“Ready for the movie?” he asked and slipped her plate on top of his. “I’ll clean up before we go to bed. I mean you go to bed and I go to bed...in separate rooms.”
She grinned at his sincere effort to differentiate between the meanings. “I’ll help. This is a two-man job.”
“Sounds fair,” he said.
She followed him into the house and they made their way into the living room. Taking a seat on one end of the couch, she let Charlie hop up and get comfortable. Colin started the movie. Instead of sitting on the other end of the couch or the oversized chair, he got comfortable in the middle of the couch with Charlie nestled between them.
They watched the first movie, taking a popcorn break and following the action video with the romantic one. Thankful Colin kept a comfortable distance, the urge to fight her body’s constant humming to his presence had grown exhausting, keeping her thoughts harmless, debilitating. They ended the evening with good nights and parted at their own bedrooms doors.
She had to make an unspoken promise, sacred even though it meant giving up the dark possession holding her body hostage. She would not betray her best friend by sleeping with her son.
CHAPTER THREE
Getting to know Lea, stealing a moment alone, proved to be impossible when she was either on her way to a weird yoga class or pacing in her office. The weeks had flown by in a haze between starting on the new force, getting everything moved in, and trying like hell to catch a glimpse of his sexy landlady in her panties.
He closed his eyes and soaked in the image of Lea leaning over the toaster this morning, waiting for a frozen waffle to pop up. When he entered the kitchen and said, “Good morning,” she quickly straightened and tugged on the bottom of her robe. Apparently, she’d thought the short robe would cover the ample globes of her ass, but she was so wrong—and his dick had been grateful.
Colin checked the clock on the wall in the station. “You ready to head out, marshal?” his new partner, Hernandez, said as he walked by and smacked Colin on the shoulder. “You know, for a rookie, you’re not bad. I like the way you shook down the asshole who hit his wife. It gets kind of fucked up out here, but the perps are entertaining.”
Colin liked his new partner. Three days on the beat and they were already in sync. “For sure,” he said and folded the manila folder to leave on the lieutenant’s desk. “It’s still hot as hell out here,” he commented as they walked to the parking lot beside the precinct. “My landlady has a pool. Want to come by and have a beer? We’re the big green Victorian on Franklin.”
Hernandez nodded. “Sounds just like what I need. Is your landlady hot? Have you banged that yet? My wife’s got this skimpy police uniform she wears for me. Damn, the woman brings me to my knees. Maybe you could have your landlady wear—wait, is she like an old landlady, cigarette hanging out of her mouth, wears one of those snap-up dresses that looks a pair of curtains?”
Colin thought of Lea waiting at home wearing a tight little cop costume. He wanted to pull on the collar of his shirt. Shit, his blood was on fire. “Hot curvy number. She’s the sexiest woman on the planet, drives me insane. No curtain pajamas for this landlady.”
Hernandez stopped between their trucks. “My wife’s got a fine ass. Damn, I love a thick woman. Listen, man, let me check with Sophia. I can be there in an hour.”
“Cool,” Colin said and unlocked his truck to slide inside. Would Lea be home when he got there? She’d mentioned something about heading into the newspaper office, but she’d be home tonight. He hadn’t mentioned having someone over. All he could do was text her and hope she’d be okay with his plans.
He scrolled through the text messages on his phone. His mom had texted several times asking about his day, when he was coming over for dinner and trying to entice him with a girl she wanted him to meet. He ignored the last one and returned a message. Day went well. My partner is cool. Can come this Sunday for dinner. Luv you.
He typed in Lea’s name and texted. Hey, what are you doing? He strapped into his seat belt and waited.
A few seconds later, she responded. Just got home. You still at work? Catch any bad guys today?
Colin felt his heart flutter. Yes, like a Goddamn girl, the muscle did the hummingbird shit right in the center of his chest. Headed home. Is it alright if my partner comes over to swim? And yes, I caught a bad guy today, smartass. He waited. And waited. Shit, maybe he’d pissed her off.
