There was no answer.
She was wide awake now, her hip starting to ache. She didn’t want to think about her clumsiness or the bruises from her fall in the shower. She really hated the idea that Wolfe had found her there on the floor like a klutz. A stark naked klutz, no less.
She dragged a hand through her hair. She probably looked like hell. Her nightshirt kept climbing up, too. She wondered how much he’d seen before he left.
She tried to finger comb her hair and gave up. How she looked didn’t matter because nothing was going to happen. She wasn’t going to discuss her medical problems with him either. This was her situation, not his. He had his own worries to deal with right now.
She sat up slowly, rubbing her face. Hadn’t she offered to sleep on the floor? How in heaven had she ended up draped across his naked chest?
“Here’s your water.”
Wolfe returned, standing right in front of her. She didn’t see the glass of water he was holding out. She didn’t see her pills or anything else in his hands.
Her gaze arrowed straight toward his chest and the sculpted muscles of his abs. Gorgeous.
She looked lower.
His top button was open, well-worn jeans riding low at his trim hips. Right now they were pulled tight over an unmistakable erection.
Wow, Kit thought. How had she slept through a sight like that? She forced her gaze back to his face and met his cool, unblinking stare.
“See something interesting?”
“No. That is—I wasn’t paying attention.” She looked away, desperate to hide the flush she could feel crossing her cheeks. “I was thinking about something else.”
“Is that a fact?” His tone was very dry. “Like what?”
“Um—I was thinking about Diesel,” she said quickly. “And then I remembered it’s my birthday tomorrow.”
The glint in Wolfe’s eyes told her that he wasn’t buying her hasty explanation for a second, but he didn’t say anything else, shaking two pills onto his hand.
“Thanks.” She avoided his eyes. “For talking. For letting me sleep on the couch.” Draped all over your warm chest. “For taking care of the dogs, too.”
“My pleasure. They’re quite a handful.” After Kit took her pills, he leaned down to scratch Baby’s head. “Damned smart, all of them.”
“You noticed that, did you?” She stifled a yawn. “I know I’m biased, but they seem to get smarter every day.” She saw a muscle tighten at Wolfe’s jaw. “You think that’s weird?”
“Not really. So how come you forgot your own birthday?”
Kit pulled the blanket over her legs. “It’s no big deal. I never do much anyway.”
He took her face gently between his big hands. “It should be a big deal. You should get dressed up in something tight and black, then go dancing all night long.”
She swallowed hard. The pressure of his hands made her stomach turn flip-flops. “Are you offering to take me?”
Something moved in his eyes. She felt his hands tighten.
Then he stood up, his face a mask. “I wish I could. But neither of us has any dance time in our immediate future. Whoever came after the Jeep on that deserted road could decide to come back.”
Kit stared at him, trying to take in his sharp change of mood. “So I’m stuck here with you? Like some kind of prisoner?” Her voice tightened.
“For the moment, yes. It will be safer. I’m sorry, Kit.”
She settled back on the sofa, studying his body. The muscles in his arms bunched as he leaned down to put her pills on the side table. Light brushed the hair scattered over his amazing chest.
She had to work not to drool.
The captive part was A-okay with her. Maybe she should reconsider Miki’s plan, too. When would she ever have another shot at her top birthday gift, namely a night of wild sex in Wolfe’s bed?
She took a slow breath. “So we’re stuck here together? All night? That’s very cool.”
His brow rose. “You don’t mind?”
Mind being held hostage by the man she’d lusted after secretly ever since she was thirteen? Mind seeing that hard body at seriously close range?
What part was she supposed to mind?
She managed to make her voice light. “I’ll survive.”
“So what do you want for your birthday?”
Kit stared into his dark eyes. Hot, sweaty sex in front of the fire came to mind. She cleared her throat. “Miki says I need La Perla and Manolo Blahnik.”
“Ma-no-what?”
