Desire & Deception

by Sahara Roberts

  The loud snap of the shell going into the chamber brought her to a skidding stop.

  Cruz gave a low whistle. “Smart.”

  Kris handed him the weapon then leaned against the door frame, waiting. This wasn’t the first time his early detection system had paid off. Nothing like six feet of gravel to warn you someone’s coming or going.

  Felipe reached her in two strides, grabbing her arm. His momentum sent them stumbling onto the uneven driveway. Tessa landed on her side, but managed to roll and come up on one knee. Felipe landed hard—face-first.

  Kris winced as Cruz guffawed. Felipe shot up, hauling Tessa up by her bicep. She dug in her heels, shifting her weight away from him. He cursed and yanked her around before bringing her back, boots dragging through the dirt.

  Kris suppressed a grin. The girl had guts. He could already tell she was going to be trouble.

  Cruz laughed, his big belly bouncing.

  Felipe spat, interrupting his ragged breathing. “Yeah, keep laughing, fat man.” His nose flared and he tightened his hold on her arm until she winced.

  Cruz held up his hands, chuckling. “Learn to work smarter, not harder, boy.”

  Damn Cruz. Kris schooled his features. Cruz didn’t need encouragement to rub Felipe’s face in his shortcomings.

  “Glad you were here,” he said to Kris. “Or Felipe would still be running after her.”

  “I was the first to hear her outside, that’s all.”

  Felipe’s glare shot from Cruz to him. “The first to hear.” He nodded, tipping up his head. “If you can do better, step up.”

  Fuckin’ perfect. He’d come by for a status check, not to play babysitter. Kris studied her, curious where she fit into the puzzle. The failed escape masked the usual telltale signs that led him to answers. One thing for sure, she was pissed. Smeared makeup made the curl of her lip more pronounced, almost grazing her flaring nostrils.

  Over the past few hours, those big doe eyes had held interest, apprehension, gratitude, shock, and now brazen disdain. She was a knot of emotions. Taking her meant trouble, but left to her own devices, she’d get herself killed—a complication they could do without. He just needed one little detail to figure out what made her tick.

  …

  Unforgettable assessed her with intelligent eyes. They were the exact gun-metal blue as the Mazda coupe she’d planned to buy. A sporty, little expense she probably wouldn’t have to debate about now. Her lips thinned. Why him? The only man who’d ever stirred such an intense physical reaction from her without a single touch. “What?” She raised her chin a notch. “You think you’re the first guy to try intimidating me?” Even as the words flew off her lips, fear dug in at the base of her skull. But she’d be damned if she let on.

  Kris turned away with stoic disregard. “I’ll take her off your hands.”

  “Fine.” Felipe sneered, winded from the run. “She’s all yours,” he said, shoving her forward. “One less headache for me.” After handing her off like an unwanted stray, he turned on his heel and walked into the house.

  Tessa straightened, taking a step back from her “keeper”. Humiliation burned a trail up her face. She’d gone from being a “prize” to a burden thrust upon an unlucky participant.

  “Hey,” Cruz interrupted. “What about me?”

  Kris cocked a brow. “Consider yourself lucky.” He claimed a bicep, pulling her into the house. “She’s a tricky handful, amigo.”

  “O-okay.” Cruz fumbled for words. “I can wait my turn.”

  Dread exploded inside her. She couldn’t fathom being passed around to every guy who came through the door. Saliva pooled around her tongue. She was going to throw up.

  Her captor stopped dead, squaring his shoulders before turning to the doorway. “Nobody’s getting a turn, Cruz.”

  The two men locked eyes. Tension steamrolled through the room. So this is what a bone feels like between two pit bulls.

  Cruz followed them. “She needs to work off her stay, Kris.” His breathing became more pronounced.

  A glimpse around the room kicked her heart rate back up. Felipe waited, cautiously concerned, while a scrawny kid peeked around him, intrigued. Even the prisoners sat wide-eyed, waiting to see what happened.

  “You’ll settle for a hefty payday.” Kris pointed at the captives. “Taking a bonus would be gluttonous.” His tone afforded no argument. The hand around her arm wasn’t gentle, but unlike Felipe, Kris’s hold didn’t tighten with his temper. “Besides, we can’t afford to have her take out another man.”

