by Lora Leigh
His body shifted, the hard pressure of his thigh easing as his fingers slipped past the elastic band of her panties. The callused tips rasped the soft curls between her thighs, then with exquisite care parted the heated, wet curves that ached for his touch.
“Oh yes,” she breathed out roughly, her hips arching. “I want your fingers, Travis. Please…” Her head ground into the cushions of the couch beneath her. “Please, fuck me with your fingers.”
A hard groan tore from his lips. His fingers delved into the slit of her pussy, then two pressed together and thrust firmly into the clenched, tightened opening.
Travis was dying of lust. The feel of her pussy, so hot and wet, gripping the tips of his fingers, was almost more than his dick could bear. He wanted inside her, then and now. He wanted to tear the clothes from her body, slide between her thighs, and fuck her until they were both screaming in ecstasy.
Instead, he was feeling her snug sex as it clenched around his fingers and her juices flowing to meet the shallow thrust.
Twisting his wrist, Travis began burrowing deeper, stretching the tender portal open, amazed at the near-virgin snugness as the delicate tissue and muscle clenched tight around his fingers. How much better would it be when he finally managed to get his cock inside her?
Pushing in deeper, Travis forced himself to release the captive bud of her nipple to draw in a hard, deep breath. Then, he simply watched her face come alive as he began to fill her pussy with his fingers.
Stroking inside her with tight, forceful thrusts, Travis found himself entranced by the emotions washing over her expression. She had always kept herself in such tight control in the past that it was often impossible to know what she was feeling, if she was hurt, angry, or happy.
There was no mistaking the pleasure on her face now. Her neck arched with it, her eyes were slitted, staring back at him in pleasured agony as he fucked the sweet portal of her pussy with two fingers while raking around the delicate bud of her clit with his thumb.
She was more responsive now than she had been so many months ago when he took her virginity. She was arching beneath his touch, driving his fingers deeper inside her, her hips flexing, grinding into each thrust he made inside her.
The snug depths of her sex milked his fingers as he stroked inside her, rippled around them. Her juices flowed like sweet, hot honey, slickening his fingers with each thrust.
Taking her like this was agony and ecstasy. He could watch her face, watch the pleasure that darkened her eyes and tightened her expression. But his cock was raging, demanding, throbbing inside his jeans with a voracious desire nearly impossible to control.
He had so very little time with her this afternoon. The first test of her memories that the Elite Ops was demanding would begin here, today. They knew she would end up back here once she read the report Desmond Harrington had been given by the investigative firm he had hired. She was being watched. The second she had left her home and driven toward his house, the plan had been put into effect.
What he hadn’t expected was to have her walk into his arms and take what had been on his own mind since the night before. The passion burned brighter between them now than it ever had. It had always simmered, burned, but now it flamed with a white-hot heat he couldn’t avoid. As though Lilly had decided for herself what she wanted, and how she was going to take it. She was a woman tired of waiting, whether consciously or unconsciously, and a part of him realized he had been dying for her to reach out and take it. Unfortunately, now that she had, he didn’t have the time he needed to revel in it.
“Damn.” The groan was ripped from his throat as he pulled back from her, sliding his fingers slowly, so slowly, from the incredibly hot depths of her pussy.
His cock throbbed in objection, his balls were drawn agonizingly tight beneath the shaft of his erection.
“Travis.” Silken hands gripped his shoulders, sharp little nails pricked against his flesh. “What the hell is your problem?”
It was almost laughable. He wanted nothing more than to fuck her silly, but he was damned if he’d do it in front of an audience. And unless he missed his guess, they’d be there any second—
“Travis, you have company.” Nik knocked on the door, the sound causing her to flinch as Travis shot a murderous look toward the entrance.
Hell, this was just what he needed right now. His woman lying hot, silky wet, and willing beneath him and company on the other side of the door.
