Wicked Temptation

by Linda Verji

  "Danny." She almost choked on the water when he strode into the kitchen. Gone were the work-clothes. They'd been replaced by a navy t-shirt and light gray sweatpants.

  "Yeah?" He headed straight for the fridge, unconcerned by the way she was gaping at him.

  She observed him for a moment, noting his smirk as he pulled the jug of orange juice from the fridge and poured out a glass. The longer she studied him, the more her desire lessened and the clearer his real intentions became.

  This bastard. She gritted through clenched teeth, "You're planning to make me pay before you tell me, aren't you?"

  His lips stretched in a grin. "Ding. Ding. Ding. Three points for the lady in the green dress. I warned you, didn't I?"

  "You're a dick. You know that?" Her insult only earned her a farther widening of his grin as he sipped on his juice. She folded her arms over her breasts. "So what do you want?"

  "Hmm." He tapped his chin and looked upwards. "Let me think."

  "Don't hurt yourself," she retorted sarcastically, irritated by how much fun he was getting out of torturing her.

  "Hmm. What do I want? What do I want?" he repeated as he left the kitchen. She didn't want to follow him, but what choice did she have? Resolving to get her payback as soon as she'd squeezed her information from him, she sulkily trod behind him.

  McSmirky plonked onto the long couch then patted it. "Have a seat, Misha. Relax while I think."

  From the wicked glint in his eyes, she was sure he already knew what he wanted. He was just making her suffer. In that moment she actually hated him. She hated him almost as much as pumpkin - and that was saying a lot. She glared at him hoping that he could feel the force of her hatred. But he appeared unaffected as he sipped on his juice.

  "I bet you didn't get anything," she goaded.

  The gleam of amusement in his eyes deepened. "You wish."

  Gah! He was so irritating. Impatience biting at her nerves, she tapped her bare feet on the carpeted floor as she waited for him to get over himself.

  It was only once he'd emptied his glass and set it on the coffee table that he glanced her way. "I think I know what I want."

  "Please, let the people know," Misha said, scorn dripping from every word.

  "Do you know the things I had to do to get you this information?" Clasping his fingers over his stomach, he relaxed into the couch. "Katherine practically had her tongue down my throat. I had to hurt Arty. I had to come up with a job on the spot-"

  "Yes. Yes. We know. You and your precious car suffered unimaginable pain." Misha rolled her eyes. "Just tell me what you want, Hollis."

  "If you want to know what I found out, you'll have to do a little something for me."

  Please! The guy was acting like he was about to make her steal government secrets. He'd probably just put her on dish-duty. Confident that she could handle his worst, she threw out an arrogant, "What do you want?"

  The amusement in his eyes faded, replaced by penetrating contemplation as he surveyed her. "I want a kiss."

  "Fi-" Misha started, then realized what he'd asked for. She blinked. "I'm sorry, what?"

  "A kiss." His gaze challenging, he said, "You want to know what I found out, you'll have to kiss me."

  It was as if he'd struck an invisible matchbox and lit a fire, because the room suddenly felt too hot. Misha's pulse became a rapid tripping. Her blood sped up within her veins, its pounding so loud she could hear its rush in her ears. And was it her or did immediate sexual tension surge between them? She was excruciatingly aware of exactly how close she was to him.

  She had to swallow hard, before she recited haltingly, "You want… a kiss?"

  "I didn't stutter." There was an unreadable light in his eyes as he teased, "What's the matter, sweetheart? Scared to get a little physical?"

  The endearment sent a shudder through her as did his penetrating glance. "I - I'm not sca-" She stopped speaking again and swallowed hard. Honestly, he'd thrown her for a loop. What the hell? She threw a confused glance at him. "What are you doing, Danny?"

  "What do you mean?" His voice was calm as he threw an arm across the couch behind her, making it feel like they were even closer.

  Misha rubbed a trembling palm over her throat. "I thought we agreed that you and I wouldn't-"

  "I'm not asking for a relationship," He cut in before she could launch into her 'just friends' speech. "I just want payment for my hard work. One kiss and I tell you everything."

  Judging from the determined glint in Danny's eyes, it was obvious that it was a kiss or nothing. It sounded so easy, yet Misha would much rather have been asked to break into the Pentagon. Her gaze dropped from his eyes to his mouth. The thought of setting her lips on his sent a thrum of excitement through her.

  It was just one kiss, right? One. What's the worst that could happen? Nothing much, she convinced herself. She could still remember their last real kiss and how good it'd been, how sweet he'd tasted. What would it hurt to add a little something more to her fantasy bank? Common sense slowly melted as her own desire firmly took control of the ship.

  "Fine. Do it quickly." She stiffened her spine, closed her eyes and plumped her lips. Holding her breath, she waited for the air to shift, waited for him to move closer, closer, kiss her…

  Nothing happened.

  No moving air. No lips touching. What? She opened her eyes to find him still sprawled on his side of the couch watching her with raised eyebrows. Barely restrained irritation in her voice, she said, "What are you waiting for? I don't have all day, you know."

