Dangerous Heat (Aegis Group, #8)

by Sidney Bristol

  “Go get in bed.” She could see the last flickers of energy fading in his eyes.

  Paxton reached out so fast she didn’t have time to jump. He grabbed her now free hand and tugged. Coco chuckled and let him draw her in. There was something adorably heartwarming about a big, sleepy man. Especially this one.

  He bent his head and nuzzled her cheek. “Not without you.”

  Paxton kissed the corner of her mouth and her insides went wobbly. What was it about him that got to her?

  She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Fine.”

  As if she’d planned on doing anything else?

  Paxton tossed his bag through the door toward the foot of the bed then walked backward, pulling her after him. Once more the butterflies in her stomach took flight. It was becoming harder and harder to not get wrapped up in these moments, how he made her feel.

  He backed into the bedroom, pulling her after him. Weren’t they just here a few hours ago? Only then he’d been the one caring for her. Now it was her turn to care for him.

  Coco planted her hands on his shoulders and pushed him down on the mattress. Paxton sat down hard, hands braced on either side of the bed.

  “You’re about to pass out again.” She stepped between his knees.

  “No I’m not.”

  “Okay.” She chuckled and reached for the strap at his side that secured the vest over his clothes.

  He lifted an arm and allowed her to rip the Velcro apart, but when it came to sliding the gear-laden vest off, he did that himself, carefully setting it on the padded bench at the foot of the bed. His dark green T-shirt was damp with sweat and dusty despite his attempts to clean up earlier. What he needed was another shower and clean clothes, but sleep came first.

  Coco grasped the hem of his shirt and tugged up.

  “Are you trying to get me naked, Ms. De Jong?” One side of his mouth quirked, and he lifted his arms.

  She pulled his shirt up and off him. “If I was trying, you’d know.”

  “That’s disappointing.” He grasped her by the hips and pulled her in closer, his chin tipped up and his eyes locked on her mouth.

  He wanted her. She knew it by looking at him, the way he touched her, even the air was charged with that want. Their mutual attraction was more layered and powerful than it had been when he was just the guy here for the wedding. Now, she knew about him. Not everything, but what she did know was telling, and that made this so much more complicated.

  Coco cupped his cheek and gave in, meeting his lips in a sensual slide of skin on skin. His tongue teased hers and she sighed. To think, a week ago she’d been starved for human contact. Now she couldn’t get enough of him. His hands slid up under her shirt to press against bare skin.

  Paxton kissed the tip of her nose then let her go.

  If he wasn’t utterly beat, she knew that kiss would have had a different ending.

  She smoothed his hair down. “Take your boots off.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Coco chuckled and stepped back. When she’d first seen Paxton pushing through the crowd, coming to her rescue, she’d had one idea about him. Then he’d shown her another side, and another, and another. He wasn’t just the action hero type with his I’ll-take-on-the-world attitude, he was kind and gentle, funny and compassionate. She could understand Silas’ words to her better now. Paxton gave everything and expected nothing.

  She ducked into the bathroom and pushed the door partially shut, giving herself a momentary respite from the surge of new emotions. This, with Paxton, was supposed to be a fling. She wasn’t supposed to get comfortable with him in her home or want anything from him, and yet here she was about to squeeze out a tear because he was tired.

  What had gotten into her?

  This wasn’t normal.

  Paxton wasn’t normal either.

  If Lacey asked Coco what this was now, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to answer. She liked Paxton and deep down a part of her wanted this to be serious, because a man who’d wipe her feet while a gaggle of women crowed at him wasn’t the kind of guy a smart girl walked away from. But where could things go? What could come from this?

  She stripped out of her clothes and pulled her sleep shirt back on. The few hours of rest she’d gotten wouldn’t be good enough for tonight.

  Coco took a deep breath then flipped off the light and stepped back into the bedroom.