  Cruz sneered. “Whatever the Boss wants.”

  Boss? Tessa’s eyes snapped back to Kris, her stomach dropping.

  Kris led her toward a partition in the corner. “Give me your hands.”

  Tessa blinked at him. She moistened her lips then turned to Cruz. Pretending ignorance. Keeping to English might buy some time.

  “Would you prefer to negotiate with Cruz?” asked Kris.

  She stiffened, struggling to cap the outrage mushrooming inside her. Miserable jerk. How dare he taunt her with the threat of rape?

  “He says to—” Cruz started to translate.

  “That’s not necessary.” Kris’s voice went low, nothing more than a murmur. “Right, Little Fox?”

  Don’t panic. He’s testing you.

  “You know exactly what I’m saying.” He crowded her against the wall. A heartless stare pinned her there. He slipped a knife from his front pocket. A five-inch, black blade snapped open with a flick of his thumb.

  A lump rose to her throat, stifling her breath. She held her wrists up while he sliced through the rope in one clean swipe. He tossed the pieces aside while she rubbed the raw skin at each wrist.

  “The bathroom’s through here.” He nodded to the doorway while he tucked the folded weapon into his front pocket.

  Tessa went around the wall to find bathroom stalls with no doors. She was almost grateful after hours without relief. The commode hadn’t been cleaned in a while and lacked a seat. Still, she had toilet paper and a little privacy. More than enough under the circumstances.

  Pure instinct had kept her going since she was pulled from the car. The shiver along her spine told her Kris was different from the other men she’d dealt with. A dangerous animal moving with fluid grace she’d seen on experienced martial artists. He wouldn’t give her the time to formulate a plan, much less execute the first step.

  She made quick use of the facilities while Kris’s back filled the doorway. Privacy lasted until her zipper scraped closed. He entered, staring at her forehead then looking down.

  “The next stall is a shower. Use it.” His tone brooked no hesitation yet she faltered. If she went over, she’d be cornered and defenseless. She had a slim chance to escape from here. There had to be somewhere to go once she got beyond the front door.

  He crossed his arms, filling the space between the stalls. “Either come clean up on your own, or Cruz will do it for you.”

  She had some difficult decisions to make in order to survive. Between the lecherous gleam in Cruz’s eyes and the determination in Kris’s, this was definitely the lesser evil. Her eyes skipped away from his before she wedged past him.

  The stall greeted her. Her gaze swept over the small space. Unfinished cement walls, soap holder, a pipe sticking out overhead, and a single water valve were visible. She sighed. No shower curtain, no light, not even a place to leave her clothes.

  Kris hadn’t budged. He stood waiting, daring her to defy him. She toed her boots off, then leaned down and tossed them out at his feet. The subservient act cut a trench of self-pity across her chest. Unable to face him, she ducked. Tears weren’t going save her. In fact, they would probably make things worse.

  She unbuttoned her top and shrugged out of the ruined garment.

  Cruz’s labored breathing came from somewhere nearby. Bitterness simmered in her gut. The disgusting pig was waiting to move in on her.

  She glowered at Kris, addressing him in fragmented Spani
sh. “You want me clean. Fine!” She sent the balled up shirt flying at his chest. “But I’m not putting on a show for your benefit, or theirs.”

  He didn’t blink at her rebellious act. Instead, he merely let the garment fall.

  Seething, she opened her belt and button. The zipper’s rasp grated her resolve. To add insult to injury, she had to shimmy out of the snug pants, which she also balled up and launched at him. The belt sent her missile toward his hip before the ping of metal hitting concrete echoed through the enclosure.

  Only her matching underwear remained. I can do this. Better him than Cruz. The possibility of having Cruz’s hands on her made her skin crawl. A moment later, she worked the bra clasp with her bruised arm, releasing the weight of her breasts. She couldn’t think about him standing there. What if her body reacted the way it had last night? Her face heated, and her breath echoed around her, but she hooked her thumbs into the elastic at her waist. Swallowing hard, she swept her panties down, baring her body, then sent both pieces flying toward him.

