Fallen Angels: Beguiled\Wanton\Uncovered (26 page)

“Go ahead and make your call. In the morning, I'll figure how out we're going to handle things.”

She watched him leave the room, his body moving with fluid grace and blatant strength. She didn't bother asking what they'd do tonight. She already knew.

She drew in a shuddering breath, tamped down on her guilt and shame while telling herself she was only doing what was necessary. Then she reached for the phone. She didn't want to be occupied when Alec returned; she didn't want to have to disrobe in front of him.

She'd be in the bed, hiding under the covers.

Everything else was up to him.

A
LEC LINGERED
in the parking lot for several reasons.

First and foremost, he had to get control of himself. Holding out a hand, he stared in disgust at the trembling in his own body, a body usually so cold nothing affected it, certainly not a woman. For years, too many to count, he'd been able to take pleasure in a woman's body, to give pleasure back, without letting it get to him.

He felt damn affected now, and he hadn't even really touched the little witch. Heaven help him when he got himself buried deep inside her, when he felt the hot wet clasp of her body, heard her half-frightened, mostly excited moans…

Cursing, he paced furiously around his truck, trying to outrun the truth of his feelings. She did fear him a little, and for now, nothing would change that. He didn't even want to change it because although he made her nervous, she still wanted him, almost as much as he wanted her. He knew having sex with Celia would blow his mind out, and the knowing was almost worse than the actual effects. Like a drug he knew could destroy him, he wanted her anyway. Being as cold and indifferent as possible was his only defense.

But when she looked up at him with those innocent hazel eyes, he wanted to protect her, even from himself. And that was another reason he hesitated.

He should have killed Raymond; killing him would make Alec feel a whole lot better now.
She'd said sex between them had been great.
He squeezed his eyes shut and considered howling at the moon. The words, and her tortured look that had accompanied them, filled him with such a killing rage, he knew he'd have to do whatever he could to erase that bastard from her body, from her soul. If she didn't thank him in the beginning, she would by the end. He had to believe that.

Knowing he'd stalled long enough, that Celia could well be trying to sneak out the tiny bathroom window, he grabbed his gear from his truck and headed back in. Every muscle in his body felt tight and strained, his jaw locked, his mind in turmoil. The hard-on he'd learned to associate with any close proximity to Celia throbbed insistently. He hated needing her like this. He hated to need anyone.

Half expecting the door to be locked now, he was taken aback when it swung open easily and he found Celia lying wide-eyed in the narrow bed—very obviously naked beneath all the blankets.

The covers were pulled so high, even her chin was hidden, with her rounded eyes looking almost comical over the hem. Twin sets of slender fingers gripped the blankets on either side of her mouth. A strange feeling, like mingled tenderness and raging lust, rushed through him, making him light-headed, almost dizzy with triumph and hunger. He liked seeing her in a bed, waiting for
him.
Oh yeah, he liked it a lot. Too damn much.

His mouth kicked up in a crooked smile as he dropped his overnight bag on the floor and put his pistol on the bedside table. Celia's eyes rounded even more at the sight of the weapon.

“You carry a…a gun?”

He gave her a level look, amazed at her naiveté. “All the agents do, Celia.”

“I don't…That is…should I?”

Alec shook his head, astounded that a feeling as light as amusement could touch him now when he could feel the furious drumming of his heart. “Hell no. One leg wound is enough for me.”

“
I
didn't shoot you!”

He started to sit on the side of the bed, then thought better of it. If he got that close, all his plans would end before they could begin. He wasn't ready yet. He needed at least a few more minutes to shore up his determination.

He stepped back a few paces and leaned on the wall, watching her. “I can think of a dozen times in the last few hours when you might have.”

“Well…” She considered that, then shrugged in resignation. “Yeah.”

His gaze sharpened and he deliberately used a tone he knew drew attention from hired killers. “You don't need a weapon, sweetheart, because after this, you won't be taking any more dangerous cases.”

