Deadly Testimony (19 page)

If they had sex again.

And damn it, the man had her thinking about bedding him when he wasn’t even trying.

“In my line of work, I’m mostly trying to stay out of sight.” As a sniper, she’d been in many situations where both her mission and her own life depended on remaining undetected.

“Perception is still applicable to the situation, arguably.” He came out of the bathroom combing his fingers through the sides of his hair. The gray streaks were heavy, beginning to look more natural as he blended them into his hair. “I guessed you wanted me to apply generously in this case.”

She noted and crossed the distance between them to help him blend just a bit more. The chalk changed the texture of his hair a little too. The strands were a touch more coarse. “Good news is, now you have an idea of how you’ll look in a few decades when you actually go gray.”

He left off finger-combing his hair, surrendering to her ministrations, and placed his hands on her hips instead. “I’m rather curious as to whether you’ll still find me desirable around then.”

She laughed. No answer for him though. She’d never thought ahead more than a few weeks, much less decades. Plus, he was fishing. She wasn’t entirely certain what he was hoping to hear in response but she didn’t want to make an ass out of herself if she was misunderstanding.

Instead she straightened his collar and didn’t quite meet his gaze. “Let’s get through tonight, then survive tomorrow. One day at a time.”

“Lizzy.” His voice had dropped from his playful conversational tone to a deeper, rougher sound. “Too many uncertainties are between now and tomorrow. I want you to know these last few days have had an impact on me.”

Her too. But just saying so would sound flippant, at least to her. Of course, her mind was going into overdrive so she was imagining all sorts of directions this conversation was going.

Give her a target and a rifle. Make life simple. Then she only ever had to have the right timing to hit her mark.

“Whatever happens, I would like to be able to find you again,” Kyle continued. “I would like to continue to explore this thing between us.”

She bit her lip and finally met his gaze. “I’d like that too.”

Kyle’s dark brown eyes were serious. Sincere. “Will I be able to find you?”

She owed him absolute honesty. And she didn’t have a good enough answer for him, not right now. “I don’t know.”

There were decisions outstanding. And to make those, she needed to think ahead more than a few weeks.

After a long moment, Kyle put his hands on her hips and turned her so she was looking into the full-length mirror again. “After tonight, it will be different. You change your hair, your accessories, your appearance at a moment’s notice and it is easier than a children’s game for you. I will not catch up to you if you don’t want me to.”

She studied the two of them in the reflection. They looked good together, she thought.

He used one hand to brush her hair off her shoulder, exposing the nape of her neck. Leaning in, he breathed deeply against her skin, his hot breath sending delicious shivers through her as he exhaled. “We have now.”

“We have like fifteen minutes before we need to get going.”

He chuckled, the sound coming from deep in his chest. “We can be quick and still make a lot of things happen. We’ll make the most of now.”

And he kissed her neck as he set his hands on her hips to hold her steady. He pressed his own hips into her ass, making her very aware of his hard erection. She let her lips part, and didn’t argue.

His gaze lifted and met hers in the reflection. “Watch us.”

Chapter Twenty

Kyle ran his hands up her sides then, lifting her arms and encouraging her to place her hands on the wall to either side of the mirror. As she complied, he kissed the smooth skin of her shoulder and the soft curve of her neck. Something about the spot where her neck met her shoulders was his favorite. He wanted to breathe in the scent of her there and kiss, even bite ever so gently.

Then he ran his hands back down her arms and over her back, around her torso and up her belly to cup her breasts. The tempting weight of her breasts filled his palms and he squeezed briefly. She rewarded him with a soft gasp, letting her eyes shutter closed.

Oh yeah, this mirror was going to be very useful.

He pressed his hips into her ass, rolling them to be sure she felt the hard ridge of his cock. “Eyes open, Isabelle. You don’t want to miss this.”

Long lashes lifted to reveal those liquid dark eyes, and the desire he saw there made him want to be inside her right away. He pressed himself against her again and struggled for patience.

He had a few other things he wanted to do first.

Releasing her, he stepped back just enough to reach under her skirt and hook the sides of her panties with his thumbs. He knelt then, drawing her panties downward and caressed her legs all the way to her ankles. When he reached the floor, she stepped out of the delicate underwear without prompting. Balling up the tiny bit of silk, he tucked it into his pocket so they didn’t lose track of it.

