“Since she’s your mate, I suppose fucking her is out of the question.”
Rio’s fangs extended along with his claws. “That is definitely out.”
“Pity. I bet it’s sweet and tight.”
Rio snapped his teeth together and forced himself not to rise to the bait. His wolf paced, snarled at the insult. It was true, but coming from Draco’s lips made her sound cheap.
Draco grinned. “Tell you what. I’ll get the info on this letter from your lady friend, and I won’t taste her.”
“Or fuck her?”
“Damn, you know me too well. Or fuck her. And you’ll just owe me one.”
Rio couldn’t believe it. Where was the shrewd Draco he once knew? The man that ruled with only his selfishness in mind? “Now, you’re scaring me.”
Draco threw his head back and laughed. “It is out of character for me, but I respect your mate and if her family is in trouble, I want to help.”
Since when?
Rio’s nostrils flared. Draco’s scent said he was telling the truth, but he wouldn’t put it past this vamp to have somehow mastered the smell of a lie. Of course, owing somebody didn’t sit well with Rio, but his mate may have family. If Alvarez found out, it would be a massacre.
“Okay. Whenever you need me, whatever you need, all you need is to ask.”
“Well, you can always hope I won’t ever need you.”
Rio grinned. “That’s what I’m counting on.”
Draco laughed again. Apparently, Rio was amusing to the vamp. “Now, who is this lady friend of yours and where can I find her?
“Her name is Lucy, and she’s one of my best friends.” Rio told him where her clinic was and where she lived.
“Not to worry, I will find her and this precious letter and not lay a fang on her.”
Rio gave him his cell number and then Draco released them from the trance. Cat moved as Draco’s two feeders blinked.
Rio stood and pulled Cat to her feet. “Thanks for your help, Draco.”
“No problem.”
Rio wasted no time in hauling a protesting Cat out the door and back into the truck.
“Did I fall asleep?”
“Yes. Your condition makes you extremely tired.’
“I’m never so tired that I’d fall asleep in front of strangers.”
“Don’t worry about it. It was boring man talk.”
“Man talk? That usually comes with spitting and scratching your balls.”
He smiled. “We did neither. You hungry?”
“You’re changing the subject.”
“And it’s not working.”
“Who was that creepy guy? That place was scary. Those people were scary. There’s no way I’d fall asleep in Scaryville.”
“Those people are different, that’s all.”
“Yeah, scary is different.”
“Let’s grab a steak and then get some sleep.”
Food yes, sex no. She blushed recalling last night’s tryst. She feigned a yawn hoping he’d take the hint. “Yeah, sleep sounds wonderful.” She couldn’t let things get out of hand tonight.
She was so lost in her thoughts it surprised her when he whipped into a fancy steak house. “I’m not dressed for this place. Wal-Mart doesn’t eat here.” Rio had bought her some comfortable clothes and cotton underwear—thank God—even though Rio scowled at her selections. He also purchased her makeup, shampoo and a wonderful I-can’t-wait brush, which she hadn’t had time to put it to the test.
“Don’t worry. I have a private room reserved. I come here all the time dressed in jeans, and they’ve never thrown me out.”
Yeah, she’d like to see them try. When in the hell did he make the reservation? While she was sleeping in Creepyville?
She wasn’t a prude, but this place was fancy enough to have valet parking. Her floppy sundress was only one-step above sweats. Rio pulled his dusty truck behind a sleek black sedan and acted as if it belonged there. A valet with pimples who couldn’t be old enough to drive rushed to open her door. She took his hand and slipped none too gracefully from the seat. “Thank you.”
The young man grinned before trotting around to take the keys from Rio. “Hey, Kevin, take care of my truck for me.”
“Sure thing, Mr. Rio.”
These people knew his real name? Rio met her on the sidewalk, his long coat swirling around him. Inside, the looks some of the well-dressed patrons gave them was one of disbelief. Rio, in his well-worn jeans, black duster, black cowboy hat, and scuffed cowboy boots, didn’t seem to notice. Oh hell, he probably didn’t care. The maître d’ greeted Rio as a long lost friend and quickly led them back to a secluded room. Rio certainly had these people fooled. Did Rio always eat in this room because he was afraid someone might recognize him? Or was this just because he had a prisoner this time?
They were seated at a table with white starched linens, fine china, crystal goblets, and sterling silverware. Rio’s dark rugged looks contrasted severely against the uptown things, but he acted as if he’d done this a thousand times. A killer with a taste for the finer things in life? Who knew?
Rio ordered them both sweet teas. The maître d’ raised a bushy brow. Perhaps she should tell him she didn’t care if he drank something stronger. Maybe he’d drink so much she could escape. “I don’t care if you have something stronger.”
“No. Tea is fine.”
Well, it was worth a try.
After he requested a pitcher of tea, they both ordered steak, Rio’s rare, hers well done. Suddenly, her belly was grumbling. What she would give for a glass of wine, but that was out of the question. A different server brought in the tea. She was cute in her little red jacket, and she couldn’t keep her eyes off Rio. But hell, Cat couldn’t blame her. Rio was eye-candy.