  "You should listen more carefully, Michelle." His amused gaze slid to her mouth where it lingered for so long her lips began to tingle. She snuck her tongue out to lick the suddenly dry flesh. A muscle ticked in his jaw as he watched the slow movement before he raised his eyes back to hers. "I said, you'll have to kiss me. Not the other way round."

  Really? They were down to technicalities now?

  "You're really milking this, aren't you?" she muttered as she shifted closer to him and let her fingers settle on his thigh. Ignoring the way her heart leapt at the granite hard muscles beneath the soft cotton, she threatened, "Your information better be Armageddon-good or else I'll be very mad."

  "Trust me, it’s worth it." Danny sat up, his intense gaze unmoving from her.

  "It better be." She leaned forward and set her lips to his.

  Honest to God, she meant for it to be a quick press of her mouth against his, maybe a little mouth movement. But the welling, swelling heat that inexorably rose with that meeting of their lips was binding enough that she found herself unable to move away. And when his mouth parted slightly, she couldn't help but suck on his lower lip.

  That was a mistake.

  The moment she nibbled on his lips, his tongue snuck out to explore the seams of her mouth, prodded her to open up to him. She didn't have the strength to deny him. Her lips parted, he slipped in easily, and their tongues met. It was as if their mouths knew each other's, recognized the taste and touch, and hungered for more.

  Her whole being focused on that kiss, soaked up his delectable taste then came back for more. Of its own volition, her hand rose to cup his cheek. It was all Danny needed to take over the kiss.

  In one fast movement, he'd moved her from the couch and to his lap. She straddled him easily, both her hands falling to his chest. The heat, hardness and shifting of muscles beneath her palms was highly distracting, but so was the heavy stroke of his tongue against hers. She'd imagined him kissing her again so many times, that this should've been an anticlimax. Instead this kiss was everything she expected. No, it was more.

  Powerful. Possessive. Expert.

  His lips shifted over hers in sensual coercion as his tongue assaulted her senses. The throbbing ache between her legs was as inevitable as her unrestrained surrender. Heat, pure heat, leapt through her whole body in tune to the rhythm of their kiss and the soothing strokes of his palm over her hair, her back, her ass… Her senses leapt when he pressed downwards unti
l her lower body met his.

  Danny. He swallowed her whimper of delight, of need when his already erect cock pressed into her throbbing center. Danny. She shifted her hips, ground into his swollen hardness seeking release. The ache there was so intense she was sure she'd die if he didn't do something to ease it. Danny.

  Instead he stopped kissing her.

  He separated their lips and while she was still trying to figure out what the hell was going on, he set her back on the couch.

  "So…" He relaxed back into the couch, casual as can be. "… you wanted to know what I learnt today? Well…"

  No way. Her eyes flew to his face. How could he be so calm after that kiss? Her own pulse was still sprinting, she still hadn't caught her breath and her whole body felt… confused. Yet, Danny looked undisturbed. If he was still racked by desire, he hid it well behind his inscrutable expression as he continued, " … apparently Lauren and Eric were sleeping together."

  "Really?" Misha managed to squeak even though she was still looking for any sign that she wasn't the only one affected by the kiss. Her gaze slipped down his body.

  Maybe it was petty of her, but a thrill of satisfaction pulsed through her when she saw his cock pushing upwards against his sweatpants.

  Of course he was affected. How could a man kiss a woman like Misha and remain unmoved? A day later and Danny was still reeling from the impact of the kiss. Even now, as they sat side by side in the packed theater watching the band playing on stage, he re-enacted the kiss play-by-play. How she'd tasted, how she'd moved her lips, her on his lap…

  He couldn't keep his lascivious thoughts from wandering in her direction. He took in her delectable body wrapped up in the t-shirt and ripped jeans, and wondered how it would've felt to touch her completely - not just kiss her.

  The more sly glances he cast her way, the more Danny was convinced that he had superhuman strength. Or, at the very least, the willpower of an eunuch. How else could one explain how he'd let her go after that heated kiss? It would've been so easy to shift her from his lap and onto the couch. So easy to push her dress upwards, tear off her panties and finally fill her.

  And she wouldn't have stopped him. Not with the desire that had simmered in her eyes for hours afterwards. No, she wouldn't have stopped him. In fact he could imagine her guiding him into her tight heat, winding those long legs around his flanks and….

  Clap. Clap. Clap. Thunderous applause erupted around him yanking him from his wicked imaginings. With a guilty start, Danny joined in clapping for the band who was now exiting the stage.

  "Where does your brother get these awesome acts from?" Misha asked as they exited the auditorium a few minutes later. "It's like he's got a secret stash or something."

  "Wish I knew. But you can ask him. He's over there." Danny pointed at Nathan who was standing with a crowd of people a few feet away.

  Even while he and Misha congratulated his brother for the amazing show, Danny couldn't keep his eyes away from Misha. Yesterday's kiss had strengthened his conviction that they were meant for each other. But in the spirit of taking it slow, he hadn't pushed beyond the kiss. Despite grievous temptation.

  Last night, like every other night since she'd come from the hospital, Misha had had a nightmare and awoken him. As usual he'd come into her room, talked her back into sleep, then… done nothing.

  See. Superhuman strength right there.

