Page 26 of Kings Against the World

Fuck that.

I don’t do short notice summons. If Boone wanted us so damn readily available, then he should’ve made that clear.

Strauss seems to decide the opposite—she’s wrenched her suitcase open and started digging around for an outfit. When she finds what she’s looking for, she stands up straight and crosses her arms, pulling the shirt she’s wearing over her head.

I go still at the smooth brown skin that’s suddenly visible.

She’s only in a very thin,verysheer lacy black bra.

…are those her nipples?

I’ve never been the modesty type. Nudity’s never bothered me. I’ve streaked in public and mooned enough unsuspecting people that I’m the last guy to give a shit about it.

But there’s something about watching Strauss tug her blouse off and throw it to the side that has me staring like a fucking deer in the headlights.

You’d think I’d never seen a nude woman before the way I’m struck dumb, watching in shock as she rushes to change.

Her fingers quickly undo the button on her pants. She slides out of the pair and then reaches for the uniform the bottle girls wear—a short, pleaded skirt and crop top.

Federal Agent Zoe Strauss stands across the room half naked, in nothing but her bra and panties. She has the body of a model and an athlete rolled into one. Fit, toned, smooth, and slim; she’s got no shortage of curves either.

As she turns to shimmy into the pleated skirt, I’m gifted an unobstructed view that makes heat flood my crotch. The curve of her ass looks so damn smackable, so fucking enticing that my hand damn near develops a mind of its own, hoping to cop a feel.

She slides into the sky-high heels, making her already long legs look even more never ending. How long would it take me to run my hands down those silky, shapely dark stems?

I’m damn near in a trance when she finally seems to remember she’s not alone. She spins around to glare at me.

“Are you going to get dressed, Gallagher?” she snaps. “You said it yourself. We should get used to being around each other. There might be times when we… see each other. Now hurry up!”

But her nipples are staring at me.

The two little beads push against the fabric of her crop top and scramble all the words in my brain.

I blink and clear my throat, resentful that I’m fucking hot all over. “Trust me, Strauss… I’ve got no problem with nudity. But you… I’d never expect it.”

She steps in front of the mirror, slipping on a wig cap over her cornrows. Tonight she’s donning a bright, shoulder-length neon-blue wig with bangs.

It just makes her look even sexier. Some hot anime Black chick in a short, pleated skirt straight out of some hentai fantasy.

“You never expect what out of me?” she asks, admiring herself in the mirror.

“Stripping down like nothing. Not that I’m complaining. I enjoyed the view.”

She glares at me in the mirror, though I detect the slightest hint of her lips twitching, like she’s tempted to smile.

Teasing her is quickly becoming one of my favorite past times.

She fights off the smile and then gestures to my duffel bag. “What are you waiting for? Put something decent on!”

“Sure thing, babe. So long as we’re clear; I’m grabbing your ass tonight.”

We make it to the VIP lounge in Azure Sol to discover it’s not the party like Strauss thought. We’ve been asked to attend by Boone because he wants to fill the lounge with people other than his main crew and his new business partner, Carlito Estrada.

Strauss’s boss, Benz, greets us.

“Good, you’re here,” he says. “Jade, you need to start on drink orders.”

She glances at me before nodding at Benz and heading off toward the bar area. Left in uncertain and awkward silence, Benz hacks a phlegmy cough and digs a handkerchief out of his pocket to spit into.

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