Fatal Exposure (9 page)

“I could get used to this.” She instantly regretted her words.

He stopped what he was doing and draped the towel around her. “I wouldn’t if I were you,” he said in an almost inaudible voice as he maneuvered around her. His intense gaze cut into her, and he walked out of the bathroom, leaving her there feeling like a complete idiot. Again.

Biting into her lip, she refocused and tried to gain control of her emotions. “I didn’t mean it literally, Kade,” she called out to him. “It’s not like I want to marry you and start popping out puppies. I don’t even know your last name.”

Silence thickened between the rooms so she gave up trying to defend herself for absolutely no reason at all. Why did she care anyway? The man was good for the physical stuff but that was it. That was where it ended. If she could manage to keep her mouth shut, she could probably get one more night of sex out of him before she moved on. And maybe find out where he lived in case she wanted to locate him again. Just for the sex. Really.

The mirror over the sink reminded her of the long day she’d had. Her cheek was pink and slightly swollen, and the dark circles under her eyes made it seem like she’d aged ten years in the past few hours. She sighed, wrapped some ice in a towel and gathered the courage to join him.

When she walked through the door, he had on a pair of black boxer briefs and was sitting at the edge of the bed rifling through a duffle bag.

“How are you feeling?” He looked up only for a moment.

“Fine.” One word answers were the best way to go. “You don’t look fine.”

“Mmm.” Not a word but cursing at the man probably wouldn’t get her laid. She crawled onto the bed, still completely naked, but he didn’t even give her the courtesy of a glance.

“Why don’t you take these?” He swiveled around to face her with a brown prescription bottle in his hand.

“Those?” She raised an eyebrow. “What are you trying to do, drug me?”

He shook his head but still didn’t make eye contact. “They’re pain killers for an old injury I’ve got that flares up from time to time. A couple of these, and you won’t feel a thing, I promise you.”

She arched her body toward him and circled her finger over her nipple. “What if I want to feel something?” she asked in the sultry voice she’d used a billion times at the club.

He blinked. “What?”

Why was it so much easier to play a seductress when you were named after a flower? “Nothing,” she

said, giving up. She placed the ice-packed towel over her cheek and tried to forget how horny she was. The bed creaked as he stood. “I’ll get you some water.”

“Whatever,” she mumbled, reminding herself that
survivors
didn’t beg. If Kade didn’t want to see her anymore after tonight, then to hell with him. Oh, who was she kidding? What would one more try at seduction hurt?

****

Kade didn’t look in the mirror as he filled the plastic cup. How could he when the man looking back at him was nothing but a pathetic, selfcentered prick?

Ava Lureau deserved better than what he had planned for her, and it sickened him. But there was no other way around it.

If she weren’t so innocent and loving, pleasing him so readily with her beautiful body, then what he had to do would be easier. Cut and dried. Regrettably, he knew as long as she let him, he’d take everything she had to give. Just like a drug, he was quickly becoming addicted to her. He longed to please her—every part of her. Fill her. Possess her. Protect her.

He walked back into the bedroom and saw her lying there with the comforter only partially covering her naked body. God, he wanted her, and he wasn’t sure he would ever be able to get enough. Maybe if he were to have her just one last time before she found out his identity. What could it hurt?

She was going to despise him anyway.

After spilling out two of the pills into his free hand, he walked over and sat beside her. “Here, take these.”

She met his eyes while pressing the towel filled with ice against her cheek. “I don’t need it.”

“They’ll help you sleep.” He watched a droplet of water drip down her neck from the makeshift ice pack.

“I don’t want to sleep.” She sat up, and the wet bead ran down between her supple breasts. Instinctively, he grew hard as he imagined following that path with his tongue. The taste of her, the soft creamy feel of her, just the thought aroused him.“Please, take the pills,” he ordered himself to say. She pulled the pack from her cheek and set it down on the bed beside her. “Don’t you want me?”

she asked. “I know I look like hell, but...I don’t know. We could have one last fling before we go our separate ways.”

“Aren’t you in pain?” Kade attempted to keep his thoughts rational because his body wanted to flatten her against the mattress, spread her legs, and make love to her until she was completely satisfied.

“A little, but you can make me feel better.” She picked up an ice cube from the towel and slid it over her hardened nipple and down her stomach to her navel. “You know, like you did when we were young and innocent.” It melted quickly over her tanned flesh, and trickled down the area between her bare mound and her thigh.

Focus, Kade
.

With the minute bit of willpower he had left, he shoved the pills and the cup of water toward her.

“Take these or I’ll feel bad.”

“And then?”

“Then I’ll screw you so hard you’ll have to retire your pussy.”

She giggled. “Retire my pussy? Is that all you got?”

He would’ve upped the ante but was relieved when Ava took the pink and white capsules from his hand and swallowed them down with the water. Maneuvering her naked body to the middle of the bed, she lay on her back and opened her knees, letting him see the luscious rosy folds between her legs.“Ready,” she said softly and laughed again. Lord, he was going to miss her. One last night. One last time pleasuring her. He needed to make it worth her while...before it was too late.

Chapter Five

Poppy sat in her blue two-door hatchback and stared across the street through her cracked windshield. After she had overheard Kade on the phone, an uncanny feeling had her running circles in her head.

Who had he been talking to?

Whoever it was obviously had plans for Lily or Ava or whatever. It didn’t really matter what her name was now that the slut was leaving and would be out of the picture.

Poor Jarred should have called the police on her ass. His nose was the size of a grapefruit. Sort of deserved it. But still. He was the only guy who’d ever cared for her. Enough to rescue her from the streets and give her a job. A safe job. One where she didn’t have to spread her legs for just any ol’ pervert who flashed some money at her.

