A bottle of bourbon sat on the counter. He filled a glass halfway, and debated whether or not to add an ice cube or two. He lifted the glass to his lips, sipped the spirit into his mouth, and let it slowly slide down his throat to his stomach.
"Can I have one of those?" Mia had come in behind him.
How the hell did I not hear her?
He poured bourbon into another glass and handed it to her. She pulled herself up, slid onto the counter, and took the drink from him. "Still mad at me?" she asked.
He stepped in front of her. "Still think it's a bad idea for you to come to Colombia," he said, and tapped the rim of his glass to hers. "But, no. Not mad." Tipping the glass back, he took a large drink, and set the glass on the counter.
Mia sipped the spirit and licked her lips, never taking her gaze off Ben. Taking the glass from her, he set it next to his, and placed his hands on her knees. Slowly sliding his hands up her thighs, he nudged her legs apart with his hips, and stepped closer to her.
A smile graced her lips, and her eyes shone with anticipation and lust. Gliding over the curve of her hips, his hands rested on her ass. His brain was screaming to back off, that the timing was all wrong, and to wait until the crisis was over before making a move of this magnitude. The smaller head between his legs was cheering Ben on, desperate to slip into the warm confines between her legs.
Ben stared into Mia's eyes, searching for any indication that she was struggling with the same thoughts. All he found was the green of her eyes, dark and stormy. Her chest was rising and falling faster, and her hands were taking a leisurely stroll across his chest.
He leaned his head in, grasped her lower lip between his teeth, and pulled on it until she gasped. Without giving her a chance to inhale, he crushed his mouth against hers. Running the tip of his tongue along the seam of her mouth, he prodded her lips apart, and slid his tongue into her mouth.
Her hands moved from his chest to the back of his head, her fingers spread, and her nails scratching along his scalp.
Oh, Jesus, that feels good.
He pushed harder against her mouth, his tongue exploring every part of her mouth before twisting with her tongue in a sensual, fervent mating ritual. She pulled her head back, breaking the kiss, and gasping for air. She placed her hands on the counter behind her and dropped her head. Ben watched the motion of her throat as she swallowed, and the movement of her chest as she breathed in and out, pushing her breasts out with every inhale.
God, she was gorgeous and sexy—and he wanted to experience every part of her body. Her long exposed neck tempted and teased him. Grasping the back of her head with one of his hands, he ran his fingers into her long hair, twisting the locks around each one. He tugged her head back, and dropped his mouth to her neck. Licking, kissing and nipping his way from the base, along her jaw, and up to her ear.
A soft moan slipped past her lips, sending a shiver of pleasure down Ben's spine. When was the last time he had wanted to savor a woman this way? Had ever wanted to take this much time to elicit those sexy sounds she was providing? Ben couldn't remember ever caring enough about the woman he was with to make sure she was completely satisfied, without a thought about his own pleasure.
With a firm hold on her ass, he pulled her against his midsection. Her legs spread wide and wrapped around his waist, her heels digging into his buttocks.
"God, Mia, I want you so bad," Ben murmured in her ear. "But our first time together is not going to be on the kitchen counter."
She smashed her lips to his, and pulled away. "Good thing we have a bed close by."
Somewhere deep inside Ben, his inner lion roared. Hugging her tightly to his body, he lifted her off the counter and walked into the bedroom. The lamp on the bedside table was on, providing a soft glow to the room. Ben loosened his hold on Mia, and she slowly slid down his body.
Damn, this woman is going to kill me.
Ben took his shirt off, and tossed it on the floor while Mia worked to unbutton his jeans. Slipping her hands under the waist band of his boxers, she pushed them down his legs. He kicked them to the side, and worked his socks off his feet.
Mia was slowly lifting her t-shirt over her head. Sheer lace covered her breasts, and the nipples poked out against the fabric. Ben knew she was working her yoga pants off, but he was fixated on the perfect curve of her breasts. Grasping her hips, he pulled her closer, his head dipping to her chest. He ran his tongue under the edge of the lace at the top of her breasts, his chin grazing the hard nipples. His hands traveled up her back until he found the clasp to her bra. Tossing the bra aside, he took one of her nipples in his mouth, lathing the tip with his tongue, and sucking on it until a breathy cry escaped her lips.