Looking up under her skirt, he enjoyed the sight of her shapely behind and lifted his hands to grip her just at the tops of her thighs. He squeezed once and she groaned in response, spreading her legs a little for him.

“More,” he told her. “I want you open for me.”

She shifted her weight, spreading her legs to a wider stance.

He smiled, looking up at her in the mirror’s reflection. “These shoes are incredible on you.”

Her eyes flickered as her gaze darted to the shoes and back to him. Color rose up in her cheeks. He wondered if she’d ever admired herself in a mirror before.

“You’re beautiful,” he told her. Because it bore repeating, even if she’d heard it a hundred times.

Then he angled his shoulders between her legs, further encouraging her to open to give him access. Steadying her with one hand on her thigh, he used the other to spread her with his fingers and he flicked his tongue against her clit.

She cried out and her thighs trembled, squeezing together, but his shoulders kept her open for his pleasure. And he took it for both of them, licking and exploring, finding her most sensitive spots and learning how to tease the best response out of her. He swirled his tongue and heard her whimper. Then he licked in a long sweep, pressing hard as he did.

Oh, his Lizzy liked that.

He did it again, gripping her thigh to hold her in place as she squirmed.

Pausing, he looked up at her. “Hold your skirt up for me, so I can see you.”

Her breath came out in shallow pants as she removed one hand from the wall to gather up the front of her skirt and held it to her chest.

He kept his gaze on her face as he tasted her again. She moaned and closed her eyes. He feasted. Licks and suckles, even a tiny nip here and there. All of it drove her mad and he enjoyed the way she moved her body, simultaneously trying to respond to him and encourage him.

He wanted to see her come apart in his hands, under his mouth, so he fastened his mouth over her clit and slide a finger inside her. A sharp cry escaped her as he did it and her inner muscles were wonderfully tight around his finger. Slowly, he set a rhythm, moving his finger in and out in time with the way he flicked the tip of his tongue against her clit.

She clenched her thighs even harder and froze, every muscle tensed.

He didn’t stop, instead sucking at her clit as he continued to slide his finger inside her.

“Kyle!” Her orgasm took over and her body shook with it.

He withdrew his finger, stroking her through it and prolonging it as much as he could. When she was still, both her hands bracing her against the wall again, he rose to his feet behind her and undid his pants.

“Ah, Isabelle. You are irresistible.”

She raised her head to look at him in the reflection. Her lids were heavy over her eyes and a pleased smile played over her lips. “You are a very. Bad. Man.”

He chuckled. “May I continue my bad, bad ways?”

Her lips parted. “I can’t wait to see what you have in mind.”

He grinned. It took only a few moments to retrieve and put on a condom. He returned and set one hand on her hip, pulling her toward him. He placed the other hand on the small of her back, encouraging her to bend over just a bit more. Then he slid inside her.

She moaned.

“Good?” He rocked against her, filling her.

“Yes,” she whispered. Then she drew in air and repeated it louder. “Oh, yes.”

Watching her abandon herself, the sheer pleasure on her face, almost undid him. He gritted his teeth and struggled to make this last, withdrawing slowly from inside her and plunging back into her. She called out, spreading her fingers wide on the wall and bracing herself more securely. “Harder.”

He drew back again and obliged, thrusting into her hard and deep.

She nodded, barely coherent. “Do it again.”

He took hold of her hips and did. And again. He started slow, rhythmic, to make sure he gave her what she wanted without hurting her. And she was making him work to keep his own control but his own pressure was building. He picked up the pace, his balls tightening as the sensations shot through him.

Her inner muscles tensed as she crested into another orgasm and he couldn’t hold himself back any longer. He drove into her once, twice, and came inside her with mind-blowing release.

* * *

Lizzy’s vision cleared while she was still trembling from the second orgasm he’d given her in...yup, less than fifteen minutes.

Whew. He hadn’t been kidding.

In the reflection of the mirror, she watched Kyle walk into the bathroom and emerge a minute later with a hand towel. She appreciated the consideration.

Cleanup took a minute or so in comfortable silence. He stayed close, brushing his lips over her shoulder or helping steady her with a hand at her waist.

Finally, she turned to him and held out her hand.

He glanced down at her open palm, at his own groin, and back up to meet her gaze. Oh, another night, she was going to make him unbutton and do exactly what he was implying. Definitely.

