Undercover_An Out of Line Novel

by Jennifer McLaughlin

  "Come on," I muttered under my breath as I let the lid close on the suitcase and pulled my phone out, tucking the pen in my pocket.

  As I checked, Marie texted: Still good.

  Pay attention to the seminar. There might be a quiz after.

  She replied with the rolling eyes emoji.

  The computer screen shut down, and I let out a breath. As I was pulling the flash drive out, footsteps sounded outside the door. I froze, my heart pounding, hoping it was just a passerby.

  The key lock beeped twice, and I knew my hopes were futile.

  Shit, fuck, damn.

  I threw myself into the nearby closet, closing it quickly and quietly as the door to the hotel room opened. Heart pounding, adrenaline rushing, I tempered my breathing, trying to remain as silent as humanly possible. Footsteps passed the closet door, and I raised my fist, prepared to fight if whoever was out there decided to check why the closet door had closed itself.

  The footsteps passed.

  "Yeah, hey. I was just checking in."

  Silence, and then:

  "It's pretty boring. I'm not really sure why the dude needs security. No one even tries to touch him."

  A pause.

  "Yeah."

  The man snorted.

  "He had me kill a spider in his room last night because he was too scared to smoosh it. Easiest job the agency ever gave me. I just check his room occasionally and follow the dude around as stockbrokers ask him for advice. Boring, but simple."

  The man paced in front of the closet.

  "What's her temperature?"

  He stopped walking directly in front of me.

  "Shit, did you make her an appointment?"

  I closed my eyes, focusing on my breathing.

  "All right, I have to go back down, but I'll check in on my next loop of the hotel. Give her kisses for me."

  I waited for the man to leave, but he walked toward the back of the hotel room. When I heard the door shut, I gritted my teeth. The sounds of him taking a piss hit me even through the closed closet door. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I winced, taking it out and glancing at it.

  He's almost done. Get out soon.

  I glanced toward the door, then typed. Stuck in the closet. Guard in the room. Only reply if he's on his way up.

  Three dots showed on the screen, then disappeared.

  I stared at the phone, waiting to see if she was sending anything.

  The guard came back out, and his phone rang. "Yeah?" Silence and then: "Oh, he's coming up here? All right. I'll hang tight."

  Well, shit.

  14

  Marie

  The way I saw it, I had two options.

  One: Do nothing, and let Joseph figure out an escape on his own like he was trained to do. Or two: Do something to help him out, even though he probably wouldn't want me to.

  I hesitated, watching as Pierre made his way to the back of the room, biting my lip. If I went against his orders and chased after the man…Oh, screw it. I never followed the rules. Joseph knew what he was getting himself into with me, and if he didn't yet…well, he would now.

  "Pierre," I called out, chasing after him and waving with a flirtatious smile.

  He stopped, his gaze dipping down my body, lingering over my breasts, then going back up. "Marie. Hello." He scanned the room behind me. "No lurking boyfriend today?"

  "He's not really into numbers," I said, pushing my hair out of my eyes. "He's in our room getting some words on his latest manuscript."

  "Fascinating," Pierre said. "I always wanted to write."

  "Maybe you still could," I said, stepping closer to him. "An advice book, maybe?"

  His eyes narrowed, dipping back down. "You think?"

  "I know I'd buy it. You have so many good ideas to share with the world about how to make smart choices when it comes to stocks." I touched his arm. "Want to talk about it over a drink?"

  Pierre hesitated, glancing at his guard, then back at me. "Joseph wouldn't mind?"

  "Pierre…" I moved even closer, glancing at him from under my lowered lashes. "I'm my own woman. I don't answer to any man, let alone my boyfriend."

  "Well, if you're sure." He touched my hand, shooting me a grin. "Want to go up to my room? It's quieter there."

  "I prefer the bar, I see a nice table over there in the corner, out of sight."

  "All right." He turned to his guard and whispered something. After finishing, he gave me his full attention. "So, you think I could write a book?"

