Protecting Arizona (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) Read online

  He slipped his tongue over hers before sucking it into his mouth and scraping his teeth gently over the surface. Arrows of heat shot straight to her core, making her inner muscles clench and moisture soak her panties.

  Damn!

  She’d hoped that one twenty-four-hour period of unrestrained sex would have gotten him out of her system, but apparently her body had other ideas.

  Razor kept one hand at her cheek, anchoring her head in place, while he slid the other one down her back and over the curve of her ass. When he squeezed her buttocks rhythmically, she had to clench her cheeks to keep from spreading her legs for him where they stood.

  He slid his lips across her cheek until they were pressed to her ear.

  “I’ve thought about you damn near every minute since that night.” His voice was low and rough. “Every time I close my eyes, I see that naked body of yours, a body I want to put my mouth on in every single place. I want to squeeze your tits and bite those hard nipples. Kiss my way down your stomach until I reach that hot, wet slit and drive my tongue inside you. Slide it against those slick walls and drink your juices.”

  “Oh god!” She clutched him, hard, barely able to stand, as much from his words as from the wicked dance of his tongue.

  “If you want me to stop, this is the time to tell me. Because one minute from now all stop signs are gone.”

  “Don’t stop,” she whispered.

  He lifted her in his arms as if she weighed nothing and carried her down the short hallway to her room. Setting her on her feet, he yanked the covers back on her bed. Her clothes were next, his movements impatient as if he couldn’t wait for her to be naked. Seconds later, his own clothes were in a heap on the floor, she was flat in her back on the bed, and he was lying between her thighs, kissing his way down her body.

  “I can’t go slow this time,” he growled. “I’ve waited too long for the chance to do this again.”

  Cupping her breasts in his hands, he squeezed them rhythmically while his tongue traced lines around them and along the valley between them.

  His touch was like the kiss of flame against her skin, his tongue like a trail of fire that she wanted everywhere at once. He didn’t have to nudge her to spread her legs wider as he slowly worked his way down her body to the mound of her sex. As he’d done the other time, he tugged on the curls covering it with his teeth, pulling just hard enough that the slice of pain made her even hotter.

  Pressing the pads of his thumbs against the lips of her sex, he spread them wide, looked long and hard then traced her slit with his tongue from top to bottom. If she’d been on fire before, now she was close to combustion. Just as on that night that was burned forever into her memory, his touch lit her up unlike any other ever in her life. Wherever he touched her with his tongue, the nerves beneath her skin were like tiny pinpricks of fire lighting up her body everywhere.

  They had barely begun, and already she could feel the force of an orgasm gathering deep inside her. The slightly rough surface of his tongue was like an electric wire as he lightly dragged it along her inner lips When he closed his teeth around her aching clit, she had to grab the sheet to steady herself.

  “More, more, more,” she chanted.

  The husky laugh vibrated against her skin, driving her crazy and heating her up even more.

  “More what?” His voice teased and taunted.

  “You know,” she told him. “You know what I want.”

  “Uh uh uh. Not until you tell me,” he teased. “Be terrible if I made a mistake.”

  “Please,” she begged, grabbing his head and pressing it harder against her core.

  He gave that rough laugh again that vibrated in every nerve. Then, before she even realized it, he bent her legs and spread them wide, wrapped his fingers around her wrists to hold her hands still, and began to lap her opening and the soft flesh around it with hard, measured strokes of his tongue.

  She tried to squeeze her thighs together, trapping his head, but his shoulders prevented her from doing this. He kept her there, wide open, unable to do anything except ride the wave after wave of sensations that cascaded through her. Each time she felt the climax about to burst forth, he backed off, leaving her vibrating with need and frustration.

  “Please,” she begged again.

  “Please what?”

  When she didn’t answer, he backed off and nipped the inside of one thigh.

  “Oh god. Please,” she begged again.

  “Your wish is my command. Just tell me what you want.”

  “I want your tongue inside me.” She almost shouted the words.

  “Tell me what I want to hear,” he prodded.

  She was vibrating with tension and need by now, half out of her mind, willing to say and do anything if he would just let her reach that orgasm.

  “I want you to eat me until I come.” She practically screamed the words.

  “Well.” His chuckle was rough and deep. “See there? All you had to do was ask.”

  And he proceeded to do just that, licking and sucking and nibbling on every bit of her sex until she was out of her mind. And until he released her wrists, spread wide the lips of her sex, and thrust his tongue deep inside. As he plunged his tongue in and out, he tormented her clit with his fingers, driving her right to the brink of release and finally, finally let her come.

  “Now, baby,” he told her in that gruff, sexy voice. “That’s it. Let me see you come. Let me taste your sweet, sweet liquid. Better than any drink I’ve ever had.”

  His words were a potent aphrodisiac, more arousing than anything he did, and she exploded. That was the only word for it. Inner muscles convulsed, nerves twitched, and the mother of all orgasms roared through her body. He pressed her into the bed while he continued to lick and suck, until the last quiver and spasm had died down and she was a limp dishrag.

  “Best sex ever,” he murmured.

