Circle of Deception

by Carla Swafford

  In all the undercover missions she’d been assigned to by the OS and The Circle, she’d never experienced such luxury. She skimmed her fingers over the Chippendale table, loving how everything looked so Old World. Yes. She could get used to living in such richness.

  “We have a couple hours before we’re needed downstairs for the party. If you want to finish your nap, the master bedroom is upstairs.” Rex stood in the middle of the living room with his feet set apart and arms crossed as if he were on the bow of a ship ordering his men to fire the cannons. “There’s another large bedroom through those doors.” He pointed to double doors on the opposite end of the living room.

  So two bedrooms. Good. He could sleep downstairs and she’d take the other one. Not only on another floor, but also preferably in another suite. She knew that wasn’t about to happen. With a glance at Rex, she bit back a sigh.

  The short sleeves of his sport shirt tightened around his biceps and the fine hairs on his forearms emphasized his strength and masculinity. Though sexy, that wasn’t what caught her attention. His eyes. Those light gray eyes were filled with concern and a touch of male interest and drew her to him.

  She placed her hands behind her back and chewed on her bottom lip. Do not touch. You’re too vulnerable to him at this moment. Her fingers actually tingled. His skin looked warm, deliciously hot to the touch.

  “I’ve slept enough on the way here.” With a side step, she headed toward the front door. With her back to him, she waved a hand over her shoulder. “I think I’ll do a little shopping.” Where had that yellow streak down her back come from?

  “Shopping now?”

  She shrugged. “Why not? The hotel is attached to the shopping mall. I should be safe. Besides, it’ll give me a chance to work off the extra energy and stretch my legs.” With a hand on the knob, she couldn’t resist looking back. If she stayed, she would want to touch him, feel that warm skin, so taut and alive, run her hands over every inch.

  His heated expression warned her before he said, “I’ll come with you.”

  “No need. You probably need some rest. Driving in that crazy traffic from Atlanta would wear anyone out.”

  He studied her for a couple seconds. “It’ll be best if I stick with you and let everyone see us together.”

  “Really. You don’t need to.”

  “You might as well get over it. We’re newlyweds and must act the part.” He picked up his cell phone and shoved it into a pocket. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

  Frustrated in more ways than one, she shook her head in resignation. “Fine,” she huffed, and marched out of the suite with Rex on her heels.

  In the elevator, Abby tried her best to ignore Rex’s presence. Heated tension radiated from his body in waves. He smelled good.

  He leaned down and said into her ear, “I like that color on you.” His deep voice seduced her senses as his breath caressed her ear and neck. Without trying to be obvious, she folded her arms. Being so near him and the way he stared at her—possessive and aware of his effect on her—made her nipples ache from being tight and hard for so long.

  She turned to comment and her nose hit his chest. Refusing to be intimidated by him, she tilted her head back and glared.

  “Why do you really want to go with me?” She shoved at his abs. He didn’t move an inch. “And why are you so in my space?”

  One blunt-tipped finger traced her ear. “Dusha my-ah.”

  She swiped at his hand. “What’s gotten into you?”

  A brief sneer that passed for a smile crossed his face. “Practicing my Russian for tonight.”

  “Well, save it for later.”

  He chuckled and moved to the other side of the elevator.

  Heaven help her, she needed to chill and quit letting him bother her. But every time he leaned in close or brushed his hand against hers, she forgot how to breathe. What made it all difficult to resist was that she remembered his talented mouth. The man knew where to kiss, lick, and suck a woman until she screamed in surrender. Was it any wonder her body stayed on ready whenever he was around? And when he spoke Russian to her, her legs almost melted out from beneath her, and she had no idea what he’d said. The steel doors opened and she’d never been happier to reach the lobby level.

  “Do you have a particular store in mind, or you planning to wander around until the party?”

  “Don’t be a smart-ass,” came out weak, even to her ears. Desperate to get a break from his sexual pull, she looked around for a store he’d hate to be seen in. Maybe he’d even go back to their suite and leave her alone for a few minutes. Then she noticed a familiar sign. “I’m going there.” She pointed to a pink and white sign.

