Dangerously Deceived Read online

  What if he hadn’t?

  VAUGHN TILTED HIS head listened for movement or voices, but heard nothing. What did he think he was going to hear through a wall with the shower running?

  Carla was next door.

  This was technically her room.

  Her things were in all the drawers, hanging in the closet and lined up on the vanity. Her stamp was everywhere. He was beginning to see her touch where others weren’t. It was in the absolute cleanliness, the smoothed comforter, the picture perfect arrangement of toiletries. Even in the shower she’d positioned her bottles of shampoo and soap so they were visually appealing.

  And he was supposed to sleep in here?

  Not fucking likely.

  He’d had a hard enough time ignoring her this morning while in the company of Melody. Just Carla’s nearness distracted him. It was frustrating, sexually and professionally. He’d worked around women he was in an intimate relationship with before with no problem. He’d always been able to get his job done and keep it work and pleasure separate. But Carla was a full on stop sign. Nothing else mattered when she was around.

  There was no way he could sleep in this room no matter what Melody told him. He’d go sleep on the sofa if he had to.

  He wrapped his hand around his cock and gave it a tug. Maybe what he needed was release. Rub one out and perhaps he’d be able to think again. Except even with the soap and warm water it wasn’t appealing. Not when Carla was in the next room.

  Screw it.

  All he needed was to pass out. Maybe when he woke up things would be clearer.

  He turned off the shower and shook the water out of his hair. That done, he swiped the fluffy towel over the rest of his body, ignoring his cock. They both wanted the same forbidden fruit, and that wasn’t happening.

  The suite door creaked opened. One hinge had a tiny groan to it. He cocked his head to the side and listened for Melody or one of the guys to announce themselves, but no such warning came.

  Carla?

  His skin prickled at the thought of her in the same room with him again.

  Vaughn stepped out of the bathroom onto the plush carpet. But it wasn’t the cushy floor that had him marveling in man’s creation. It was the shapely beauty hovering in the doorway, her eyes locked on him, brows lifted and lips parted as though she were surprised to see him.

  “This isn’t exactly subtle,” she said in a voice gone husky.

  “Melody said you were...” His mind blanked before he could fill in the rest of that sentence.

  Yeah, he didn’t want to think about where she’d been.

  Carla sauntered forward, a slow smile taking over.

  In a way, he liked her clean faced and in rumpled, day old clothes better than the make-up doll she presented every other time.

  She stopped and lifted her hand, touching him with just the tips of her fingers against his chest.

  He stared down into her eyes, losing himself. Every instinct said to grab her, hold her, kiss her senseless. But he couldn’t. Not unless he was sure she wanted it. This whole situation was far too tricky.

  “What am I going to do with the man in my bedroom, hm?” Her lips curved up into a mischievous smile. “Did you make that list?”

  “What?”

  “Your list of ideas?”

  That sounded vaguely familiar. It was hard to recall when he was busy watching her lips move.

  They stood there like that for a moment, her touching him, staring at each other.

  “Vaughn?”

  “Yeah?” It was a struggle to speak.

  “Did you change your mind or something?”

  “Huh?”

  She dropped her hand to her side. Heat flared in her eyes and not the good kind. “Go to bed.”

  “Wait.” He grasped her hand.

  She frowned at the point of contact, but didn’t pull away from him. He lifted her knuckles to his lips and kissed one, then the next, then the next.

  “You’re all I’ve been thinking about. Not sure this isn’t a dream.” And he’d been up long enough for his mind to go a little funny.

  “Is that some kind of line?” She planted her free hand on her hip.

  “No, but how’s this? Do your legs hurt from running through my dreams all night?” He grinned at her.

  Carla sputtered and laughed. The hostility evaporated and was replaced by warmth. He tugged on her and she took a step toward him then another until they were almost chest to chest.

  He had a good feeling she hadn’t changed her mind about them.

  Where had they left off?

  He bent his head, and she tipped her chin up as natural as though they did this all the damn time.

