Kissing her all the while, he backed her up till she bumped into his desk. Gage shoved a stack of files off to one side and kissed her—a long, thorough, hot, wet kiss that had her moaning. Then he turned her around and bent her over the desk. Her sandals fell off as he dragged down her stretch pants and tossed them aside, then positioned himself behind her.
“Just so you don’t forget how good we are together.” Gage freed himself, and then he was inside her, setting up a rhythm that had her arching her back to take him deeper. Increasing the rhythm, he moved faster, took her harder, the friction setting her body on fire.
Abby moaned as his grip tightened on her hips and he drove into her. The first sweet shivers of climax struck, the ripples expanding into waves of bliss that had her clenching her teeth to keep from crying out his name.
Gage didn’t stop. Not until she reached a second shattering release, timing his own to match so they came together. Long seconds passed. A low moan slipped from her throat as the world slowly righted itself.
Gage smoothed a hand over her hips, eased her back against him, and his arm tightened around her. He kissed the nape of her neck.
“You okay?” he asked gruffly.
“I don’t know. I can’t move. I think I’m paralyzed.”
Gage chuckled. Turning her into his arms, he kissed her one last time. “Much as I’d like to carry you upstairs and start all over again, you know we have to go back to work.”
“I know.” She blew out a breath that fluttered her bangs and grinned impishly. “Maybe we can take a few more breaks like this one.”
Gage laughed.
Abby grabbed her clothes and headed into his bathroom to freshen up. When she came out, Gage was waiting.
“So you and Reynolds . . . You never mentioned the two of you were involved.”
“Because we never were.” She cocked an eyebrow, flicked a glance at the desk and back to Gage. “That’s what this was about? You were jealous of Clay?”
“No. Well, not exactly. The way Reynolds was looking at you reminded me I haven’t been very attentive lately.”
“I don’t have any interest in Clay, and after the last trip, I know how you get when you’re focused on a hunt.”
He frowned. “I’m not sure I like how well you’re coming to know me.”
Abby said nothing. The words were a reminder that Gage wouldn’t allow himself to get involved too deeply. Sooner or later, he would move on. She had already accepted that, knew their relationship had a time limit. Still, she couldn’t help a soft pang in her heart.
“As you said, I’ve got plenty of work to do. I’ll see you later.” Abby headed for the door. They would be leaving soon for Mexico. Nothing was more important. Especially not her unwanted feelings for Gage.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
AFTER A STOP INHOUSTON,UNITEDAIRLINES FLIGHT 3216 ARRIVEDat Mexico City International Airport at 2:15 in the afternoon.
A white Lincoln stretch limo waited to take them to the Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico in the Zócalo district downtown, the area that housed the national palace, the seat of the Mexican government.
As Gage leaned back in the deep red leather seat, he couldn’t resist a glance at Abby, who stared out the window as if she were in a trance.
Gage smiled. The city was in every way amazing. With its wide, tree-lined boulevards and beautiful colonial buildings, it reminded him of Madrid. Not surprising since the Spanish had conquered the Aztecs in the sixteenth century and built the first cathedral in Mexico City on top of an Aztec temple.
“It’s beautiful,” Abby said, clearly in awe. “There’s so much color. It’s everywhere.”
Color splashed everything from murals and street art to food vendors and musicians playing guitars, drums, and horns with a distinctive Latin beat. Though the buildings in the center of the city were hundreds of years old, in the distance, towering, sophisticated, ultra-modern structures dominated the skyline.
“I wish we had more time,” Abby said wistfully.
Gage understood. He had wanted to see the world, and so far he hadn’t been disappointed. There was a dark side to every city, cruelty and injustice in every country, but the good mostly outweighed the bad. Everyplace he went held a certain unique appeal.
“We’ll finish our business, and as soon as we get the chance, we’ll come back.”
The minute the words were out of his mouth, he realized his mistake. Once the expedition was over, so was his time with Abby.
For a moment, her gaze met his, and he saw his thoughts mirrored there. She made no reply, just turned to look out the back window as if she might have missed something. Then he felt her hand on his arm.
