He led her through the house until they reached his bedroom and he pushed open the double doors. It was a huge room with curtained floor-to-ceiling windows and a king-sized bed in the center. The room was done in burgundy and forest green with dark wood furniture. At least a dozen pillows were on the bed that had a burgundy comforter with a design created with rich gold thread.
The lighting was dim, as if he’d expected to have her in his bedroom tonight. When they were near the bed he stopped and turned her so that she was facing a mirror. She saw the elegant woman reflected back at her and strangely she found it erotic to be in someone else’s body when a man was going to make love to her. It was like role-play, almost. Like dress up.
Carla’s lips were full and soft. Her breasts were large and she moved her hands up to cup them as Logan watched her. She saw the hunger in his eyes as she brushed her palms over her nipples that were barely covered by the low-cut dress.
He moved his hands to the hook at the top of the dress then unzipped it. She watched the dress slide down her body to her bare feet and she stepped out of it, now wearing only a black half-bra with her matching panties.
A crystal pin held her hair back and he took it out so that her hair fell in a soft whisper that was like silk on her shoulders. Her hair reached partway down her back where it tickled her between her shoulder blades.
He took her by her upper arms and turned her to face him again. She braced her hands on his shoulders as he lowered his head and traced her cleavage with his tongue above the bra, causing her to sigh with pleasure. He reached around her to unfasten her bra and let it drop to the floor then cupped her breasts.
She caught her breath as he sucked each of her nipples, swirling his tongue around the taut nubs. He tugged at each nipple with his teeth making them feel even harder. His shoulders felt powerful beneath his suit coat and she pushed at it, wanting it off.
Instead of allowing her to take it off, he showed her who was in control. He took her wrists in his hands and pinned them behind her back, which caused her to thrust out her chest. He kissed her again before trailing his lips along her jaw, down to the hollow of her throat and to the sensitive spot between her breasts.
He released her wrists and hooked his fingers in her panties and pushed them over her hips and down her thighs and let them fall the rest of the way to the floor. She stepped out of them as he drew her forward, fully into his arms.
His clothing felt erotic against her bare skin as he pressed his body to hers and kissed her again. She liked this slow and sensual assault on her senses that was so different than their wild love making the weekend she met him. She’d loved every minute of that weekend like she loved every moment of the present.
He stepped back from her and removed his suit jacket, tossing it on a chair beside the double doors. Then he guided her to the bed and she sat on the edge, the comforter soft beneath her ass and her thighs. He gently pushed her down so that she was lying on the bed, her head resting on one of the pillows.
Still clothed, he moved so that he was over her, bracing his hands to either side of her. He looked down and her lips parted as she met his gaze. For a moment she felt as if he could see straight through her, see that she wasn’t really Carla. But then he eased down her body.
Butterflies flipped in her belly as he moved between her legs then pressed open her thighs, spreading her wide for him. He lowered his head, his hair brushing against her inner thighs. Her legs started to tremble as she waited for that moment his tongue would be on her.
With a light flick of his tongue, he licked her clit again and again and she nearly came up off the bed. He had barely touched her and he had her moaning and wriggling.
She watched him as he began licking her and sucking her harder and she cried out, unable to hold back. Seeing him between her thighs made the experience all the more exciting. She felt an orgasm building faster than she’d ever experienced before. It grew in intensity, coming closer and closer as he buried his face between her thighs and applied more pressure. Her body bucked against him as she came in a hard rush. Her cry was long and she clamped her thighs around his head, wanting him to stop yet wanting him to continue.
When he raised his head he gave her a sexy grin. “I don’t think you’ve been quite that loud before.” She bit her lower lip and realized she’d just let herself go and hadn’t responded to his lovemaking like Carla had in the past. “I loved it,” he added and she smiled at him.
Desire was hot and strong inside Logan as he rose and began unbuttoning his shirt. He watched as Carla ran her tongue along her lower lip. She eased off the bed and went to him as he tossed his shirt onto her clothing. He kicked off his shoes and waited as she tugged on his socks and pulled them off then dropped them on the floor.
She reached for his belt and he let her unbuckle it and then she undid the button of his slacks and drew the zipper down. He wore boxer briefs and she tugged the briefs down at the same time she pulled down his slacks.
Tremors went through him as she paused when she released his cock, stopping to caress it from balls to tip and back again. His breath came out in a low hiss and he watched her smile as she pushed his slacks the rest of the way down his thighs to his feet. He kicked them off and she grasped his erection in her hand again.
And then those red lips that he’d been watching all night slid over his erection and he groaned. He couldn’t hold back anything as she went down on him, her gray eyes watching him as she sucked his cock.
He’d always enjoyed having Carla go down on him, but she’d never done it like this—in earnest and like she loved everything about it and loved his taste. She’d never swallowed his come and she usually gagged when he went to the back of her throat. This time she took him deep in her hot, wet, mouth, and he wondered what she would do if he came in her mouth.
But he wasn’t going to do that. He wanted to come inside her after fucking her brains out. Yet he wanted to take her slow and easy, make love to her in ways he never had before.