  She didn’t stop to check if he was staring, merely wrenched the valve open. The pipe sputtered once before spitting out an icy stream. Her gasp brought a painful reminder of her raw throat. Gathering her resolve, she ducked beneath the water despite its sting.

  She chanced a glimpse from the corner of her eye while she tore apart her intricate braid. Kris hadn’t budged, his powerful arms remained crossed over his chest and his long legs splayed. His steady gaze didn’t ogle her as she’d half expected. He just made sure she followed his orders. That did nothing to help her block out his imposing presence, or the shock of anticipation rippling through her.

  She reached for the sliver of dry, cracked soap, then washed her hair and body. Weak bubbles slid down the drain much too soon. I need more time. She lathered up her hands and scrubbed away any makeup residue from her face. Precious seconds ticked by while she rinsed off.

  He reached into the stall. “Enough.”

  Awareness tingled through her, making her retreat a step. The powerful hand twirled the butterfly valve, mesmerizing her until the metal squeaked to a stop. The last drops fell from the pipe with a throat-tightening splatter.

  She wrung her wet hair and pulled the ends forward to offer cover. Her eyes darted around in a vain search for a towel. Finally, she looked up at him through spiky lashes. Nervous energy made her continue to wipe away droplets from her face as she waited to learn her fate.

  A car door slammed. The country boy’s lilting voice announced his return.

  God, please don’t let him take me out there like this.

  “Son of a—” He grimaced, perhaps realizing her predicament.

  Long, tapered fingers worked loose one button after another, revealing tanned chest muscles. She stared at the base of his throat as solid shoulders came into view. Peripheral vision teased her with tightening biceps until he stepped forward and held the shirt open for her. She stepped closer and turned, slipping her arms into the long sleeves. The shirt held the heat from his body, making her feel like she’d crawled into his skin. Skin she would’ve loved to admire under other circumstances.

  Her fingers flew over the buttons until the last one slipped into place. She pulled the damp material away from her breasts and hips before she turned around, bracing for whatever came next.

  “Pick up your clothes, little girl.” The term grated on her nerves, bringing forth vulnerabilities she’d tried hard to suppress.

  She crouched and gathered each item she’d tossed. The hellish night had covered her new, hand-tooled leather boots in scratches and scuff marks. An uncharacteristic, impulse buy that had served her well in the end.

  His fingers rubbed her scalp as they closed around her hair, one by one. She flinched. Apparently, Kris had little patience, and she’d taken longer than he was willing to wait. She straightened before he had the chance to yank her up. With a death grip on her clothes, she stepped forward, head tilted back so she couldn’t see the floor.

  He propelled her through the main room, past the doorway to freedom and several men, including the country boy. Their lust-filled faces were a blur at the corner of her eye. Felipe watched her approach, his lecherous stare darkening as she went by. She sent up a silent prayer of thanks that Kris wouldn’t allow her to be passed around the motley crew.

  “Don’t worry, Cruz,” Kris shot in parting. “She’ll pay her dues.”

  The insane moment of gratitude evaporated. For a fleeting moment, she’d actually been stupid enough to believe in him. She tightened her hold on the bundle in her arms and pointedly blocked out the wall of testosterone at her back. Her focus should be on the area ahead and any possibility for escape.

  Cruz’s laughter taunted her. “That’s how it’s done, jefe!” He clapped his hands in glee.

  Kris guided her though the doorway and called over his shoulder, “Make sure we’re not disturbed.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Kris kept Tessa on a tight rein while he led her down the narrow hallway, past the vault, a storage room/bedroom, and the kitchen. Water trickled down his wrist as anticipation grew in his belly. She’d make another attempt to escape. Her opportunity was coming up in a few more steps. They went out the side door, through the gravel moat, to an outdoor staircase without a railing.

  “Step up.” They continued to the second floor with her sandwiched between him and the wall. Once they reached the small landing, he angled around her and opened a slide lock. He nudged her into the sparsely furnished bedroom and closed the metal door before loosening his grip on her wet hair. The trip had been too easy. He turned, eyes narrowed, trying to figure out what she was up to. When he caught sight of her profile, his lips curved with amusement. Little Fox looks murderous. Good. He didn’t like her pale and frightened.