Her fingers tightened on the blankets and her eyes narrowed. But thankfully, for his peace of mind, she kept silent.

Still holding her gaze, Alec reached down and unbuckled his belt. Celia blinked hard, her gaze skimming down his body then immediately shooting back up again in a visibly desperate bid to stay on his face. With a whistling sound, the leather belt slid out of the jean loops and he draped it over the back of a chair.

“Alec?” Her voice was a squeak, anxious and embarrassed and if he was any judge, turned-on. “What are we going to do about Hannah? Do you have a plan?”

He pulled his shirt over his head and heard her soft groan. “I have several plans, sweetheart. Why don't we talk about my plan for tonight, for right now?” After tossing the shirt aside he scratched his bare chest and saw her fascinated gaze. Very softly, he asked, “You want details?”

“No…yes…
no.
”

He grinned. “Indecisive, aren't we? Well, I think I want to tell you anyway.”

“Alec, I think—”

“You think sex is dirty, I know.”

She squeezed her eyes closed and for a brief cowardly moment pulled the blankets over her head. Seconds later she jerked it down again to stare at him.

Celia was no coward.

“Okay.” She drew a deep fortifying breath. “What are you going to do, Alec?”

She had to be smothering under all those blankets. The cheap motel had inadequate air, and though the air conditioner rattled and hummed loudly, it couldn't keep up with the oppressive July heat. Alec had already begun to sweat, but then, that had a lot to do with Celia being so close and naked.

Toeing off his low boots then bending to remove his socks, he said, “I'm going to let you get familiar with my body.”

“Oh…”

Hearing the trembling in her tone nearly did him in. He'd always considered himself a strong man; physically he knew it was true, but mentally, emotionally, she had him concerned. He couldn't think of a single challenge he'd ever backed away from, and he always accepted knowing he'd win, his confidence never wavering. But he didn't know if he was strong enough to do this tonight. He hoped so, because Miss Celia Carter was in desperate need of a few lessons, and damned if he'd let any other man give them to her.

Number one, the most important lesson, that he wasn't Raymond and other than gender, had not a single thing in common with that scum.

But just telling her that wouldn't do it. And neither would having sex with her when she was so skittish and unsure of herself. Oh, she'd take him, all right. He had no doubts on that score. She'd take him and enjoy herself immensely. Used to be, that would have been enough for him. But not now.

He wanted her to openly want him, to admit it was right between them. To accept that sometimes sex was just plain meant to be and this was one of those times. There was no shame in that.

If he took her now, she'd be ashamed.

Damn.
Alec cursed to himself, but couldn't find any way around that truth. Celia fought against her natural instincts. He'd never seen a woman so responsive, so easily aroused as his Celia. It was a gift, one he planned to enjoy and wanted her to appreciate.

So he planned to teach her, slowly, to accept him and what they could have together for as long as the chemistry lasted. She'd learn, little by little, and he had no doubt he'd die by small degrees with each lesson.

He unbuttoned his fly and slid down the zipper, carefully because he was so fully erect he ached like never before. The soft, hungry moan Celia gave told him eventually he'd have his reward. The torture would be worth it.

“Don't close your eyes, Celia.”

Her hands covered her face.

“Celia, look at me.” His command was soft, insistent.

She shook her head. “Alec, I can't. I…” Her voice emerged breathy, so aroused she aroused him just by speaking.

“You have no choice, sweetheart, remember?” He pushed the jeans down, taking his dark briefs with them, and stepped away from his clothing. Celia's naked shoulders were now visible and he wanted to start kissing her there, eating her there, then working his way down until he'd devoured every hidden, hot inch of her. He drew a deep breath.

When he was right next to the bed, so close his naked thigh nearly touched the mattress, he said, “Look at me, Celia.”

She jumped, startled by his approach. His silent movements often had that effect on people; even Dane had commented on his stealth, cursing him on occasion for taking him unawares.

