Steal My Heart (15 page)

Maggie sucked in a breath.
Oh. My. God…

Her core clenched with greedy anticipation as she visually feasted on Gabe’s body. He was splendidly formed. His thick cock jutted from a profusion of black curls. It was long, fattened with lust, and to Maggie’s surprise, curved in an enticing arc up towards his belly button. Heavy sacs hung below, drawn tight to his body. The sight sent a lightning bolt spearing through her, zapping her sex and increasing her dampness. The head was bloated and shiny with leaking fluid. Her eyes tracked a clear bead that pearled on the tip and rolled down his massive girth, following the path of a thick crooked vein. The desire to trace it with her tongue was overwhelming, and she leaned forward and captured the drop, licking up to where it had originated.

“
Oh fuck!”
Gabe hissed, his engorged shaft twitching and giving her lips a dull slap.

He bent over and plundered her mouth, cradling her face with his big hands. He eased away then looked into her eyes, shooting her a sexy grin, and she wondered what was going through his head. She grinned back, feeling giddy and nervous because this profound lust was a singular experience. She loved when he was like this. Stars sparkled in his deep brown eyes, and his smile was as open and as stunning as the vast skies.

“You’re amazing,” he confessed, and she felt heat bloom in her heart.

He nudged her backwards, and she settled her head against a pillow, still smiling and glowing inanely from his words. When he parted her thighs, her smile abruptly turned to an astonished gasp that quickly increased in amplitude to high pitchy moans.

“So fucking beautiful, Maggie,” he growled, his eyes devouring the sight between her legs.

Gabe nestled his head at her core and used his tongue to stoke hot currents of pleasure. He lapped and traced her moist flesh, moaning and spearing his velvety tongue into her center, sending her hips flying off the bed. Waves of ecstasy rose and crested inside her, leaving her gasping and sobbing as she grew close to her summit. He was relentless as his tongue snaked over her flesh, undulating against her and flicking her rigid button with fervid determination.

Maggie buried her fingers in his thick mane and clutched his head, her hips surging hard against his face as she burst into shards of fire burning cinders. A desperate sultry moan left her chest in loud, endless waves. The flames tore her asunder, leaving her hot and simmering as she tried to coalesce her thoughts. All she felt was mindless need. Anticipation pulsated through her, her body quivering, eager for more as she watched him ring his beautiful cock and crawl up her body.

Oh God, yes!

A loud banging intruded on her hazy bliss and her gaze bounced to the door.

Oh God, no!

Before she could turn her head back, Gabe had already sprang off the bed. She hadn’t seen him reach for the gun, but now both hands clutched a scary looking weapon, leveling it at the noisy door.

“
Hola? Hola?
Senore. Sinorita!”

Her heart was thundering so loud the noise was deafening. Her senses were still trying to process what was happening around her, her body still revving with desire, still pleading for Gabe. She opened her mouth to speak, and Gabe abruptly silenced her with a finger to his lips. He jerked his head towards the bathroom and glared at her. His was not an order to disobey. The provocative sight of his hard, tanned naked body, poised and robust, each muscle powerfully distended and ready to act was as terrifying as it was titillating. She hopped from the bed, dragging the sheets behind her and ran to the bathroom. Inside, she tried some mathematics, then did some quick mouth breathing to quell her rising panic. She realized her fear was more for Gabe than herself. She couldn’t endure the thought of something happening to him.

She cracked the door and peeked out, needing to assure herself that he was unharmed. He was at the door. It was slightly ajar as he spoke rapidly to the housekeeper in fluent Spanish. Maggie could only observe a portion of the young lady’s face, but could see her angling her head to get a better view of the unclothed man she conversed with. The only word she could discern over and over again was the Spanish word for towels, and guessed that the maid had just been dutifully performing her job. Maggie snorted.

She might be a conscientious worker, but her timing sucked!

She relaxed her shoulders, closed the door, and leaned back against it. She caught her reflection in the mirror and didn’t recognize the woman staring back at her. The woman before her had big sparkling blue eyes that were drunk with heavy emotion and dilated with lust, her skin glowed healthier than she’d ever seen it, and her lips seemed full and pouty, beckoning in a rich ruby red.

