Part 10 (2/2)
She pulled him into a kiss. ”You ask too many questions, Jackson.”
It had been almost ten minutes since her last mind-blowing o.r.g.a.s.m. Jackson decided it was time to make her scream with pleasure again.
THEIR AFTERNOON OF LOVEMAKING had worn them both out. Jackson had managed a few hours of sleep. Mar was sleepy when they'd returned to the villa, and she had asked for a couple of hours to rest some more, and to freshen up before their dinner date.
Jackson had spent the last half hour arranging for them to eat on the rooftop of the hotel, in a private area where they would be close to the moon and stars. He was stepping out onto the path when he saw Scoggins heading his way. It was too late for him to turn around without being rude, so he smiled. ”Good evening,” he said as the man stopped in front of him. Jackson wanted to push past, but he paused.
Jackson could feel the tension rolling off the other man, whose earlier smile had turned into a grim expression. Something was up.
Expecting the worst, Jackson readied for action by s.h.i.+fting his weight to his back foot, and reaching for the knife he'd tucked into his waist.
Scoggins held up two hands in a stop motion. ”Stand down, man. I mean you know harm. I thought you might like to know about an interesting telephone conversation I had with one of my a.s.sociates.”
Jackson shrugged nonchalantly but kept his hand on the hilt of the knife. ”Really? Someone I might know?” He knew the charade was up, but Jackson wasn't quite ready to give in.
Scoggins gave him a hard look. ”Oh, I'd say we know a few of the same people. One of them in particular seems quite set on finding a man fitting your description.”
d.a.m.n. It was done. He had to get the h.e.l.l out of here. h.e.l.l, he had to get Mar to a plane, and then lose himself somewhere else in Thailand. Find a way to Langley.
”I suppose you mentioned that you'd seen me?” Jackson could kill the man, he was that p.i.s.sed off, but Scoggins's death would serve no purpose.
Scoggins shook his head. ”No, actually, I didn't. Whoever you are, and whatever you are mixed up in with those devils in Bangkok is no concern of mine. They still owe me millions, and don't seem in a hurry to pay. And I seem to remember that man matching your description, the twin I was telling you about? Well, he saved my life back in London, and arranged it so that I could continue to do business without worrying about the authorities. I promised that man loyalty, and I never go back on my word.”
Jackson breathed for the first time in what seemed like several minutes. ”How can I trust you?”
”As I recall, you don't trust anyone. Can't say I blame you. But I mean what I say. It serves me no purpose to turn you in, you can look at it that way if it makes you feel better. But the truth is, I never welsh on my debts. And I owe you my life. I'd be in prison for life, or dead, if it weren't for you. We'll leave it at that.” Scoggins moved past, but Jackson caught his arm. ”How long?”
Scoggins c.o.c.ked his head to the side. ”They think you're still in the city. You have a couple of days at least. But you need to get out of this country. Vlad has people everywhere and it won't be long before they find you.” He waved a hand toward the ocean. ”Even here.”
”Thanks.”
”You would have done the same for me. And besides, I'm still working in London. Perhaps we'll do business again some day.”
Jackson nodded. Scoggins walked into the hotel, leaving him on the sidewalk. Staring out into the ocean a myriad of thoughts ran through his head. Where should he go next? Could he get Mar to a major airport? They might be watching, and her safety was the priority. He needed to get a look at that laptop again.
Guilt a.s.sailed him. He couldn't stand that he was being so deceitful with her, but there was no way around it. That laptop was the only way he could communicate with the outside world.
In his mind he promised himself that he would do whatever it took to protect her. Unfortunately, that didn't make him feel any less guilty.
14.
SOMETHING TUGGED MARISKA from a deep sleep. Pulling her toward consciousness when all she wanted was to stay in her dreams with Jackson.
”Wake up. Come on, sleepyhead. Open those eyes.” Jackson's s.e.xy voice coaxed her back to reality. ”Please, baby. I have a surprise for you.”
Slipping farther down in the warmth of the bed seemed a much better idea. She'd spent a little too much time surfing and in the sun, and now she was paying for it. It didn't help that she and Jackson had made love for hours. Her mind and body were exhausted. A dull ache had formed in her head, and her skin felt tight, even though she'd showered and applied lotions before crawling between the cool sheets. But he sounded excited and she couldn't stand disappointing him.
