“Were you hit?”
“Four times.”
Her eyes darkened. “Oh, Nate.”
He shrugged aside her sympathy. The last thing he deserved was sympathy. He’d made a poor choice and paid the consequences. Thank God it hadn’t been worse.
“I’ve healed, although my hip hurts like a bitch when it rains,” he said in deliberately light tones.
She wasn’t fooled. Reaching across the table, she grabbed his hand and gave his fingers a comforting squeeze.
“And the child?”
“A bullet grazed her lower leg, but otherwise she was okay.”
“You saved her,” Ellie breathed.
He nodded, not sharing the fact that he still woke in the middle of the night with the sound of her screams in his ear.
“Yeah, but my arrogant assumption that I always know best nearly got us both killed,” he said, his voice harsh.
She sat back, grabbing for her wineglass. She was wise enough not to try and convince him that he’d made the right choice to rescue the girl.
“Retiring still seems extreme,” she instead said.
“While I was lying in my hospital bed I realized that I’d had my fill of danger.” He waved his hand toward the dark emptiness that surrounded them. “It was time to slow down and appreciate each day.”
“You don’t ever get bored?”
He polished off his wine and set aside his glass. Enough of the past. He didn’t want to talk about his FBI days. Or even the current danger that was stalking Ellie.
For the first time, he had this woman exactly where he wanted.
In his house.
He didn’t want to waste one second of their time together.
“Not since a feisty lawyer moved next door,” he murmured, his gaze skimming over her face and down to the scoop-neck sweater that showed a luscious glimpse of her breasts.
“Feisty?” she demanded.
He shrugged. “Stubborn? Ornery? Pain in the ass?”
She pushed away her empty plate and sent him a challenging smile. “Just because I don’t let you order me around doesn’t make me a pain in the ass.”
He placed a hand over his chest, feigning innocence. “I don’t order you around. I very politely share my opinion.”
She rolled her eyes. “If anyone is the pain in the ass, it’s you.”
“Sometimes,” he agreed. “Clearly we make a perfect pair.”
Chapter Seventeen
Ellie’s heart lurched and skipped as she met Nate’s gaze. There was no mistaking the heat that smoldered in his pale eyes. He was making no effort to hide his passion.
A passion that was echoed deep inside her.
She wanted him. Not because she was scared. Or because she’d had a rotten day and she needed comfort. Or even because she’d been way too long without a man in her bed.
This was as pure as it got.
A deep, ruthless desire that wouldn’t be satisfied by anyone but Nate Marcel.
Feeling ridiculously awkward, Ellie rose to her feet and offered what she hoped was a come-hither smile. She didn’t know exactly how to do come-hither, but usually a man didn’t need much encouragement.
“I think I’ll take a shower,” she murmured.
Nate lifted himself out of his chair, briskly reaching for the plates.
“A good idea. I’ll take care of the dishes.”
Ellie blinked. So much for her smile. Instead of tossing her on the table and stripping off her clothes, he was thinking about dirty dishes. He hadn’t even offered to join her in her shower.
She cleared her throat. “If you want . . .” Her words trailed away as he studied her with blatant curiosity.
“Yes?”
“Never mind. Thanks for dinner,” she muttered. “It was delicious.”
“It was my pleasure. Enjoy your shower.”
Disgruntled by his polite indifference, she turned to scurry into the house. Maybe she’d misread the desire in his eyes. Maybe he had heartburn. Or maybe he was thinking of some other woman.
Pressing her lips together, she headed into the small spare bedroom. Fine. If he wasn’t interested, then she would . . .
Well, there wasn’t anything she could do but pretend that she didn’t give a damn. And she was really good at that.
With jerky motions, she grabbed her nightgown. She was fortunate that the smell of smoke had largely been contained outside the house, so she didn’t have to rewash her entire wardrobe. Next, she found the shower kit she always kept ready. She never knew when she might have to travel to interview witnesses or to obtain information for a case. Then she headed into the bathroom across the hall.
Unlike her own home, Nate had done extensive renovations. The white subway tiles and claw-foot tub were true to the original home, but they were obviously new, along with the glassed-in shower that was built in the corner.
She closed the door, not bothering to lock it. She’d already done a quick tour of the house before she’d joined Nate on the back porch. Including his bedroom. She knew he had an en suite bathroom, so there was no need for him to use this one.
Stripping off her clothes, she dropped them on the floor and turned on the shower. Once the water was warm, she stepped into the stall and allowed the spray to wash over her skin.
What was wrong with her? She’d never had any trouble letting a man know that she wanted to take their relationship to the next level. Of course, she’d never known a man who’d disturbed her on so many levels, she acknowledged.
And then there was Nate’s rigid code of ethics. Maybe he was afraid he would be taking advantage of the situation since she was more or less homeless. It could be that he feared she would feel obligated to say yes if he tried to have sex with her.
She reached for her soap and worked up a thick lather. Okay. She clearly needed to stop acting like a teenage girl who was desperately waiting for some boy to call. She was a logical, well-educated lawyer. She would simply ask Nate what he wanted.
That’s how adults handled relationships. Right?
