need a refill, Jesse. We have a lot to celebrate tonight.”
Inching away from him, she demurred. “No, thank you. I’m fine.”
Elliott winked at her. “That you are, Major.”
Jesse was debating how quickly she could get up and leave when Elliott’s expression changed from interest to something more primal. Unfortunately Jesse had seen that look on many men’s faces and was preparing to leave when he shocked her with his next words.
“I don’t know if you are aware, Jesse, but I was with Mason when you did your tantalizing striptease.”
Jesse fought to stay calm. She remembered the way Elliott watched when Mason came on to her in the car. He hadn’t tried to stop Mason or disguise his own interest. She’d wondered at the time if the upstanding colonel was aroused by what Mason was doing to her. Shaking off the memory she struggled to get enough spit in her mouth to respond to his ugly admission.
“No, I didn’t know that. I wish you hadn’t done that, Elliott. That is an invasion of my privacy, Colonel.”
The Colonel roared, laughing in her face.
“Your privacy? Good God, woman. You stood there stark naked in front of a stranger and you object to one of your teammates seeing you in the buff? How the hell could that upset a pro like you?”
Jesse stomach clenched at the insult, her surprise turning to anger.
“Yes, my privacy. You took advantage of me, Elliott. I was vulnerable and you…” She stopped, wanting to end the conversation not discuss the issue.
“Look, Colonel, I don’t like where this is going.” She glared pointedly at his now empty glass. Reaching for her shoes, she hunted for her purse. As she started to rise, she added. “Thank you for inviting me. But I’m leaving now and—”
He interrupted her as if she hadn’t spoken. Leering at her breasts, he sneered, “I have to tell you, I sold you short, Jesse. I always thought that ‘equipment’ of yours wasn’t real. You keep it well camouflaged. But watching you strip tonight sure opened my eyes! I saw exactly who and what you are.”
Jesse clenched her fists at her sides and spit out the words.
“Exactly who and what am I, Colonel?”
Elliott again acted as though he hadn’t heard her. Instead he moved in closer ignoring her obvious intent to leave.
“Let me put it this way. It was a pleasure getting to know the real you. Before that strip tease, I had to rely on my imagination to envision what you have hidden under your uniform. We all know that you are one hot sexy babe. But now I know the real thing is even hotter, if possible. I’ve seen you in enough missions to know how you flaunt it, Jesse. Fling it in a guy’s face. But I have to believe that there are real rewards for the any guy powerful enough to take you up on the ‘come-hither’ messages you send so loud and clear.”
Jesse’s heart was pounding against her chest. It hurt to breathe. She didn’t know when she’d been angrier. And the buffoon wasn’t done yet.
“Hell, Jesse, I wouldn’t have missed that show for the world. I’m not sure what part I liked better. You ditching your bra and deciding to let those headlights shine or when you bent over and ran that satin string up your ass crack.”
Shocked, Jesse jumped up to leave. Elliott caught her and pushed her back down on the sofa.
“Admit it, Jesse. Admit that you enjoyed doing that striptease as much as we enjoyed watching it. Why would you not? You like to tease men, don’t you? Taunt them with your whore’s body and then saunter off leaving them holding their dick in their hands.”
Jesse couldn’t hide her shocked gasp. But Elliott was fierce, strong. Keeping one hand clamped on her wrist, he slipped his other hand under her skirt. His voice was low, gruff.
“Like Mason, I’m a sucker for thigh-high stockings. And thongs? Can’t get any better than this.”
He grabbed for her hair and pushed her down hard against the back of the sofa. She was stunned. He was stronger than