Hands On (14 page)

Her hand went to her mouth self-consciously. “But I don't even have on any lipstick.”

“I know. This is the way you look when you wake up in the morning.”

Heat flooded her cheeks at the thought of him watching her as she awoke. Foolish, really, since they'd already spent three nights together. “Hurry up and tell me what you found out from your friend.”

Dalton smiled. “Mostly what we already suspected. It looks as if Simone's working with Bask.”

She took the rose from him and got some water. “How did you find out?”

“She's got a string of aliases so she's not exactly the model citizen, and she's been seen in the same cities at the same time with Bask.”

“But they've never been arrested together?”

“Nope. Of course Bask is so damn sly he should've been arrested twenty times but hasn't.”

“Simone isn't.” Cassie couldn't help but feel some pity for the woman. “She's a mess.”

“Oh, yeah. What happened with her after I left?”

“Nothing, really. The session went on without the two of you.”

“You should try and talk to her again. Maybe she'll either be down or drunk enough to say something.”

“I tried. I ran after her, but Bask broke us up in a heartbeat. Sent me back to the session and then showed up, alone, five minutes later.”

Dalton's lips lifted in a slow smile and he gave her that look again, the one that said “nice work.” “Maybe tomorrow you'll have another opportunity.”

“Heck, I'll make one.” She frowned. “What about Grant? Is he really her husband?”

“Doesn't look like it. But she needs one to be here so he's probably just a hired flunky.”

“Geez, she could have at least found someone she had some chemistry with. The way those two interact gives me the creeps.”

He frowned. “Why?”

“Please. Married people don't act that way.”

“Many of them do.”

“Then they shouldn't be married.” She saw the smirk lurking at the corners of his mouth, and she could tell he thought she was being naive just because she hadn't been married. Tough. “Mary Jane still puz
zles me. Simone's job is obviously to stir up trouble between the couples, but how does Mary Jane fit in?”

“I don't know. Maybe she's clean. Simply hired help like the cook and gardener.”

“Maybe. Of course she does a little stirring herself.”

“Hell, she's too annoying to get the husbands excited.”

Cassie looked at him in disbelief. “Right. You almost got whiplash trying to check out her thong.”

“I did not.”

“The hell you didn't.”

He grinned. “Jealous?”

She lifted her chin. “That'll be the day.”

“Guess what?” He reached for her hand.

Her pulse went bananas again. “What?”

“Business is over,” he said, and captured her mouth with a demanding kiss.

D
ALTON TASTED
her excitement and fear. Not fear of him; fear that something big was happening between them, something much bigger than sex. And he knew that he was a damn fool to take this relationship further.

But he couldn't help himself. More and more she consumed his thoughts. Never had he been so distracted from a case. Good thing it was a no-brainer assignment. In truth, had he been diligent he could have probably wrapped things up already.

He couldn't think about that now, though, not when Cassie was warm and soft and opening her mouth to him. She made a whimpering sound that sparked an urgency in him, and he guided her backward toward the bed.

She immediately unbuttoned his shirt and before they got to the bed, he pulled her T-shirt over her head. Her bra was red, silky and left little to the imagination. He quickly undid the front clasp and filled his palms with her soft satiny flesh.

Arching her head back, she moaned softly. “Dalton, take your clothes off,” she whispered feverishly. “All of them.”

He dipped his head to take a nipple into his mouth and suckled it slowly, fighting the impulse to lie her down, pull off her jeans and spread her thighs. He wanted to taste her, be inside her, to make her scream when she came.

“Dalton, I want you inside me.” Her whisper melted him like butter.

She reached for his buckle and disposed of his belt in seconds. Another second and she unzipped his fly. Afraid that she'd touch him and everything would happen too quickly, he ended up confused when she didn't even try to pull off his jeans.

Instead, she ran her finger across his belly, over the skin above his waistband. Every time it felt as if she might dip into his open fly, she ran her flattened palm up to his chest. And then he saw the sly smile tugging at the corners of her mouth and knew she was purposely teasing him.

This time, the gloves came off.

Cassie swallowed. Not because she was nervous. But excited. Impossibly turned on. It wasn't just his touch that had her pulse skidding out of control, but the hungry look in his eyes….

He unsnapped, unzipped and pulled down her rose-colored jeans before she finished gasping. When she didn't readily step out of the jeans, he lifted one ankle out of the slim-fitting leg, and then the other. Her thong matched the red silk bra he'd thrown on the armoire, and he reached around, cupping her bottom with both hands.

He sat on the edge of the mattress, spread his legs
into a vee and pulled her between them. Just when she thought he'd take one of her breasts into his mouth, he slowly turned her around.

At first she resisted, staring at him with a puzzled look, but she let him have his way. Either she trusted him or she didn't.

