Page 54 of His Ruthless Match (Below #3)

It felt so natural around her, like the facade I so carefully built up could crumble just a bit. “You know the deal,” I told her. “We’re laying low, only going out when we absolutely have to, and always wearing those lovely disguises you adore so much.”

She groaned. “Ugh. Those disguises. They’re suffocating. And wearing that hot wig while I try to get a buzz? That’d kill the whole vibe.”

I chuckled. Her frustration was justified, but it was also endearingly dramatic.

I took another sip of wine, the liquid warming my throat.

The moonlight caught on Eva’s robe as she stretched out her legs, and the fabric parted just enough to reveal a tantalizing glimpse of her thigh.

Heat curled through my body, as sudden and inevitable as a spark in dry tinder.

I tore my gaze away from her skin, forcing my eyes to wander over the buildings instead.

Even so, my mind wasn’t on the skyline. It was replaying images of the last time we stood on this balcony.

I could still feel the press of her body against mine, her lips parted as she kissed me with a hunger that matched my own.

Desire surged through me, and I tried to quell it with another gulp of wine.

Clearing my throat, I refocused on the city lights.

Yet, as I stared at them, my mind flickered to the dangers that lurked behind every shadowy corner.

I remembered all too well The Shadow’s warning about there being a hit out on her.

Since that night, a constant tension coiled in the pit of my stomach, reminding me that her safety was precarious.

Eva seemed oblivious to my darker thoughts as she gazed dreamily at the skyline. To her, it was just another evening. To me, it was another chance for something to go wrong. But I wasn’t about to ruin the mood with grim reminders. Not yet, anyway.

“This city is so beautiful from up here,” she said quietly, swirling the wine in her glass. “It’s easy to forget how chaotic it is when you’re looking down on it.”

“That’s the trick,” I replied, my voice low. “Beauty’s just a distraction from the chaos.”

She shot me a small, indulgent smile. “You’re so dramatic sometimes,” she teased.

“You love it.”

She snorted into her glass. “Maybe,” she conceded after a moment. Eva leaned back in her chair. The breeze caressed the stray strands of her hair, making them dance around her face. “I feel like taking a bath. I’ve got to soak off the day.”

“Want some company?” The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline. For a heartbeat, I thought I’d shattered the fragile balance we’d struck between playful flirtation and serious danger. But then she stood up.

“Sure,” she said, glancing at me over her shoulder with a teasing tilt of her lips. “Why not?”

I set my empty glass down, following close behind as we stepped back inside.

Eva led me toward her bathroom. The space could have made a five-star hotel jealous.

Marble tiles in cool gray-and-white patterns, brushed gold fixtures, and a massive whirlpool tub that could fit an entire party of people.

She flipped a switch, and subdued lighting illuminated the room with a comforting glow.

Slowly, she untied the sash of her robe.

It slipped off her shoulders with a whisper, revealing smooth, bare skin and curves that made my breath catch.

My throat felt dry as she draped the robe over a nearby chair and stepped into the tub, turning the faucets until steaming water began to pour in.

The moment she sank into the rising water, her eyes fell shut in relief.

I pulled off my shirt, trying not to look too eager. My belt went next, then my pants. The cool air hit my skin, sending a faint shiver through me, but it was nothing compared to the rush of desire coursing through my veins. I slid into the tub across from her, letting the hot water envelop me.

Eva turned on the jets, and bubbles erupted around us, swirling in gentle currents. She leaned her head back, letting the water lap against her shoulders.

“I like the jets,” she murmured, her eyes half-lidded. “They feel amazing.”

I arched an eyebrow and scooted closer. “How amazing?”

She blushed, her cheeks turning the prettiest shade of pink, and looked away. “Sometimes… I straddle them. They help me relax.”

My heart thudded against my ribcage. Every nerve ending in my body hummed. “Relax, huh?” My voice dropped into a low growl. “I’m definitely going to need to see that.”

She bit her lower lip. Then, pushing through her embarrassment, she carefully maneuvered toward one of the stronger jets.

She braced her hands on the edge of the tub, positioning herself over the bubbling stream of water.

Her chest rose and fell with a sharp intake of breath, and she let out a soft, breathy moan that traveled straight through me.

“Fuck, Delgado,” I muttered, closing the distance between us. My fingers found her hips beneath the water. The heat of her skin and the rhythmic pulse of the jet made me dizzy with want. “You’re incredible.”

She turned her head to look back at me, her eyes dark with desire. “Move behind me.”

I didn’t need to be asked twice. I slid behind her, settling my thighs on either side of hers. I wrapped my arms around her chest and pulled her back against my chest. She tilted her head to rest it on my shoulder.

I entered her slowly, a deep, ragged groan escaping my lips. The hot water only intensified everything, the swirl of bubbles adding a strange but pleasurable friction.

“Eva,” I breathed, shutting my eyes as I fought to control myself. “Fuck.”

She moaned softly, reaching back with one hand to grip my hair.

Her soft, needy voice was like lightning rippling through.

I started to move in time with the surge of the water, letting her body guide mine.

Every shift of her hips, every brush of her skin, every labored breath in my ear ratcheted up the tension.

My gaze flicked to the large mirror above the sink.

In its reflection, I saw us entangled together, her back arching against my chest, the water gleaming on her skin.

The sight sent another spike of heat through me.

“Look at us,” I murmured. I trailed my lips along her shoulder, tasting the faint salt on her skin.

“You’re perfect. And I want you to watch.

Keep your eyes on the mirror the whole fucking time, Eva. ”

“Jareth…” The single word trembled, laden with need.

I wrapped my arm more securely around her waist, my other hand slipping between her thighs to coax her higher. The jets churned the water around us, creating a heady mixture of pleasure and sensation. Each thrust, each roll of our bodies, pushed us closer to the edge.

Her breathing came quicker and tensed under my touch.

My heart hammered as I matched her pace, the pressure building in a steady crescendo.

Then, with a final gasp, she cried out, her body trembling against mine as her release crashed over her.

The sound of her pleasure, the spasms of her body, undid me.

Ecstasy crashed over me, and I groaned her name into her ear, clutching her tightly in the aftermath.

For a few breaths, maybe longer, we stayed like that, floating in the swirling water. I rested my forehead against the back of her neck, and I could feel her heartbeat pounding in tandem with mine.

Finally, I pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “You’re going to be the death of me, Delgado.”

She let out a soft laugh, a contented, sated sound that made me grin. Turning her head, she caught my gaze. “Right back at you.”

Reluctantly, we untangled ourselves, the bathwater sloshing as we stood.

She stepped out first, grabbing two plush towels from the heated rack.

I dragged my gaze over her naked form and the droplets of water tracing down her curves.

I took the towel she offered and wrapped it around my waist, half tempted to pull her back into my arms. But she gave me a playful shove toward the door.

“C’mon,” she said, her voice still husky. “If we stay in here any longer, we’ll turn into prunes.”

I followed close behind. My cougar stirred, and I knew, more than I’d ever known anything in my entire life, that I was completely and utterly hers.