Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Gia
V igorously scrubbing my skin in the shower does nothing to alleviate the itch clinging to every inch of my flesh. Memories of Liam’s disgusting hands all over my body sends shivers crashing over me, and I’m chilled to the bone despite the hot water raining down on me.
I am only a couple weeks into dating him, and it’s already painful. But I know the worst is yet to come, and I need to find better coping mechanisms. I’m able to deal with his touch in the moment because I zone out, forcing my body to cooperate while my mind goes someplace else. It’s the aftermath of our dates I have the problem with. Then I can’t stop my brain from replaying everything. Knots twist my insides as I turn off the shower and get out. I wrap a fluffy white towel around my body as I remove the shower cap from my hair and toss it on the vanity.
Swiping at the condensation on the mirror, I stare at my reflection. I’m still not used to my new hair. It suits me, and I’m glad I had to change my appearance. It helps to separate “‘real me” from “work me.” Now, if I can just learn how to leave “work me” at the door when I come home each day, I’ll be happy.
I drag a comb quickly through my hair before padding out of the bathroom into my bedroom.
“Oh my fucking god!” I screech, slapping a hand over my chest as my heart pounds painfully against my rib cage and blood thrums in my ears. “You almost gave me a heart attack! What the fuck are you doing here?” I glare at the tall, broad frame of the brooding man sitting bolt upright on the side of my bed. “And how the hell did you get in?”
“I have a key,” Joshua says, running his eyes over me from head to toe.
“You can’t be here! What if Liam has someone watching my place?”
“He doesn’t. I canvassed the area thoroughly.” Joshua stands. “And I came in through the rear entrance to the building and used the staff elevator.”
“You can’t just creep up on me like this! What if I’d been naked?” I wave my hands around before remembering I’m in a towel . I check it’s secure and grip the top of it before leveling daggers at him.
“I’m your boss. I can do what the fuck I like. And you’re not, so there’s no need to throw a hissy fit.”
“Get out!” I point toward the door.
He steps toward me. I grip my towel harder, gulping as he puts himself all up in my personal space. Fuck, why does he have to look so good and smell so good? The blue of his open-necked shirt matches the blue in his eyes as he stares at me with cold indifference. There is scant distance between us, and I’m acutely aware of every hard, toned inch of his tempting body. But a muscle ticks in his jaw, and heat rolls off him in waves, giving the game away. He’s not as indifferent as he seems. He’s angry . I’d bet money on it.
His fingers wrap around my chin as he tilts my head back. “No.” His expression dares me to challenge him, but I’m not a woman who ever backs down, and I know how to pick my battles.
I shrug. “Suit yourself.” Removing his hand from my chin, I take a couple steps back and smirk as I unknot the towel and expose myself to his greedy gaze. I keep my eyes trained on his face as I slowly dry my body, watching him watch me as I swirl the towel around my breasts, lifting the heavy weight to catch the moisture underneath. My nipples stand at attention under his heady look, and lust swirls in my belly as I drag the towel lower, patting my bare pussy dry.
Turning around, I run the towel against my ass before lifting one leg onto the bed and slowly drying it from foot to thigh. Then I repeat the motion with my other leg, smirking as I feel his eyes all over me. Planting both feet on the carpeted floor, I turn around to face him again, slowly running my hands all over my naked body.
“Stop that,” he clips out, adjusting the front of his pants where a noticeable bulge is straining against the zipper.
“I like to be thorough,” I say, deliberately lifting my boobs in each hand, inspecting the underswells with my fingers. “To ensure I got every drop of moisture.”
His Adam’s apple jumps in his throat, and I’m enjoying this.
“Put some clothes on.”
His eyes devour me as I walk toward him, stopping with only an inch between our bodies. His nostrils flare as his gaze lingers on my tits. I’m betting it wouldn’t take much to escalate things, but that’s not what this is about.
I slide my hands across his firm chest. “It’s after midnight. Why on earth would I get dressed?” I can’t fight my smirk any longer.
He curses under his breath before stalking off and snatching my green silk robe from the back of my door. “Put that on.”
“No.” I plant my hands on my hips, thrust my chest out, and smile, loving throwing his word back at him.
“Don’t push me, Gia, or you’ll be sorry.” He grinds his teeth, and his jaw clenches tight.
