Desire & Deception

by Sahara Roberts

  “I can’t bloody believe this,” Kris muttered, moving toward her. With a foul curse, he picked her up and tossed her to the center of the mattress. She yelped, pushing herself up on her elbows while he followed her onto the bed.

  In the space of Tessa’s jaw dropping, he opened his belt and pushed down his jeans. Her eyes rounded, zooming in on his crotch. She jerked back, her arms coming up to struggle against him.

  No time for this. Kris caught both her hands in one swipe. “Convince him,” he spat, nodding toward the entrance.

  Her wide eyes darted to the door and back. She gave a short nod. He released her hands to unceremoniously toss open her thighs as he pushed her into the mattress.

  He tried to relax before capturing her startled expression with a hard kiss. Damn you, Cruz! Forcing me to act like a goddamn animal! There was nothing he could do about thrusting against her. It was unfortunate, but her struggle made the scene more believable.

  The kiss started abrupt and demanding as the hard muscles of his abdomen pressed against her softer one. By the time her breasts, bared during the struggle, were flattened against his chest, she let her body relax against his.

  A low moan vibrated against his lips as her body went soft beneath him. Warm hands caressed him, curled into the muscles at his sides, all but destroying his concentration. Her full lips parted, inviting him to deepen the kiss. His hips slowed, letting the hardest part of him move sensually against her welcoming folds. She shifted beneath him, bringing her legs up to cradle his hips, sending every muscle in his abdomen into rigor.

  Jesus.

  Even though he should know better, Kris allowed himself a moment to take pleasure in her heady response. He moved past her lips and stole a taste of the forbidden. Sweet, hot female played against his tongue. He cupped the curve of her bottom, adjusting their angle to apply pressure against her most sensitive spot. The door hinges squeaked in protest. Tessa’s hard nipples pressed into his chest, her hands slid down to the small of his waist, pulling him closer.

  Cruz gave an appreciative laugh, shattering the tenuous connection between them.

  Bastard! Damn you to hell! Although every fiber of his being urged him on, Kris went still. He tore his mouth away to snarl at Cruz. “What the hell are you doing in here?”

  “Heard a commotion, jefe.” His gaze lingered where Kris nestled between her slender thighs. “Just making sure everything’s alright.” He closed the door and started back downstairs. The footsteps faded while he called out, “He’s got everything under control.” The amusement in his voice made Kris’s stomach clench.

  Her unexpected response left him huge, and hard, and hungry for so much more. He dropped his chin to her shoulder and closed his eyes, struggling to focus. Normally, keeping his emotions in check came as second nature. At the moment, he struggled to drag in a few calming breaths while he fought for control over his body.

  The woman beneath him also labored for breath. Her chest heaved and her soft skin was flushed, whether from the exertion of their struggle or the situation, he didn’t know. Her fingers had dug into his lats while her body cradled his. His cock lay against slick folds and his chest covered further evidence of her arousal.

  She faced the wall, her pulse pelting against her neck. His voice was heavy with regret when he whispered by her ear, “I’m sorry, chiquilla.” She nodded without sparing him a glance. “If I hadn’t claimed you, they would’ve expected I share you.” And I’m not about to do that.

  Pushing up on his forearms, he studied her submissive pose. The open garment displayed her torso and the generous swell of her breasts. A delectable nipple peaked out, teasing him with every ragged breath. Below, her narrow waist flared out to well-rounded hips pressing intimately against him. His cock bucked, drawing an unexpected quiver from her body.

  Gasping, she turned to face him. Desire and confusion laced her big, brown eyes. He froze in place as her trembling hands clutched his shoulder blades. The air sizzled around them. Seconds ticked by and her eyes seemed less and less confused. The urge to shift his hips and thrust into her became more overwhelming with every heartbeat. He’d be able to take her lips again, to coax them open to explore, feel her arms drawing him close, and revel in the sounds of her pleasure.

  Something inside him collapsed. Losing himself in this woman would be so easy, but the emotional turmoil that brought them here left a bitter taste in his mouth. Without breaking eye contact, he brought her palm to his lips for a soft kiss.