The phone dinged and he let out a breath. You don’t have to ask my permission. This is your home, too. I’ll make myself scarce while the testosterone runs high. LOL .Good job catching the bad guy.
By the time he got home, Lea had made good on her promise. As he walked through the rooms, he unfastened the buttons on his shirt, thankful when the cool hit of the air conditioning seeped past his undershirt. He untucked the white T-shirt and started for the kitchen. The sound of a tinkling laugh echoed through the dining room. His stomach tightened with excitement.
When he peeked into the office, he found the source of the sweet sound. “Come on, silly, you can’t just sit there.” Charlie sat firmly on what appeared to be a stuffed rabbit. “Geeze, you’re supposed to chase it not suffocate it!”
“Hey,” he said, walking into the room and hoping like hell she wouldn’t mind the interruption.
She spun around in the leather chair. “Oh, you’re home. And... In your outfit.”
He dipped his chin and smirked. “It’s not an outfit. It’s a standard issue uniform. Just tell me I’m hot in it and we’ll call it a day.” When her soft pink lips gaped, he took the chance to tease her some more. “You know, I’ve been told a woman can’t resist a man in a police uniform. I got the proof to back it up.”
Her lips turned up into a snarky grin. “I imagine some women would trip over their tongues to run after you.”
Some women? Bullshit. Try every woman. The last several weeks had been spent in easy company. He hadn’t pushed the issue when she’d turned him down for dinner. He chucked it up to chipping away at the wall she’d built.
She spun around in the chair and scooted close to the desk. “What time is your friend coming?”
He’d never had a woman treat him with total dismissal. He had to admit the punch to the ego wasn’t pleasant. “In an hour or so. You know you don’t have to hide when he gets here. It’s just Hernandez, my new partner. He’ll have to get home to his wife and new baby daughter so he won’t stay late.”
She typed something on the computer and the screen loaded a picture of Charlie with a cone birthday hat on her head. “Hey, what days do you and mom go to yoga class?” He’d make sure to show up, give her a sight of some eye candy she couldn’t refuse. He wasn’t above using a little seduction to play the game.
She turned the chair and reorganized a stack of papers—for the third time. “On Mondays we go to hot yoga and try to make a toning class on Wednesdays, but usually just end up at Cup of Joe. It doesn’t help when we hit the frozen yogurt place on the way home. I’ll blame the debauchery on Rachel, but your mom doesn’t help when she adds a scone to the order. It’s always her idea. Why?”
Yogurt or not, the way her curves swayed every time she moved made him happy for the frozen treat after class. “I need to join a gym. Maybe I should come by where you work out.” Her cheeks flushed before her gazed darted anywhere but on him. “Listen, I’m being serious, don’t hide in here because of us. How about you take a swim and be lazy with us.” Damn he wanted to see the landscape of her creamy skin exposed while she ran around in a skimpy swimsuit.
When she peered up, her hands stilled on the papers. The warmth of her mahogany colored eyes intensified when she said, with conviction, “You guys don’t need a chaperone. I’ve got some laundry piling up. I’ll be busy for hours.”
Chaperone? Damn if she thought about calling him out on his age. He needed to set her straight— right the hell now. He took two steps to reach her chair and spun her so her knees were dead center at his legs. Her startl
ed expression almost made him feel guilty, but after their cordial passings around the house, his dick was ready to set off like a firework.
“You are not my chaperone. You’re a beautiful woman with class and style. You’re caring and... Goddamn you have a great ass.” Shit. Foot in mouth asshole.
When he leaned in she tried to scoot the chair back, but he held on tight, pinned like prey in an erotic trap. Would she slap him? Kick him in the nuts? Fuck if he knew, but what did he have to lose?
When his lips connected with the supple flesh of her mouth, she gasped, giving him the entrance he needed to slide his tongue home. Her neck stiffened, shoulders trembling as she pulled back with tight hands gripping the arms of the chair. She slowly leaned forward, the curiosity of a kiss painting her timid expression. She pulled back again.
