She didn't want to wrap up anything but Paige, in her arms, between the sheets, flesh on flesh. She wasn't ready to leave right now. Wasn't ready to play hero. Playing the mysterious playmate was all she cared about. Getting to know more about Paige. f.u.c.king Paige. Was that asking too d.a.m.n much?

With any luck, Hurricane Elena would simmer down in the next day. Or if all else failed, she would drift to the right and exit into Cuban territory. Or turn left and maneuver out into the Gulf where she would more than likely fall apart. Storms churned through the Caribbean Sea all the time; most petered themselves out before they reached land.

Please let Elena be another teaser. She wasn't ready to end this game. Not when the stakes seemed so high.

"I've got the team on standby and already checked the stock on the warehouse in the Dominican Republic. We're ready when Elena makes her move."

Mayson tossed the remote on the bed with a grunt. If Elena meant business, that meant Mayson would be out of the country on the tail of a monster. Again.

"Dammit." As much as Mayson loved being an aid, as much as it gave her a rushed high to be a so-called hero, she suddenly dreaded the thought of leaving.

Not when she had Paige dangling like a carrot.

She still had one more move in this game. She had to prove to Paige she could be all the mystery she ever needed.

Mayson had found her once. Now she'd found her again.

She didn't want to let her go.

It was time for Paige to unveil her.

Paige spotted a note tucked in the door as she paused in front of the lingerie shop. A red X was clearly visible. She glanced around. The streets were empty save for a couple holding hands slipping over a dune headed to the beach. The ocean waves crashed in the distance.

She plucked the note from the door and opened it.

Follow the light, Fedora.

Paige peeked through the edge of the blinds. Candles burned on the floor and rose petals were scattered over the carpet like delicate pink confetti.

With her stomach tied in knots, Paige stepped inside. The scents of jasmine and lavender collided with her already-frazzled senses. Another note was lying on the floor.

Lock the door.

Who was this woman? Vinden. Did she own the shop? Work here? Vinden was connected somehow, and Paige gave herself a mental agenda to come back with the morning light to investigate. Someone here knew who her mystery woman was. Someone knew her face. Knew her name.

Tomorrow, maybe, Paige would, too.

She twisted the lock into place and followed the mixture of pink and white rose petals as well as flickering candles across the room until she reached another note.

366 miles to our second beginning.

Paige frowned at the note. She had no clue what it meant, only that it was another riddle to figuring out who Vinden was. It seemed Vinden wanted to be unveiled. Wanted Paige to know who she was.

Paige expelled a sigh. Did she truly want to know? Would the game end if she knew? Was she ready to end this? Did she want the mystery to come to a close?

No. She didn't. Not yet. She'd searched too long, too hard, to find s.e.xual bliss. She wasn't prepared for it to end.

Paige let the note drop back to the carpet and continued along the lit path down a hallway leading to the dressing rooms. The white walls flicked in yellow from the numerous candles set apart every foot.

This was all so romantic. So mysterious. So...Paige.

She stopped in front of the last door, the largest cubicle. Another note was attached.

Last chance, Fedora.

Paige took in a shallow breath. Unafraid of the s.e.xual threat, she pushed open the door. The room was empty. A glossy wooden bench surrounded the room and mirrors dominated every wall. A single candle in the center of the longest bench flicked light over a soft pink nightgown.

She stepped closer. Even in the dim lighting, Paige could tell how elegant the lingerie was. She ran her finger over baby-soft satin, then along the lace hem. It was so beautiful. So...sweet. Paige had never owned anything so expensive. There was never a reason for her to possess anything so fancy. She didn't have anyone for whom to wear such finery. Damien didn't count.

Another note was tucked into the vee.

Put me on. I am yours.

Vinden sure knew how to wow a girl. She knew exactly what she was doing, charming Paige with candy trinkets while slipping in precious gifts. Paige could get used to this quickly.

Not wanting to waste any time, Paige shoved out of her jeans and blouse and pulled the silk over her head. The diaphanous material felt like gossamer against her skin.

She turned slowly, checking her reflection from all angles, then pushed her hair on top of her head and imagined Vinden slipping her hand beneath the hem, working her fingers between her thighs, making her come while Paige watched herself in this mirror.

Her insides gripped with the thought.

Who the h.e.l.l was this Vinden?

Better question, where the h.e.l.l was she?

From the cubicle beside Paige, Mayson listened to the sound of clothes falling softly to the carpet. Her stomach tied in knots as she twisted the k.n.o.b and quietly slipped out into the hallway.

On the other side of that louvered door, Paige awaited. Waited for Vinden. Waited for all the things the mystery of Vinden offered her. All the things Mayson wanted to give her. Not as Vinden. As Mayson. As the real Mayson.

