The Monte Carlo Affair: Across A Crowded Room (IATO Series Book 2) (3 page)

“I have a lunch date with him tomorrow. That should be safe enough to appease you, but please try to stay out of the way so I can relax with him. I’m trying to gain his trust and get more personal, but you’re crowding me.”

At first he grunted, and then admitted, “You’re right. We’re running short on time anyway. We may have to move up our time line. The Ball is only two weeks away, and the drop will have to be ready by then. I guess we’re going to have to be more aggressive between now and then to play him.”

“There’s no ‘we’re’ about this. I’m going to have to get aggressive.”

Jason visibly winced.

* * * *

Emily planned a series of sexual seductive balancing acts to keep Mosel’s interest piqued enough to follow her when she returned home, while intending to proceed slowly enough to keep her out of his bed.

The following day, when he took her to lunch, she took a bite of her salad, and broached the subject of Jason. “Jason DesJardin has offered to take me to a club dancing this evening. He’s very charming.”

Mosel’s mouth twitched with irritation, but he said nothing. What would have been flattering under normal circumstances was actually only exhausting. Jason's act was trying to force Mosel to step up his game, and she knew Mosel’s interest would rise to the competition. They made her feel like the ball in a tennis match.

The plan seemed to be working. Jason’s behavior still confused her. Mosel’s interest escalated nicely. Apparently, too fast for Jason’s taste, and not fast enough for Emily’s. Jason was afraid Mosel wouldn’t take no for an answer, but she wanted to get Mosel back to Washington, DC, and find out about his contacts.

They figured Mosel would meet his US contacts once he was back in DC. And she needed Mosel to trust her enough to invite her to his estate. She could get the pictures of his contacts and forward them to Jason’s contact in the CIA and cross-reference them with their IDs.

The more interest Jason showed in her, the more interested Mosel seemed. His attention remained professional, although he seemed truly concerned about Jason. Emily’s conscience twinged a bit when Mosel showed protective signs toward her, especially when he tactfully tried to advise her about Jason's reputation. While trying to remain discreet, Mosel commented carefully. He apparently didn’t want Emily to mistake his concern for jealousy. At least she understood
his
motivation.

Jason’s, on the other hand, had her baffled. His motivations kept her guessing. He seemed to have no problem appearing jealous privately, although he tried to pass it off as protective concern.

The sexual chess match going on between the two men appeared to be at an impasse. They both walked that same fine line between concern for her and jealousy. She dreaded looking any deeper into either of the men’s motives. The game they played with each other just gave her a headache.

She took two aspirin and prepared to meet Mosel at the dock. If he insisted they go out on his yacht, Jason would blow a gasket. He was already steaming.

* * * *

Jason’s eyes focused on the reconnaissance monitor when the Mediterranean seemed to explode, spitting an exquisite, familiar looking mermaid into the air. Emily emerged from the depths of the Mediterranean and climbed the ladder onto the yacht deck, her skin shimmering with droplets, the turquoise blue of her string bikini almost matching the water below. Her excited smile reflected her sheer joy of living. When she flipped her waist length hair, the result produced an arc of fine mist, shooting a sparkling diamond spray into the sunlit sky. Caught up in the pleasure of the moment, she dripped water from her sea-drenched body, forming a small puddle beneath her feet, a bubble on the waxed wooden deck of the luxurious yacht. She grabbed a towel and dried a silky-looking tanned leg, then completed the ritual on the other before she plopped unceremoniously into the chaise.

Emily basked in the heat of the sun, lazing about until a large shadow interrupted the light. She pulled her sunglasses from where they sat on her head like a headband, dragged them down over her eyes and grinned up at the man standing over her in shadow.

Jason wanted to kill someone.

* * * *

Mosel stood over Emily, looming like a mountain, forcing her breath to catch in her chest as he stared down at her. She shielded her face with her hand to block the bright sun beaming behind him and couldn’t miss how his thick, muscled legs stood merely inches from her like tree trunks. His broad tan chest rippled when he reached out to hand her one of the two glasses he held, and then he sat down, straddling the chaise. Facing her, his long graceful fingers stroked intimately up her calf while they measured each other.

Heat raced into her, through her, but she took her time examining him, evaluating his fine chiseled good looks as he studied her painted toes. She found him surprisingly fascinating, as well as appealing and amiable. The sun shimmered off his oiled body, a magnificent looking male specimen. Defined muscles rippled in his arms as he moved his hand up her thigh. She put her hand on his, stopping him before he reached her apex.

He lifted his glasses to stare into her eyes. Looking for what, she wondered. What would he see in her expression? Arousal? Admiration? Yes, definitely that. It was impossible not to appreciate all that beautiful masculinity. Power? Hmm, he exuded that.

Charming, wealthy, and there was no doubt a definite chemistry simmering between them. She wondered why he of all men affected her when no one except Jason had ever appealed to her this way. Damn her luck, it would have to be now and under these circumstances that her libido decided to step up.

Although she should feel revulsion for who and what he was, when he touched her, what he could be didn’t faze her. None of that mattered to her body, and he was very good with body language. There was no doubt, the man would take what she offered if she dared. He might take it even if she didn’t. His body recognized the invitation from hers no matter how many times she tried to deny it. How many times had he taken the opportunity to push her when her pulse kicked up a notch? He read her like a headline, knew exactly what she liked, how she liked it, and when she wanted it. The minute heat pooled low in her body, he moved in like a shark sensing blood.

Her heart couldn’t afford to let her mind forget her mission even if her body wanted to. The sparks flying between them couldn’t ever ignite. There was the mission to consider, and always, there was Jason. Her heart sank when she thought about him, wondering if he was the one watching.

