Deadly Promises

by Sherrilyn Kenyon; Dianna Love; Cindy Gerard; Laura Griffin

  Capable hands moved down her shoulders and behind her back, pressing her closer. His tongue brushed past her lips, sparring sweetly with hers.

  She shivered at his touch, his strength and gentleness.

  He was being damn careful with her. Did that mean he wouldn’t go any further? She had one night if he was leaving Tuesday and wanted all of him tonight.

  Then she prayed he wouldn’t forget her while he was gone.

  She hoped she wasn’t making a wrong move, but she shifted her hands between them and climbed her fingers up his chest where his muscles quivered from her touch. That encouraged her. She grasped his shoulders and pulled herself up against him until she felt the solid ridge in his jeans.

  He was definitely up for more than kissing.

  She made one sensual rub, then another.

  A growl vibrated from Jeremy. Heady excitement rushed through her at the prospect he wanted her as much as she wanted him. She smiled and ground her hips in what she hoped he’d think was a seductive way.

  Jeremy reached down and scooped her up until her legs hooked around his waist, then his kiss deepened, demanding all her attention. He was so beautiful. Muscles rippled beneath her fingers with every move. He held her bottom with one hand and her head with another, his mouth refusing to give an inch, overwhelming her with his kisses.

  She tightened her legs, sliding intimately against him.

  Jeremy lifted his mouth from hers. “You better have a condom somewhere in this house or we’re walking to mine just like this.”

  “B… B…” She couldn’t think.

  “Bedroom?”

  “Yes.”

  He swung her around, moving with the stealth of a large jungle cat in the dark. His mouth found hers again, turning her insides crazy hot. When he entered the bedroom she blushed at the candles burning. Would he think it was silly or too romantic?

  He slowly lowered her to the bed and brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “You’re even more gorgeous in candlelight.”

  She sighed or maybe the room did.

  “I want to see all of you,” she whispered, tentatively.

  Jeremy stood up, reached behind him, and laid a Walther P99 on the nightstand. She shivered at the smooth way he handled the weapon. Total confidence.

  “I’ll put this out of sight if it bothers you,” he said, pointing at the gun.

  She shook her head. “I grew up with guns in the house.” In fact, Jeremy would be surprised to know how quickly she could break down and reassemble the one on the nightstand.

  But right now she was more interested in the barrel inside his pants. “The only thing bothering me is you so far away.”

  He smiled and unzipped his jeans. Candlelight glowed across his golden skin, highlighting muscles carved to perfection. Not an overdone bodybuilder, but a modern-day Adonis with a powerful build softened only by honey-blond hair brushing his forehead.

  When he peeled out of the jeans she lost her breath.

  He’d dressed commando. Impressive.

  Jeremy dropped down over the top of her, supporting his weight with his forearms.

  She inched back at the untamed look in his eyes.

  “Should have run when you could have,” he teased. He moved farther on the bed, still towering over her, but paused as if checking to see if she’d changed her mind.

  CeCe shook her head slowly and smiled. “I’m all yours for the taking.”

  A feral gaze lashed through those simmering green eyes.

  He slipped an arm under her back and lifted her up, moving her higher on the pillow, then pushed her hands above her head to grasp the vertical bars in the brass headboard. “Don’t let go.”

  Don’t let go? She didn’t dare ask why for fear of him stopping.

  He ran his hand down her throat, over her shoulders, across the silky top barely covering her breasts in this position. His fingers lingered, slipping beneath the material to trace a path around one nipple.

  She tensed, waiting, but he didn’t touch the sensitive bud.

  His finger drew circles slowly down to her navel, then paused. He lifted the edge of her camisole and shifted the thin material back and forth across her taut nipples. A fiery sizzle shot straight through her, erupting in a frenzy of wet heat that pooled between her legs.

  She clenched, needing him to touch her everywhere.

  The silk drifted back in place when he released it.

  Her heart raced, anticipation taking her breath.

  His fingers lightly raked the exposed skin around her navel then across the front of her lace underwear. His lips followed behind his fingers, kissing and nipping her skin.

  He touched the inside of her thigh and slipped a finger under the edge of her panties.

  She tensed, waiting for him to touch her most intimate spot. When he pulled the lace aside, he lowered his head and kissed her then ran his tongue across the fragile skin.

  She gripped the bars and arched, crying out at the wave of pleasure that seared through her. He stopped before the sensation crested and kissed his way back to her breasts.

  “I want to touch you,” she panted.

  “Not yet, sweetheart.” His lips grazed her abdomen, kissing lightly and murmured, “I love the feel of your skin. So soft.”

  He lifted her silky top, slowly, letting the material feather the tips of her breasts again, then slid it over her head. Tears stung her eyes at the exquisite pain.

  Then his mouth covered one breast.

  She’d expected relief, not blissful torture with a razor edge. His tongue toyed with one nipple, slowly driving her mad. A hand covered the other breast, then his thumb scraped gently across the beaded tip.

  She arched, shaking with need for more, but he kept her dangling on that painful edge.