She wanted a chance to prove to Paige she could find her fantasy inside reality.

Soon. Hopefully, very soon.

Mayson paused outside the dressing room and donned the mask. The storm churning up the Caribbean waters was going to ensure this might be the last night she got to wear it.

From years of experience, she knew she could be out of the country for weeks, possibly a month. By then, Paige would have figured out the riddles. Figured out the woman behind the mask was Mayson. By then... Mayson didn't want to confront the uncertainty of how Paige would react.

With one last calming breath, Mayson turned the k.n.o.b, then stepped through the door.

Paige spun around and her hair tumbled down around her shoulders and framed her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Mayson had never seen anything, anyone, more beautiful. And now her beauty was illuminated in pale yellow light. Soft pink satin fanned around her tanned thighs. Spaghetti straps crossed delicately over her shoulders. Her auburn hair was like spun copper against her skin.

By far, she was the most stunning woman Mayson had ever laid her eyes on. She was star struck as Paige's chest heaved. She wanted to crawl all over her, starting with those pink tipped toes, and work her way up those lean thighs, that flat stomach, stalling long enough to treat those hardened nipples with a kiss before pushing her fingers inside those tight, slick walls.

Mayson stepped toward her and Paige backed against the mirror, right where Mayson wanted her. She towered over her, admiring the l.u.s.tful expression, admiring that she had the power to provoke such intense longing in anybody.

Paige licked her lips.

Mayson followed the motion of her tongue from one corner of her mouth to the other. She had such kissable lips. Mayson wanted to kiss her. Again. Would Paige recognize the pressure this time? She'd been such an idiot to kiss her at the beach. It'd been too quick. Especially when she was such a key player in this s.e.xual game.

When Paige took in a shallow breath, Mayson ducked and ran her tongue along the same path, inhaling Paige's moan, closing her eyes against the intensity the sound created.

Paige had powers that awakened the comatose parts of Mayson. She brought Mayson to life with a simple sigh, dragged her emotions out of hiding with a soft whimper.

Heat crawled through her veins as she pressed Paige into the mirror. She wove her fingers into Paige's, lifted her arms above her head, and pinned them against the gla.s.s as well. She ducked to Paige's neck and sucked at her flesh.

Paige circled her hips as the intense fire lurched between her thighs. That thing, that vortex of sleeping emotions, that quickening in her gut, was awakening once again. It had been so long since she'd felt it, and she ground against Vinden in a desperate attempt to hold on to it.

Vinden's grip tightened around her fingers and she pushed into Paige. She was strong. Paige could feel the strength through every surge of those hips, the power in every thrust. And she smelled so good. Musk teased her senses as Vinden slicked her tongue into the hollow of her throat. That sensitive spot that made her knees weaken.

As if the spot was connected, Paige surged against Vinden. Her insides clenched and the heat stung as Vinden moved to the other side of Paige's neck. She wanted Vinden inside her, touching and teasing and f.u.c.king her. She wanted Vinden pushing to the depths, to the core of her. She wanted to be awoken to the fullest.

When Vinden released one of her hands, Paige instinctively let it drop to her head. She fisted her fingers into thick hair while Vinden's lips kissed a fiery path into her cleavage.

Something, a sudden sensation, sprang into her mind. Mayson. Their kiss on the beach. Their cold, salty kiss.

She wanted Vinden to kiss her like that. With just as much fury.

Vinden tugged down one side of her nightgown, releasing her breast to the cool air.

More! Paige arched toward her, anxiously waiting for lips to wrap around her nipple.

Instead, Vinden flicked her tongue over the extreme tip.

Paige's hips jerked forward. "Please. Vinden."

Vinden placed a hot kiss beside her nipple. "Put yourself in my mouth, Fedora."

Instinctively, Paige tightened her grip in Vinden's hair and thrust her nipple against those lips.

Vinden kissed the tip, flicked her tongue once, twice, three times, and then pulled the hardened creation into her mouth.

The fire between Paige's thighs reached unbearable temperatures. She hissed. Fire whipped along her nerves, and she cried out as the heat cradled between her thighs. She was going to combust. Positive she was going to erupt into flames before Vinden finished her. Dear G.o.d, this was incredible.

Over and over, Vinden flicked and sucked, pulled and teased, driving Paige insane with desperate need.

Vinden withdrew long enough for Paige to miss her, long enough for Paige to arch toward her mouth again, and then teeth clamped down around her nipple.

Paige gasped as the inferno descended between her thighs, torturing her in blissful fire. "Oh, f.u.c.k!" She bucked against Vinden.

