Make Me Sweat Read online

  The job she came here to do was done. She’d planted the tiny listening device on the underside of his huge oak desk—the one he’d fucked her on—so it was back to Wes. There was no space on her calendar for a second round of bump and grind with the club owner known for his many varied criminal activities.

  Never mind she was a criminal, too.

  “Ever.”

  Damn it, she blinked again. Ever parted her lips to tell him no, but he kissed her. Fucking man and his kisses. He tasted of her pussy and whiskey. A heady mixture she could get drunk on. She opened wider under his insistent probe and got swept away by that damn tongue of his. Still lodged deep inside her, his cock twitched and she tightened around him.

  He bucked, her hips swiveled, and someone knocked on the door. Ever cursed and rejoiced quietly. Saved from compounding her mistake, now to make a quick exit.

  Dak flipped his heavy dark hair over his shoulder and yelled. “What?”

  The voice of the security guard who’d escorted Ever upstairs came through the door. “That call you’ve been expecting? On line two.”

  Dak signed. “Thanks, Jayce.” Regret shadowed his eyes as he held Ever’s gaze. “I’m sorry, I’ve got to take this.”

  She shrugged. “Do your thing.” With infinite slowness, hoping to prolong the feeling, she eased off his cock, lifting up until they were separated. Fucking torture that. His rough fingers fluttered on her hip as she slid down his body and stood on wobbly feet.

  Blowing her sweaty bangs out of her eyes, Ever offered him a smile. “Point me in the direction of your bathroom and I’m good.”

  Dak jerked his chin, indicating a closed door to her left. She pivoted and he grabbed her arm. “You didn’t answer me earlier.”

  Ever met his eyes over her shoulder. Dark and brooding, they mesmerized her.

  “Spend the night with me.”

  To keep from shouting yes to the rooftops and having Wes declare her more crazy than normal, Ever pursed her lips. “Where do you live?” It wasn’t that she didn’t know where Ian Dakota lived. She and Wes made it a point to know everything about the people they did business with, but some time needed to be bought.

  He named a very affluent neighborhood, and she nodded, shrugging off his hand. “Take your call, I’ll think about it.” She snatched her dress from the floor and hurried to the bathroom.

  Inside the huge, luxurious bathroom, she bolted the door and sagged against it. Stupid. A very stupid move bumping uglies with a potential client. Her sole mission had been to get the bug planted. That way if he needed anything to use against Mr. Dakota, they’d have it at the ready. He didn’t get to be a profitable weapons broker without issuing a few threats and blackmailing a couple people. In fact, she knew first hand how much worse things could get.

  Ian Dakota wanted weapons, and he’d contacted Ever for them, only he didn’t know who she was. He didn’t know the woman he’d fucked was the only person standing between him and the mysterious arms dealer named Ghost.

  Splashing water on her face, Ever fixed her hair back into its original upsweep and stepped into her dress. One last, deep breath then she opened the door and stepped outside. The dimly lit office was quiet, with Dak nowhere in sight, but the gorgeous security guy from earlier stood by the windows.

  “He wants you to wait for him.” He didn’t look in her direction.

  Ever smiled and eyed the well-muscled man in a black t-shirt and faded jeans. He had one of the best asses she’d seen on anyone, not that she’d tell him that. “Jayce, right?”

  Jayce nodded and turned to her, dark glasses covering his eyes. The sharp crew cut gave him a severe appearance, one she suspected he cultivated.

  “Jayce, it’s been a pleasure.” She pulled open the door leading outside and glanced at him over her shoulder. “Kindly tell your boss I wait for no one.” Ever closed the door behind her, drowning out his chuckle. Now to face Wes.

  ****

  Wes was in his office when she let herself into the house they shared. Ever paused by the front door and slipped off her heels. She crept down the cold-tiled basement stairs and into her partner and best friend’s domain. Wes took care of anything computer and electronic related. Ever did the people part. Most days she was good at it. Today she sucked.

  Or rather, Ian Dakota did. Heh.

  She found Wes where he always was, sitting in front a bank of computer monitors, fingers flying over a keyboard, speaking a foreign language rapidly into headphones askew on his head. Walking up to him, she dropped a kiss on his mop of sandy blond hair and flopped down in a chair next to him. Quietly she watched as he finalized terms with an overseas buyer and ended the call.