  Paxton was in bed, the sheet up around his waist, an arm thrown across his face. She smothered a chuckle and circled to his side, pulling the blackout curtains, plunging the room into comfortable darkness.

  “Those were there this whole time?” He groaned.

  She laughed and turned, just as two strong arms wrapped around her and hauled her onto the bed. Paxton rolled, taking her with him to the middle of the mattress. She wound up on her side, facing him, twisted up in the sheets. The light from the living room allowed her to see his face and one mischievous blue eye.

  Coco hiked her thigh up over his and wound her arm around his waist. She wiggled closer, finding his mouth with hers. It was nice to not be in a hurry or driven by need. Kissing him, holding him, these were things she wanted to savor. This connection was what she would miss most when he was gone.

  They had time still. No one was shooting at them, there wasn’t a wedding or any other things to get to. For the next ten hours they didn’t have to leave this bed. She wasn’t going to worry about the future or what came next. Right now she would live in the moment with this man and make memories that she’d hold on to when he left.

  “I’ll let you sleep now,” she mumbled.

  He tightened his hold on her. “You aren’t going anywhere.”

  She squeezed his arm and sighed. “Of course not.”

  He pulled her back a bit more, fitting her against him.

  Oh, boy.

  She shifted her hips, his growing erection sliding against her as she moved. He groaned and gripped her hip.

  “Pax?”

  He mumbled something into her hair and the pillow.

  They had limited time, and she wanted to make the most of it. All of it.

  Coco wiggled around to face him and ran her fingers through his short blond hair. How was it she couldn’t get enough of him?

  She wanted him because it was him. They were past convenience and initial attraction. There was no substituting him for another wedding fling. Paxton was her pick, the man she hadn’t expected, the one who hadn’t needed to scale her defenses because from the moment they met he was on her side. And he wanted her.

  “Am I bothering you?” she whispered.

  He reached up, took her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. “No.”

  Coco slid her other hand under the sheets and down his abs. His semi-erect cock was easy to find. She wrapped her hand around it and he groaned.

  “How about now?” she asked.

  Paxton cupped the back of her neck and pulled her closer. He kissed her, his mouth demanding.

  Coco’s head swam, lost in the lust of the moment. She wanted to take care of him this time. To put his needs first.

  That was never going to happen if he kept kissing her like this.

  She pushed up, breaking the kiss and let go of his erection. There was just enough light to see by thanks to the open door. Paxton stared up at her, his blue eyes glittering with arousal. She slid her knee over his thighs and settled there, him looking up at her.

  What had she done to deserve this?

  This time with Paxton, however short, was a gift. He was making her believe that there was more out there, that she had to stop living day to day and actually do something.

  She leaned down and kissed his lips, then his chin. If she thought he’d allow it, she’d kiss him all over, but she doubted his bossy side would allow that. His hands coasted up her thighs then he drew the tips of his fingers along the hem of her panties, following it to her center. He didn’t touch her, didn’t caress her, but she wanted him too.

  Except this wa
s supposed to be about him. If she allowed him to touch her, she was done for.

  Coco planted her hands on his shoulders and scooted farther back, allowing her room to kiss and explore the rippling planes of his chest and stomach. He kept touching her shoulders and face, the rough texture of his fingers at total odds with the gentleness he showed her.

  What little she knew about Paxton painted the picture of a man pushed to do things for the safety of others. He risked his life. He was a protector. But who looked after him? Was it crazy to want to be that person for him?

  They wouldn’t have long together, but for now she could do this.

  Coco pulled his boxer briefs down, freeing his erection. Paxton groaned and tugged at her knees, but not hard enough to move her. No, she intended on taking her time.

  She wrapped her hand around his length and bent once more to kiss his stomach then the deep slash of muscle at his hip. He tipped his head back, his body coming to life under her. The tendons on either side of his neck stood out, and she watched his mouth move.

  This was her chance to make him crazy. Give him a bit of his own medicine.

