by Jane Jamison
“Just let me handle it from here.”
He washed his face, cupping his hands to splash the solution upward yet never actually touching his skin. Several times he splashed, the water never touching him, yet each time making his skin a little less red.
“Are you okay?” How was he healing when he wasn’t really washing?
“I will be.” He held up his dripping hands. “Again. Let me handle it.”
“Okay, okay. I got it.” She backed up, pulling her phone out of her purse. Although as a police officer he probably knew what he was doing, she wanted to be sure. Thumbing her way through an Internet search, she finally found a remedy for pepper spray. What she read wasn’t encouraging. She searched another site, hoping for better news, but it had the same information.
“According to what I’m reading, it might take a couple of days for the effects to wear off. And for your skin to get back to normal.” She looked at him as he turned around. “Wow.”
His face was almost clear of any burns. His eyelids were no longer swollen, and his eyes had returned to their original unique silver color.
“What’s wrong?”
“Your face. It looks like you never got sprayed.” She checked her phone, re-reading the information. “How can that happen?”
He took the hand towel off the counter and dabbed his skin. And yet, had it actually been wet?
“Hasn’t anyone told you not to believe everything you read on the Internet? Hell, half the stuff you read is wrong.”
“But I’m getting this off the website of a company that manufactures the spray.”
He shrugged, his skin back to normal. She couldn’t see any lingering redness. Taking the towel from him, she gave his face yet another examination. “I guess you heal really fast, huh?”
“Guess so.” He shrugged again. Was he trying to appear more nonchalant than he was? “But do me a favor. Make sure you know who you’re aiming that thing at.”
She couldn’t suppress a little giggle. “You’re assuming I wouldn’t have sprayed you anyway.”
“Funny girl.” He took a quick scan around the condo. “Nice place.”
She led the way back into the living room. “Nice, but not what you would’ve expected from a wealthy woman. Am I right? I’m sure Micah and Dane told you about me.”
Taking a seat on her couch, she tried to calm her nerves. She was still shaken up by the pepper spray encounter. At least, that was what she wanted to believe. Or was it because he was so close to her? He could’ve taken a seat on the armchair. Instead, he’d sat down next to her. Only inches separated them.
What was it about Ryan as well as his two friends? They were handsome, yes, but it was more. They were different in a way she couldn’t put her finger on. As though they all had a secret lying just below the surface. And yet, she couldn’t believe the secret was bad. Was she foolish to think so?
On first glance, they were similar in many ways. Hot men with great bodies. Chiseled features and oozing virility. They each possessed a raw power that reminded her of a wild animal that people had tried to tame and couldn’t. But when she studied them, small differences became clear.
Their eyes were spectacular. Dane’s black sultry eyes. Micah’s mesmerizing emerald eyes. And, of course, Ryan’s strange and intriguing silver eyes.
Their body language was different, too. Although each was as rugged as the last, Dane held his body looser than the others, as though he expected nothing but good from the world. Micah was a combination of tense one moment then relaxed in the next. Ryan’s was a controlled containment of energy. He appeared casual, but she could easily see him springing into action.
The more she got to know them, the more contrasts she’d seen in their personalities. Dane was the easy-going one, the person she’d bet would be ready with a good joke. Micah was the outgoing one, the one who might fly off the handle one moment, then become cool and collected. Ryan, however, acted older, wiser than his two friends, probably a result of being in law enforcement.
By her way of thinking, they possessed the best qualities of any man. Separately, they were wonderful and any woman’s dream. Together, they formed a triangle of strength and power that would outmatch any horrors the world might throw their way.
A triangle, however, was only strong with all three sides intact. What would happen if one of the sides gave way? What if one of them wanted her and the other two didn’t?
Why am I thinking this way? Their interest is only carnal, nothing more.
And what about me? Would I want them for more than a wild night? Or just as a way to catapult me back into the dating scene?
Either way, a girl could dream.
“What were they supposed to tell me? That you’re rich? They didn’t have to. I’d already done my research.”
She wasn’t sure to be insulted or flattered. “Good to know the Internet got that info right.”
“Sometimes it does, but as a detective, I have other sources.”
“So you’ve been checking up on me?” What had he found out?
“Hey, you came to me for help. I can’t help unless I know all the facts. Not just about Brenna, but about you, too.” His gaze jumped to the hallway. “When will Brenna be back, soon?”
“She thinks she was imposing and went back to the shelter. For now. Until I can convince her to come back. How did you know she isn’t here, anyway?”
He didn’t answer, letting his raised eyebrows say it all.
“You’re following her? You’re following me?” A sliver of fear snaked into her, but why? If there were any men she could trust, she instinctively knew it was Ryan and his friends.
“I’m trying to keep all three of you safe.”
“I thought your captain wouldn’t assign anyone to Brenna’s case. Other than you, that is.”
“I’m not officially on the case. And because I’m not, I’m using my friends to fill in along with a rookie cop who needs to make some money on the side.”
“You’re paying for my protection?” Why wouldn’t he have asked her to pay for it?
“I needed another hand, so I got one. It’s no big deal.”
