Rarities Unlimited 02 - Running Scared

you think that?”
    The rasp in his voice made her pause in the act of pulling up her underwear. He was watching the glide of dark lace. And his arousal was as naked as he was.
    She stared. He was worth staring at.
    “Close your eyes,” she said finally.
    “Why?”
    “I’m shy.”
    The corner of his mouth curled up. He hooked an arm around her hips, pulled her against the bed, and nuzzled the hot curls between her thighs. “Okay, I can’t see you now.”
    The slick probe of his tongue loosened her knees. Underwear forgotten, she buried her fingers in the short, midnight pelt of his hair. She told herself she was going to push him away.
    She pulled him closer.
    A melodic chiming came from the front room of his apartment.
    “What did he do—teleport?” Shane muttered.
    “I imagine he took your direct elevator.” Her voice was husky, as raspy as the beard stubble caressing her thighs, as hot as his tongue.
    “Sometimes staff efficiency is a pain in the butt,” he said, and burrowed deeper.
    Her knees buckled.
    The door chimed.
    “Damn.” With a lingering love bite he eased her panties up until his mouth was against lace rather than woman. Then he rolled aside, flipped an intercom switch, and said, “Thanks for the speedy delivery. Just shove it under the door.”
    Risa drew a shaky breath and ran for the bathroom before she changed her mind and fell all over him like hot rain. She grabbed a robe that was brushed silk, black, and too big for her by half.
    As fast as she moved, the delivery service was faster. When she got to the hall door, a smooth, creamy envelope with the Golden Fleece’s raised gilded logo had already been pushed under the door. “VERY URGENT” was stamped on the envelope in red.
    She ripped open the message and read quickly: If Shane Tannahill wants six pieces of Celtic gold for his show, tell him to bring two hundred thousand dollars in hundred-dollar bills to the parking lot of the Water Stop by seven o’clock this morning. If he comes with anybody but you, he’ll never see these six pieces of gold again. There are other buyers in Vegas.
    “Damn,” Risa said. “I was sure there were more than six pieces.”
    “You talking to me?” Shane asked from the bedroom.
    “Only if you have clothes on.”
    “Waste of time. You’ll just tear them off.”
    “I wish.” She looked at the clock—6:37. “Next time, I promise. What’s the Water Stop?”
    Barefoot, Shane walked into the living room, buttoning up a pair of jeans. “A downtown sex club with slots.”
    She took one look and glanced away. The man was a walking invitation to sin, and she didn’t even have time to drool. She shoved the message into his hand and ran past him to collect her clothes. “Okay. Parking lot should be pretty empty at this hour, so we won’t have any trouble spotting them.”
    He read the message in one lightning scan and felt something really unhappy settle in his gut. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”
    She appeared in the doorway, her hands fisted on her hips. “What do you mean, you’ll let me know?”
    “Guess.” He walked past her and pulled a fresh shirt from his closet.
    Risa hurriedly pulled on slacks and shook out a rumpled blouse. “Wait! How do you know it isn’t a stickup?”
    “I don’t.” He grabbed shoes and kicked them on. “That’s why you’re staying.”
    “But—”
    “Sometimes it’s better alone.” He tied his running shoes with sharp, quick motions. “This is one of those times. You’re staying here.”
    “Shove your orders! I don’t work for you anymore!”
    “Call Niall. He’ll tell you the same thing.”
    Without a word she went over and punched in Niall’s very private number. It went through before Shane got to the wall safe and put his hand over the scanner.
    “What’s up, Shane?”
    “It’s Risa.”
    In another room down the hall, Niall smiled because she was calling from one of Shane’s private numbers. Maybe the atmosphere around those two would stop crackling now that they had spent the night destroying a bed together.
    “Good morning, luv. What’s up?”
    “Cherelle has six pieces of gold she wants to sell Shane for two hundred thousand dollars cash in the parking lot of a downtown dive called the Water Stop. Twenty-one minutes and counting.”
    “I’m on my way.”
    Before Niall finished talking, the sound of the connection changed as it went on the speaker.
    “Don’t bother,” Shane said. “This party is by invitation