Who was this woman?
Certainly not plain, neurotic, Maggie Lawson. She sighed. Why did her heart long for this incredibly dangerous man? Why did her body ignite whenever he looked at her? How could she so easily submit to her desire? Even now, she could still feel the slick dew from her sex coating her inner thighs. The plan was to escape, not to get her heart entrapped! She could hear David’s sarcastic voice in her head:
‘The plan, Mag, is to get away, not get off!’
A disparaging smile pulled her lips. On second thought, David would advise her to get off and
then
get away! Maggie shook her head, stepping into the shower. What about her heart? She feared the only thing her heart would get was broken. It was crazy to get involved with this dangerous man. Perhaps the untimely intrusion had been fortuitous.

Gabe was dressed when Maggie emerged from the bathroom. He’d kept his eye on the security camera and followed the maid as she’d made her rounds, ascertaining she didn’t harbor some nefarious intention. He shook his head in frustration. The damn do not disturb sign had been on the door! Well, what did he expect? This was Motel Six, not the Four Seasons. Maggie had tarried longer than usual in the bathroom, and he guessed she’d been ruminating over their aborted love making. He searched her face as she walked out and could read nothing from her guarded expression.

He approached her and cupped her chin, tilting her face up, forcing her to confront his gaze.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly.

Her gaze shifted to the door. “Yeah, she just scared me. I was afraid it might’ve been the person after you.”

He stared silently for a protracted moment, watching the gray cloud her eyes. That wasn’t what he’d been referring to, but if this was the artifice she wanted them to assume, then he’d comply. He too could discount what almost happened, and what was happening between them. It was for the best. He dropped his hand and turned away.

“Get dressed. We’re going out.” He was annoyed by the unexpected anger in his voice.

Her delicate brows squished together. “Where are we going?”He scrubbed a hand over his face and sighed deeply. “We’re meeting with someone.”

“Who? Your friend, Harry. Is he giving you information on—”

A raised hand silenced her. “Maggie, you need to listen to me and do exactly as I say. This could be very dangerous. I will keep you safe, but you must not try to run.”

He watched a glassy film cover her eyes, and they glowed radiant like precious gems. She gave a submissive nod. “I know you’ll keep me safe, Gabe. I’ll listen. I promise.”

He grunted a response, desperately wanting to believe her. He had no choice. He couldn’t very well leave her here. Besides being caught unawares earlier, he hadn’t been too concerned that it was his pursuer at the door. They wouldn’t have bothered to knock. But he wasn’t taking any chances.

In the car Gabe reached into his glove box and passed her a blue baseball cap. He watched as she pulled it low on her forehead. He’d warned her to keep her eyes down. Those beautiful eyes were a dead give-away, and he didn’t know who was looking for her. There had been nothing in the news regarding the bodies left in her apartment, or any sign of a legitimate search for her. The fact that she’d called her job and her family would nullify any alarms raised. That had been one of the reasons for his capitulation, why he’d allowed her the phone calls. He grudgingly admitted that another reason was because he found it difficult to resist those imploring eyes and pouty lips when she wanted something. It didn’t really surprise him that there’d been no media attention on the homicides. Cane Howard’s influence spread wide like groping tentacles, allowing him to manipulate and strangle anyone around him. It also helped that his pockets were as deep as the abysmal ocean.

He pulled into the outdoor parking lot of the farmer’s market where he and Harry had agreed to meet. He was early. He was always early. He stepped out and rounded the car to open the door for Maggie. It was spring, but the day was unseasonably cool and a brisk wind stirred up a cyclone of dry leaves.

The outdoor market was isolated, but right off the road, which created easy access in and out. It had a large parking lot on both sides of the century old farmhouse. Stalls displaying a colorful array of fruits and vegetables lined the front of the building, creating mosaic rows of produce for the lazy afternoon shoppers. The lattice fences and arches that grew beds of snaking vines and budding rose bushes gave the market a naturally rustic appearance. White wicker benches sat outside, a resting place for weary shoppers to sit and take in the bucolic scene.

