Page 43 of Wicked Games
“Really?” I asked. “What did Celeste say about it?”
“She thought I should find something with a more reliable income. She told me very few authors reached the level of success that afforded them the opportunity to write books full time.”
“Love, please tell me you have a closet full of steamy novels you’ve written but never published.”
“I’ll never tell.”
“Yes, you will,” I countered. “You can read the stories to me naked in bed.”
Our conversation was tabled so we could watch the flight attendants instruct us on what to do in case of an emergency. Well, I watched Ryder studying her intently while chewing on his bottom lip until I couldn’t stand the abuse any longer. I gripped his chin between my thumb and forefinger, turning his face toward me. Ryder released his bottom lip, and I kissed him briefly.
“I’m quite fond of your lips, so stop abusing them.”
“Okay,” he said softly.
Takeoff went smoothly, and Ryder started playing our movie as soon as we leveled off. I expectedRomancing the Stoneto seem cheesy through the eyes of an adult like it did with most movies I had liked when I was younger, but I still found it as witty and charming as ever.
“That Jack sure is something,” Ryder said appreciatively.
“He’s okay.”
“Are you jealous of a fictional character?”
“Don’t be silly,” I said unconvincingly.
“I wouldn’t choose him over you.” Ryder slid his fingers through mine. “You’re all the adventure I need.”
I kissed him again. How could I not?
The weather was sunny and seventy-five degrees when we landed in Miami, which was a far cry different from the rainy, cold weather we left behind in Cincinnati. The benefit of packing light meant getting out of the airport faster instead of waiting for checked baggage.
“Is it wrong if I hope our clue-finding mission takes a few days?” Ryder asked. “This weather is incredible. The water temperature stays in the seventies during winter months. I’d love to spend a day on the beach with you.”
“We can make this trip whatever we want it to be. Carmen didn’t say I had to be at Sal’s on a certain day or a certain time. Let’s check into our hotel and decide what we want to do.”
“Lucien, her note implied you’re in danger. Dev told you his freak accident wasn’t an accident, although he didn’t state how he knew it. Your safety is more important to me than anything. Let’s find Sal’s so we know exactly what we’re facing. We’ll come back to Miami someday when we don’t have Banks’s threats looming over us.”
As if he heard his name mentioned from half a world away, Banks sent me a text.Don’t forget your place, Lucky.
I tilted my phone so Ryder could read the message. “You’re exactly where you belong,” he told me.
I stopped in the middle of the airport, cupped his neck, and pulled him toward me for a kiss. “With you,” I said.
“With me,” Ryder agreed.
We picked up a sleek, silver Jaguar F-Type convertible before heading to the Four Seasons Hotel. I’d made both the reservation for the car and the hotel under my real name, which unfortunately meant Banks would know where we were staying. I would deal with the fallout later.
Our suite was toward the top of the high-rise hotel and offered the most stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. “It’s hard to think about work and missions when faced with something so beautiful, isn’t it?” I asked.
“I was just thinking the same thing,” Ryder said huskily. I turned and saw he was looking at me, not the stunning ocean on display. “Do you think our adventure can wait just a little longer?”
“Adventure is a relative word, love. I’m more than happy to get into mischief with you right here and now.”
Ryder pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it to the floor. “Let the exploration begin.”
AFTER WASHING OFF THE TRAVELgrime, we took our time exploring each other. I’d worshiped Lucien’s body many times, but I was still learning new things about him. The latest lesson was discovering how sensitive he was behind his knees when I began my journey of kisses at his ankle and worked my way up toward his delectable ass. Lucien twitched slightly when my lips skimmed over the crease behind his knee.
“Hmm,” I hummed against his flesh, making him squirm. “Here?” I licked across the crease and enjoyed the clench of Lucien’s ass cheeks as he tried and failed not to react. I discovered a light touch tickled and a firmer one made him moan in pleasure. I filed the knowledge away for future use and continued my journey to the promise land.