Page 14 of Vex
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How freaking stupid could she be?
Vex was built like a god. The solid heat of his thighs beneath hers felt far too real, and the way his arm curved around her waist sent warmth spiraling through her chest that had nothing to do with acting.
Every cell in her body was hyperaware of him, cataloging details she had no business noticing. The way his muscles shifted beneath her when he breathed. The careful control in his touch that told her he was holding himself back. She was supposed to be working, supposed to be the professional who could separate the job from everything else.
Instead, she was melting into him like some heart-struck lover.
The attendant had been coming in and out of the room for the last hour, and Luisa was now sure he was reporting to someone. The concierge? Some higher up? The who was a mystery, but that it was happening was certain. There was no reason to be so obtrusive otherwise.
She and Vex could retreat into the bedroom and get a bit of distance, but she'd started this charade, and she was damn well going to finish it.
"I'm in," she whispered against his ear, trying to ignore how his breath hitched when her lips brushed his skin.
His hand settled on her hip, fingers splaying possessively across the silk of her pajamas. "Tell me."
She might as well have been naked. The silk was thin enough that she could feel the heat of his palm through the fabric. His touch was careful and controlled, but there was hunger in the way his hand curved around her that made her stomach flutter.
"There's so much data flowing in and out it will take time to isolate it."
"You're past that much security already?" He sounded surprised.
And she knew she sounded cocky. "I'm very good."
His eyes sharpened with interest. There was a real appreciation for her skills in that look. It made her chest tight with something dangerously close to pride.
Why did his opinion matter? She knew she was good. He could play the part of the playboy lord all he wanted; she was the only one who could truly assess her skills.
But it was nice to be appreciated.
"Any sign of what we're looking for?"
She scowled but hid it by nuzzling at him. "Not yet, but if it's there, my algorithm will find it."
She shifted in his lap, ostensibly to reach for her equipment, but the movement brought her closer to his chest. The scent of expensive cologne was heady enough. But there was something smokey underneath it. Dragon fire?
Now she was pressed fully against him, her breasts brushing his chest with each breath, her thighs bracketing his hips in a way that left no doubt about the effect she was having on him. She could feel the tension in his muscles, see the careful restraint in the way he held himself perfectly still.
When their eyes met, the air between them crackled with electricity.
Oh no. This wasn't good at all.
A wisp of smoke curled around her shoulder. Luisa stilled. It was coming from Vex, barely visible but definitely there.
"What's that? Are you okay?" It was a little loud, and she hoped the attendant didn't hear. Vex's mistress would know all his little quirks.
"It's nothing."
It wasn't nothing.
"You're smoking," she whispered.
His arm tightened around her. "Occupational hazard."
He wanted her. She didn’t know if that was what the smoke was, but she could read his face. No one was that good of an actor.
If he kissed her right now, she knew with absolute certainty that it wouldn't stop at a kiss.