  She didn’t even care if he was telling the truth. It just gave her a feeling of warmth and peace that she needed right now. This man did something to her, touched something deep inside her, and she was afraid to even think what it might be.

  Just enjoy it, Arizona. Don’t think. Don’t think at all.

  She’d started to close her eyes when Razor kissed his way up to her mouth.

  “Hold on here, darlin.’” He pressed his lips to a corner of her mouth. “We’re far from done here. Not even close.”

  Arizona drew in a deep lungful of air as Razor turned her over, lifted her to her knees, and thrust pillows beneath her to support her body. She had just drawn a steady breath when she felt his fingers stroking her sex from behind, lightly pinching the lips, tugging on her clit then sliding his fingers deep inside her.

  “Nice and wet.” His voice was rich with satisfaction. “Just the way I like it.”

  He was gone for a moment, and then he was back. She heard the rip of tinfoil and knew he was sliding on a condom.

  “Get ready, darlin’,” he told her. “Here we go.”

  His cock felt so very thick as he eased it inside her, stretching her to the limit, pushing forward until he was fully seated. He filled every inch of her and then some. He held himself still while she adjusted to him. Then, with his hands on her hips to hold her in place, he began that steady in-and-out movement, now slower, now faster, until there was no slow at all.

  And despite the fact she’d moments before had an orgasm, she felt her body respond and another one building fast inside her. In and out, back and forth, faster and faster, his thick shaft filling every inch of her, scraping her inner walls, driving her crazy.

  “Now, Arizona.” His voice was low and tight. “Come now.”

  As if his words released a lock inside her, spasms shook her, inner walls convulsed, grabbing his throbbing cock as he pulsed inside her over and over. It seemed to go on forever, her flesh gripping him, his hard shaft driving into her again and again as he rose out the last of the convulsions.

  At last they collapsed, the pillows holding
her up, Razor’s body lying on hers, keeping her in place. She could feel his heart beating where his chest pressed against her back. The heat of his body against hers. The whisper of air as his breath touched her ear where his lips stroked a light kiss.

  She could tell he caught most of his weight on his knees so he didn’t lie too heavy on her, which was a good thing because for the moment, at least, she couldn’t have moved if her life depended on it. Finally, he eased from her body and placed a kiss on each cheek of her ass.

  “Be right back.”

  She heard him move off to the bathroom to dispose of the condom. Then he was back, lying beside her and cradling her up against his body. She was so exhausted she could hardly move, but it was a pleasant exhaustion. If not for the urgency of her situation, she was sure she could lie here forever. And maybe indulge in more spectacular sex. She had never been with a man who reached inside her the way Razor did. Who seemed to know which buttons to push and how to bring her maximum satisfaction.

  She wanted to do the same for him. Somehow before he left town she’d make sure she did.

  Left town?

  She hated to think of him leaving and hated that she felt that way. No strings. That was her mantra. There was no reason to change it now, was there?

  “I smell your brain burning.” He deep voice vibrated in her ear. “Must mean my performance fell a little short.”

  She gave herself a mental shake and pushed all those thoughts back into the furthest corner of her mind.

  “Not even a tiny bit. Maybe I was thinking of the things I want to do to you when we get the garbage out of the way.”

  He laughed. “One can hope.” Then he turned her to face him and looked hard into her eyes. “We’re going to get Ruby. Count on it.”

  “Okay.” She swallowed a sigh. “I’m going to believe you.”

  “Meanwhile, much as I hate to say it, I think we need to get up and get dressed. You know your boss will be calling back before too long to tell us what he’s found out.”

  “Maybe the cops have arrested Vasquez,” she said in a hopeful voice, “and we can just go to the house and scoop Ruby up.”

  “I don’t think it’s going to be that simple, Arizona, but he might have some ideas to share.”

  They showered quickly, doing their best to ignore that naked proximity made her nipples pebble and Razor’s cock swell and stand at attention. They had just finished dressing when Arizona’s phone rang.

  She looked at the screen. “It’s Joaquin.”

  “Okay. Let’s see what he has to say.”

  Chapter 9

  For Luca Vasquez, the day had stretched interminably. He was playing so many roles at once he worried he’d forget who he was in any given situation. Grieving husband. Concerned father, irate citizen—he thought it was a good thing he’d been roleplaying his entire life. It was a good thing he was an accomplished actor because it was all that allowed him to keep a lid on his control at the moment.

  “What do you mean they lost her again?” He wanted to jump through the phone and grab Octavio and shake him. How could his trusted segundo fuck up like this?

  A long pause. “We know where he is.”

  “What the fuck does that mean?”

  “I had one of the cars wait down the street from her house. I knew they had to come back sooner or later, and I figured we’d pick them up then.”

  “You were that sure?” They could be anywhere by now. Fucking assholes. “And?” Vasquez could barely contain his impatience.

  “And the car did return, but they could see only the man was in it. He was driving.”

  If he’d had the strength, Vasquez would have yanked out the steering wheel and tossed it through the windshield. How was it possible things kept getting worse?

  “Have you made any progress identifying this man with her?”

  Octavio shook his head. “We are working on it, but it’s as if he’s a ghost. None of the usual programs are producing anything.”

