The Man in the Black Suit

His palms slid up her back and crushed her against his chest.

  She inclined her head the other way and tugged at his upper lip.

  Nicholas kissed his way to her chin and down to her neck. He licked at the skin and pulled it into his mouth.

  Acacia exposed her neck even more.

  He nipped a path to her collarbone and traced it with his finger. When she shivered at the sensation, he cradled her breast above the water and wrapped his mouth around her nipple.

  Acacia hummed and squirmed in his lap at the sensation. She could feel him lift between her legs, hard and wanting.

  He pulled on her nipple until she groaned. Then he took the other breast with his eager lips.

  Acacia massaged his scalp as he licked and sucked. She brought her knees to either side of his thighs on top of the bench.

  “Wait.” He rubbed his stubbled chin against the center of her chest. He placed a kiss over her heart. “Are you ready?”

  She nodded and reached between them.

  His fingers had already dropped between her legs. He touched her tentatively at first. When she began to lift up and move her hips, he applied more pressure.

  She kissed him deeply. “I’m ready.”

  “Let me open you a little.” Gently, his fingers quested her entrance and moved inside.

  He curled his fingers, and Acacia gasped.

  With a smile, he reached behind him to a discreetly hidden box. He dried his fingers on a towel before he retrieved a condom.

  “I’m afraid I’ll have to move you.” He placed her next to him on the bench and stood. The water rolled off his chest and abdomen as if he were a sea god emerging from the surf.

  Quickly and efficiently, he rolled on the condom and sank below the water once again.

  “Now.” He smiled and lifted her by the hips, positioning her over him.

  She sank down slowly, eyes closed. When the backs of her thighs met the top of his, she moaned and raised herself. Up and down, up and down, she moved against his exquisite fullness.

  “How do you feel?” he whispered.

  “Incredible.”

  He gripped her hips and pushed and pulled. She had to place her hands on his shoulders to steady herself.

  “Mmmm,” she hummed.

  The water bubbled and sloshed around them, and rose petals gathered around their bodies.

  Nicholas nosed a petal aside as he lowered his mouth to her breast.

  “Yes.” Her voice was a throaty groan.

  She wasn’t going to last. He was positioned just right, and the pleasure began to build.

  Her up-and-down motions stuttered, and he drew back. His grip tightened as he maintained a steady motion while she orgasmed.

  The sensations were so intense, it felt like diving off a mountain. Acacia was in free fall as her body tightened and a wave of euphoria overtook her.

  “That’s it.” His voice spurred her on as he continued to move her up and down. “Magnificent.”

  She opened her eyes as the orgasm began to wane. Nicholas’s mouth was open and he breathed heavily, still raising her up and pulling her down. The cords of his neck stood out, and the muscles in his arms bunched and flexed.

  His eyes burned into hers.

  “Now,” he groaned as she sank down on him. She ground her hips as his body tensed.

  He continued to stare into her eyes as he pulsed inside her, his mouth going slack.

  She blinked against his intense gaze, the moment heavy between them.

  His expression changed. Somehow, it grew fierce. His hands squeezed her backside. “Incredible.”

  She collapsed against him and rested her head on his shoulder. Her hands drooped at her sides. “You slayed me.”

  He hugged her. “So sweet.”

  She breathed a happy sigh.

  He kissed her forehead. “Mon trésor. We’re good together, no?”

  “Very good.” She closed her eyes.

  “Are you going to fall asleep?” His voice was tinged with amusement.

  “Maybe.”

  His mouth grazed the shell of her ear. “I’m still inside you.”

  “Yes.” She shifted on his lap. “I like you there.”

  “Good.” He chuckled. “I like it there too.

  “I’m sorry it was such a long day. Tomorrow will be better.” He kissed below her ear.

  She didn’t open her eyes.

  “Just a minute.” He withdrew from her body and moved her to the bench. Quickly, he disposed of the condom. Then he sat next to her and whispered a kiss against her shoulder. “I think it’s time for bed.”

  “The way you looked at me at the end. It’s almost as if you—” Abruptly, Acacia closed her mouth. Her face flamed.

  Nicholas stiffened. “I almost what?”

  “Nothing.” She climbed onto his lap and nuzzled his neck. “I’m in the afterglow and babbling.”

  “I doubt you’ve babbled a day in your life.” He played with her hair, sifting through the black curls.

  Acacia decided to change the subject before she said something foolish.

  “Can I ask you about this?” She touched his scar.

  Nicholas froze.

  She pulled back. She’d let her guard down and was forcing intimacies that weren’t warranted.

  She cursed herself.

  Nicholas fished her hand from under the water. “I’ll tell you some day. Not tonight.”

  “I’m sorry for prying. It doesn’t matter.”

  His head shot up. “It doesn’t?”

  “No.” She straightened on his lap. With her other hand, she lifted the curls that framed the right side of her face, twisting the strands to expose a two-inch slash of skin where hair no longer grew.

  “What’s that?” Nicholas dropped her hand and angled her head so he could see.

  “I had stitches when I was young. My curls hide it.”