She reached for her purse she’d tossed onto the coffee table. “Here. Let me write you a check. I’m the one who should be paying.” She pulled out her checkbook and pen then looked to him. “How much should I make it for? Make sure it’s enough to pay for the services for a while. Should I make it payable to you?”
He took the checkbook from her and dropped it onto the table. “You’re not paying. First of all, I’ve already taken care of the money part of it. Second, I don’t want anything going through your bank or elsewhere and making this a legal transaction.” He leaned closer, his intense gaze meeting hers. “And most of all, I’m doing this because I want to. Not because I have to. Got it?”
Her pulse pounded in her ears. He was so close. Her body ached for him to reach out and touch her. If he didn’t do it soon, she would. “Got it.”
He skimmed his palm along her cheek. She flinched at first, not because she didn’t want him to touch her, but because she wanted it more than she could say. “You’re important to me.”
“I am? Why?” She didn’t want to hope, but hope wouldn’t be refused.
He chuckled. “You sure do ask a lot of questions.”
“And you don’t like giving answers, do you?” The air between them thickened, cocooning her with layer of passion. Her nipples hardened. She uncrossed her legs as well as her arms.
“Sometimes.”
“And what about Dane and Micah?” She held her breath, praying she hadn’t broken the mood by mentioning his friends.
“You’re important to them, too.”
“Why? You three barely know me.”
He pressed two fingers to her lips. “Stop asking questions.”
She couldn’t suppress a slight smile, knowing he felt it under his fingertips. “And what should I do instead?”
“This.”
Hi
s hand slid behind her head, gripping her by the neck and tugging her to him. She was eager, oh so eager, to feel his mouth on hers. At last, their lips touched, at first gentle then harder as hunger flashed between them like a living, breathing entity.
They came together like a lightning bolt striking a tree. She couldn’t grip him hard enough. He couldn’t hold her to him close enough. Mewling, she did her best to convey her hunger for him, but nothing could ever relate the power of her emotions.
She’d only imagined she’d wanted him before.
Want, however, was such an inadequate word, one that could never hold enough lust.
He tugged her leg over his then pulled her on top of him. Their lips barely parted for a moment as she clung to his thick black hair.
At last, she threw her head back and dragged in a breath. “Ryan.”
He murmured something against the hollow of her throat. Whatever he’d said didn’t matter. As long as he kept his hands and mouth on her, he could tell her anything.
She helped him as he pulled her shirt free of her slacks and up over her head. One moment of longing passed between them before he put his face between her breasts. His fingers worked at the clasp of the bra and had it popping open in seconds. He shoved her bra aside as she arched back, ready to feel his tongue on her taut nipple.
She wasn’t a virgin by any means. And yet, she suddenly felt as though she’d been reborn, re-virginized. Having a man like Ryan want her made her feel special, more than a woman with a man. She couldn’t put her finger on why she felt different, other than it was because she was with him.
His large hands held her back, holding her as she gave her breasts up for his pleasure. His tongue lashed at her, his teeth giving her just enough pain to be pleasant. Passion was on fire inside her as she ground her crotch against his and reached down to undo his jeans.
She fumbled with the button and had to concentrate to get his zipper down. Groaning, he turned one hand loose from her and helped her. His cock, a throbbing rod of warmth, burst from his jeans.
One look at it was all it took. She had to taste him, had to feel the skin against her inner cheeks. Pushing away from him, she stood and shoved her slacks to the floor. His eyes blazed with hunger and, for a wild moment, she thought she saw bits of red in them.
“God, you’re fucking beautiful.”
She shimmied out of her panties and was pleased when his lips parted. “Do you like what you see?”
“Hell, yeah.”
“Good.” She lowered her body, going to her hands and knees.
“Baby, you don’t have to.”
She tossed her hair out of her face and laughed at him. “Why do men say that when they really want it to happen?”
He smiled and tunneled his hands into her hair. “To be nice?”
“Stop being nice.”
“Whatever you say, baby.”
Clutching a hunk of her hair, he forced her head down. She opened her mouth and let his cock slide inside.
He tasted better than she’d hope for. Tangy, sweet and yet so masculine. His flavor had a sharpness to it she’d never experienced, but it made sense that he would taste differently than other men.
His hand snaked between her legs, finding the wetness already dampening her inner thighs. “Damn, but you’re hot. Are you tight, too?”
“You’ll have to find out for yourself.”
She sucked in her cheeks, answering him with action as well as words. Pulling, she slid him along, taking a long, slow ride up to his cap. Once there, she opened her mouth and let out a breath, sending her breath cascading along his slickened skin. He moaned and tightened his hold on her hair.
She’d been in control. Until his fingers found her clit.
Jerking at his touch, she did her best not to bring her teeth down on him. But oh, how talented he was with his fingers. Rubbing, massaging, he treated her clit to every sensation, hard, soft, fast, slow. She spread her legs a little wider and pulled his cock as far into her mouth as she could take him. He was too long to get all of him in. Letting her fingers sink into the dark curly mass at the base, she turned her head to the side and tracked her tongue from one side to the other. She licked him, pausing every so often to suck in the flesh on the side then letting him go. Upward she inched, taking her time as her mind cleared of all other concerns save pleasing him.