  "Absolutely."

  As he led me toward the bar with a hand on my lower back, just a little bit too low to be considered polite, I glanced over my shoulder. The guard followed us, telling someone on the phone that there was another change of plans, and to meet them down in the bar.

  I let out a sigh of relief.

  My plan had worked.

  We sat at the corner table, and his guard came up. "What can I get you, miss?"

  "I'll have a mimosa, please." I turned toward Pierre. "After all, it's before twelve."

  He inclined his head. "Make it two. Top shelf."

  "Yes, sir," the guard said, bowing.

  As he walked off, Pierre leaned back in his chair, staring at me. "You're beautiful, you know."

  My cheeks heated. They always did when people complimented me. It made me uncomfortable. "What is beauty, anyway, besides an illusion?"

  His mouth quirked. "Beauty is everything. The second most important thing in the world."

  "And the most important?" I asked, crossing my legs.

  "Money, of course."

  I forced a laugh. "Of course."

  "How are your accounts, Marie?"

  I played with a piece of my hair. "My accounts are just fine. Protected. Invested. Robust."

  "Robust." He let his gaze fall to my breasts again. "Excellent."

  My stomach twisted. He wasn't even attempting to hide his thoughts anymore. After this, I would need a shower…or five. The guy might be innocent of embezzlement, but he was guilty of being a major pig. "How are your accounts, Mr. Rasco?"

  "They are very well taken care of, as well." He leaned in. "Also very robust."

  I tapped his shoulder playfully. "I'm sure."

  "And Joseph's?" He placed his hand on mine. "Are his in order?"

  "I don't know. We keep separate accounts. We're not that far into our…relationship…yet, if you know what I mean. We're just casually together. Nothing too serious."

  Pierre nodded. "He seemed pretty serious about you."

  "That's him." I shrugged and flipped my hair over my shoulder. "I'm me."

  "Marie—"

  I leaned in again, giving him a shot of my cleavage. His gaze, of course, zeroed right in on it. Yep. Five showers. Maybe ten. "Yeah?"

  "I don't steal other men's playthings." The guard brought over our drinks, giving me time to hide my anger over being referred to as an item to be played with. If I wasn't helping Joseph, I'd throw this damn drink into his cocky face and storm off. "If Joseph is going to be a problem…?"

  "He's…" My phone buzzed. "Excuse me for a second?"

  I pulled my phone out, my heart racing when I saw it was Joseph.

  I'm out. The guard left. Where are you?

  "He's what?" Pierre asked impatiently.

  I shoved my phone away without answering Joseph. Time to wrap this up without arousing suspicion. "He's possessive of me, I'll be honest."

  Pierre lifted his glass to his mouth.

  I did the same, my heart pounding so loud I swore he heard it.

  "That could be a problem, then, and to be honest, I tend to avoid problems at all costs." He set his glass down. "I can't afford to have unwanted attention turned my way, no matter how pretty you might be."

  I forced a smile. "I completely understand." I started to rise. "I'll just—"

  "You know what?" He leaned in and touched my hair. My stomach revolted at the gesture as I sat back down. "I think you're hiding something under that brown hair of yours
."

  I laughed nervously. "Me? Nah, I'm an—"

  "She is hiding something," a voice I knew as well as my own said from behind me at the same time, effectively cutting me off.

  I closed my eyes, knowing I was going to get an earful once we were alone.

  "I knew it," Pierre said. "Do tell."

  Joseph pulled a chair up and sat beside me, not waiting for an invitation. Annoyance hit me, but for a different reason than I might have suspected. Usually I'd be annoyed at Joseph for feeling like he had a right to barge in on my private conversation, but instead, I was annoyed with myself because instead of being annoyed with him I was…relieved.

  "You wanna know her secret?" he asked.

  Pierre looked at his guard, gestured at his drink, then at Joseph, and turned back to us as the other man headed toward the bar. Pierre might be a creep, but he apparently had manners that demanded that no guest be left without a beverage, no matter if they weren't invited. "Yes, please."