Grimacing, Travis pushed himself to his feet and stared down at her as she hurriedly fixed her clothes. Her face was flushed, breasts heaving; the hard points of her nipples were easy to detect beneath the thin silk blouse she wore.
Her soft lips were swollen, her hair mussed around her face. She was so damned pretty he had to clench his back teeth to keep from going back to her.
“Remind me to check your schedule next time before I decide to visit you,” she snapped, her voice low. She looked presentable again. “You have too much damned company at inappropriate times.”
He grunted at that, ran his hand around the back of his neck, then strode to the door and jerked it open.
“Travis.” Santos Bahre, co-commander of Elite Two, stood on the other side, along with his partner, Rhiannon McConnelly.
Santos was six-three, had dark hair brushed back from his face, a neatly trimmed beard and mustache, and he wore a gray silk suit and white shirt, paired with expensive leather shoes. He was every inch the suave, debonair Irish pimp he portrayed.
Beside him stood his counterpart and co-commander, Rhiannon McConnelly. The madam to his high-class pimp. The cover they had created was perfectly designed to allow the female agents they oversaw to work closely with the covert agents sent in on specialty assignments.
“Santos, Rhiannon.” Travis stepped back, wishing there were some way to warn Lilly, to guide her through this.
If she remembered her commanders at this point, then they were fucked. The risk to the Elite Ops would be too high to allow her to stay in the game.
“You have company.” Smoothly cultured, Rhiannon’s voice was friendly and warm as she entered the room, her gaze going to Lilly.
They knew she had seen the file. They knew Lilly was aware of the report the investigator had compiled.
Travis turned in time to watch her face pale, her green eyes darken, widen, as she stepped back into the room.
“I’m leaving now.” Her voice trembled as she cast him a look filled with betrayal. “I won’t be back.”
Good. Lilly thought she was coming face to face with her pimp and her madam, not her commanders. And she was searching for a way to leave, a way out of the room other than the one they blocked.
“Does she think we’re here to force her back, Travis?” Rhiannon asked gently, her smile one of compassion and sympathy as she stared at Lilly. “What have you been telling this child about us anyway?”
“Child?” Santos murmured, the smooth hint of a brogue entering his voice. “You’re only a few years older than she, Rhia love.”
Lilly backed up further, her fingers moving restlessly at her thigh as though for the weapon she once wore there.
Instinct or memory? Travis wondered.
“I haven’t mentioned you, Rhia,” Travis assured her quietly as he watched Lilly, watched the pain and the denial that filled her face, her eyes.
He knew parts of her. Over the years, he had learned things he hadn’t realized he’d known about her. One thing he’d learned was that Lilly had pride. Enough pride that it had gotten her into trouble more than once.
She couldn’t see herself as a call girl, no matter how highly paid, no matter how exclusive or security-trained.
“He didn’t have to mention you,” Lilly spat out furiously. “My uncle has a full file on you.”
“Then he must have one on you as well.” Rhia stepped further into the room as she laid the red purse she carried on a side table.
The purse matched the red high heels she wore with well-creased sil
k slacks and a light cotton blouse. The shoulder-length dark red hair was brushed back from her face, her bangs skimming her brows.
She was classy and stylish. Pretty much exactly what Travis would have imagined a successful madam looked like.
“I’m leaving.” She moved around Rhia carefully as she stared at the doorway Santos and Travis still stood in front of.
“They just wanted to see you, Lilly,” Travis told her quietly. “You’ve worked with Santos and Rhiannon for over five years now. You’re friends as well as associates.”
“So Desmond’s file says,” she retorted sarcastically, as Travis sighed and stepped back from the door.
“Running won’t help, Lilly,” he told her softly, though he hoped she could read the message in his eyes to do just that. To run. To get the hell out of there before her past rose up and bit them both in the ass.
“I’m not running,” she informed him sharply, fear and anger showing in her eyes now. “And I’m not frightened. I’m simply refusing to be a part of this.”