“Shh,” he murmured, before tilting his head to caress his lips against the corner of her mouth. “Open for me, Lea. Don’t think, just kiss me.” He tilted his head the other way. She gently shook her head at the same moment her body melted against the back of the seat.
When her lips parted in protest he dove in. Hard and fast, he nipped her lip, hearing her moan into his mouth. The feral quickening of blood rushed from his head to fill his cock. Fuck, he needed to grab the length, desperate to feel some kind of relief. He used one hand to cradle her cheek in an attempt to slow the frantic pace of mouths grinding against lips and teeth.
“Colin,” she pleaded on a breathless whisper. “I can’t—” With the protest she leaned forward and cradled the back of his skull, pulling him down so she could reach to suckle on the side of his neck. “You smell so good,” she murmured against his skin.
Her sultry voice vibrated every tendon, muscle, fiber of his body. Tiny petting licks stroked the sensitive skin along his collarbone. When had a woman ever kissed him like this? Never.
Tiny ripples of pleasure waved through his chest, reaching down his torso to his dick. The heavy weight stretched the front of his pants. Two things bracketed his thoughts—he had to have this woman’s legs spread on the desk, and if he didn’t bury his face in her sweet pussy, he’d die.
“Goddamn, baby, come here.” Without effort he tugged her out of the chair while her small hands gripped his shoulders like a lifeline. To what he had no idea, but hell couldn’t stop him from saving her from anything. “Sit down.” He hoisted her ass onto the desk, ignoring the whispered protests about being too big for anything. “Lea,” he said, holding her hands against his chest. “It’s okay. We don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for. Just”—He slipped his lips over the tender shell of her ear, relishing the way she shivered. “Give me this moment with you. God, you feel amazing in my arms. How long has it been?” he asked, sensing the restrained tension tightening her arms.
She dipped her head. “Since what?”
“Since this, since a man has craved you driving him crazy. You’re making me insane, Lea. When you wear your hair down, I can’t think straight.” He twisted a thin strand around his index finger. Her eyes closed as her lush body swayed against his chest. “It makes me want to pull you close and keep you safe, make you happy, make your whole body shake from an earth-shattering orgasm.”
“Don’t say that.” She dipped her chin. “Why you? The one person who’s off limits is the one man who seems to make my body so unstable.”
One brick tumbling. “I like making your body unstable. You make mine crazy.”
When her gaze met his, he could see the fear on her face. “Your mom—”
“Is at home. We’re here, you and I.” He ran his fingers through the silky strands of her hair. “Hey, listen, slow your breathing. It’s okay, everything’s okay.” He hugged her close, praying she’d give him this moment. “I’m going to go get my trunks on.” He ran his hand up and down her spine. “You relax and come swim with us. I promise I’ll keep my hands to myself. I have to admit it’s going to be torture, but I’ll try to be a gentleman.”
She leaned back, brushing her hand over her forehead. “I’ll think about it.”
He stepped away, instantly feeling the coldness seeping in his veins. Like a dying inferno, his muscles shivered without her heat. She slipped off the desk. He stopped in the doorway, watching her sit back in the chair. “You’re not too big to fuck on a desk, on a table, or on a chair. You’re perfect.”
He walked out of the room before she could argue. Hope warmed his gut. She hadn’t denied him the kiss. Damn, her sweet mouth could make him crawl on his knees if it pleased her. He’d never felt a kiss invade his entire body. If Lea didn’t give him a chance, he feared he’d never feel it again.
*****
Lea sure as hell knew the difference between right and wrong, but at this very minute standing in front of the full-length mirror in her bedroom, she questioned her ethics. Big time. First, she’d bargained with herself then made some very valid excuses to avoid going downstairs, then stepped into the one-piece swimsuit.
She turned to one side then to the other. Even contemplating going down there had to be insane. She didn’t have anyone to impress. Right? Besides, Colin’s curiosity would wane soon. Women her age who played around with younger men weren’t in it for a loving relationship and the guys saw the pairing as some fad, how many cougars they could snag.
She wrapped a sarong around her waist and headed down the stairs. When she stepped onto the back patio she covered her mouth and laughed. The guys had gotten out one of the striped beach balls and were smacking it back and forth across the pool.
