Positively Criminal (14 page)

“Ladies first,” he growled.

She simply groaned while her small hands attempted to brand his biceps with her grasp. Her body pulsed, then clenched around him.

“Seriously, baby.” He swallowed a string of curses and lengthened his stroke while he gazed into her eyes. “Give. It. To. Me.”

“No.”

“Yes.” He slid one hand between them and took her clit between his fingers. She pulsed again and he knew he had her. One small stroke up and over the tight, slippery nub rendered her amazingly docile between them.

“Still want to play stubborn?” He replaced his fingers with his thumb and teased the tender flesh until her thighs shook.

He managed an even chuckle. “Didn’t think so.”

“Jake,” she hissed, “move!”

Now so damn relieved by her submission, he buried his lips against her neck and pumped his hips faster.

“With me,” she whispered.

Sucked way too far into the abyss to even consider an argument, he unleashed his savage reserve. His scalp tingled as she gave his hair one final yank, smashed her hips against his, and then cried out beneath him. Moisture flooded his cock. His balls crowded the base of his dick. He took one final deep, strong stroke and then emptied himself into the warm recesses of her body.

For several seconds Jake lay atop her, his forehead resting against hers, completely and utterly sated. His heart pounded as he scrambled to pull air through his lungs, and just when he thought things were back under control, his greedy cock jumped.

“No way,” she moaned.

“Don’t worry, just wishful thinking on his part.” He planted a kiss in the middle of her forehead, forced the satanic beast from her body, and rolled beside her.

“Remind me why we waited so long to do that.”

He rolled her opposite him then eased her back against his chest, her curls teasing his still-erect nipples. “You’re stubborn.”

She answered by flexing her magnificent ass around his cock.

“Watch it,” he warned.

“What time is it?”

“Late.”

“I don’t think I have enough energy to put my clothes back on.”

“Where do you think you’re going at this ungodly hour?”

“Home.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Why?”

“It’s
really
late.” He placed his palm flat against her stomach and her abdominals fluttered against his touch.

Her light giggle raised his cock. “I told Mabel I’d be with you.”

“Bri,” he groaned.

“Relax, she’s perfectly happy about it.”

Somehow he couldn’t shake his skepticism. “I’m confident she wouldn’t feel happiness about what just happened here.”

“You gonna tell her?”

“Hell no!”

“Me either. We’ll tell her I slept in the guest room.”

“I’m sure she’ll believe that explanation.” He reached to spin the bracelet around her wrist. “I’ve never seen you without this.”

“I only take it off to bathe.”

“Mabel gave it to you for your sixteenth birthday.”

“Research?”

“No, she told me.” He positioned her arm back to her side and then nuzzled the crook of her neck with his lips. “You wore it the first time I saw you dance.”

“Mmmm,” she murmured. “You remember?”

“Baby, I’ll never forget. Besides, it was almost the only thing you had on.”

“Whatever.” A soft sigh left her lips and her voice softened. “I wasn’t naked, it’s against the law.”

“True, because if that were the case, I would’ve hauled your sexy little ass to jail.”

“No doubt in my mind,” she mumbled.

He planted a small kiss on the top of her shoulder, ready to let her slip unconscious in his arms, and then moonlight snuck in from the window and bounced off the diamonds in the band of her bracelet.

Guilt attempted to distract him as he raised her arm again, this time running his fingers across the back of the watch. Solid. Most likely a normal battery inside. He kicked guilt in the ass.

“How about a bubble bath?”

She turned in his arms and traced his bottom lip with one fingernail. “It’s late. Don’t you have to work tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow night.” He caught her finger between his lips, sucked it inside his mouth, and then released it. “My assignment begins at nine o’clock.”

“Jake, I’ll be fine. You—”

“That subject is closed. How about those bubbles?”

“Sounds wonderful but I can’t help but find it fascinating that you even keep bubbles in your bathroom.”

“Normally I don’t.”

“Why now?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes.”

“Mabel might have made a suggestion.”

“Might?”

She squealed when he smacked her ass with his palm, letting it linger for a few seconds before giving it a squeeze. “Go.” He nipped the top of one shoulder and then slid his tongue across the surface of her skin. “Before I change my mind and handcuff you to the bed.”

“You brag about those handcuffs an awful lot.” She sat up and his cock cursed the separation from her warmth. Just as he thought, she spun her bracelet until the clasp met her fingers.

“Let me.” The gold slid into his palm as he released the catch then pecked her lips, still swollen from his earlier assault. “Bubbles under the sink. Enjoy your bath.”

He watched the sway of her hips in lustful appreciation as she left the bedroom and entered the bathroom. His cock jumped and hardened. He released a heavy breath and attempted to distract it with guilt about what he was about to do. Unfortunately, her soft, sultry voice calling him from the bathroom kept him primed.

“Jake?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you sure you’ve never brought a woman here?”

“Positive. Why?”

“You have a Jacuzzi tub.”

“So?”

“Somehow I can’t see you bathing alone in here.”

“It came with the house, Bri.”

Jake shook his head and directed his focus back to the jewelry now in his possession. He had approximately ten seconds to change his mind; she’d either love him or hate him for his next move. He closed his fist and hoped for the best.

He swung both feet over the side of the bed and bent to scoop his pants from the floor with his free hand. Once he’d poked both legs through and maneuvered them up and over his thighs, he dropped the bracelet in one pocket and pulled them over his hips, not bothering to button or zip.