He gritted his teeth as he came closer to climax and he had to grab her head with his hands.
“Stop.” His voice was rough and low. “Stand for me.”
She licked her lips as her gaze fixed on his and he felt like he was going to come right then and there, even without her mouth on him any longer.
He guided her to the bed and eased her onto the mattress then on her back. He slid between her thighs and held his erection at the entrance to her core.
Her lips were parted, her eyes heavy-lidded as she grasped his upper arms. He slowly slid into her, stretching her, filling her with his cock. Her eyes widened and she gasped as if she’d never felt him inside of her before.
Something was different about her in so many ways. And he felt yet another dimension to her as he took her slow and easy and she raised her hips in tandem with his thrusts.
She felt so damn good as her pussy clenched his cock. She reached around him and dug her fingernails into his back as she met his gaze. It felt hot and erotic as she clawed his skin and he couldn’t hold himself back as he picked up his pace and he fucked her harder and harder.
His orgasm built inside of him even as he saw how close she was to coming and he had to focus to keep his body from flickering and fading as he took her. That had never happened with Carla before, only with Tori.
Carla’s breathing was hard, her eyes almost unseeing as she began to lose control.
“Hold on, baby,” he said as she dug her fingernails into his back. “I want to come with you.”
She bit her lower lip and he knew she was struggling to hold onto her orgasm.
His own climax rushed closer and closer until he almost couldn’t see straight. Sensation built in his groin, growing and growing—
“Now.” His words came out in a growl. “Now, Carla.”
She cried out louder than he’d ever heard her before, almost a scream. His own cry came out in a harsh rumble ending in a shout as he came inside of her.
&nbs
p; His cock throbbed and her core clenched him as they both came. It was almost too much and he stilled and pressed his groin hard against her.
He pulled his cock out and kissed her hard. He was covered in sweat and he felt the perspiration on her skin against his.
The smell of sex mixed with her jasmine scent and he smiled and kissed her again before easing off her onto his side then pulling her into his embrace.
He stroked her hair, running his fingers through the long strands.
“I love you, Logan,” she said softly then stilled, like she hadn’t meant to say it.
He stopped combing her hair with his fingers then started again. “Do you mean that, Carla?”
She was quiet for a moment. “Yes,” she said.
Before he could answer, another scene flashed through his mind and was like a punch to the gut.
Tori. Standing over a dead body, the carpet at her feet soaked with blood.
“What’s wrong?” Carla’s voice knocked him out of the premonition.
He’d grown cold and for a moment wondered if he’d faded in Carla’s arms. But then he realized he was holding her so tight she could probably barely breathe.
He met her eyes as he relaxed his grip. “Nothing.” He managed a smile. ”I’m just glad to have you here.”
Chapter 10
Night air chilled Tori’s face as she walked down the street toward Jeremy’s apartment, and she burrowed into her coat, glad it wasn’t raining right now.
Before she’d left Carla’s townhouse, she’d changed into dark clothing—jeans, a sweater, athletic shoes, a warm jacket, and had pulled on gloves and a knit ski hat, and was glad she had. The day had been clear for once but oncoming rain was heavy on the air and it was cold.
In her pockets she carried her small Sig and her flashlight along with her cell phone and some cash. Carla’s ID and credit cards were in the wallet in Jeremy’s apartment.
She’d parked Carla’s black BMW a few blocks away away so that no one would see her car in front of his building—just in case. Last thing she needed was speculation about Jeremy and Carla if someone saw the car.
Logan hadn’t been happy with her leaving and driving her home when he wanted her to spend the night. She’d had to leave because she needed to get her wallet back from Jeremy’s apartment. That certainly would have been hard to explain to Logan.
She’d told him she had a headache and that she had an appointment to get a manicure and pedicure done first thing in the morning and would need a fresh change of clothes. She didn’t really have an appointment but she would make sure that she did in the morning.
Her stomach twisted as she remembered the words that had come out without her meaning to. “I love you, Logan.”
Why had she said that? To gain his trust?
Or because she really meant it…
She shook the thoughts from her mind to focus on the here and now.
As she neared the apartment building, the double doors opened. She drew into the shadows, not wanting to be seen, thankful that it was a dark night.
A man exited the building. He wore dark clothing, his hands stuffed into his pockets, and the collar on his jacket was up. She waited for him to move on but when the streetlight hit him he looked in her direction—
Brian Eckhart, her partner.
She caught her breath, wondering if she should let him know she was there. But then she frowned. Why was he coming out of Jeremy’s apartment building after midnight? Brian didn’t live in this part of the city.
She watched as he turned and headed in the opposite direction and she let out a slow breath. He was her partner, but there was something odd about him being there when Tori had just met with Jeremy in that same building earlier today.
When she was sure it was clear, she pulled her hat lower and hunched over just in case someone else was around that she knew. She jogged up the few stairs and grabbed the handle of one of the front doors. The door squeaked as she opened it, a loud whine in the otherwise quiet night. She winced before starting up the staircase and going up two flights to Jeremy’s floor.
