Under Fire (Elite Force 3)

“Hate to break it to you.” She nuzzled his ear, circling it with her tongue. “But people are already looking. We’ll definitely blend into this place a lot more by acting like a couple of barflies on our way to a motel hookup.”

She had a point.

Liam nipped her shoulder. “We can’t just hang around here all night making out.”

“Then kiss me the whole way to the room.” She looped her arms around his neck, the half-gallon jug of tea thudding between his shoulder blades. “Do you have a problem with that?”

In theory? No. But the reality of tempting himself that much wreaked serious havoc with the rational part of his brain shouting at him to keep Rachel out of harm’s way. The best way to do that? Stay objective.

And objectively speaking, she was actually right about the best way to blend in around here.

“Okay, I can see your point.” He pressed a finger to her mouth. “Let’s get to work and make the hookup look realistic.”

“We need to do more than look realistic.” She drew his finger into her mouth and circled her tongue around the tip.

The one simple stroke ramped the already steamy temperature close to meltdown.

Another car pulled up, headlights sweeping the lot.

Jug of tea in one hand, she pressed his palm to her breast. Before he could pick his jaw up off the cracked sidewalk, she tucked her fingers down into his jeans back pocket and dug her nails into his ass.

Shock held him still for only a second. She was right about making this look realistic. His hand filled with her sweet softness, he backed her toward their room. He drew her tongue into his mouth, massaging the soft curve of her breast, each step of the way careful to tuck them both behind the wall of onlookers eager to appear on television. He had to think, move, hide her away in their room as fast as possible.

Except how was he supposed to think with the taste of her flowing through his veins?

Her hitchy, surprised gasp of pleasure ignited the fire in his belly. She clawed his butt through his jeans pockets and plastered herself to him so convincingly, his hard-on throbbed against his button fly.

“Are we still acting?” He pressed his mouth to the pulse along her neck. “Because we’re well out of range of the camera’s lens.”

“Hell no, I’m not acting. Get me inside,” she gasped. “Now!”

Her demand unleashed molten lust. His feet tangled with hers as he guided her the final few steps to their room. He could barely process that she’d crossed this line along with him, that their act in the parking lot was as hot for her as it had been for him. He just hoped she didn’t regret it tomorrow. He’d locked down his feelings for her for too long to fight off the hunger even one more time.

“Get the key,” he said, his hands full with the food bag and her breast. He’d be damned if he intended to let go of either. “It’s in my front left pocket.”

She slid her fingers from his pants in a torturously slow glide of her nails that pulled his shirt free. The quick yank sent his wallet tumbling onto the sidewalk. The overstuffed billfold fanned cash along the concrete.

They both bent, heads nearly colliding. He snagged his wallet and she gathered up the bills and—holy crap—three condom packets. He snatched the condoms and she grabbed the cash, folding the money in half and tucking it down the front of her shirt.

“Enough foreplay, Liam.” She plucked the carryout bag from his hands. “Open. The. Door.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He fished in his front pocket until he found the old-fashioned key. Metal. Not plastic. This place was so old and dingy, it didn’t even have key cards. There had to be another way, another place…

“I can see where your mind’s going.” She skimmed her palm up his chest. “Quit thinking, and let’s just get inside.”

He pushed into the room, the need for her ramping up his already adrenaline-saturated body. The two dogs had claimed the double bed farthest from the door. Their ears perked up as he and Rachel stumbled inside, but once the pups seemed to realize they were going to be evicted back to the floor, both closed their eyes again, playing possum.

Good enough for him. He turned back to Rachel.

The door closed. He placed their late-night supper on the table. Food could wait.

Rachel sagged against the closed panel. The room key dropped to the floor. Finesse was gone. He didn’t know the whys of her change of heart, and right now, he frankly didn’t care. He just wanted her. Here. Naked. Then again in the shower. Anywhere he could have her. He hoped like crazy she agreed.

“Now? Really?” he asked.

“Absolutely now.” She grabbed the hem of her T-shirt and tugged upward.

“Let me.”