“Just stuff, Houston. Expensive but gorgeous. Never mind, you wouldn’t follow.” She blinked as he held out a foil-wrapped bar. “What’s this?”
“Field rations. You should always have something in your stomach when you take medicine.”
“How did you know that?” Kit was hit by the paralyzing thought that somehow he’d tracked down her medical history and details about the powerful pills she was taking.
“Common sense. That’s what doctors tell everyone.” He opened the bar and broke it in half. “Go on, eat it.”
She took a bite and was pleasantly surprised. “Cinnamon brownie. Not half bad, either.” She watched him take a bite. “So what’s in these things, steroids or amphetamines? Some kind of secret growth hormone and tissue regenerator?”
He coughed sharply. “What do you mean by—”
“Just a joke. You’re so—buff. I mean, your chest.” Probably all the rest of him, too. Kit looked away, frowning. “You should take the couch. It’s no problem, because I won’t be able to fall asleep again. I never can.”
Drat. Why had she let that last part slip?
She felt the couch shift. His thigh brushed her hip.
Her breath piled up in her chest as he slid an arm around her shoulders.
His eyes narrowed, focused entirely on her. He looked irritated and very restless. “What are you thinking about?” she whispered.
“You. About your long legs and soft skin. God help the man who tries to have any willpower around you.”
She heard the edge to his voice. His hand was cradling her neck and his body had gone absolutely still. His eyes moved, fixed on her mouth.
I’m going to do this, she thought wildly. I’m going to kiss him and then I’m going to pull off his jeans and see all the rest of him.
It was crazy, but she’d waited long enough.
Her heart hammered as he leaned closer, whispered her name. He traced her mouth slowly with his thumb and her body felt liquid, boneless. She wet her dry lips, wanting to feel his mouth.
A shrill ring cut through the silence.
She sighed in irritation when she realized the sound was coming from her cell phone, shoved inside the pocket of her nightshirt.
Maybe she could ignore it. When the ringing stopped, he would kiss her. With luck he might make love to her for the next forty-eight hours.
Even one hour would be good. She wouldn’t be choosy where he was concerned.
“Aren’t you going to answer that?”
He didn’t sound at all disturbed. In fact, he was smiling faintly as he reached across her and pulled out the cell phone.
Life was simply not fair, she thought angrily. For the first time in her life she had a shot at reckless, sweaty sex with the man of her dreams and her damned cell phone had to go off and ruin everything.
Diesel. The thought brought her down to earth with a crash and she grabbed the phone. It was three o’clock in the morning. Who else but Liz would call her at this hour?
She scanned the incoming caller ID and answered. “Liz, is that you? Is something wrong?”
“I’m glad I got you, Kit. I tried Miki earlier but she said you weren’t there. Then I tried the ranch. Where are you?”
“I’m not at Miki’s. Tonight I—” She stopped as Wolfe shook his head sharply. “I’m staying with a friend,” she finished. “Is something wrong with Diesel?”
The silence stretched out. Through the pounding of her heart, Kit heard pap
ers rustle and a chair creak.
“Diesel’s just the same,” Liz said. “He’s no worse. I was actually calling because—” A desk chair squeaked again. “I got some unusual blood work back a few minutes ago. Diesel’s granulocytes are out of sight and the rest of his white count—well, let’s just say I’ve never seen abnormals like this before.”
Kit stared into the air above Wolfe’s shoulder, confused. “There’s something wrong with his blood tests? You think he might have some deeper condition causing the asthma?”
She felt Wolfe lean closer. She could have sworn that his hand smoothed her hair. Focused on Liz’s call, she couldn’t be sure.
“At the moment, I don’t know what’s going on. I’ll have to do more tests, maybe check with some people in Albuquerque. But I wanted to speak with you first.”
“I don’t know what to say, Liz. He’s had asthma attacks before, but otherwise he’s always been strong as a horse. The only blood work he’s ever had was with you.”
“I see. If you think of anything, give me a call. I’ll talk to you in the morning.” Liz laughed dryly. “Except it already is morning.”
