All Tied Up

Call him on his boldness, Nicole told herself, and demand an apology. That is what she should do. Just as she should be indignant, appalled. Instead, Nicole found herself savoring his seductive claim of a shared secret, remembering the bliss of his hands caressing her skin, seducing her until she was ready to melt. Upset at herself over the way he’d tricked her, she reached for that ripe anger, still burning inside her, and let it expand in her chest. The man was leading her down a passion-filled path to trouble, awakening a dangerously erotic part of her that had once ruled her life. She should walk away. But she couldn’t. Not with so much on the line. Not when Constantine might really be the key to Alvarez’s conviction.

“I’ll hear what you have to say,” she said, because it was her only option. “On one condition.” Constantine arched a brow in silent question. She shoved at his chest. “Let go of me and do not touch me again.”

Her body might still remember the pleasure he’d delivered, but she wasn’t a fool. This man was trouble. And now he’d had the audacity to use that big body of his to force her to listen. She didn’t like it. It was time he learned he wasn’t in charge anymore. No seductive prowess was going to change that, either, she vowed.

Chapter Four

NICOLE GOT TO HIM in a big way—a way no woman had done in far too long to remember. So much so, that her anger challenged him, made him want to kiss her into submission.

Let her go or kiss her? A tough call. Her lips were full and red—tempting lips that he already knew tasted sinfully sweet. Yes, kissing her would be a delicious distraction from the hell he called his life right now. But then, it wouldn’t work toward earning her trust, nor would it aid his efforts to put Alvarez into permanent retirement.

Constantine ground his teeth together, accepting the inevitable conclusion that he must behave. He gave her lips one last wistful look before forcing himself to release her and step backward.

Nicole immediately crossed her arms in front of her body in a guarded stance. The act thrust her breasts high, giving his eyes yet another delicious distraction. Damn, the woman was killing him.

He sat down on the arm of the couch, which served dual purposes. It put Nicole out of reach and brought the two of them closer to eye level, so he wouldn’t tower over her. The goal was trust, not intimidation.

Their gazes connected, silent tension filling the air. She was angry and probably embarrassed, though he doubted she would admit that part. “I think you should know,” he said, attempting a path to a truce, “no one knew I was following you, nor do they know about what happened between us.”

“How long, exactly, were you following me?” she asked, her boot doing a slow tap on the floor, telling of her agitation as much as the steely look in her beautiful eyes.

Inwardly, he cringed before he answered. “Two days.” He left out how much he’d enjoyed watching her those two days, how many ways he’d fantasized about making love to her. He figured it wouldn’t help his situation any.

She made a frustrated sound; her hands dropped to her sides—perfectly manicured hands with pink nails curling into her palms. “Two days.” The words were flat, her cheeks flushed. Her gaze dropped to the floor as she mumbled, “Two days and I never suspected a thing.” It wasn’t a question. It was more a statement of disbelief directed at herself. Her chin lifted, eyes latching on to his with accusation. “You expect me to believe the feds let you disappear for two days without any idea where you were?”

“I wasn’t supposed to pull out of Alvarez’s operation until the last minute. It left me less risk of exposure. But three years of my life were on the line, and I know how easily Alvarez corrupts people. I didn’t care what your file said. I needed to get a sense of who you were myself. Alvarez is going to find someone in the middle of this to corrupt, I promise you, if he hasn’t already.”

“I know Alvarez’s type,” she quickly asserted.

“Sweetheart, you only think you know his type.” Constantine had seen things—hell, done things himself during these past few years—that would bring grown men to their knees. “Murder is worthy of popcorn and a soda to Alvarez. As for corrupting someone inside this case, he’ll do whatever it takes to get out of that jail cell. Even threaten the lives of their families.” His voice softened. “I approached you that night as a means of survival. What happened from there was pure chemistry.”

Her lips thinned. She opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again. “I need my briefcase from the car. There are questions—” A slight sound on the roof sent her gaze upward and Constantine to his feet. “You heard that, too, right?” she asked, worry etching in her lovely face.