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Chapter Nine
Dinner was an ordeal, as far as Cammie was concerned. She’d figured out right away that Zane probably needed to be at that table with some of the most powerful men on the ship because of his mysterious investigation. She’d caught enough of his conversation with Bill’s son to get the drift that whatever Zane was hunting had to do with missing money, which made sense because the CEO of Dark Matter Inc., Cal Underwood, was only ever concerned with money—making it and not losing it. If there was theft going on aboard his cruise line, Cal would be all over figuring out why and how to stop it, and if he couldn’t stop it, he’d cut the cruise line free and sell it to the highest bidder.
For the rest of the meal, she’d found herself scrutinizing the men around her, wondering if they were up to no good in ways she hadn’t considered. Was the captain involved in some kind of money scheme? Obviously, she thought the man was an ass for not believing her about the dead guy in her room, but was it also possible that his refusal to believe her wasn’t just him being patronizing? Had he been trying to cover up something else? Maybe he knew exactly what had happened in her room because the dead guy was all tangled in Zane’s case and the captain was entwined with that scheme as well.
She also didn’t believe for one hot second that Chief Ross was on the up and up. He’d insisted he’d checked the cameras on her deck, when Cammie knew for certain that there were no cameras on her deck. She was trained to suss out little details like that, thanks to her job, and she’d noted right away that there was no surveillance anywhere on the floor where her cabin was. There was a metal plate where a camera could, in theory, have been, but there was nothing there now.
As she and Zane had been saying their goodbyes after dinner, Chief Ross had come storming into the private room looking like his ass was on fire. When he’d caught sight of Cammie, he’d given a somewhat hilarious double take that had him clamping his lips shut and cutting off whatever it was he’d been about to say to the captain. After some awkward hellos, and goodbyes, Cammie and Zane had finally been able to leave, and she was bursting to talk it all out with Zane but he, apparently, had other plans.
“I have an idea,” he said as he guided her toward the elevators.
Her mind immediately went to their unfinished sexual business from earlier. She was already pumped up and full of adrenaline. Sex play had been fun during the dirty talk session, but Cammie was definitely ready for a full fucking. Besides, she was totally amped from her whirling thoughts and the bizarre dinner with Bill and his pals.
“Since we’ve missed our chance to find Tony LaRoch at his table, let’s pop up to his deck and knock on his door. There’s a good chance he’ll go back up to his cabin to change into something more comfortable now that dinner is over.”
Cammie’s dirty thoughts stutter-stopped… She’d been, once again, fully in gutter brain mode while Zane had been focused on solving her mystery. Her cheeks heated and she had to work really hard to keep herself from giggling like a maniac.
“You okay?” Zane glanced at her, one eyebrow crooked.
Cammie slipped her arm around his, her eyes wide, in, what she hoped, was a purely innocent look. “All good.”
Zane eyed her for a second or two longer before continuing. “It’s a bit risky to be snooping around on a deck that isn’t ours, which is why I haven’t suggested it before, but I think we can pull it off if the steward isn’t around.” They stepped onto the elevator together and were luckily alone.
“We need a cover story for Tony and for the steward, if we run into one on that deck…preferably the same story,” Cammie said as she watched Zane punch the deck number.
“Good thinking. We got lost?” Zane gave her a lopsided grin. “Or we’re old friends of Tony’s?”
“That won’t work if we actually find Tony.” Cammie’s thoughts circled back to the gutter, just as the doors binged open. She kept the grin off her face. “Follow my lead.” She scanned the hallway. There was not a soul to be seen. Perfect! “What room is Tony’s?”
“First one on the right.” Zane pointed to the door immediately next to them.
Cammie yanked Zane out of the elevator. “Ravage me.” She slipped her hands around Zane’s shoulders and hoisted herself up his body so she could kiss him.
Zane didn’t waste a moment. Whether he understood her strategy or not, he was all in. He gripped her waist, yanking her closer as he crushed his lips to hers. She dragged one hand down his shirt, popping buttons open on her way to his belt. He unzipped part of her dress so that the shoulder straps began to fall. All the while they kissed furiously, tongues entangled, probing, lips devouring. She maneuvered them in front of Tony’s door then fell backward, dragging Zane along with her so there was a thump of her ass hitting the door, then her elbow, then her head, then—
“Can I help you?”
Zane clenched her waist and kept her from falling backward into the room. Cammie gasped as she tore herself away from Zane’s kiss. Despite it all being a ploy, her brain was foggy and full of lust, so it took her a second to be able to focus on the man who’d opened the door. “What are you doing in our room?”
The man, presumably Tony, shook his head. “You’re mistaken, Miss. This is my cabin.”
He was older than the man she’d found on her floor but there was a slight resemblance. Not enough to mistake him for the dead guy, though.
“Oh my gosh!” She playfully smacked Zane on the chest. “We got off on the wrong deck! How embarrassing.”
“Sorry to disturb you,” Zane chuckled. “We got a little carried away.” He offered his hand. “Zane Roberts.”
“No worries! Tony LaRoch.” He shook Zane’s hand then turned to Cammie.
“Cammie Sheppard, and I am very sorry for this.” She let him take her hand but pulled away when he started to lift it to his mouth. Old-fashioned and smarmy. Wonderful.
“Absolutely nothing to be sorry for. These things happen in the heat of the moment.” Tony motioned behind him. “My wife and I are always looking for another couple to join our play.”
“Thanks, but no.” Zane, quick on his feet as usual, managed to respond before Cammie could even form a coherent thought. “We’re only just discovering each other, and I’m not one for sharing.” He tightened his arm around Cammie’s waist. “Maybe the next cruise.”
“Of course!” Tony chuckled. “Well, if you change your mind, you know where we are.”
“We sure do!” Cammie’s voice came out in a squeak.
