“Ya talked to him?” Arnie sat up hastily. “How? Isn’t Kane watchin’ him, too?”
“Not when he plays World of Warcraft. That’s how I got in touch with you the first time. I contacted Spider inside the game, and he contacted you.”
“Shit, I wondered about that. I was just doin’ a report for a client an’ all of a sudden this message popped up on my screen, ‘Aydan, Hotel Village, eleven PM, emergency’. I couldn’t figure out what it was, ‘cause it wasn’t an email or anythin’, just a little message box.” He scowled. “An’ then I called Kane right away. Fuck.”
I rubbed his shoulder. “It’s okay, you couldn’t have known.”
“Who’s Spider? Is that a code name?” Dave peered at me eagerly.
“No, just a nickname,” I said, to Dave’s obvious disappointment. “His real name is Clyde.”
“Oh. So…” he hesitated. “That’s bad news about your friend. Do you think she’s… uh…” He gave me an apologetic glance. “Already dead?”
I scrubbed my hands over my face, trying to hold back despair. “I don’t know. She was still alive Thursday night. One of my other friends talked to her then. But she was on her cell, not at home, so maybe James is holding her somewhere. I hope.”
I looked over at Arnie’s rigid face. “You’re the private investigator. What do you think?”
“I think I’m gonna kill the fucker myself if I find him.”
“Arnie…” I laid a hand on his arm, feeling the unyielding muscles through his jacket. “I know you’re not a violent man.”
“Then ya don’t know me very well.”
I hid a shudder at the sight of his eyes. I didn’t know how to respond. I knew he’d dealt death in combat, and I knew how much violence he’d suffered as a child. But he’d always been so gentle with me.
I took his face in my hands and looked into his eyes. “Everybody has a violent side. I know you choose not to be that person. You don’t have to let James change that.”
His face softened, and he pressed his cheek briefly against my hand. “Thanks, darlin’.”
“So what do you think we should do?”
He sat for a few moments, absently running his jacket’s zipper up and down while he stared into the gathering dusk. “We gotta find Jim. No point lookin’ for Nichele. He’s prob’ly got her stashed somewhere.” He reached over to squeeze my knee reassuringly. “Don’t worry, darlin’, I doubt if he’s killed her. Jim’s a smart sonuvabitch, an’ I bet he still wants to set her up to take the fall for this launderin’ scheme.”
“So how do we find him?” Dave asked.
Hellhound scowled. “We don’t. I do. I got a few markers I can call in. Might take me a while, but I know where to start lookin’.”
“Do we go back to Calgary tonight?” Dave persisted.
Hellhound and I exchanged a look. “Can you think of any place we can hole up?” I asked.
“Yeah…” he replied slowly. “But I don’t wanna stay there any longer than we hafta. We’re prob’ly better off stayin’ here tonight. It’s gettin’ late anyway. Better to sleep here an’ get an early start tomorrow.” His eyes glinted with his wicked grin. “Mosta the guys I’m gonna see tomorrow ain’t much for early risin’. They’ll be easiest to find in the mornin’.”
“Okay.” I slid off the trunk of the Caprice. “I have to go for a run. I’ve been cooped up and on edge for so long I’m ready to explode.” I grabbed my backpack and headed for the truck to change.
Later, shoehorned into the miniscule bathroom in the sleeper, I realized my mistake when I peeled off my sweaty clothes. God, when had I washed my hair last? I ran a brush through it, shuddering. Not for the first time, I blessed my coarse waves. Even when my hair was nearly crawling off my head, it still didn’t look too bad. I freshened up as best I could in the tiny sink and put on the last of my clean clothes.
When I emerged, Hellhound eyed me enviously in the dim illumination of the dome light. “Wish I had a change a’ clothes, too,” he said.
“Thought you’d never ask,” Dave snorted as he opened a cabinet door and tossed a T-shirt at Hellhound’s head. “Here. You smell like the south end of a northbound bear.”
Hellhound reddened. “Didn’t think it was that bad,” he mumbled as he rose.
“It’s not, Dave’s just rattling your chain,” I assured him.