She’d just finished covering herself in soap when she sensed Nate enter the bathroom.
It wasn’t a sound that alerted her. She couldn’t hear anything over the gush of water. Perhaps it was the swirl of mist that shrouded the bathroom. Or a faint vibration from his approaching footsteps. Or perhaps she was just so acutely aware of him that she could detect his presence on a soul-deep level.
The thought would have been unnerving if she actually allowed herself to consider the possibility. Instead she brushed it aside to concentrate on the shiver of anticipation that raced through her body.
He was here. Just as she’d so desperately wanted.
She bit her bottom lip, her nipples hardening as the warm water slid over her. She could already imagine Nate’s hands on her wet body. His calloused palms would rasp lightly over her skin, finding all those small, unexpectedly erotic spots.
Rinsing off the soap bubbles, Ellie could see the silhouette of Nate as he removed his clothing. Her mouth went dry, her heart pounding so hard it was difficult to breathe.
There was a whoosh as he opened the glass door behind her and stepped into the small stall. Ellie didn’t turn. Instead, she held herself perfectly still as a pair of strong arms circled her waist and warm lips pressed to the side of her neck.
Pleasure swirled through her as he nuzzled a path of kisses to a spot just below her jaw.
“You startled me,” she said in a husky voice.
“In a good way, or a bad way?”
Her heart thundered in her chest as she tilted her head to the side, silently offering him greater access. He groaned his approval, his fingers gliding up and down the curve of her back in a restless motion.
His touch was unbearably gentle, as if he feared she might bruise. The knowledge that his first concern was always her, even when he was in the throes of passion, made her heart give a funny little leap.
“Ellie?” he prompted when she didn’
t answer. “Do you want me to leave?”
She lifted her hands, bracing them against the slick tiles. There was a melting pleasure flowing through her veins.
“Stay.” The word came out as a shaky whisper.
He chuckled, clearly enjoying the fact he could make her tremble. She swallowed a groan. He wasn’t the only one enjoying the molten sensations sizzling through her. A part of her wanted to turn and press herself against his hard body. But a larger part feared breaking the dreamlike quality to his slow seduction.
On cue, Nate’s broad hand swept a path along the curve of her waist. He paused, as if waiting for her to protest, then, when she arched her back to indicate her full approval, his hand continued upward to cup her breast.
“Thank God. I wasn’t sure I could endure another cold shower.”
Her breath hissed through her teeth. His calloused fingers were rough against her sensitive skin, but nothing had ever felt so good. She tilted back her head, allowing the warm water to rush over her face, moaning as he found the tip of her nipple and used his fingers to tease it to a hard nub.
“There’s nothing cold about this one,” she assured him.
“Mmm. And it’s only getting hotter.”
He nipped at her earlobe, pressing his arousal against her lower back. Unable to resist temptation, she reached behind her back to grab his erection. It was hard, and hot and slick as she brushed her fingers down the curved length.
“Yes, it is,” she assured him.
A harsh sound was wrenched from his throat as she gave him a light squeeze, but even as she savored his reaction, she was being distracted as he allowed his free hand to skim down her body to slide between her thighs.
“Finally, we agree on something,” he groaned. “A minor miracle.”
She released a rueful laugh. He was right. It was a miracle. Since the day he’d appeared on her porch she’d done her best to drive him away. A wasted effort, of course. This moment had been inevitable.
Not that she was going to admit as much to Nate. His ego was big enough.
“I’m a lawyer. Arguing is in my DNA,” she teased.
“Just as assuming I’m always right is in my DNA.”
“Hmm. Obviously our time together is destined to be explosive.”
“Fireworks,” he whispered. “I love fireworks.”
His finger reached its target and Ellie instinctively spread her legs, her head falling back to rest on his shoulder. He murmured his approval, stroking over her sweet spot.
Fireworks, indeed.
She bit her lip. It felt like she was wrapped in a sensual cocoon. The gentle spray of water. The scented cloud of steam. And the man who was creating magic with his touch.
She closed her eyes, allowing the world to fade away.
Later she would worry about her torched house and the mysterious deaths. In this moment, she didn’t care about anything but the glorious heat spreading through her body like wildfire.
His lips stroked down the line of her jaw, his hands moving to grasp her arms. Slowly he turned her so they were face-to-face.
Her breath was slammed from her lungs as her gaze traveled down his naked body. Having this man in her fantasies was one thing. It was quite another to have him standing just a few inches away.
Barely capable of believing this was truly happening, Ellie reached out to run her hand over his hard, sculpted muscles. His skin was warm and slick from the water that continued to pour over them, and sprinkled with rough hair that sent tingles of excitement through her.
Male. He was deliciously, utterly male.
Her hands explored downward, tracing the six-pack that came from hard work, not the gym.
“Christ, Ellie,” he rasped. “You take my breath away.”
She tilted back her head, meeting his bemused gaze. “The feeling is mutual,” she assured him.
He grasped her hips, tugging her tight against the hard length of his erection. He bent his head, placing his lips directly against her ear.
“Shall we take this to the bedroom?”
Her hand slipped even lower, her fingers wrapping around his cock.
