Chapter 24
24
MILA
We needed to do this.
We needed to play the part of a sexual couple to avoid any suspicion as to why we were here. Logically, I knew that, but how much I was enjoying myself wasn't logical. The tension rolling from Ethan overwhelmed me. It seemed like he held himself back from what he really wanted to do, but I didn’t want him to. The night we danced at the festival was never far from my thoughts, and I wanted to take it further. I wanted to push him and see if he would let his control snap. I wanted to feel his hands on my body again because I’d been craving him, but he never allowed it. Now, we were in a situation where neither of us had a choice. We had to pretend we were involved sexually if we wanted to find out what was going on, and I welcomed the chance.
He didn’t answer me when I told him to let me know when Samson stopped watching us. He just sat completely still. If I hadn’t felt his hands flex on my hips, I would’ve thought he hadn’t heard me at all. Rocking my body closer, I pushed my chest against him and rubbed my lips along his. He growled and ran his hand over my back until he could tangle it in my hair.
His eyes locked on mine, the intensity making my heart beat faster. No one had ever looked at me like Ethan did, and it excited me. I heard the noises around me and felt the sexual tension in the air, but all I could see was him. Taking a deep breath, I tried to regain my focus. We had a job to do and people counting on us. We couldn’t get too caught up in the moment and miss something, but that would take a hell of a lot of willpower.
Dropping my head, I whispered, “What’s he doing?”
Ethan slowly slid his eyes to the side. “Still watching us.”
I rocked my body against his, and he ran his hand over my ass until he could wrap it around the back of my thigh. His hand on my naked skin caused a shiver to run through my body. Dropping my mouth to his, I skimmed my lips over his again, and something in him seemed to snap. Crushing his lips to mine, he kissed me hard, forcing my mouth open so he could slide his tongue alongside mine. I wrapped my hands around the side of his neck and rocked my body harder, trying to focus on one sensation, but there were too many.
I ran my hands over his chest until I could shove them under his T-shirt, needing to feel his skin beneath my fingers. I could feel the bulge beneath me and rocked harder against it, wondering how far he’d let me go before he stopped me.
He squeezed the back of my thigh and slid his fingers between my legs until his fingertips skimmed over the thin material covering my pussy. I yanked my lips from him and laid my forehead against his when the sensation was too much. Arousal throbbed low in my belly, and with only the touch of his fingers, I was about to come.
“Ethan,” I whispered, continuing to rock against him.
His other hand tightened around my neck, and he pulled my head back slightly to see my eyes. “How can you do this?”
“Do what?” I asked, completely lost in the moment.
“Are you this good at pretending?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I panted, confused by his question and honestly feeling a little out of control.
He dropped his hand from my neck to my hip to stop my body from rocking but kept his other fingers against my pussy. It wasn’t enough pressure. I couldn’t get to an orgasm in this way, but he knew that.
“Answer me, and then I’ll make you come harder than you ever have.”
If I wasn’t so drunk on the feeling of being so close to an orgasm, I would’ve told him he was being arrogant, but I no longer cared what he said. “What do you want to know?”
“How can you get off with me? I thought you were only into women.”
I swallowed hard but knew I was busted. It was time to come clean with him, and honestly, I should have when we started this assignment, but I was protecting myself. Something I learned I needed to do a long time ago, and it was a habit I had a hard time breaking. Part of me assumed he already knew. It wasn’t hard to see and feel the chemistry between us, but I guess he took me at my word for all of these months. “I lied.”
His eyes narrowed. “You lied?”
“I’m not interested in women in that way. I just said that.” I watched him for any response, but I couldn’t read him.
With a growl, he glanced around the room before fixing my dress and sliding me off his lap. I thought he was pissed about my confession until I saw the heat in his eyes. Grabbing my hand, he pulled me through the room and around the corner, pushed me against the wall, and crushed his lips to mine. I thought his control had snapped on the couch, but I was wrong. This was the Ethan I’d been craving. His intensity, his confidence, all that power focused on me was an aphrodisiac. He shoved my underwear to the side, and I moaned loudly when his fingers touched my naked pussy. He wasted no time sinking a finger deep inside me while his thumb rolled my clit. It was as if every sexual experience I’d had in the past was gone from my memory. This one moment with this man would be the one I’d hold on to for the rest of my life.
With his other hand back in my hair, he brought my lips to his and kissed me so roughly, I had no doubt my lips would be swollen. Heat burned like fire in my body when he slid his hand down my chest and ran his fingers over my nipple, pinching it before continuing until he could wrap his palm around my hip.
Dropping my hands, I tore open the button on his jeans and slid the zipper down before wrapping my leg around his hip. Pulling his hand from my panties, he lifted me so I could wrap both legs around his waist. I laid my head against the wall and closed my eyes. I didn’t want anything to distract me from the sensations burning through me. In one push, he was inside me, and I moaned loudly. Nothing had ever felt like this. I’d never experienced desire like this. Shoving my hands into his hair, he pressed his lips against mine while he thrust harder and faster until I whimpered against his mouth. With one last thrust, our bodies finally gave us what we’d been craving.
Sliding my lips from his, I collapsed against his chest, my limbs limp from the most intense experience of my life, and I still had all my clothes on.
We were quiet for a moment, and as the need we felt only minutes ago subsided, we were no longer looking at each other. He pulled from me at the same time as I relaxed my legs. He helped me stand, and I fixed my dress while he zipped his jeans.
“Ethan.” I knew one of us had to say something, but he grabbed my hand and gestured toward the room.
