by Dee J. Adams
Tanner’s mistake was looking into her eyes. Seeing all that pain and not caring how he might hurt her again. Jess’s mistake was looking at his lips, inviting something that would ignite and blow out of control with very little prompting. She gazed into his eyes again, offered a clear invitation when she rose on her toes, slanted her head to the side and spread her warm hands on his chest. Tanner met her halfway, brushed his lips against hers, tasted the salt of her tears and the desperation of the day.
Desperate.
That word described them both. She was desperate for help and he was desperate for relief. Desperate for the warmth of her skin and the comfort of her hot body.
His control broke.
Tanner pulled her close, trapped her lips beneath his and took what he wanted. She didn’t fight him. Goddammit, she,” Maurice said.t him should be fighting him. She should be scrambling to get away, because if she didn’t, she was going to be in way over her head. Instead she was clawing to get closer. He palmed her head, drove his tongue into her mouth and tasted the mints she chewed like an addiction. He ran his hands along the sides of her body, felt the hot little curves that had been driving him wild.
She moaned and the sound vibrated into his body, made him hotter. He lifted her against his erection, pushed the small of her back so she felt exactly what was coming her way if she didn’t fucking fight him.
But no, she moaned again and Tanner felt his insides snap. He couldn’t do this to her. Not after she’d saved his life. He would hurt her and she didn’t deserve that. Tanner releastudio, if she
Chapter Thirteen
Tanner soaked her in. From her hot mouth and voracious tongue to her tight little body and curvy ass. He couldn’t keep his hands off her. Couldn’t keep his tongue from exploring her mouth. He planned on tasting every inch of her. He backed her up against the kitchen wall, rubbing against her as if just the motion might ease his desire.
Not a chance in hell.
He should slow down. He had her, she’d all but demanded it of him, so he should back off and go slower, but he’d told her he wouldn’t be able to stop and he’d been right. He wanted to drive himself so deeply inside her that it wiped out the last seven years of his miserable life. He wanted salvation in her body. He wanted to feel alive.
He couldn’t wait to touch all of her skin. He wanted to feel her with his hands, his mouth, his tongue. He wanted to hear all the sounds that went with taking a woman. He wanted her moans, her gasps, wanted her screaming his name and digging her nails into his skin.
He wasted no time in stripping off her T-shirt. The bandage was a reminder of the night they met, but it was the sight of her full, pert breasts hidden under a white lace bra that stopped him for a second. He moved his palms up her sides, pulled the cups down and touched her, thumbed her tight nipples and groaned.
Tanner unhooked the back of her bra as he sucked one hard peak into his mouth. She gasped, arched into him and sent him further out of control. He wasn’t going to last. He needed her now, needed her hard and fast. But he had to touch her, had to explore all the places he’d been dreaming about.
Dropping to his knees, he made quick work of the button and zipper on her jeans. He stripped them over her hips, down to the floor. “Step out,” he ordered, his voice guttural, not his own. He shoved the discarded jeans and her shoes aside and held her hips. Her bikini underwear molded her body. She was so fucking tiny.
It wasn’t going to stop him.
He eased the white lace slowly down, giving himself Christmas in the middle of May, forcing himself to enjoy the anticipation instead of driving into her so hard that she’d never forgive him. That was bound to happen, but the longer he could hold off, the better they’d both be. The elastic band stretched in his thumbs, her breath hitched as he removed the thin barrier. Tanner glanced up at her, saw the sheen of desire in her eyes…and the innocence. The combination revved his pulse faster.
The lace fell to her ankles and she stepped out of those too.
Tanner breathed her in as his hands,” Jess continuedy She ran her hands traveled up her thighs and over her hips, committing this moment to memory. Auburn curls glistened with moisture. He smelled her excitement. His cock hurt so bad and he stifled another groan as he leaned in and took her with his mouth.