Despite Mosel’s wolfish approach to her, she trusted him to a point. She felt remarkably comfortable with him in so many ways, and yet she knew when to draw the line. What she felt toward him was more than pure lust. Strangely, she thought he’d be insulted to know that she
liked
him and she wished that she didn’t.

He might believe lust was enough for him, but she was getting the distinct feeling he might be mistaken. The sensations he inspired in her with a glance or a light touch were electrifying, far from a mild infatuation. Mosel had her insides quaking like only one other man ever had.

With Jason, often a touch wasn’t necessary to set her body blazing with need. With him, a look, a glance, or a flick of his head could set her off like a bottle rocket. It had been three years since she reacted to a man that way, and still everyone failed to match the standard Jason set. Emily wondered if he set the bar that high or if the fault lay with her. The explosive arousal Emily experienced just thinking of him could bring her to her knees, and if he touched her, her body tingled, anticipating more.

Then perhaps there was a good reason for her special reaction to Jason—he had been her first lover—but now she suspected he wouldn’t be the last man to satisfy her. The way her body responded to Mosel was proof Jason hadn’t effectively ruined her for all other men.

She pulled off her glasses, squinted as she caught up Mosel’s hand, affectionately weaving her fingers through his. “Can we take the skiff into port and come back later?” she asked.

“As long as you agree to join me later. I have a short appointment this afternoon.”

“Wonderful. I have a few things to pick up from my apartment. And then, you know, I have to get back to work or at least check in on the project by Monday.”

He smiled that slow sexy grin. “Not a problem,” he said, and her heart missed a beat.

He was hot, and God, she loved the chemistry between them. At least now she knew there wasn’t anything wrong with her. At least she could thank Mosel for that tidy bit of information. She also realized what the difference in her feelings was. She’d never stopped loving Jason. But the more time she and Mosel spent together, the more he ingrained himself deeper in her heart.

What if he’d actually been involved with her father’s murder?

She sipped her drink, determined to stay focused on her role. “I don’t want anyone to think I’m getting preferential treatment or using you in any way.”

“Let me worry about all that.”

She slipped her glasses back on. Perhaps she could lie better from behind the dark lenses. “You know my friends are coming from the States? I already scheduled time to be with them. I hope it doesn’t seem excessive.”

He stood and ran his hand up her arm. “Don’t worry so much what people think,
meine liebling
.”

He reached around her waist with his other hand, surrounding her, brushing back strands of loose hair from her face. “Anyway, I know what your real motives are.”

“Do you?” Emily’s heart jumped involuntarily with concern. Hopefully, the pounding in her chest would be mistaken for ardor.

He lifted her glasses back onto her head and looked her straight in the eye. “Oh, yes, I do.”

Mosel pulled her down to the sundeck. “You’re trying to seduce me with your rare beauty, intelligence, and innocence. Did I tell you it’s working?”

He bent over her, tipping her chin to his, and lightly kissed her mouth, his tongue running across the seam of her lips.

“Mmm, you taste like salt.” He pulled back and licked his lips.

“I–I’ve never seduced anyone in my life.”
Okay, a little lie
.
Just once.
She could hardly count something that had gone so badly that she still hadn’t fully recuperated from the after-effects. She swore she’d never try her hand at seduction again. And here she was neck deep in another seduction.

“A joke. I was only teasing,
ma chérie
.” He laughed and pointed. “Your mouth is open.”

“And you switch languages like you switch women.”
Or political allegiance.
Emily smiled wryly and shrugged nervously. His reputation was as outrageous as his behavior.

He pretended to be wounded.

“Sorry, but all the men at work tease me about being gullible.”

“No,
liebl
...” He stopped. “I’m sorry.”

One more time Emily was reminded why she was attracted to him. Remembering his position, an arms dealer of international stature, was hard when he seemed so charming, so very normal, so damn endearing. He was mysterious in a certain way, withholding a wealth of undiscovered secrets. Add charisma and sparkle to his undeniable good looks and such a man was irresistible to both women and men. His secret was a promise of untapped potential, somehow guaranteeing any ensuing trouble might be well worth the risk.

She reconsidered her reasons for being there. The job she performed, both personally and professionally depended on it. Her responsibility to the agency came first. As fantastic as he seemed, she had to remember what this man and his associates were like.

Even though his many kindnesses surprised her, Emily fought to maintain her perspective about Mosel. He was an assignment. For the time being, her assignment was pleasant and attractive. But that didn’t mean he could be trusted. This type of intrigue might be foreign to her, but she constantly reminded herself, he was her mark.

“The men at work are forever pulling tricks on me. I guess it would be fair to admit I am a bit naïve.” Emily laughed, uncomfortable about playing into the role, even though she fit into it perfectly. Now she understood why Jason picked her for this mission. She didn’t have a lot of acting to do, so far. It wasn’t a challenge for her to pull off innocent. On so many levels, her naivety flickered through. The seductress part would be a stretch for her. Harder for her to play and even harder to figure out why she’d gotten this assignment. If anyone knew about her shortcomings in that department, it was Jason.

Suddenly, she felt awkward in her role. This man seemed to genuinely like and trust her. She’d never have imagined Mosel could become so interested in someone like her. Maybe it was the challenge. In any case, she found it extremely flattering, and although her ego was on the rise, she wondered if he was playing her. That wasn’t possible, was it?

Emily allowed Mosel to continue to touch her. He wasn’t too far out of line, and the casual fondling felt good. It had been so long since she’d wanted any man’s touch or since a man had made her feel this desirable. She leaned into him, relaxed, and thought to herself that it was too bad she couldn’t let herself feel more.

“So, can we take the skiff back soon?” she asked aloud.