The Good, the Bad, and the Naughty (8 page)

As she stepped foot on the landing of the second floor, her resolution empowered her and her goal became clear once again. She needed to find out the real reason why these enigmatic men were in Fort Smith. They certainly weren’t here for work. There lay something far more intricate behind their arrival. And if her inkling was right, it had to do with why she came here to Fort Smith.

Trevor turned to look at her with his dreamy eyes then. “Now that no one is around, we can get back to this.” He looped his arms around her waist, pulling her in for a deep, hungry kiss. Her analytical thoughts instantly dissolved then, and her mind wandered to more physical things, like how good his scorching, full lips felt on hers and how his chest crushed her breasts, making her nipples perk with the pressure.

He lifted her off her feet with his tight grip around her midsection and carried her to his room while never releasing her lips. She gasped and giggled in surprise. She liked his assertiveness.

She felt his strong arms under his shirt as he advanced to his door, and she hungered to tear his shirt off him and actually touch his skin, see his muscular body—arms, chest, abdomen, and everything else that made him the virile, gorgeous man he was.

When he halted at the room next to hers, he leaned her on the door and whispered through his slightly open lips, “We’re here.”

Her eyes widened, and she pushed her face away from his to turn to see exactly where “here” was.

Sure enough, her inkling had been accurate. “We’re neighbors?”

He rested her gently back on to her feet and smiled while he stuck his hand in his pants pocket. “Uh-huh. Nice coincidence, isn’t it?”

He took his key out and was about to place it into the hole when the door opened by its own accord. Or so Belle thought until she saw the most mesmerizing green eyes staring at her.

“James, you’re already back,” Trevor responded before anything registered in her mind.

James kept his eyes fixed on her as he replied, “Yes, the jobs were a lot easier than I expected.”

She tried to tear her stare away but couldn’t. James held her gaze locked, and she found herself suspended in speech and thought, just marveling at his perfect facial features and eyes of a deep green. So beautiful.

“Belle, would you like us to go someplace else, then?” Trevor took her hand.

The trance she fell under broke then, and she focused on her just-as-handsome date beside her.

Before she could reply, James interrupted. “Don’t change your plans. Please come in.”

Trevor frowned, looking perplexed and angered, but when James shot him a stern look, his expression changed to one of comprehension.

“Belle, how about we all enjoy a drink together?”

“Um…o–okay.” She fumbled with her words.

James smiled brightly, stepping aside to welcome her in. “Come right in, Belle.”

She took a hesitant step forward, but an inner voice screamed for her to stop. Her mind spun in many directions, and then finally settled on one train of thought.

As the idea solidified, she replied, “Why don’t you boys get my drink ready and I’ll be back in real quick? I’d like to freshen up beforehand.”

They both beamed while Trevor responded, “Great.” He grabbed her hand and dipped in to kiss her on the lips. It was gentle but hardly sweet. It spoke volumes of his sexual hunger. “See you soon.”

Her lips briefly followed his as he moved away, leaving her stunned and utterly flustered. Then she took a deep breath and pushed her hair out of her face.

While mumbling, “Mmhmm,” she walked away from the bewitching, handsome duo to her room.

When she finally stepped inside her sanctum, she sighed to settle her wanton, raging urges. She fanned her face and chest with her purse to cool off her heated skin.

Focus, Belle, focus.

She needed to get her bearings centered once more. God, when she first concocted this hoax, she never expected it would be so complicated. With all the other schemes she brewed up, she never had any problems. Everything went according to plan.

But not this time. No, hardly according to plan this time around. Then again, there hadn’t been a Trevor Kent or James Sanford in the past to turn her world upside down.

She glanced at the adjoining wall as she thought of them. While she stared, something sprung in her mind and her heart jumped into her throat with worry.

“I wonder. Did you boys hear anything last night?” she pondered as her hands began to perspire.

She walked over to the wall, taking her empty water glass from her night table. “If I can hear what you two are saying, then I know you heard John and Mat talking to me last night.” Placing the glass to her ear, she perked her sense of hearing and remained silent…

“So what did you find out, James?” It was Trevor’s voice coming through, barely audible, but she heard it clearly just the same.

“Nothing. I couldn’t find anything. It was clean as a whistle,” James responded.

“Hmm, so what do we do now?” Trevor mused.

“Well—”

Suddenly, the glass slipped from her hands and fell to the floor, shattering into pieces.
Damn!
She should have dried her sweaty palms before picking up the glass. Placing her ear to the wall, she tried to continue to eavesdrop. But unfortunately, the thickness of the wall acted as a barrier and the voices came through muffled, incoherent.

Double damn!

She paced the narrow room while her mind reeled with possibilities.

“Did you hear anything last night, boys?” she repeated to herself as she brought her hand to her mouth. “And what do you mean ‘It was clean as a whistle’? What was clean as a whistle?” Somehow, she doubted it had to do with work. Or did it?

Tapping her forefinger on her lips, she twirled on her heel to pace the other way.

It was clean as a whistle.

The words kept ringing in her ears. Yet, no answer came to her. An aura of danger, and excitement hovered over these men. And for the life of her, she couldn’t get them out of her mind for many reasons.

After walking back and forth for what seemed like forever, she stopped, realizing the answer wouldn’t come to her. She needed to go to it. The source. The men who intrigued her and made her insides feel like mush. Maybe they’d let something important slip out given the right circumstances.

Okay, it all became clear to her now. Taking a deep breath of resolve, she blew her hair out of her face and stood her ground.