  She blinked, pulling her hand back as she turned away. Her fingers tucked into a fist as she drew her arm over her breasts.

  He climbed off the bed and regretfully arranged himself back into his clothes. With palms against his hips, he breathed deep. The last few minutes were seared into his memory.

  “Tha-thank you.” She gathered the shirt, and her tattered dignity, around her.

  Nodding, he acknowledged her words, but remained silent for a moment before he turned to scrutinize her. She sat stiff and silent, her lips a thin, unwelcoming line. He reached for her, half-expecting to be slapped away.

  Her temple bore an angry gash that disappeared into her hairline. He reached down and folded up the shirt cuff past the abraded wrist to examine her arm. After finding her skin intact, he folded up the other sleeve. Finally, he pressed against her ribs where he’d seen the beginning of a bruise.

  She drew away from him. “I don’t think anything’s broken, just bumped and bruised.”

  He nodded, his fingers lingering before they dropped away. “Does your hip hurt? You had a red spot.”

  “No.” Crimson stole up her cheeks. “I don’t know how long I was lying on the floor.”

  The color dissipated little by little. “There’s a doctor downstairs right now. I’ll have him check on you. Doc knows the lifestyle of the people coming through here,” he cautioned, “so don’t get any ideas that’ll cause trouble.”

  He picked up the dresser and drawers, putting the splintered one at the bottom. He double checked the room for anything she might use as a weapon. While Tessa looked like an unassuming puzzle piece waiting to be placed, she was likely planning her next move. He studied her subdued bearing, the slope of her breasts hidden beneath the front pockets, the shapely legs that had cradled him so intimately, and the dainty toes hovering well above the floor.

  Frowning, he knelt before her to pick up the fragments of the broken lamp. He carefully piled each atop another until he was certain her bare feet would be safe.

  He looked up to find her eyes on him, unfocused, her fingers folding under and over the shirttail.

  Was she thinking about the moment her body responded to his? Because he sure as hell couldn’t get the image out of his head. Those richly fringed, chocolate eyes became aware. She broke contact, so he got up and walked out before he gave in to temptation.

  …

  The loud snap of the lock clicking into place made her flinch.

  Tessa brought trembling fingers to her lips and dragged in a calming breath. What just happened? Her face heated at the vivid memory.

  While she’d had a moment of panic when he’d pulled open his belt, she’d quickly caught onto his plan and had every intention of playing her part. She wondered about his expression, resignation tempered with anger, but one hot kiss and her brain had turned to mush.

  Her heightened senses welcomed the weight of the man she’d wanted. By the time he’d pressed her into the mattress, she craved the enticing erection sliding against her. Heat ran up her cheeks and across her breasts, leaving her aching for more. What was it about this man that set the pulse between her thighs thrumming? He didn’t smile and didn’t flirt, but those eyes caressed her with luscious promise.

  While Kris was disconcerting, he made her feel safe. She’d much rather be up here with him than downstairs with them. Whatever his reason for helping her, she was grateful he did. Most horror stories about kidnappings didn’t have a happy ending. Fear kept pinging off the thought of c
alling Moni. But they’d provide the money, end up on the cartel’s radar, and there was still no guarantee she’d make it out alive.

  The lock clicked again, startling her. She clutched the bedspread, praying it was Kris and not the next guy expecting “a turn”.

  Kris returned, bare chested, leading another man into the room. The doctor’s head was lowered, showing a thinning spot in his gray hair. Navy blue scrubs hung loose on his rounded shoulders and narrow hips.

  “This is the patient.” Kris let the doctor step around him before he shut the door. He crossed his arms, leaning against the wall like he didn’t have a care in the world.

  “Good afternoon, señorita.” Laugh lines fanned out on the doctor’s face, setting her at ease. He placed a weathered black bag beside her on the bedspread. “Let’s see here, my girl.” He pulled back her hair and studied her through the lower part of his bifocals. “I understand you were in a car accident.” He spoke as though she was a child, seemingly oblivious to the fact she wore a man’s shirt and nothing else. Definitely not someone who’d help her.

