Chapter Twenty-Seven
The words on the laptop screen in front of him blurred and Cross rubbed a hand over his face. He’d deliberately moved his computer into the flat so that he could keep an eye on Verity while he worked but it was hard to focus his racing thoughts on the banality of admin.
Had he done the right thing? That single question burned at the front of his mind. Letting anyone in on his plans, even someone he knew he could rely on, was always an uncomfortable experience for him and Verity certainly didn’t not feature on that very short list of trusted confidants.
He’d given her more than enough information to burn down everything he’d ever worked for. And there would be no way to know if that had been a mistake until it was too late.
He gave a snort of laughter. Who was he kidding, it was already too late. His plans had been laid out in full and there was no way to take that information back now. He was committed.
It had better be worth it.
She’d better be worth it.
As if drawn by the thought, he turned his head to where Verity lay sprawled on the sofa, feet propped up on one arm and her head on a pillow that she’d relocated from the bedroom.
She gave every appearance of being relaxed and thoroughly absorbed in the book she was holding. But he would have laid good money on the fact she’d not turned a page in the last fifteen minutes.
She was as distracted as he was; her sharp mind no doubt going over and over the plan he’d described, looking for flaws and hidden dangers.
His eyes travelled up the long, toned length of her legs, over her hips and up towards the soft swell of her breast visible through the low scoop of the shirt she was wearing. Frustrated at his own inability to keep his mind on the job he gave a grunt of annoyance and slammed the laptop shut.
Eyebrows raised in question she turned her face to look at him but said nothing.
“I’m going for a swim,” he said, rolling his shoulders and stretching out a kink in his neck. Verity merely nodded, shifting her gaze back to the book and silently returning to her pretence of reading.
Not bothering to change into trunks, Cross stripped down to his skin and walked around the edge of the pool. The cool temperature of the day lifted a light veil of steam from the well-heated water and prompted a shiver as he moved to controls at the far end.
Depressing the button with his heel, he activated the resistance jet and the centre lane of the pool churned into life. With one last look through the window, to check Verity was still where he left her, he crouched down and lowered himself into the waiting water.
It slid over his skin like silk, caressing every inch of him and for a few moments he floated, letting the artificial current take him where it wanted.
But those distracting thoughts followed him. Thoughts of moving up behind her and slipping his hands through the elongated armholes of that wretched shirt. Feeling her nipples harden beneath his fingers as she arched back against him.
With a growl of frustration he turned into the full force of the current and attempted to sublimate his unruly imagination beneath physical exertion.
Gritting his teeth he increased the length and speed of his strokes, clawing through the water and pitting his strength against the relentless surge of the jet as he focussed his thoughts on what needed to happen next.
As the burn in his muscles began to override his detailed planning, his thoughts faded and he shifted his attention to the single goal of reaching the end of the pool. Increasing his pace he fought against the surging water, each heavy kick gaining him another inch towards his target.
Eyes closed he turned his head to the side and took one last breath and stretched for the finish line. But instead of smooth tiles, his fingers brushed against warm skin and he jerked his hand back in shock.
Rhythm destroyed, he immediately found himself blasted back to the centre of the pool and disappeared briefly beneath the churning water.
When he resurfaced he was greeted by the sight of Verity sitting on the edge of the pool, feet dangling in the water and a broad grin on her face.
“What are you doing?” he asked, annoyance sharpening his tone.
“I thought I’d join you.” She stretched and he could see the hard peaks of her nipples through the soft fabric of the t-shirt.
Gathering his thoughts, he shook his head. “I was just going to get out.”
She pouted, “Oh, have you had enough already?” She threw him a cheeky grin. “I thought you had more stamina than that.”
Cross felt his expression tighten. He knew he shouldn’t let her bait him. But images of her naked skin, slippery and wet from the water, filled his head, overriding his normal good sense. Instead of dismissing her jibe, he shrugged. “More than happy to give you a further demonstration, if that’s what you need, I just thought you might be too sore after last night.” He nodded to the button next to her. “Turn off the jet before you get in.”
