CHAPTER 13
Trey knew Matt was right. They needed a distraction to get in and out unseen. The team could go in hot with guns blazing but it would be bloody for both sides.
He knew what kind of diversion would keep the guards riveted to the screen. What he didn’t know was how Carly would like it.
The different scenarios ran through his mind. It could go a number of ways. He could make a move on Carly and she could break character. Slap him or yell or something. With their cover blown, they would have to use all the firepower they had to grab Jimmy and get the hell out of Dodge.
Or Carly could actually go through with this thing. In that case, he’d have to deal with the fact he’d gotten physical with the girl his best friend thought he might be falling in love with.
Trey would have to find a new best friend and a different place to drink when he got home to base. Neither scenario was very appealing.
Then there was the reality nagging his brain and parts lower that he was trying like hell to suppress. The truth was he wanted nothing more than to be with Carly right now. The idea of giving into the sexual attraction and sinking into her was extremely appealing. Consequences be damned.
He didn’t want a girlfriend, he reminded himself again for the umpteenth time, but dammit, he wanted Carly.
Apparently he didn’t care how he got her and that made him feel even shittier.
Worse, the fact his teammate plus a room full of terrorists would be watching them together didn’t even put a damper on his desire. In fact, it made it all the more exciting. That reaction scared him half to death.
Now was not the time to over-think his sudden desire for exhibitionism. Jimmy was possibly being tortured while he delayed.
Trey had left the bathroom light on with the door ajar so he could see, but he’d need more illumination for his audience’s sake.
He reached out into the semi-darkness until his hand hit on the light switch. After turning on the bedside lamp, he rolled toward Carly.
The nightie was cut very low in the back. Actually, in the front too, but he couldn’t see that in her current position. Trailing a finger lightly down her exposed spine, he felt the shiver run through her.
Leaning closer, he dipped his tongue into the whorls of her ear.
He slid his hand down under the sheet and along the lace to her thigh where he started the return trip upward.
Pressing against her back with his bare chest, he could feel her start to tremble. He could only hope it was from the anticipation of wanting him and not fear.
The pulse thundered in her neck against his lips. Nearing the point of no return, he could either let her continue to pretend to be asleep and let Jimmy be tortured to death or he could roll her over and give the terrorists a show they would remember for the rest of their miserable lives, however short they may be.
He’d already made the decision about what needed to be done, but Matt’s voice in his ear reinforced it. “They’re taking the bait, man. They even got up to refill their coffee mugs and make microwave popcorn. They’re fighting over front row seats and settling in for the show like it’s a damn movie. We’re in place, Trey. You keep them entertained and Jimmy will be on a transport to the military hospital in Germany tonight.”
That settled it. There was no more internal debating to be done.
Trey rolled Carly over and covered the surprise on her face by pressing his lips to hers. She responded well to his kisses. They’d practiced this. He’d dare say they were damn good at it. It was her reaction to the rest he was worried about.
Dammit. Truth be told, he was just as worried about his own reaction to it. If he sank himself into this woman he was not going to forget it easily.
Trey reminded himself he was a professional. He was supposed to be able to do things like this without any emotional ramifications. They’d all been through psychological training for situations like this one.
They’d been through the prep, but Carly hadn’t.
What the hell would this do to her if they had to go through with it and actually have sex?
She was an adult and a bar owner, but this was not some drunken one-night stand she chose to have. He wasn’t giving her a choice at all. She knew making a scene could cost them both of their lives.
More importantly, what if she did start dating Jack when they got home? How would Jack feel about the fact his teammate had enjoyed the pleasure of being with his girl before him?
Now was not the time to think about any of that. Matt might as well have issued a direct order. Trey knew the situation and it was in his and Carly’s power to help the team get Jimmy out of trouble.
Throwing the covers completely off them, he hoped the sight of Carly in her nightgown would be enough of a distraction to keep the guards’ attention off Jimmy.
As he ran his hand over the fabric again, traversing a path from the curve of her waist down to the hem at her thighs, her eyes opened again.
“Mmm.” He pressed his mouth against her ear. Knowing the sensitive audio surveillance Matt had told him about would pick up his words, he spoke like John Smith, hoping Carly understood the underlying message. “Candi, baby, I was going to try and let you sleep, but I can’t keep my hands off you. I’m sorry.”
He’d used her fake name so she knew this was part of the show, not him being a horny dog. Even though at the moment, he totally was.