Those days were over thanks to Jarred. She owed him. And hopefully one day he’d realize she was good enough for marriage, and maybe a kid or two.

Her mama would’ve liked to see that, if she were still alive.

Not that Poppy didn’t allow a man to have his way with her once in a while. If the money was right and the man was worthy enough, she’d do just about anything. She didn’t let Jarred in on her little side jobs, although he was always suspicious.

But what Jarred didn’t know, wouldn’t hurt him. Besides, he wasn’t exactly faithful. If only tramps like Ava would stop tempting him, he’d stop fooling around and get serious.
Maybebuy me a nice ring
. Get down on one knee like you see in the movies. They could buy a house. The one on Bluebird Street with the wraparound porch and that nice big elm in the front.

She sighed and gripped the steering wheel. Someday she’d get what she wanted.

The light dimmed in the hotel room across the street, and Poppy’s mind started swarming with ideas again. What if that Kade guy was a spy? What if Ava was a criminal and the mysterious person on the phone wanted to put her in prison? What if...

****

Ava loved the broad width of Kade’s back and shoulders. His well-defined arms weren’t bad either. Especially when they flexed while he reached down to pull off his underwear. As he turned to climb onto the bed, she licked her lips at the sight of her favorite muscle of all.

“I swear that is the most beautiful penis I have ever laid my eyes on.” She ran her hands over her thighs in anticipation.

“Have you seen many?” He moved to kneel between her legs, and began massaging the inside of her thighs with his rough hands.

“Jealous?” She inhaled deeply at the feel of his touch.

“Just want to know how many other guys I’ve beat out.” He shrugged and smiled. “It’s a man thing.” His fingers kneaded and molded her flesh, stroking from her knee to the heat burning between her thighs.

“A few.” She bit into her lip both to keep from moaning and to hide her grin. Could a guy like Kade get jealous? He didn’t seem to care about much. A finger brushed lightly against her clit, teasingly, back and forth. “Four? Five?” he asked in a heady voice.

Ava let out a small whimper. “Umm.” She tried to gain focus. “Tell me your last name, and I’ll answer your question.”

He nudged a finger inside of her wet slit.

“Gavin.”

Mmm. She arched her back and angled her hips to urge him in farther. “Kade Gavin, you have beat out two other men. Congratulations.” She smiled up at him, but he didn’t return the favor.

“What were their names?” His eyes narrowed, and he slid in a second finger.

She sighed at the welcome invasion, happy she was getting one last thrill from the mysterious man who was becoming more familiar by the minute. Maybe he
was
jealous. But that would mean he cared. Was it possible?

“Tell me where you live?” she countered and clenched down on his fingers.

He inhaled deeply. “Rocky Mountains.”

“Colorado?”

He nodded, extreme concern still written all over his face. “Your turn.”

“Josh and Zack.” She let out a moan as he found a sensitive spot.

“Did you love them?”

“Why do you care?” She grasped her breasts and pinched her hard nipples as fire coiled tightly in her belly. “Oh, Kade,” she breathed out.

He withdrew his fingers and pierced her with a glare. “Tell me.”

“No, don’t stop. Please. I didn’t love them. Not even a little. I swear.” Bracing herself on her elbows, she glanced at the god of a man who had more power over her than she ever thought possible. His impressive cock stood erect, arcing toward his muscled abdomen. His broad chest, his cut features, the scars that held numerous stories—

every inch of him captivated her. She wondered what else she’d tell him in the heat of the moment. He eased his fingers back into her swollen pussy, so wet her juice trickled down past her anus. She let herself relax and fell back onto the bed. The ice from the towel spilled next to her, stinging her skin. With her arm, she pushed it back but was distracted by the sudden heat and heaviness of Kade’s body on top of hers.

“Hi,” she said startled but welcoming.

The pale depth of his eyes answered for him as he peered down at her, only centimeters from her face. His short dark hair clung in damp ringlets to his forehead. His tempting lips lingered just above hers. The angle of his jaw, chin, and nose were harsh and masculine.
God, he was gorgeous
. Ava imagined she could stare at him for eternity and never grow bored. She couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever give her that option.

“Have you ever been in love?” she dared to ask.

“Never.” The single word sounded so definite. Infinite.

“Oh.” Ava’s heart sank.

His Adam’s apple fell and rose again. “Want me to get rid of this ice?”

“Umm, sure. It’s kind of cold against my arm.”

Who was she kidding? She couldn’t feel anything but desire burning inside of her.

With one hand he scooped the ice back onto the towel. In the process, his body moved against hers, and Ava held back the urge to wrap her arms and legs around him until he broke down and made love to her.

Instead, she watched with false patience as he picked up one of the cubes and ran it over her lips. Water melted into her mouth as she parted it for him, letting him know she was ready for his game. He dipped his head and licked across the path. When he pulled away, Ava ran her tongue over her lip to taste him. She could have sucked on his familiar cinnamon flavor for days. He was yummy inside and out.

She caught her breath when he maneuvered down her body, trailing the ice cube along her neck, over her shoulder, up the curve of breast to her nipple. He circled the bud until it hardened painfully, shooting lightning to her core. When she thought she couldn’t take anymore, he laved his warm tongue over it.

Every nerve in her body crackled with want. She reached to caress her breasts as he continued hungrily lapping at her sensitive bud. Then he sucked it into his hot mouth, so hard the pleasure was painfully good. She bucked under his touch and jammed her fingers into his damp hair. More. God, she wanted more.

She got her wish as he moved to the other breast and gave it the same treatment. Sucking, licking, nibbling. Blurring her mind with an overwhelming need, propelling fiery sparks to her core.