Taking the Bait: An ARC Operatives Romance by Audrey Noire Read Free Book Online

playfully, wanting to needle at him after he’d totally destroyed her for ever wanting anyone else ever. Probably ever. He made a little noise of annoyance and the hand on her stomach dipped down, slicking between her folds to touch her clit. The over-sensitive nerves screamed at her and she jerked back against his hips with a low yelp.
    “Mmm, yes, you faked it, quite well. Very impressive. I was almost convinced,” his voice held only the barest hints of sarcasm as his hand cupped against her belly again, his breathing evening out behind her. She huffed out a grumpy noise, and closed her eyes tightly.
    “Asshole,” she mumbled.
    “Maybe next time?” he offered sleepily, and then nuzzled his face into her hair and pulled the blanket up to cover them both. “Now sleep, yes? Tomorrow you put on another dress, and we give this operation another go, yes?”
    Her eyes fluttered shut and as much as she wanted to get him back for the anal joke, it made more sense to sleep. She could punch him in the morning. Maybe. Or she could enjoy a little oral payback and wake him up with her mouth on his cock. That seemed like an even better idea. His thumb stroked tenderly over her belly button, and she drifted off thinking that at least she could tell Rykov that she’d really gotten into her role.

Chapter Four
    “Morning, Princess.” The words worked their way through the haze of sleep that enveloped her. Daria felt sore , in that way only a good thorough fucking with a guy who knew what he was doing made her feel. Plus her mouth felt like it’d had old socks stuffed into it. She made a face and opened her eyes. Balfour was sat in the chair across from the bed, sprawled out with a to-go cup of coffee in each hand. He looked smug. “You look like hell, kid. Adrenaline fucks are crazy huh?”
    That woke her up. She sat up with a jerk, fingers flying out beside her to find empty-space where Nicolai had been the night before. She shot a scowl at Balfour as he saluted her with one cup before taking a long sip of it.
    “What the hell do you want?” Daria growled out, shifting the blankets to better wrap around her person. Where was Nicolai? Had he gone back to the couch after they’d…? The thought of him sneaking out like he was somehow ashamed of their late-night hookup made her angry.
    “I thought I’d welcome you to the banged-an-augmented club,” Balfour said with unholy cheer, and he stood, sauntered over to her and offered her a second cup of coffee. She took it in one hand and then jerked his head over his shoulder. “Speed is showering off. I’ll leave you two to bury the hatchet, or you know, bury something else with a morning quickie. But really, Griffin. Nice one. I am impressed at how well you stuck to your role. Didn’t break character at all.” He gave her a saucy wink. She made an annoyed noise, and pointed at the door with her cup of coffee.
    “Get out. I don’t want to see you or hear from you until it’s go time, and my schedule says that the next event we have to be at isn’t until 6 tonight. Out. Go annoy Rykov.”
    With a ridiculously smug grin, Balfour left the room, yanking the door shut as he left. Daria let out a slow unsteady breath and heard the shower crank off. She watched the door to the bathroom with apprehension as Nicolai finally emerged, towelling off his dark hair. Water glistened across his bare chest, and she contained a sigh from how damn good he looked.
    It wasn’t fair. Some of the other new agents had been paired up with much less attractive partners, and damn but he was making it hard to stay professional. She bit the inside of her lip and he caught her eye, his lips pulling up in a half-smirk. His gaze lingered on her face and then dipped down to her breasts which were covered by the bed linens. She felt a flush crawling down her cheeks to her neck as he blatantly looked her over.
    Then he was next to her, a blur again and he was seated on the edge of the bed, his hand