Bodyguard

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Bodyguard Page 14

by Lori Foster


  “Emily…”

  “No, wait.” She had to pant for breath, but she was determined. “Will you take your clothes off for me, Judd?”

  He blinked. “Will I…How about we take them off together?”

  Reaching for his shirt, she said, “Of course,” but Judd stopped her hands.

  “I meant, we should take our clothes off, Em. I want you naked, too. All those things you want to do to me, well, I want to do them to you.”

  Her mouth went dry. Just the thought of Judd kissing her…She shook her head. “No. Not a good idea. This is my turn…”

  “Let’s not argue about it, okay?”

  She could see the humor in his gaze, and his crooked smile. He was so endearing, so charming, so…“I’ve never undressed for anyone before.”

  There. She’d made that admission. She knew her face was scarlet, but she simply hadn’t considered that he might want her to display herself. He was the stripper, not her.

  Even as his fingers went to the waistband of his jeans, Judd murmured, “Fair’s fair, Em.” His eyes challenged her, and while her fascinated gaze stayed glued to his busily working fingers, Emily nodded.

  She started to untie the bow to her dress, but Judd caught her hands. “No. This one is mine. I thought about doing this—so many times—since we first met.” He took the very tip of the lace tie between his finger and thumb, then gently tugged. It pulled open and the ends landed, curling around her breasts. Judd carefully separated the looped strips, while the backs of his fingers brushed over her nipples again and again. Then he slid the tie—so very slowly—out of her collar. Through it all, Emily didn’t move.

  It was the most erotic thing she’d ever had done to her.

  She barely noticed when Judd tucked the lace tie into the back pocket of his jeans. And then he began stripping again, prompting her with a look to do the same. She felt horribly awkward, and very self-conscious. Her body wasn’t perfect like his, but rather too slim, too slight. Where Judd looked like every woman’s vision of masculine perfection, she was a far sight from the women’s bodies displayed in men’s magazines.

  After unbuttoning her dress, she stepped out of her shoes, trying to concentrate on what Judd was doing, rather than on her own actions. Next, she took off her nylons, tossing them onto the chair by her bed. She saw Judd go still for a moment, then saw his nostrils flare. It hit her that her disrobing excited him. He’d already removed his shirt, and now his jeans, along with his underwear, were shoved down his legs. He stepped out of them, then fully naked, he turned his attention to watching her. There was no disguising his state of arousal. His stomach muscles were pulled tight, and his erection was long and thick and throbbing.

  She drew a shuddering breath. “Judd?”

  “Go on, honey.” When she still hesitated, he said, “You’re doing fine, Em. Now, take off the dress.”

  His words hit her with the impact of a loud drumroll, and she couldn’t swallow, her throat was so tight. She saw a slight smile hover on his mouth, and he said, “I’ve had some fantasies, too, babe. And seeing you strip is one of them.”

  “I can’t.”

  “I’m not talking about doing it in front of an audience. It’ll just be you and me.” Then he lowered his gaze to where her hands knotted in the dress. “Take it off, Em.”

  She wanted to, she really did. But it wasn’t in her to flaunt her body, not when she felt she had nothing to flaunt. She looked away, feeling like a failure, afraid she’d disappointed him. Tears of frustration gathered in her eyes, and just when she would have begun a stammering explanation, Judd touched her.

  “Shh. It doesn’t matter, honey.” He pulled her close again. Emily kept her face averted.

  Judd pushed the dress down her shoulders, then worked it lower. The soft material slid over her arms and caught, for just a heartbeat, on her narrow hips, then went smoothly to the floor.

  Judd’s breath left him in a whoosh as his gaze dropped to her black lace panties and stayed there. Emily suddenly didn’t feel quite so awkward, not with the intense, heated way he watched her, as if she were the most fascinating woman he’d ever seen. She skimmed off her bra, then offered him a small, nervous smile.

