Do You Trust Me? (23 page)

“The senses are
greater when you can’t see.” His voice was hoarse with lustful anticipation.

Testing each scarf,
satisfied that she was secure, his fingers parted the now soaked lips of her
pussy and she felt the silver bullet slide in. In seconds, it began to vibrate
on low speed, the hum resounding in every muscle and nerve of her body. Her
cream dripped from her, but all she cared abut was the pleasant stimulation
racing through her.

Then the gel, slick
and cool, rubbed carefully into the delicate tissues of her rectum. More this
time than he’d used before.

Because his cock is
bigger than the plug.

But by this time she
knew she could take him without any pain, except that which bordered on the
exquisite.

“Now, Rina,” he
whispered. “Now, I’m going to fuck this ass until you have so many orgasms you
pass out.”

The helplessness of
her situation, the blindfold, only increased her arousal as McCall’s latex-clad
cock slid into her well-greased rectum, slow and steady, until he was all the
way in. His lean fingers gripped her hips, and his balls rested against her swollen
pussy.

“Get ready for the
ride of your life, daredevil,” he whispered, and then it began.

His strokes were
steady, filling her then receding, hitting sensitive places then moving away
from them. In and out, in and out, while the little bullet hummed away in her
cunt. When the spankings began, the heat consuming her ratcheted higher, streaks
like lightening spiking through her. Slap, slap, in and out. Slap, slap, in and
out.

Rina pulled at her
restraints, the utter helplessness a complete turn on. With each slap of his
hand, she grew hotter, more aroused, more…
say it, Rina
…lustful.

“Jesus, Rina.” He
leaned over her, his mouth against her ear, his voice raw. “You’re gonna burn
me alive. You set me on fire, daredevil. Make me hotter than I’ve ever been.
You’re so tight around my cock I can hardly think.”

Neither could Rina,
transported to a level of pleasure beyond anything she could have imagined.

The first orgasm took
her by surprise, gripping and shaking her, muscles clenching, her breath
trapped in her throat.

“That’s it,” he
gasped. “Come, baby. Let me feel that hot tunnel of yours milking me. Oh, shit,
Rina. It’s so good I can hardly stand it.”

Spasms raced through
her, blood pounding, the pulse in her womb throbbing as she convulsed again and
again. Just as she thought she’d reached completion, he pushed her to yet a
higher plane, wringing another climax from her.

McCall never missed a
beat. “More,” he ordered, lust thickening his voice. “Come for me again.”

Another stroke. In
and out, in and out, and then the spankings again. She was sure she’d reached
the highest peak, yet she was at the precipice once more, her body a mindless collection
of spasming muscles and sparking nerves.

She strained for yet
another climax, her body demanding it when he stilled, his cock fully inside
her dark tunnel. He leaned forward, reached around her, and pinched her clit.
She screamed into the pillow as she convulsed again, her pussy clutching at the
buzzing little bullet, her nipples throbbing in their clamps.

She barely had time
to catch her breath from that one before she was shattering again. She lost
track of how many times he pounded in and out of her, how many times his hand
landed on her ass. She was on a rollercoaster and couldn’t get off. Each time
it crested, she was hurtled into space, shivering and shuddering, sure she
couldn’t stand one more spasm, one more clenching of her muscles. And then he’d
push her over again.

Exhausted, sure he
couldn’t wring another climax from her body, his rhythm increased, the force of
his strokes harder, deeper. His hands gripped her waist again, pulling her ass
back toward him.

“Now, Rina.” She
barely recognized his voice. “Now we come together.”

He slammed into her
again and again, and unbelievably her body responded, swamping her with a
climax so intense she lost every thought, every sense of herself except for the
giant convulsions consuming her. McCall’s cock emptied itself into the condom
in her ass, pulsing hard against her tissues.

She was sure she must
have passed out. The next thing she knew McCall had removed the blindfold and
the scarves, taken off the clamps and lifted her into his arms. He carried her
into the bathroom.

In the shower, he
bathed her, careful to wash each and every crevice. He dried her with exquisite
tenderness, then placed her carefully in the bed. The last thing she remembered
was him crawling in beside her and pulling her against him, their bodies
spooned skin to skin.

He whispered
something in her ear.

Did he say he loved
her or did she just imagine it? While she was trying to puzzle it out, she fell
asleep.

Chapter Fourteen

March second opened
to the world as a beautiful Texas spring day, a gift from the weather gods. The
sky was a vivid blue, the sun a globe of gold hanging over the earth with puffy
clouds drifting across its face. The temperature was predicted to hit the
eighties, with the heat tempered by a slight breeze.

The Secret Service was
busy at Alamo Plaza before dawn. All entrances to the area were closed and all
streets barricaded, with armed guards posted at each blockade. A helicopter
would deposit the president, the governor, Secret Service agents from the president’s
personal detail, and the Texas Rangers assigned to him just behind the Alamo. Forming a phalanx around the two men, they’d walk them to the podium facing Alamo Plaza.