  Nicholas traced the area with his thumb. “How did it happen?”

  “A fight between my father and mother. I was caught in the middle.” Acacia adopted a stoic expression. “The hair never grew back.”

  Nicholas’s eyes met hers. Slowly and deliberatively, he pressed his lips to the raised skin. “Are there more?”

  “None that you can see.” She smiled a little too brightly.

  His expression darkened. “I meant what I said in Cologny. Anyone who fucks with you, fucks with me.”

  “There was a time when I couldn’t take care of myself. That time has passed.”

  Nicholas looked as if he were about to give voice to his disagreement, but thought better of it.

  “Our scars don’t define us,” she said simply.

  “I’m afraid you’re wrong, chérie, at least in my case.” He released her hand.

  Water droplets fell from her fingers as she breached the water. She traced his scar, barely skimming the surface of the furrowed skin. Then she kissed it, inch by inch.

  He caught her fingers and brought their connection to his heart. “What sweetness I hold in my arms.”

  “You have a noble soul, Nicholas. You’ve been thoughtful and generous. I’m very lucky.”

  He cupped the back of her head with his hand. “You wouldn’t think I was noble if you knew what was in my soul.”

  “I’m not saying you’re perfect. But whatever imperfection you have, it’s marked by nobility.”

  He groaned. “If you only knew…”

  “I have my own darkness, Nicholas. I’m not inclined to discuss it, but you should know it’s there.”

  He regarded her thoughtfully.

  Acacia noticed he didn’t appear surprised.

  He shifted on the bench and he lowered his hand to cup her breast. “Let me take you to bed. I want to taste you.”

  “N
ow?” She blinked, surprised by his sudden change.

  “Yes.”

  “Okay.” She ducked her head and made a show of examining her hands. “My fingers are starting to wrinkle anyway. I need to get out.”

  She extricated herself from his embrace and lifted a thick, white towel from a nearby alcove.

  “Acacia.” He touched her wrist. “You can always refuse.”

  She looked down at the towel. “Why would I refuse, when you offer me pleasure?”

  “Because we’re equals.” He rubbed his face. “Because we’re friends as well as lovers, and I would never take advantage.”

  Acacia sighed. The power differential was there. It could not be denied.

  His expression was almost pleading. “Patience.”

  She wasn’t quite sure why he asked for patience or why he’d looked so guilty when she praised him. There would be time enough to ponder those questions later.

  She gave him a smile. “I think you owe me an encounter on a dining room table.”

  He gaped at her for a moment. Then he grinned.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  ACACIA REFUSED TO BE EMBARRASSED as she and Nicholas passed Kurt’s evening replacement in the downstairs hall.

  “Don’t disturb us,” Nicholas called over his shoulder. He followed Acacia into the dining room and switched on the lights.

  A large, ornate chandelier swung over the table. Nicholas adjusted the dimmer switch until he was satisfied with the soft lighting.

  Acacia hopped up on the mahogany table.

  He closed the door and stood before it. He stared at her legs as they hung over the end of the table.

  Excitement, mixed with apprehension, coursed through her. Even though he’d just had her in the Jacuzzi upstairs, Nicholas looked hungry.

  “Take off the robe.”

  Acacia unfastened the knot at her waist. She gave him a questioning look.

  He nodded.

  She pushed the robe off, and it fell around her. Now she was naked.

  She bit her lip. One of the bodyguards was just beyond the door. He would know what they were doing.

  “Forget about him,” Nicholas commanded. He pushed off the door and moved in her direction. “Are you cold?”

  “No.”

  He eyed her breasts suspiciously. “If you get cold, tell me. You look beautiful.” He caressed her naked shoulders and cupped her breasts. “You look absolutely perfect.”

  Her skin heated under his undisguised appreciation. “Thank you.”

  He stroked her knees. “I’m in the mood to feast.”

  Nicholas knelt in front of the table and pulled her legs over his shoulders. “Lie back.”

  Acacia reclined and stared up at the chandelier as Nicholas massaged her calves.

  He nuzzled her inner thigh before he kissed the top of her hip. He repeated the actions on her other leg.

  Acacia reached down to touch his head. She ran her fingers through his damp hair.

  Then he touched her with his open mouth.

  His tongue tasted and retreated and tasted again. He nibbled at her skin and teased her with his lips.

  She tugged on his hair to pull him closer.

  Nicholas chuckled and began to lick.

  Acacia couldn’t keep her eyes open. She flattened her hand against the top of his head and urged him forward.

  He licked in an alternating pattern, before he touched the flat of his tongue where she desired him most.

  She let out a loud moan and brought her ankles to his shoulders. The leverage enabled her to lift her hips and drive herself into his open mouth.

  He applied more pressure with his tongue, and she soared as inchoate sounds escaped her lips. Her back arched off the table as she held his mouth to her.

  He continued to taste her until her legs began to shake and she released his head.

  “It’s too much,” she whispered. She shifted backward.

  Carefully, Nicholas removed her feet from his shoulders. He stood between her legs and wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his bathrobe.

  Almost dazed, she looked up and fanned a hand over her lower abdomen. “I can still feel you.”