  "She's not really a brunette." Joseph nudged me playfully, making me think that maybe he wasn't so angry after all. Thank God. "She's a blonde."

  Pierre's eyes went wide. "No."

  "Yep," Joseph said, laughing.

  I crossed my arms, letting the men talk over me like Pierre seemed fond of doing.

  "Bright blonde," Joseph said. He put his arm over my shoulders and squeezed me tight. "Right, babe?"

  I gave him a look out of the corner of my eye. "Right, Pookie."

  His jaw tensed at the hated nickname.

  "Wow." Pierre crossed his arms as he leaned back in his chair. "I never would have guessed that was her secret."

  "Yeah, well, now you know," I retorted. Picking up my drink, I chugged the rest of the contents and set it down. "If you gentlemen will excuse me, I think I'll go back to my room now that you're done working on your book. I'm in dire need of a shower."

  Joseph got my hint, and stood, too. "I'll come with you."

  "You don't have to, you can hang out with Pierre and enjoy your drink," I said, pointing at the newly arrived mimosa. "They're divine."

  "Not as divine as you," he said, picking it up and downing it much like I had. He set the glass down and licked his lips. "But pretty damn close. Thanks, man."

  Pierre inclined his head. "Anytime."

  Joseph winked at Pierre.

  I walked off with him hot on my heels. He caught up easily enough and put his arm around me. As he leaned in and kissed my temple, I opened my mouth. "Look, I—"

  "Uh-uh." His grip on me shifted. "Not yet. Not here."

  I tried not to let my nerves get the best of me, but there was an underlying sense of rage humming beneath this calm surface of his. There was something about it that made me anxious and oddly excited…which was pretty much how I always felt around him.

  We were silent the rest of the way to our room until our door closed behind us. He slowly slid the latch into place, took a breath, and turned. The second he locked eyes with me, my heart rate increased by about a hundred. There was something about the way he was looking at me—all anger and a little bit of dominance—that turned me on, no matter how much I might wish otherwise.

  "What the hell were you thinking?"

  15

  Hernandez

  She took a step back, and I stayed put to let her have her space. Don’t freak out. Don’t scare her away. Don’t ruin this. I kept repeating that in my head, over and over again, as I had been since I saw her in the bar with a suspected criminal, smiling and flirting and letting him look at her as if he had any right to drool all over her like she was an object to be won.

  She wasn’t. She was so much more.

  Maybe that’s what pissed me off the most—her thinking she should use her beauty to distract someone in an attempt to save me. That, and she’d deliberately put herself in danger after I specifically asked her not to. It didn’t surprise me that she hadn’t listened, but my reaction to the situation had.

  “I know what you’re thinking, but hear me out.”

  I leaned back on the door, crossing my arms.

  “You texted me that you were stuck, and I knew he was about to go up to his room, and there was no danger in me distracting him for a little bit in a public place so you could escape.” She wrung her hands in front of her stomach. “He’s a creep, sure, but he’s not stupid. He’s not going to attack me with witnesses, so I kept him where I was safe so you could—”

  I held a hand up.

  She stopped talking immediately.

  “What did I say when you offered to do that for me?” I asked quietly, calmly.

  She bit her lip. “You said…”

  “Yeah?” I prompted when she didn’t finish the sentence.

  Any hint of submission faded away, and anger took its place. “You know what you said, and so do I. I’m not repeating it.”

  “Funny, because you seem to have forgotten that you’re not a trained agent who shouldn’t be alone with a suspect a few minutes ago.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “I was in no danger. All I did was play on his vanity and ask him for a drink.”

  “And you let him think he had a shot with you.”

  She lifted a shoulder. “So?”

  “So—” I broke off, clenching my teeth. “Never use your beauty for me like that again. Never let another man drool all over you because you want to save me.”

  Her jaw dropped, and she stared, not moving.

  “I’d never, ever ask you to demean yourself like that.”