“Why, Joshua?” I reclaim the distance between us, putting my hands back on his chest. “What will you do to me?” I bat my eyelashes and pin him with my best sultry expression. “Will you throw me on the bed and fuck me until I’m screaming your name?” My hands roam higher, heading toward his shoulders. “Or will you spread my legs and bury your face in my pussy?” I push my boobs into his chest. “Push my tits together and fuck them?”
His pupils are practically black with lust, and the bulge tenting his pants is rock hard where it presses against my stomach. “Oh, you’d like that.”
His eyes zero in on my mouth, and my tongue darts out, wetting my lips. I stop breathing for a few seconds as electricity simmers in the air. My chest heaves when he clasps the back of my head, pulling our faces super close. I gulp, resting my hands on his shoulders as my gaze bounces from his piercing eyes to his gorgeous full lips. Indecision resides in the minuscule gap between our mouths, and the moment is super charged.
My breath hitches, butterflies swoop into my chest, and blood rushes to my head. I’m confused over my reaction to him. To us . Part of me desperately wants him to kiss me, and I don’t understand why, but the stubborn part of me won’t concede easily.
The stubborn part wins out, and I break myself free of whatever spell he has me under. Lowering my hands from his shoulders, I push my tits together and rub my taut nipples with my thumbs. His body visibly trembles with the effort involved in keeping his hands at his sides, and I know I have him where I want him.
Stepping aside, I free my breasts and snag the robe. I pull it on, tightening the belt around my waist as I fix him with one of his signature ice looks. “Hell will freeze over before I ever let you anywhere near me. But thanks for letting me practice seduction techniques on you. Now I know that’ll work on Liam, I’ll be sure to reenact it.”
His hands clench into balls at his side. “Watch it. You’re on very thin ice, Gia. One word from me, and you’re off the mission and out of the program.”
“Try it, asshole.” I narrow my eyes. “I dare you.” I prod my finger in his chest. “I told you to get out. It was your choice to stay like some creepy perv.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to say he’s no better than Liam, but I don’t want to push him too far and I have lied enough.
The truth is my body is humming at the thought of Joshua’s hands all over me, and there is nothing creepy or pervy about it. I’m not remotely pleased about this development. I don’t want to be attracted to him. I never asked for this stupid chemistry that has sprung to life between us. I’d rather we go back to him ignoring me and me barely noticing he exists.
We stare at one another, neither of us backing down. Tension bleeds into the air as seconds pass. Joshua breaks first and smug satisfaction swells my chest. He moves to one side, combing a hand through his thick blond locks and messing up his careful styling. He’s rattled, and it’s good to know this freaky chemistry isn’t one-sided. “I shouldn’t have come here.”
“Why did you?” I rotate my shoulders from side to side before sliding my feet into my slippers.
He sighs, dragging his hand through his hair again. He mutters something under his breath. “Let’s talk in the living room,” he says, like he owns the place. Okay, maybe he does. I never asked. He strides from the bedroom, and I take my sweet ass time following.
Dropping onto the couch beside him, I purposely let my robe part, showcasing my smooth thighs.
“I’m not the one you’re being paid to seduce,” he snaps, grabbing both parts of my robe and folding it over me. “Quit this shit.”
My lips twitch. “I thought your job was to help me?” I purr, pressing my body up against his. My heart is thumping wildly behind my chest cavity as heat travels south, pooling in my core. Just brushing against him has me overheating. Imagine what touching him would do? “What if I need to practice more seduction techniques?”
“You don’t need any practice,” he growls, scooting sideways on the couch to get away from me. He thrusts his cell into my face. “Looks like you’ve already hooked your prey.”
I stare at the pic on the screen as bile swims up my throat. Liam is ravishing me on the street outside the bar, in full view of passersby and the men Joshua has trailing us. I should feel proud, but I don’t. That itch is back, creeping over my flesh, and I have a sudden desire to take another shower.
I hand the cell back to him. “You look angry. Why is that when I’m doing what’s been asked of me?”
“Have you forgotten your research? He doesn’t like easy women. You letting him paw at you on a busy street doesn’t exactly scream sophistication, now does it?”
I bark out a dry laugh. “Jealous much, Joshua?”
His cold veneer shrouds his face, and his voice is lethally controlled when he says, “I don’t want to see you crash and burn, Gia. If you fail, it reflects badly on me too. You can’t afford to fuck this up.”