  When he pulled the headphones off his head, she cocked an eyebrow. “The German?”

  He nodded, his way-too-long hair falling into his eyes. “Slimy fuck didn’t think I knew he was playing me and the Russian dealer off each other.” Rubbing his temples, he narrowed his blue eyes and squinted up at the clock on the wall. “Damn, is it that time already?”

  Ever sighed and got to her feet. “Did you forget to eat again?”

  He flushed. “I was too busy listening to you and Ian Dakota humping.”

  Ouch. She grimaced. “Okay. I know how it looks, but I—”

  Wes jumped to his feet. “What the fuck were you thinking, E? We don’t fuck the clients, especially someone he specifically ordered us to spy on.” Disgust was evident in his voice as he turned away from her and headed back upstairs. But under the disgust, she made out the sharp notes of fear. She knew all too well how he felt. And coming down off her arousing high, she fully admitted sleeping with Dakota had been a shitty idea

  “I know that.” Ever hurried after him. “I’m sorry, Wes…would you please stop?”

  He braked in the middle of the kitchen and shoved his fingers through his hair. His eyes blazed. “You could’ve jeopardized us, put us back on his shit list. Not that we’re ever really off. Was it worth it?”

  She’d never seen Wes so riled up. And he was right, of course. Touching his shirtsleeve, she assured him, “It shouldn’t have happened. I’m sorry. He wanted me to spend the night with him, but I said no. I couldn’t—”

  Her friend snorted. “Should I give you a medal then? Reward you for turning down a second go round?”

  Ever’s mouth hung open. “What? No. I’m just telling you I turned him down.”

  Wes stared at her. She broke their gaze, looking over his shoulder. Those crystal clear eyes always saw way too much. Wes knew her better than anyone. If he saw what she was feeling—

  “You like him,” Wes whispered.

  Her gaze flew to his face. Shock widened his eyes. “I enjoyed myself with him,” she corrected in an even tone. “Like had nothing to do with it.”

  “My ass.” Wes pulled a bottle of orange juice from the fridge and swallowed half of it. “You want him. I can see it in your face.” He placed the juice back in the fridge and met her stare. “You know your eyes can’t lie to me.”

  Ever gulped and walked into the living room, Wes on her heels. She plopped down on the couch and flung an arm over her eyes. Wes sat beside her, rubbing her knee.

  “You know what I think?”

  She groaned. “Do I dare ask?”

  He chuckled. “I think it’s been way too long since we both had some fun. We should go out tomorrow night.”

  “What are you talking about?” She lowered her arm. “You had fun with Luke, didn’t you?”

  Wes waved her words away. “Luke had his moments, but he couldn’t deal with having a lover who got calls at all times of the day and night.” His lips twisted. “And of course I couldn’t tell him what’s really going on.”

  “Well, of course not.” Ever cupped his cheek. “The last time I got laid was on that trip we took to the Caribbean almost a year ago. We’re two lost causes, aren’t we?”

  Wes kissed her palm. “Not quite. Something about Dakota called to you.” He curled up next to her. “What
was it?”

  Ever laid her head on his shoulder and thought over Wes’s words. What was it about Dakota that called to her?

  “His confidence,” she said. “He wore it like a custom-made suit. He’s gorgeous with that Native-American flavor.” Her voice lowered. “Black on black, Wes. His hair, all long and flowing, and those eyes. Black as sin.”

  A laugh rumbled in Wes’s chest. “I’d say you’ve got it pretty bad for our prospective new client.”

  “Why did he have to be our client? He can buy guns from anyone, why does he need the Ghost? And speaking of which.” She sat up. “When do you make the call to tell him you’ll take him on as a client?”

  Wes shrugged. “I was instructed to wait a couple days. At least until that handy little bug picks up anything useful.”

  She grunted. They were all pawns in a sick game played by a man thousands of miles away. And with no way out from under his thumb in the foreseeable future. Her and Wes’s future, their lives, depended on how quick they jumped when commanded.

  Puppets. All because she fell in love with an animal.