“Panties.” She raised an eyebrow at him.

He blinked at her in mock innocence. “You want them?”

There was an interesting idea. She’d never gone out to dinner without them, especially not wearing a dress like this. With him, it could be all sorts of dangerous.

“Yes. I will be wearing panties tonight. This is business.” She would hold firm. She was not going to let him talk her out of it.

Even if he’d already coaxed her out of the panties anyway.

Gah. He was all sorts of bad things. He made her want to entertain so many ill-advised little ideas, she wasn’t ever going to manage to remember them. Until he looked at her with those naughty eyes and that suggestive grin.

“Seriously.” She gave him a scowl, even if she was giggling inside. “Hand them over.”

He sighed. Then he made a production of pulling them out of his pocket ever so slowly. Staring at her, he kneeled down in front of her and held them so she could step into them.

Had she ever been so turned on by a man putting her panties on her?

Nope. But it was a great new experience.

Chapter Twenty-One

“Relax.” Kyle gave the hotel bellman a wink as he held out his hand for Lizzy.

She set her heels on the ground before standing up out of the cab, the hem of her cocktail dress whispering around her thighs.

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this dress,” she murmured.

“I thought you liked it.” He definitely did.

“It looked fine when I was standing in front of the mirror.” She let him transfer her hand from his own to the crook of his arm so he could lead her inside to the ballroom. “I didn’t realize how short it was going to be when I sat down.”

“I did.” He grinned as she freed her hand and swatted him across the shoulder.

“You’re...”

“Incorrigible.” He supplied a word for her since she seemed to be having trouble deciding on a descriptor of her own. Reaching out, he adjusted the delicate lace mask she wore to better show her eyes. “And you are beautiful.”

She sighed. “I should’ve gone with my original idea.”

Anyone overhearing her in the somewhat crowded lobby might assume she was still talking about choice of wardrobe. But Kyle thought she was referring to the idea of slipping in with the catering staff.

“I like this idea better.” Hotel personnel directed them toward a set of escalators leading to the mezzanine level and the ballroom. “Besides, would anyone who knows you anticipate this as your method of arrival?”

There was a moment and then she responded. “No. And they’re never going to let me hear the end of it, either.”

He might be going to hell for it, but he was enjoying her discomfiture. “You’re acting as if this were prom and you were one of the teens that planned not to go.”

“I didn’t go to my prom.” She smoothed the layers of her skirt against her right thigh.

She had a small gun strapped high on her thigh. He was torn as to whether it was incredibly cliché or irresistibly hot.

For the time being, he’d go with the latter and figure the former was a cliché because it worked.

“Why not?” They worked their way past the coat check, and they were not the only ones without outerwear, then joined the line to get into the ballroom.

“I was one of those teens who decided it was fine if I didn’t go.” Her response was flippant.

“I was joking.” He regretted it too. Events like prom meant something to any teen growing up in the US, he thought, whether they went or not. It was iconic.

She shrugged, glanced at him, then smiled. “Hey, don’t feel too bad. I didn’t go because my brothers had a rule that anyone who wanted to take me had to ask them first. Only, they beat the sh—the bejesus out of anyone who got near me, so no one ever asked.”

“I see.”

“Your mouth is still twisted up in a frown. Let it go.” She gave his arm a squeeze.

Ah. That explained how she read him so easily even with his own half mask. Thinking about it now, he schooled his expression to what he considered his usual half smile. Polite. Not overly impressed. But inviting someone to surprise him.

It worked with most people.

“I’m going to need to walk around the perimeter.”

When she would have let go of his arm, he tightened his elbow against his side and covered her hand with his opposite one. “Going about things differently, right? You’re a guest. If you want to blend, then you mingle.”

She blinked. “You’re kidding.”

“I’m right.” He snagged a wineglass off the tray of a passing waiter and handed it to her, then procured one for himself. “This sort of social function is my element. You’re still thinking like security. Leave the security to someone else and enjoy the ambience instead. Even if someone is looking for me here, they’d have had to get past your own team. If I understand the situation correctly, this could be the safest we’ve been outside the hotel room.”

He couldn’t see her brows behind the mask but the corners of her mouth were drawn down in a frown.

“Blend. Yes?” He lifted his wineglass to her.