He peeled off his shirt, and the sleeper seemed suddenly smaller as I admired the play of his bulky muscles. Dave offered him a deodorant stick with slightly more deference, possibly impressed by the extensive display of colourful tattoos.
Arnie nodded thanks and wedged himself into the bathroom to wash up as well. When he stepped out, he pulled the clean shirt on and flexed his shoulders carefully. “Ain’t sure if this’s better or not.”
Dave’s T-shirt strained across his chest like a second skin, and his biceps stretched the sleeves. His solid abs were clearly defined under the taut fabric, and I nearly suggested to Dave that it was time for him to go for a walk. A nice long walk.
“It’s doing it for me,” I purred.
Hellhound grinned, his eyes hot on me. “Ya think this’s doin’ it, gimme a few minutes alone with ya.”
Dave flushed and shuffled toward the door. “Uh, I think I’ll go for a walk.”
“It’s okay, Dave,” I said quickly, tearing my eyes away from the skin-tight cotton. “We’re just kidding around. We all need to get some sleep.”
“Speak for yourself, darlin’.” Hellhound leered. “I don’t need sleep that bad.”
“That’s because you were snoring your head off last night while I lay here and listened to you,” I retorted. “You might not need sleep, but I do.”
“Okay,” Dave agreed hurriedly. “You can have the bed tonight.”
When I started to protest, he raised both hands and took a step back, flushing. “No, really.”
“Why don’t we take shifts,” I suggested. “That way, we can all get a bit of sleep.”
“Nah, I don’t need the bed,” Hellhound disagreed. “It’s prob’ly too small for me anyway. The two a’ ya can trade off. I did fine in the seat last night.”
“You can have it for the first half, Dave,” I said. “I didn’t get cold until later in the night anyway.”
“Okay…” he said hesitantly. “Promise you’ll wake me up when it’s your turn, though.”
“I will.”
I had hoped to fall asleep before Dave, but he was snoring within minutes. I sighed in frustration while I squirmed in the passenger seat again. Arnie seemed to be having difficulties, too. In the cloud-bound blackness, I heard him shift a couple of times before he blew out an irritable breath. Dave snored on, a raucous one-note solo.
I wrapped my jacket more tightly around me and tried to find a comfortable position, not quite shivering, but not quite warm enough, either.
I heard movement from the driver’s seat again, and a moment later, Hellhound whispered, “Can’t sleep, darlin’.” Leather creaked, and I felt him kneel beside my seat. Warm lips and rough whiskers trailed down my neck. “I been thinkin’ about your leather top, an’ it’s keepin’ me up.”
My hands found his chest in the blackness, and I leaned close to nibble his ear. “I’ve been thinking about your tight T-shirt. And what’s underneath it. And what’s south of it.” I slid my hand a little lower.
His growl raised the small hairs on the back of my neck. “Oh, yeah, darlin’. Down an’ to the left.”
His lips found mine as his hand glided over my breast. I encountered the bulge in his jeans and fondled it, tasting his lips with the tip of my tongue.
He groaned and pulled me closer, dexterously unfastening my jeans one-handed.
I grabbed his hand and pulled away a fraction to whisper, “We can’t. Dave’s right there. And there’s not enough room anyway.”
Hellhound’s hand slid under my T-shirt to begin a persuasive campaign, teasing me with feather-light touches. I found myself clutching at hi
s firmly-packed cotton as his gravelly murmur tickled my eardrum. “It’d take a bomb to wake Dave up. An’ there’s always a way if ya wanna get creative.”
He kissed me deeply, his tongue sending shivers of hot desire to places that were already begging for his touch. He slipped an arm around me and stood, pulling me out of the seat.
He kissed me once more, then spun me around to pull my back against his front. His beard and moustache woke electric tingles under my skin as he mumbled against my neck.
“Did ya like spoonin’ with Dave this mornin’? How’d ya like to spoon with me now?”
His hand slid under my shirt and into my bra, and I drew in an unsteady breath when his fingertips transformed into a teasing mouth, nibbling and sucking. His other hand drifted to my undone jeans, easing them down.
I made a grab for his wrist in an effort to keep my pants on. “I’m not going to get naked, not with Dave right here,” I hissed. “If he opens his eyes, we’re the first thing he’ll see.”
