Page 15 of Vex
She had to get this under some semblance of control before they fucked it up. "We have a bit of privacy in the bedroom and bath, no bugs. I couldn't do a thorough scan out here, so I wouldn't be so sure. We're going to have to..."
"I know." His voice was rough.
Which meant sharing a bed. The massive, ridiculous bed that suddenly seemed far too small.
"I should clean up," he said.
He lifted her gently from his lap, his hands lingering on her waist for a moment longer than necessary.
She nodded, not trusting her voice.
The loss of his warmth was immediate and jarring. She watched him disappear into the bedroom, his shoulders so tense they were twitching.
The door closed with a soft click, and moments later, she heard the whisper of running water. The thought of him stripping out of that perfectly tailored suit made her mouth go dry.
What was happening to her?
She'd worked with attractive men before without losing her mind. But Vex crashed through her defenses like they weren’t there.
Luisa sank back onto the couch and pressed her palms to her heated cheeks.
This mission was going to kill her.
8
This whole thing was a mess.
Luisa's back ached from clinging to the far edge of the massive bed all night. The sheets were luxurious enough to make her feel guilty about her discomfort, but no thread count could make sharing space with Vex easier. Every time she'd started to relax, she'd become hyperaware of his presence. The rhythm of his breathing. The way the mattress dipped under his weight. The fact that he slept shirtless.
She'd discovered that detail around two in the morning when she'd risked a glance over her shoulder and found herself staring at an expanse of skin that looked far too warm and touchable. The urge to reach out and trace the line of his spine had been so strong she'd gripped the mattress edge to keep her hands to herself.
Instead of sleeping, she'd analyzed her data. The computer did most of the work, but it still took a person's eye to pull out nuances no algorithm could catch.
One name kept coming up. Well, not exactly. Data was never that easy. But one name kept getting hinted at.
Maera Daxkar. Philanthropist. Socialite. And possibly shady underground data broker to the rich and reckless.
The woman held court at Galaxie, the spa inside the Mountain. Her rooms would be difficult to access, but the spa was basically public. Remote access would only get her so far. The really sensitive data would be air-gapped, stored on devices that never touched a network. She needed to get close enough to plant physical surveillance equipment.
It was a good place to start.
And Luisa needed to get out.
If she stayed in the suite that now smelled like Vex, she might do something stupid. Like kiss him.
Or more.
She bit back a groan. This job couldn't be over soon enough.
The Mountain's spa was a temple to wealth and vanity. All white marble and brass fixtures, with soft lighting that made everyone look ten years younger.
"Welcome to Galaxie," the receptionist said. "We're here to see to your every need."
At this place, who wasn't?
Luisa felt the weight of jewels hanging from her neck. What had Vex meant by giving her the piece? The emeralds were real. The kind of gift that spoke of serious money and serious intentions. Their operating budget couldn’t possibly afford a gift like this. What the hell was he thinking?
She didn't have time to examine his motives.
