It was one of the things he adored about her. Her
joie de vivre.
Gena always smiled. She always made him smile.
When they were apart—which was too often these days—he thought of nothing but getting back to her. Hell, he hadn’t even thought of another woman since first laying eyes on Gena Armstrong.
Rocco had been hot for her since day one, six months ago, when she’d shown up as the replacement linguist on a job in Mexico. An all-male job, in an area known to be hazardous. What numskull had sent a woman there? While anyone who’d racked up three beauty queen titles had to be aware of her own
looks, Gena still underestimated her impact on the opposite sex.
Rocco had privately appointed himself her bodyguard, not just to protect her from the local riffraff, but from the Agency horndogs as well.
And though she had done an exceptional job translating original material and confirming his suspicion that the Mexican government’s translator had held back mission-critical data, Rocco had had her replaced before anyone could say “distraction.”
But the moment that job wrapped, Rocco had requested a hometown assignment, something that put him in D.C., closer to Gena. Then he’d actively pursued her. Though they both worked for the State Department, they were in separate divisions, so no conflict of interest.
Gena rebuffed his attempts at first. When she finally gave in and agreed to meet him for lunch, he’d known he’d never be the same. She beguiled him but kept him at arm’s length. They’d dated five times before she let him kiss her. But, Holy Moses, what a kiss!
After that things seemed to heat up, to a point, before Gena called time out. He’d guessed she was a virgin before she admitted it. True innocence couldn’t be faked.
He’d tried to assure her he was fine with waiting, even though he wanted her with a desperation that scared him. Mr. Afraid of Commitment suddenly found himself interested in engagement rings.
Then a black ops mission came up. Rocco had been sent off to Afghanistan without being able to contact anyone. Typically he welcomed those types of assignments; he thrived on danger. That time, though, he hadn’t wanted to leave Gena. Rocco had sworn Harry
Gambrel had done it on purpose, assigned Rocco to lead the mission, knowing damn well Rocco wanted a few more weeks stateside.
That’s where relationships got dicey in his profession. He and Gena had talked about that today. Kind of. She’d admitted feeling insecure when Rocco was gone for extended periods.
“It’s part of my job,” he’d tried to explain.
“And I respect that. I just need to know I have a special place in your heart.”
A special place?
Didn’t she know she had his whole heart?
He padded barefoot to the dining room table and picked up the wineglasses, carried them to the kitchen. He checked on Gena as he made his way to the back deck. She must have gotten chilled because she’d rolled up in one of the blankets.
Outside, Rocco cut off the hot tub heater before extinguishing the two Tiki oil lamps. With the full moon the lights were overkill. The breeze had calmed and came in from the west.
“Rocco?”
He turned and saw Gena silhouetted in the open doorway. She’d cast off the blanket but still had her arms wrapped around herself.
Rocco had purposely bought the tiniest bikinis he could find without going to the extreme of a thong. The one she’d put on today screamed “mission accomplished.”
“I’m right here.” He stepped out of the shadows to where she could see him.
“How long have I been out?” she asked.
“Not too long.”
She crossed the deck, pausing to dip her toe in the
steaming hot tub. “Ah! Perfect. Bet you wish you’d brought a real date.”
He laughed and closed the distance between them. “Actually I’ve got this thing for Sleeping Beauty.”
Gena’s arms encircled his waist as she laid her head against his shoulder. He didn’t have a shirt on and her long hair felt like silk against his skin.
“Mmmm,” she said. “You took a shower, didn’t you? And cleared the dinner dishes.”
“Guilty on both counts.” He felt her shiver and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You’re cold. Let’s go in.”
“I’ve got a better idea. Can I have a do over?”
“And what would you do over?”
She leaned back, met his gaze. “For starters, we’d climb in the hot tub. Maybe look at the stars.”
Rocco felt a grin split his face. “Your wish is my command, princess.”
He picked her up, then carried her to the hot tub and stepped in. Still holding her, he sank slowly into the water.
“Feels divine.” Gena wiggled, sitting sideways across his lap. “So, how much do you know about astronomy?”