  “Incredible.” His gaze finally lifted from her panties to her face. “If I’d known what you were wearing under that dress, I never would have lasted this long.” He lowered his head for another long, heated kiss, and at the same time, slid his hands into her underwear, his large warm palms cradling her bottom. His fingers explored, probing and stroking, and Emily clung to him. Before the kiss was over, her panties had joined the rest of their clothes and then she urged Judd to sit on the side of the bed. She dropped gracefully to her knees before him, then reached out and encircled his erection with both hands. He was breathing hard, his thighs tensed, his hands fisted on the bed at his sides. Emily leaned forward, feeling her heart pound, and took a small, tentative lick. He jerked, and a rough broken groan escaped him.

  Emily felt encouraged and anxious and excited. She leaned forward again, rubbing her breasts against his thighs, her nipples tingling against his hairy legs. Then she closed her mouth around him, gently suckling and sliding her tongue around him, feeling him shudder and stiffen. Judd gave a long, low, ragged groan and twined his fingers in her hair, leaning over her and holding her head between his large palms, urging her to the rhythm he liked. His hands trembled. So did his thighs.

  For the first time in her life, Emily was able to indulge in her sensual nature. Judd encouraged her, praised her, pleaded with her. She loved the scent of his masculinity, the texture of his rigid flesh, so silky smooth and velvety. She gave him everything she could, and he gave her the most remarkable night of her life. She knew, if Judd left her now, she wouldn’t regret a single minute she’d spent with him.

  And she also knew she’d never love another man the way she loved Judd Sanders.

  Chapter 9

  THE BAR WAS CROWDED AS WOMEN WAITED FOR the show to begin. Emily felt a twinge of jealousy, thinking of all those women seeing Judd in his skimpy briefs, but she kept reminding herself it was necessary for him to perform.

  She’d left John, still acting contrary and withdrawn, at her house. It seemed it only took one phone call from her father to destroy all the headway Judd had made with her brother. Judd told her not to worry, that he was certain John would work everything out. But John was her little brother, and she couldn’t help worrying about him any more than she could stop worrying over Judd.

  He was obsessed with catching Donner. Anytime Emily tried to discuss it with him, he went every bit as silent and sullen as John. She supposed he had to get into a certain mind-set to be able to work his cover. After all, not many men could pull off being a stripper. But she hated seeing him act so distant. Even now, as he lounged beside her sucking on an ice cube he’d fished from her cola, she wanted to touch him, to somehow reach him. But he ignored her.

  “There aren’t any men here tonight. It doesn’t seem likely that Donner will come.”

  She knew Judd had heard her, despite her lowered voice. But he didn’t look at her when he replied, “He’ll come. I feel it. And there aren’t any men because it isn’t allowed. It’s ladies’ night. But Donner has free run of the place. He’ll be here.”

  The look in his eyes, the way he held himself, was so different from the Judd she knew. She felt alone and almost sick to her stomach. She had wanted Donner so badly, but now, she only wanted to protect Judd. From himself. From his feelings. And most especially from his self-designed obligations to a dead man.

  Before Emily could comment further, Judd glanced at the watch on his wrist, then said, “I have to go get ready.”

  He straightened, and Emily tried to think of something to say, anything, that would break his strange mood. Then Judd leaned down and lifted her chin with the edge of his fist. “Do me a favor, babe. Don’t watch. If you do, I’ll start thinking about last night, and I might not make it.”

  Emily blink
ed. “I thought you wanted everyone to believe we had an…intimate association.”

  “Oh, they’ll believe.” Then he kissed her. Emily heard the bartender hoot, and she heard a few of the women close by whistle. One particularly brazen woman offered to be next.

  Judd practically lifted her from the bar stool, one hand anchored in her hair, the other wrapped around her waist. The kiss was long and thorough, and couldn’t have left any doubts about their supposed relationship.

  Pulling back by slow degrees, Judd said, “Damn, but I want to be home with you. Alone. Naked.”

  Emily hastily covered his mouth. “Hush. You’ll have me so rattled, I won’t remember what I’m doing here.”

  He kissed her fingers, then straightened again. “Stay out of trouble. And stay where I can see you.”

  “But don’t watch?”