  She gave a quick glance over his head at Kris and nodded in agreement.

  “Talk to me, girl,” the doctor instructed with an encouraging smile. He retrieved a glove from the bag then slipped it over his right hand.

  “I was in an accident a few hours ago.” Her statement held all the necessary details without making the situation any more awkward.

  “Not from around here, eh?”

  She shook her head and tried her best to paste on a smile.

  “Do you remember what happened?” He doused a cotton swab in antiseptic before dabbing her wound.

  “We went down an embankment. I landed against the side of the car and got this.” She pointed to her forehead.

  Kris’s inscrutable expression made her do a double-take. Why did she care what he thought about her explanation?

  The doctor discarded the cotton. His hand hovered in front of her. “Keep your head still and follow my finger with your eyes.” After a satisfied grunt, he held his arm out. “Squeeze my forearm, first with one hand then the other.” He nodded as she complied with his instructions.

  “Let’s check your reflexes.” He searched the bag and returned with a rubber hammer. “Move closer for me.”

  She shifted forward, pulling the shirt along with her to preserve what little modesty she had left.

  After tapping her knees, he continued in the same peaceful tone, “Any headache, nausea, or dizziness?” He ticked off each symptom on a finger. “Irritability or sensitivity to light?”

  “It hurts where I got hit, but not a general headache. I had some dizziness and sensitivity when I…first woke up. If you’ve spent any time with him,” she indicated Kris, “you’d understand my irritability.”

  The doctor chuckled. “Strong girl with no slurred speech, no headache, or nausea. I believe the only problem with concentration is due to this fine young man standing behind me.”

  She tossed her head, refusing to acknowledge Kris.

  “Show him the bruise,” Kris’s gruff voice instructed from behind the doctor.

  She pushed the sleeve up. “I can move without too much pain.”

  He examined her arm, folding her hand back to gauge her reaction. The abrasions on her wrists drew a frown before he released her. “Anything else I need to check?”

  “No, that’s all.”

  “You did much better than your friend downstairs. He got a nasty compound fracture I had to set before sewing his skin.” The doctor chatted away while he repacked his instruments. “I keep telling these boys to watch the road and not the pretty girls, but they’re young and don’t listen. Well, the pain in that arm will remind him of his distraction from now on.” He patted her shoulder and nodded. “Good thing you Americans wear seatbelts. Otherwise, you might not have fared so well.” He inspected her forehead. “You’ll end up looking like a piñata after a birthday party with your fair skin, but the bruises will fade in due time. Take care, my dear.”

  He approached Kris, shaking his head. “She shouldn’t have been allowed to sleep,” he chastised. “With that bump on the temple she might not have woken up again. She was very lucky.” He removed his glasses and put them in his breast pocket. “While I don’t think she has a concussion, you need to check on her throughout the day. If you notice memory or concentration problems, sensitivity to light or noise, sleep disturbances, irritability, or depression, you need to let me know immediately so we can get her to a hospital.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind, Doctor.”

  “Keep her awake and talking today. She may need a pain reliever, but rest is the best medicine either way.” The older man gathered his bag and started for the door. “Keep her in bed, but make sure she gets some rest tonight.” He winked as he stepped out. A steady breeze plastered the scrubs to his frame before he disappeared down the stairs.

  Kris remained, leaning against the wall, obviously comfortable in his shirtless state. His intensity enveloped her from across the room.

  She was hit with the same shock of awareness she’d felt when he’d stepped into the shower. Her fingers curled around her thumbs, squeezing. He didn’t need to know about the prickle of desire she got from having his attention centered on her. What could be going through his mind?

  He glanced around the miniscule room for a moment. “Can you stay awake?”

  She nodded.

  “This room is separate from the house, so you won’t be underfoot. The only way in or out is through this door. You have a working bathroom over there.” He nodded toward a narrow doorway at the corner. “And a half-decent bed. I’ll bring food when I come back later in the day.” He stopped at the exit. “I’m locking up behind me.” His shoulders squared then he added, “Don’t try to run, Tessa. There’s nowhere to go and nobody to help you. When you’re caught, you’ll be dragged back here to be beaten and raped.”