  Jeremy moved slowly up to her mouth and the kiss was fierce this time, consuming and possessive. His thick erection rubbed against her stomach. She lifted up, pressing against him until he hissed and lifted away. She opened her eyes to see the muscles in his neck corded, tense from the strain of holding back, taking this slow.

  She’d waited years for this chance and didn’t want slow and easy. She scrambled to think of some way to shake him up so he’d stop being so careful. “I’m… wet for you.”

  His whole body shuddered. “You’re killing me,” he muttered. He lowered his head and suckled her breast, then moved his fingers inside her panties until he pushed one inside her. She inhaled a sharp breath and moaned on the release.

  He drew the wet finger out and caressed her folds, teasing the one spot where her body begged for relief. He’d barely touched her when she exploded into a thousand sparks, her mind and body screaming with release.

  And he wouldn’t let her stop until she collapsed.

  “Good God, woman.”

  “What?” she panted.

  “I almost came just watching you.”

  She basked in the thrill of his words since that’s all her boneless body had the energy to do.

  He stretched out beside her and ran his fingers over her face. She kissed his palm. He turned her toward him and kissed her, his lips sweet now, gentle.

  There he went being careful with her again.

  “That’s not it, is it?” she asked.

  His hand stilled.

  She reached down and grasped the smooth skin stretched tight over his penis. He growled and clenched at the touch. Slowly, she stroked her hand down, then upward to the damp tip.

  Jeremy let out a harsh sound. “Where’s that condom?”

  She sat up and shoved him back on the bed playfully. Her heart thumped in a wild rhythm. To cover her nervousness, she just smiled and hoped she could do this correctly. Reaching over, she opened the nightstand drawer with shaking hands and dug around until her fingers touched foil. She moved back to Jeremy and straddled him.

  Then fought with the foil packet.

  She was going to embarrass herself if she couldn’t at least open the damn condom. Large hands co
vered hers. She met Jeremy’s gaze, terrified she’d see him laughing. He didn’t say a word or smile, just opened the package, tossed it aside, and handed her the condom.

  The last time she did this with a boy—and he was a boy—who wasn’t quite so well endowed.

  CeCe drew a breath, then took her time sheathing Jeremy, careful not to move too fast and scratch him with her nails. He was so silent and rigid by the time she finished, CeCe looked up to see if he was okay.

  A line of perspiration beaded his forehead.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked.

  “No.” His voice sounded raw. “I don’t think putting on a condom has ever felt so erotic.”

  That had to be the nicest thing a man had ever said to her. She smiled with a sassy toss of her head.

  Jeremy hid his surprise over her flash of boldness. She’d shocked the hell out of him when he stepped into her kitchen and found her waiting for him like a birthday gift wrapped in silk. CeCe Caprice had another side of her he’d never have expected. He’d guessed she hadn’t done this much and watching her fumble with the condom removed any doubt. He would bet she hadn’t been intimate with a man more than once or twice.

  What she lacked in experience she made up for with unbridled enthusiasm. But what had triggered this for tonight?

  Why had she blown him off and now…

  She lifted herself up over his cock.

  He lost all concern about why and grasped her hips, easing her down and sliding himself inside her. He gritted his teeth at the ragged pleasure of being surrounded by her tight heat.

  Her eyes widened with a range of emotions, from surprise to shock to pleasure, with each inch he lowered her down his shaft until she dropped her head back, tightened, and moaned.

  If she kept that up, he’d be looking like the one with little experience. He’d never met a woman who exploded so quickly. Just a touch.

  She leaned forward again, her hands on his chest and a wicked gleam in her eyes. Without a word, she lifted up then down. He gripped her hips and met her stroke for stroke, every muscle in his body holding back, fighting to make this last.

  CeCe quickened the pace and gripped his chest. He moved a hand until he could tease her with a finger. She arched sharply, tensed, and came again.

  The woman was incredible.

  He stroked deep inside her, coming right behind her. The force of his orgasm lashed through him sharp as heat lightning. His body clenched with a last powerful thrust. Rough breaths shuddered from him. The blinding surge of energy slowly abated.

  That had been pretty freaking amazing. Not what he’d imagined at all and he had a healthy imagination.

  She fell forward in a heap on his chest. Chuckling, he wrapped her in his arms, unable to do more until he got his breath back. CeCe was one incredible woman.

  She’d been nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs when he’d walked into her kitchen, trying to seduce him when it was obvious she had little experience at inviting men into her bedroom. Maybe something important had come up with her brother that she’d felt took priority over a casual dinner.

  Jeremy could understand that, even though he had no family. Never had. But why had she called him over here late tonight? Because he said he was leaving in two days? They still could have gone to dinner tomorrow. Unless she had plans.

  In spite of this late-night gift, CeCe was no quick roll in the sheets.

  She was a nice girl and sweet… and hot as hell.

  Why question his good fortune?

  Because he couldn’t suppress a chiding voice that said this was all he’d ever be to any woman.

  The contented sigh that slipped from her warmed his heart. He reached over and pulled the spread across her when she shivered. He’d rushed over here ready to take on any threat only to find she was the real danger.

  She fit in his arms. The idea of keeping her there felt right. What was he going to do after this when he’d be gone in less than two days now?

