Unshackle (Deliver 7)

He tried to gather his breath, his voice, but all he could do was stare.

Christ almighty, she was an exquisite, heart-stopping, goddamn knockout. The dress hugged her tiny tits, nipped in at the waist, and flared around her toned thighs. Understated yet elegant. Striking. Just like her.

“This is rather tame for dinner with the cartel.” She fingered the hem of the skirt, eyebrows drawn in confusion. “I assumed you’d put me in pleather and chains or something equally distasteful.”

“I told Tomas to find a plain dress. I’m sure he tried, but…” The longer he soaked in her immaculate beauty, the tighter his suit pants became. “Nothing could ever look plain on you.”

“Why? I mean, why do you want me to look plain? They love their whores to dress—”

“You’re not a whore, and while you’re with me, you will not dress like one.”

Her eyes widened.

He snatched his necktie from the chair and moved to the mirror to wrangle the thing into place. After a few lousy attempts to make a knot, he yanked it free, grunting with frustration.

He was a mechanic, not a pompous high roller. How was he supposed to continue this ruse when he couldn’t even knot a tie? Tomas would have to show him again, but not without teasing him excessively for it.

As he turned to call for his friend, a small hand landed on his chest.

“Allow me.” Brown eyes stared up at him from the face of a goddess.

He raised his chin, giving her access. “You know how to do this?”

“I thought everyone knew how.” She looped the ends, watching him with suspicion. “Especially rich businessmen.”

“I never said I was a businessman.”

“That’s right.” With swift movements, she made a tug here, an adjustment there, and stepped back. “You invest in important things. Criminal things that don’t require a suit, apparently.”

“My offer stands.” He rested a knuckle beneath her chin, lifting it. “I’ll tell you my secrets.”

She turned her head away, rejecting his touch along with his offer.

Probably for the best. What he needed from her was the location of the breach in the wall or whatever she’d seen beyond it. But even that might not be enough to determine the coordinates of this place.

None of it was worth blowing his cover. He’d been asking himself all day if he could tell her the truth. The simple fact that he was on the same side as Vera’s sister would make Gina turn against him even more than she already was. She hated Vera worse than she hated him.

He couldn’t trust her, no matter how badly he wanted to.

“There’s makeup and hair stuff in that bag.” He nodded at the supplies Tomas had gathered. “It’s yours to use.”

“I don’t wear makeup.”

“Good.”

She didn’t need it. Even with bruised splotches on her face, the woman had more natural radiance than anyone he’d ever met.

“We leave in ten minutes.” He ambled out of the room to find his suit jacket and mentally prepare for the evening.

A moment later, the sound of a hairdryer reached his ears. Surely she wasn’t blowing out her curls? He loved the way they bounced and spiraled in every direction. He fantasized about them coiling around his cock as he sank into the back of her throat.

Sick fuck.

In the bedroom, he shrugged on the jacket. After their workout, she’d spent the day in the sitting room watching TV while he and Tomas sent cryptic messages to their team.

They only had access to the laptops and cell phones provided by the cartel. But they’d prepared for that and sent all communication to burner phones and other untraceable devices that were monitored by the Freedom Fighters.

Before departing Colombia, they’d memorized a specific list of song lyrics, each verse with a predetermined meaning, a specific message on the status of the mission. Right now, their friends only needed to know they were safe. They found Vera alive and well, and everything was moving as expected.

Within the next couple of days, he hoped to have a different message to send. If they obtained the location, he would send Tomas away with an excuse and remain here until he returned with a full team and a lot of firepower.

A knock sounded on the outside door. He tilted his head, listening as Tomas answered it.

“Good evening.” Vera’s sultry voice drifted in, followed by the click of her heels. “Where’s your handsome jefe?”

Luke strolled into the main room with his hands clasped behind him.

She went still, her gaze sweeping him from head to toe and back again. “Well, don’t you look absolutely delicious?”

Bending, she lowered a large brown bag to the floor, and her chest nearly spilled from the tight black leather dress.

At least it’s not pleather.

“What did you bring me?” He prowled toward her, causing her breaths to accelerate.

“Ice cream.” She smiled and flushed. “When I heard you ordered three boxes of Klondike bars, I had to see it for myself.”