She edged around the room, watching them all carefully, her fingers still searching instinctively at her thigh for that weapon. He was damned glad she didn’t have it; he had a feeling she would have shot them all.
“Lilly, you’re running,” Rhia said softly, her gaze never losing that innate compassion as she watched the woman she had helped train for so many years. “Surely you remember something about us.”
“There’s nothing to remember,” Lilly snarled. “There are only the lies you had some investigator make up. What do you think you can do? Do you think you can blackmail me or my family?” Her nose lifted with aristocratic pride. “Trust me, lady, no one would ever believe Lady Victoria Harrington was little more than a whore. You’re wasting your time.”
“I believe I’m insulted,” Santos drawled as she moved past him, watching him warily. “My girls have never been called such a thing.”
The glare Lilly shot him should have withered him. Instead, with steady Irish charm Santos tossed her a wicked grin before extending his hand to the door. “We wanted only to say hello, my dear, and to let you know if you need us, we’re here.”
“I rather doubt I’ll need you.” The look she shot Travis assured him she wouldn’t be needing him either.
She had passed the test. She knew who they were only through the report her uncle had given her. She hadn’t recognized them, she hadn’t remembered her past.
She slipped from the room. The sound of her heels clicking on the marble floor could be heard just before the front door slammed closed.
Travis turned to Rhiannon, his brow arching.
Rhiannon stared back at him, her brilliant green eyes eerie, too aware, too knowing.
“She’s hiding something, Travis.” Her gaze hardened. “Find out what.”
CHAPTER 6
LILLY STEPPED BACK into the house, smiling at the butler as he opened the door for her. The brightly lit marble foyer was warm and welcoming, but there was a core of ice forming inside her that she couldn’t seem to dispel.
Moving quickly through the foyer, she pushed through the doors to the library, intending to confront Desmond with the information he had given her the night before. She hadn’t expected him to have company.
“Victoria.” Desmond came to his feet, a worried smile on his face. Lilly smiled when she saw who was behind him.
“Jordan,” She said, coming forward and hugging him.
Jordan returned the hug. “I wanted to stop in to see you while I was in town. It’s a miracle that you’ve returned.”
“So my family tells me.” She stepped back and restrained the need to rub at the chill in her arms.
“Your uncle mentioned you may have a bit of a past that could cause you some problems,” Jordan stated, as Desmond went over to the bar. “I wondered if I could be of help.”
“Did he now?” She glanced at her uncle, noting the heavy breath he took as he lifted a bottle of wine from the bar. She was within seconds of asking for something stronger, only to quell the urge as she noticed Jordan’s gaze sharpening on her.
“Don’t be embarrassed,” Jordan urged her. “Grief does amazing things to a young mind. Desmond is fairly certain you must have walked in on something that night, perhaps even saw your father’s murder. He’s concerned that you could be targeted because of that, or because of the information the investigator uncovered.”
Lilly took a seat in the chair beside her, watching as the two men settled back into their seats before speaking.
“What, then, is the general consensus?” she asked. “Did I become a whore because I was grieving, or running from criminals or my own guilt?”
“Dammit, Victoria, no one believes you killed your father,” Desmond bit out. “Quite to the contrary, I believe you were hiding, perhaps even frightened of endangering your mother.”
Lilly sipped at her wine. “I’ve asked you before, Uncle, to call me Lilly.”
Desmond grimaced but said nothing.
“The fact remains that no one would believe such a tale,” Jordan stated quietly.
Do you want to live, Lady Victoria, or die forever? Jordan’s voice. Jordan’s face. Younger, less savage. The memory flashed through her head, sticking to her mind, and almost had her shaking her head as she tried to dispel it.
Memory or insanity?
“It’s much easier to believe I was a whore, then?” she asked, her brow arching curiously.
Jordan’s head lowered as her uncle looked away.
“Gentlemen, I have things to do today.” Lilly got to her feet. She was finished with the conversation. “If you will excuse me, I believe I’ll take care of those things.”
