Page 21

S he stepped under the spray, and warm water doused her skin. Her nipples tingled under the harsh pressure. She lifted the bar of soap and began to wash herself.

She’d slept with Nate.

And it had been more than what she’d ever dreamed it would be. It was as if he’d been inside her head, giving her more when it was what she craved, but slowing down before she crashed too hard.

The bathroom door creaked open and her sudsy hands froze on her shoulders, her arms crossed over her chest. Fog on the glass door in front of her blurred Nate’s naked form. It did nothing to hide the breadth of his chest and thickly hung manhood.

He stopped in front of the door and inched it open.

“I’m not missing anything am I?” His warm hazel eyes flashed with amusement.

His eyes lowered to her body and his jaw loosened.

He stepped in the shower and she backed up to allow him under the spray.

Flatfooted, the top of her head barely reached his chin.

“No, sorry to disappoint.”

His teeth flashed at her and he shook his head. “Disappointment is the last thing I feel around you.”

His biceps flexed as he extended his hands to the water. His other hand snaked around her hip and he turned her so her back pressed against his chest. He took the soap from the shelf and rubbed the bar between his hands in front of her chest.

“I should head back to my suite after this. If Carlos decides to return early—”

“Don’t worry, Dylan’s watching him at the bar. He’ll call my phone if he comes upstairs.”

His hands grazed down her arms lazily, and then massaged her palms and fingers. The bubbles tickled her skin and she relaxed against him. His heat scorched her back, and the water warmed her front. She moaned and closed her eyes as his hands moved back up her arms and stopped to massage her neck.

“Ugh, that feels so good,” she moaned.

He chuckled and kneaded her muscles. Her tension released beneath his touch.

“I don’t recall you saying anything like that ten minutes ago.”

A laugh bubbled in her throat. “I wouldn’t have been able to form an intelligible sentence ten minutes ago.”

His breath tickled her ear and he moved her hair aside. “I suppose that reaction is better.” He mumbled as his rock-hard manhood pressed against her ass cheek. Heat crept up her chest, but despite Nate’s comment, his attention continued on her shoulders.

“Are you okay?” His voice was tender yet serious, and his question was in reference to her fight with Tony.

“I’m fine. Tony got in a good shot and tackled me to the deck.”

Nate’s breath hissed out angrily. “Fucking bastard.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh my, god. I completely forgot about Tony.” Her fingers pressed to her brow. How could she have forgotten about him? There was no doubt he would tell Carlos about their fight.

“He’s dead, Maddie.” Nate’s tone dropped low, almost regretful but not quite.

A weight dropped into her stomach. “He’s dead?” She swallowed over the overwhelming wave of relief, followed by gut-twisting guilt. Tony wasn’t a good person, but had he deserved to die? She couldn’t be the judge of that.

“Carlos is going to be really upset. Does he know yet?”

“I don’t think so. The crew is keeping pretty quiet about it. Hector was sharing a room with him, so I’m sure he’ll be notified soon if he hasn’t been already.”

Bile burned the lining of her stomach. “Carlos will go crazy. Oh God, what if they show him the security tapes? He’ll see me fighting with Tony and the two of you going overboard. It will ruin everything.”

Nate’s fingers closed over her arms. “Don’t worry, I’m one step ahead of you.

I’m not an FBI agent for no reason.” The corner of his lip hitched up.

“I have three other agents stationed on board, one is in security, one in hospitality, and one at the concierge. We’ve already pulled the tapes and confiscated them under the investigation of Carlos. He won’t know.”

Her pulse slowed and she closed and opened her eyes. Nate’s warm hands combined with the heat of the water melted her muscles.

“Now turn around.”

She sighed, turned her back to him, and his fingers spread the locks of her hair. He reached beside her and grabbed the shampoo bottle.

She tilted her head back and allowed him to pamper her.

He scrubbed the liquid into her scalp and she fought back a moan.

He rinsed and repeated the same motion with conditioner.

When the water ran free of suds his hands closed over her hips.

His mouth dropped to the side of her neck and his tongue flicked over her skin.

Her nerve endings sang and a soft moan purred through her lips. She closed her eyes and reveled in the caress of his rough palms over her belly. His hard, throbbing member pressed against her ass. She arched her back against him, her body ached for more.

His deep, throaty laugh snapped her eyes open.

“What’s funny?”

