Lone Rider (40 page)

             
His eyes had slowly traversed her reflection from head to toe, then back, reveling in the glorious change
s. And when she turned to him...

             
He stepped into the room, slowly, cautiously, giving her every chance to move, run, hide. Or stay.

             
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered.

             
The note of haunting sincerity in his voice weakened Tess’ knees. The self-consciousness she’d felt over her changing body fled under his scorching appraisal, beneath the silver eyes that missed nothing.

             
He reached out, grasping a long strand of her hair and slowly winding it around his wrist, tugging her closer as he advanced. She came willingly into his arms, her blue eyes smoky and wide. Unafraid.

             
Tess expected a fierce kiss, was ready to return it, eager for him to shed some of his clothes before she chickened out.

             
But instead, Grey turned her back to face the mirror, catching and holding her eyes in the silvered surface. His hands swept lightly up her sides, causing gooseflesh to spread.

             
“You look like a goddess, the most incredible woman I’ve ever seen.”  His hands rubbed softly down her back then circled forward to cradle her abdomen. “It excites me beyond words to know that my child sleeps here.”

             
He pressed forward against her, letting her feel the proof of his arousal. His hands swept upward again, not stopping until he captured her breasts, lifting them in his hands. “And will seek nourishment here.”

             
Tess’ breath was ragged now, her legs shaky. His hands on her body fanned a raging desire. A desire she was tired of denying. He wanted her. She wanted him. It was that simple. That uncomplicated.

             
She turned, intent on kissing him. Instead
,
she found herself swept up in his arms. “I promised you a back rub,” he said.

             
“It can wait.”

             
He chuckled at her impatience, amazed he didn’t take advantage of her blatant invitation and drop her on the bed and bury himself. No, he was going to take his time, savor her. Make her feel so wonderful she’d never doubt they weren’t meant for each other. And damn it, they were meant to be together. He knew it as surely as he knew the child within her was his.

             
Since her room had twin beds, he carried her to his room, setting her on the bed as if she were sculpted of fragile porcelain. He moved away, turning on the bedside lamp, before slowly peeling off his shirt.

             
She admired the ripple of his abs, noticing once again the gold Saint Christopher medal. “Is that the same one you had in
Montana
?”

             
Grey picked up the medal, removed it. “It belonged to my mother. It reminded me that there was another world outside of Bogen’s compound.”

             
Tess nodded, eyes wide. She reached for him
,
but Grey shook his head.

             
“Back rub. Remember?”  He handed her a pillow to hug, afraid it would be uncomfortable to lie flat on her stomach. “Roll onto your side,” he whispered.

             
Acutely aware that she was only wearing underwear, Tess did as he asked, holding her breath until she felt that first touch as his fingers slid down the center of her back.
Just like their phone call.
He gathered her hair, smoothing it before draping it across one shoulder, exposing her. Then he unclasped her bra and eased the straps away, baring her skin to his touch.

             
It was all she could do to hold still. He started massaging, with feather-soft touches that gradually grew firmer as he expertly kneaded the tense muscles in her back. Her skin grew warm, muscles relaxing as Grey worked magic on her flesh. It was heaven.

             
And just when she thought she’d flow onto the floor in a puddle, he pressed his lips to the base of her spine, his tongue lapping lightly at the twin dimples there.

             
Before she could react, he turned her, laying her flat on her back. With sure hands he swept away her bra, allowing his eyes to worship her.

             
In that moment Tess did feel like a goddess, her body ripe. She reached up, threading her arms around Grey’s neck, pulling him down. Closer. To touch and be touched.

             
He wasn’t prepared for the jolt that swept through him as her rock-hard nipples teased his chest. At the exact same moment she caught his lower lip between her teeth, gently nibbling. He felt captured. Willingly. He held himself still, letting her make the moves, reveling in the feeling of being suspended above her as she took her own sweet time and loved his mouth.

             
When she moaned softly, he moved to cover her, unable to stop himself from rubbing his erection against her mound. He gritted his teeth at the exquisite sensation.

             
“God, I want you,” he whispered hoarsely. “I’ve wanted you forever.”

             
Tess was lost. It felt as if he’d struck a match to her damp fuse and left it to burn slowly, steadily, toward the inevitable explosion. She arched slightly, enjoying the sensation of his body pressed against hers, the drag and friction of hard flesh on fabric. Knowing the feeling would only get better.

             
“I want you too, Grey. Please.”

             
It was all he needed to hear. Taking extra care to keep most of his weight suspended from her, he lowered his mouth, searing the side of her neck with blistering kisses, working his way lower until he captured a pouty peak in his mouth. As he’d su
spected, her nipples were ultra
sensitive, making him wonder if he could bring her to orgasm just by sucking.

             
Tess writhed beneath him, her frantic hands moving to stroke the hard muscles of his back, as he suckled first one breast, then the other. And when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, he started again.