  “Then get another program. I don’t care. Just find our who he is and find her. And Octavio? When it gets dark, tell them to find a way without exposing themselves to see if she snuck into the house.”

  “And how should they do that.”

  “Fucking figure it out. If she’s there, here is what they should do when they confirm she’s there.”

  He disconnected the call and barely restrained himself from throwing the cell phone out the window. His life seemed to be unraveling along with his hard-fought control. He punched the code on the remote, and the gates in front of his house swung open.

  He had headed directly home from the morgue, immediately gathering his household staff and giving them the news about Florida. He thought he deserved some kind of award for the acting job he did as the shocked, bereaved husband. Fernanda, the housekeeper, immediately made the sign of the cross and then burst into tears. She had adored Florida and would take this hard. The others were properly distraught and offered their condolences.

  “Who could have done such a thing?” Mateo, who sometimes drove him and acted as bodyguard, was obviously distressed.

  Vasquez sighed. “Mateo, I wish to hell I knew. The only thing I can think of is that some of my enemies, jealous of our successes, killed my beloved wife and left her where they did to create a false impression. That, for example, she was meeting another man at the motel, and he killed her. They would do anything to damage me.”

  “Will the policía be coming here?” Fernanda asked.

  “Yes. I would say, as a matter of fact, they should be here any time now.” He looked at his watch and nodded. “Yes. Any time.”

  “What should we tell them?” Mateo asked.

  “The truth. That I loved my wife, that she was a wonderful mother, and that we have no idea who could have done this. And now I must go upstairs and see my daughter.”

  He was not looking forward to that. And it turned out to be as difficult as he’d expected.

  “But how did she die, Papa?” the child kept asking. “We went for a ride and I fell asleep in the car. When I woke up, I was back here at home, and Mama was not here. Please tell me what happened.”

  “I wish I could, my sweet child, but I know nothing. The police are looking into it, and I hope they have something to tell us soon.”

  “But I want my mama.” Ruby burst into tears.

  “I know you do.” Vasquez was sitting on the edge of the bed. He lifted the little girl up and sat her on his lap. “But I will do my best to be both mama and papa to you. And I will always be here for you.”

  He started to say something else, but his cell phone buzzed in his pocket. He looked at the readout. Octavio. Now what? He set his daughter on her bed and walked out of the room before answering it.

  “I hope you have good news,” he told the other man.

  “I only wish it was so. I fear one of my teams has been fooled.”

  “Fooled?” Vasquez’s jar tightened. “In what way?”

  He listened as Octavio related how the teams lost the car they’d been following. That when they picked it up again, only the man was inside it. That he was now in the house with no sign of the woman.

  “Mierda!” Nothing was going right. “Is everyone working for me an idiot? Find her. Right now. Everyone had better pray she hasn’t slipped off to go talk to the police. If she has, we are all in trouble.”

  “I have relayed that exact message,” Octavio assured him. “I have given them specific direction s on what to do.”

  “At least we can be sure the DEA has put off their raid a little. I don’t think they want to be seen interrupting a funeral to arrest me.”

  “I will contact our source and get an update,” the other man assured him.

  “Meanwhile, head down to the dealership. Let’s get everything loaded into the motor homes and ready to roll as soon as we get the word.”

  “You don’t want to send them out a few at a time?”

  “No. If they know this much about me
, they know all the homes roll the same day. If we try to change anything they’ll be suspicious, more than they already are. Just do it the same way as always, but be prepared for instant departure.”

  “Si!”

  “And I want everything passed along to me on a regular basis,” Vasquez insisted.

  “You will have it.”

  “We’ve already had this conversation,” Octavio pointed out.

  “And we’ll have it as many times as I think necessary while this shitstorm is happening.

  At that moment the doorbell rang. He waited in the upstairs hallway while Fernanda answered it. Moments later, she was upstairs.

  “It is la policía, “ she told him. “Just as you predicted. They asked to speak to you at once. I seated them in the living room where they are now waiting.”

  “Thank you. I will be right down. Could you stay with Ruby while I take care if this?”

  “Of course, Senor Vasquez.”

  She hustled into his daughter’s room while he descended the stairs. The same two detectives were waiting for him.

  “Sorry to bother you at a time like this,” Trainor told him. “We have some further questions. For example, did you know your wife’s sister works for the DEA?

  Vasquez did his best to look shocked. “The DEA?”

  “Yes. We understand she works for the DEA. How much contact did Senora Vasquez have with her?”

  Don’t react. Sell them the lie. I can do it.

  “I was not aware that my wife much contact t with her at all. I think the sister was very jealous of Florida and that disturbed the relationship.”

  “And she never mentioned invited her to the house?” Trainor persisted.

  “Never? She didn’t even invite her to the wedding?”

  “No and no.”

  Trainor and Burnell exchanged glances.

  “I’m surprised you didn’t investigate her thoroughly before you married her,” Trainor said, “a man with your position and wealth.”

  Vasquez was barely holding on at this point. “Obviously something I’ll regret for a long time. So, have you picked her up? I told you I think perhaps she is the one who killed Florida. Possibly out of jealousy.”