Longing and Lies (7 page)

Ashley pinched her lips together and dug in her purse for her wallet. She took her ring out and slipped it on.
Damn, it fit perfectly.
“I was a Girl Scout,” she quipped. “Always prepared.”

The right corner of his mouth curved upward. “Then you do the talking. I'll follow your lead,” he said, surprising himself with his impromptu willingness to give up control.

Ashley gave a short nod of her head, tried to visualize what she would encounter on the other side of the revolving doors. They hadn't had time to run through what their cover story was going to be or practice their conversation strategy. But now she'd see if Elliot was as
good as he claimed to be. “Ready?” she asked, looking up at him and not expecting the jolt that danced in her veins.

He took her hand. “Let's pretend we like each other,” he said before moving toward the front door.

Ashley started to snap back a tart retort but he was holding the door open and smiling as if he treated her with kid gloves every day.

She crossed the threshold and felt Elliot's heat right behind her.

“Reception, twelve o'clock,” he whispered into her hair.

She turned and spoke to him through clenched teeth. “Don't start talking like that. It's ridiculous,” she said before she noticed the barely controlled merriment on his face. He was determined to make her crazy. That's all there was to it.

Elliot put his arm possessively around her waist and drew her close so that their hips bumped when they walked.

“It's okay, baby, we're just going to ask some questions,” he said, catching her off guard but loud enough to catch the attention of the young woman behind the desk, which was apparently his intention. What happened to her taking the lead?

“Good afternoon. How can I help you?” the young blonde asked from behind the security of the horseshoe-shaped desk.

The front reception area was warm and inviting. The
off-white walls were dotted with framed photographs of loving-looking couples with chubby-cheeked babies. The desk was adorned with small racks of brochures featuring information on adoption, options and referral services.

Elliot tightened his hold around Ashley's waist. “My wife and I—” he gazed lovingly at Ashley “—wanted to get some information,” he said, playing the uncertain-but-doting husband to perfection.

“Of course.” She stood up and plucked several brochures from the racks on her desk and handed them to Ashley. “I'm sure you would want to speak with one of our counselors who could explain what we do here and everything that's involved.”

“Can we do that today, or do we need an appointment?”

“Yes, you would have to make an appointment. I can do that for you now if you want.”

Ashley and Elliot looked at each other for marital confirmation.

“Yes,” Ashley said, “we'd like to make an appointment.”

“Certainly.” She settled back in her seat and stroked a few keys on the computer keyboard. She asked them the basic questions: name, address, insurance information and the reason for the visit. She entered the information into the computer, then looked up at them. “We have Tuesday open. There is a morning at ten, and an even
ing at six-thirty available with our counselor, Ms. Hastings.”

“Evening?” Elliot asked, looking at Ashley for confirmation.

“Evening is fine,” she agreed.

The receptionist filled out an appointment card and handed it to Ashley.

“You're all set. Tuesday at six-thirty. Oh, the first visit is consultation. We accept all major credit cards and cash of course, but no personal checks. The consultation is a minimum of one hour, sometimes longer. It's two-hundred and fifty dollars. You'll need to pay that before you see the counselor. So I always suggest that first-timers come at least fifteen minutes early to get any paperwork out of the way.” She smiled brightly. “Any questions?”

“No. We're good. Thanks,” Elliot said.

“Great then we'll see you on Tuesday.”

“Would it be okay if we took a look around?” Ashley asked.

“Not much to see. A few offices, the lab, video room, record room.” She shrugged. “That's pretty much it. But if you want to look around feel free. Most of the offices are locked. We only have one doctor on call today.”

“I just want to feel comfortable,” Ashley said, offering an explanation.

“I can't go with you. I need to cover the front. But you can walk around.”

“Thanks.” They strolled down the hall.

“Good move asking for a tour,” Elliot said.

“Thanks. I figured it was a good opportunity for us to get a sense of the place without all of the foot traffic.”

“Do you have your kit with you?” he asked.

“I don't leave home without it,” she said referring to her jewels of the trade that included a micro listening device, computer disk, a video camera the size of a pot of lip gloss and of course the standard burglary tools.

Elliot took a few quick pictures of the layout with his cell phone and e-mailed them to himself to upload later.

“Pretty simple space,” Ashley said as they retraced their steps to the front desk.

“Thanks a lot,” Elliot said when they'd returned.

“Sure,” the receptionist said. “If you have any questions, we need to reschedule your appointment. Give us a call. My name is Bernice, by the way. I'll probably see you on Tuesday. It's my late night.”

“Thanks for everything, Bernice,” Ashley said. “See you Tuesday.”

Elliot and Ashley walked out.

“One down,” Elliot murmured when they stepped outside.

“We've barely scratched the surface,” Ashley said, thinking about the long list of possibilities.

“Don't remind me. What's going to help us put a major dent in this is gaining access to the files.”

“I know,” she agreed. “It'll be tricky.”

“You were really good in there,” he said, catching her attention.

She glanced at him briefly as they continued down the street and back to the apartment.

“We make a good team.”