  “Damn,” he murmured beneath his breath.

  Grinning big, she bounced through the open door of Victoria’s Secret.

  REX DIDN’T CARE that she enjoyed seeing him uncomfortable in such a feminine environment. Since her return to the OS, he’d rarely seen her laugh, and certainly not so carefree. The Circle had changed her, made her solemn. She used to laugh at the smallest things. She’d always had a smart mouth but it had become acidic. Since her return to the OS, he still caught glimpses of the old Abby, but the new, more deadly one fascinated him. So he stood off to the side watching her. Plus he needed to keep an eye on her, in case word had gotten out that Rurik had arrived early. His presence was known to stir up trouble. The people he dealt with were not known for trusting others and would be suspicious of his presence in their territory. And of course, the usual trouble could show up as his height made people nervous, a strange phenomenon that happened to him often enough but usually where alcohol was served. Drunks lacked a filter or sense of consequence, and his head being a foot above everyone else’s guaranteed a target on the back of his skull. He had a feeling a woman’s lingerie store wouldn’t be much different. At least, he hoped they hadn’t started serving liquor.

  Speaking of trouble, Abby picked up a skimpy red bra with matching thong. He groaned. As she pulled out a few more matching sets of lingerie, he moved behind a rack to adjust his cock. He was so hard he hurt.

  “I’m going into the dressing room for a minute.”

  Certain he would burst and not caring, he absorbed her movements. The way she rolled her hips with each step and how the edge of her skirt flipped and turned, showing off her long legs. He wanted to run his hands over her silky skin and work his way up to the heat he remembered so well. Would his touch still excite her as it had once long ago? Would he find her creamy and swollen?

  He followed a step behind her. He wanted answers to those questions.

  “Sir. Sir! You can’t go in there. That’s for ladies only.” A saleswoman moved between him and the room Abby entered.

  Knowing an overprotective husband wouldn’t be excuse enough, he said, “I’m her bodyguard. She’s not allowed out of my sight.” He pulled out a wad of bills, peeled off two hundreds, and grabbed the woman’s hand, folding her fingers around the paper.

  The woman’s penned-on brows rose as she nodded, staring at the money. “I’ll give you twenty minutes and then you must come out.”

  “That will be long enough.” He grinned, but her nervous look warned that he’d failed to assure her of his honesty.

  A short hallway led to three changing rooms with only one door closed. He jerked it open. Abby gasped as she twirled around to face him.

  She’d taken off her blouse, leaving on the skirt that fascinated him. Her bra matched the cream-colored wedding dress she’d worn earlier and pushed her breasts to delightful mounds that begged to be touched.

  “What are you doing back here? You’re going to get us in trouble.” She turned her back, but with the mirrors he could still see everything. “The last thing we need is to draw attention.”

  Seeing all of that smooth skin, his fingers burned to touch her. He ran his palms down her bare arms.

  “Then you need to be very quiet.” He turned her around and pressed her back against a mirror. H
is mouth covered the pulse on her neck. She smelled of flowers and sweetness. The softest skin Rex ever touched heated beneath his tongue and fingers. As he tasted her special flavor, his leg separated her thighs, and he thrust his erection along silk-covered moistness. He didn’t care if she darkened his trousers. Hell, he probably helped her.

  “Rex. Please,” she moaned.

  At first, he expected her to shove him off, but instead she hooked her fingernails into his shoulders and held on as he licked and sucked his way down her neck to her breasts.

  Satisfied that she wouldn’t fight him, he ordered in a low rumble, “Do not move your hands away from the mirror.”

  “Why?” She gasped as he yanked her bra down and cupped her breasts, nipples tight with need against his palms.

  “Time for you to learn not to run from me, from this. You know better. I’ll find you and bring you down.” His tongue swirled around the end of a taut coral tip. He loved how they were pebble hard. He bit at the tender flesh and sucked hard.