  “Good.” He gave her a devilish grin.

  His eyes devoured her. Then he grasped the edges of her robe and draped them over her. “I don’t want you to catch cold.”

  “Come here.” She lifted her arm to beckon him.

  He placed his hands on either side of her hips and leaned closer.

  She kissed him deeply.

  When they parted, he slid his hands around her back and assisted her to a seated position. He drew the robe around her shoulders and tied the belt at her waist.

  “Was that playful enough for you?” He kissed her nose.

  All she could do was grin.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  ATTRACTION. ANTICIPATION. Satisfaction. Comfort.

  Acacia was naked with Nicholas, her head resting on his shoulder.

  He reclined on his back in a bed designed for a king. His arm curved around her shoulders, and his fingers made lazy patterns on her arm.

  She touched his abdomen and rested her hand above the valleys of his muscles.

  “Are you awake?” His voice was just above a whisper.

  She nodded.

  He chuckled. “I thought you’d fallen asleep.”

  “You woke me up.”

  His fingers brushed her elbow. “I could say the same.”

  “These moments are dangerous.” She yawned in spite of herself and nestled against his shoulder again.

  “Why?” His movements stilled.

  “It’s peaceful and cozy. These are the times people are tempted to say grand things they don’t mean.”

  “Like what?”

  “Oh, I don’t know.” She slid her hand up to his chest, near his heart.

  Nicholas continued stroking her arm. “I don’t say things I don’t mean.”

  “Good.”

  His right hand came up to cover hers at his chest. “I’m serious.”

  She kissed his shoulder.

  “So when I tell you we are good together, Acacia, I mean it.”

  She grinned. “You aren’t wrong.”

  He brought his lips to her hair. “I asked you to be patient with me. But you should know, I can be patient too. Very, very patient.”

  She lifted her head from his shoulder so she could see his eyes. “What would you need to be patient for?”

  He smiled slowly, and Acacia’s heart skipped a beat.

  He guided her mouth to his and kissed her. “Sleep, mon ange.”

  Acacia rested her head next to his on the pillow and closed her eyes.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  THE NEXT DAY, NICHOLAS AND ACACIA were accompanied by Rick and Kurt to one of the restaurants in the hotel atrium. They were scheduled to have afternoon tea with Constantine’s contact at two o’clock.

  As ever, Nicholas was dressed in a bespoke black suit. On this occasion, he paired the suit with an equally fine black shirt and monochromatic silk tie.

  He and the contact shook hands and exchanged polite greetings.

  “And this is my interpreter.” Nicholas gestured to Acacia, who stepped forward.

  She wore a conservative black dress that fell to her knees. A short, emerald green silk jacket covered her arms. Black stockings and high heels completed her ensemble.

  They stood in a private corner of the restaurant that faced the enormous windows looking out over Dubai.

  Constantine’s contact stood aloof, flanked by four bodyguards. He wore a navy blue suit and tie. His hair was gray, and he wore a full beard. His dark eyes gazed at Acacia skeptically.

  He returned his attention to Nicholas.

  “I was under
the impression this was a private meeting.” The man spoke flawless English.

  “I brought my interpreter as a courtesy. I’m afraid my Arabic isn’t equal to your English.” Nicholas tried to make light of the situation.

  The man’s eyes darted to Acacia’s. He switched to Arabic. “I doubt this woman’s knowledge of the language is equal to mine.”

  “That is probably true, sir,” Acacia replied, also in Arabic. “But I am always eager to practice and improve.”

  The man studied her.

  He gave her a brief nod and continued to speak to Nicholas in English. “There’s no need for an interpreter. We can speak English. But I prefer privacy.” The man waved a hand at his bodyguards, who withdrew to a few feet away.

  Nicholas made eye contact with Acacia. She read an apology in his expression, one he could not give voice to in present company.

  She wanted to volunteer the fact that she didn’t care that she’d been dismissed. But in the role of his assistant, she couldn’t. She gave him a small smile instead.

  Nicholas inclined his head. He gestured to Rick and Kurt and turned back to Acacia. “You’re free to go. Security will escort you.”

  He gave her a look, heavy with meaning.

  “Very good, sir.” Acacia bobbed her head.

  As she’d suspected, Constantine’s contact was traditional, if not paranoid. He didn’t want an audience for his conversation. Acacia also noted that names had not been exchanged.

  She walked with Kurt across the expansive atrium toward the elevators. She was deep in thought, not just about Nicholas’s meeting but also about her activities with Nicholas the night before.

  After their encounter on the dining room table, he’d carried her to bed. They’d both slept well, naked and wrapped around one another.

  In fact, it had probably been the most restful sleep she’d ever had. She smiled and thought of the delights that awaited her in Nicholas’s arms.

  Then something caught her attention.

  She turned and saw an older man in a finely tailored gray suit, surrounded by black-suited bodyguards. The man walked swiftly across the atrium.

  She stopped and stared.

  Another similarly suited man who was much younger greeted the man. They clasped one another’s arms. She caught a glimpse of the older man’s face.