“I just want to look at you,” he said, as if sensing her uncertainty.

He pulled her back toward him. “You're something else, lady. You're beautiful…perfect…” The words died and he just stared at her.

“What?” She tried to skitter away.

“Don't.” He didn't restrain her.

She glanced over her shoulder at him. She wanted to bolt, but she wanted to stay. He made the decision by bracketing the sides of her thighs to hold her steady, and then kissing each soft cheek. He bit one lightly and she tensed her muscles. He licked the spot.

“Take off your panties.”

She tensed again, hesitated, but then hooked her fingers into the elastic.

“No, don't turn around yet.” He continued to grip her thighs when she tried to face him. “Take off the panties first.”

Again she hesitated, but only for a moment, and then she slowly slid the red silk down her thighs, bending at the waist as she guided the panties down her calves.

She heard his sharp intake of breath. His reaction gave her courage and she moved to the music in her
head. Warm breath fanned her skin. His mouth. Close. Her heart nearly exploded.

She wanted to turn around. See his expression. She wanted to feel his mouth on her.

He moved his hands from her thighs and ran them over her buttocks, and she immediately started to straighten. “Wait, baby.”

Lightly he squeezed her flesh, then slid his hands to open her thighs, using his thumbs to find her damp core. She whimpered when he reached the thick thatch of curls and jerked back toward him. He inserted a finger inside her. She whimpered again, clenching her muscles around him and stood upright.

He withdrew his finger and let her turn around. Heat seared her face, but she met his glittering eyes, put her hands on his shoulders. He hauled her closer and drew one of her nipples into his mouth.

She pulled away before she shattered in a thousand pieces. “Take off your jeans.”

He smiled at her admonishing tone.

She stepped back to show him she meant it. “Now.”

He didn't respond right away, but let his gaze roam over one breasts and then the other until she wasn't sure who was in charge. Finally, he did as she asked, slowly, shoving his jeans to his hips, watching her watch him.

She blatantly stared as he lifted his hips and pushed the jeans down his legs, and then kicked them aside. His erection strained against the black boxers, but he didn't remove them, but waited for her instructions.

“Keep going,” she said, her gaze stayed riveted to the way his boxers tented, gesturing impatiently when he didn't respond right away. “The boxers.”

“Yes, ma'am.” He smiled and pulled them off.

Incredible. He stole her breath.

She reached out and used the tip of her forefinger to touch the bead of moisture at the end of his arousal.

“That might be a little dangerous.” He grabbed her wrist, stopping her and guiding her to the bed, forcing her to sit down.

“Hey, I'm calling the shots—” she said, her voice ending in a muffled groan when his mouth captured hers.

He laid her back, running his hands up her belly to her breasts, kneading and stroking while his tongue explored her mouth. She managed to get hold of him and he froze.

“You have to stop.”

She stroked him again, really getting into the rhythm this time.

He groaned and grabbed her wrist. She tried to resist, but he caught her other hand, brought her wrists together and held them together with one hand. She yanked and twisted and almost got free.

He nibbled her lower lip. “Don't make me tie you up.”

“Knock it off. You're getting me excited.”

He drew back to look at her, uncertain about her teasing. A hopeful glint lit his eyes. “You mean we might have a use for my handcuffs?”

She laughed. “Maybe another time.”

He blinked, and she didn't miss the hint of misgiving in his eyes. What? All she'd said was another time. It wasn't as if she were asking for a future with him.

The idea rattled her.

“Well, now that you've got me,” she said with a mischievous look meant to put him at ease. “Whatever are you going to do with me?”

A slowly sexy smile lifted his lips. “Shock that smirk off your face.” With that, he traced his tongue softly across her throat to her collarbone, then slid down to suckle one nipple and then the other. He raised his head, pleased at her heavy breathing. “What would you
like
me to do with you?”

Her eyes had drifted closed and her lips parted but she said nothing.

“Maybe something like this?” He fluttered his free hand lower until he reached her opening and slid two fingers into her slick warm wetness.

“Dalton.” She whimpered and tried to bring her thighs together. Too late. He'd staked his territory.

She was so damn wet. So ready. He was the one being teased and tortured. He wanted to be inside of her. Now.

“Dalton?” Her nails dug into the back of his hand. She groaned and arched her back. “Do you have condoms?”

He continued stroking her with his fingers. In his wallet, there had to be a couple.

“You'd better get them,” she panted.

“I don't need them for what I'm doing.” He trailed
the tip of his tongue down to her navel. “What I'm about to do…”

“Dalton, get those damn things now.”

He laughed at the frustration in her voice. “Okay, baby, we have all night to get creative.”

He released her and got up from the bed. Where the hell had he thrown his jeans?”

