Persuasive Lips by Sherry Silver Read Free Book Online Page A

head. She didn’t even get to say goodbye to him. To thank him. It was awkward, they had exchanged I love yous and had never seen each other again. Oh well. Such was the life of a secret agent. She smiled big and hugged herself, holding in a jubilant squeal. Dreams did come true.
    “American money smells like camel droppings,” said a familiar feminine voice.
    Della opened her eyes and turned to meet the Egyptian operative. She was as gorgeous as always. “Big Ben tolls for Cleopatra.”
    “You are looking ravishing. The change in latitude becomes you,” said the Thousand Dollar Pharaoh.
    Della beamed. She handed a carpet bag to her. The operative snatched it, peeked inside to see the currency and said, “Come, I have a special treat for you.” She reached for Della’s arm and escorted her through the zig zaging corridor inside the pyramid. They stopped at a door. The exotic one slammed her fist against it twice, then three more times. It opened.
    Della felt heat whoosh over her and the heady scent of incense coming from a hippopotamus pot smoking in the center of the tomb. Pallets of green and gold silk lined the candle lit room. Pillows were strewn on the earthen floor. A low table held an elaborate cut glass decanter and two snifters.
    “Enjoy.” The Thousand Dollar Pharaoh left the room.
    Della nervously eyed the sheik as he lowered a board across the door. He was dressed in a dishdash, the long caftan-like shirt over pants, sandals and a scarf was wrapped around his hair and covered his face. Only his eyes were exposed. Blue eyes.
    As she swallowed hard and then sashayed across the tomb, her mind began reeling. Was it the surreal situation? Was she really in a pyramid about to be pleasured by the Sheik of Arabique or however the song went? Would she allow him? The scent from the incense pot registered in her brain. She’d been trained about drugs the first week on the job. Cannabis. Marijuana. She mustn’t let it cloud her thoughts.
    Della stopped abruptly and turned toward the hippo pot, inhaling deeply. What the heck. She just wanted to chat with him and see what information she could tease from him as she would flirt. They’d taught her flirting during week two. Practicing on the other girls wasn’t very realistic, but it was the best training they had. Would it work on a real man? Could Della be a woman for her country? Week three of training was Jujitsu. She could take care of herself if he got out of hand.
    He stepped up behind her and ran his moistened finger from her hairline to her jaw. She quivered.
    He spun her around. As she looked into his impossibly blue eyes, she nearly fainted, but he caught her as her knees gave out. He lay her on the green silk. The room began to spin. She ripped the scarf from his face. The chamber and time came crashing into focus.
    He offered her a glass of wine. She accepted and took a big gulp. “I have employment papers, a badge and training. I know I am really on a mission for the O.S.S. this time. Just what are you doing here, U. S. Secret Service Agent Ashley Jones?”
    He kissed her hard, his rabid lips nearly suffocating her as all of their passion past resurfaced. She pushed him away and breathed deeply, smiling.
    “I transferred to the Secret Service counterfeit division. I’m here undercover,” he said.
    “Should I really believe you or is this another fairy tale?”
    He took her glass and set it on the table. “Part of the mission. Play acting. Right into her own game.”
    “What are you babbling about? I’m here on a case, I just made a money drop to the Thousand Dollar Pharaoh.”
    “I know. She’s the leader of a counterfeiting ring.”
    “They didn’t tell me that!”
    “Shh! Keep your voice down. Nothing should be heard from this room but the sounds of pleasure.”
    Della blinked. She stood and removed her dress, letting it fall to the floor. As she stood naked in front of him, she said, “Very well. The things a girl has to do for her