  Coco pumped his length and shifted farther down his body. She watched his throat, saw the flex as he swallowed. He was putty in her hands. This big, strong man, he was hers. She licked the head of his cock. His back bowed up off the bed and she heard the hiss of his breath.

  She wasn’t the only one who could be undone by sex.

  Before she could continue her attentions, Paxton sat up, all that intensity aimed at her. She stared, her breath frozen in her lungs at the way he stared at her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and dragged her up his body until their chests were plastered together. She could feel his cock against her stomach.

  He kissed her, hard, holding her tight enough it was hard to breathe. He let go of her and cupped her face, kissing her as if it were his dying wish.

  Coco wanted him now. She’d thought teasing and slow would be fun, but the need in his eyes made her hungry for him in a way that couldn’t be denied.

  She leaned past him, breaking the kiss and yanked the nightstand drawer open. She’d tossed a few there after their shower that morning and was glad for the foresight. She grabbed one and sat back, it was only then that she took note of the strain lines around Paxton’s mouth and furrowing his brow.

  “What’s wrong?” She froze, aware she’d missed a very important cue.

  He slid his hand up her thigh and under her shirt. “Nothing.”

  “Pax...”

  “Later?” His features relaxed as he cupped her breast under her shirt.

  She held tight to her thoughts, not willing to allow him to caress her into compliance. “You’ll talk to me?”

  “Yes, just later, okay?”

  Coco groaned as he toyed with her nipple, loving the feel of his rougher skin on hers. She groped on the sheets for the condom packet, finding it by touch. She’d barely ripped it open when he took the latex from her and rolled it on.

  She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something going on under the surface. Whatever it was, she hoped he’d tell her. She felt as though she’d bared her soul to him, letting him see all the parts of herself she didn’t always like.

  Paxton glanced up at her. His features were more relaxed, more like her Paxton. She cupped his face and pressed her brow to his. Whatever was going through his head, she hoped he’d tell her. And if he never did, that was okay, too. For this short time, she’d be with him however that worked out.

  “I want to be inside of you,” he whispered.

  “Then be inside of me.” She kissed the tip of his nose, just like he’d done to her.

  A smile curved his lips and her heart seemed to sigh. “Kind of hard to do when you’re still wearing panties.”

  “Then help me get them off?”

  Paxton leaned back a bit and hooked his fingers in the waistband of her underwear. They weren’t sexy or fancy, just plain cotton briefs. She wasn’t in the habit of owning nice clothes given her line of work.

  His arms flexed, and she heard the pop of the seam then the rip of fabric.

  Coco sputtered a laugh as he thoroughly destroyed her underwear.

  “There. Better.” His hands slid down her hips to her thighs, around to her ass.

  “Is it?” She rose up on her knees and kissed his lips.

  “Much.” His fingers stroked her pussy, circling her entrance. “God, do you have any idea how sexy you are?” he muttered.

  There was something in the way he said it, the reverent way he spoke about her, that made her feel girlish, nervous, as if this was all new. And maybe it was because it was with him.

  No one had ever made her feel wanted and beautiful like he did. She wasn’t too this or not enough of that. He liked her just as she was.

  The blunt head of his cock pressed against her.

  She tilted her head back and sighed, sinking onto him. Paxton gripped her hips and kissed her neck as she worked his length into her a little at a time. She sighed and gave herself over to enjoying this.

  “This needs to go.” Paxton grasped her shirt and pulled it up over her head.

  She closed her eyes, concentrating on the sensation of his cock sliding in and out of her as she moved. His hands were everywhere, cradling her ass, palming her breasts. He kissed her neck and shoulder, her breasts. She still needed him, but it wasn’t the frenzied need from before. No, she just wanted him.

  Paxton plumped her breasts in both hands and she arched her back. The new angle had his cock rubbing her insides in a delicious way that had her groaning. Lips caressed her nipple, followed by his tongue. A fresh wave of arousal flooded her.