Cassie watched him dig into his pocket and pull out his wallet. She had never in her entire life been so turned on. If he didn't hurry, she was going to come just watching him. He had a hell of a great body, and his sexy smile turned her ability to reason to mashed potatoes. His backside was so firm and perfect it made her want to weep.

And the front…his…

She closed her eyes and tried to recall the words to “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” No more teasing. She needed him inside her now. And she wasn't kidding. He'd have to save his creative energy for later. But right now…

“Hey, Sleeping Beauty.”

She opened her eyes.

Dalton stood at the edge of the bed, his erection still at full mast. “You had me worried.” He stretched out beside her. “I thought I'd put you to sleep.”

She shivered at the intensity of his stare. She sure hoped she knew what she was doing. Shadowy feelings that went deeper than they should had haunted her all day. “Dalton?”

He cupped her cheek, using the pad of his thumb to
stroke her skin. His gaze stayed with hers as he waited for her to speak.

“I just wanted to say…that is, I want you to know that tonight is just tonight.” She bit her lower lip. “Does that make sense?”

He hesitated, and then nodded. “Yes, Cassie. I understand.”

Did he? His expression had shut down and she couldn't read him. “Kiss me,” she said.

He angled his head and kissed her on the lips, not too lightly and not too hard. The song was right. It was in his kiss. Everything was okay with them.

When he finally pulled away, he asked, “Do you want to put this on me?”

She looked at the foil packet. “You do it.”

He sat up, totally at ease with his body and state of arousal, and tore open the packet.

Just watching him touch himself got her so hot and bothered she feared she'd fall apart as soon as he touched her. He was obviously very skilled at making a woman happy.

“Cassie? You okay?”

She realized she'd been staring, her thoughts wandering. “Impatient, but okay.”

His confident smile made her swallow hard. “Come here.”

She got up on one elbow and leaned toward him.

He shook his head.

Unsure what to do she got up on her knees.

He shifted back a foot and piled both their pillows together behind his back. “Come.”

She moved toward him, hoping he'd give her direction. As soon as she was within arm's length, he grabbed her waist and urged her to sit astride him. But he didn't guide himself into her as she thought he might. He cupped her face with both hands and kissed her, parting her lips with his tongue.

His hands moved to her shoulders and then to her breasts.

She reached for him and he jerked, breaking the kiss and trying to stop her from circling him.

She laughed softly. “This goes both ways, honey.”

“Yeah, but you aren't ready to explode.”

“Wanna bet?”

“Ah, Cassie.” His breathing was ragged, his voice hoarse. “Baby, we better take it slow.”

“Why?”

“Because…hell, I don't know.”

She positioned herself and slid onto him.

He cried out. Or maybe it had been her. She had no idea.

She stayed motionless a moment, getting used to feel of him inside her. He felt so good, so right tears burned the back of her eyes.

When she finally moved, the earth shifted with her.

 

D
ALTON LAY BESIDE
Cassie, playing with a strand of her hair while she slept. A slim stream of light coming from the bathroom shone on the right side of her face.

After making love three times, in three different positions, she'd completely worn him out. He had no idea why he wasn't sound asleep. He should be. Instead of
doing what he had no business doing—thinking about after the case. About reasons why he should still see her. Hell, how he could see her.

His job would likely take care of the problem. He traveled so damn much, at least three different cities a month, requiring stays anywhere from one to three weeks.

He liked that about his job. Travel prevented monotony. Kept him out of the office. Away from Higgins and the other suits who made Dalton nuts with their political ambitions and kiss-ass hierarchy and by-the-book preaching. Let them get out in the field and have to live by the letter of the law.

Many of the higher-ups had once been field agents. Caught up in the agency's politics, they'd forgotten that sometimes survival meant you lived by your wits, that there was no neat and tidy rule that would get you out of a tight spot. Especially one that was life-threatening.

Higgins thought Dalton was the one who was nuts. With his Princeton education and excellent arrest record, Dalton knew he could quickly climb the ranks within the bureau. He simply wasn't interested.

His parents didn't understand either. Especially his father who thought Dalton should have a loftier goal. At least they hadn't paid for his education so they couldn't claim their money had been wasted. He'd had a full ride, every penny of his tuition had come from either a scholarship or grant.

At one point he'd almost done it, taken a desk job to make Linda happy. But when push came to shove,
he couldn't cave in. How happy could he have made her if he was miserable?

“Dalton?”

Cassie's sleepy voice penetrated his thoughts. He let go of her hair. “Sorry, honey, did I wake you?”

She turned onto her side and slipped an arm around his middle. “Why are you still awake?”

“I don't know. I dozed for a while.” He kissed her forehead. Even after their workout she smelled so damn good.