Gabe looked around. There were a few couples milling about the aisles, fondling their prospective purchases. He guided Maggie to one of the outdoor benches and stationed her there, giving her strict orders. He then proceeded to the far lot where he was to meet Harry. He twisted his neck as he took long steps, judging the distance back to her. He should have a direct view of the bench from his meeting place. He fingered the key in his pocket that was meant for Harry and took his place under the shade of a large gnarled oak tree just outside the lot.

Gabe shifted his weight and rolled his wide shoulders. He hadn’t been concerned when Harry hadn’t shown at the scheduled meeting time. His friend was not one for punctuality. But now he was over a half hour late, and the hairs on the back of Gabe’s neck were standing at attention, prickling with alarm. He pulled his cap lower over his eyes and sidled a gaze to Maggie. She was still sitting on the bench, a paper he knew she wasn’t reading in her hand. As if sensing his gaze, she turned and their eyes met. Even from this distance he could see her brows angle with worry. She knew something was wrong.

Gabe scanned his surroundings and pushed away from the tree he was leaning on. He was about to walk back to the bench when his gaze alighted on a familiar car at the far edge of the parking lot. The beat up red Ford had been in Harry’s possession now for almost five years. He always complained that the vehicle was as temperamental as he was. Gabe hadn’t seen the Ford pull in, which meant it had been there the entire time. Gabe frowned, taking cautious steps towards the parked car, his internal sensors probing his surroundings. Was Harry so afraid that he didn’t trust leaving his car? Did he want to meet in a more sheltered space instead? Why would he not alert him to his presence? Gabe kept a hand on the hilt of his Glock as he approached the car, his heartbeat growing sluggish with each step.

He approached from the rear, and not seeing an occupant, inched tactically around the side. That was when he saw him, when his fear was confirmed, and his heart kicked hard in his chest. First a sneakered foot attached to a jean clad leg. Then the other leg splayed at a grotesque angle away from the lifeless body. Harry’s corpse was sprawled out on the graveled lot between two parked cars, his dark eyes staring pitifully into the heavens, his mouth parted with unspoken words. The gunshot wound to his forehead looked like a bull’s-eye tattoo. The tattoo had leached its sanguine color onto his forehead and congealed in macabre streaks. Gabe swallowed the bile rising in his throat. Harry had been dead for some time now, which meant it had happened before he’d even arrived. His killer was most likely still here. He cursed violently, palmed his Glock and sprinted towards the bench.

Maggie craned her neck, searching in the distance for Gabe. She’d lost sight of him moments ago when he’d headed into the parking lot. Although his face had been as stoic as usual, she’d been able to discern that something was amiss. He’d been waiting a long time for Harry to show up. She bounced a knee nervously. Should she go in search of him? Should she see if something was wrong? Was he okay? He’d given her a strict dictate not to leave the wicker bench, but the longer she waited, the more her anxiety pressed in on her. She caught a sudden movement out of the corner of her eye and saw a short man approaching the bench from the side. He was taking determined strides directly towards her, his face an emotionless mask. Maggie’s heart rate accelerated, the beats crashing against her chest. She saw a distinct bulge under his green jacket, and her throat closed up.

Immediately she shot up, her feet pedaling in the opposite direction. She managed a glance back and saw that he was still following, his steps now speeding up to match her brisk stride. Shoppers still idled about, oblivious to what was happening. The sun’s rays had broken through the clouds and now seemed to beat down on her, oppressive and blinding. Coming to the edge of the market, she twisted her head left, then right, still searching for Gabe and unsure of which way to go. Her breath came out shallow and choppy as panic knifed through her. Deciding there might be an alcove or place to hide at the back of the farmhouse, she rounded the corner and took off at a run. She could hear the footsteps pound behind her and fear mixed with pure adrenalin spurred her onward. She saw him then, a uniformed policeman stepping into her path, and she gasped with relief, running towards him.
Thank God!
Heaving, she slowed her steps, her palm to her chest as she strove to catch her erratic breath.

Thank God!
She’d inform the officer that she was in danger, that the stranger was pursuing her. And while the officer detained him for questioning, she’d maybe make some excuse about needing to find a lost child, slip away, and find Gabe.