Elliot hesitated for a moment. “Yeah, we do.”

They returned to the apartment, both feeling very proud of themselves.

“At least we have an idea of the setup,” Elliot said as he tossed his jacket across the back of the couch.

Ashley unconsciously picked up the jacket and hung it in the hall closet. “It will definitely make things a little easier.” She shut the closet door.

Elliot reserved comment but made a mental note to not leave his clothes laying around in plain sight. It was obviously a pet peeve of hers.

“We should talk about this living arrangement before we get too far into it and really get on each other's nerves,” Ashley said. “Now?”

She raised and lowered her shoulder. “Unless you have plans,” she said chuckling to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.

“So talk.” He dropped down into a side chair and zeroed in on her, giving her his full attention.

“Well…I like my privacy,” she began, suddenly unsure what she wanted to say, especially with him staring at her like that.

“No problem. So do I.”

“I like order.” She folded her arms to ward off the shiver of delight that ran along her limbs when she looked at the fullness of his mouth.

“Uh-huh, what else?”

“I like to play my music. It relaxes me.”

“Cool. I like music.”

She stiffened. He was patronizing her, and she realized the more she spoke, the more ridiculous she sounded. “Forget it.” She spun away in the direction of her room. Before she took a step, the strength and seductive touch of his large hand held her shoulder.

“Wait.” Her heart thundered in her chest. She dared to glanced at him over her shoulder. For an instant she saw something soft in his eyes, but just as quickly it was gone.

“I don't like this scenario any more than you do,” he said. “But for the time being, we're stuck with each other. The quicker we can get this case resolved, the sooner we can go back to our lives. This place is big enough for us to stay out of each other's way.”

Ashley swallowed over the sudden knot in her throat. She lifted her chin. “Fine. My sentiments exactly.” She pulled away from him and walked into her room. She plopped down across her bed. She was trembling all over. The heat of his touch still burned her shoulder. What was wrong with her? One minute she couldn't stand the thought of him. The next, she wanted him to kiss or touch her in all the places that had gone unexplored in for far too long.

She pulled herself upright. She knew that part of her frustration and trepidation went beyond Elliot. It was the case itself. It brought to bear the pain that she hadn't shared with anyone. Her family didn't talk about it anymore, but the haunted look still remained in their eyes. The same look was reflected in the eyes of the victimized parents the Cartel was now working for. She wanted to tell him that this was no ordinary case—at least not for her. It was personal. Yet she knew that above all, she could not let her own issues overshadow what she was assigned to do.

She got up and went to the dresser, dove beneath her lingerie and pulled out the twenty-three-year-old photograph.

It was one of those hospital photos. The ones they take of the infants. It was only one of two pictures of Layla. Her parents had one and she had the other.

She ran the tip of her finger over the tiny face. Her chest tightened. Where was she? Was she among the stolen children? Was she happy? Was she still alive? Where was her baby sister?

E
lliot sat on the couch, his long legs splayed out in front of him. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Instantly Ashley's face came to life behind his closed lids. The soft angles of her face, the wild cotton of her hair, her lips, the scent of her. It was all making him crazy, throwing him off his stride. After Lynn, he'd vowed that he would never again allow himself to become emotional about any woman. It had been eight long years. He stuck by his mantra. Then out of the blue, Ashley Temple gets thrown into his life and suddenly all bets are off.

From the moment he met her all the warning bells started to ring. Since they'd first met he hadn't been able
to sleep without thoughts and images of Ashley invading his dreams.

They were powerful, potent, waking him from his sleep with an erection hard enough to break wood. It took everything in him to keep from acting upon all the things that ran through his head. Thankfully prudence always won out. It was dangerous to mix business with pleasure. As a result he did everything in his power to turn his feelings off and push her away.

So far it had been working until a few minutes ago when he touched her just as she turned to look at him. The overwhelming desire to take her in his arms was nearly his undoing. Instead, he resorted to what he knew best, cold indifference. But it wasn't working. The throb between his thighs and the unyielding longing were testaments to that.

His jaw clenched. He pushed himself up from the couch with the intention of taking a cold shower, when what he believed sounded like soft sobs caught his attention. He stopped. Listened. It
was
crying.

Slowly, he walked toward Ashley's room. There it was again. Had he been that much of a bastard that he caused her to cry? His stomach tightened. He stood there for a moment, uncertain of what to do.

Gently, he knocked on the partially opened door. He heard some rustling and sniffling. “Ashley…is it okay if I come in?”

A moment of silence hung between them.

“Come in,” she said softly.

Elliot eased open the door. Ashley's back was slightly turned from him as she swiped at her eyes with the back of her hand.

“What is it?”

He took a tentative step farther into the room and it was as if an alarm went off. Her body jerked in his direction.

Tears still hung in her eyes. Her cinnamon skin was flushed. The depths of her pain rose up from her center, crossed the space between them and grabbed at his heart.

Whatever reservations he may have had dissolved, replaced by his innate instinct to protect. He didn't think about it. His feet moved on their own. He was at her side. His arms were around her. Her heart thumped against his chest. Her sobs wracked her body, and he held her tighter. She seemed to mold herself to him, allowing his strength to become hers.

