Page 19

“What are you doing?” he asked.
“I’ll let you have the bed tonight.”
“As large as it is, I think we can share.”
“Zeppelin—”
“Jack, remember?”
“Jack, I don’t think sleeping together is a good idea. I mean, in the same bed, not that we’d besleeping together.” I sighed. “You know what I mean.”
“We could put pillows down the middle if it would make you feel more comfortable.” He held up one hand. “And I promise not to cross the boundary into Elise-land.”
I shook my head and chuckled like I had a few times since we arrived at the chalet. “You’re funny.”
He cocked his head. “I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or if it means you won’t sleep here.”
Given the sofa had felt uncomfortable when I sat on it, I figured there’d be no harm in sharing the bed. “All right.” I returned the pillow and blanket to their original place.
After glancing at the look on his face, I momentarily reconsidered. He appeared a little too happy about my decision.
6
ZEPPELIN
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. While Verity came out of the bathroom dressed in the least sexy sleepwear I’d ever seen, shesmelledfantastic. Since she was rubbing her hands together, I assumed it was her lotion, but wow, the pheromones!
“I’ll, um, just have a shower before bed.”
Verity gave me a blank look before climbing into her side and nestling under the covers. God, I wanted to join her, without a wall of pillows separating us.
On my way to the lavatory, I contemplated whether I should have a hot or cold shower. Maybe if I just took the edge off myself, I wouldn’t have such ahardtime lying next to Verity in the most romantic setting imaginable.
I closed the door behind me and noticed there was no shower, only a claw-foot tub. A cold bath wouldn’t do. I’d be an icicle by the time I got out.
Like the bed, it was oversized. Maybe not big enough for three, but definitely for two. I immediately pictured Verity and me, both naked, her slick body writhing against mine as I pleasured her with my fingers.
Earlier, I’d said I’d call her Elise when she was the slightest bit agreeable, but Verity when she was a bitch. Maybe that had been harsh. Either way, I thought about what I would call her when we made love. The thought jarred me.When, I told myself, not if.
Alena.That’s what I’d call her when she was naked and beneath me, my cock buried deep in her pussy.
Not to brag, but I was fairly well-endowed. More than one of the women I’d had sex with said as much. I stroked my cock’s length before getting in the water, imagining the sounds Alena would make when I first entered her or when I’d make her come using my mouth and fingers. Would she scream out my name when I pushed her over the edge? Or would she mewl and moan?
Based on our kiss alone, it was obvious we’d be compatible sexually. She’d met me mouth-fuck for mouth-fuck—her tongue doing battle with mine—yet when I gentled, she did too. I couldn’t remember a single kiss I’d shared with anyone being as satisfying as the one with her. It had been brilliant.
I also thought about Condor’s words on the plane after she’d taken a seat all the way in the back. When he’d said, “I tapped that,” I wanted to punch him hard enough he’d see stars. But had he, or was he a typical guy, bragging about something that had only taken place in his fantasies? Whether he and Verity had had sex or not, which I very much doubted, his speaking about her that way had my blood boiling.Misogynistic arsehole.
Thankfully, he and Angel had been called back to England and I wasn’t forced to endure them traveling to St. Moritz with us and watching him ogle Verity.
Picturing them together was the bucket of cold water I needed. I was ready to towel off, march out to where she lay in bed, and tell her what he’d said, like a boy tattling on one of his mates. Except Condor wasn’t a friend. The odds were far greater we never would be now.
I got out after washing myself, dried off, then pulled on the flannels I’d brought in with me. I hadn’t grabbed a shirt of any kind. It was surprising enough I’d remembered something to cover the lower half of my body.
While brushing my teeth, I thought about the day on Gozo when I was shedding my tactical gear and had pulled the T-shirt I wore beneath it off too.
When I’d glanced over at Verity, I caught her checking me out. At the time, I’d smirked even though her eyes taking me in had excited me almost as much as our kiss had.
“Bloody hell,” I muttered under my breath. I was rock hard again. There was no way I could leave the bathroom now. Verity would probably make good on her threat to call Nemesis and demand to be removed from the op if she saw the boner I sported.