Page 89 of Ruthless
That mission would always stand out as one of her favorite undercover ops ever. At night, she and Gideon would play to a packed house. Since most of the passengers had been baby boomers, they’d adjusted their performances to songs from the sixties and seventies. Gideon was a gifted piano player, so talented that he could give up black ops tomorrow and make a ton of money as a pianist. His singing voice was actually quite good, too, with a growly quality that was perfect for classic ballads and sappy love songs.
She had her own talents as a singer, pianist, and dancer, though she wasn’t as talented as Gideon. Her childhood had been filled with so many music, dance, and voice lessons, it was a wonder she’d found time for schoolwork or sleep. After the incident with Homer the tree, her papa had decided she needed more activities. So instead of being tempted to climb Homer or find another outlet for her overactive mind, he had ensured she was well occupied. She couldn’t say she had enjoyed everything, but as an adult, she was exceedingly grateful to have those skills.
When she and Gideon had performed their act, they’d actually been quite good. So good, that at the end of one of their shows, a record producer had offered them a contract. They had turned it down, of course, but it had been an amusing moment.
Shifting genres, Gideon started playing the melody of the Temptations song “My Girl.” It was one of her favorites from their act for a couple of reasons. First, Gideon’s arrangement turned it from a lighthearted, upbeat tune to a sensual, sexy ballad perfect for seduction. Secondly, the first time he’d sung it, he’d looked at her the entire time. And that had been the first time she had acknowledged to herself that she was in love with him. It had been several months after their one-night fling in Prague, and she had done everything she could to put that behind her and be the kind of partner he’d seemed to want.
But at that moment, when his beautiful eyes had met hers, her heart had yielded, and it had been his. Of course, she hadn’t told him, and they had continued on as if nothing had happened.
Little had she known that he had been feeling the same. Only a week or so ago, she had been in his arms. He had kissed and caressed her, made love to her as if she were the only woman in the world for him. How could things go so bad so quickly? How could everything be destroyed?
She didn’t even know it was happening until the tears she’d been holding back for so long began to flow. All the grief, fear, and disillusionment she’d been immersed in washed through her, and she could do nothing to stop the pain.
Gideon knew the moment she began to cry. His Eve was so strong, so brave. She wasn’t a crier, so when she did let go, he knew her emotions were at their highest peak. They’d had nowhere to go, and she was finally letting them out.
There was nothing he’d rather do than turn around and comfort her. He wanted to pull her into his arms, promise her everything would be all right, and apologize for being one of the causes of her pain. But he knew she wouldn’t welcome his comfort. He had hurt her too badly, and she was too proud to give in to her need. He had hoped playing some of the songs they’d performed on that undercover op a few years back would give her a little lift. Unfortunately, it appeared to be having the opposite effect.
Grinding his teeth to prevent himself from going to her, he switched to another song. This one, Elton John’s “Blue Eyes,” made him think of Eve right now. Her blue eyes were holding back the pain, but now they could no longer hold back the tears. His heart hurt for her. His soul felt just as shattered as hers must feel. He sang the words, wanting to fix everything and feeling helpless that he couldn’t.
He was halfway through the second verse when she appeared at his side. He stopped playing and turned to her. Her face, ravaged by tears, was wet, those beautiful eyes swollen and sad. Her perfect mouth trembled with sorrow. He had no idea why she’d come to him. If she wanted to slap him, he’d take it. If she wanted to curse at him, he’d let her. She surprised him and did neither and instead sat in his lap. Wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, she kissed him softly. It was the sweetest kiss he’d ever received in his life.
Careful not to spoil whatever this was, he followed her lead. Giving her his mouth, he tenderly caressed her lips, relishing her taste, loving the soft sweetness that reminded him of honey and vanilla. When she moaned, he risked slipping his tongue inside, sweeping in gently.
The kiss deepened, and it took every bit of his control not to grab her and take her with all the pent-up passion within him. But this was Eve coming to him. Whatever she needed, he would give her. If this was just a kiss, then that’s what he’d give her. If she wanted more, he was hers.
She pulled away slightly and breathed against his mouth, “Love me.”
It wasn’t a question, it was a request. One he was more than willing to grant. Cupping her bottom so she could keep her legs wound around his waist, Gideon stood. With long strides, he was in his bedroom in seconds. Laying her on the bed, he stood back and just looked at her. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a red button-down shirt, her slender feet encased in bright red socks. He had seen this woman in expensive evening gowns and designer dresses, but never had she looked lovelier to him.
Instead of taking her clothes off, he removed his first. With each article of clothing he shed, her eyes went hotter, making him almost desperate to be inside her. But this wasn’t going to be a race to see who achieved satisfaction first. This was the chance—maybe his last chance—to show this woman how much she meant to him. Taking his clothes off while she was still dressed was a statement to her. He would make himself vulnerable, give her all the power she wanted. She thought he had taken that power away from her. She needed to see she still had it. It had always been hers.
When he was nude, he tugged gently on her socks, kissing each foot after he bared it. Reaching for the zipper of her jeans, she stopped him, and his heart dropped. Then, with a little smile, she unzipped for him, and he tugged her jeans down her legs. With each inch of silky skin he revealed, his body tightened with need.
Going to his knees, he pressed a kiss to her taut stomach, inhaling the scent of vanilla mixed with her arousal. It was the sweetest fragrance in the world. Kissing up her torso, he stopped to unbutton her shirt. The slight panting sounds she made urged his body to hurry. He refused to listen to it. This moment was too monumental to rush.
Unwrapping her like the precious gift she was, he let his eyes roam over her body. Slender and delicate-looking, her bruises now faded to only a slight discoloration, she was his fantasy come to life. He wanted to devour her and at the same time savor her for hours.
“Gideon,” she whispered as she took him in her hands. “If you don’t hurry, I’m going to—” She broke off and gasped when his fingers touched the bud at the top of her sex, rubbing gently.
When she moaned his name, he replaced his fingers with his mouth, devouring her sweetness, savoring her taste. When she at last screamed his name, he drew back and then continued his journey over her body, kissing, licking, nibbling, and caressing until she was squirming once again.
Grabbing his shoulders, she pulled him on top of her and bit his ear hard. “You’re driving me crazy.”
“Join the club, my love.”
Unable to wait any longer, he slid into her with one hard thrust. She gasped and then gave the most glorious moan as her body surrendered. He watched in sheer wonder, loving the uninhibited way she took her pleasure.
When she opened her eyes, she blinked at him and smiled. “Okay, I admit it. That was worth waiting for.”
An intense wave of love washed over him. Still buried inside her, Gideon cupped her face, pressed his forehead against hers, and said quietly, “You are the bravest, strongest, most fiercely independent, and loveliest person I’ve ever known. Every day, I am in awe of you.”
Before she could respond, he kissed her with all the love in his heart and gave himself permission to enjoy her the way he’d fantasized for years. With every gasp, moan, and sigh, he fell more and more in love with her. He knew that this might be the last time they would be together like this, and he intended to make the most of it.
And he knew if he died in this moment, he would die a happy man.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
She had caved, and she wasn’t one bit sorry. Someone who didn’t know her might believe she’d given in and let Gideon win. She didn’t see it that way. She was still angry with him and wasn’t sure the trust she’d once had in him would ever be restored. But what she had come to understand over the last few days was the knowledge that Gideon did not see her as a victim. He had been protecting his partner. He’d just gone about it in the wrong way.