             
She squirmed, trying to work her hands around to the front of his pants. He still had his jeans on, which wasn’t fair considering she was only wearing a very thin, very wet, pair of panties. And judging by the feel of him, it couldn’t be very comfortable either.

             
“I want these off.”

             
Grey raised his head, grinning wickedly. “Your wish...”

             
Pushing off the bed, he unbuttoned his jeans, then deliberately lowered the zipper, never taking his eyes from her as he shoved them down.

             
Tess drew in an audible breath at the sight of jutting male flesh that couldn’t be contained by his underwear. Sitting up, she carefully tugged at his boxers, exposing him inch by glorious inch.

Reverently, she drew a finger along the swollen head, smearing the single drop of fluid from the tip. He jerked violently, making her wonder what reaction she’d have gotten if she had used her tongue.

             
Grey caught her wrist, pulling her fingers away. “Touch me like that again, and I’ll lose it.”

             
Tempted to disobey, she hid a smile, desperately wanting to see him lose control for a change.

             
The mattress dipped as he leaned forward on one knee, then hesitated. “You’re sure it won’t hurt the baby for us to do this?”

             
This time she did smile, curving a hand around his neck to draw him closer. “Elise said it was okay.”

             
“You asked?”

             
She felt her face grow warm. “It came up while she was explaining the horny part of pregnancy.”

             
“The horny part?”  He felt her hand dip low, grasp his erection. Cursing, he tried to breathe. “Christ! Harder!”

             
Just then a shrill beeping noise sounded.
Grey groaned. Of all the lousy-ass timing
.

             
“My pager.”  As bad as he wanted to ignore it, he knew who it was. “Barry’s the only person who has the number.”

             
Tess released him, but not before brushing a light kiss against his shoulder. “He wouldn’t use it unless it was important.”

             
Grey pushed away, to grab for his jeans. Let it be a wrong number, he prayed.

             
It wasn’t:
9-1-1. Twice. That meant big emergency. He pulled on his jeans, leaving the waist unfastened -- out of necessity. “I’ll be right back. I’ve got to use the telephone.”

             
Barry answered on the first ring.

             
“What’s up?” Grey asked, pacing, his mind elsewhere.

             
“Bogen and Snake were just arrested in
Vancouver
.”

             
A weight lifted from Grey’s shoulders. “What? Were they with Sanchez?”  Maybe they could bust Sanchez for harboring fugitives. Or aiding and abetting.

             
“No. They were alone.”

             
Grey was eager to share the news with Tess. Eager to get back to her. “It’s still good news. How long before the trial’s rescheduled?”

             
Barry sighed. “I don’t think all those details have been ironed out. News of the arrest hasn’t even been made public yet. I’d like to bring Tess back right away.”

             
Barry’s request caught Grey off guard. He pinched the bridge of his nose. While he was glad Bogen and Snake were once again behind bars, he wasn’t ready to let Tess go.

Especially right now.

They’d been on the verge of making love. If he could have just one more night with her...

             
“Give me another twenty-four hours, Barry. I’ll return to D.C. tomorrow night.”

             
A tense silence crackled across the connection.

             
“There’s no reason to wait
,
and I don’t want aspersions cast on my department again. I backed you once. Now tell me where you are and I’
ll send marshals to pick her up,
”
Barry said.

             
Grey knew his next words would probably cost him his job. “I can’t tell you, Barry. Just trust me. I’ll have Tess back in D.C. tomorrow night.”

             
And with that he switched off his phone.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

             
Without Grey in bed with her, Tess quickly grew cold. She scooted off the mattress and hurried to her room
,
where she pulled on some clothes. Then she went downstairs.

             
She found him pacing the living room, a frown marring his forehead.

             
“What’s wrong?”

             
“Sanchez and Bogen were recaptured.”

             
A chill flashed up her spine. “Isn’t that good?”

             
Grey nodded. “Barry wants you back in D.C. right away.”

             
Her relief crumbled. She reached out, stopping his frenetic motion. “Tonight?”  She thought of their near lovemaking that Barry’s call had interrupted. “Can’t it wait till morning?”

             
The plaintive note in her voice tore at him. “Is that what you want?”

             
Tess closed her eyes as her emotions suddenly crystallized. This would be their only night alone in this cabin. She wanted to be with him.
All night long
.

             
“I want you, Grey. Make love to me.”

             
His heart soared at her words. He tugged her into his arms and kissed her. The fire that burned between them burst into greedy flames of passion. He trailed his lips down the side of her neck, rough, eager. His unshaved chin rasped harshly against her skin.

             
Tess drew back. He grimaced at the marks the coarse stubble of his beard left on her tender skin. “I need to shave. And shower.”

             
“Me, too.”

             
“Come on.” 

             
He tugged her down the hall to his bedroom. Then he pressed her against the wall and kissed her deeply once more, taking extra care not to chafe her. He felt the earth move. His balls tightened as anticipation licked his skin.