“Maybe you should get some rest.” Kit watched sparks pop in the fireplace. “You sound exhausted, Liz.”
“Occupational hazard, I’m afraid. I’ll call you as soon as Diesel’s up and around.”
The line went dead, but Kit didn’t move, cradling the phone.
“Something wrong with Diesel?”
“We’re not sure. His vet says the blood work is weird.”
“Was that the technical term?”
“Actually, she said she’d never seen anything like it.” She sat stiffly, barely aware that she was gripping her cell phone. “You don’t think that Diesel could have hanta virus, do you? Maybe that new form of equine flu? What if—”
She felt Wolfe’s fingers lift her hair. Then his mouth touched her skin, tracing a warm path across the most amazingly sensitive spot on her neck.
No one had ever touched her there before.
No man had ever kissed her so gently, until her blood raced and her heart seemed to melt.
His lips did more of that same amazing thing, and heat hit her like a summer dust storm.
“Uh—what are you doing?”
“Distracting you.” His voice was husky. “So you’ll quit playing what if. It’s always an exercise in futility.”
“But Diesel—”
“Shhh.”
Casual was her new mantra, she kept telling herself. She was not getting emotionally involved. Casual.
Something beeped nearby, and she realized it was her cell phone again. Not now. Not when she was on the verge of perfect fantasy.
She glanced at the LED screen and sighed.
“Who is it?”
“Miki.”
Wolfe pulled the phone from her hand. “Forget it. We’ve got more important things to do.”
Kit blinked as he tossed her phone onto the couch and slid his hands into her hair. “Like what?”
His eyes darkened. “Let’s break a few rules.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
KIT CLEARED HER THROAT. “So you want—”
“Yeah.” He bit her upper lip gently. “I want it bad. Call it an early birthday present. For both of us.” He pulled away, a frown between his eyes. “Unless you’ve got different ideas?”
Not want sex with Wolfe?
She’d have to be dead and decomposing not to want sex with him. “N-no. I mean, yes. I’ve always wanted you, ever since I was thirteen and you stopped me from trying to jump off the back of my father’s pickup truck.”
“You were so damned determined. You halfway had me believing you could hold out that big plastic sheet and coast a little,” he said hoarsely.
Kit felt desire arrow through her body. Her arms slid around his neck as he drew her against him. “I’m flying right now. Who needs a truck?”
“We haven’t even started flying. Trust me on this.”
She did trust him. She always had.
She rocked against his chest as he carried her over the tiled floor. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
But when he set her down, it was on a polished tabletop rather than smooth sheets. They were in the kitchen and he was pulling things out of drawers. “Don’t tell me you’re going to cook?”
“Not cook, but you’re definitely eating more than a protein bar. Medicine can hurt your stomach,” he said gruffly. “Take this.”
A warm mouthful of chocolate chip cookies filled Kit’s mouth. She sighed in earthy pleasure, licking his fingers to savor every rich speck. “More,” she said, struck by greed.
He fed her another mouthful, as warm and freshly cooked as the last.
“These are amazing. Where did you find cookies?”
“Izzy’s team doesn’t miss a beat. They were in the oven, still warm.”
Kit bit his fingers lightly as she finished, leaving his hand damp from her mouth.
“You like to play dangerous, I see.”
Caught between his open thighs, Kit felt his erection nudge the fragile barrier of her bikini panties. The man was definitely prime. If this was another dream, she was going to kill someone.
She tilted her head up and kissed his chest. His hands slid around her and he cursed.
Pleased with his response, Kit tried it again. This time his fingers dug into her hair and his mouth crushed hers. He was hungry and angry and giving, all at the same time. The mix left her blood pounding.
She wriggled over the table, her thighs opening around him until they fit together tight, exactly the way she had always imagined they would.
Wolfe muttered hoarsely against her mouth.
“What did you say?”
