Maria looked at the few tourists that walked down the streets of Honolulu and sighed with relief. “I guess this means you agree.”
Rome said nothing as he turned onto Kalakaua Avenue and headed back to the hotel. There was no music, no noise inside the car. He’d barely said a word since Micah and Dee had left them alone. They’d talked over the case, but he hadn’t talked unless it had to do with work.
Grinding her teeth together, she tried to keep her temper in check. She hated the silent treatment. It was something her father had used on her the few times she had rebelled against his plans for her. Days would go by without a word. It was enough to make a girl go crazy.
She shook those horrible memories away.
“Listen, I understand you might wonder if I am up to the task”
“I know you can do it.”
Those few words spoken very softly told her that he really did believe it. She tried to fight the sharp sense happiness that his belief in her gave her, but it was hard. She worked with men who would never acknowledge her intelligence even if their life depended on it.
“Then why did you object?” she asked.
His hand tightened on the steering wheel. “I understand you know your job. But, you haven’t been there. The torture this man gets off on, well, it isn’t pleasant. I’ve seen the bodies. And if he finds out you’re FBI, that will make you a prize.”
“I’ve seen the photos, and believe it or not, I’ve been on several murder scenes. Hell, my father took me to my first one when I was sixteen.”
“Your father let you go to a scene when you were a teenager?”
She fought the urge to defend her father. She knew Carino was trying to sidetrack her.
“Yeah.” He opened his mouth, but she plowed ahead, trying to forestall any other questions on that subject. She needed his agreement on the plan or it wouldn’t be as successful. Carino was the only backup she had on this case. That she’d ever had. She brushed that thought aside. “I have a feeling getting you interested in me will make me even more of a prize.”
Rome slanted her a look that told her he was still pissed. “So that’s another part of your plot.”
Maria could tell it wasn’t a question and just decided to let it go. He had agreed to do it. That was all she cared about. After a day or two, he would release the worry he had about it.
When they arrived at her hotel, she expected him to drop her off at the front, but instead, he parked the car. After tossing his keys to the valet and grabbing the ticket, he took her by the elbow and headed to the Tapa Tower. Amazingly, they found themselves on the elevator alone.
“I don’t care for your methods.” She inwardly winced at her tone. She sounded like a prude.
He slanted her a look. “Yeah?”
“I understand you might not like it, but being a petulant child pouting over losing an argument doesn’t make you look good. I won’t take the silent treatment.”
Before she knew what he was about, he grabbed her wrist, slipped in front of her, and then released her arm to cage her into the corner of the elevator.
“If you’re going to play the submissive, you’re going to have to be a little better at taking orders.”
She couldn’t speak. Her heart was beating so hard, she’d bet he could hear it. She raised her gaze from his chest to his face, and eventually made eye contact. Good God. Her whole body went on alert at the heat she saw flaming in the depths of his hazel eyes. She wasn’t afraid of him, but the arousal that now slid through her body scared the bejesus out of her.
“You don’t tell me what to do at the club. That’ll tell people right off the bat you aren’t serious about it. And if you want to play sub to my Dom, you better get used to doing exactly what I tell you.”
He leaned forward, nuzzling her neck. His breath feathered out over her flesh, and she couldn’t stop the shiver that racked her body. This kind of behavior shouldn’t be turning her on. She didn’t like ‘take charge’ kind of guys, and she definitely didn’t like public displays. Apparently her body disagreed. Her nipples hardened and her breath tangled in her throat. She thought she felt his mouth on her skin, but the door dinged open, and he pulled back. It took her a second to yank herself out of the sea of lust he’d tossed her in. He stood by the door, keeping it open as if nothing strange had happened.
She drew in a deep breath, gathered up her senses and some of her pride, and stepped into the hallway. He walked behind her, a silent companion, but now her nerves were frazzled. What was it about this man? It wasn’t that she felt she had to prove herself to him.