Naitee
I can't sleep. I have never been able to sleep in the day, not since I was a kid. Not even if I know I'm completely safe with Sai next to me, certainly not in a random hotel with a mobster who would kill me on the spot if he knew who I was. I don't try to leave the hotel. I'm already deep in this mess and I'm not sure I could leave now. My stomach tells me something different is going on here and I've learned to always trust my instinct.
I take a shower instead. The floors are still slightly wet. I still can't get over how fancy this place is for a small town. It's not what I imagine 5 star hotels look like but the bathroom has stone floors and a double headed shower. It looks— clean.
The warm water envelops me when I step in and it feels great. I haven't showered in days and I'm just thankful I don't smell too bad. The soap, shampoo and conditioner all smell like sandalwood and other non descriptive scents. I run the conditioner through my dark hair while I find and choose two towels. I'm drying myself with the towels and wrapping them around my body when I hear the hotel room door open. It's him I'm sure of it, shit. I left my bag in the room. I take a few breaths before I leave the bathroom reminding myself of who I'm supposed to be and how much I'm supposed to know.
He's leaning against the door frame as I walk out. He's wearing-- jeans and a white tee that rises just enough to show the bottom om his shaped stomach. His eyes trace my body, taking me in like a x-ray. His eyes widen just a tiny bit and his nostrils flare. I can read him like a book but I don't show it. Micro expressions and lies were the first chapters in undercover training. I bite my lip to make him look at something else as I think of what to say.
"Can you leave?" He grins, dropping his arms and crossing them over his chest. His biceps are just--
"But I just came back. " I raise my eyebrows but don't bother to say anything else as I shove past him into the bedroom.
"I'm changing and I'm not changing in the bathroom, it's wet." I say and his smile grows feral with something...
"And I'm not leaving Caramella." I squint my eyes at him and contemplate my choices.
"Well then—"I bend over, well aware of what I'm doing. I can hear him suck in a deep breath somewhere behind me.
I didn't think through this decision at all, I'm not sure what I'm doing here. The fact that I'm not only breaking the FBI's rules right now I'm breaking my own is the only thing I can think about while I try to find my panties in the bag. It takes me longer than I intended for me to find them. I drag them on, the black lace sliding up my thighs. Somehow I feel more naked with them on than I felt before. I pull my bra on next. I don't usually wear one to bed but right now I feel like I need all the layers of clothing possible. My sleeping set is annoyingly tiny and I wish that three days ago had packed something less revealing. The golden silk tank top and shorts feel invisible on my skin as I debate when to turn.
I can feel his eyes burning my back, my ass, my hair, everything is on fire as I turn around to face the criminal now sitting on the bed. His eyes show pure heat and his nostrils are flared wide. I stand still for a second as his eyes roam over me.
"Do you know when they come up with the other bed?" My voice is calm and collected. His eyes don't leave my body as he answers.
"No idea Caramella." I raise my eyebrows but don't make a move, resisting to cross my arms over my chest.
"Well when does the food come then?" I leave the bedroom and even though it's wrong I let my hips sway just a little more than they normally do. He looks into my eyes for the first time in about 10 minutes.
"No idea" He states and I shake my head, making sure my "I'm starting to notice that" isn't heard by him. This is just another reason criminals are off limits, the majority of them have absolutely nothing valuable over their waists.
"Right, I'll be in the living room" I start for the door when I hear him rise behind me.
I try to throw the door closed behind me but I don't hear it slam, instead it collides with a body and I spin around.
"Why are you following me?" I ask, my tone still calm. His head tilts his head, his eyes just as dark as before and just now I'm starting to regret poking the bear.
"Why are you stripping in front of a stranger?"
"I'm a stripper" I fire back. I see the chock in his eyes before his face goes back to being stony and hungry. He doesn't know that I'm telling the truth, for the last months a stripper is exactly what I've been. And although most guys are disgusted by strippers when their not sitting on their laps. But Luce just looks hungry.
"Really Caramella?" I don't know if he knows that it's only a half lie or that he's disappointed. Either way, it should make him back off until I can get him in handcuffs and not in a hot way.
"Really, I dance naked on a stage for a living." He starts to smile.
"Well you'll have to show me sometimes, I'm sure it's a sight." I shake my head slowly, maybe criminals like women they think are easy. It wouldn't be that far fetched.
"It is, but I don't dance for free." He takes a step forward and if he was an inch closer his chest would be pressed against mine.
"Who said I don't have any money Caramella?" I lick my lips.