Boys, it’s high time I turn the tables on you. The sweet and shy Belle is no more. Say hello to Isabelle the seductress. You’re not going to see what’s coming until it’s too late.

Chapter 5

Red and black corsets and petticoats floated in James’s mind. While his imagination soared, he gazed at the plain white wall before him, which acted like a screen. It played the image of her standing, staring at him, wearing only black undergarments and nothing else. She walked to him with open arms, her hungry eyes revealing what she wished from him.

God, his cock sprang in arousal at the thought. He remembered looking through her drawers earlier, searching for any clues and having to examine each and every one of her clothes and undergarments to see if anything lay hidden underneath them or inside them. He couldn’t stop his wandering mind and imagination as he realized her breasts had pressed against the bustier and the petticoats sat between her heavenly legs.

Needless to say, once he finished searching the drawer, his focus dwindled, and although he continued to rummage in her room, he daydreamed of the epitome of beauty named Belle Samson.

When he saw her in the hallway a few minutes ago, he almost lost it. She looked so breathtaking, especially with her swollen, red lips and her dress slightly disheveled. He knew she and Trevor had been hot and intense before he opened the door, and that aroused him all the more. He licked his lips, infatuated with her alluring mouth.

A loud “James, James” made him come back to reality, to the here and now.

“What, Trevor?”

“What are you thinking about? You look like you’re a million miles away.”

“Of this and that.”

Trevor laughed loudly. “Oh, I know what ‘this’ and ‘that’ you’re thinking. It’s written all over your face.”

“I’m that obvious?” James had to smile.

Trevor came to sit beside him on the bed and put his arm around him. “Partner, I was thinking the same thing.”

James stared at him, waiting. “So?”

“So what?” Trevor glanced at him.

“How was the date?”

Trevor took a deep, relaxing breath and then leaned back on the bed to stare at the ceiling. “I told you before, I didn’t get anything out of her that proves she’s Wild LaRue.” Then he beamed serenely. “But she is one smart lady.” He lifted his chin slightly to glance at James. “You know you and her got a lot in common?”

James perked his ears. “Oh? What?”

“A lot of stuff. Philosophy, books, other things.”

“Interesting.”

When Trevor didn’t continue, James coaxed him. “So what else happened on the date?”

“We joked and ate. The food was great.”

James slapped Trevor’s foot when he put it on top of James’s lap. He was in his way as Trevor stretched on the bed. “No, you oaf. I’m talking about kissing her. How was that?”

“Oh, that.” Trevor laughed again.

James got up and jumped onto his bed. He lifted his head and brought it to rest on his palm while he stared at his friend on the other bed. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

Trevor glanced at him briefly, then averted his attention once again to the ceiling. “Hell, yes.” He gasped. “How do you think it was?”

“Amazing.” A smile spread over James’s mouth.

“Better than amazing. Spectacular, partner. It was simply spectacular. Stars exploded in my mind with every kiss I stole.” He put his hands near his lips to reiterate. “Her lips, gosh, they were so soft, warm, and her tongue…”

“You slipped your tongue in her mouth?”

“And more.” Trevor nodded.

James sat up. He sported an erection now that left him fidgety. “Damn.” His mind roamed once more. He imagined he, not Trevor, was kissing Belle, first caressing her lips with the tips of his fingers and then brushing his mouth over hers, then probing inside it, exploring every valley and mountain. And his tongue would dance with hers, enticing her.

God, his arousal rose when he envisioned fondling her breasts and sliding his hand down every curve until he came to her pussy.

Mercy.

Trevor interrupted his lewd daydream. “We would have gotten to the ‘much more’ after that if you hadn’t been here,” he said when he turned to his side to face James.

“Where was I supposed to go after checking the train?” James shrugged.

“Eden’s Paradise would be a start.”

James got up. His penis strained in his confining pants and by walking, he hoped his erection would soon subside.

“I could have done that. But then I wouldn’t—“

Trevor sprang up to sit in the bed. “You knew I’d bring her back here, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes. I was hoping you would.” James smiled.

Trevor pushed himself to the edge of his bed. He obviously didn’t want to miss any sizzling tidbit James had to throw his way.

“So why did you want to be here when I did?”

“Well, remember I told you I heard that Wild LaRue and her gang were into multiple partners.”

“How could I forget something like that?” Trevor joked.

“Well, why don’t we test this rumor out?”

“How?”

“Use your imagination, Trev.” James gave him a sly grin.

Trevor chuckled. “Partner, your face says it all.” He sat up. “All right, let’s see if those rumors are true.”

He paused and seemed to be lost in thought for a second.

James was compelled to ask, “What’s wrong, Trev?”

Frowning, he replied, “Well, partner, I want to catch Wild LaRue and her gang as much as you do, but a part of me wishes Belle won’t take the bait tonight and she turns out not to be Wild LaRue.”

“Me, too, Trev. Me, too.” James nodded in agreement.

* * * *

Trevor sprang to his feet the moment the knock came. “I’ll get it.” He opened the door and his breath got stuck in his throat.

“Sorry I’m late, but I couldn’t decide exactly what to wear. That dress was so uncomfortable, and I wanted to feel more relaxed.”

He tried swallowing his saliva to dislodge the air trapped in his throat, but it didn’t help. His gaze flicked from her beautiful face, down to her exposed porcelain neck, down to her unbelievably low neckline, much lower than the sinful dress she wore earlier had been, if that were possible. God, what he wouldn’t give to unfasten each and every hook and eye in her corset. The blouse she wore under it was transparent, and he could glimpse her milky white mounds.