The walls that they'd erected between them began to crumble, brick by brick until they were exposed, breathing the same air, to the same rhythm of their hearts, wanting the same thing, each other.

Tenderly, Elliot stroked her hair, the strength of her slender neck, the gentle curve of her spine. She sighed at his touch. The trembling slowed and turned into something else. Her fingers pressed into the muscles of his thighs as he held and stroked her.

Neither dared to say a word for fear of breaking whatever magic spell had been cast upon them.

Elliot leaned back, just far enough to look down into her upturned face. Her eyes held hundreds of questions that his lips wanted to answer. By degrees he lowered his head until he could feel the moisture of her parted lips. And then he touched them with his own and an explosion went off deep in his belly and shot through his veins straight to his head.

He groaned as he took her mouth gently at first, still uncertain of her intentions until he felt her return his kiss, melting into his mouth.

The sweet sounds of her sighs echoed in the room. Her arms rose upward, her hands clasped behind his head, pulling him deeper.

His tongue teased her lips then dipped into the honey sweetness of her mouth.

His hands began to roll along her body, familiarizing himself with the gentle curves he'd only imagined.

The thought of having her consumed him, clouding his good judgment. A battle of right and wrong ensued. Right won.

Against every carnal instinct that beat inside him he broke the kiss, but he still couldn't let her go.

Her wide, luminous eyes opened and settled on his face, questioning, waiting. He stroked her cheek as his gaze danced across her face.

She lifted the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head. Her steady gaze dared him to look away and he knew he couldn't.

Her breasts rose in perfect crests above the cup of her bra, beckoning him to touch them. And he did.

His thumbs brushed across the soft flesh, and she whimpered, her lids fluttering like butterfly wings. He leaned down and kissed her there. One then the other.

She clasped the back of his head and pressed him deep against her. Her heart raced so rapidly she became lightheaded with desire.

“Ashley,” he moaned against the rise and fall of her breasts.

She scooted back on the bed, pulling him with her until they were stretched out together, she pinned firmly beneath him. She felt the heartbeat of his need throbbing between her parted thighs.

He ground his hips against her and she gasped in delight. He flipped onto his side and unfastened her pants. She wiggled them down over her hips and kicked them away. His eyes steaming with longing, raked over her exposed flesh searing her skin like a hot iron. His fingers trailed along the band of her panties. She trembled as his fingers dipped in and touched her there, the center of her, the hard kernel of her desire. And she was sure she would explode.

She was wet, ready for him and that knowledge nearly sent him over the edge. He tried to think of anything that would keep his mind from what he truly wanted, lest he explode.

Ashley didn't give him that option. She unzipped him and, before he could take a breath, her butter-soft
fingers enveloped his shaft. She stroked him in bold firm up-and-down motions until he couldn't stand it any longer.

He pulled away from her and stood up. He looked at her one last time before he turned and walked out of the door.

Stunned and shaking all over Ashley curled up into a knot, her humiliation complete.

What was she thinking? What had she done? She'd never be able to face him again. She buried her face against her knees.
Oh God
, she inwardly moaned.

She felt more than heard his return. She opened her eyes and Elliot was standing above her.

“I never made it past Cub Scout,” he said sheepishly, holding up a foil packet in his hand. “Not always prepared.”

She tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth to hold back a smile of relief.

Elliot eased down beside her. His eyes slowly moved over her expectant face. “Are you sure?”

She nodded her head.

Elliot leaned toward her and softly kissed her mouth. “So am I,” he murmured. He reached behind her and unsnapped her bra. The lush, heaviness of her breasts rose to meet him. He took one taut nipple into his mouth, running his tongue in teasing laps across its surface.

Shivers of delight coursed along her spine. Her neck arched back, thrusting her chest forward.

Elliot pushed her back against the pillows, raised her
hips and freed her of her thong. He played with her, taunted her, dipped his fingers in and out of her wet heat until she begged him to stop, to finish, to start. And he obeyed her every command.

He took the condom package, opened it and rolled the thin sheath down along his length. He turned to her. The pulse in her neck throbbed. Her eyes were dark with desire. He moved gently on top of her, her knees raised, bracing his sides. He lifted up on his knees and cupped her behind in his palms.

When the tip of him pressed against her wet opening, she let out a soft cry. He pushed past the tight ring, and slid deep inside of her.

They both moaned in unison at the sublime sensations that defied words.

Jolts of electricity bounced back and forth between them as Elliot moved smoothly in and out of her.

She raised her legs and wrapped them around his waist, and he was certain that he'd been dropped into heaven.

They moved together as if they'd made love hundreds of times before, understanding instinctively the needs and desires of the other. Yet, the familiar was so new and thrilling, taking them on a journey they'd never before traversed. To heights they'd never reached, to a climax that was beyond surreal, rocking them to their souls.

The experience was so potent, so powerful, that once, not even twice was enough. They loved, and loved until they were weak and satiated.