Hellhound’s deep chuckle vibrated my neck. “It’s dark. He couldn’t see his hand in front of his face. An’ ya don’t hafta get naked, darlin’.”
His fingers dipped inside my panties and I gasped as he began to do all the right things in all the right places. My God, the man was a virtuoso. And it had been two goddamn long months.
I pressed back against him, trying not to soak up the delicious sensations shooting through my body. Dave was only a few feet away. This was totally inappropriate. Any minute now, I’d make Hellhound stop… doing… ohmigod… that…
My hips moved against his hand without my permission, begging for more despite the distant protests of the tiny remaining part of my sensible mind.
“You’re all hot an’ slippery, darlin’,” he growled against my ear. “Ya like the danger, don’t ya? Ya like knowin’ ya might get caught.”
My denial somehow got lost on the way down from my brain, and all that emerged from my lips was a breathless moan when he got truly creative with those magic fingers.
My jeans slid a little lower. He wrapped an arm around my waist, holding me while his hands momentarily ceased their mind-melting work. A zipper whispered behind me, and I recognized the sound of a condom wrapper. I tried to seize the opportunity to pull away, but lost the will to complete the movement when his hands went back into action seconds later.
Hot, stiff temptation pressed against my ass, and a wave of hungry lust dragged me under.
I tried. I really did. One last feeble attempt. “There’s not enough space…”
“No problem,” Hellhound whispered. He sank into the passenger seat and pulled me toward him. “You’re gonna sit on my lap an’ tell me what ya want for Christmas, little girl. I think ya been naughty.” He hooked a finger into the crotch of my thong, pulling it aside as he guided me down. “This’s what naughty girls get for Christmas.”
I lost my breath as he slid inside me, and his hand began to work its magic again. I had a moment of sheer appreciation for his strength and flexibility when he began to thrust unhurriedly, and then sentient thought melted and puddled in the luscious heat.
“What d’ya want for Christmas, naughty girl?” he whispered, pulsing slowly, so slowly. “Ya want this?”
“Harder…” My plea came out louder than I’d intended, and Dave’s snoring was broken by a sigh and a suspenseful pause before it resumed, louder than ever.
“Shhhh. Don’t wanna wake Dave.” Hellhound continued his smooth, leisurely rhythm, driving me wild with need. I rocked in his lap, trying to make him quicken the pace, but he wrapped an arm around my waist to hold me firmly. His strong abs flexed, the feel of all that controlled power beneath me making me hotter still.
“Ya want this?” His fingers increased their tempo between my legs while his slow, sensuous thrusting continued.
“Please…” The word came out on a rising moan while the wicked pleasure expanded and radiated through my body.
He removed his grip from my waist to clamp his hand over my mouth instead. “Shhh, darlin’. Remember, Dave’s right there.”
He nibbled my neck and kissed his way up to nuzzle my ear, stroking more heat into me all the while. “Dave could wake up any minute an’ catch us. He could open his eyes right when you’re comin’ your brains out.” His rough-edged voice stimulated my eardrum with the same erotic texture as his whiskers on my skin.
God help me, I didn’t think I’d been harbouring any audience fantasies, but the illicit excitement spiralled out of control. Little whimpers escaped me while my body begged for release, and I struggled again, trying to urge him on. Oh, God, almost there…
He held me tightly, controlling the pace while my pressure built. Tremors of tension shook me, and he reduced his tempo still more while his touch lightened, prolonging the exquisite finger torture while those slow, slow thrusts pumped in more ecstasy than my body could hold.
“What d’ya want for Christmas, darlin’?” he muttered breathlessly.
A few more measured strokes…
I gasped an uneven breath, the first of the contractions rolling through my body at last. I arched back against him with a strangled cry.
“HardOhGodHardPlease…”
His body tensed. “Don’t… wake… Dave…” he rasped. His grip tightened convulsively, and he pounded up into me. Once. Twice…
My orgasm ripped through me, the intensity redoubling with each powerful thrust. His body was like iron under me, his arms locked around me while I bucked mindlessly against him.
His hoarse whisper jerked out in time with his hard, deliberate rhythm. “Ah… God… darlin’… Nnnngh!”
