“What?” she asked, plucking him from his fantasy. “Should I have dressed up?”
She’d worn tight black jeans that hugged her long, toned legs and a bulky sweater that was so roomy he could slide his hands inside and…Stop.
“You look perfect, Evan.” He meant it, too.
A pinkish hue colored her cheeks. “So, where are we staying?”
Her casual tone didn’t fool him. She was probing about their sleeping arrangements. As he placed her overnight bag in his trunk, he answered, “In a condo on the beach.”
Her eyebrows lifted.
“A four-bedroom condo,” he added. “But I have every confidence only one of the bedrooms will be getting used.”
“So cocky.” But as she slipped into the town car, her whisper-soft moan was the sweetest sound he’d heard in a long, long time.
9
Rico’s Kink Club
Evangeline had been awake half the night trying to reconcile her situation. Working with Sin was a good thing, but going to a kink club with him was tempting fate. Controlling herself around him would be impossible.
Once, she’d found the hedonistic environment freeing. Her demanding job had her wound too tightly and her skilled partner had the ability to get her out of her head and take care of her needs. Being with Sin had had no downside.
C’mon, I can do this. It’s one quick trip to find the woman who derailed my career. So what if it’s with my former kink partner?
“You’re quiet,” he said, crashing in on her thoughts.
She eyed her stilettos. “Wondering how I’m going to run through the airport in these four- inch heels.”
“There won’t be any running.”
Why does he have to look so damn amused?
When they passed the sign for departures, she asked, “Where are we going?”
“To the private jet terminal.”
Right, of course, he chartered a plane.
Sin’s driver pulled into a parking lot near a stand-alone building. Before Evangeline had made a move to leave, the driver opened her door. She thanked him and waited while he pulled their bags from the trunk. “I’ll bring these onboard for you,” he said to Sin.
“Enjoy your time off, Anton,” Sin replied.
With a tight nod, he said, “Have a good flight, sir, ma’am.”
Sin extended his hand. “C’mon.”
“Ah, so your driver has a name.” As she slipped her hand into his, it was as if her missing puzzle piece had been found. And her heart rejoiced. She silently cursed herself out for feeling this happy about touching him, but the truth was…she did.
“Kevin Anton. Former Green Beret.”
“You need a Green Beret as a driver?”
“He also provides personal protection,” Sin replied.
After entering the small terminal, they sidled up to the counter. A perky blonde grinned up at him. “Hello, Mr. Develin.”
“Did Santa bring you everything you asked for?”
She held his gaze an extra second before shaking her head. “Not everything.” Then, she got busy checking them in.
When they exited the terminal, he pointed to a nearby plane. “That baby is mine.”
Holy hell, he’s not joking.
“Are you the pilot, too?”
“No, I leave that to the pros. I have a select few I use when I travel. They’re excellent at their job.”
They boarded the small aircraft and she eyed the plush interior. First class all the way. Large beige leather seats—at least a dozen. Most faced forward, but there were two in the center that faced in the opposite direction, forming a foursome.
She folded into one while he spoke with his pilot. After getting comfortable beside her, he said, “I love flying. I’m glad you’re here with me.”
She melted. I’m glad I’m here with you, too.
As her gaze flitted from those vibrant eyes to his perfectly sculpted lips, the energy shifted. She imagined him taking her into his arms and kissing her.
“Don’t tempt me,” he murmured. Instead, he buckled her seatbelt and tugged on the strap to tighten it.
The plane gained speed and she broke eye contact to watch them lift off. Only Sin could turn a business trip into an exhilarating adventure. Simply put, she loved being around him.
Evangeline was slow to trust, but for reasons she couldn’t explain or understand, she had trusted him from the moment they had met. In every way he was an alpha. Confident, charismatic, and powerful. And like her, he kept his emotions on lockdown.
That had made him the perfect play partner. They’d kept their feelings in check and enjoyed a strictly physical relationship. Deep down, though, she knew that was a lie. She’d developed feelings for him when she’d taken him inside her. Nothing was simple when it came to Sinclair Develin. Nothing.
Sin never got involved with his clients. Being around Evangeline had resurrected old feelings he’d never reconciled.
When the “Fasten Seat Belt” light went off, he made his way to the rear of the cabin to pour their coffees. He loved that she joined him, and how she stroked his back. He could not get enough of her tender touch.
“Thank you for dropping everything to help me.” The unrelenting urge to kiss her had him homing in on her sultry mouth. I want her so damn badly.
“Mr. Develin.” The captain’s voice cut through the thick sexual tension. “We’re going to hit a rough patch. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts.”
He pulled a small fruit platter from the mini fridge and handed it to her. With coffee mugs in hand, he led her to a small table in the center of the craft and they sat in adjacent seats. No sooner had they buckled in, when the plane dropped.
She gripped his arm. “This scares the hell out of me.”
“Look at me.”
She did.
“We’re going through a rain cloud. It’s okay.”
“I hate not having control.”
He couldn’t help but smile. “I know that.” He cupped her soft cheek with his hand. “Deep breath.”
As she stared into his eyes, she inhaled. The plane dipped again and she gasped.
“Evan, breathe with me.”
Without hesitation, she did. A slow, deep inhale and a calm exhale. Some coffee spilled on the table and she eyed the mess. “That doesn’t matter. Look at me. We’re okay.”
With trembling fingers she squeezed his hands.
“You’re doing great,” he murmured.
She peered into his eyes, mimicking his slow, deep, rhythmic breaths. A few tense moments later, the fear in her eyes subsided.
“Sorry about that,” the captain said when the turbulence stopped. “We’ve climbed over the storm, so I expect smooth sailing for the rest of the flight.”
She let go of his hands and his chest tightened. While he didn’t want her scared, he loved how she’d reached out to him for comfort. “You did great. Thank you for trusting me.”
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered.
That confession made his heart rate soar. “I’ve missed you, too. So damn much.”
She pressed her lips to his and kissed him with such tenderness. “Thank you for helping me through that. No matter how uptight I am, you always have this calming effect on me.”