Just a dip in the pool, Lea. That’s all this is. Just an innocent swim. Convincing herself Colin’s lips weren’t built for the perfect kiss proved next to impossible. The sensation of his warm mouth pressed against hers still lingered. Knowing she never should’ve let the situation go as far as it did, guilt had made a home in her nerves. God help her that one moment she craved his passion more than any other experience in her life.
She walked downstairs and hesitated before opening the back screen door. The hope to take the wrap off and slip into the water inconspicuously seemed impossible when Colin glanced over and waved. She opened the door and stepped outside onto the patio. “Hernandez,” he said, turning to bob the ball back to the deep end of the pool. “This is Lea.”
She gathered her courage, walked over to one of the loungers, and untied the wrap around her waist. “It’s nice to meet you.” She tossed the sarong on the tropical floral cushion. What did she have to lose? The lumps, bumps, and curves of her body weren’t going anywhere. As she slipped into the water, she said, “I ordered pizza from Pizza Chef. It should be here in about an hour. I figured neither of us really wanted to cook tonight.”
Colin smacked the ball back to Hernandez. “Sounds good. Sophia and the kids always pick that place for Saturday family date night,” Hernandez yelled as he propelled himself out of the water to hit the ball. He slid his hand over his face, wiping the droplets of water away.
Lea’s cheeks heated when Colin swam in her direction. She tried to focus on anything but the way the water slipped down his strong neck. When he rose out of the water to deflect the rocketing ball, ripples of tension vibrated the walls of her pussy, and she rubbed her thighs together. His thick chest contracted as he lifted his arms higher when Hernandez returned the ball. Damn if she wasn’t going to come from the heated tension. Hoping the two hadn’t noticed how she couldn’t stop her body from squirming, she scooted down until the water skimmed her shoulders.
The surface lapped against her already sensitive nipples. She knelt down to hide the evidence she’d been watching Colin. She’d been studying the way his shoulders curved into the bunched muscles of his biceps. He had to be a fierce sight to behold on the streets.
He stood up in the shallow end and—holy hell, save her soul. His red and black trunks hung low on his hips showing the pale line where he’d been shirtless working in the yard. She had to admit she couldn’t get much work done on lawn mowing day. Watching Colin push the
mower had quickly become a full-time job.
As she peered up, the sight of his bronzed tight stomach sent another wave of heat deep in her channel. This wasn’t fair. Her body constantly warred against her brain. He ran his hand over his short hair and walked over.
Colin knelt in the water, letting the gentle currant of the surface lap against his chest. “I’m glad you came out here,” he said. His big palm skimmed her side until fingertips pressed against the front of her suit. “I like your swimsuit. You look like Marilyn Monroe.”
Marilyn Monroe. She snorted and fought the urge to suck in her gut when his hands started exploring her belly. “I don’t think so,” she said, knowing he was stroking her ego.
Cobalt-blue eyes pinned her body as if chained to a mattress. “Beautiful, sexy.” Maybe being chained to a mattress with this man didn’t sound so bad. Where was Hernandez? The thought pulled her from her lusty dream. He’d disappeared under the water. Colin’s touch did a seductive dance against her suit, threatening to creep up and cup her breast.
She wanted to reach down and swipe him away, but she couldn’t. Denying one simple touch put her fever in overdrive. She couldn’t sustain the loneliness any longer. It’d been too painful.
“Lea,” he whispered. “I know I promised to be a gentleman, but you do something to me. When I’m around you it’s all I think about, how you’d feel in my arms.” She felt a slight pressure slip over one pert nipple sending a twinge straight between her legs. Her knees weakened, making her balance sway against his hard body.
“Perfect,” he said as his hand fanned across one breast and squeezed. “So firm. I can feel your pretty, stiff nipple. Are they pretty, Lea? I bet they’re dark-pink, perfect for sucking.” He knelt farther under the water. Out of desperation, or self-preservation, she gripped his hand and squeezed.
In His Bed Page 4