  Ever hated having to use the bug to blackmail Dakota. She regretted the deceit. What she couldn’t call a mistake was getting to taste him. Feel him.

  An elbow poked her in the ribs. She looked up to find Wes grinning at her. “You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?”

  She opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. “I—Wes, I can still feel him on my skin. I can still taste him.” Ever licked quivering lips.

  “Why did you turn him down when he asked you to stay?” Wes cocked an eyebrow. “I hope it wasn’t because of me.”

  “It was partly because of you.” She smiled. “I knew you’d chew me a new one, but mostly I was afraid of what he made me feel.” Ever rubbed her chest slowly. “He made me feel soft and safe, which is nuts considering he was fucking me six ways to motherfucking Sunday.”

  Wes guffawed. “Oh, honey. I feel your pain. I know how much you hate soft.”

  She smacked him on the arm. “This isn’t funny.”

  He sobered. “You still have time. Why don’t you go to him? You deserve at least one night to indulge.”

  Her heart stuttered. “Going to him now…” She shook her head. “I don’t know if I can handle it, Wes. He’s going to be hard to shake.”

  “But you will.” Wes stood and headed for the kitchen. “You’ll fuck him out of your system then it’s back to business as usual. I’m making a sandwich, you want one?”

  “No, thanks.” Ever stared after him, teeth sinking into her bottom lip.

  Chapter Three

  “Any updates on Ghost?”

  Lying in his bed, still fully dressed, Simon Dakin crossed his ankles and shook his head, even though his boss on the other end of the phone couldn’t see. “No, not yet. I’m still waiting for some kind of confirmation that he’ll agree to produce the weapons I asked for.”

  He’d been undercover for a year hunting the weapons dealer. Only in the past few months had he come close to having something remotely substantial to bring to his superiors at the FBI.

  “Find something soon, Dakin. Ghost is the sole reason we’ve set up this particular identity for you.”

  Dak rolled his eyes. “Yes, sir. I know that, sir.”

  “If nothing comes of this lead you’ve got, Ian Dakota will be disappearing. Permanently.” Dial tone buzzed.

  “I’m well aware of the consequences, asshole.” Dak threw the phone down beside him on the bed and thought back to all the information they had on the slippery little fucker nicknamed Ghost. The dealer had appeared on the scene five years ago, quickly becoming the go-to-guy for the big names in weapons trade. They’d had suspects back then, but nothing came of it. Then all activities ceased. Until a year and a half ago.

  Ian Dakota was invented, his identity and criminal activities carefully constructed to attract Ghost. But no matter the amount of feelers Dak put out in the street about needing a good weapons connect, no one bit large enough to connect him to Ghost.

  More than once, the validity of the case had been questioned, and he’d petitioned for more time. Now that time was rapidly coming to an end, and he had no more re-ups. A phone call was imminent letting him know if he’d finally snagged the big fish or if time had come to pack up and head home.

  Dak had mixed feeling about leaving Ian Dakota behind. He’d made good friends, learned valuable lessons. As part of his cover, he had a finger in nearly all the illegal happenings in town, and he’d had his share of women.

  He regretted only one.

  She told Jayce she didn’t wait for anyone. His friend was in stitches seeing how those words stunned Dak. He thought she’d stay. He hoped she would. He wanted her to. A revelation that stunned the shit out of him. He didn’t have women spend the night, and it had nothing to do with his cover. He hadn’t slept beside a woman since he was in his twenties, young, fresh, and full of bright ideas. Like getting married. That notion went away pretty quickly, aided by a cheating fiancée.

  Would he ever see her again? Or was it like the way he usually did it, no coming back for seconds? He still felt her touch, still heard the sounds she made when he ate her out. He closed his eyes, calling up the picture of her spread wide on his desk. Pink, wet, and inviting.

  The beep of the intercom roused him from his fantasies. Leaning over the side of the bed with a grunt, he pressed the red button on the phone. “Yeah.”

  Jayce cleared his throat. “Uh, you have a visitor at the gate.”

  Dak frowned. A visitor at—he glanced at his watch—three-thirty am? “Who is it?” Someone spoke in the background, but Dak couldn’t make out the words.

