Page 16 of Temptation and Treachery
“Well, some of us are smart enough to keep at it.” Bud slapped the keys on the counter and gave him a pointed look. “And I didn’t take you fer no fool, son.”
“Things are what they are, Bud.” He scooped up the key ring and took the proffered hand. “Thanks for everything.”
“Hope things work out.”
Rio adjusted the bag over his shoulder, heading to the lot next to the building. A solitary vehicle sat in the fourth slot, waiting for him. He unlocked the SUV, tossing his bag in the passenger’s seat before getting in. For once, he didn’t do a preliminary check. In fact, he hadn’t bothered to look around on the way out the building. Right now, he didn’t give a damn about anything that might happen to him.
Pulling out of the airport, he headed toward town, conscious of the ticking clock. By sundown he’d be walking away from her and everything that happened in the last eighteen hours. Every smile. Every touch. Every emotion that flashed across her beautiful face. He’d touched her, memorizing every soft, tempting inch of her. Enjoying the way her body tightened. Undulated. Hot, wet, and needy just for him. He never thought those images would come back to haunt him.
Ahead, a crossing guard came down by the railroad tracks while a faraway whistle cut through the air. He’d just driven close to three miles without a conscious thought of his surroundings. The train caught up to the crossing, leaving him to sit and watch the lights alternating on the cross-guard. The line of faded boxcars stretched out into the distance, the end blocked by an oversize stop sign.
Shaking himself, he took stock. He should grab Celeste and go to Houston, but what he wanted was another night in Breman. For a few hours, he’d learned what it was to be happy. Lighthearted. A word nobody had ever used to describe him. But it was true. He traced it back to when Celeste admitted she was apprehensive because of a new experience, not having second thoughts.
He’d stayed in bed for hours. Holding her. Listening to the sound of her even breathing. Watching as she lay there, relaxed, boneless, in a deep, motionless sleep after hours of intense, searing-hot sex. A canvas so wonderfully open and innocent that he could hardly believe she existed.
She’d been adorable, worried they’d get a noise complaint. So he’d used his newly found knowledge of her body and hit her tickle spots until she was dissolving in a fit of giggles. Laughter had come so easily. Then the neighbor’s bed squeaked, and a low moan filtered through the wall. Wide-eyed, she’d slapped a hand over her mouth.
“Oh my God,” she’d whispered. “Do you think they heard us? Is that how we sounded?”
He’d pretended to think about it. “No. I think it was more like this.” And he’d pounced, ready to show her they weren’t going to be outdone.
Fuck. He slouched back in the seat, hitting the cushioned headrest. Above him, tucked into the visor, sat a safety list with Bud’s name clearly written at the bottom, next to yesterday’s date and time. Eight seventeen. He could’ve been on the road last night. Something sharp pierced his chest. No, he refused to think about what he’d been doing at eight seventeen last night, or where he’d anchored her leg. And those damn purrs.
I’m an idiot.It was one of the few times his head wasn’t in sync with his instincts.
His head knew his job, and his life, didn’t include room for a woman. Never had. And he’d thought it never would… His instincts, which kept him alive, safe, and whole, screamed for him to stop so loudly, the letters seemed to stand out from the big, red sign. The fact he’d be leaving Celeste had been clawing at the back of his mind since he’d seen her sitting in bed, wrapped in the sheet.
The image of her, eyes widening in realization, flashed through his head. You don’t have to hide here, Celeste. Nobody knows you, not even me. Yeah, what an eye opener, when she figured out she didn’t have to be her everyday self. Not here, not with him. His self-deprecating scoff echoed off the roof. Pendejo, because the word idiot didn’t offer enough self-loathing to satisfy him.
He put the gear to park and pulled out his cell phone. “Yeah.” Kris, his lead, answered on the first ring, unintelligible voices in the background.
“I’m not coming.” They’d worked together long enough that no preamble was needed.
“Hang on,” he said without missing a beat. “Get out.” Chair legs scuffed. Mumbling. Door closed.
Rio smiled in spite of himself. “You got some way with words.” Silence. But he could picture the dead stare Kris was known for.
“What’s her name?”
Wheels clanked to each side of him, while he smirked at the windshield. Damn, wouldn’t have figured it was that obvious.
“We’re the same cut of bastard, Rio.” Eyebrow raised, Rio nodded to himself. There was no denying the truth. “The only time the job didn’t come first was because of Tessa. And you’ll remember, one of your guys almost shot me in the process.” Kris had reminded him of that fact more than once.
Rio remained silent. Yesterday he would’ve thrown out his usual “shit happens when you break rank”. Today he knew better.
“You’ve had your eye on Ayala ever since shit started with Guerrero. So I have to ask, what would trump you bringing in the head of one of the biggest cartels in Mexico.”
His job had always come first, and tearing down the cartel had been the single most important thing in his life… until now. Until her. The light to his darkness. His angel.
“Celeste,” he said, quietly. “Her name is Celeste.”
The line went silent. He could almost picture Kris processing his words. For a moment he felt a prick at his conscience. But really, he’d been on days off. If he was anyone else he wouldn’t have even been notified.
The last boxcar went by. “All right. Check in when you get back. We’ll see how things are going.”
“Will do.” Relief washed through him, then turned to anticipation. They hung up, and he immediately sent her a text. On my way. As soon as the guard went up he was gone, speeding toward the hotel with a smile on his face and a huge weight off his shoulders.
He pulled into the small parking area and went inside, leaving his bag in the SUV. He suddenly had a craving for something much more luscious. Maybe he’d find Celeste naked, having washed away his scent and everything that happened between them last night. A smile hooked the corner of his lips. There were so many ways he’d mark her all over again. He slipped the keycard in the lock and ducked inside.