He slammed home one last time, and our bodies strained against each other to the sound of our ragged gasps.
Chapter 21
I sprawled limply in Hellhound’s lap, trying to catch my breath. Dave snored on, undisturbed by our panting. Sweat trickled down my back, and when I made an attempt to sit up, my entire body trembled.
Hellhound’s breathless chuckle rumbled up from beneath me. “Sure glad I ain’t Santa Claus.”
I fell back against him, setting up the straight line for the old chestnut. “Because…”
“I’d only get to come once a year.” His arms tightened around me and he pumped suggestively.
“Uh-huh. Old joke.” I twisted around to give him a sideways kiss over my shoulder. “Help me get up. My legs won’t work.”
“An’ ya think mine’re gonna? Hell with that. Sleep right here.” He cuddled me closer and faked a snore.
“No, thanks. I don’t want to get caught with my pants down.” I struggled away and stumbled gracelessly to my feet. “Shit. That was my last clean pair of underwear.”
I heard the grin in his voice. “Everybody needs a purpose in life. Mine’s makin’ sure panties get wet.” A pause. “Shit.”
“What?”
“I think ya creamed on the front a’ my jeans, too. They’re sticky.”
I let out an evil chuckle. “Everybody needs a purpose in life. Mine’s getting your jeans sticky.”
I woke to gray dawn light, a kink in my neck, and scratching sounds from the driver’s seat. I yawned and squinted over to see Hellhound scrubbing at the crotch of his pants. He grinned at me as I sat up. “How’re your panties this mornin’?” he inquired.
“About the same as your jeans.” I yawned again and stood up to stretch, realizing as I did that Dave wasn’t snoring. He met my eyes and glanced away quickly to study the ceiling of the sleeper.
“Good morning,” he mumbled. “You, uh, didn’t want the bed last night?”
“Um, no, I fell asleep in the seat and just woke up now.” I felt heat rising in my face, and turned back to the passenger seat to fumble in my backpack for a fictitious something.
Hellhound rose from the driver’s side and finished brushing off his jeans, completely unabashed. “Ya might wanna go for a walk, darlin’,” he advised. “I gotta take a dump.”
“On my way.” I reach
ed for the door handle.
“Jeez, too much information,” Dave protested.
As I swung out the door, I heard Hellhound’s retort. “What, like ya weren’t gonna notice me takin’ a shit two feet away from your head? Just givin’ ya fair warnin’…”
I was pacing back and forth, shivering and watching my breath plume in the cold morning air when Dave climbed stiffly down from the cab a few minutes later.
I shot him a grin. “Decided to vacate?”
“Uh… yeah.” He reddened, and I followed his gaze to the used condom peeking out of the tall grass. We both turned away hurriedly. He scuffed a toe at the gravel. “Aydan… why are you with a bum like him?”
“He’s not a bum. And I’m not with,” I made air quotes around the word, “…him. Arnie’s a good friend. I trust him more than… anybody…” I trailed off as the memory of Kane’s betrayal sneaked up and sucker-punched me.
Dave frowned. “You should find a guy that won’t sleep around on you. Somebody who’d always be there for you. Somebody with some manners at least.”
I heaved a sigh. “I don’t want that kind of commitment. And Arnie’s completely genuine. What you see is what you get. That’s worth more to me than any fancy manners.”
“But… don’t you ever want…”
“No, I don’t,” I interrupted gently.
“Oh.” He stared at the ground. “Well, guess I’ll stretch my legs a bit.” He turned and limped away and I resumed pacing, trying to stay warm.
Shortly after, Hellhound swung out of the cab. “Better give it a minute,” he advised when I started toward the truck.
“I’m freezing my ass off,” I complained.
“Ya need some breakfast.” He nodded sympathetically. “Come here, darlin’.” He unzipped his jacket and folded me in, wrapping his jacket and arms around me. I snuggled close, soaking up his body heat.
The sound of the truck door made me look up, and Hellhound shrugged. “Looks like you’re last in line this mornin’. Might as well get breakfast.” We rummaged through the remainder of the previous night’s groceries, and by the time Dave emerged I was feeling much better. I dawdled over the last few bites before taking my turn in the truck.
Tell Me No Spies Page 17