He pushed her panties down her legs and walked her backwards to the bed, never releasing her nipple from his mouth. He laid her on the bed, and slid his focus and his mouth to her other breast.
Her back arched, and she forced more of her breast into his mouth, digging her fingers into his shoulders. "Oh my god, Ben."
Kissing between her breasts, Ben moved his lips over her abdomen and along her thigh. A strangled groan broke free of her chest, and Ben grinned, knowing she wanted his mouth between her legs. He loved that she was a little frustrated—it built the anticipation of what was coming next. Leaning over the side of the bed, he grabbed his jeans, and pulled out a condom. His gaze perused her body while he sheathed his erection.
She was every inch of beautiful and desirable woman, and—tonight, at least—she was all his. Spreading her legs apart, he moved in between them, and let his fingers glide along the slick folds. A groan the started low in his belly and worked it's way up is throat, burst free, and broke the relative quiet of in the room. He loved how wet he was, how it was as if liquid silk covered his fingers. He pushed a finger inside her, and slowly pulled it back out before adding a second finger and repeating the slow, steady rhythm. But all too soon, that wasn't enough for him. He had to have her, sink deep into her, and discover that one spot that would make her shatter in ecstasy.
Placing the tip of his erection at her opening, he pushed in little by little, savoring the first time with her. She sighed, low, soft, and sweet. God, what he wouldn't give to hear that sound all the time. Once in, he continued, wanting to be deep inside her. Rolling his hips, he delighted in the tip of his erection hitting the top of her cervix. Her end meet his end, but they are an extension of each other. Joined together, one in the same for this brief moment.
Mia's hips thrusts against his in chaotic desperation. "Ben, please. I need…to move…fast. Hard."
Nothing turned Ben on more than a woman who knew what she wanted from her man and wasn't afraid to tell him. Demand it. Force the issue and take what she wanted from him. He loved it, and was more than happy to accommodate her wishes and desires.
"Like that, baby?" Ben asked, his voice husky. "Do you more of that?"
"Uh, huh," she responded. "Deeper."
Ben thrust into her as hard and deep as he could. Her pants and cries where now moans that were gaining strength and volume. Her legs were wrapped tightly around him, her heels digging into his ass, forcing him farther inside of her. Her whole body was moving with his, like a frantic locomotive, steam building in a pressure cooker about to explode.
Ben's breathing was heavy and loud. Mia was calling his name. Her body was tensed and released, and the muscles in her core contracted around him. Back arched, she cried out as he watched her topple over the edge in an orgasm, her body spasmed over and over, milking his erection. The force of the explosion when he came thrust him forward, deeper inside her, pressing against the bundle of sensitive nerves. She tensed again, her fingernails dug into his biceps as a second orgasm rocked her.
Ben wanted to keep going, to give her orgasm after orgasm just so he could hear her cry out his name, and cling to him as if he were her lifeline.
He knew he would never find another woman who made him feel so alive. Selfless and completely selfish at the same time.
No one who would command his body like she had.
Mia had wrecked him for all others.
9
The flight to Colombia was uneventful. Mia hadn't gotten nearly enough sleep the previous night—not that she was complaining. Spending most of the night making love with Ben was the best way she could imagine losing sleep. The plane had barely reached altitude before she had closed her eyes and was out.
"Mia," Ben whispered, gently nudging her.
Opening her eyes, she stared at his chest. She lifted her head from where it rested on his shoulder. "Sorry." Please, don't let me have drooled all over him.
"Not a problem," he said, his eyes as soft as his voice. "But we're here, so you have to wake up."