  “Did you lock the door?” he whispered.

  “No.”

  He pressed his lips to hers in a chaste kiss. “I’m going to lock it.”

  “That sounds promising.”

  “Only if you decide to stay.”

  “It’s my room. Are you staying?” She took a step back toward the bed, one hand on her hip and gave him that sassy smile.

  “Oh, hell yeah.”

  Vaughn turned and stalked toward the bedroom door. He twisted the flimsy lock into place. It wasn’t enough to keep anyone out, but it would at least give the guy’s pause before bursting in. A locked door was a clear sign.

  He turned back to Carla. She stood at the foot of the bed, watching him over her shoulder. Her shirt hung from her fingertips. The corner of her mouth quirked up and she let the garment flutter to the floor.

  One moment he was at the door, the next he had his hands on Carla. He turned her in place so she faced him.

  In the back of his head he knew he should be smooth, say the right thing, but his hands had other ideas. He yanked at the button on her pants then pushed them down without bothering with the silly excuse for a zipper. Carla gasped then chuckled, shimmying her hips as he stripped her of both her pants and panties down to her thighs. Satisfied with the access, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him, taking her mouth in a proper kiss. She arched her back and wound her arms around his neck, meeting him with all the warmth and need he’d hoped for. He pressed his knee between hers and cupped her mound.

  She jolted at his touch and her nails scraped his skin, but she didn’t pull away from him. Instead she tugged at the towel, wrestling it from around his hips until she could toss it to the ground. Her eagerness only made him want her more.

  He pivoted, putting her back to the bed, then tipped her backward.

  Carla sat down with a tantalizing bounce, her breasts jiggling. Her face was flushed and her eyes sparkled. She didn’t just want him, she was having fun. And that was ten times hotter.

  She reached for him, wrapping her hand around his cock. Once again Carla knew what she wanted and took it. He could appreciate a woman like that. But he couldn’t withstand her touch much longer. Their quickie in the plane had only stoked his appetite and now he intended to have his fill.

  Vaughn grasped her by the wrists and bent, kissing her lips. He leaned over her, forcing her to lie on her back with him held over her. He released one wrist and stroked his fingers down her chest and over the swells of her breasts.

  The hours he could spend right there were countless.

  He pushed up and grabbed her pants, pulling them down her legs.

  Carla seemed to catch his urgency. He’d like nothing more than to take his time, but during an op there were only so many hours to split ten different ways. If she let him, he’d make this up to her another time.

  She scooted up the bed a bit then sat up and with a move so quick he wasn’t sure what magic she did, her bra was off and sailing toward the floor.

  “Condoms, nightstand.” She pointed to the left of the bed.

  Vaughn reached over and sure enough she had a little stash at the ready. He grabbed one, ripped it open and rolled it on.

  He stared down at her lying on her side, watching him. “One day we’re going to spend a lot of
time in a bed.”

  “Are we now?”

  “Yeah.” Maybe he was being too cocky, but to hell with it. This felt too good to only happen once.

  She grinned at him. “Okay.”

  He crawled across the bed toward her. “I’m on top this time.”

  “Then get over here.” She tugged on his arm.

  He dropped his head, kissing her and losing himself in the forbidden feel of her body. All that smooth, soft skin.

  She smoothed her hands down his sides. “I like hard and fast, in case you’re wondering.”

  “Good. Because I’m not much use for anything else.”

  “Then stop talking and start fucking.”

  “Anyone ever tell you that you’ve got a dirty mouth?”

  “I haven’t even started talking dirty.” She grinned up at him.

  He nudged her mound with his cock and she groaned, shifting her hips with him.

  Hot damn. The very air felt charged and heavy with lust.

  Vaughn reached between them, grasped his erection and guided himself to her opening. She moaned and undulated her hips, taking the first inch or so into her. He squeezed his eyes shut and took a breath. When was the last time he had to get control of himself so he didn’t come like a kid?

  That was what Carla did to him. It was this thing he couldn’t explain, and he dug it.