  He pried the filthy garments out of her hands and tossed them to the corner. “Tessa, we need…” She’d shifted her weight, widening her stance. He stopped, forgetting he’d intended to pull her close for a quiet talk. Alert, he focused on her hands, trying to anticipate her strike. Stomach, foot, or crotch, Tessa? He quickly gripped her left elbow to protect his jewels. I’d prefer the jugular instead of the crotch right now.

  Her sharp pivot brought a right cross dangerously close to his neck. He let go of her elbow and caught her forearm with a resounding smack. One quick jerk and her arm lay safely against her lower back. A curtain of red hair splashed across her cheeks. With narrowed eyes, she pulled back, squared her shoulder, and used the momentum for an open-handed punch toward his face. His arm shot out and deflected the blow. Hmm, better than I expected. That arm went behind her, also.

  Full, ripe breasts pressed against him, fueling his raging erection. She wrinkled her nose, baring her teeth as her foot slammed into his ankles.

  “That might have hurt if I wasn’t wearing boots.” He grinned. What else ya got, kitten?

  She growled at his flippant remark.

  He waited, fascinated by her fury and the fiery strands plastered to her face. “Settle down, Tes—”

  She drew back and slammed her forehead toward his nose. Kris recognized the snake strike and tapped down the urge to retaliate. Instead, he pulled up, sending her against his jawline. She gained a solid hit, but cried out in agony.

  “Damn it, woman!” He winced, releasing her. In the excitement, she’d likely forgotten about the nasty bump on her head.

  Tessa stumbled, knocking over a shoddy dresser. A wooden drawer splintered against the concrete and an ancient, blue lamp shattered at her feet.

  “Tessa, stop.” He reached out to keep her from stepping on broken glass.

  He grimaced. Disoriented, she reverted to panic mode, her slender arms flailing as she pushed him away. The throbbing from his jaw reminded him she wasn’t a bit helpless. He had no business feeling sorry for her. He swept a nearby shard away with his boot. Her leg hit right behind the knee supporting him.

  Stupid move!

  His leg crumpled, sending them both strai
ght to the heavy bed. He wrapped his arms around her and flipped to take the brunt of the fall. Her back and shoulder landed across his chest, sending his breath whooshing out. Their impact sent the scarred, wooden headboard slamming into the wall. Tessa struggled against him. He trapped her legs between his, making her scream at the top of her lungs.

  “Stop it!” His words were rough and clipped. “I’m not going to hurt you, Tessa.”

  She wheezed as she dragged in breath. Either she didn’t believe him or couldn’t make sense of his words. Adrenaline had a way of wiping out basic functions.

  “I’m letting you go.” As soon as his grip went lax, Tessa jabbed his ribs and tried to kick herself loose.

  “Damn it, Tessa!” He clamped down on her, enraged. “You’re gonna hurt yourself again!” And my ribs. The whites of her eyes swallowed her features. Tears drew a thin line along her lower lashes, banking his fury. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he whispered.

  She groaned as she dropped her head back against his shoulder.

  They were skin-to-skin where the shirt opened and had gone askew during the struggle. His chin pressed against her temple, his arm lay across her bared breast, and his erection was right below the curve of her bottom. How could she possibly believe he meant no harm?

  Resigned, he stared at the ceiling and moved his arm to her stomach. “The hard-on can’t be helped, preciosa. It started when I saw you last night and hasn’t let up.”

  Her head jerked away; she was obviously unconvinced.

  “I spent some very uncomfortable minutes watching you bathe. I’m only friggin’ human!” he finished through clenched teeth.

  After a moment, she gave a stiff nod.

  He released her and bolted up, straining to identify a distant sound.

  “Someone’s coming.” The unmistakable labored breathing of their enforcer announced his approach. Cruz was surprisingly quick. The bastard wouldn’t expect them to be chit-chatting. Damn. He had no time to explain or to prepare her for what he had to do, much less to gain her acquiescence.