She headed down the hall from the stairs, reached his door, and knocked on it, the light rapping sound echoing down the hallway. No answer. Again she knocked lightly on it, not wanting to be heard by neighbors, and again no answer.
Her brow wrinkled as she dug in her pocket for her cell phone and called the number Jeremy had given her. A ringing noise came from the other side of the door and she waited for him to answer it.
It just kept ringing.
Cold dread trickled through her.
Brian.
Here.
Tonight.
No. They wouldn’t have.
Heart in her throat, she turned the doorknob. Not locked. No light came from his apartment as she cracked it open.
She slipped her Sig out of her pocket along with her small flashlight. She held them as she pushed the door open with her shoulder and moved into the darkened apartment. The door creaked. She used her flashlight to clear the apartment living room before closing the door behind her.
Since she’d seen Brian leave, she really didn’t expect anyone to be there but she intended to make damn sure that was the case.
Blood rushed in her ears as she waited until her eyes became adjusted to the dark. If anyone outside was watching, she didn’t want to alert them by turning on a light so she didn’t flip on a switch.
She looked around the living room. Nothing was disturbed and she hoped that the sick sensation in her gut wasn’t right. She moved down the hall slowly, glad she was wearing athletic shoes. She slipped into his computer room where the displays gave off a blue glow that illuminated the room enough to see by.
A scream strangled in her throat and she had to clench her teeth to keep it in. On the floor was a body, facedown on the carpet, a body that was deathly still. A pair of thick glasses lay beside it and a dark stain was on the carpet beside the head that was turned to the side. The air was heavy with the smells of blood and death.
Hands shaking, she tucked away the flashlight in her jacket, not needing it to use it due to the light from the monitors. She knelt on one knee beside the body, close enough that she could see Jeremy’s face, eyes wide and unseeing and the gaping hole at his throat. She didn’t have to touch his skin and try to find a pulse to know that he was dead.
She’d come face to face with death plenty of times in her career. But she’d never seen an innocent like Jeremy murdered by her own organization. Murdered because of information she had given the PIA. It wasn’t a far stretch to come to the conclusion that her own organization was responsible for Jeremy’s murder. After all, they utilize assassins like Brian all of the time.
But this? Why Jeremy? All he’d done was give her direction that would help the PIA get into Savage Industries computers to steal what information they needed. She didn’t believe for a minute that Jeremy was one of the bad guys.
The realization that she needed to get out of Jeremy’s apartment hit her. Probably no one would discover the body for a while. She had to find her wallet and leave.
She hurried to look under the desk close to where she’d dropped her purse. Nothing was there. Then she remembered that he had told her he would put the wallet somewhere safe.
Glad she was wearing gloves, she searched the office. She looked around the computer, in drawers and on shelves—nothing.
After she looked everywhere she could think of in his computer room, she stood and thought about where he might have put it. His bedroom? Bathroom? Living room? Kitchen?
Damn it, where did he put it?
A sense of urgency had her turning the house upside down as she tried to find her wallet. It didn’t matter what she did since he’d been murdered by the agency. It would probably look like a robbery gone wrong rather than a professional hit.
She had to find it. She couldn’t let any sign be here that Carla had visited Jeremy. It would raise too many questions and the police would be at
her doorstep to interview her as soon as they found it.
Her flashlight helped, but she wished she could turn on the lights—that would make her search a lot easier.
Safe...safe… He was going to put her wallet someplace safe.
Damn. Damn, damn, damn.
It was almost two a.m. before she knew it and she had torn the house apart but hadn’t found the wallet. Maybe Brian had taken it after he’d killed Jeremy. That would actually be the best scenario. He wouldn’t have known that she planned to return the same night for it. He’d know that it wouldn’t be good for the cops to find the wallet there while she was undercover.
The question was, did Brian find it? She couldn’t very well call and ask. What if she wasn’t supposed to know that the agency was responsible for Jeremy’s death?
As far his body… It probably wouldn’t be discovered for a few days, maybe after a day or two when he didn’t show up for work.
Perspiration coated her skin from working so hard to find the wallet. She braced her hands on her hips and looked around one more time.
Damn.
She tugged down the cap and slipped her flashlight into her pocket. She was probably safe leaving at this time. Not likely too many people around at two in the morning. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
When she opened her eyes again she saw the formerly clean and orderly apartment now a disaster. She looked one last time in the direction of Jeremy’s computer room then slowly opened the door, and slipped out into the hallway.
Chapter 11
The way Carla had insisted on leaving him last night didn’t set well in Logan’s gut, and he wasn’t sure why. Had he been expecting more out of a relationship with her than she planned on giving?
But she’d told him she loved him… Had she meant it?
And did he love her… Yes, but it was strange. It was the same feelings he’d had for Tori but confused. As if he loved both Tori and Carla, as if they were one and the same.
So damned strange.
He dragged his hand down his face and he felt his stubble against his palm as he looked out his windows and watched water roll down the panes. The sky was gray, the clouds fat with rain, a slow drizzle coming down on the city.
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