Ash Rising (DEAd Series) (10 page)

Her
attention lingered on his mouth as he pulled the cap from his teeth. He handed her the marker, but her gaze had gone to her hand to examine the numbers he had written like they were a foreign language. Closing her fingers over his scrawl, she darted a look up to see if he’d noticed her preoccupation. Ash brought her fist to his mouth and brushed his lips across her fingers, much like he had the first time he’d seen her. He left her skin slightly damp with the promise of more intimate touches.

“Call m
e.”

He repressed the urge to bite her knuckles, scrape his teeth in a slow, shuddering glide across the back of her hand. He could
have her—all he had to do was press her delicate skin and bone between his teeth and say the words. She’d go with him to his apartment and spend the rest of the afternoon in his bed, gliding her teeth along his skin and bone, but if he didn’t leave right that instant, he’d end up in a body bag or worse by evening.

“I’ll see you later,
Liz,” he promised, and let go of her hand. Shit. Way past time for him to leave.

“Thanks for the coffee.”

Ash paused for one last look. He nodded, winked, and bolted out the door.

Ash made it to Port of Toronto in time for the delivery and met Rico as the first duffel bag full of heroin was off-loaded. The interception would be easy for the RCMP officers. A vehicle driven by a UC would hit the car carrying the shipment. With good timing and careful planning, they could get the drugs off the street before they left the city, and his cover would remain intact. The confiscation wouldn’t be traced back to him.

Rico came up and clapped him on the back, all smiles. “Another one for the books. That was aces, my friend. Let’s go celebrate.”

He tucked a fat envelope into Ash’s jacket, and Ash nodded his thanks. The haul had been lucrative, and Rico was pleased with their end of the job. He slid into the backseat of Rico’s black sedan, while Slick got behind the wheel and Rico went around to the passenger side.

“Clyde’s,” Rico instructed. “Drinks are on me tonight, boys.”

Ash saw her the second he walked into the crowded bar. Trained to be aware of his surroundings, he was certain he would have noticed her anyway.

Liz.

She sat at a table with Gina and three of their friends. Sliding into Rico’s usual booth with the others, he made sure to face her table so he could watch without being obvious. Rico saw Gina and sent her a nod, catching Ash’s stare at the group of girls. He glanced back and forth between the two tables and scowled.

“We’re supposed to be celebrating.”

“Can you think of a better way?” Ash asked with a careless grin, arching a brow and giving up on subtlety as he eased out of the booth.

“Fucking Ash.” Rico shook his head.

“That’s the plan.”

Rico’s reluctant laughter followed him across the bar, but his focus was on Liz. She talked animatedly with the group and looked up when the other girls fell silent at his approach. A smile curled her mouth, and she leaned back to examine him from head to toe, her eyes lighting with awareness. He put an extra swagger in his step and added a slow roll to his hips to give her something to appreciate.

“Ladies,” he acknowledged with a sweeping glance and dazzling smile before fastening his gaze on Liz again. “Liz.”

She unconsciously licked her lips, and satisfaction warmed his belly—and lower. “Care to dance?”

He held out his hand but made no other move, waiting to see if she’d respond to his summons. Her gaze narrowed playfully on his. She’d definitely caught on to his game. His dick—and his mind—leapt in anticipation. He couldn’t remember when an opponent had challenged him mentally as well as sexually.

Her friends sent speculative stares his way as she wriggled out of the booth and placed her palm against his. The glare Gina cast him wasn’t speculative at all, more like mean and derisive. Easy enough to ignore when Liz gave him a soft, teasing smile and brushed against his chest as she led the way to the dance floor.

Ash slowed his gait to tease, to see what she would do. Liz laughed and walked backward, somehow avoiding the other moving bodies as she shook her hips and swung their still-joined hands. Pulling her close, Ash gave a slow shimmy, a graceful undulation, then wrapped his arm around her waist and brought her flush against his chest. Their hips bumped, slid, and fell into rhythm. His arm tightened to ease her closer as her legs tangled with his, but she resisted with an arch of her brow. A quick twist bought her an instant of freedom, but he held her hand and stood firm when she hit the end of their combined reach. He spun her back until she rested neatly under his arm. Against his side.

Liz let loose a delighted laugh and countered by brushing her breasts lightly—oh, so lightly—against his arm. Another song started, the tempo still upbeat, but Ash slowed and tugged her close when she tried to take a step away. He tucked her into his body so they touched from knee to chin, smiling into her hair when she relaxed and rested her head on the swell of his chest. She folded their twined hands next to her cheek and swayed to the rhythm he set, ignoring the driving beat of the music and the other people dancing around them.