  He opened his eyes and found her watching him. Her eyes had gone dark, her lips glossy from their kisses. He bumped her nose with his and rolled his hips, easing into her wet heat with a groan. It was like slipping on a glove made for him.

  Her thighs squeezed him and her hands pressed into his lower back, urging him deeper.

  “You feel so good,” she murmured.

  “Me? You’re so damn wet.” His control was fraying.

  He pushed up just a bit and thrust. Her back arched, pushing her breasts against his chest.

  Fuck, she was beautiful.

  He bent his head and kissed the base of her throat.

  “Vaughn.” She said his name laced with need.

  He withdrew and thrust in earnest, feeling her from root to tip.

  Carla raked her nails down his back. “Oh—again. Yeah.”

  He pushed up, the better to stare down at her. Carla’s hair was spread out on the bed. The pale blankets gave her skin a golden glow. He wanted to picture her like this for all time; eyes dilated with lust, lips swollen, reaching for him. He worked his hips, driving into her, watching the way pleasure creased and smoothed her face. Her soft body shuddered with each thrust.

  This was too rough. She was inching up the bed to the point she had a hand braced on the headboard.

  Vaughn took a deep breath and plunged into her, then stopped. He bent his head and kissed her.

  Carla’s nails dug into his ass and she bucked her hips.

  “Don’t you dare fucking stop now,” she practically snarled. “I’m going to come so hard.”

  Damn. This was a woman he could love.

  He smothered his chuckle by kissing her neck.

  She liked it hard? He’d give it to her.

  Vaughn slid an arm around her waist, the better to hold her in place. He loosened the tight grip on his control and for a moment shut his eyes, allowing himself to feel the biting need answered by her sharp little nails. He pulled back and thrust deeper, harder. Carla’s eyes fluttered wide and her lips parted. Her hands gripped his biceps and her chest heaved. He lost himself in the tight feel of her body, the way she held on for dear life.

  “Oh, fuck me. Fuck me,” Carla chanted.

  She tossed her head back and her body seemed to bow. Her heels drove into his ass and she clenched tight around him. All at once, his world went fuzzy. Bursts of white filled his vision, and he dropped his head, burying his face in her hair, groaning his release.

  For a moment everything was pleasure so good it hurt. He sucked down oxygen, vaguely aware of her kissing his cheek and temple. It felt as though she’d wrung his very life out of his cock, leaving behind an empty husk of a man in his place.

  Carla prodded his ribs. “Not to ruin the moment, but I really have to breathe.”

  “Sorry,” he muttered and rolled to his side.

  Carla chuckled went with him so that they lay face to face. She took his hand and laced their fingers together. “I guess being on bottom isn’t so bad.”

  He snorted, words beyond him. Between the orgasm and exhaustion, he was shutting down.

  She leaned in and kissed him. “Don’t fall asleep yet. You need to clean up.”

  “I thought you liked cleaning,” he mumbled.

  “Seriously?” she sighed.

  “I’m messing with you. Let me catch my breath?” He pulled her over for a deep kiss.

  She lifted her head just a bit. “Did that help?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  She grinned at him, so damn sexy. He wanted to keep her like this for all time.

  Her phone chimed, breaking the moment and reminding them both that there was a world out there.

  “I need to get that,” she said against his lips.

  “In a minute.” He kissed her again.

  She chuckled and allowed him to pull her on top of him, never breaking contact.

  This woman was dangerous to him and he didn’t care.

  “You need to sleep,” she muttered against him.

  “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” He palmed her ass, rather enjoying this naked and horizontal time.

  Her phone began to vibrate from the pile of her clothes.

  She sighed and pushed up, her hair falling over one shoulder. “I really have to get that.”

  Reality was a cruel mistress.

  “Go. I’ll...” He gestured at himself.

  Maybe he could convince her to nap a bit? Or was that too risky?

  Carla crawled off the bed and snatched up her phone. He swung his legs over the side and pushed to his feet. The room tilted a little.