“We better get back in there. We haven’t had eyes on Samson. He may be gone.”
He was right, but for the first time in a long time, I didn’t care about the case. I wanted to talk to him and get us back to where we were because it sure as hell felt like this changed everything.
And not for the better.
Nodding, I linked my fingers with his when he reached for my hand and found some comfort in knowing he was still willing to play our game. At the very least, we were still connected, and I needed that connection with Ethan more than I was willing to admit.
“Let’s go get new drinks,” he said when we entered the room again. He dropped his head and kept talking. “He’s exactly where he was, but he’s still watching us.”
“He’s curious. That’s good,” I replied quietly and leaned against his arm.
Ethan ordered two drinks when we approached the bar, but we were quiet while we waited for them. We weren’t doing a good job of playing the couple we were only ten minutes ago, and it was my fault. I shouldn’t have taken it that far on the couch, nor should I have admitted to the lie I told not very long ago. It changed something, and the tension radiating between us was palpable.
Clearing my throat, I leaned against his arm again, and he looked down at me. “We need to stop acting so awkward.”
He studied me for a moment before jerking up his chin. Grabbing the drinks the bartender just slid in front of us, Ethan paid, and we both took a sip before turning to face the room. I narrowed my eyes when I saw Samson staring at me. He lifted his hand and motioned for me to approach him.
With my lips against the rim of my glass, I spoke. “Do you see this?”
“Yep.”
Pulling the glass from my lips, I looked toward Ethan. “Then let’s go.”
He reached down and linked his fingers with mine before we started across the room. We stopped walking when we reached Samson. He glanced back and forth between us, but neither of us said anything. Instead, we waited to see what he would say.
We didn’t have to wait long.
“You’re new here.”
I squeezed Ethan’s hand, getting the impression from the way he was studying us that Ethan was the one he expected to answer.
“We’re visiting from out of town.”
“Where are you from?”
Samson was playing the fool. He already had the answers to these questions. I’d also bet Ethan understood Samson’s game but played along. “North Carolina.”
He nodded. “Long way from home.”
“Came for the festival, decided to stay for bike week.” Ethan repeated what he’d told everyone in the bar up to this point. That was smart. It was easier to seem believable if the story never had new information.
His eyes left Ethan’s and met mine. “You seem like you’re having a good time.”
I smiled and leaned against Ethan’s arm. “We are.”
“You interested in having a better time?”
I giggled, knowing instinctively that was what he wanted. “I’m not sure that’s possible.”
His eyes slid over my body before meeting my stare again, but the knowledge of his eyes on me made me nauseous. Even so, I didn’t move or give any indication I was disgusted and waited for him to speak.
“You haven’t seen what else we have to offer.”
“This your place?” Ethan asked.
“Why do you want to know?”
He shrugged like he didn’t give a shit. “It’s a nice place. We like your setup and that it’s exclusive.”
“Exclusivity is the only way to keep a place like ours going.” He studied Ethan. “We make it our mission to know the people we invite.”
Ethan’s body tensed, so I jumped in. “You said there’s more to see?”
Samson’s eyes slid to me, and he smirked. “There’s a lot more to see, and I think you’re the type of woman who will appreciate it.”
Smiling, I tilted my head. “Why do you think that?”
“You seem open to trying new things.” He gestured to the door behind him. “Would you be interested in joining me in the back room? I heard through the grapevine that you’re a dancer, and one of our girls didn’t show tonight. Could use a fill-in, but...”
“But what?” I asked.
“I can only invite you back. We have men who pay top dollar to watch the dancers. We don’t allow boyfriends or husbands to join. We've had bad experiences with that.”
I shrugged. “Okay. I’m sure Joe won’t mind.”
“She doesn’t dance anymore,” Ethan said.
My head snapped toward him. “It’s just for tonight.”
He slowly looked down at me. “I said no.”
I narrowed my eyes, but something in his expression told me not to argue. I wasn’t afraid of him. He would never hurt me, but I was afraid he’d blow our cover if I pushed.
Turning to face Samson again, I frowned. “Guess Joe doesn’t feel like sharing right now.”
“Too bad,” Samson replied. “We have dancers who make a thousand bucks in one night here.”
Knowing Ethan wouldn’t budge, I leaned closer to Samson and swallowed back the bile just from being this close. “Are you having a party tomorrow night? That’ll give me time to work on him.” I smiled seductively. “I can be very convincing.”
He grinned. “I’ll bet you can.” With one more glance in Ethan’s direction, he looked at his watch. “It’s already after midnight. Tomorrow is today.” He studied me closely before nodding. “Come back tonight at ten. I’ll see if we have a spot for you.”
I leaned my body against Ethan’s. “We’ll be here.” I winked at Samson. “I mean, who's gonna say no to a thousand dollars?”
His eyes darkened, and a chill engulfed me when he spoke. “No one.”
Ethan tugged on my hand, and I smiled at Samson, but it was a hell of a lot harder to fake than it had been a minute ago. “See you later.”
Without another word, we turned and headed for the steps. I knew better than to try to talk to Ethan, and by the time we hit the door, he’d dropped my hand altogether. I sighed to myself. We had a lot to go over, but that conversation couldn’t happen inside these walls, especially not as pissed as he seemed. I was worried about what he might say that others shouldn’t hear. It was at moments like these that even the best agents had the potential to slip up and say something a little loud that eventually blew their cover and all the hard work they put in, some of that work taking years.
I wasn’t going to allow that. We worked too hard to get this far, and I wasn’t going to blow it now.
I was getting behind that door.
No matter what I had to do to make that happen.