  After a long silence, she licked her lips. “That’s why you’re upset? Because I let him think…?”

  “You’re so much more than a pretty face, Marie. So much fucking more.”

  She swallowed, shook her head, and then threw herself into my arms, kissing me with an enthusiasm that was impossible to describe. I caught her, holding her tight to my chest as she clung to my shoulders. I buried my hands in her hair, spinning her so she was against the wall, and slid my tongue inside her mouth the second her lips parted.

  She tasted as good as I remembered. Hell, even better.

  Was that even possible?

  I lifted her up and slid between her thighs. She wrapped her legs around my waist, opening up to me in ways I’d only dreamed about before. Maybe I was dreaming.

  If so, I never wanted to wake up.

  Her nails scratched down my back as she dug her heels into my ass, her tongue dueled with mine. As I ran my hands down her curves, rediscovering them again, she undid my belt buckle with trembling hands. I ended the kiss, groaning as she pulled my shirt out of my pants.

  It was over my head in two seconds flat.

  She ran her fingers over my chest, playing with the hair there. When she tried to pull me back down for a kiss, I resisted, not giving her what she wanted. There was something there, in the back of my mind, lingering and offering doubts. “Marie—”

  She cupped my cheeks. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you, and how you made me feel. It was so…so… Was it even real, or was it all a dream?”

  I skimmed my fingers over the curve of her breasts. “I don’t know. But you’ve been on my mind, too. A lot. Too much.”

  She traced the lines of my abs, swallowing. “I’m a runner. When things get too hard or too real…I run.”

  I knew that already, yet it still awakened a fear inside of me that at some point I would cross that line between easy and hard, and then I’d be forced to watch her run from me.

  There wouldn’t be a damn thing I could do about it, either.

  “But with you, I don’t want to run. I want to stay, and I can’t stop thinking about that, and why that is. Why you’re different.” She hesitated. “You know?”

  I nodded, my heart booming loudly at her honesty. “If you ever decide to run, if you think this is too much for you, I won’t chase you. I’ll let you go. Not because I don’t care, but because I do.”

  “Same for you. If I get to be too much, too overbearing
or whatever, I’ll let you go.”

  I twisted my lips. “I’m not going anywhere, Marie.”

  My mouth closed over hers perfectly as I pulled her against my chest, closing her in my arms. She wrapped her arms around my neck, entwining her fingers in my hair, and the kiss was suddenly more than just a kiss. It was a motherfucking promise—one I intended to keep.

  Our clothes came off fluidly, her dress, my pants, her shoes. I didn’t remember removing a single item, yet we were naked in one another’s arms in no time, and my mouth seemingly never left hers because damn it, I didn’t want to stop kissing her. I'd waited years for the right to taste her thoroughly, and I wasn’t about to rush it now.

  I slid on a condom and then slipped inside her, my mouth swallowing her cries as I moved slowly, languidly, taking my time as I held her in place against the wall. The slower I moved, the more impatient she became, and the soft caresses of her nails became blood drawing, and yet I kept up my leisurely pace.

  Keeping her right on the edge.

  She broke the kiss off, breathing heavily, and moaned. “Joseph, I need—”

  “And you’ll get it. You’re my girl, and I always take care of my girl.” I nipped at the spot where her shoulder and neck met, digging the tips of my fingers into her soft ass cheeks. She moaned even louder. “I promise.”

  She closed her eyes, dropping her head back against the wall. I slid out of her warmth, grinning as she tried to pull me back in. When I fell to my knees in front of her and smoothly parted her pale thighs, she gasped, grabbing onto my shoulders. I rolled my tongue over her, closing my eyes because fuck, she tasted good. That hadn’t been my imagination, either.

  She was all sunshine and sugar, my Marie.

  Crying out, she rocked against me, biting down hard on her lower lip to silence herself. I never wanted her to quiet herself, I wanted to hear it all. Everything she had to say, every little sigh she might make. The good, the bad, the ugly. Give it all to me.