  “Oh—Pax,” she groaned.

  He kept touching and kissing her while she clung to his shoulders, her mind narrowing until all she could think about was right now with this man who made her want things she had never wanted before.

  This thing with Paxton was special.

  “Fuck, babe. You feel too damn good.” His voice was strained, a lot like how she felt.

  She was beyond speaking so she kissed him, pouring everything she felt and wanted into the kiss. His fingers dug into her skin and the tender nature of his kiss changed.

  Paxton wrapped his arm around her waist, guiding her whereas before she’d moved to her own whims. He pulled her down, impaling her on his cock. She groaned in pleasure at the tremors coursing through her.

  “I need you to come,” he said in a deep voice.

  Yeah, she’d like that, too.

  He slid his other hand between them to her mound. She dug her fingers into his hair, needing to hold on to him, and kissed him. His fingers circled her clit, growing firmer until she was grinding on him with each thrust.

  “There you go,” he muttered. “Fuck, yes.”

  Did he feel it? The way her insides seemed to shatter and tremble?

  Coco whimpered as her body came undone at the seams. Her rhythm faltered and her limbs turned to rubber. Paxton continued to move her, his strength enough for both of them. She held tight, the pleasure robbing her of her senses for a moment. She was vaguely aware of Paxton clutching her to him, his face in her hair, and the jerky motions of his body.

  The last bits of her strength were gone, and she sat there, boneless and draped around him. No part of her wanted to move. This? Right here? It was perfect, if a little uncomfortable.

  Paxton had the presence of mind and ability to move. He twisted and lowered them to the bed, lying face to face, limbs entwined.

  God, she wanted to have him in her life every day, not just for a vacation.

  What was she going to do without him when he left?

  No. She couldn’t think about that. Not yet. Not while she still had him.

  Coco nuzzled closer and kissed his cheek, trying to convince herself to be content to be here in this moment with him. She hadn’t expected this to go past fleeting and fun. There were no rules for what they were to each other and for all she
knew it was all in her head.

  She traced a scar on his cheek, one of the faint ones she wouldn’t have noticed if she weren’t inches away from him.

  “Are we going to talk about it?” she whispered.

  He didn’t open his eyes, but she still saw the flinch of pain on his features.

  Paxton hugged her tighter. “Later-later.”

  “Okay.” She kissed the tip of his nose.

  Maybe it was time she asked questions. Paxton had told her some of his past, but she was beginning to realize that there was more. She’d been so focused on herself that she hadn’t delved too deep into what made him tick, and now she wanted to know everything.

  He stroked his hand down her side and back, peppering her shoulder, neck and cheek with little kisses.

  “Now I’m hungry,” he said against her skin.

  “There’s pizza.”

  “And there’s you.” He pushed up, that sleepy smile of his doing things to her.

  “Pizza, then we’ll see.” She pulled him in for a quick peck.

  He patted her hip. “Bathroom. Ladies first?”

  Coco untangled herself from his limbs and the sheets then ducked in the bathroom for a moment to tidy up. She paused to look at herself and found that the woman staring back at her wasn’t entirely familiar. She was smiling, and she...glowed? Was that a thing?

  She could see her emotions on the outside. The way Paxton made her feel was bubbling out of her.

  Did he know? Could he see it? Was this why Lacey had asked earlier?

  Coco swallowed. It was too late to change things now. Besides, she wanted to keep going right up until Paxton left.

  She exited the bathroom, nearly walking into Paxton. He caught her by the elbows and bent to kiss her cheek then handed her the oversized sleep shirt. She pulled it on, got a new pair of panties and only then ventured into the living room. After checking to make sure the curtains were drawn, she set about getting them drinks and heating up two plates of pizza. By the time Paxton appeared in only a pair of athletic shorts the no frills meal was ready to serve up.

  “Here.” She handed him the food and bit her lip.