Candy. She was the best candy he’d ever tasted. Sweet and tart at the same time. Her fingers tunneled through his hair and drove him on. No problem there. He liked this spot just fine. He hadn’t had a woman like this in so long he’d nearly forgotten the pleasure. But he burned for her and he wasn’t going to last, so he started slow, but soon worked her hard, used his tongue over her clit and pushed two fingers into her slick heat until he brought her to a fast climax, felt her clench and shatter as she called his name and trembled in his arms.
He needed her. Now.
Tanner stood and took her mouth, kissed her hard and long, drove his tongue deep inside her as his shaking hands fumbled with his zipper. And, goddammit, she helped him. Blindly, they both fumbled to get his jeans over his hips, to pull his erection free. Her hot little hands circled his cock and another harsh moan croaked in his throat. Tension cycled tighter in his gut as he lifted her, pinned her against the wall with the bulk of his body and guided himself to her wet entrance.
Tight. So tight. He’d made her as ready as he could, given her a hard orgasm and loosened her up, but she was still so tight, the feeling ramped up his need. He wedged the head of his penis inside her, shoving hard and retreating in increments. Mind numbing pleasure ate away his thoughts. Everything faded but the incredible tightness of her surrounding him. He buried his head in her neck as he continued to thrust, working his hips, driving inside her until he was deep. He would’ve stopped, just to soak her in, to feel the sensation of total penetration, but he couldn’t. He kept driving, barely aware of her heels digging into his ass, her arms wrapped around his neck.
Her muffled gasps drove him nuts, her fingernails dug into his shoulder blades. Harder and harder he pounded her, his heart slamming against his ribs, sweat coating his skin. Two more hard thrusts and he came, shooting his come into her welcoming body, continuing to drive up inside her as he gave every last drop of himself.
Oh, God, it wasn’t enough, he needed more. Still hard, he kept moving, kept her pinned until her cry penetrated his slogged brain cells. Tanner stilled long enough to look at her, to see the tears in her eyes. He’d hurt her. He told her he would. Contrition swept through him in a massive wave.
“The wainscoting,” she said.
“Huh?” His mind wasn’t working.
“The molding on the wall,” she said. “It’s right against my lower back.”
“Shit!” That was bound to leave a mark. Every hard thrust had slammed her against the molding and she hadn’t said a thing.
Tanner held her close and moved into the den, still deep inside her, still hard and hurting with his jeans hung low over his ass and the urge to drive into her harder and faster. Panting, he lay back against the giant leather couch, keeping her on top of him, holding her hips tightly to his.
Though there was something stirr experience in show businessle behind ingly erotic about having a naked woman covering him when he was partially dressed, next time they did this he’d have to lose the jeans. Right now, he didn’t care. He wanted more.
“Ride me. Hard,” he grated. He palmed the back of her head again and took her lips in a fiery kiss.
____________
Jess took his hard, erotic kiss and gave back as good as she got. She wanted him this way. Hard. Uncompromising. In some perverted way, she’d wanted the pain. It was penance for screwing everything up. For working for Maurice in the first place. For killing him and probably killing the chances of getting her family back. What she hadn’t expected was Tanner’s intensity. It overwhelmed her. Shook her. Granted, she’d been limited in her sack time with men, but she sure as hell wasn’t a virgin. Yet that was how Tanner ma
de her feel. He kept her off balance, made her burn. No man had ever wanted her so badly that he couldn’t wait for a bed. Her need had never been so powerful that she hadn’t cared.
The power he radiated, the sheer force of his sexuality made her dizzy. His sculpted chest, dusted with dark hair, rippled under her fingertips. Veins bulged in his arms.
The sensations buffeting her body sent her flying. Tanner couldn’t seem to stop touching her. If his hands weren’t on her hips, they were on her breasts, or cupping her head or stroking her skin. He was everywhere. His tongue filled her mouth, licked inside her with wild desperation. She’d never felt so needed, as if her body alone held some type of redemption.
“Do it, Jess,” he rasped. “Ride me hard.”
A flush heated her cheeks. No man had ever talked to her this way either, or taken her so fiercely. His fingers bit into her hips as he adjusted her on top of him.