“I don’t know how you talked me into this.” Finally resigned, she lifted her glass to his and then joined him in taking a sip.

“It’s fun to go against what’s expected of you.” At least he thought so. “Perhaps I’m a bad influence on you.”

She huffed out a laugh. “I’d still be mad at myself because I’m the one who’s letting you affect me.”

They wandered the area for a few minutes and he greeted a few people. Ladies responded well to his compliments and men studied him, wondering if he was someone important.

In the past, he’d always been sure to have a lovely lady on his arm. He enjoyed the impression it presented. People were predictable and in these settings, he knew how to prompt the reactions he wanted. It was a mental exercise and an entertainment.

And people glanced at the lady he was with, just as they always did. The difference tonight was that everyone took a second look at Isabelle, and a third. For once, the lady at his side was more than an accessory.

Isabelle projected charisma and confidence even when she wasn’t entirely sure of herself. She was lovely and entirely uninterested in catching anyone’s notice. So of course they wanted her to notice them.

But her focus was still on the outer edges of the room and it was becoming obvious.

In a room full of people, she was the kind of person who drew the eye. Exactly what she didn’t want.

As far as he was concerned, there was only one thing to do.

“Dance with me.”

Dark eyes turned toward him. “Excuse me, what?”

He led her toward the dance floor. “You want your teammates to spot you and it’s drawing the attention of everyone here. It’s impossible for you to be inconspicuous, as gorgeous as you are right now. So everyone we talk to is wondering who you’re looking for. Anytime we move on to talk to somebody else, the people we just left keep watching you to see if you’ve found who you were looking for. I’m both impressed and wondering how I can acquire the same quality.”

“You’re kidding.” She sounded horrified.

“All of my fantasies of you as a super sexy spy have been shattered.” As they reached the dance floor, he turned to her. “There’re plenty of people with us on the dance floor. You don’t have to be self-conscious. But since everyone looks at the dance floor once in a while to watch people dance, it’ll make it easy for your teammates to notice you.”

She pressed her lips into a thin line and let him pull her against him, placing one hand in his and the other on his shoulder. “You could be right.”

“I know I am.” He grinned.

“I could also suck at dancing.”

He laughed then. “I’m a strong lead. Trust me.”

Dancing was an art. Done well, dancing could be sex of the socially acceptable kind. The first few steps were simple, patient, giving her time to get over her hesitation and let him lead. As she grew more comfortable, he coaxed her into a turn or two and took the opportunity to pull her back in close. He liked the feel of her in his arms, liked the way her lips parted slightly as he pressed his hand into her lower back and encouraged her hips to press against his.

Her eyes widened as he stepped forward, toward her. She was forced to step back in response or end up with his thigh between hers. Once she did step back, he continued for a few more steps then took her in a different direction. When he did it again, she’d caught the hang of it and let them travel backward.

“Not many people dance anymore. You’re a quick learner.” And too many women thought they were better than they were. He preferred not to count how many times a woman tried to anticipate what he was going to do and forced him to let her look awkward. Not Lizzy though, she was reserved and cautious, but she didn’t misstep.

“How do you keep us from bumping into the other people on the dance floor?” She craned her neck a bit, trying to keep everything in sight.

“It’s my job as the lead,” he answered, turning her to avoid a slightly tipsy couple as they stumbled past, offbeat. “You don’t have to watch the people immediately around us. You can look over my shoulder at the people beyond the dance floor. Let me worry about the immediate surroundings.”

He knew better than to tell her not to keep watch around them. Despite his early assurance regarding the security of this event, he was glad she was still vigilant. It felt wiser to have someone literally keeping watch on what was behind him.

* * *

It wouldn’t kill her to admit she was enjoying this. “This...doesn’t suck.”

“I’m glad.” He looked down at her, the corners of his mouth turned upward in a sexy smile.

God, she already tended to look at his mouth a lot and with the mask hiding half of his face she pretty much had to focus on his mouth or his eyes.

Her breath tended to catch and her heart rate kicked up when she lingered too long on either.

Kyle was the best dancer she’d ever been with. Explained a lot about how good he was in bed too. What had he said before? Incorrigible.

Yeah, he was an incorrigible flirt.

Whenever she started to relax in his arms as they danced, he’d press his thigh between hers or slide his fingers up her spine, or do something else to make her completely aware of his body against hers. He was sort of torturing her.