  Tessa folded her legs under her as she contemplated the consequences. It had crossed her mind to try sneaking downstairs and around the house.

  “Just sit tight for a few days, and everything will work itself out.”

  “Heather?” she asked tentatively.

  “Don’t worry about Heather.” He collected her scattered belongings and left without another word.

  Tessa wrapped her arms around herself. No matter how tight her hold, she couldn’t smother the ache building in the center of her chest.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Cruz stood in the kitchen, head tilted back, a family sized bag of spicy potato chips tipped over his mouth.

  “What did I tell you before I went upstairs?” Kris asked with cold detachment.

  Cruz hesitated before he brought the bag down to the table. “You’d make sure the girl pays her dues.”

  Kris speared him with a dark stare as he dropped her boots on the counter. “The last thing I said to you.”

  “Not to disturb you.” Cruz’s features tightened. “I’m sorry, Boss, but she incapacitated one…” He stopped, his face taking on a dark, ruddy tinge. “I didn’t think. I’m not used to you…taking a cut.”

  “When I give an order, I expect it to be followed,” Kris said, bringing home the fact he was a boss in the organization. While he wasn’t a leader to the enforcers, Cruz enjoyed using the title when Felipe was around. “You remember what orders are, right, Cruz?” He crowded him, staring down with open contempt.

  “Yes, Boss.” His jowls jiggled with an enthusiastic nod. “You can count on me. I’ve been in law enforcement for over a dozen years. Never had a problem. No, sir.”

  Kris didn’t move. He needed Cruz to understand the consequences of his failure to comply. Getting a reaction wouldn’t take much. He could already feel the tension in the older man. Cruz swallowed hard, taking a step back.

  Kris suppressed a satisfied smile. “What’s the latest on the blonde woman?”

  Cruz cleared his throat. “She’s talking a lot, but not saying shit.”


  He’d expected as much. He remained aloof as he motioned toward the second floor. “Don’t go near Tessa.” His voice was sharp and precise. “I don’t want her riled up when I get back.”

  “I’ll make sure everyone stays downstairs, Boss.”

  Kris rummaged under the sink until he found a plastic bag large enough to hold Tessa’s belongings. The lacy bra taunted him from atop the pile, reminding him she remained upstairs, naked under his shirt.

  “Find anything of interest in the girls’ car?”

  Cruz’s eyebrows shot up. “I-I don’t know. I got here right before you.” He sprinted to the window and searched the yard. Muttering an oath, he skittered around to face Kris. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he licked his dry lips.

  “Cruz.” Kris squared his shoulders. “Tell me Oscar didn’t leave the car on the road.” He did not have time for this crap.

  “Oscar! Idiot!” Cruz checked the back room and the one across from the vault. “Where the hell are you?” He returned, rubbing his chest.

  Kris clamped his jaw. “He mistakes the target and runs the vehicle off an embankment. He gets his ass kicked by a five-foot-nothing girl then has her run head-first into the car. He leaves her knocked out when she might have a concussion then goes after her while she’s tied up.” Kris waved his hand in the air. “Now this.”

  Cruz grabbed a discarded napkin and mopped his brow. He peered out from under the damp piece of paper and slowly shrugged. Damn, if he didn’t look like a dog that had wet the carpet.

  Tension ran along Kris’s back and shoulders. This was the worst possible time for anyone to screw up. Oscar had been an occasional enforcer, not here every day like the others. “How did he end up on this job?”

  “H-he’s been working with us for a while, Boss.”

  “I’m aware of that, but how did he end up here?”

  “I promoted him.” Cruz rubbed his forehead. “He’s done good ’til now. He’d never screwed up like this before, nothing this bad.”

  “Running them off the road could’ve killed them. We don’t need a dead American leading the authorities back to any of the safe houses.” He tried to pop his neck to relieve some of the strain stiffening his muscles. “He may do well putting a bullet in someone, but this part of the business takes more finesse. The stakes have risen with this one.”