She hadn’t had sex in so long she doubted her ability to give him what he wanted. And she’d hardly ever been on top. Her old boyfriends had been happy to keep her underneath, happy to keep control. Not that she had any control now. Tanner thrust up and took her off her knees, holding her steady as he moved, driving her down on top of him. The friction was too good. The burn made her cry out.
Tanner’s jaw clenched tight, his eyes shone bright, watching her, owning her. “Jess.” He hissed her name, the same plea unspoken. Ride me hard.
Balancing her palms on his chest, Jess snapped her hips, riding Tanner in rhythm with his powerful thrusts. She felt him deep, deep inside her, driving her toward another orgasm, whipping her body into a whirlwind of sensation, making her feel more than she ever had before.
God, she was so close, so close to coming, when he pulled her down, crushed her chest against his and took her mouth.
“Harder,” he grated against her lips. “Grind down on me.” He palmed her tailbone, one hand stretched across both butt cheeks, pressing her against him. She gasped into his mouth as the motion put pressure on her clit and sensation exploded inside her.
“That’s it.” His voice was low, strained have the money.” back t him . “Like that.”
Jess ground herself on him. Electric streaks tore through her with every rub of her clit against him. His palm stayed on her ass, one finger pressing in the cleft between her cheeks, driving her harder. Sensory overload. Feeling him move inside her, along with the rasping of her already sensitive clit, Jess barely found air to breath. Sweat coated her skin as she slid over Tanner’s chest.
“Come on me, Jess,” he whispered in her ear. “I want to feel you rain that hot cream all over me.” He thrust up and pressed her down at the same time, sending her hurtling into the abyss. Time stopped. Everything stopped. Her heart thundered behind her ribs, in her head. Pleasure like she’d never known exploded from the inside out, blew her brain cells into tiny fragments of nothing. She lost touch with everything but the waves cresting under her skin, raining through every part of her like the perfect storm. Unimaginable satisfaction spread within her, stealing her breath, her sanity. Her lips parted on a silent cry and Tanner’s face blurred in front of her.
Baring his teeth, Tanner’s grip tightened on her hips, his shout echoed in her ears. His second climax shot inside her with more intensity than the first. His invasion tore through her heightened senses and she clenched around him, milking him, taking everything he gave.
After every last ripple washed through her, Jess collapsed on Tanner’s damp chest. Gasping for breath, she closed her eyes, would’ve pulled away the wet strands of hair off her cheek, but she couldn’t move.
Breathing hard beneath her, Tanner still had his arms around her, kept them connected tightly together. Slowly, his hands roamed her slick skin. His rough fingertips sent tiny currents racing through her exhausted body, brought chills to the surface.
This touch felt different. More than sexual. As if he wanted to imprint her form into his head. As if he might never get the chance to hold her, or any woman, ever again. His palms roamed over her butt, up her back, along her sides, his touch firm, but tender.
The real world crashed in when he stopped stroking her. When he lifted her off him. His withdrawal from her body had them both taking a sharp breath. Emptiness swamped her, flooded her senses as he sat up, his legs over the couch, elbows on his knees, head in his hands.
With the silence came a wave of regret so massive Jess got nauseas.
What had she done? How could she have done it? What did she do now? Her eyes burned with the threat of tears. She couldn’t seem to stop making everything worse.
The phone rang and saved Jess from falling apart with an instant nervous breakdown. She grabbed the chenille blanket on the sofa and wrapped herself up before answering the phone on the corner table.
“Jess? That you? It’s David. Is Bren around? He’s not answering his cell and I can’t find him anywhere. We’re supposed to meet up tonight.” David Meyer had been Brendan’s best friend since third grade. They were almost as close as Brendan was with his twin, Blake. David and Brendan suffered from egghead syndrome with their fascination of anything computer or video related. Though the twins had come out at the same time and were eerily close, their personalities were have the money.” back t him completely opposite. Blake’s knowledge of computers stopped after Google and email.
