Page 5 of Vex (Dragon Brides #12)

Vex had almost kissed her.

The moment had stretched between them, charged with possibility and danger. His gaze had dropped to her mouth, lingering with an intensity that made her pulse kick against her throat. For a heartbeat, closing the space between them had felt … inevitable.

Luisa's lips tingled with what hadn't happened. Her whole body was on high alert, and if he'd kissed her, she would have kissed him back.

And she wasn't sure it would have ended with a kiss.

Heat spiraled through her chest, pooling low in her belly with an urgency that had nothing to do with their cover story. She could still feel the phantom pressure of his hands on her waist, the way his breath had ghosted across her skin when he'd leaned close.

Professional distance was supposed to be her specialty, but something about Vex made her forget every rule she'd set for herself.

Fuck.

There was something about the asshole lord act that was doing it for her. She didn't like jerks; she certainly didn't date them. But he was …

Magnetic.

Dangerous in a way that had nothing to do with being a dragon and everything to do with the debauched elegance in his movements, the controlled arrogance that suggested he could take whatever he wanted.

The contradiction between the reserved professional she'd met in the bar and this strutting lord was giving her whiplash.

Which one was real? And why did both versions make her want to do things that would definitely compromise the mission?

Damn it.

She had work to do.

Luisa forced herself to breathe. The scent of Vex's expensive cologne lingered in the space he'd vacated, making it impossible to forget the solid warmth of his body against hers.

Focus. Credits. Job. Those were the only things that were allowed to matter.

Luisa unbuttoned her coat and looked at the attendant. "No one but my lord sees me naked," she said, letting her voice take on the imperious tone of someone accustomed to being obeyed. The role of a spoiled mistress came easier than she'd expected, all haughty demands and casual cruelty.

"Of course, ma'am."

"He doesn't like to be disturbed," she continued. "Only cleaning bots in the bedroom. If he catches you in there …" She shook her head. The words hung in the air, and she watched the attendant's face for any reaction. His expression remained perfectly neutral.

"Of course," the attendant repeated.

His voice was flat. She doubted this was the worst request he'd ever encountered.

The man's practiced invisibility was almost impressive.

He'd perfected the art of being present but unnoticed, a living piece of furniture that anticipated needs without drawing attention.

It was exactly the kind of skill that would make him invaluable to the Mountain's management, and exactly the kind of person who would hear everything and remember it all.

She wished she could dismiss him outright. But Vex hadn't done it earlier, and she suspected it was because it would just lead to subtler forms of surveillance. The Mountain catered to its guests' every need. And anticipating those needs meant watching closely.

There was a reason someone had chosen this place as a hub for blackmail.

The casino's reputation for discretion was legendary, but discretion was a double-edged sword.

The same systems that protected their high-rolling clients' privacy could just as easily be turned against them.

Information was currency here, more valuable than the credits flowing across the gaming tables downstairs.

Despite their early arrival, Vex and Luisa's things were already set up in the bedroom. She shut the door firmly behind her and paused to listen for the attendant.

Silence.

At least the place had decent soundproofing.

She pulled a bug scanner out of her pack and got to work.

The device was no bigger than her palm, its surface smooth and featureless except for a small display screen.

She moved methodically through the room, sweeping every surface, every piece of furniture, every decorative element that might conceal surveillance equipment.

The scanner remained silent. Clean.

A good sign.

At least there was one place in the suite they might have a little privacy.

And one bed.

She stared at it.

It was a monstrosity. The thing could easily accommodate a dragon lord and a handful of mistresses, draped in silk sheets the color of midnight and piled high with pillows that probably cost more than her monthly rent.

The frame was carved from some kind of expensive and shiny wood, its posts rising toward the vaulted ceiling.

With a bed that size, they could sleep on opposite sides and never even know the other person was there.

Yeah, she wasn't buying it.

There was no way to ignore Vex, no matter how big the bed.

His presence filled whatever space he occupied, commanding attention even when he was trying to blend in.

The memory of his body pressed against hers during their flight was still too fresh, too vivid.

She could still feel the corded muscle beneath her palms, the way his warmth had seeped through her clothes.

Sharing a bed with him would be an exercise in torture, no matter how much square footage they had to work with.

But with the ever-present attendant, they couldn't sleep in different rooms. Some couples might and not think twice about it. But those couples weren't at the casino under false pretenses.

They had to play this perfectly.

The Mountain's staff would notice everything. A couple wealthy enough to afford the penthouse suite who couldn't stand to share a bed would raise questions. Questions led to scrutiny, and scrutiny was the last thing they needed when she was planning to break into the casino's most secure systems.

Luisa shoved thoughts of the bed out of her mind. That was a problem for later when Vex got back.

Only my lord sees me naked.

What had possessed her to say that? Now she was going to be thinking of it all night.

The idea of Vex seeing her naked shouldn't have sent heat racing through her veins, but there she was, imagining his hands on her skin, his eyes dark with want.

Get it together. This is a job, not a fantasy.

She pulled her equipment out of her bag and set it up at the makeup table outside the bathroom.

Her main interface looked like an expensive compact mirror, its surface reflecting her face until she activated the hidden screen.

The signal boosters could pass for jewelry, delicate silver pieces that would blend seamlessly with the accessories of a wealthy mistress.

Her most powerful hacking tools were disguised as cosmetics, their sleek cases indistinguishable from high-end makeup.

The Mountain had too many eyes.

Cameras tracked every movement in the public spaces, and she'd bet there were sensors monitoring everything from heat signatures to electromagnetic emissions. The casino's security was legendary, layers upon layers of protection designed to keep their clients safe and their secrets secure.

Luisa started the careful process of hacking her way into that system.

The initial probes were gentle, testing the edges of the Mountain's digital defenses. The casino's firewalls were impressive, military-grade encryption wrapped around layers of redundant security protocols.

The first barrier fell after twenty minutes of careful work, giving her access to the resort's basic operational systems. Environmental controls, elevator schedules, routine maintenance logs. Nothing sensitive, but it was a foothold.

She was good at this. Better than good. The familiar rhythm of the work settled her nerves, pushing thoughts of Vex and beds and naked lords to the back of her mind where they belonged.

She was going to find this blackmailer and end this job with her dignity intact.

Even if it killed her.