She opened a sliver of an eye. ”Happy now?” she said grumpily as she pulled the sheet back over her face. The dim light in the room was enough to make her blink.
Jackson wore a dress s.h.i.+rt, dark slacks and one of his devastating smiles. ”You look gorgeous,” he said as he moved in for a kiss.
She held a hand over her mouth. ”Stop. I have sandpaper mouth. You can't kiss me right now.”
”Hmm.” He tugged her hand away. ”I'll decide if I can kiss you or not. And can't say I've ever heard of sandpaper mouth. Is that some tropical disease I should be worried about?”
”I refuse to kiss you until I've brushed my teeth. And if a cat has ever licked you, then you know exactly what sandpaper mouth is.” She pushed the sheet off her and stood naked before him. A few days ago she would have been self-conscious about her body, but now she was only worried about her breath.
Jackson refused to let her pa.s.s, and planted a big kiss on her lips. ”I say you taste perfect, sandy mouth and all.” His hands slipped down her bottom and pulled her to him. ”And you feel perfect.” His hands slipped around her hips and settled there.
”I thought you said you had a surprise for me?” She wiggled away from him, determined to brush the grime from her tongue before he could kiss her again.
He looked confused for a moment, then he smiled. ”Seeing you naked sent the past hour straight out of my head. I do have a big surprise for you.”
She turned her head and smiled up at him. ”Um, I think I've seen that surprise already. Over, and over, and over again. Not that I'm complaining.” She boldly cupped him and could feel his c.o.c.k growing in her hand.
”Talk about a one-track mind.” He gently removed her hand and pushed her toward the bathroom. ”You need to get ready. Your surprise is waiting at the hotel.”
She clapped her hands together. ”Normally, I'm not a big fan of surprises, but now I can't wait. I'll be fast.” She turned back at the door and caught him frowning at the floor, his chin in his hand. ”Jackson?”
He glanced up and smiled at her. But she knew she'd seen genuine worry on his face. ”Yes? No more stalling. Do your womanly things, hurry, hurry.” He shooed her into the bathroom before she could ask what was wrong.
”I only wanted to know what to wear.”
”Doesn't matter,” he said, ”you look beautiful in everything.”
That made her laugh as she stared in the mirror. It was crazy that her hair could be a frizzy mess on top of her head and overly pink cheeks, and he thought she was beautiful. She wouldn't dwell on that look on his face. The one that made her worry that perhaps this fantasy was going to end sometime soon.
She turned on the faucets. Her stomach tightened at the thought of him leaving.
”No,” she whispered. ”The deal is, I enjoy whatever time I have with him. I knew that going in. No regrets.”
JACKSON'S SURPRISE HAD BEEN incredible. As they stood on the rooftop of the hotel looking out on to the ocean she felt like she could touch the moon and the stars.
”I don't think I would ever tire of this view,” she said softly as she snuggled against his chest. They'd had a elegant candlelit dinner by the rooftop pool, and Jackson had even arranged for music to stream in through the speakers. She'd learned it came from his iPod, which was connected to the sound system. It was an array of everything from big band to indie rock, and all points in between. It was as eclectic and diverse as the man holding her.
He sighed against her. They had two bottles of wine, and an a.s.sortment of local delicacies. She'd eaten more than she'd intended, but she felt more relaxed than she had in years. Jackson had been so attentive, as if he wanted her to remember this night forever. She would.
But there was a small part of her that couldn't let go of that moment back at the villa. She'd seen the look on his face. He was worried about something, but he wanted her to have this night. She couldn't take that away from him.
”Mmm. This has been just about the most perfect date a woman could ever imagine.” She took a deep breath. ”Jackson, you can surprise me anytime you want. In fact I may have to change the way I look at surprises from here on out.”
When she glanced up at him there was a strange expression on his face. Why couldn't the man take a compliment? ”Seriously, I'll be spoiled from now on. No man is ever going to live up to the measure of the Jackson standard.” She gave him a grin, but his brows drew together and he wore a deep frown. ”What's wrong?”
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