“Hi, Dave.”
Tanner’s gaze locked on her. She turned her back on him, self-conscious in the blanket, her face flaming with embarrassment and her thighs uncomfortably sticky from sex. Unprotected sex. Oh, God, what had she done?
“Bren’s not here,” she said, finding her voice. But she had a dead guy in the studio and a virtual stranger nearby who’d just screwed her brains out. Jess swallowed and subtly used the blanket to clean the wetness from her thighs.
“Have you seen him? We’re supposed to go to the Mac store to check out the new laptops.”
“No. I haven’t s-seen him,” Jess murmured. But she did have a laptop here. Maurice’s laptop. With information she needed. “Mom told me the boys took a quick r-road trip to Vegas. Bren must have forgotten about your computer date. He should be back in a day or two.” If only... Her face heated at the blatant lie.
“I can’t believe that shithead didn’t call me. He knows I’m looking to upgrade.”
Guilt swiftly reared its ugly head and Jess scrambled to change the subject. “Hey, Dave, can you hack into a computer?”
He laughed, and some of her tension eased out in a breath. “What’s Bren been telling you? Look, I only wanted to get into Chloe’s address book. I had no idea she—”
“No, Dave. Listen to me.” God, what if someone else was listening to her right now. What if the phones had been tapped? What if Facinetti had that kind of power? “Better yet, can you come by here?”
“When?”
Jess glanced over her shoulder. Tanner still watched her, but he’d pulled up his jeans and covered himself. “Now.”
“I can’t right this minute. I’m still at work, but I’ll be off in another few hours. I can come by when I’m done. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, sure.” She couldn’t tell him the truth. Didn’t want to involve him more than she had to. He didn’t have to know why she needed his hacking skills, and he’d either find what she needed or he wouldn’t. “Everything’s fine. I just need your help with a computer issue….Thanks.” Jess said goodbye and hung up the phone.
“Who’s Dave?” Tanner asked.
She felt his solid presence behind her, smelled the sex that still lingered on his body and in the air. “He’s my brother Brendan’s best friend. They’re both computer geeks.” Jess found her courage and faced Tanner. Just because she felt like crap, didn’t mean Tanner had to know it. “I thought he might be able to hack into Maurice’s computer and find those accounts.”
“Even if he does, we don’t have the bank passwords.”
have the money.” back t him “Maur
ice said they’re on the computer. It’s just a matter of finding them. If we can’t, I’ll go back to his office. Maybe there’s a master list somewhere or a flash drive he used as backup. I don’t know. It’s worth a try.” Emotion clogged her throat. “I can’t stay here and do nothing.” She definitely couldn’t stay here and have more sex with Tanner either.
Tanner’s dark eyes watched her as if he knew what she was thinking. He set his palms on her shoulders and rubbed along her arms, sending chills across her skin.
“You shouldn’t go back to his place,” he told her quietly. “It’s too dangerous. Once was bad enough, but you can’t risk it again.”
There was only one thing she couldn’t risk again and it had nothing to do with going to any of Maurice’s places.
Jess stared up at him. “You don’t understand. I’ll do whatever I have to, whether it’s going to all of Maurice’s stupid houses or offering myself in place of him. I lost all my bargaining power when I k-killed Maurice so nothing matters as long as I get the information I need.” Just saying the words aloud made her dizzy.
“Bullshit.” Tanner’s grip tightened on her arms. “It matters. You need to stay alive to help your family so being stupid isn’t part of the plan.”
Stupid? Wasn’t that the magic word? She’d been stupid to work for Maurice in the first place. Stupid to hold a gun in her hand, stupid to kill the only man who could get her family back alive. The word lingered inside her like a bomb and the explosion erupted with little warning.
“Get your hands off me!” Jess stepped back, out of Tanner’s immediate range. “I’ve already proved the stupid part by killing Maurice, so spare me the lecture. I fucked up. Are those words you understand?” Jess turned before he saw the emotion in her eyes. She couldn’t, didn’t want to break down in front of him.