  Yeah, he needed sleep something bad. At least he wouldn’t wake up looking for news from home.

  Vaughn glanced at Carla. She had her phone to her ear and had retreated to the windows, speaking in a hushed voice. It shouldn’t bother him. They were all allowed their privacy. And yet he didn’t like her closing him out of whatever was going on.

  He forced himself to cross the room to the bathroom and push the door shut a bit. He could take a hint.

  What the heck was wrong with him? Why this woman?

  Had he figured out answers to his questions during the over-night shift?

  No.

  Then why bother with the endless cycle?

  The best thing to do was enjoy what he got while he had it and sort the rest out later. That was his typical MO. And yet, the idea of not knowing what that end would be bothered him.

  “Tonight?” Carla’s surprised tone cut through his mental noise.

  He leaned back, peering through the crack and watched Carla pace.

  What was happening tonight?

  10.

  Sunday. Safe House, Beirut, Lebanon.

  Vaughn stood up against the glass where he could see the entire condo without having to turn his head. The coffee teased his nose while his mind was still waking up.

  He’d come downstairs as the day search teams were returning. The priority was comparing notes and compiling information for what their evening focus would be when it came to going out into the city.

  About the only thing Vaughn could contribute was his observations on their lobby manager’s presence. The man had opted to not wear a suit jacket tonight.

  They were going to find Jared, one way or another.

  Vaughn’s gaze went back to the stairs.

  He’d noticed the light on under Ashton’s door. In the half hour or so that he’d been downstairs he hadn’t seen either Carla or Ashton.

  She hadn’t been the same after her phone call. Distracted and rushed were the words he’d use to describe her then. He’d fallen asleep while she was
in the shower and when he’d woken up, she’d been gone.

  “How’s it hanging?” Jamie Silva from Troy Team slapped palms with Vaughn.

  “Not bad. When did you guys get in?” Vaughn inwardly groaned. Jamie was another guy who had roots in El Paso and their families moved in similar circles.

  “Noonish? I think?” Jamie shrugged. “Your family doing okay?”

  “Yeah.” Vaughn wasn’t going to volunteer information about his brother. Mom wouldn’t want it talked about. “You have any luck out there today?”

  “Hard to say.” Jamie grimaced. “I wish you’d have called us in earlier. This might be wrapped up already.”

  Vaughn held his tongue. He understood why Grant had made the calls he did even if he didn’t agree with them. But Vaughn wasn’t going to break rank and talk shit about his Team Leader to anyone else. Even another Aegis Team member.

  “Where are the clients?” Vaughn frowned and glanced around, making a show of only just now noticing they were absent.

  “Upstairs? Just a guess. I haven’t yet seen or met them.”

  Vaughn nodded while his insides tightened up.

  There were good reasons Carla was up there. Like work.

  Yeah, Vaughn’s caveman brain wasn’t thrilled with that answer, even if it was the truth.

  Jamie edged closer and nodded at where Grant and Melody sat across from each other at the table, their heads together. “They seem to be getting along better.”

  “Yeah, well, they’re professionals.”

  “I heard they used to scream at each other.”

  “What the fuck?” Vaughn scowled at Jamie. “What are we? The gossip corner?”

  Jamie straightened. “Sorry, man.”

  “They’re both passionate about the job and doing it right. So yeah, sometimes that means they butt heads. We all do because we fucking care.”

  Jamie held up his hands and took a step away. “My bad.”

  “Circle up, everyone,” Grant called out and stood.

  Vaughn shifted his attention to his Team Leader, which gave him a nice view of the stairs. The rest of their now expanded team gathered around the dining table.

  “First, food will be here in a few minutes. We’re going to have to grab and go.” Grant turned his laptop around so most could see it. “Nolan and Riley got some promising leads in this area. It’s not far from where we got a hit on our asset yesterday. Our plan tonight is going to be observation, scope the area out, get a look at some of our possible hiding spots.”