  “You’ve got it.” Then he flicked a finger over her cheek and walked away to his “dressing room.” Emily couldn’t hold back a smile. He wasn’t as indifferent as you thought, was he, Emily? Who knows, this may all work out yet. Maybe, if enough time passes without Donner showing, Judd will finally give up and let someone more objective handle the case.

  Emily was daydreaming about having a future with Judd, when Clayton Donner strolled in the front door, along with his bully boys. Emily sank back on her stool to avoid being noticed. Not that she was all that noticeable, with so many women in the room.

  Donner stopped inside the door and spoke with one of his men. He checked his watch, smoothed a hand over his hair, then opened a door leading to a set of stairs. Mick, one of the men from the pool hall, stayed at the bottom. Minutes later, another man entered and spoke quietly with Mick. Emily sucked in a sharp breath as she realized he was the man from the photograph. Fear hit her first, knowing this man had deliberately sent someone to break into her home. But anger quickly followed.

  Whoever he was, he could be no better than Donner. And Emily wanted to see them both put away—preferably without involving Judd.

  Their heads were bent together in a conspiratorial way, and Emily wished she could hear what they were saying. When Mick led the other man upstairs, she decided she would follow. She felt a certain foreboding, not for herself, but for Judd. She had to protect him.

  Her heart pounded with her decision.

  Judd was probably the most capable man she’d ever met, but his love for Max would make him vulnerable in ways that could endanger his life. If there was some way, any way, to help predict Donner’s actions, she could use the information to help Judd.

  With that thought in mind, she waited until Judd had been cued by his music and walked onto the dance floor, then she slipped away. Judd didn’t notice since he seemed to be making every effort not to look her way. Women screamed in the background and the music blared. But above it all, Emily heard the rush of blood in her ears and her thundering heart. She tried to look inconspicuous as she made her way to the door.

  It opened easily when she turned the knob, and she held her breath, waiting to see if anyone would be standing on the other side. She could always claim to be looking for the ladies’ room. But once the door was open, she was faced with a narrow flight of stairs, with another door at the top.

  Oh, Lord, Emily, don’t lose your nerve now. And stop breathing so hard or they’ll hear you. Each step seemed to echo as her weight caused the stairs to squeak. As she neared the top, she could make out faint voices and she strained to listen. Donner’s tone was the most prominent, and not easy to miss. He had a distinctive sound of authority that grated on her ears.

  Trying to draw a deep, calming breath, Emily leaned against the wall and concentrated on picking up the discussion, hoping she’d hear if anyone moved to open the door. Gradually, she calmed enough to hear complete sentences, and minutes later, she started back down the stairs.

  Her hands shook horribly and she thought she might throw up. When she opened the door and stepped back into the loud atmosphere of the bar, her vision clouded over and she had to shake her head to clear it.

  Nothing had ever scared her like eavesdropping on Clayton Donner. But she now had what she needed to protect Judd. She knew when, and where, the next shipment would be bought. A plan was forming, and she’d have a little more than a week to perfect it. She’d make it work, and best of all, it wouldn’t include Judd.

  JUDD FINISHED UP his act just as Emily slid back onto her stool. She was stark white and her face seemed pinched in fear. He felt an immediate surge of anger. Something had upset her, and he wanted to know what.

  Ignoring grasping hands as he left the floor, he strode to Emily and stopped in front of her. She met his gaze with wide brown eyes and a forced smile. A crush of women began to close in behind him and he took Emily’s arm without a word, then started toward the room where he changed. As he walked, he glanced around, hoping to catch sight of Donner or one of his men. He saw only grinning women.

  When he closed the door behind them, she began to chatter. “The crowd seemed especially enthusiastic tonight. It’s a shame you’re not really a performer. You’re obviously very good at it.”

  Judd didn’t offer a comment on that inane remark. He studied her face, saw her fear and wondered what had happened. “Where did you go, Em?”

  “Where did I go?”

  “That’s what I asked.” He tossed his props aside and picked up a towel to rub over his body. Emily watched his hands, as she always did, with feminine fascination. “You were gone the entire time I danced.”

  “Oh.” She pulled her gaze up to peer into his face, then shrugged. “I went to the ladies’ room.”

