Page 17 of His Forbidden Alliance

I was trusting Maria to create a watertight identity for me, though I did worry that was impossible to do when up against a family like the Theriots. They would have resources even better than what the bureau had. I needed to work quickly to figure out who at the casino was involved with Ivanov.

After meeting Rafael, I no longer thought he was involved, but I couldn’t know for sure, not yet. The idea that there was a link to the Theriots was set in my mind, but I was willing to accept that they were working to eliminate Ivanov, just like I was. If so, continuing my seduction of Rafael could give me the in I needed.

I thought about how it had felt to slide my hands along his thighs, to step in between them, tease him, touch him. The moment my thumb made contact with his lip, my whole body became electrified. And that fucking kiss. I’d never felt so much so fast with anyone of any gender.

Rafael was full of himself and confident in his family’s power—a family I’d vowed to bring down—but I’d work with him if I had to.

And you’ll enjoy it.

Only if I got to make him pay when I was done.

Or if you turn him over his desk and fuck him into submission.

No.

You want him.

I did not want him. I wanted what he could do for me, and I still didn’t know if he was involved.

Do you really think he sells children? After talking to him, after kissing him?

No. Fuck. Kissing him was a terrible idea.

Because you like him.

No. He was just…

Hot.

Fuck. What if I was wrong? What if he was involved?

My gut told me it wasn’t him, but what if he’d seduced me with his charming smile and his flirting, but how could he even do that unless…

Was I gay or bi? If not, why did I find him so intriguing? Why did I want to kiss him, to touch him, to fuck him? I needed to stop pretending I didn’t. Lying to myself wasn’t going to help anything. I’d always noticed hot guys, but didn’t everyone? I’d had a few mutual jerk-off sessions with a guy in college, but we were bored and messing around. That didn’t mean anything.

Jesus, this was insane. I was supposed to hate him and his criminal family, but there was a warmth to him that I’d never seen in men like Ivanov. Rafael was dangerous, a criminal who had no remorse, but he wasn’t part of Ivanov’s sick industry. Assuming I was right about all that, would he work with me?

Suggesting an alliance could be a death sentence. If the Theriots found out I was FBI, they’d carve me into pieces, and no one would ever find my body.

Still…

Just fuck him if you want to.

That wasn’t an option, unless there was no other way to lure him in.

The less I got involved with him, the better, and I didn’t only want to fuck him. I wanted to hurt him, to punish him. What would he do if I tried?

He could take what you want to give, what you’re afraid to do with most partners.

I shook my head. I couldn’t let myself think about that. Even if my undercover role needed to include sex, it couldn’t be more than basic need fulfillment. Yet I knew Rafe would demand more than that to seal the bargain. He could have anyone he wanted, man or woman; I know that well enough. I’d followed him for days before I approached Maria with my plan. I’d watched him fuck a woman in the back seat of his car in the parking lot of a filthy bar. I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off them. He’d made sure she enjoyed every second of her time with him despite the crude setting.

What was I even doing? Was I really serious about making an alliance with him? Talk about high-stakes gambling.

When have you ever gotten what you wanted without risks?

I’d put my life in danger plenty of times, but I hadn’t had a choice.

Do you have a better idea to get more information? Every time you get close to Ivanov, you lose him.