Shifting her so she lay on her back and he could see the dark traces of her nipples through the sheer fabric, he truly was sorry, but this was necessary. The guilt would be considerably less if he hadn’t already gotten aroused from simply thinking about what they might have to do.
His hand reversed direction and started a path up her thigh, pushing the short nightie up her legs until the matching panties she wore were exposed.
Carly’s breath caught in her throat. Dare he pull those panties off her? What the hell would she do if he did?
Putting that next move off for a bit until he could gauge her potential reaction, Trey rolled on top of her, hoping the camera wouldn’t pick up the nervousness apparent on her face.
Settled between her legs, trying to ignore the erection she no doubt felt pressing against her, he weighed the options.
Could he fake making love to her? Maybe pull the sheet over them and feign the motions?
Would Carly get it and go along with the charade? More importantly, would some movement hidden beneath the covers be enough to capture and hold the guards’ interest enough for the team to extract Jimmy?
Probably not.
He was starting to despair when a stroke of brilliance hit him.
“Hey, baby. Get up and dance for me the way you used to.”
Her eyes opened wide and he feared she might slap him.
He remembered their conversation on the plane when he teased her.
Just don’t expect me to dance for you.
We’ll see.
That’s what he got for joking around on an op as important as this one. He opened his eyes wider and shook his head slightly. Hopefully his movement wasn’t noticeable enough for the terrorists to pick up on it.
“Don’t look so mad, sweetheart. I know you gave that life up when we got married, but it turns me on. I really need you to do it for me right now. Okay?”
He could see by the expression on her face she was confused as hell by his request, but had remembered the surveillance and knew she couldn’t question him.
The muscles in her throat worked as she swallowed. “Okay, baby. Anything for you. I just don’t know how good I’ll be. You know, without my costumes and music and all.”
She was nervous and a horrible actress under pressure, but he had to believe the guards watching them wouldn’t notice once they got a good look at her body in motion.
“The camera is behind the mirror on the wall opposite the end of the bed.” Matt’s voice in his ear reminded him again just how public this whole situation was.
So why was he rock hard at the thought of it?
Trey got out of bed and, ignoring the tent in his pajamas, walked to where Carly had abandoned the high heels earlier. He picked them up and carried them to where she still lay.
Extending a hand, he took hers and pulled her upright. While she sat on the edge of the mattress he kneeled. Taking one delicate foot in his hand, he drew it toward his mouth and kissed the arch of her instep.
She trembled as he slid one shoe on.
Turning his attention to the other foot, he kissed his way from her ankle to her big toe, before drawing it into his mouth and sucking on it.
Carly drew in a deep breath. If her toes were this sensitive, what the hell would her reaction be if he sucked on a more intimate part of her? That thought had him beginning to tremble too as all his psychological training flew right out the window.
Training. Bullshit. What military genius had thought any red-blooded man could make love to an attractive woman and not be affected in some way by it?
Thrusting the thought out of his mind, he moved this public seduction along and slipped the second shoe on. Then he leaned over to hit the power button on the television. The channel that automatically came on played music to accompany the hotel information written on the screen. He’d discovered that earlier while eating his pizza.
As the soft generic music filled the room, he pulled a chair over to the end of the bed and then motioned Carly over with the crook of one finger. “Come here, baby.”
She rose from the bed and teetered over in the heels. He couldn’t help thinking how great they made her bare legs look.
Standing her in front of the mirror, he sat in the chair. “There, sweetheart. Dance right there in front of the mirror for me.”
She looked a bit frightened, but Trey figured since she was facing him and not the camera, it didn’t matter. Hating he’d put her in such an uncomfortable situation, he felt even worse as he watched her hips start to sway.
His body’s reaction was clearly visible to both of them. Her gaze dropped to the erection evident in the too-damn-thin silk pajama bottoms.
Instead of it freaking her out, she reacted in the totally opposite way. She lifted her chin a bit, closed her eyes and started to really dance for him.
Turning in time to the rhythm of the music, she spun to face the mirror. Her eyes opened and their gazes met as she watched his reaction in the reflection.
Running her hands over her body, she danced. He alternated between focusing on her reflection and the swaying of her hips right in front of him. All the while his erection was an ever-present sign of his enjoyment of the show. He was happy simply watching her, until she pulled down the top of the nightgown to reveal one breast to him, then wet her finger and circled her own nipple with it.
At that point, he was no longer simply an observer. He couldn’t control himself.
This was no longer just a show for the target. Hell, it hadn’t been for some time.