“I know the moon is too bright to see much in the east, but if you look back here”—he turned, facing them both west—“there’s Ursa Major.”
“Great bear.”
“You can use the Big Dipper to locate Polaris, the North Star. If you ever get lost at night, face Polaris and you’ll be facing north. Unless, of course, you’re in the Southern Hemisphere. Are you familiar with the Southern Cross?”
She giggled. “Actually, I was talking less about orienteering and more about folklore.”
“Folklore?” Rocco repeated. “I must have been absent that day.”
“Luckily I wasn’t.” She pointed to the sky. “See the Little Dipper? Legend has it that Mother Sky uses it to dole out her love potions. A couple seeking her blessing would stand together beneath the constellation and recite a special poem.” Gena pressed a line of kisses along his shoulder. “In hopes it would win Mother Sky’s favor.”
“I was definitely absent that day,” Rocco said. “What happened if they received this love potion?”
She turned, facing him. Then she untied the straps of her bikini top. “The effects usually showed up in the woman first.”
Her top fell away as she lifted her hair, giving Rocco his first glimpse of her naked breasts. Her nipples were pale pink, her areolas tiny on such large globes.
He whistled softly. “Oh, yeah. We got the potion.” He reached up and touched her nipple with his index finger, watched it respond by hardening. Rocco’s cock responded in the same fashion. He’d been aroused before, but now his erection was full bore. “Tell me more.”
“I made that up, but it worked.” Gena rubbed against him, moaning slightly.
“It worked very well.” He placed a hand on her hip, guiding her motion so they both felt it.
“Rocco, I want you. I want this.” Her voice wavered as she undulated her hips again. “But I don’t know what to do.”
“Luckily, Ido. I suggest we go inside, to the bedroom.” Condoms and hot tubs did not mix. “Hold on.”
Steam wafted from their skin as Rocco stood, cradling her as he climbed out. Gena kept her arms around his neck, giving him a bird’s-eye view of her glorious breasts.
At the door, he lowered her and grabbed the towels he’d left out earlier. He unfolded one, wrapped it around her shoulders, covering temptation so he could think. Talk.
“Are you sure about this, Gena?” he asked. “Because once we start …” Rocco wasn’t as certain he could pull back. He’d wanted her too damn long.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything. I want you, Rocco. So much it scares me.”
He could have beat his chest and run around the deck doing war whoops. Instead he tugged her wet hair free and began squeezing the long length with another towel.
“Let’s get you dry,” he said.
Gena squirmed and kicked off her wet swimsuit bottom, leaving her completely naked except for the towel around her shoulders.
“Your turn,” she said as her hands shoved the waistband of his trunks down from his hips.
Gena stared at his exposed erection, her wide eyes confirming that she’d probably seen few men naked. Which pleased him. Because if he had anything to do with it, she’d never see another naked man except him.
Rocco stood still, enjoying watching her visually satisfy her curiosity. She inched toward him, allowing his cock to rub against her abdomen. Again he let
her set the pace, let her close the distance until their bodies were pressed fully together. His cock was in heaven each time she moved against him.
She lifted onto tiptoe for a kiss, but as she shifted her movements grew fretful again.
“Easy, princess. I’ve got you.” Taking her up in his arms, Rocco carried her into the bedroom and set her down on the mattress before switching on a low-watt lamp. Soft light bathed her skin.
Reaching into the nightstand, he grabbed a couple of condoms, then tossed them on the nightstand, never taking his eyes off Gena.
She had scooted farther back on the bed, reclining slightly on her forearms, allowing him to visually sate his curiosity as well. Her breasts were full and high, and her hips flared outward from her slender waist. Light blond hair covered her pubic mound.
He climbed onto the bed, hovering over her but not quite touching. He held still and let her arch against him, exploring the rhythm of what she wanted.
“You’re so beautiful, Gena.” He kissed her and slowly lowered his hips, easing her legs apart to just lie against her. She was wet. Warm. Trusting.
Rocco eased kisses down her neck to her breasts, mouthing one nipple then the other before giving in to the temptation to suck.
Gena hissed in approval. Her hands slid through his hair, holding him in place as he showered her breasts with kisses and licks. She bucked her hips, thrusting upward.