“Next time,” she whispered.
He chuckled, giving the lobe of her ear a small nip. “I like the way you think, Ellie Guthrie.”
Ellie smiled, even as she inwardly acknowledged she wasn’t thinking. Not now. She was feeling. And it was glorious.
Holding her gaze, he opened the shower door and reached toward the nearby cabinet. She wasn’t surprised as she watched him slip on the condom he’d obviously placed in a strategic spot. Nate was a man who liked to be prepared.
He also liked to be in control, she discovered as he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her off her feet. She sucked in a startled breath as she found herself pressed against the side of the shower stall. Then, refusing to let him have complete dominance, she used the strength she’d developed during her long morning runs to lift her legs and wrap them around his waist.
He chuckled. “A woman in charge.”
“Always.”
He gripped her butt as he leaned forward to allow his mouth to torment her nipple. He lapped and teased until her fingers dug into his shoulders.
She shuddered, her nails digging into his flesh. It felt like she was on fire.
“I like it,” he murmured. “Too much. I wanted to take this slow and easy, but I don’t think I can wait.”
She didn’t want him to wait. It’d been too long. And she wanted him too much.
Right now she had a pagan need to have him buried deep inside, pounding hard and fast.
As if sensing she wasn’t looking for slow, Nate pulled back to study her with an expression that sent tremors racing up her spine. It was an expression that spoke of need and longing and a blatant ownership.
She shifted her hands to frame his face, leaning down to press their lips together. An aching sweetness flowed through her veins like molten honey. She groaned. She didn’t know what the future might hold, but she intended to savor this night in Nate’s arms.
His hands gripped her upper thighs, parting them so the tip of his erection was pushed against the entrance of her body. Ellie muttered her approval, trailing her lips over his face and down the strong column of his throat. Her stomach clenched in fierce need, her senses clouded with the clean scent of male skin.
“You’re so tiny,” he whispered. “I’m afraid I might accidentally crush you.”
She gave a throaty chuckle, rubbing her body over the tip of his erection. Electric sparks danced through her at the friction she was creating.
Her every nerve was buzzing, perfectly attuned to this man.
“I’m tougher than I look,” she assured him.
She pressed downward, the ache between her legs delighting at the sensation of his wide tip slipping just inside her body. But instead of shoving himself home, he clutched her hips and regarded her with smoldering eyes.
“Good. I intend to have my wicked way with you several times tonight.”
“Ambitious,” she murmured.
“Inspired,” he corrected, branding her lips with a kiss of pure hunger.
Then, moving his mouth over her face, he stroked his tongue down the length of her arched neck. Ellie once again grabbed onto his shoulders as he tugged a furled nipple between his teeth. Bliss, she decided with a raw sigh. Pure bliss.
He turned his attention to the other breast, deliberately urging her desire to a frenzy.
She needed to get him inside her.
Deep, deep inside.
Lifting her head, she gazed at his flushed face. Time passed as they simply stared at one another, silently sharing the connection she had struggled so hard to deny.
Then, slowly, he penetrated her damp channel.
Ellie hissed as he filled her. She felt stretched to the limit, in the best possible way. Yes. This was exactly what she needed tonight.
The heat. The steam. The spray of water.
It all combined to mak
e her feel as if they were completely secluded from the world.
She wrapped her arms around his neck as he started to move. His pace was steady, creating an electric friction that made her entire body shudder.
Ellie made a sound of pleasure, rolling her hips to meet his upward thrust. She smiled with smug satisfaction as his fingers convulsively clutched her hips.
She liked the feeling that they were equals, working together toward one goal.
As if they were true partners . . .
Abruptly thrusting away the disturbing thought, she concentrated on the sensation of Nate’s deepening thrusts. Her groans melded with the sound of water beating against the tiles, filling the air with a soft music as her muscles clenched in preparation for the impending orgasm.
Nate tightened his grip, pressing her back hard against the shower wall. Then, still pumping into her at a furious pace, he tilted his hips to a perfect angle, sending her into a shattering climax.
Ellie trembled in ecstasy, convulsing around him as he gave one more thrust and cried out with the violent pleasure of his own release.
* * *
I walk around the house. I’m not pleased. I had expected more. This was supposed to send a message. Instead there is nothing more than a missing porch and a few charred shingles. Not much of a message.
Sloppy. Inadequate.
I sigh. This is what happens when I allow others to take care of business.
Unfortunately, I can’t be everywhere at once. And events are starting to move at an accelerated pace. I have a lot to accomplish before the pieces come into place and I can complete my revenge.
I can’t afford any disruptions in my plans.
Slowly I turn to glance toward the lights burning in the distance.
Nate Marcel is a complication I didn’t expect. The question is, how do I stop him?
A bullet through the head is the most obvious answer. But it would no doubt draw the sort of attention I don’t need. The man might have retired from the FBI, but I’m quite certain his death would create an uproar. Curry would be crawling with Feds determined to solve his murder.
No. I can’t kill Nate.
But there’s more than one way to distract him long enough to complete my plans. I just need the proper diversion.
You Will Suffer Page 15