He groaned and straightened away from her. “Nothing is funny. I just love how ready you are. But you need to get back to your room.”

She turned the water off and opened the fogged glass shower door. The bathroom had gotten thick with steam. She blinked, found her towel, and scrubbed it over her body. Her pulse hammered through her skull with the force of a jackhammer, intensifying the dull pounding in her head.

“Carlos will be furious,” she breathed.

Nate stepped out behind her, water ran from his shoulders over his chest and down his thick legs.

He grabbed a towel from the rack and rubbed it over his hair.

Her mouth went dry.

“Just stick to your story. You never saw Tony when you were on deck.”

Nodding, she tucked the towel between her breasts. Her feet padded over the smooth tile and she flung the door open. She blew out a breath and collected her clothes from the floor. When Carlos came up, she’d have to be on point. It wouldn’t take much to slip up and for him to catch her.

She pulled the towel off and stepped into her clothes as Nate strode out of the bathroom, his phone in one hand, and a small vial in the other.

“I’d better get back to the room.” She wiggled her dress over her damp hips and slid her arms through the straps. If Carlos made it to the room before her—or worse, caught her leaving Nate’s room… a shudder tore through her bones.

Nate’s hand caught her shoulder. “Hey,” he said softly. His finger touched her chin when she didn’t meet his gaze. “Trust me, okay? Do you think I would risk him catching you here?”

The tight coil of tension in her stomach loosened. “No, you wouldn’t.”

The conviction of those words softened the rest of the anxiety pent up in her muscles. Nate had always looked out for her. If there was one thing she could be certain of, it was that her safety was his number one priority.

His fingers gently kneaded her shoulder. “Exactly.”

She pursed her lips and turned to him. “My hero,” she sang in a sickly sweet voice as she batted her eyelashes.

He looped his arms around her hips, his hands folded at the small of her back. She had to tilt her head back to meet his gaze.

“Such a smart-ass.” His sandy eyebrow lifted, but humor sparkled in his eyes. “You’re lucky you’re sexy as hell or I’d have to teach you a lesson.”

She rested her hands on his shoulders and a shiver of delight sent goosebumps over her skin. He was so sexy. So strong and capable, yet gentle and caring.

His thumbs moved over her bare tailbone and her teeth sunk into her bottom lip as her hips pressed forward on their own volition.

Bring, bring, bring.

Nate’s body snapped to attention and he scooped his phone from the bed. “Hello,” he barked. His hand stayed at her back, his fingers flexed while he listened. “All right, thanks.” He lowered his phone to his side, his face tense. “You have to go. He’s on his way up.”

Her heart shot to her throat and she bent to pick up her shoes. Fear slid its acrid juice up the back of her throat, but she forced it down. She had to get across the hall, get dressed, and calm her nerves before he got there. Nate’s hand closed around hers and he led her to the door.

She pinched her shoes between her side and elbow and slid her clutch beneath her armpit. Her hand shook on the doorknob.

“Hey.” Nate’s calm, smooth voice ebbed around her.

His hand slid around the back of her neck and he pressed his mouth to hers.

His lips were soft and warm, light bristles on his jaw rubbed over her skin.

He pulled away, but his hand held tightly to her neck, his thumb smoothed over her jaw.

“It’s going to be okay. We’re almost through this. ”

She swallowed and nodded.

“If anything happens, if he acts crazy… scream. Don’t fucking hesitate. Do you understand?” His eyes took a hard glint and the weight of his words sunk into her pores. Carlos was a loose cannon and God only knew how he would react when he got to the room.

“I know.” He brushed his lips over hers again and stepped in front of her to peer into the hallway.

She opened her purse and pulled the key card out.

The smooth plastic burned against her fingertips.

His fingers closed around her wrist and he pulled her into the hallway.

She raced across the oriental blue carpet and slid the key into the lock.

The light flashed red and her heart dropped.

Oh, no. Oh God, no.

Her pulse vibrated through her and her vision blurred. “It won’t work!” she hissed. Nate cursed, crossed the hall, and took the key from her hand. He slid it into the lock and the light flashed green. Her shoulders sagged and he shoved the door open.

“Remember, call me if you need me.”

She nodded and shut the door behind her.

Its soft click echoed like a gunshot to her ears.

The yellow glow from the pot lights in the living room greeted her.

The air rushed out of her lungs. She dropped her shoes next to the door and skirted through the foyer and down the hall to the master bedroom.