Too bad, he was a straight-up killer, which brought her back to escaping. Maybe she could excuse herself to the ladies’ room and ask for help. Who wouldn’t bend over backwards and help a pregnant lady? Someone would surely help her get away from such an intimidating man.
After the waiter left, Rio stood and removed his duster. “No one in this place will help you.”
How can he possible know what I’m thinking? Is my face a dead giveaway?
She decided to change the subject. “So, you come here often?”
“Every time I’m passing through.”
“Through to where?”
“My home. We’ll be there when you wake up.”
“Are we driving all night?
“I am. I’ll bet you’ll be asleep when we get there.” His smile said he was teasing. It was true; she did sleep a lot. He was devilishly handsome when he smiled. She wondered if he smiled when he killed his victims. No, he probably snarled.
“We need to talk,” he said.
“I agree. When are you going to let me leave?”
“I can protect you.”
“I don’t want your protection. I don’t need your protection. I’m trying to save you a lot of trouble.” Along with your sorry life.
He shifted his big frame in the chair. “I have a proposition for you.” She opened her mouth to protest, but he forged ahead. “Answer a few questions for me. What is the most important thing to you right now?”
Okay, was this a trick question? “My baby, of course.”
A new life for an old one.
“And you need Alvarez…out of the picture.”
The whole world needed Alvarez out the picture. She nodded and swallowed hard, doubting she could ever forgive herself for using a baby to gain access to Alvarez. In the end, she had nothing left but the child and a whole lot of trouble.
Rio took her hand and engulfed it in both of his. “I promise to keep you and your baby safe. I’d die before letting anything happen to you two.”
“Call me crazy, but I have to ask. Why?”
His thumb swirled over her wrist in a soothing manner. “I’ve always protected the innocent.”
Uh-huh. She tried to pull her hand away, but he
wouldn’t let her. That was the most absurd thing she’d ever heard. “I’m sorry, but you kill people for a living. What’s innocent about that?”
“The people I’ve killed weren’t exactly humanitarians of the year. They all are involved in the drug trade or human trafficking and needed to die.”
“You can’t just kill people even though they may deserve it. That’s what our legal system is for.”
“I killed many of the enemy when I was in the Marines. Was that wrong too?”
On some level, it was probably wrong. She believed in protecting God and country, but being judge, jury, and executioner—especially the executioner—wasn’t the same.
“Aside from me being the big, bad killer, would you take me up on my offer of protection?”
Yeah, right. Like she could just overlook that part of him. He had to be constantly looking over his shoulder. You couldn’t kill people without pissing someone off. She’d be putting her and Cat2 in more danger.
She tried again to pull her hand away.
“I got an email from Alvarez today. He’s offering twenty million dollars for the safe return of the baby. He included a picture of you and I’m sure he sent it to all the bounty hunters, mercenaries, and gangs in the border states. I had thought you had some damaging information about him, or maybe you had stolen something. Now I know he wants your child something bad. Now, the way I figure it, you must be carrying his twenty million dollar heir. Am I right?”
Cat felt her heart stop and then beat so fast she thought it would jump onto the table. Alvarez knew that the baby was old enough to survive outside of her. Horrific images crashed her mind. Her belly roiled. Lots of people would slice her baby from her body for twenty million.
“Easy, now. I know that sounds terrible, but I told you to make you realize you need the help I’m offering.”
He continued to rub her wrist gently. His eyes said he was sincere, that he wanted to help. Maybe he could keep them alive until the baby was born. Then she’d figure out a way to disappear. She’d dye her hair and cut it off. Maybe she should do that anyway.
Did she truly have a choice in her condition?
“Maybe, but what’s the price?” What could she have that was worth that much money?
“There’s only a small price to pay, but I guarantee you will love it.” At the soft rap on the door, he said, “Enter,” like a king commanding his staff.
Her belly growled when the server placed the aromatic steak in front of her. It had been a long time since she had fantastic food. When Alvarez found out she was pregnant, he had her moved from the hired help bunkhouse and given a room off the kitchen. The food was better, but it wasn’t this. She wanted to eat and to hell with the negotiations. She raised a brow when he instructed the waiter that they be left alone for an hour. Maybe being an assassin forced him to be an introvert.
Rio let her eat in peace, for which she was thankful. The steak was delicious along with the sautéed asparagus spears. They chatted about nothing, which was fine with her because she had decisions to make.
One - go to the ladies’ room and try to sneak out.
Two - scream bloody murder when they went back through the lobby.
Three - take Rio up on his offer, depending on the price, of course.
Two was a no go. If the cops came, her name would be in the police report. She’d already tried running before and ended up in the smelliest place on earth. And she still didn’t know how he found her. Depending on the price, she would take Rio up on his offer, but fleeing at a later date was still in the works.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need the ladies’ room.”
“Right through there.” He pointed to another door she hadn’t even noticed.
“Really? This room comes with its own powder room?”
He nodded, his eyes crinkling.
“Of course it does.” Well, so much for option one.
The bathroom was small, but decorated like the upscale establishment that it was. And there was no other way out. The towels were real fabric and a nice smelling hand lotion was provided. The only way to use option one was to have Rio choke on something.