Now committed to his mission, he stood, walked to the bathroom, and braced himself on one hip against the wall just inside the doorway. Even with the faucet still running, she lay with her eyes closed and buried to her neck in white, frothy bubbles, except for one smooth, sexy leg propped on the edge of the tub. Her auburn waves floated on the water around her.

His cock stirred and he fought the urge to climb in and play.

“Comfortable?”

“Most definitely.” Her soft, breathy confession floated on the steam that now surrounded him, dampening his bare chest.

Briefly, he considered changing his game plan before good sense reeled his greedy libido back into reality.

“Good. Take your time. I’ll check on you in a few minutes.”

He interpreted her mumbled response as something close to
I’ll be here for hours
and breathed a slow, sigh of relief as the jets whirred to life. He didn’t need much time, but at least he’d have plenty.

He pushed himself off the wall and headed back out of the bedroom and down the hall, passed the living room and into the kitchen. He reached for a drawer and then paused with his fingers wrapped around the knob. Maybe he should run this by Bri first. He knew for a fact she was blessed with a whole shitload of common sense – maybe, just maybe, she’d be agreeable. Yet, as soon as that thought crossed his mind, the part of him Bri labeled
egotistical Alpha
raised its head and roared at the top of its lungs. No way in hell would she go along.

He pulled open the drawer, took out a gray box, and opened the lid. He then pulled the bracelet from his pocket and palmed the charm adorned with the watch face.

His hand shook as he hesitated one last time and watched the tiny arm move from second to second. Then, with a deep breath he took a tiny screwdriver from the box, turned over the watch and removed the back cover.

Sweat droplets danced at his hairline as he carefully laid the tiny screw on the counter, grabbed an equally small, silver disc from the box, and gently inserted it into the back of the watch. He quickly slipped the cover back into place and screwed it closed.

He’d made one last turn of the screw when his cell phone vibrated from his pocket. He bit his tongue to keep from cursing a blue streak, clenched his teeth and pushed the talk button.

“Rawlings.”

“What the hell are you doing up so late?”

Jake released the lock on his jaw, both irritated and relieved by his partner’s call. “Turner, what do you want?”

“I drove by and saw the light on. Is Bri with you?”

“Yeah, she’s in the bathtub.”

“Alone?”

“Who the hell else would be with her? Yes, alone. I just finished planting a transmitter.”

“Did you tell her?”

“Thought about it.”

“But you didn’t?”

“No, I decided it was in my best interest to keep it to myself.”

Mace whistled low under his breath. “Your ass, man.”

“I’m willing to risk it. What are you doing out so late?”

“Dara had a book signing. I drove by to make sure she made it home.”

“Did she?”

“Yeah, safe and sound.”

“So now you can go home and sleep so I can finish this before Bri catches me.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”

Jake disconnected, not exactly encouraged by his partner’s take on the situation. Even Mace knew Bri would kick his ass if she discovered the tracking device. He heaved a heavy sigh as he punched a few more buttons on his phone. Too damn bad. Someone had to protect her delectable little body and he wouldn’t hesitate.

After several seconds, a satisfied grin finally split his lips when a map appeared on the screen; a round, red circle pulsed shortly thereafter. He moved the bracelet across the counter. The circle followed. It was a small victory, but a sweet one – as long as he kept it from Bri.

Now somewhat satisfied, he grasped the jewelry in one fist, returned to the bedroom and laid it on the bedside table. The bathroom door opened. His tongue grew numb as Bri soon appeared next to him, her hair piled on top of her head in some sort of complicated twist. He found himself insanely jealous of the fluffy towel that wrapped her skin from the tops of her breasts and ending at mid-thighs. His cock inched further up his belly.

Unable to keep from touching her, he reached to finger a lone curl that hung loose at the side of her face. “Relaxed?”

“Very, thank you.”

“Are you ready to sleep?”

“Yes, but there’s one small problem.”

“What’s that?”

“I didn’t bring my pajamas.”

With a slow smile, he stepped close, opened the towel and damn near slobbered as it slid from her body. “Baby, that’s not a problem, that’s opportunity.”

His lips captured hers as he walked her backwards to the bed and then eased her down against the soft cotton, pausing only long enough to shuck his pants and lie next to her.

She rolled to one side and wiggled her ass against his stiff and very eager cock.

“That’s nice, baby.” He nipped the top of her shoulder. “Sweet dreams.”

Her soft sigh soothed his body into a state of utter contentment as he closed his eyes and rested his head on the pillow.

“Love you, Jake.”

His hold tightened around her. “Love you too, Bri.”

Mace checked his watch one more time before he pulled open the door to
Sweet Stuff
. Why he agreed to meet Dara at eight-o’clock in the morning on his day off at a
tea house
still caused havoc in his brain. Yet, when her sweet, breathy voice had tickled his ear through the phone two hours earlier, he knew he pretty much had to accept her invitation – either that or spend the next several hours under a cold shower.

He stepped inside, fighting the urge to turn right around and leave. White, lacy tablecloths covered each table and a bouquet of pink roses decorated the centers. The only saving grace was the aroma of fresh-baked bread and cinnamon and the gorgeous brunette who occupied a corner table with her smooth tan legs tucked beneath her chair. His heart skipped a beat when she lifted a cinnamon bun to her mouth, wrapped her lips around the edge, chewed, and then swallowed. He somehow managed to distract his thoughts from the motion of her throat muscles until her tongue parted her lips and swiped the surface. And his dick stood to take notice when she lifted her finger to her mouth and licked the tip.