She had never been interested in jumping a guy’s bones in the restroom.

But there were other secluded spots in even the public parts of a hotel she’d be tempted to sneak away to.

“You are definitely a bad influence on me,” she informed him.

He blinked, then his grin widened. “Care to share what naughty thoughts you have?”

“No.” She considered. “Not yet.”

Oh, she was not going to regret sleeping with him, but she absolutely was going to make sure to keep her mind on the current mission.

“Well, we’ve been dancing for a few songs now.” He slowed, their steps carrying them to the edge of the dance floor. “Care for a drink, and maybe a bite to eat?”

“Sure.” Actually, she really could use a drink. And seeing as the food tables had been set up on the outer edge of the ballroom, it was a good direction.

He tucked her left hand into the bend of his right arm again. She wasn’t sure what proper etiquette was, but she was glad he was leaving her right arm free. If something did come up, her gun was on her right thigh.

She could shoot with either right or left, but when it came to handguns she was better with her dominant hand.

As they walked toward the buffet table, she recognized some of the staff. “Huh. My idea would’ve worked out after all.”

“Hmm?” He had snagged another glass from a passing waiter. This time it was champagne.

She took it from him and they continued. “The caterer is a friend of mine.”

“How many caterers do you know?” He sounded amused.

“Only the one. I know a couple of restaurant owners too.” It was how she picked up food downtown when Maylin wasn’t within easy contact. Knowing where you could get food prepared by people you trusted was a part of the reason she’d decided to stay downtown and not elsewhere in the Seattle area.

“So this is the person who cooked the excellent Korean meal.” He picked up their pace a little.

She smiled. “Yes.”

“I’d like to thank her.”

“Maybe not tonight.” It could come out odd if anyone overheard. “But from what I gather, the best way to thank her is to enjoy more of her food.”

Maylin loved to cook for people. And as awkward as Lizzy was with people, it was easier to do things that made Maylin happy than it was to try to express it in words. Diaz didn’t get why Lizzy was so hesitant to try telling people things, but Maylin got her.

Besides, everything Maylin made was good. More than good. Amazing.

“Unusual food selection.” Kyle brought her attention back to the table. He handed her a small plate.

Rather than have both her hands full, Lizzy let go of his arm so she could carry the plate in her left hand. “You think so?”

“A lot of catered buffets have ‘safe’ food choices. Roast beef, chicken breast prepared with a white sauce and a choice of pasta.” He ticked off the list on one hand before taking up a plate of his own. “This has variety and smells phenomenal.”

The buffet was set up with a selection of grilled foods. There was beef and chicken, as he’d mentioned, but there was also lamb and pork. There were also a few types of sausages. All of it had been prepared Brazilian barbecue style, seasoned and presented with a few of her favorite side dishes.

“I’m not familiar with this.” He had stopped by a dish of rice and black beans.

“
Feijoada con arroz
.” She supplied the name for him. “Next to it is fried polenta.”

“Ah.” He took a small amount of each.

As he did, she snagged several small, round puffs of bread.

“I take it you like those?”

“I never miss out on
pão de queijo
if I can help it.” She popped one in her mouth.

There was no way Maylin had done this for her. The coordinator of the event chose the menu. But if anyone ever wanted to lure her somewhere, Maylin’s
pão de queijo
might do it.

When they reached the end of the buffet, Lizzy caught sight of an empty table. The raised tabletop meant people had to stand to eat there. Considering most women were already in chairs, probably regretting their shoe choices, it wasn’t odd for this one to be unoccupied.

Plus, Diaz was standing near it looking intimidating.

She went ahead and claimed the table for herself. Kyle was a step behind.

“Some party,” she said to no one in particular.

Diaz didn’t respond but he did manage to loom closer.

Kyle looked out onto the dance floor. “Should I wander away?”

“No,” Diaz said at the same time she did.

“Ah, I wondered when we were going to start talking then. I guessed this sort of thing was supposed to be kept brief.”

Diaz groaned. “This is overly dramatic.”

“And yet, not as bad as it could be,” Kyle replied.

“There’s a few complications.” Lizzy took a sip of champagne.

“We saw the interview when it ran on the news.” Diaz sighed. “Combine that with two explosions on the same street and the police calling us demanding to know where you were, I figured.”