Another helicopter
would continue to patrol the air space over the area.

To one side of the Alamo, between the old mission church itself and the book store, a white tent was set up
for the book signing. Shar was directing the arrangements like a Russian
general, arguing every step of the way with the Secret Service agents and
members of Sully’s group sent to secure all staging areas.

The podium had been
set up just in front of the massive doors leading into the Alamo, rows of
chairs lined up in front and to one side for the dignitaries. Men in suits with
ear pieces and shirt cuffs they spoke into waited patiently to admit the
honored guests.

More Texas Rangers,
San Antonio Police, even the vaunted DPS Motorcycle Unit were on patrol in and
around the plaza area. They monitored the work inside the barricades and kept
alert eyes on the activity outside. Already, huge crowds were gathered outside
the perimeter, some in lawn chairs, staking out their spot for the festivities.

“I certainly don’t
expect to see Brechtel himself today,” Sully told Ron Giddings, the head of the
president’s Secret Service detail. They stood at the side of the Alamo. “Too much exposure for him. He’ll send his pet assassin. And with all the people
crowding outside the barricades to see the president and the governor, as well
as to watch the pageantry, we’ll be hard pressed to spot that person.”

“How will he even get
close enough?” Giddings asked. “We’ve blocked off all the windows in all the
buildings facing the plaza. It won’t be possible just to walk up, pull out a
gun, and shoot.”

“I don’t know. I just
have this nasty little pinch that tells me we’re being outfoxed.”

“I guess anything’s
possible,” Giddings sighed. “But I’ve got four people doing nothing except
scanning with binoculars until this is over. They’ll all need eye exams and a
chiropractor when we’re finished.”

Sully looked at his
watch. “One hour until Brandon and the governor get here. Let’s you and I take
a little tour of our own. Just to be sure.”

“All right. Let me
just tell Alex what we’re doing. He’ll be in charge while we’re out roaming.”

****

Rina treated herself
to a long bubble bath when she finally got up, trying to ease the pleasant
soreness in her aching body. McCall had been right; he’d fucked her senseless.
If it was all over after today, at least she’d have memories that would keep
her warm for years. She leaned her head back in the tub and relived every dark
moment of the previous night. It was one she’d never forget, that was for sure.
If only...

She shook herself.
Those kinds of thoughts could only get her into trouble.

He’d been gone from
her bed when she woke up, doing whatever he needed to do for today. He was
waiting for her when she came downstairs, face as implacable as ever, as if the
night before had never happened. Had she actually heard him whisper to her what
she thought, just before she fell asleep? Or was it only a wishful fairy tale?

The locket lay like a
living flame against her skin. She should give it to him. She’d allowed him to
know her as no other man had, or probably ever would. Today was Armageddon. She
had to make up her mind.

She thought about the
story he told her. About the woman who’d betrayed him. Who’d been killed by her
co-conspirators, leaving him with a truckload of guilt. Wasn’t she doing the
same thing? Would he ever trust her again, knowing she’d held out on him?

Give it to him, Rina.
Quit being such a wishy washy.

But still she sat,
caught in the purgatory of indecision. Nausea roiled in her stomach, a
combination of anticipation and fear. Unable to stop herself, she touched the
locket again. All right. No matter what happened today, after the event was
over she’d give the locket to Sully. She was sure McCall would be gone as
quickly as he could and she’d never see him again. But she could give the thing
to Sully so they could tie the knot tight around the conspirators. She’d no
longer be in danger, and McCall would go back to doing...whatever it was he
did.

They rode to the site
in a black SUV with tinted windows and a car in front and in back. She’d been
told she’d be waiting in the team’s communications van until it was time for
her to walk to the tent. When they got to where the van was parked, Gage had
helped her climb in with a smile meant to be reassuring. Then he stood aside
for McCall and Laurel.

Now she sat in the vehicle
parked on a grassy area next to the book store, hands tightly fisted in her lap
as she fought to maintain a calm exterior.

She looked around
her. On one side of the extended vehicle was an electronic setup that she was
sure could talk to someone on Mars. On the opposite side was a narrow bench. Laurel sat on one side of her, an arm draped protectively around her.

What a fit everyone
had pitched when she’d asked to accompany her, but Rina had insisted on it. “She’s
my best friend. She belongs with me here. I want someone I know I can trust.”

On her other side,
McCall sat, stolid and unsmiling, his face like chiseled granite.

If even for one brief
moment she’d entertained thoughts of handing the locket over to McCall, his
cold, remote attitude this morning wiped that out of her mind. The hell with
him.

“Shouldn’t you be out
enjoying the festivities?” she asked with a touch of sarcasm.

He glanced at Laurel, then bent to whisper in her ear. “Surely you don’t think I’d leave the love of my
life unprotected, do you?”

Rina wanted to bite
her tongue. In her fit of pique, she’d almost blown McCall’s cover. In an
overly sweet tone, she answered, “Certainly not.”