With her bottom lip firmly caught between her teeth, she slowly lifted her lashes. Heat rushed into her cheeks and her breasts trembled with small, rapid breaths, making the covers flutter.

Alec studied her, forcing himself to stick to his plan despite the gripping need to take her. “Does my body look dirty to you, Celia?”

Gaze glued to his erection, she shook her head no.

He put one knee on the bed and she rolled slightly toward him, her expression almost panicked.

“Shhh. Don't get jumpy on me.” He caught the edge of the blankets and they went through a silent tug-of-war before Celia closed her eyes again and released them.

Very slowly, feeling every punch of his heartbeat as it resounded through his body, Alec bared her. He threw the covers completely off the bed. For now at least, they wouldn't need them.

Stiff, nearly frozen, her only movement that of her choked breaths, she remained obediently quiet while Alec visually explored her. Her small rounded breasts were perfect, flushed a warm pink, softly upright, shimmering with her nervousness and excitement. Her nipples were drawn achingly tight, dark rose, and more than anything he wanted them in his mouth, wanted to suck on her and hear her small cries. He swallowed hard and continued his visual feast.

Her skin, pale and so smooth, would chafe easily beneath his whiskers, and he mentally cautioned himself to be careful. Her navel made a slight, tempting dent in her softly rounded belly, and below that…

His nostrils expanded on a sharp breath. Dark blond curls covered her in a small neat triangle. Without his mind's permission, his hand lifted and he covered her, then he groaned softly. Celia jerked, a shocked, highly erotic sound coming from deep in her throat.

“Look, Celia,” he urged her. She shook her head and his fingers tightened. “Look at how my hand covers you completely. I can feel the heat pulsing off you.” He leaned down and nuzzled her belly, nearly incoherent with lust. “And I can smell your scent. You're every damn bit as turned on as I am.”

Panting, she whispered, “Alec?”

He realized she was close, that in only those few moments with nothing more than a scattering of words and a possessive touch, she was nearing the edge.
She was incredible.
In a voice he barely recognized as his own, Alec murmured, “I like seeing you, honey. There sure as hell isn't anything dirty about you.”

The sound she made drew his attention back to her face and the sight of her nearly ecstatic pain helped him regain control. He raised his hand to her cheek, then slowly smoothed her mouth, urging her to release her lip from the grip of her teeth. “Don't hurt yourself, baby. Everything's okay.”

Tears leaked from beneath her lashes and with a quavery voice she said, “I'm so…so easy.”

Alec lay down beside her, no longer needing an incentive to keep himself under control. Her pain had done that for him. He drew her naked body close and above the lust he felt the overwhelming need to protect, to reassure, to comfort. For now at least, she was his woman, and he'd move heaven and earth to keep her from being hurt, even from herself.

“You're special, Celia, a gift to any man lucky enough to grab your attention.” Very deliberately, his hand slid down her belly again. He couldn't let her stay like this, not when he knew damn well he could ease her.

Her hips immediately thrust against his searching fingers and she groaned, gripping him tight. “Alec,
please kiss me…
”

He did, devouring her mouth, searching with his tongue as he searched with his fingers.

Her flesh was so soft, so slick with eagerness. His fingers glided, probed, found the friction and rhythm that made her instantly wild. She wriggled against him, deliberately arousing herself further by moving her nipples over his chest, sucking on his tongue. She was hot and carnal and—oh hell—she was his.

Within two minutes she was coming apart in his arms and Alec cursed even as he fought to hold his own reaction at bay. Losing control, releasing himself on her belly, wouldn't do a damn thing toward convincing her that sex was good and wholesome, not something to hide away from.

She bit him, his mouth, his chin, then his shoulder, and her nails dug deep into the muscles of his back, the small stings helping him keep control. When she slumped, sweaty and hot and limp in his arms, Alec kissed her forehead and smoothed her hair back.

“That was a long time coming.”