In Too Deep by Ronica Black

refused your sexual advances, you took advantage of him anyway.”
    Erin laughed, and allowed herself to relax a little. “I guess I was a little aggressive.”
    “Let’s hope you’re the same way with me.” Adams grinned and raised her hand to wipe water from Erin’s face.
    “So what’s upstairs that’s so much better than down here?”
    The grin widened. “Me.”
    Erin’s heart flipped in her chest. Patricia was right; their target was charming as hell. Tall, gorgeous, powerful in body and in life. Falling for her would be so easy, as it obviously was for countless other women. But Erin was on assignment, and Adams was most likely a killer.
    “Maybe some other time,” she said, playing her part.
    The grip on Erin’s hips tightened, moving down to her backside. “This is an offer you can’t refuse.”
    “It’s a big deal, huh? Getting a personal invitation?” Erin did her best to act tough, while the temptation to melt into Adams’s arms grew stronger, a mere sigh away.
    “Most people don’t require such”—she leaned in, placing her mouth once again against Erin’s ear—“personal attention.”
    Erin nearly melted on the spot. She clenched her jaw and prayed for control. “Well, I’m not most people, am I?”
    “No, you’re definitely not most people,” Adams continued in her ear. “And I have a feeling you’ll require a lot more of my…personal attention.” She took the tip of Erin’s earlobe in her mouth and lightly sucked.
    Erin shuddered, her grip tightening on Adams’s strong arms. The combination of hot breath in her ear and hot mouth on her earlobe was too much to bear. She pushed herself away, suddenly thankful that she had to act uninterested. Breaking their contact would allow her to regain her bearings.
    “So show me this VIP room of yours,” she said, and ran her hands through her wet hair, sending cool drops down the back of her neck and into her vest, helping to bring her back to reason.
    Adams seized her hand possessively. “You got it.”
    She led Erin through the crowd, brushing past Patricia and her dancing duo. Out of the corner of her eye, Erin saw Patricia observing them, and part of her felt victorious and spiteful at having nabbed Adams. Maybe now it would be Patricia’s turn to have to watch while jealousy possessively crawled up her throat. She immediately scolded herself for the thought. They were here to do a job, nothing more. If she felt jealous and possessive of Patricia, that was her own problem. The detective merely perceived her as a coworker, a friend at the most.
    She dragged her concentration back to her target, observing the effect Adams had on the women around her. Many stopped dancing to stare as they passed by. But their eyes weren’t on Erin—they were on Liz, lustful and hungry. A few hopefuls approached, trying to get her attention any way they could, but she looked past them, through them. It seemed she had acquired what interested her, and now she parted the waters with her trophy in tow.
    They headed over to the private staircase where Tyson stood guarding the velvet ropes. He nodded his head at Adams as they approached, and removed the rope to let them pass.

    *

    The VIP room was darker than the rest of the club, hidden from the strobes and lights of the dance floor. Erin squinted, trying to adjust to the dim surroundings. She was able to make out numerous lounge chairs and love seats where some women sat close and talked while others kissed and groped.
    They walked up to a bar on the left side of the room, made noticeable only by a blue neon strip that ran along its edge. A woman stood behind the bar wearing a Western bowtie and a cowboy hat. Her breasts were covered by what Erin at first thought was a tight leather vest, but upon closer inspection realized was painted on with what she could only guess was some sort of body latex.
    Instantly intrigued by the all-but-naked woman, she leaned on the bar while Adams ordered their drinks,