Mia looked around the interior of the plane. Click after click sounded, as people released seatbelt latches and stood to get overhead luggage out of the bins. She moved to the aisle. Ben handed her her carry-on bag, placed his hand on her lower back, and followed her off the plane. They met up with Lance and Mason at baggage claim to get the rest of their luggage, then proceeded to customs. A man was directing people into various lines. Ben and Lance were in one line, Mason in one over from them.
Mia was shuffled to a line closest to the wall, and a fair distance from the other three men. The hairs on her arm prickled. Was she being singled out for some reason? She tried to dismiss her apprehension as paranoia, until she caught sight of Ben. The scowl on his face sent her heart racing. He leaned closer to Lance, and then both men were staring after her with frowns, which did absolutely nothing to relieve the anxiety building within in her like a pressure cooker ready to explode.
She reached the front of the line, and handed her passport to the man. He peered at her, his gaze falling from her eyes to her chest, where they lingered a little too long for Mia's comfort. Opening her passport, he looked at it, and then called another man over. The two men looked back and forth from the passport to Mia, speaking Spanish too quickly for her to even pull out words she recognized.
Crap, I really should have become fluent in a language other than English.
"Are these all of your bags?" the second man asked, pointing to the suitcase and carry-on bag at her feet.
Mia nodded. "Yes."
The man took her passport from the custom's agent, and motioned for her to follow. He was tall, broad shoulders, with black hair that fell nearly to his shoulders. Mia flung the strap of her small bag over her shoulder, quickly scanning the area for her traveling companions. She glanced at Ben, who was still watching her, gave him a tight smile and caught up to the man with her passport.
They reached a small office, and the man stepped aside, gesturing for Mia to enter the room. All three windows in the room were covered with mini-blinds—all of them shut. She couldn't see out, and no one could see in. Perspiration broke out over her skin, and she took one last furtive glance over her shoulder at Ben, before the door to the room was closed behind her.
She was shut off from everyone except the man she had followed, and two armed guards inside the room.
"Please sit down," he said. "Mia Rowland?"
"Yes."
"You are American?"
Duh…my passport is issued by the United States.
"Yes."
"And are you here on business or pleasure?"
"Business, but I am hoping to get some sight-seeing in while I'm here." Not likely, but it sounded plausible. People rarely traveled to other countries, even on business, without doing some sightseeing.
"What kind of business do you have in Cali?"
Mia cleared her throat, and forced herself to remain calm. "I represent charitable organizations who would like to invest in the area. They sent me to see where the greatest need exists."
"And what types of needs are you seeking to donate your time and talents to, Ms. Rowland?" His eyes roamed her body, and the two armed guards snickered.
"I'm not looking to donate, my clients are." Mia stared at the man. She could feel the heat of fury spread across her skin. The prick—how dare he ogle me as if he owns my body. She reigned in her temper, not wanting to give him any reason to arrest her for being disrespectful or something equally as lame. "They're interested in helping build schools, or enhance farming or irrigation systems…things like that."
"A shame," he said, dropping into the chair facing her. He took a lock of her hair between his fingers and brought it to his nose, inhaling deeply. "I was hoping to sample some of your…talents."
Mia's stomach dropped to her feet. What the fuck was she going to do? She was a prisoner in this room. The men with guns were presumably there not only to intimidate her, but to ensure she stayed put until told she could leave. Would that be before or after she was felt up—or worse? She glanced at the door. Could she get there, open it, and get out before they could stop her? Then what?Where would she go? She could be arrested, and thrown in jail, which did not sound like a good option.
Of course, it may not be much better staying in the room with three men who seemed very interested in what talents she possessed.
The man followed her gaze to the door. An evil grin slid into place. "Would you like to leave?"
"Am I being detained for a reason?" Mia asked. "If not, then yes, I would like to go. If I have done something that warrants my detention, I would like to get in touch with the US Embassy for assistance." She hoped her voice was steady and confident, because damned if she felt that way inside. Scared was an entire continent away from what she was currently feeling.
Where is Ben? Is he being detained, also?