Now he’s seriously pissing me off. “You told me I needed to progress things, to move it along faster. How the hell did you think I’d achieve that?”
“Not like this!” His fingers dig into the armrest of the couch.
“Then tell me what I’m supposed to do, Joshua? Either you want me to continue acting demure and let this play out over months or I do more of what I did tonight so I earn his trust faster. Which is it because your mood swings are giving me a serious case of mental whiplash!”
“I don’t want you to compromise yourself,” he says in a composed voice as his fingers ease their death grip on the couch.
“Then you shouldn’t have assigned me to this job.” I stand and walk to the island unit, grabbing the half-drunk bottle of red wine and a wineglass. I don’t grab a second glass or intend to offer him any because I want him to leave.
Flopping down on the seat beside him, I pour a healthy measure of luscious red wine into my glass and then knock back a long mouthful. The instant I set the glass down on the coffee table, Joshua snatches it and greedily drinks from it.
My mouth hangs open. That is not a Joshua thing to do.
“What?” he asks after swallowing most of my wine. “You clearly weren’t going to offer me any, and you’re not the only one who needs it.”
I rub at my aching temples. “Why are you here, Joshua?” I ask again. The stress of this evening is catching up to me, and I want to drink my body weight in wine and then crash.
His gaze falls over every feature on my face as he stares directly at me. “I wish I knew,” he whispers.
“Did something happen tonight?” I ask, thoroughly confused.
His eyes bore into mine, and a frisson of electricity crackles in the small space between us. “I didn’t like seeing you with him. I didn’t like him touching you.”
I open my mouth to speak, and he shakes his head. “Don’t ask me to explain it because I can’t.” He grabs the wineglass and drains the rest of the wine. “Make of that what you want.”
“Joshua, I?—”
“Don’t,” he says, and my hand pauses in midair. “I shouldn’t have come here.” He stands, grabbing his jacket off the arm of the chair.
“Wait.” I don’t know what the hell is happening between us, but I want to put things back on a professional setting. He is my boss, after all, and my main point of contact. Tonight has been weird, and I don’t want things to remain weird between us. “I want to show you what I’ve been working on.” Walking over to the island unit, I hop up on a stool and open my laptop. I pull up the research report I was working on earlier today before I left for my date. “I was going to send this to you in the morning, but you might as well look at it now.”
He leans one hand on the counter as he peers over my shoulder, staring at the screen. “What am I looking at?”
“I’ve spent the past two weeks examining surveillance cameras on Staten Island and along the route back to the city. I’ve hacked into street cams and private systems trying to piece together footage from the night of the robbery, and it doesn’t make any sense.”
“Elaborate,” he clips out, and I’m tempted to flip him the bird.
“There is no trace of anyone getting onto the cruise liner or off it. I see you and Fiero and the men that were working that night but no one else, and nothing appears amiss.”
“The surveillance systems were tampered with, and Mazzone’s tech team has already investigated and reported on this.”
“Why do you think I wanted to take another look?” That and I’m bored hanging around this apartment during the day. I wanted to make myself useful. “There is something very off about this whole scenario that goes beyond us having a rat working with the enemy.” I angle my head to look back at him, spotting the confusion etched on his face. “You’re not getting my point.”
“Then make it more clearly.” His warm breath fans over my face, and it’s challenging to remain focused.
“I get they tampered with the systems around the port because whoever they have on the inside fixed it so they could get in and out undetected, but what I don’t understand is why there is no trace of anything or anyone leaving the island or along the route back to the city. How the fuck do you transport a significant amount of drugs without leaving a visible trail?”
“They could have transported by air or sea. It’s the conclusion we reached.”
I shake my head. “I’ve checked radar reports, the ferry records, air and shipping logs from the night in question, and followed a camera trail along the island with a clear view of the ocean and the skies, and there is nothing, Joshua. There is no ship on the water or no chopper in the sky. I didn’t detect any suspicious persons or activity on the ferry, and I’ve checked all sailings for a twenty-four-hour period before and after the robbery. I went through the footage very carefully, and it gives us nothing. It’s like they disappeared into thin air.”
“That’s not possible.” He pushes off the counter and straightens up as he scrubs his hands down his face.
“We’re missing something, and I have a feeling it’s the key to everything.”