  He rolled her to the side and wrapped his leg over her, tucking her close. Unwilling to let her go now that he had her.

  In the past, he’d spent a few hours in bed with a woman then got antsy, ready to leave. Not caring who his bed partner saw next. He’d had plenty of those encounters, but in fairness to both players all those women had been just as happy to treat him like another throwaway memory.

  Walking away from CeCe wouldn’t be so easy and he sure as hell didn’t want to think about another man touching her.

  CeCe was the kind of woman who would want more from a relationship.

  He rubbed a hand along her back. The thought of having her to come home to felt… nice. He wasn’t ready to get overly serious, but dating the same woman more than twice had its merits. If CeCe was willing to make love with him didn’t that mean she’d want more too?

  That she’d be here waiting for him when he returned from his next mission?

  On the other hand, why hadn’t she gone out with him before this? That question hadn’t entered his mind when she was standing half naked in the kitchen trimmed in pink.

  Maybe all she did want from him was sex.

  He stopped rubbing her back, considering that possibility and dismissed it just as quickly. In spite of her temptress routine tonight, CeCe wasn’t that kind of woman. She clearly didn’t want her brother to know about this, but that wasn’t so hard to understand when Jeremy considered her lack of experience with men.

  CeCe was sincere. She wouldn’t bring him into her bedroom tonight just to send him packing in the morning.

  Four

  If CeCe bent over and stretched in front of him one more time, Jeremy couldn’t be held accountable for his actions.

  He yanked the towel from around his neck and wiped perspiration off his forehead that had nothing to do with a vigorous workout he’d just finished on a circuit in his gym.

  Nope, it was the erotic display going on across the room where CeCe faced a wall of mirrors.

  His gaze strayed to where she’d found a corner to do her yoga exercises, but that move didn’t look like yoga. She kneeled on the mat facing the mirror and raised her arms above her head then leaned back, way back, arching. Her breasts stretched the pale blue jog bra tight.

  Then she arched even farther and twisted.

  Reminding him of how she’d looked once last night.

  The worn denim jeans he was wearing had always been his favorite because they were so comfortable. But it was feeling uncomfortable and crowded as hell beneath the zipper.

  Jeremy gritted his teeth and turned around to the drink cooler he’d been working on before his control snapped and he stormed across the gym to strip her naked. He’d run errands all day so he could come in late to avoid suffering through the yoga routine she did every afternoon without fail.

  Like either of them needed a workout today.

  He’d burned four condoms with her last night. Make that very early this morning.

  Then she’d told him he had to leave before daylight.

  Hadn’t taken a rocket scientist to figure out why. So no one saw him. CeCe rarely left her house before late morning.

  He sighed and hung his head. He should be used to that by now—having an attractive woman fawn all over him, share an intimate night, then shuffle him out the door before daylight like a dirty secret.

  Jeremy lifted a screwdriver and started removing a metal panel on the cooler. He should be thankful CeCe wanted to keep things casual between them, but he’d been angry since stalking home this morning and his mood hadn’t improved all day.

  Maintaining the playboy image at thirty was getting old.

  He’d thought CeCe was different, but she’d made clear what she wanted from him last night and this morning.

  Why should he be surprised? She probably wanted an everyday Joe with a regular job who kept regular hours, which Jeremy had never done.

  He’d never be a nine-to-fiver who could be expected to come home every night. Not when he left t
own on short notice to work undercover, and to make matters worse he couldn’t tell her what he did for the BAD Agency or when he’d be back. Impossible situation. Which was why he should accept whatever came his way and not complain.

  “Um, Jeremy, are you…”

  He snapped around at the softly spoken words and found CeCe close to him. He took in the whole gym with a sweeping glance, checking to see if anyone was paying attention to where they stood. He avoided getting caught alone anywhere in the gym with a woman for so many reasons, the main one being that it sent the wrong message to the string of females on the hunt that paraded through this environment daily.

  He dropped his screwdriver back into his toolbox and wiped his hands on the shop rag hooked to his belt.

  “Am I what?” He crossed his arms and stood there, waiting to see where this was going.

  “Busy tonight?” she said quietly.

  “Maybe.”

  She folded her arms and looked away.

  Jeremy hadn’t meant for his words to come out with a bite, but he was starting to figure out what last night was all about and didn’t like his assessment. CeCe had been jumpy when her brother showed up yesterday. Her brother had been flying out this morning and was probably the reason she’d kept her distance from Jeremy until now.

  CeCe told him during refreshments on her patio that she had three overprotective older brothers. He’d caught her point that someone she dated had to pass their approval.

  Her conclusion based on being shuffled off this morning? She thought he wouldn’t measure up.

  “Why do you want to know if I’m busy?” he pressed.

  CeCe lifted her head, hope shining bright in her eyes. “I thought I’d cook dinner… if you’d like to come over… tonight.” She’d pulled on a pair of black warm-up pants and a baggy gray sweatshirt that hung off one smooth shoulder. She fidgeted with the oversized sleeve. The wavy ponytail pulled high on her head flopped to one side.

  She’d refused to join him for lunch today when he’d called her earlier, but meeting after dark in her house was acceptable, huh?