Under Wraps by Joanne Rock Page B

his mouth was aligned with her sex.
    And oh man, he’d like to think Marnie had pointedout that piece for a reason. He couldn’t imagine anywhere he’d rather be than in their suite re-creating that moment for her. A growl rumbled up the back of his throat, and he had to fist his hands to keep them off her.
    â€œHell, yes, it’s a distraction.” But then, you couldn’t look anywhere in this place without seeing something erotic.
    And unlike some girlie magazine, this stuff was subtle. It crept up on you and settled into your consciousness before you could think about changing the mental channel.
    Taking her hand, he pulled Marnie to her feet. She stood willingly enough, but he noticed she spared a small, backward glance for the statue on the end table.
    And didn’t that just torch his focus in a heartbeat? Bad enough to conduct an investigation while being tormented with carnal temptation on all sides. But it was even worse trying to think about the case knowing the woman beside him was every bit as turned-on.
    â€œI’m losing my mind here.” He had to touch her soon or he’d jump out of his skin. “Go back to the room and I’ll meet you there in an hour. I need to check around for any accessible hotel computers where the embezzlement could have originated, but after that…”
    He couldn’t begin to articulate what he needed. The urge was deep and primal. He didn’t just want to touch her. He wanted to possess her.
    Thankfully, she spared him the effort of translating his need into words fit for her ears.
    Nodding, she gripped her key to her chest. “Hurry.”
    Â 
    B ACK IN THE SUITE , Marnie fought off the sexual edginess by flipping through a few electronic documents that Jake had sent to her phone after receiving an update from his office. They hadn’t been apart for long—forty-nine minutes, according to the clock on the nightstand—but every moment away from him only stirred a hunger she couldn’t deny any longer.
    She’d never felt sexual chemistry like this. It was so strong, so palpable, she didn’t know what to do about it. Did other people feel like this about sex? Whoa, had she been missing out for her whole adult life?
    Fanning herself, she tried to concentrate on the notes from Jake. He’d sent her a list of visitors to the Marquis in the past year, even though they’d already established that most of the names would be fake. Still, Jake had asked her to look at it since most people didn’t vary the names much. Just like Jake and Marnie became Jack and Marie, apparently most people using an alias chose something close to their real names.
    She tucked her toes beneath a blanket as she lounged in an oversize club chair. The moment Jake had left, she’d ditched the restrictive gown she’d been wearing along with the underskirts that made the train puff up. She’d kept the corset on, unwilling to have to wrestle with it again before dinner. But at least this way, her dress would remain wrinkle-free. She didn’t know exactly how things would go with Jake when he returned, but she had the feeling clothes would only get in the way.
    Fifty minutes.
    With her finger hovering on the wheel to advance thescreen, Marnie surreptitiously listened for footsteps in the hall. Her heartbeat danced a crazy rhythm in her chest. Odd how even the blood in her veins wanted Jake. It was elemental. Undeniable. The kiss he’d given her in the dressing room that morning had ripped away any illusion she had of keeping him at arm’s length during their stay here.
    In a space of time, Jake had become more than a hot contractor who’d flirted with her or an intrusive P.I. who filmed her without her knowledge. She could easily be in jail right now if it hadn’t been for his determination to find out the truth of Premiere’s missing money. Her ex-boss had assured her of as much in their brief phone