He stroked a hand down her back, repeating the motion until she sighed and went limp. The capitulation pressed their bodies together in interesting and thrilling places, just as he’d intended. Ash bent his head and lowered his shoulders until he surrounded her, creating their own intimate space on the dance floor. His back arched over her much shorter body, but having her in his arms felt so good he easily ignored the slight discomfort. Her breath hitched as he ran the edge of his mouth along her jaw to the soft, sensitive skin of her lower lip, not quite kissing, not quite caressing. Increasing the contact until the stroke was almost a kiss, he paused and waited. Another breath shivered her slight frame as she angled her chin to capture his mouth, seek his lips. He let them hover an inch, a fraction, a breath away, and then with a slow, easy swipe, the tip of his tongue touched her trembling mouth.

He straightened and stepped away. She stumbled toward him, and he steadied her with his hands on her shoulders as she gaped.

“I’ve got to go,” Ash murmured, satisfied with her stunned expression. He glanced at Rico, who gestured impatiently from across the room. Whatever the hell he wanted, Rico wasn’t screwing around. Something was up, and not just Ash’s dick, unfortunately.

“You…What?” She gave her head a sharp shake as reality returned, and her eyes cleared of his sensual pull, damn it.

He’d had her primed and ready to agree with whatever he wanted—and he’d wanted her in his bed. A spark of temper replaced the sensual haze in her expression. She took a step back with her fists clenched at her sides like she considered doing him bodily harm, and that turned him on almost as much as having his hands and mouth on her.

“You can’t just…just…
lick
someone and then leave.” She looked around as if she’d just realized they stood in the middle of the dance floor. A hiss escaped from between her clenched teeth as she turned her glare on him and neatly sidestepped the hand he held out. “What’s wrong with you?”

“I like licking.” He burst out with a laugh when she spluttered. “I really do have to go, beautiful. Call me.”

“Call you?” She tried for a cool, superior look, but her cheeks flushed pink.

“You still have my number, right?” He glanced at her hand where he’d written on her skin. “I don’t have your cell number, and your guard dog won’t let me talk to you if I call the house. Look, text me, just say hi, and I’ll call you instead if that makes you feel better.”

With a disdainful sniff, she stuck her nose in the air and left him standing on the dance floor. He watched her walk away with an appreciative sigh and met Rico at the door.

“What’s up?”

“Got a message from a VIP that wants to talk to us about IDs.” He clapped Ash on the back as they exited the bar. “This is one guy I’d love to have owe me a favor.”

“Well then, let’s see what we can do.” Ash’s professional interest replaced his libido. A VIP Rico wanted to impress was more than likely a big fish.

His cell buzzed in his pocket as they got into the car, and he pulled the phone out to check the text. A number he didn’t recognize came up on his screen, but when he read the message, he couldn’t hold back a snort of amusement. He shook his head at Rico’s inquiring look and returned the phone to his jacket pocket.

The message simply said
hi
.

“Hi.”

Ash smiled when silence met his greeting. How would she respond? Acknowledge him, pretend she didn’t know who called, or just hang up?

“Oh,” she said. “Hi.”

Not what he’d hoped for at all. He hadn’t anticipated squealing excitement, but a little enthusiasm would’ve been nice.

“Liz?”

“Yeah, sorry. I’m just surprised, I guess. I didn’t expect to hear from you.”

Ash took the phone away from his ear to frown at the screen before bringing it back. “Well, you texted me your number. I thought it would be okay to call. Didn’t you want me to?”

“No! I mean, yes. Yes, I did. I’m glad you called.” She laughed, shaky and self-conscious, and the sound restored his confidence. “I’m sorry. I wanted you to call, but I was afraid you wouldn’t.”

“Told you I would.” He deepened his voice. “What are you doing right now?”

“I just finished running errands, so now I’m heading over to the coffee shop. Gina’s there. She’s giving me a ride home.”

“Turn around.”

Liz spun, and her mouth dropped open when she spotted him a few yards behind her.

“Are you stalking me?” she demanded in a breathless voice.

“No. I just happen to like coffee. I’m almost out at my place, and that’s a serious problem.”

She laughed as they fell into step. “For me, too.”

“So, you’re heading home?”

“Yep. I need to get some studying done and find something for dinner.”

“Do you like Thai food?” He stuck his hands in the front pockets of his jeans as they walked side-by-side down the sidewalk.

“Mm, yes. The spicier the better.”

“There’s a place just down the block that’s pretty good. Would you go to dinner with me, Liz? I can take you home afterward.”

She gave him a sassy, sidelong look. “As long as you make it spicy, sure.”

He laughed, delighted with her. Her fingers trembled when he grabbed her hand.

Once they were seated in the small restaurant, Liz called Gina
to tell her she’d be home later. Delicious smells emanated from the kitchen as they crowded close in the tight quarters, and the hum of conversation from the other diners wrapped them in a comforting buzz. Liz placed her order, and the waitress laughed at her request to make the curry extra spicy.

“You like things hot, yes? You must, with this one.” She sent Ash a flirty wink as she scribbled on her pad. “I’ll bring extra water. Looks like you’re going to need it tonight.”

“Does that happen to you a lot?” Liz gestured after the waitress. “The attention? The women?”

“No, not really. Not a big deal.”

She made a face like she didn’t believe him.