"That's how you want to play it, Rich boy?" He bends his head and I can feel his breath on my lips.
"Absolutely." I look at his lips and it feels way to dirty for just a simple look. His lips are a second a way from mine when someone knocks on the door. Sai barks and rushes for it.
"Dinner!" The words break my illusion that Luce is anything but a criminal. I try to push his chest to get him off me but he doesn't budge. Instead I back up, grinding out a,
"I'll take that". I grab Sai's collar before I open the door. The woman behind the door is standing with a metal cart, on it are several different plates with pasta, bread and water. I'm thankful for the lack of alcohol, I can handle my alcohol but I don't know if he can.
"Thank you, I'll take it." She looks at me for a second before she hands me the cart. I close the door when I've pulled the cart into the room and when I spin around he's standing over me.
"No." I say holding a hand up. His eyebrows pull together in a frown.
"No, what?" I meet his gaze, making sure that my own is cold and not showing anything.
"I don't do this and I certainly won't do you." I push the cart past him. Picking a plate, placing it on the table and sitting down. I grab a fork and twist some pasta with it not looking up at Luce as I lift it to my mouth. The first thing that makes me look up is him gagging. He's looking at the pasta with a weird look on his face.
"Are you good?" He looks up at me,
"No, this pasta is a crime Caramella." I look up at him, cringing.
"What does that mean anyway?" He puts the pasta in his mouth looking like he's in actual pain.
"What?" He forces out.
"Caramella? I'm not one for nicknames." He smiles and I can see a fleck of red stuck on his front tooth.
"Figure it out, Caramella." I raise my eyebrows at him but he's focused on trying to eat his food. The rest of the evening passes in a loaded silence. I don't have enough energy to keep the conversation going and he seems to focus on other things.
I'm the one who breaks the silence when the clock hits 7.30 pm and they still haven't sent the bed up. I'm sitting on a chair with Sai beside me, my hand resting on her soft fur. Luce went back to the room a while ago and I've been waiting for a message from Ross with my phone in my hand ever since the service lady came back to get the cart.
I rise out of my chair and walk over to the room. Not bothering to knock, I throw the door open and regret it instantly. He's lying stomach down, his bare back and legs screaming at me. I gasp in absolute horror. First because he's lying there in only his boxers and secondly because he's tattooed everywhere.
"Can't you keep your clothes on for one evening?" My voice is not as steady as I wanted it to be. His head spins around and his dark eyes take me in.
"No. And that is rich from you Caramella." More than ever I wish for my pretty, perfect gun.
"You'll have to call the reception. They still haven't sent a bed up." He just lays his head back down on the pillow.
"Sure Caramella." I stand there waiting for him to move just a tiny bit but he just lays there, like some kind of road kill.
"Luce?!" He turns his head, the muscles in his back twisting and the skin rippling. Shit.
"Yes, I'll do it soon." I walk closer, resisting the urge to slap his ass to get his attention but I change my mind at the last second.
"Do it now then Luce, I want to fucking sleep." He flips over and I can feel saliva flowing into my mouth like a swimming pool. His chest can't be real, if he wasn't moving I'd be sure that he was carved out of marble. I'm just glad he hasn't turned over fully. I'm not sure I could handle that.
"Then go to bed, Caramella." He almost growls, his voice deep and his eyes feasting like he hadn't eaten just an hour ago.
"I won't sleep with you, especially if you're not wearing clothes!" His eyes darken.
"You know what I mean" I say before he has time to comment. I spin around as soon as he starts to move off again and he laughs.
"I am decent now Caramella." He laughs again and I turn around slowly.
He's wearing his suit pants again.
"Well then Caramella, this bed is like a cloud and I am going to sleep." My eyes thin, my vision going distinctly red in the edges. I take a step closer, not sure what I'm going to do just knowing that I have to hurt him.
I stand over him debating whether to go for his nuts or his head when he grabs me. One hand on my waist and one around my wrist. He pulls me down and I trip, falling onto his muscular body. I lay pressed against him for a second before I rolled off him, landing on the bed beside him. It's so soft that I can't help but wonder if it's actually made of clouds. I smack him on his chest ready to actually fight.
I sit up but one of his strong arms stops me. Slowly pushing me back down on the mattress.
"Let me—" I start but he interrupts me.
"Just sleep Caramella." I sigh, realizing it won't make that much of a difference any way. It's not like I'm screwing him and hopefully tomorrow I'll get to see him behind bars. What's one night going to do?