With a trail of hot kisses, Vinden moved to the other side and pulled the spaghetti strap down with her teeth. She released Paige's hand just before her mouth clamped down over her other nipple.

Paige bit her bottom lip. She was going to scream. Loud. Or cry. The heat was too much. Too hot. Too torturous. Dear G.o.d, this woman was working her nerves into a flare of blinding light.

While that mouth sparked electricity through her nipple, Vinden slid her hands down Paige's rib cage. Farther still, around to her back where the span of her fingers seemed to swallow every inch of Paige's spine, then down to her a.s.s. She gave a gentle squeeze, molding her cheeks with the palms of her hands.

Then she gently spread Paige, ma.s.saging, spreading again, until Paige growled in heated pleasure, eager for fingers to fill her from behind.

Vinden eased her tongue and mouth against her nipple and then pushed her hand between Paige's legs. Paige arched backward, desperate for the awakening.

She rose on the tips of her toes and pushed backward.

Vinden pushed inside her and groaned out a whisper around Paige's nipple. "So wet."

Paige clutched her fingers into Vinden's hair. "I can't take any more. Please. Finish me!"

As if her pleas snapped Vinden into motion, she withdrew and dropped to her knees. She pushed Paige's legs apart and feathered light kisses between her thighs, working her way up until she reached the alcove.

Paige dug her nails into Vinden's scalp and urged her forward, begging with her motions to be taken. She wanted this woman back inside her. Sucking her. f.u.c.king her. Anything. Something!

Vinden thumbed her lips apart, and with those strong hands, pushed her tight against the gla.s.s. She held Paige that way, trapped in her grasp, unable to move as much as a wiggle.

One flick. Another. Swirling her tongue over Paige's hardened c.l.i.t. Over and over, she teased, tortured, until finally, she sucked Paige into her mouth.

Paige whipped her head back, overtaken with sensations. Electric heat whipped down her legs and she attempted to pump her hips over Vinden's mouth.

Vinden was too strong, and Paige was trapped. It was so erotic, like being bound without being bound. She dug her nails through Vinden's hair, holding her in place, begging with her locked grip to continue until Paige came. How badly she needed this relief. How badly she needed this woman, this night, this minute. If only she knew how long Paige had searched for this incredible sensation.

Her o.r.g.a.s.m scrambled to the razor-sharp edge, threatening, promising relief. "Oh G.o.d. Don't stop! Vinden, please don't stop."

Mayson screwed her eyes shut against the sound of Paige begging, her sharp intake of breaths, and those moans. It was too much and the heat was torturous between her thighs.

"I'm coming!" Paige screamed. The sound echoed around the room like a majestic rumble. Her p.u.s.s.y throbbed against Mayson's lips.

Mayson drank from her, driving her tongue into her depths, then flicking and sucking, until Paige's body sagged and her hands fell limp. She rose and kissed the slick skin of her neck, down her throat, and around to the other side.

She couldn't get enough of her. Her sounds. Her tastes.

Paige responded with a soft sigh and then she folded her hand against Mayson's cheek and lifted her head.

Mayson pushed a kiss into Paige's palm while her heart squeezed in her chest. She wasn't supposed to feel anything but heat, anything other than slick need. But she did. That connection. That link. It was there, slithering along her senses, warning her of its presence.

She feathered a kiss against Paige's lips for several seconds, feeling their softness, and then she parted them with the tip of her tongue and snaked inside.

Paige groaned as their tongues tangled and Mayson kissed her harder, molding the cheeks of her a.s.s into her hands again. Her arms draped around Mayson's neck and she ground in desperate circles.

Mayson was afraid of the emotions overtaking her, of the incredible want, the aching need, and the pounding in her chest. She wasn't supposed to feel this. Wasn't supposed to feel anything other than the liquid heat of pa.s.sion.

Shocked at the realization that their connection trailed back as far as grade school, that it connected again so many years later, Mayson pulled out of the kiss and spun Paige around to face the mirror. Paige was the one. Somehow, someway, their fate had never been too far off course. They'd never, ever been too far away from each other.

For the first time in her life, Mayson felt love. Pure, genuine love. The thought brought tears to her eyes. She'd known l.u.s.t. Maybe longing. But never this. It was incredible, and she wanted to hold on to it like a life preserver.

However, Paige wasn't looking for love. She'd said as much. Proved as much. How would she react to knowing her mystery was a reality she didn't trust? She didn't trust Mayson. Didn't trust that not everyone was out to hurt her, to leave her.

Mayson forked her fingers through Paige's and lifted her hands to the gla.s.s. She flattened them against the surface and whispered, "I'm not done with you, Fedora."