  A scuffle sounded then a familiar drawl came over the intercom. “Dakota darling, what say we take this inside?”

  Dak’s heart hammered in his chest. He gripped the sheets. “Ever?”

  Her husky chuckle hardened his cock instantly. “Tell the sexy Jayce to let me in.”

  “Let her in, Jayce.”

  “You heard the man, sexy Jayce. Let me in.”

  ****

  She’d changed out of the dress into a black tank top with glittering red lips on the front, black motorcycle jacket and dark, skin tight jeans. Black leather boots came up to just over her knees.

  Dak stood a few feet from her in the foyer and drank her in. Ever watched him with a tiny smile hovering on her lips. “You think Jayce is sexy?”

  She grinned. “He is a delicious morsel, but he’s not who I desire.”

  He laughed and walked to her. “You’re who I desire.”

  “Good to know.”

  He grazed his knuckles down her cheek. Her eyelids fluttered. “Why didn’t you stay?”

  Green eyes opened, centered on him. “I—I had business to take care of.”

  Dak asked the question he knew he should’ve asked way earlier. “Are you taken, Ever?”

  A shadow crossed her eyes and she shook her head. “I’m not seeing anyone, but I—this has to be the last time we, uh, do this.”

  Biting his tongue to stifle the need to ask why, Dak forced a grinned. “Then I guess we should really make this time count, hmm?”

  Ever grabbed hold of the front of his shirt and pulled. Buttons scattered and she smiled. “Show me your bed.”

  ****

  Ever stared at the ginormous bed covered in black sheets and fought back a smile. Dakota’s bedroom looked exactly like she pictured it, and trust she pictured that shit. Low lighting and the faint smell of sandalwood set the mood perfectly.

  Dak stepped out of his gray sweats, cock bobbing, the red mushroomed head shining. Her mouth watered for a taste. She held out a hand to him. “Undress me, Dakota.”

  Something flickered in his eyes for a quick second, then he sat at the edge of his bed and tugged her between his parted knees. Her hands went to his hair, pulling as he kissed her stomach through her clothes. He pushed her jacket off her shoulder then lifted her t-shirt, exposing h
er stomach, and nipped at her.

  Ever groaned and raked her nails across his shoulders. Dak growled against her skin. Twisting her fingers in his hair, she jerked his head back. He came willingly, dark eyes open, watching.

  “I want your marks on my skin.” Her voice trembled, but he had to know what she wanted, what he’d get in return. “Mark me, Dakota, because I’ll be leaving mine on you.” Memories, physical and otherwise, she wanted them. She wanted to be able to look at her skin and see the evidence of his possession. Make sure she wasn’t dreaming all this.

  His Adam’s apple moved hypnotically as he swallowed. Ever yanked her t-shirt over her head and dropped it at his feet. Taking a step back, she placed first one then the other foot on his thigh and watched as he tugged her boots off. Before the last boot hit the floor, his fingers were at the snap of her jeans, unzipping and easing them down her hips.

  “Commando,” he breathed.

  “Yeah. Me and underwear had a sudden falling out.” She winked.

  Brushing his lips to her left hip bone, he said, “You won’t hear me complaining.” He palmed her ass, kneading, squeezing as his tongue traced a line from her belly button to just above her pussy. Ever scraped his scalp with her nails, allowing him a couple minutes of exploration before stepping back.

  Their eyes met and the need and desperation in his made the breath shudder in her lungs. Damn man could turn her into a wet pile of goo with his eyes alone. Kicking off the jeans tangled around her ankles, Ever graced him with a wobbly smile.

  “I’m thinking it’s my turn to do the fucking.”

  Dak blinked, but not before she caught the surprise and delight in his dark peepers. Inwardly, she grinned. Seems Mr. Dakota had no problem giving up control every now and then.

  Who knew?

  “On your back.” Hands on her hips, she commanded, “Let me see you play with that gorgeous cock.”

  Maintaining eye contact, he crawled backward until he lay in the center of the bed. His cock lay across his hard stomach, the tip leaking pre-cum. Ever licked her lips. She’d definitely be getting more of that pearly liquid later. Dak wrapped a large palm around his cock, and she almost choked.