  She gasped his name.

  His hand slid between their bodies and her legs. “Is your clit as stiff as your nipples?”

  She whimpered and tossed her head back and forth as his finger slipped beneath the piece of silky material and pressed into her moistness.

  “Oh, yeah. Hard as a pebble.” He dropped to his knees, slipping her thong down her long legs. She didn’t resist as his hands spread her legs apart. Her well-trimmed mons, swollen and wet, was petal soft. His thumbs opened the folds to allow his tongue to dip inside. One swipe and he grinned and looked up. “See, your body remembers me. Spread your legs a little wider, sweetheart.”

  In the throes of sexual need, her eyes half closed, she arched her back and moaned, rhythmically pressing her groin against his hand. He tongued the hard knot, keeping his gaze on her. She moaned and used her fingers to twist and pull at her nipples.

  He stopped to press his cheek to her thigh for a second as he rubbed her clit with a thumb. “I love watching you. Later you can put on a show for me.” That was a sight any man would pay good money to see. His cock pulsed. Damn, she was so hot. Her obvious immersion in what he did to her body almost caused him to lose control.

  His mouth returned to licking and sucking her responsive clit. He thrust a finger into her hot depths and she whimpered. A second finger pumped into her brought a hissing yes. His other hand squeezed a cheek to hold her in place.

  Another long hiss released between her teeth matched the length of time her flesh throbbed beneath his tongue. He continued to flick and draw on the bundle of nerves until the last tremble faded.

  He licked her slit from back to front. “That’s a good girl.” Then he kissed her thigh, followed by her stomach, as he slowly stood. The mixture of embarrassment and satisfaction on her face brought a grin to his. No matter how she acted, she still wanted him. His hand cupped her mound and squeezed before he stepped back. Her hips thrust forward, wanting more.

  The dazed look on her face was assurance he could move away without her kicking or harming him. If she hadn’t enjoyed his touch, she could easily have used her deadly skills to retaliate by hurting him bad. Considering how his cock ached like a son of a bitch, it would’ve been agony.

  ABBY LEANED AGAINST Rex as she tried to regain strength in her legs. The moment shattered her, and it was more than just the best climax she’d had in years. For her to look down and see the man of her dreams servicing her, obviously enjoying what he was doing and knowing just the places to touch, pushed her over the edge. The vibration shook her from spinning head to curling toes.

  Hiding her face in his chest, uncaring that her makeup smudged his shirt, she fought the tears welling in her eyes. His hair tickled her palms as she ran her hands over the nape of his neck and up the back of his head. Oh, God, he felt so good in her arms. She missed him.

  “Shh, it’ll be okay,” he whispered.

  Her eyes burned. Hell, the last thing she needed to do was cry or feel anything. It was all wrong. She couldn’t do it again. She’d never be the woman Rex fell in love with all those years ago.

  Without warning, she slammed her heel on top his foot.

  “Shit!”

  He stumbled back, holding his foot in one hand, and crashed into the door.

  “What’s going on in there?” The saleswoman’s voice sounded worried.

  “Get out,” Abby said beneath her breath to Rex. “Tell her I’ll be out in a minute.”

  His gray eyes glowed with future retribution.

  She turned her back. A couple seconds passed before she heard the door open and close. Rex’s deep voice soothing the woman’s complaints faded as he led her away.

  Not wanting to waste time, Abby quickly drew up her thong and adjusted her bra. When she straightened, a pale face with two large dark circles surrounding darker eyes reflected back at her. Why had she let him get to her? He did know ways to make a woman happy. He’d proven it once again and in a dressing room no less.

  In automaton mode, she wiped away the smeared mascara and pinched her cheeks, hoping to bring some life back into her face. Finger-combing her hair, she stuck out her tongue at herself and then finished dressing.