Verity glanced down at the controls and then back at him. Her smile grew wider. “Why don’t you come over here and turn it off yourself?” she said, the challenge in her tone growing stronger.
Cross glared at her as he trod water. He could feel the fatigue starting to burn in his muscles and wasn’t a hundred percent sure he’d managed another length, but her grin was taunting him to try. He considered his choices. He could get out and walk to the controls, but she’d take that as a victory. Or he could wait until the timer expired and the jet shut off automatically, which would at least ensure there were no winners or losers. He was about to pick the option that offered least risk when Verity shifted her weight and spread her thighs, clearly indicating the prize that was on offer.
Fuck it, he thought. Worth a shot.
Taking a deep breath to replenish his oxygen levels he issued a challenge of his own. “Take it off. All of it.”
She hesitated for only a second and then pulled the shirt over her head in one fluid movement. The shorts took a little longer and she nearly ended up in the pool as she wriggled out of them. Cross watched silently as she twirled them above her head and let them fly off to the far corner of the terrace.
“Come on then,” she said, “show me what you’ve got!”
Cross took another breath and launched himself forward,
Lungs burning he kicked hard for the end of the pool, but as he closed in on his target he felt a small foot press against his shoulder, holding him at bay. With a growl that used up the last scraps of his remaining oxygen he lunged for the rim but to his frustration he found he could only brush his fingertips over the smooth tiles, unable to find purchase as she locked her knee, pushing harder and forcing him back.
As his head came up to take another much needed breath he met her smirk with one of his own, amused to see her eyes widen in alarm the split second before his hand wrapped around the back of her leg.
Cross tightened his grip and his grin grew broader as he stopped kicking and let the water blast them both back across the pool, jerking Verity from her safe perch on the side and forcing her hard against his chest.
Briefly submerged, she resurfaced coughing and spluttering, and immediately tried to make a break for the side, but with the force of the jet now working with him rather than against him, Cross was easily able to keep her pinned against the length of his body, barely needing to exert any pressure at all to hold her in place.
Knowing that while his feet were firmly planted on the floor, she would still be out of her depth, he grinned. She was left with the options of either fighting against the water, her movements hampered by his proximity or clinging to him for support. He was curious to see which she’d pick.
Verity thrashed uselessly for a few seconds, then paused, clearly considering the same options.
Cross let her wriggle a little more, enjoying the sensation and then did the one thing he knew she’d least expect.
He kissed her.
Not a dominant, demanding quest for control, but a gentle, almost tender caress. As his lips brushed lightly over hers he felt her hands slip from his shoulders and her whole body tensing in shock. If it hadn’t been for his hands under her bottom, holding her up, he was fairly sure she would have dropped beneath the surface.
Pulling her closer, his grip probably now a shade beyond what was comfortable, he deepened the kiss, his tongue tracing her lips and slipping between them. As he watched, her eyes fluttered closed and the tension left her limbs.
He slid one hand up her back, cupping her head and turning her face slightly so he could explore further. His head spun, she tasted like warm caramel, sweet, rich and sinfully delicious.
Gently he nipped and sucked the tip of her tongue and Verity responded with a groan, winding her arms tighter around his neck, relaxing into the embrace.
He could feel her shivering when they finally surfaced for breath. “Are you cold?” he asked.
Verity shook her head and wrapped her legs around his hips, rubbing against him. The sensation of her heated flesh pressed against his was enough to answer his question. Enough to drive the question completely out of his head.
“Have you ever fucked in this pool?” she asked.
He shook his head, watching her eyes darken to a gunmetal grey as a wicked smile twitched the corners of her mouth.
“Now that’s just a waste.” She circled her hips, dragging her heated core up the heavy length of his erection. “We should definitely do something about that.” Using the water to support her weight she braced her arms on his shoulders and lifted herself up until just the tip of his cock was pressed against her throbbing centre. Wearing an expression that was pure devilment she circled her hips again, and then lowered herself, allowing just the head of his cock to breach the slick warmth of her core.
