Free Shadows and Silk by Liliana Hart Page A

glyphs as a map to find the location of
     the buyer. It was a well-organized network. No two people doing the same job twice. Unfortunately, the bodies they’d been finding also matched the coordinates of where
     the buys were taking place. They were testing out the merchandise on site and then
     disappearing like rats back to their holes.
    The bathroom door opened and Darcy watche d Brant from the corner of her eye . He didn’t look at her, but she knew he was aware of everything she was doing. His shoulders were tense and his jaw clenched in anger. She’d struck a nerve asking about the other woman. At least she knew for sure that
     her hunch had been right.
    He’d taken the time to shave, and he’d changed into natural linen pants and a green island shirt the same color as his eyes . He wore loafers without socks, and she noticed he wore a wedding band on his finger that matched hers. The sight of
     it gave her a little thrill she couldn’t explain, even though she knew they were pretending.
     S he couldn’t help but drink in the sight of him. He was so big. So—male. He dominated every space he was in. No one should be that sexy. He turned her on in ways that should be sinful, but it didn’t stop the wanting. She
     lusted for him. Ached for him.
    The muscles in his shoulders and back bunched as he pulled a heavy case from an overhead compartment, and she had to roll her eyes
     at the distraction he presented. It was a damned good thing he hadn’t been around
     the last four years or she never would have finished her doctoral dissertation.
    Her eyes widened as Brant unlatched the case and pulled out a pistol. He checked it over thoroughly and then popped in a magazine before putting it at the small of his back.
    “I didn’t realize we were going in armed,” she said, turning to face him. He kept
     his back to her and his attention on inspecting the other weapons . “I don’t think I have a place to put my gun in any of the outfits that were packed for me .”
    “ We’re not going in armed. I’m going in armed. Always be prepared for the worst. Even at five star resorts.”
    “I’m sure that’ll be a great relief to the masseuse when we get our couples massage.
     Let’s hope she doesn’t pull the trigger on that stick up your ass.”
    Brant stopped what he was doing and turned to face her , his expression thunderous . If she’d had room to back away she might have given in to the temptation. He was
     pissed. Though the day had been pretty varied so far, so she wasn’t sure what , exactly, he was angry about.
    “One day, Darcy,” he said menacingly, stalking her like a big cat, “You’re going to push me too far . And I’m going to be forced to bend you over my knee for the spanking you deserve.”
    Her ass clenched and the throb between her legs quickened. It took everything she
     had to let amusement cross her face instead of the lust she was feeling.   
    “ In your dreams, lover boy. Now if you’ve finished your Dom fantasies, I’ve finished
     deciphering the glyphs Declan left me this morning.”
    She should have been warned by the thin smile that spread across his face that she
     was in deep trouble. Some day she was going to learn to keep her mouth shut. Her brothers
     had been warning her for years that it was going to get her into trouble one day.
    He kept coming toward her, and she had to lift her chin to keep eye contact.
    “They’re not just fantasies, baby ,” he whispered . “ Your sweet ass is mine. It’s going to burn red from my hand, which is nothing more than you deserve after all the stunts you’ve pulled . You think you’re hiding how much the thought of that turns you on? I can read you
     like a book, sugar , and your nipples are hard enough to cut glass . Now show me what you’ve found before I bend you over this table and give the babysitters your brother sent something
     to report.”
    “What makes you think I’d protest?” she purred.
    His nostrils flared