Trace of Fever - Lori Foster [146]
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN TRACE FORCED HIMSELF to pull back. Priss watched him with wide, curious eyes, her body shimmering in excitement. Reminding himself that this was her first time, that she’d been through hell tonight, and that she had a lot of emotional baggage, he gathered himself as much as he could. He slid his fingers under the waistband of her tiny panties, then said, “Let’s get rid of these, okay?” He pulled them down and off her long legs. After dropping them off the side of the bed, he slowly drew a hand from her ankle to her knee, then up the inside of her thigh until he covered her pubic curls with his palm. She bit her lip, but said nothing. Trace sat on the side of the bed, looking at her, breathing in her scent, thinking of all he wanted to do to her and with her. “I feel exposed.” His gaze lifted to hers. “You are exposed.” Frowning, he asked, “You aren’t worried?” “No.” She drew a couple of quick breaths. “It’s just that you’re looking at me like…like you’re examining me
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN AFTER ARRANGING TO meet up with Murray at the offices, Trace called Dare. He answered with, “What’s up?” “I’m cutting things short. Murray has to go. The sooner the better.” “Okay.” Dare fell quiet a second. “Why the change in plans?” “I know where the women will be taken. The deal is happening any day now. There’s no reason to wait. I can round up the major players in one net, and then when they talk, we can get the rest.” “If they talk.” “They will.” He’d see to it. “And the sudden turnaround has nothing to do with Priss?” Trace squeezed the steering wheel. “Actually, it has a lot do with her.” “I figured.” He owed Dare the truth. “I slept with her.” “So, you got carried away.” Dare sounded unconcerned. “It happens.” “Not just once, Dare. All night long.” And it had been amazing, so amazing that he knew he couldn’t give it up. He couldn’t give her up. “I know damn good and well I’m going to sleep with her again.” “It’s like that, huh?” As usual, Dare stayed calm in e
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN DESPICABLE AS HELENE might be, it wasn’t easy to see her dragged away. And with Trace so furious, it was even harder to maintain her pretense, especially when Murray strode back in as if he hadn’t just physically and emotionally abused his lover. Horror would be the appropriate reaction, so Priss gave in to it. Hand to her mouth, she stared from Trace to Murray. “What in the world did she do?” “She destroyed your new clothes.” “Oh, but…” Surely Murray wouldn’t pretend that was her only offense? “If that’s so…why? Why would she do such a thing?” “Jealousy, no doubt.” Murray finished off a drink, and went to the liquor cabinet to pour another. “Oh.” What the hell could she say now? “I seriously doubt that.” Laughing, Murray sent a toast to Trace. “Well, really, whatever the reason, I don’t want to see her hurt….” “Don’t worry about it, my dear. The authorities will deal with her.” Yeah, right. “You called the police?” “Of course.” He smirked at her. “What did you think I
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY PRISS’S HEART HAMMERED in dread at how things had unfolded. Despite her palpating fears, she forced herself to patience as she got each and every woman out into the sunny yard. “Please trust me,” she called out to them. “I need you all to stay together, and I need you to move a safe distance away from this building.” Under the circumstances there could be stray gunfire, and Priss didn’t want any of the women to inadvertently get in the way. She didn’t see Jackson anywhere, but she had no doubt at all that he’d keep them all safe from any direct threats. Only problem was, if Jackson kept watch over them, he couldn’t help to keep Trace safe. And Trace needed him more than they did. He was alone with a madman, trying to maneuver through a web of dark and winding corridors in a collapsing factory. Murray could conceal himself around any corner and then attack when Trace came into view. No, no, no. Few men could boast of Trace’s skills; she had to keep reminding