Free Hard Money (Bad Money #3) by Ali Parker Page B

you keep forcing me to. I'm going to pull payback on you soon."
    "Would you rather you and I do the experiment? I thought you might rather like the idea of playing with your old toys." Victor glanced over her shoulder at Jon.
    "Stop. We'll do it, and you'll show us both respect, or I'll get on a plane and you can fuck off." Kate got in his face, tired of his games.
    "Of course, baby." He leaned down and nipped at her lips. "Don't have too much fun without me."
    She waited until he turned and walked toward Zak, pulling the smaller man into a conversation, before turning to Jon. The tightness in his expression told her that he was far less than thrilled.
    "Let's put our stuff up and decide who's taking the drug." She reached for her bag, taking it and pulling it toward an empty room near the end of the hall.
    "You want me in here with you or in another room?" Jon stopped by the door, his voice low, ominous.
    "With me." Kate glanced over her shoulder, praying like hell she could lighten the mood, if only a little. "How are you going to guard my body if you don't stay close to it?"
    He chuckled and walked in, closing the door. "Did I mention how much I'm going to enjoy killing that sardonic bastard out there?"
    "Me first." She turned and pressed her hand to his chest, wanting his attention. "I'll take the drug, you just take care of me."
    "No. I'll take it." He pressed his hand over hers.
    "It's okay. Honestly." She tugged her hand free. "We can just lock ourselves in here and see what the new formula does to us. If anything goes wrong, call 9-1-1."
    Jon sat down on the edge of the bed. "No... I want to go out. Let's have some fun with this if we're going to do it. It's just a lust drug, right? I mean... you should be good to go if I hold on to you, right?"
    "I'm fine other than every touch driving me toward madness." She moved to stand in front of him, wanting to touch him even though she knew better. "You think going out would be a good idea? I'd probably strip in the middle of the restaurant."
    He smirked. "I'd not allow that, and I think maybe if you saw another side of me, you might understand why I strive so hard to stay on the right side of the path."
    "Oh yeah? Were you a bad boy at one time?" She moved in between his thighs and slid her hands over his shoulders, pressing her breasts just below his chin as she hugged him.
    He ran his strong hands up the back of her legs and leaned down, pressing his teeth against the soft fabric of her dress over her breasts and nodding before pulling back. "I still am. Just promise not to get addicted."
    "What if I already am?" she whispered as he stood and tugged her against his hard frame.
    "Then it's about fucking time." He leaned down and kissed her hard, melting her insides and sending warning bells ringing through every part of her.
    Jon wasn't a man to be messed with - he was quite capable of stealing every part of her for himself alone.

Chapter 11
    Jon
     
     
    Jon released her, not wanting to, but needing to get the experiment over and have her back at the hotel safe with him. He walked to the adjoining bathroom and growled.
    "I don't need a drug to make me insanely horny. I have you." He glanced over his shoulder, stopping as he watched her pull off her dress. She turned her back to him, and his whole body stiffened. "Fuck."
    Kate glanced over her shoulder. "See what you're missing when you act like a dick?"
    "Yeah, that's half the reason I act like a dick." He forced himself into the bathroom, though every part of him wanted to toss her on the bed and have his way with her. Soon. The hard emotion that slammed into him as he closed the door threatened to cripple him. How did she have such a tight hold on his heart? The whisper of not having her again scared him far more than anything else had ever before - the desire to steal her and take her far away almost consuming him.
    "Pull yourself together. Shit. You're gonna scare the pretty thing." He moved to the mirror and checked