When Rocco rolled off to the side, she grabbed for him, closing her fist around his shaft.
“Don’t stop,” she whispered.
He had no intention of stopping. “I just want to
slow it down.” She still had her hand on his cock and he arched forward against her palm. “I want to savor every touch.”
She rolled onto her side, too. Her breasts jutted forward, the tips teasing the hair on his chest as she continued stroking his shaft. “Do you like when I touch you?” she asked.
“Oh yeah.” Rocco laid a hand on her hip, caressing her curves, following the indent of her abdomen, lower to tease her soft nest of curls.
He cupped her, felt the slight withdrawal over the shock of feeling his hand in such an intimate place. But within seconds she relaxed, opening ever so slightly, letting him feel her heat. He caressed her with his thumb and was rewarded with a moan.
“Spread your legs,” he urged. Then he slid his middle finger partway into her tightness.
He felt her instinctively press down. Pulling back slightly, he shifted his hand, letting his thumb rub her clitoris as he pushed his finger up into her again.
“Oh!” Gena pitched her hips forward as she sought the sensation again.
“Feel good?”
She nodded. “Does it feel that way for you, too?”
Rocco flexed his hips. “Different, but good. In fact, if you’d grip me more firmly—” She immediately tightened her hand. “That’s it.”
He worked two fingers inside her, then leaned down and caught her nipple in his mouth. This time as he sucked, Gena rubbed rhythmically against his hand.
“I … I’ve never,” she said, panting, “felt this way.”
Rocco felt ready to explode. Part of him wished they could go on like this for longer and maybe next
time they would. He reached for a condom and sheathed himself.
Gena watched. “It looks so big and … hard. Now what?”
“Just relax, sweetheart. It’ll unfold naturally.”
She lay back against the pillow. Rocco eased up over her and then lowered himself slowly, barely rocking his hips. As Gena increased the rhythm, he met it.
He suckled her breasts as he eased his cock partway inside her. Feeling the heat and wetness
there
was totally different from what he’d felt with his fingers.
Gena tried to arch against him, frantic.
“Raise your legs, sweetheart,” he urged. “It will help.”
She did. They both cried out as Rocco slid deeper, but not all the way in.
“Please. More!” Gena demanded. “I want it all. All of you.”
Her words undid him. With a groan he pushed in farther, felt her tightness increase. Gena writhed beneath him, taking in more and more before losing control.
When her orgasm hit, she screamed his name and bucked her hips, shattering his control. Surging forward, Rocco rocked all the way up, all the way inside Gena.
Home.
Then without another move, he had the most powerful orgasm of his life.
Thailand, Uncertain Location
October 5, Unknown Time
The last time Maddy had been transported, she hadn’t been drugged, though she’d been blindfolded and bound before being forced onto a helicopter. Had she been moved because her captors worried Rocco had traced the telephone call?
They hadn’t traveled too far. She estimated the flight time to be twenty minutes, but her worry increased when the blindfold was removed and she saw the elaborate compound she’d been brought to. A personal residence, she guessed, belonging to someone wealthy and powerful.
The doctor did not accompany them, though she did help Maddy wash up and change before leaving. The embroidered robe she’d been given to wear was short, hitting midthigh. But at least it was clean. It had matching slippers that were insubstantial but beat bare feet.
The black-uniformed armed guards escorted her
into the palatial compound and herded her into a formal sitting area. She tried to take in details of her new surroundings. The room was decorated in a baroque style with heavy drapes over the windows. She was directed by gesture to sit on one of the brocade sofas. One of the guards stood at the door, while the other disappeared.
Ever since her pregnancy had been outed, her captors had treated her fractionally better. Which worried her since she knew they weren’t doing so for humanitarian reasons. Her captors thought they’d have better luck procuring Dr. Rufin in exchange for a pregnant woman.
And while it gave her hope to know Rocco knew that she’d been abducted—and Rocco would tell Travis—she worried what Travis would think once he heard she was pregnant. Would Travis realize he was the father? Or would he believe her captor’s claim that her unborn child was Rocco’s?