Page 75 of Javier

“Perhaps you’d prefer one at a time,” Pierre suggested, sensing my hesitation. “Or one after the other. However you like, we will make sure to give you pleasure so that you will forever remember our adventure together.”

Dear God.

I gulped down so hard I feared the men heard my croak. They’d made me a proposition. It was obscene and lewd, but also a test and a dare for the new me. It was exciting and absolutely terrifying at the same time. Not one man. Two.

Affie would be so proud of me.

I glanced at the guys. They were waiting for my answer with open faces. No lies, no tricks, and a straightforward proposal. Their honesty was disarming, and yet I was nervous. I repressed my need to wring my hands. The guys knew what they wanted. An adventure within their adventure. A sexual exploration. With me.

DidIknow what I wanted?

My thoughts shot back to Javier. I wasn’t going to get what I wanted.

“Miranda,ma belle femme,” Pierre said. “Do you have an answer for us?”

“Our time here is coming to a close,” Gerard reminded me. “Speak your mind. We shall do whatever you desire. We shall also respect your decision.”

What I desired was out of my reach.

“Tonight.” My voice sounded surprisingly strong as the men exchanged gleeful glances. “I’ll make my decision tonight.”

A decision I hoped I wouldn’t regret.

***

Javier

Allen found me at the bar, nursing a shot of whiskey. Missy was at the pool within my sights, and so was her security guard. Shewas deep in conversation with the Frenchmen. I ground my jaw. I didn’t like it one damn bit.

Rozina sat on the stool next to me, wearing a white, transparent bathing suit that displayed her sensual curves and highlighted every detail of her fit body. Her nipples poked through the thin fabric like a pair of big eyes staring at me. She was trying to nudge me out of my foul mood with all kinds of flirting and a brazen offer to share some afternoon delights. We could go all night, too, she’d added, batting her eyelashes at me.

It was good that Allen interrupted Rozina’s frontal attack when he did, not because I was tempted or I was gonna fuck the detective. By now, I knew, just as she should know, that it wasn’t gonna happen. Allen was talking to me, but I could hardly hear the resort’s chief of security over the bar ruckus and all the ranting and raging going on in my head. I’d been an idiot last night.

Who walks away from a perfectly willing, wet, and ready woman except for a complete and total moron? Who does that shit, especially when that woman’s flavor, scent, and the memories of her lovely pussy are still fresh in one’s mind? What kind of screwed up imbecile passed up his chance at his dream woman when she was the exquisite, incredible Missy?

Me. Goddammit.I gritted my teeth.Fuck me.

And for what reason? To be noble? To show professionalism and earn whose respect? Because I was riddled with guilt? To be a good person, kind and fair to the seductress who turned my dick into a goddamn monolith every single time my gaze fell on her?

I inhaled a calming breath that did nothing to cool my temper.

Okay, so Missy wasn’t a seductress, but her kindness and innocence were like nuclear weapons against my defenses. That she wanted me, had said so, shown me so, and trustedme with her body, only made everything harder, including my hyperactive dick.

“Excuse me.” Allen’s rottweiler’s face interrupted the despair ravaging my mind. “Did younothear what I said?”

“Yeah, sorry.” How long could I keep operating like this? “What do you need?”

“I don’t need shit,” the old Marine snapped. “You’ve got a call. I figure you’ll want to take it in my office.”

A call. Fuck. Hell, yes! A phone call.

I pushed up from my stool, stalked away from the bar, and marched to Allen’s office. It was the all clear. It had to be. We were gonna go home. Now. Before I screwed up with Missy. The gods were good. The universe had given me a break. I grabbed the receiver and pressed it to my ear.

“Go,” I said.

“Listen to me very carefully,” Micah Bozeman’s baritone reverberated in my head. Hell, it resonated in my guts, as well. “We are under attack and unable to come to your assistance. Your partner is MIA.”

King was out of contact.Holy fucking shit. “And his cargo?”

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