  “Uh-uh. Try again.”

  She tried to look appalled. “You don’t believe me?”

  “Not a bit.” Maybe she had seen Donner. Maybe the bastard had even spoken to her. Judd felt his shoulders tense. “Where did you go, Em?”

  She gave a long sigh, then looked down at her feet. “All right, if you must know, I was jealous.”

  That set him back. “Come again?”

  She waved her hand airily. “All those women were ogling you as if they had the right. I couldn’t bear to watch. I suppose I’m just a…a possessive woman.”

  Judd narrowed his eyes, mulling over what she’d said. She sounded convincing enough, but somehow, her explanation didn’t ring true.

  Emily gave him a defiant glare when he continued to study her. “How would you feel if the situation were reversed? What if that was me dancing, and other men…were ogling me?”

  She blushed fire-red as she made that outrageous suggestion, and Judd felt a smile tug at his mouth, despite his belief she was keeping something from him. He pulled on his jeans and then said to her, “I suppose I’d have to take you home and tie you to the bed. I sure as hell wouldn’t sit around while other men enjoyed the sight of you. I’m a little possessive, too.”

  “There! You see what I…You are?”

  Shrugging into his shirt, Judd said, “Yes, I am. And because I’m so possessive, I’d like to know what you’re up to.”

  She immediately tucked in her chin and frowned. Judd was just about ready to shake her, when a knock sounded on the door. He went still, his adrenaline beginning to flow, then he moved Emily out of the way and opened the door.

  Mick stood there, an insolent look on his face.

  “Yeah?” Judd forced himself not to show any interest.

  Mick frowned. “Clay wants to talk to you.”

  “Tell Clay I’m busy.” As he said it, he reached back and wrapped an arm around Emily. She seemed startled that he’d done so.

  Mick’s gaze slid over Emily, then came back to Judd. “He said to tell you he’d like to discuss a little venture with you.”

  “Ah. I suppose I can spare a few minutes, then. Where is he?”

  “Upstairs. I’ll take you there.”

  “I can take myself. Tell him I’ll be there when I finish dressing.” He shut the door in Mick’s face.

  Emily immediately started wri
nging her hands. “Don’t go.”

  “What? Of course I’m going.” He leaned down and jerked on his socks and shoes. His hands shook, the anticipation making simple tasks more difficult. He looked up at Emily. “This is what we’ve been waiting for. Don’t go panicking on me now.”

  As he was trying to button his shirt, Emily threw herself against him. “It’s too dangerous. You could get hurt.”

  “Em, honey.” He didn’t want to waste any time, but he couldn’t walk out with her so upset. He drew a deep breath to try to collect himself. “Em, listen to me.” When he lifted her chin, she reluctantly met his gaze with her own. “It’ll be all right. Nothing’s going to happen here in the bar. I’m only going to talk to him. I promise.”

  Her bottom lip quivered and she sank her teeth into it to stop the nervous reaction. Judd bent to kiss her, helping her to forget her worry. “I want you to wait at the bar for me. Stay by Freddie until I come back out. Promise me.”

  “I’ll stay by Freddie.”

  “Good.” He opened the door and urged her out. “Now, go. I won’t be long.”

  Judd leaned out the doorway and watched until Emily had taken a stool in the center of the long Formica bar. He signaled Freddie, waited for his wave, then went back into the room, stuffed his props into his leather bag and hoisted it over his shoulder. He took the steps upstairs two at a time. He rapped sharply on the door. His jaw felt tight and there was a pounding in his temples.

  Mick opened it, peeked out, then pulled it wide for him to enter.

  Donner stood and came to greet him. “Well, if it isn’t our friend, the stripper. Tell me, do the ladies ever follow you home?”

  Judd forced his muscles to relax. “They try sometimes. But my calendar is full.”

  “Ah, yes. I almost forgot. The little bird from the pool hall.”

  Judd didn’t reply. He wanted to smash his fist against Donner’s smug, grinning face. Instead, he forced a negligent smile.

  “Do you enjoy dancing…Sanders, isn’t it?”

 

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