Even as remorse
gripped her for nearly blowing his cover, the coldness in his voice was like a
sword to her heart. So she
had
imagined that he had real feelings for
her. What a fool she was.

A fist tightened
around her chest where her heart beat heavily, squeezing the life out of it. Still,
it was better this way. They could never be anything to each other. He’d all
but come right out and told her so, even though she, in her stupidity, kept
trying to believe all that hot, writhing sex meant something.

She should have
listened to him. She should never have gone to bed with him. She should have
done any number of things except act like the fool she was.

Well, it would all be
over soon. Maybe she could write this into the plot of her next book.

Several times during
the hour and a half they sat in the cramped quarters, Rina wondered if she
should speak up now.

Maybe she should talk
to Gage. He was warmer, friendlier, more easygoing. Much more inviting to
confide in. Just as she’d about made up her mind, three sharp raps sounded on
the van door, and someone slid it open to admit Sully and another man.

“Meet Ron Giddings,”
he told them. “He’s part of the protection team today.”

“Heads up, everyone,”
Giddings said. “The helicopter’s about to land.” He looked at Rina. “You don’t
move until we tell you to. This is too good an opportunity for a snatch.”

She swallowed hard,
aware that Laurel was giving her an odd look, and nodded. “Yes, sir.”

She heard the
whup,
whup, whup
of the rotors as Marine One set down on the lawn behind the Alamo. On the monitors she could see first the governor, then President Brandon exit the
machine, surrounded immediately by their security details. Lined up in front of
them was the honor guard to lead them to the roped off area where the podium
stood.

The Texas Longhorn
Marching Band on one side of the plaza, and the Fightin’ Aggie Band from Texas A&M
on the other side broke out into a combined rendition of “Hail to the Chief.” Rina
was sure they could be heard clear across San Antonio.

The processional
moved across the lawn to the roped off area, and everyone began to take their
places.

Three sharp knocks
sounded on the van door again. McCall reached over to open it. Gage was
standing in the opening.

“What?” McCall asked.

“Sully said he needs
you on the other side of the podium area right away.”

“Why can’t you take
care of it?” McCall demanded.

Gage shrugged. “I don’t
ask questions. I just obey orders. He told me to send you over there and bring Rina
and Laurel out. The speeches are about to begin.”

“Then I’m not
leaving,” McCall objected.

Gage pressed a hand
to his ear piece. “Yes, sir?” He spoke into his tiny mike. “I’m trying, sir.”
He looked up at McCall. “Sully says he’s trying to reach you but your mic must
be dead.”

McCall tapped it and
frowned. “It seems fine. What’s the problem?”

“He says to get
moving right now. Do you want to talk to him on my comm? He sounds like he’s in
a hurry.”

“No. Damn it all,
anyway. What a fucking lousy time for electronics to foul up.” He climbed out
of the van, then handed Rina and Laurel down to Gage. “No one comes near them,
understand?”

“After all these
years, you have to ask that?”

McCall tapped him on
the shoulder and took off at a run.

Gage took each of the
women by the arm to lead them away from the van. “Single file, now,” he said. “So
I can keep tight with Rina.”

The president was
just beginning his remarks. The three of them had almost reached the side of
the roped off area when Rina felt something pressing hard into her side. She
tried to push at it and looked up at Gage.

He had a grim
expression on his face. “Don’t move. Stay right here next to me and you won’t
get hurt.”

Rina looked down and
realized the thing pressing against her was the gun in his pocket. Her eyes
widened in shock. “What—”

“Where’s the chip, Rina?
Time to hand it over.”

Fear greater than she’d
ever known clamped itself onto her. “You? You’re the one?”

“Too bad you had to
find out this way. It makes you a disposable item. But I’ve waited as long as I
could for you to get through playing your games. Give me the chip, and I’ll
make sure the end is quick.”

“You’ll never get
away with it in this crowd.”

“Don’t bet on it. I’ve
been doing this for years.”

Her mouth was so dry
she couldn’t swallow, and the nausea was pushing its way up to her throat again.
“You’re the one who betrayed my brother, aren’t you? He’s dead, isn’t he?” It
wasn’t even a question. The sick feeling in her stomach told her the truth of
it.

“John was stupid. He
didn’t have to be such a boy scout.”

“But...” Rina’s gaze drifted
to Laurel who kept walking in front of them. “Laurel,” she called.

“Don’t call attention
to her.”

Gage’s grip on her
tightened as Laurel reached into her purse with one hand and with the other
pulled up the flap on the side. Shocked by the sudden knowledge that burst into
her brain, Rina realized Laurel was aiming a gun at the president and not one
person knew or would be able to stop her.

“Laurel! Stop! Don’t
do it!” she screamed.

With superhuman
strength, Rina wrenched herself away from Gage and launched herself at the
woman she’d thought was her friend. She heard the pop of a silencer and white
heat blazed across her side as she knocked Laurel to the ground, trapping her
beneath her body.