When she got back to the table, the waiter was putting several desserts out and pouring coffee, which smelled delightful.
“That will be all for tonight.”
Four delectable sweets sat on the table.
“What we don’t eat, we’ll take home with us,” he said.
“Well, I want a sliver of each.”
Rio cut a piece of every one and placed it on a plate. The chocolate smelled divine. He tapped the pink, covered box on the table. “This surprise we take home. Which brings us back to my offer.”
Ah hell. He was going to ruin her dessert. “I can’t cook, but I can clean and wash clothes.”
“Nothing that domestic. You’ll be my very…special…mistress.”
His gaze heated, but she focused on his mouth. What did he say? “Come again.”
“Mistress. Your sole purpose is to pleasure me and allow me to pleasure you.”
“In bed?”
“Everywhere, whenever.”
Okay, what mental disease causes someone to be a killer and a pervert with a thing for pregnant women? Something besides rabies. Yeah, she had enjoyed the last night, but that had to be a one-off, because wanting sex with a pregnant woman had to be rare. “Somehow, I don’t think that I’m worth twenty mil in that department.” Hell, most of her sexual encounters were not repeats, which had been fine with her. She wasn’t someone who men gravitated to.
“You’re hot as hell. My cock’s always hard when I’m around you. Don’t worry; your pleasure is as important as mine.”
Definitely a mental disease.
It was true he’d had an erection last night, but she just put it down to the fact he hadn’t been with a woman in a while. All that killing would take up a lot of time and energy, lots of pent up adrenalin. He probably banged more than one after a mission. She really didn’t know what to say, so she placed the chocolate cake in her mouth.
What was option two again? Oh yeah, scream.
Of course, at that precise moment, Cat2 decided to do a summersault and remind her there would be worse things than pleasuring Rio. Her plan to seduce him, gain his trust so she could escape afterwards, came to the forefront.
“Okay, but I’m not doing anything kinky.”
“Define kinky.”
“No pain.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it. You and your child’s health and safety are the most important thing.”
She slipped her sliver of key lime pie in her mouth, savoring the smooth tartness. Then she asked. “Why? Why? Why?”
“I’ve already told you. You’re sexy.”
Taking a bite of the turtle cheesecake, she almost sighed at the creaminess. Cat pointed her fork at him. “And you’re a liar.”
“Nope and I can prove it. Let’s start your mistressing duties now.”
“Huh? In here? This is a place of business.”
“Yep. No one would dare bother us.”
Because you threatened them?
How could this be happening? The baby kicked again. Okay, all right, already. I don’t need such a painful reminder.
She plopped the last sweet into her mouth and tried to enjoy it while she mustered up enough courage to speak. How was she going to pull off playing the role of an escort? “Okay. What would you have me to do?”
He scooted his chair back. “Come over here and release my cock from my jeans. It’s been begging all day for your touch.”
Her face burned with mortification as she stood before him. She undid his buckle, popped the button, and tried to slide the zipper down. Her hands were badly shaking, so he had to help. She’d never make a seductress.
“Now pull it out.”
Cat wrapped her hand around his cock and pulled it free. It was big, long, and hard. But that couldn’t be for her. Maybe he was on one of those ED medications.
“See what you do to me?”
She saw but didn’t believe.
“Pull your panties off.”
“Please don’t make me do that.” Would begging work on Rio?
“I’m letting you keep your dress on.”
Gee thanks. He held a steady grip on her arm as she shoved her panties down and stepped out of them.
“Now come and straddle my lap.”
Rio’s wicked grin did nothing to assuage her fear. She was surprised when the expensive chair didn’t creak under her added weight. He pulled her dress up and cool air rushed her backside. If anyone came into this room, she would surely die of a heart attack.
“Touch me.”
Cat chastised herself when a thrill ran through her at his naughty instruction. She gripped his cock, surprised at the soft skin over granite. She thumbed the slick bead on his slit. His head fell back, and he groaned. She pumped it lightly, and he pushed his hips forward. Oh no. Going slow was the key to this game. Cat would torture him just like he did her last night. Her fingers itched to unbutton his shirt and feel that warm skin over his chiseled muscles.
A smile played around Rio’s mouth. “You’re teasing me and enjoying it.”
“Yes.” She couldn’t deny it.
“Two can play that game.” He snaked his hand between her legs and slowly swirled his calloused thumb on her clit. Little jolts of pleasure rolled through her, and she fought not to let her own head drop back. She forced herself to hold his gaze, but she couldn’t when he pinched her nipple. The pain was pleasure since her breasts were so sensitive.
He pulled her dress down under her breasts and cupped one with his brawny hand. “These are perfect. Scoot forward so I can taste them.”
She couldn’t wait. Leaning forward put his cock right on her clit. She couldn’t help but rock against it while she pumped him. When his mouth captured her nipple, a moan escaped her lips. The tide had turned, and he was in control.
There was no going back. She wanted to come—again—just like last night.
His warm mouth sucked her hard as she rode his cock on her clit. She felt the moisture from her desire on her nether lips that were swollen with need.
When Rio pulled away from her nipple, she missed the heated pleasure and groaned.
Claiming Their Cat Page 8