“I said, find a gun and shoot me now.” He twisted a finger in the edge of her panties. “This could get rough.”
“Promises, promises.”
He pulled the panties free, dropping them on the floor.
Kit’s face filled with heat as he looked at her, his eyes hot. “Wolfe, I—”
“Shhh. Don’t disturb me while I’m living the best fantasy of my life.” A muscle moved at his jaw. “You’re gorgeous. Strong. You’ve got me on my knees, honey.”
She felt the cool brush of air as her nightshirt opened, button by button. Her breasts hardened beneath his callused hands. Then she felt the warm slide of his tongue, the wet friction of his mouth, and both of them were dragging her straight to delirium.
A clicking noise echoed through the kitchen and she realized the dogs were right behind Wolfe, watching every move.
He gave a hoarse laugh. “No voyeurs allowed, guys. Out of here, all of you.” Baby whined, staring up at him. “You too, Baby.” The puppy barked once, then trotted back into the living room, with the others right behind her.
Wolfe kicked the kitchen door closed with his foot.
The movement gave Kit ample opportunity to savor the sculpted lines of his body. “I need to touch you.” She reached for his jeans. “Right now.”
He parried her hand neatly and in one smooth movement slid her nightshirt from her shoulders. “I’ve got other plans.”
Kit ran her tongue over dry lips. Her body was flushed and aching where their thighs met, and his jeans rode against her naked skin in a subtle friction that was fast driving her to a frenzy. “Wolfe, please. You don’t know—”
“Like hell I don’t.” His voice was razor-sharp with tension. “You’ve got me twisted inside out. I’ll be damned if I’m going to hurry now.”
She made a broken sound as his hand slid over her stomach and combed the nest of curls at her thighs. His finger slid inside her, stroked her in a slow, hot caress that made her push blindly against him.
She closed her eyes, lost in pleasure. This was Wolfe, and she was finally here, with his hands touching her, goading her, making her body wet and lush in the grip of the best sex she’d ever had or even thought of having.
Then
the heat took her and she came against him, stunned past words by pleasure. She shuddered as his fingers teased deeper and drove her up again, across a shining rope of trust and memories and maybe even love.
But she refused to think about love or even tomorrow. She dug her nails into his back, panting, as her body tightened again and she fell back to earth, shuddering.
When she opened her eyes, he was watching her. The sight of the old scars on his chest and shoulders made her suck in a breath. “What did they do to you?” she whispered.
“What had to be done. What I let them do.”
But Kit saw a boy betrayed. She saw a man hardened by combat.
And she grieved for his pain just as she grieved for a world that required his sacrifice of blood.
She kissed him slowly, starting at his shoulder and lapping his skin, nipping gently. Then she bit down harder, summoning the violence she sensed he always kept hidden, very well leashed. She didn’t want him controlled. She wanted him stripped to the core the same way she was, both captive and captor. She sensed that would free him as few other things could, and if he hurt her inadvertently, she would bear it without regret, her gift for a man who had given so much and never asked for anything in return.
When he leaned down, she tried to wriggle free, but his thighs closed, locked around her. His hands opened and his hot, skillful mouth moved, tasting her in ways no man ever had, until she was lost and panting against him. Slow and gentle, his tongue stirred unbearable waves of pleasure, and then she was there, caught in pleasure. Twice she cried out his name, but he didn’t stop. She shuddered, raked her nails across his back, every nerve aflame.
Then she collapsed, breathless, all her strength gone.
When the shudders finally stopped and her sanity returned, she pulled free and glared at him.
“Did I hurt you?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
His body tensed. “I’m sorry. It was the last thing I wanted.”
“Not with your touch, Wolfe. With the touch you didn’t give me.” She turned, sliding against his chest. “I won’t break, damn it. I’m not afraid of what you are or what you’ve done.”
“Maybe you should be.”
“Maybe you should stop moving away when I touch you. There are things that I’ve been waiting for, too.”
Code Name: Bundle! Page 20