  Within five minutes, she exited the dressing room. She bought all of the underwear, partly because they were beautiful but also to make up for putting the saleswoman in such an awkward position. People who worked in retail were mistreated enough, and Abby didn’t want to add to it. When Rex whipped out his billfold, she cut her eyes toward him and gave him the evil eye.

  “Okay. Okay.” He walked away. “Stubborn woman.”

  The saleswoman rang up the purchase, and while Abby punched in her code to pay by debit, she felt the woman’s stare.

  “Excuse me, miss, but I have to tell you that you’re one lucky woman,” the saleswoman said in a stage whisper.

  “Pardon?”

  “A man built like him and with his voice, I get goose bumps just thinking . . . uh, you’re a very lucky woman.” The woman then stared over Abby’s shoulder. “Yeah. A lucky, lucky woman.”

  Abby snatched her receipt and bag from the woman and turned. Rex stood a few feet away and probably heard every word. Talk about blowing his ego out of proportion—geez, she really dreaded dealing with him after he proved he could have her any time, any place. She hated the helpless feeling that came over her whenever he touched her.

  A little tender between her legs—he needed to shave—and all wound up from the whole embarrassing situation, she slapped the bag into his chest. He clasped it in reflex. She continued walking and headed for their suite and the final preparations for the cocktail party. The last thing she felt like doing was partying, undercover or not.

  When he stood to one side of the elevator, facing her, and smiled his crooked, charming smile, she corrected her earlier thought: The last thing she felt like doing was saying no to that infuriating, dipped-in-testosterone male.

  Chapter Eight

  * * *

  ABBY HELD THE champagne glass to her lips and tilted it without taking a sip. First, she had never liked the taste of any liquor or wine. Second, when she dared to drink, she either cried like the world had come to an end or she acted like the fool by telling everyone around her that she loved them. Thus, she pretended to drink to fit in with the crowd as part of her cover. People also make comments whenever someone doesn’t drink. Who said adults didn’t cave into peer pressure?

  When Rex led her into the party, the dim room filled with a hundred-plus people talking all at once nearly sent her running. Most of her work with The Circle had been surveillance and elimination and rarely undercover work. She hated pretending to be what she wasn’t. Maybe it was all tied in with lying about her family for so long. But she’d thought she could handle this situation—her playing like she was married.

  She looked up at Rex.

  Make that a woman married to a Russian arms dealer attending a charity cocktail party and waiting for another arms dealer to show up. Then
they would simply make nice and wait for an invite to one of his infamous weekend parties at his farm. Their big hope was finding or hearing something there about the facility making the ammo.

  Rex socialized rather well as the dangerous but charming Rurik. Women followed him with their eyes, taking in how the dark gray jacket stretched across his broad shoulders, and whenever he placed a hand into his pants pocket, his jacket lifted up in the back, showing off his tight butt.

  She knew what they imagined when they admired his long legs and size 12 shoes. Yet they had no idea what she knew. True, in his case, big feet equaled a big cock, but just as important, the man had a wickedly talented mouth.

  The champagne splashed out of her glass. She looked down at her shaking hand and reined in her reaction to the memories. She brushed at the little black dress she had found in her suitcase. Jack had great taste. Thankfully the time they’d spent in the suite repairing the damage done to her makeup and changing clothes had left little room for more than a couple of speculative glances before riding the elevator down to the ballroom level.

  He hadn’t touched her again, but he stared hard. With his arms folded over his chest and ankles crossed, he’d leaned back against the elevator door, his gaze leisurely drifting over her as if weighing the different methods to make her climax again. By the time they’d reached the party, she’d been wound up.

  A quick shake of her head brought her back to the present.

  “What’s going on, babe?”

  The accent sounded so strange coming out of Rex’s mouth. It was a mix of Russian and a crispness of someone who’d learned English in the Northeast.

  He rested his arm over her shoulders and squeezed her to his side. Though she reminded herself it was part of the act, she wanted to kick him in the shins. Rex. No. Rurik. She needed to remember to prevent slipping up later.

  “My head’s getting a little fuzzy from the champagne.” She raised her glass.