Turned on even more, she closed her eyes and let the swirl of sensations flood her. His fingers created a wild wind of desire inside her pussy. It traveled outward, threatening to weaken her legs. Searing need to have his cock inside her came with every twist and rub of his fingers. When he plunged two digits into her pussy, she cried out, unable to wait any longer.
Pushing against his hard leg and even harder chest, she sat back, moving until she lay on her back. Keeping her legs spread, she watched as his attention fell to her weeping pussy.
“Are you sure, baby?” He gritted his teeth then stood up and shoved his jeans to the floor, kicking off his boots as he did. “Fuck that. This is happening.”
He fell on top of her. She grabbed hold of his shirt and shoved it higher, skimming her hands along the ripped abdomen then over the mountainous pecs. His mouth met hers again, sending a growl-like sound into her throat.
Wrapping her legs around his waist, she kissed him back as hard as she could, ready to finally, after so long, feel a cock inside her.
Yet it wasn’t just any man’s cock. It was Ryan’s.
She gasped into the kiss as he thrust inside her. His cock stretched her vagina, causing a friction that burned hard and fast. When she clutched at his hair and yanked his mouth from hers, she was sure she saw more red in his eyes. He was lost in passion, a strange look in his eyes that both frightened and thrilled her.
Harder, he slammed into her. Heat flared around them, turning the air around them into the thick moisture of a sauna.
“Julie, baby.”
He didn’t need to say more. She understood all the meaning behind just saying her name. Clinging to him, she pushed her hips up, meeting his thrusts with her own.
They’d been at odds since meeting, and yet, somehow she’d known they’d wind up together, locked in an embrace, their bodies joining. He tortured her breasts, moving from one to the other. He was rough, demanding, moving so fast that at one point, she would’ve sworn she saw smoke sifting out from between their bodies. She would’ve laughed at the ridiculousness of the idea if she’d been able. They gave themselves to each other, losing the ability to speak, saving all their strength for their lovemaking. Her climax hit her, driving up and out from her core with a power that stunned her. She tensed and dug her fingernails into his back.
His gaze, silver-red, met hers, and then he ducked his head as he sat up, bringing her on top of him. They clung to each other as their releases stormed through them, shuddering and unhinging every nerve in their bodies.
She cried out, loudly, too loudly with neighbors surrounding her, but she didn’t care who heard her. Ryan’s groan turned into a monstrous shout that would’ve shaken her if she’d had any energy left. As his cum filled her, she vaguely worried about the lack of protection, but it was too late now.
Strangely, part of her rejoiced to have his seed filling her.
They stayed together, holding on to each other as though turning the other free would somehow break them into pieces. When at last their breathing had returned to normal, he gently laid her on her back.
“Are you all right?”
She smiled, thinking the question silly, and yet not. “I was hoping I was better than all right.”
He cupped her breast tenderly, lovingly. “Hell, yeah, you were. You were fuckin’ amazing.”
His expectant expression did bring a giggle to her. Obviously, he wanted a review of his sexual prowess. “You know how good you are. You have to know. I’ll bet you have a hundred women who would tell you the same thing.”
A slice of jealousy hit her. How many women has he had?
“A hundred? Not hardly. And even if a thousand women told me I was the stud of all studs, none of that would mean anything compared to what you think.”
He means it. “Damn. Who’d have ever thought Detective Ryan Draper would ever say anything that nice to me?”
“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it.” He grinned then gathered her clothes for her. “Unless you want to go again?”
“Damn. Give you one compliment and it makes you a sex monster.”
“Some would say I was already a monster.”
He turned his face away from her and picked up his own clothes. Yet it was the tone of his voice, all of a sudden somber, that had her wondering. She was about to ask him what he meant when her cell phone rang.
She tugged on her clothes and grabbed it. Her breath hitched in her throat when she saw the caller ID.
“What’s wrong, Julie?”
She waved off Ryan’s question. “Hello?”
Please, God. Let him tell me what I need to hear.
“Julie?”
“Yes, Mr. Leyhe?” Her attorney never called her unless it was important. “What did they decide?”
“I’m sorry, Julie.”
Oh, shit. This is bad. So very bad.
“The board granted his parole. In fact, they’re going to release him in a few days.”
“No.” Every ounce of strength inside her vanished. She sat down, her hand gripping the phone until her knuckles turned white.
Ryan put his arm around her. “What’s wrong? What’s going on?”
She couldn’t tell him. If she spoke the words out loud, it would make it real. Instead, she shook her head and handed him the phone. She slumped against the arm of the couch as the darkness flowed over her.
He’d be coming to get her. No matter what he’d promised, he’d come. How could she have allowed herself to hope otherwise?
“This is Detective Draper with the S.A.P.D. Who is this, and what’s going on?”
She couldn’t listen, couldn’t force her mind to settle on anything other than the fear curling its way into her.
Hank’s free.
Oh, God, he’s free.
Chapter Six
