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Chapter Thirty-five
Jake didn’t know what just happened, but he was damn sure going to find out. “Explain.”
Rylee, clinging to his arm as if she still needed his assistance, tried to look as innocent as possible. Once she was sure that Hakim and his party were no longer blocking their route, she looked at him and lied her ass off.
“Earlier today, when I was alone in the elevator, some dude tried to come onto me. I let him know that he was wasting his time, but you know what some guys are like, they can’t take no for an answer.”
“So, what did you do?”
“I told him to take off – not those exact words, but…” He nodded. “Right, got it.”
“Anyway, he didn’t like my refusal and got mean.”
Jake’s expression hardened. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was no biggie. He stomped off and I figured it was the end of it. But when I saw him tonight, I was worried there might be a scene.”
“And so, you faked the ankle injury.”
Squirming, not sure where he was going with this interrogation, she admitted her wrongdoing. “Only to save us from what could have been an embarrassing situation.” As they passed some deck chairs, she dropped her towel full of ice, making sure he couldn’t read her expression.
Jake knowing bullshit when he heard it, understood that Rylee had no idea he knew about her badge. Neither did she know that he had seen Hakim and his bunch settle into the table nearest the entrance.
Nor, did she know he’d sensed that she’d pushed him out of the way for reasons other than to collide with a waiter. There had been no waiter, just a man approaching from out of the dark who’d suddenly disappeared.
Christ, was this woman sent by the feds to protect him? Couldn’t be. She was half his size and much too beautiful to be an undercover agent.
As they entered an empty elevator, her clinging suddenly turned lethal. She took the opportunity to lean into him invitingly. “Let’s forget about earlier and make up for it now. We can have that promised drink if you’re up to it?”
He kissed her, letting her know he hadn’t been turned off in any way by what had just happened. As soon as their lips connected, all his brain waves shut down. His body returned instantly to the pinnacle it had reached earlier. He wanted his hands on her delectable body, on her smooth skin that was as soft as any man could pray for.
He ran his hands up her sides, and when he reached her breasts, he covered them and squeezed gently. They were perfect, fitting just right as he knew they would. She moaned, and it drove him on.
Pulling back to see if Rylee was as affected, he was satisfied that she appeared lost to the world, in a fog of lustful anticipation. This hadn’t been his imagination, she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
Stopping at her floor, he led her to her door, and there he kissed her until they were both breathless. Then he took her shoulders and held her in place at the same time as he stepped back.
He was going to be royally pissed for what he was about to do… he’d suffer, and he knew it. But it seemed right. Playing the chivalrous partner usually was no big deal, but denying himself this time with her, something he wanted more than world peace, didn’t come easy. His brain was screaming obscenities at his honor.
“Honey, it’s been a long, eventful day, and I’m thinking we both need to give this brewing passion time to settle before we take it to the next step. I don’t want to rush you.” He kissed her shocked face, her cheeks and then her mouth. “How about we spend the day tomorrow in Aruba, walk around the area and play tourist, get to know each other better. Carlos will take care of our stowaways for us. What do you say?”
What could the flabbergasted woman say? She nodded, fumbled for her key that he took from her hand, opened her door and guided her inside. He whispered, “I’ll call you in the morning.” Then he pulled the door closed and leaned his back against it.
You’re a fucking idiot, Jake Andrews. She was so ready and… wanting.
But was she able – not just to have sex – but to make love? He didn’t want her any other way. He’d had sex with any number of women, and none of it counted. Rylee James was different, she mattered.
He straightened and felt the painful reaction in his groin that had expected to be treated well, and instead, had been rejected. A man’s body didn’t like being teased to high expectation, and then snubbed. He walked gingerly toward the elevator.
Son of a bitch, you really are an idiot!