What about Lance and Mason? Had they all been singled out? Had all their names been added to a watchlist or something? Mia wouldn't doubt Senator Hutton had the authority to do that, but how had he known they were flying to Colombia in the first place?
"I respect your indignation, however, I do not care if you're feeling persecuted, or even uncomfortable. I can assure you, if you just relax, our…interrogation…will be over soon, and you can be on your way." He leaned closer, grabbing her shirt in his fist, and yanking her closer. His other hand pushed between her legs. "Being uncooperative will not only be painful, but will extend your detention."
The door opened, and all eyes in the room darted to the man with his hand on the doorknob. He was dressed in the same uniform as the three men imprisoning her. Mia stared at him, pleading with him to help her. He stood stock still, but made no motion to stop the man groping her.
Mia's hope deflated, and she dropped her head to her chest. She should have listened to Ben, and stayed in the US. She had been arrogant and selfish, and now she was going to pay the price for it.
A body hit the door, and Mia looked up in time to see the man on the floor across the hall. Ben stepped inside the room, his gaze landing on the man's hand between Mia's legs. Before Mia could blink, Ben lifted the man from his seat, tossed him to the floor, a knee in the center of his back. One of the man's arms was being pulled back and twisted in a way Mia was sure an arm was never meant to bend. The man cried out when Ben placed more pressure along the hyper-extended elbow.
"Mia, get out of here," Ben said through clenched teeth.
As if her body was conditioned to follow Ben's instructions, she bolted to the door, turning once to look back inside. Lance and Mason were there—when had they come in?—each subduing an armed guard.
"Out, Mia!"
She looked back at Ben. His eyes were dark and stormy, and his face was stone. If she hadn't known he was trying to protect her, she would have feared for her life. Backing around the corner, she pressed her back to the wall, and waited. She had no training that would prepare her for this type of situation. Were Ben, Lance, and Mason going to kill the men? How were they going to get past custom's security? Would they now be fugitives in a country known for drug cartels?
Mia closed her eyes. Too many questions, not any answers. All she could do was wait and see. The sounds of scuffling and the crack of bones filtered from the room. Mia thought abo
ut seeing what was happening, but she would know the outcome soon enough. Either Ben, Lance, and Mason would come out—or her captors.
Her money was on her guys.
A hand grasped her upper arm, and pushed her to start walking. Her eyes flew open, and her heart nearly exploded from her chest at the sight of Ben—grim face and all—forcing her through the airport. Once they had waded through people trying to get their bags, and hugging loved ones, they exited into the hot sun.
Ben swung Mia around, his eyes running up and down her body. "Are you okay?"
Okay? She was so much better than okay. She threw her arms around his neck, and buried her head into the crook of his neck. She forced back the tears that were attempting to flood her eyes.
His body relaxed against hers, and his hands ran up and down her back. "I got you, Mia."
"I know."
"Mia?"
Ben tapped on the door that separated his room at the Cali Royal Hotel from Mia's. Across the hall from them, Lance and Tink each had a room. They had been able to get a car at the airport, and had driven the forty miles to Cali without any further issues. Mia had spent most of the ride with her head resting on Ben's shoulder. That is, when she wasn't looking out the back window, no doubt checking to see if the police were coming to arrest them.
They had avoided an international incident at the airport when Mia was detained by the customs agents. Ben had watched as she was escorted away by a man with hair a little long for a guy.
"Where are they taking her?" Lance asked the custom's agent when he handed over his passport.
The small man with a thin mustache glanced over his shoulder, and then back at the passport in front of him, not even bothering to look up at Lance. "Does not concern you."
The air around Ben grew thick, and he bumped against Lance, ready to explain to the little fucker that it concerned him a great deal, while he grabbed the man around the throat and shook the answer out of him.
Lance squared his shoulders, blocked Ben, and raised his hand to get Ben to back down. Ben stepped away, and took a deep breath. Now was not the time to cause a scene. They needed the agents to help them, not arrest them. Mia would be worse off with the three of them in a Colombian jail.
Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Mia (Kindle Worlds) Page 12