She turned and swept from the library, ignoring her uncle’s protest as she pushed the doors open and headed for the stairwell.
What did she have to do today except read that damned file again? That and try to understand why Travis hadn’t warned her of the “company” arriving earlier.
Who could she trust? She had wanted to trust Travis so badly she ached with the need.
No one, her mind screamed. There was no one she could trust, and that was terrifying. She felt as though there was no place to turn, and no place to find answers.
“Lilly.” Her mother stepped from the living room as Lilly was turning to the foyer and headed for the stairs. “Could we talk for a moment?”
Lilly pushed her fingers through her hair and fought to restrain the impatience roiling through her. “Is my room all right, Mother?”
The living room seemed too open, with too many potential ears listening.
“Of course, dear.”
Lilly could see the nervousness in her mother’s face, the hint of sorrow and pain that shadowed her eyes. She hated hurting her mother, but there was a part of herself that she couldn’t help but hold back. There were too many secrets that she sensed she had to hold in.
Entering her bedroom, she turned and waited for her mother to enter. Immediately Angelica moved to the bedroom window, opened it, then pulled a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from the pocket of her slacks.
“Mother, you know you shouldn’t smoke,” she said, sighing.
“My one guilty pleasure,” she said as she lifted the slender cylinder to her lips and closed her eyes in pleasure.
Lilly waited until she finished, knowing it would take only moments. When Angelica finished she moved to the bathroom, flushed the butt, washed her hands, then returned.
“Your brother called this morning.” She smiled sadly. “He and the children are going to Hawaii this summer.”
They usually joined the family in Maryland.
“He doesn’t want to see me,” Lilly guessed.
“So many changes.” Angelica sighed as she sat on the edge of the bed. “Jared has never dealt well with change. He brooded for months when we thought you were dead. He can’t believe it’s you now, because the changes are so drastic, and there’s no explanation for them.”
Her m
other stared at her as though she should have answers.
“I’m sorry, Mother.” Lilly sat in the chair next to her bed and watched her mother as she ruffled her fingers through her perfectly streaked dark blond and brown hair.
“You read the report your uncle gave you, then?” she asked. “Did nothing trigger a memory, Lilly? Nothing at all?” She was so hopeful, so desperate, that Lilly wanted nothing more than to confide in her.
“Nothing,” she whispered. “I’m sorry, Mother.”
Angelica’s hands twisted restlessly in her lap as she stared down at them for long moments.
“You’ve changed so drastically,” she said softly as her head lifted, her pale blue eyes reflecting a glimmer of pain and tears that tore at Lilly’s heart. “Sometimes, Lilly, it’s as though I don’t even know you.”
Lilly swallowed tightly and forced back her own tears. “I’m still me. I don’t know what happened, or why I changed so severely, but I’m still me. I remember shopping with you, crying with you, my coming-out ball and my first date. You cried each time.” A tear slipped free. “Just because my face changed doesn’t mean I’m not still your daughter.”
A soft sob tore from her mother’s lips then. She moved jerkily from the bed and in the next second Lilly found herself in her arms. Arms that had sheltered her, that had helped protect her.
In that moment, she closed her eyes and wanted to cry herself. She wanted her father. When she had cried, they had both held her; the warmth and acceptance of their embrace had always been all she needed to hold her world together.
Now, her world was torn apart, confusion and fear tore at her, had her holding tighter to her mother and fighting the need to confide all those fears in her. She wanted the easy, carefree relationship they had once had. She wanted the involved, complicated relationship she’d had with her father. She’d been his confidante and his partner, she had been her mother’s friend, her brother’s baby sister. Once upon a time, she’d had a full, happy life.
And she had no idea what had happened to it.
“You can talk to me, Lilly,” her mother whispered tearfully as she drew back, her soft fingers easing the tears from Lilly’s cheeks. “I’ll always be here for you. I’ve always been here for you.”
