hand inside my clothing. Bracing with one hand on the bathroom sink, I close my eyes.
Yes. I need the release.
Oh, that feels soooo good.
The pressure is building.
When I slip two fingers inside my pussy, I inhale sharply. I’m sore from him…
Deliciously tender.
A moan builds in my throat as I work myself, alternating swirling over my clit, and lower to push my fingers into my soaking folds.
Getting there.
Close…
My head hangs heavy on my neck, my mouth opens as I lose myself in the waves of building pleasure.
I push my fingers deeper, working them in and out, gliding along the tender places his cock left.
Sparks set loose under my skin. My body tightens, my breath locks.
Oh. Oh, yes!
My orgasm hits hard. Making my knees stiffen. I’m panting when I lift my head and look in the mirror.
Who is this woman?
I look wild. My hair is tossed, my cheeks are blazing, my pupils are dilated behind the sheen coating my eyes.
Holy wow.
Is that what I look like when Lucas watches me come?
I laugh to myself. I never thought of myself as sexy, but I look so different. So free…
I’m still grinning, with my body hot all over when I lean back against the wall.
So crazy. I can’t believe I just did that.
Sure, I’ve masturbated, but never like that. Never with the anticipation and memory of being with a lover.
I shuck off my clothes and climb into the shower. The whole time I wash my body I’m in a dreamy haze. It’s wonderful. An escape. Like last night when he was driving me mad, pushing me to the edge of pleasure.
My brain better come back online, I’m gonna need it.
Thankfully, by the time I’m out of the shower, I’m half coherent.
After dressing in clean clothes, I tuck my notes in my pocket and head for the door. At least when I look at Lucas, I won’t burst into flames…
I hope.
I’m grinning like an idiot when I step out the door into the tropical sunshine. A breeze carries the fresh scents of the jungle, warm and earthy.
It’s a beautiful day. Or maybe it’s my rose-colored lenses.
I feel so much better knowing that the town is now in recovery mode, too. All the buildings were cleared. No one is missing.
Barefoot, I stride from one stepping stone to the next, following the sound of voices down the path toward Truck’s cabina.
But when I get there, the door is open and it’s quiet inside.
I stick my head through the open doorway. “Lucas?”
The bed is made. The chairs are by the table. There’s a candy bar wrapper on the table next to an open water bottle.
Hm.
I walk back outside and look around.
I catch another murmur of voices. Following the sound, I continue on the path of round stepping stones. They are warm from the sun.
When I reach the little blue building, I turn right on the path following the sound.
I’m smiling when I step around the corner.
But I freeze when I realize there’s a man and woman embracing.
Oh, my god.
Not just any man… Lucas.
With a dark-haired, beautiful woman.
His nose is pressed to the top of her silky black hair, just like he holds me.
My boss’s voice in Lucas’s truck invades my mind. “Let me guess, that pretty Middle Eastern gal? I hope so, about fucking time you got your head out of your ass.”
Could this be the woman he was talking about?