He jerked at the intense sensation and stifled a growl as she raised herself up once more, leaving just the movement of the water playing over his sensitive skin.
She leaned forward, fingers digging into his shoulders as she repeated the move and as he sank an inch deeper, she whispered, “Is this how you imagined it, Mr Cross?”
“Thomas,” he said with a grunt.
Rhythm temporarily disrupted, she blinked at him. “What?”
“When you’re screaming my name, I want to hear Thomas, or Tom, not Mr Cross.”
Verity gave a light laugh, lifting herself off him once again. “Never going to happen.”
He cocked his head to one side. “The screaming or the name?” Not waiting for her response he tightened his fingers on her hips and jerked her down hard onto his straining erection.
Whatever Verity had been about to say was lost in a shriek as he buried almost his entire length inside her with one thrust. Grip slipping from his shoulders, she arched back and her face briefly disappeared beneath the churning surface.
“Bastard!” she muttered once she’d resurfaced and spat out a mouthful of water.
Cross tutted softly, “No. No, that’s not it, want to try again?”
Tilting her hips he let the water support her as he thrust again, seeking that spot that would make her clench and shiver. He found it on the second stroke and Verity nearly disappeared beneath the surface once more.
“Say my name,” he urged, pulling her closer and kissing away her attempts at protest.
Verity dragged her face from his and shook her head, but he could see it in her eyes, dark with excitement.
Aware that the weight of the water was taking a toll on his reserves of strength, he moved them off to one side, bracing Verity’s shoulders against the edge of the pool as he thrust into her with more force.
“Say it,” he urged, as his pace increased and she writhed against the tiles.
Perhaps wanting to distract him, or aware she was about to lose the battle, she wound an arm around his neck and pulled him down for another kiss and as they broke apart he could see the word already forming on her lips. He thrust harder, his fingers tightening around her hips to the point where he knew there would be new bruises visible by the morning.
“That’s it,” he whispered. “Now say it louder.”
As she crested the wave his name echoed off the buildings around them and into the wider sky.
***
Once they were both wrapped once more in the thick towelling robes and sprawled on the least uncomfortable sofa, Verity ran a finger over his chest, tracing the outline of his pecs, her expression distant.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
She blinked and propped herself up on his torso. “Just mulling over the plans for Friday.”
“Any concerns?”
She shrugged and shook her head, cold droplets of water landing on his skin. “Not concerns exactly, but–”
“But what?”
“I assume Valentina will be there.”
“I have no doubt. Are you worried about running into her again?”
She thought for a moment and then scrunched her nose. “No. I’ll be better prepared this time. That should be fine. But won’t she be suspicious to see me?”
“Yes, I imagine she will. But by then it will be too late for her to do anything about it without revealing the club's concerns surrounding Giancarlo. She wouldn’t do that in public, it would be too great a risk to her position.”
Verity was silent for a few moments and then, walking her fingers down his chest, she asked, “Is there anything we can do to implicate her more directly? Tie her into the scam in some tangible way?”
“No.”
“Why not? It wouldn’t be hard, we could just–”
“I said no!” He winced at the sharp note to his voice and capturing her wandering fingers he delivered an apologetic kiss to her knuckles. “I’m sorry, but if a Eighth Circle owner were even suspected of direct involvement in something of this nature, it would have repercussions through the whole organisation.”
“Oh.”
Giving a sigh, Cross released her hand and ran a gentle finger down her cheek. “Trust me, it will be enough. The other partners have been itching for a reason to get rid of her. She won’t hold onto her little kingdom for long. They’ll have her ousted from her club within a week.”
Verity rolled her eyes. “So she loses her job, so what?”
“Not just her job. She’d lose the power, the position, the money and most importantly all her contacts. She’ll be no one. Everything that’s important to her will be stripped away.”
Looking slightly more mollified, Verity settled against him and pulled his arm around her shoulders. Her words were warm against his skin as she nodded and said, “That’s what I needed to hear.”
He tightened his arms around her. “Don’t worry. We will destroy her.”
He felt her lips twitch into a smile as she muttered, “Good.”