  Any other man would've damned self-control and pushed their relationship into its next logical stage. But Danny was a patient man. He'd waited for her for a decade. A few more hard-ons wouldn't kill him.

  Fortunately, his take-it-slow strategy was working. Immediately after the kiss Misha had been wary of him, but his acting like everything was as usual seemed to ease her wariness. Even now, she kept her arm hooked in Danny's as she spoke to his brother, "Thank you for convincing Worry-wart over here…" she pinched Danny's arm. "… to release me from prison."

  "Any time." Nathan laughed. "If you need me to break you out again, just call."

  "I thought Shakira was coming?" Danny asked, searching the crowd for his sister-in-law.

  "She was. But when I tried to wake her-" Nathan fake trembled. "Let's just say, don't wake a pregnant woman."

  They all laughed. Despite the complaints and trembling, it was obvious that Nathan was a satisfied and happy man, a far cry from what he'd been just a year ago. Danny couldn't help wishing that he was in his place. He snuck a glance at Misha, imagining her with his ring on her finger, and heavy with his child.

  "What are you smiling at?" Misha prodded him.

  "Nothing." But he kept smiling.

  A couple of minutes later, the three of them left Extreme Expressions for lunch at a nearby restaurant where Zeke met them. Lunch was a lively and long affair, with the three brothers teasing and taunting each other and Misha siding with everyone but Daniel. It was past five before Misha and Daniel parted from his brothers.

  They got home about thirty minutes later. Feeling lazy and too full to do anything productive, they collapsed on the couch to watch an action movie. By the time the closing credits rolled, Misha was deep asleep. She started while Danny was carrying her to her room, but wandered back into dreamland as soon as he'd tucked her into bed.

  After locking all the doors, and turning off the lights, he headed to his own room. Though he was tired, he didn't bother trying to sleep. Any moment now and Misha would call out for him. Sure enough, two hours later he heard her whimpers through their mutual wall.

  CHAPTER 18

  Misha was sinking in a lake of blood.

  The vile, metallic liquid flooded into her nostrils, choking her, drowning the life out of her. She struggled against its powerful current, but every time she pushed upwards invisible hands grabbed her legs pulling her back down into her murky grave. She silently screamed at Eric, begged him to help her, but he only floated beside her staring at her with those green, green eyes…

  "Misha." A gentle voice pulled her out of her nightmare.

  She awakened with a whimper, opening her eyes to find Danny hovering over her, concern clouding his gaze. He soothed, "It’s just a nightmare."

  Sitting up in bed, she sucked in a deep breath and rubbed a trembling hand over her face. It's just a nightmare, she repeated his words to her racing pulse and pounding heart as she watched him stride to the other side of the bed. It's just a nightmare.

  Danny reached for the covers and in a few quick, deft motions was in bed with her. With extreme care, he curved an arm around her waist and brought her against him. She set her head on his strong shoulder and curled her arm over his stomach, riding out the last waves of the nightmare in silence. His familiar presence, whispered soothing words and soft caresses were like a calming elixir, relaxing her frazzled nerves. Soon, the tightness in her chest eased as did her breathing.

  When she could finally speak, she murmured, "I hate his eyes."

  "Whose?" Danny stroked her arm soothingly. "Eric's?"

  "Yeah. Bloody things will make me swear off the color green," she grumbled. Cuddling closer to him, she said, "Why do you think I keep dreaming of them being green?"

  Danny lifted his broad shoulders in a shrug. "Because they were green?"

  She shook her head. "No, they weren't."

  "You remember the color of Eric's eyes?"

  She nodded. "Blue. A little lighter than yours actually."

  "Hmm." Danny paused for a moment then said, "Are you sure you didn't see anything on the night you were attacked?"

  "No- I mean I don't think so." She furrowed her brow, trying to remember the details of the night. "It was too dark. All I remember is seeing a shadow reflected in the kitchen window."

  "Hmm." This time his pause was longer. Seemingly lost in his thoughts, he ran a finger over her naked arm sending immediate tingles from the spot he touched to the rest of her.

  Ignoring the tingling, Misha asked, "Why do you ask?"

  "All the Wildes have family rings," he said slowly. "Gold
bands topped with…"

  "… jadeite stone," Misha finished for him. She tilted her head up to meet his gaze as a thrill of excitement rushed through her. "You think I saw one of their rings but can't remember?"

  This could be the breakthrough they needed. If she'd seen a ring, then she could…

  "Or maybe I'm reading too much into your nightmares." Danny dashed icy water onto her excitement. Shaking his head as if to clear it of confusing thoughts, he added, "Like you said, it was too dark to see anything."

  "We can't be sure of that," Misha protested, unwilling to let go of this new theory. "Maybe my eyesight is better than I think. Maybe I did see something and I've blocked it out."

  "But we also can't be sure that this isn't just your imagination," he countered.

  That was enough to quiet her for a second. But it was just a second. Disentangling herself from his comforting hold, she sat up against the headboard. She narrowed her eyes. "Are you saying that I want Katherine to go down so badly that I'm inventing proof?"

  "That's not what I said." He defended himself. "I'm just saying the mind is a tricky thing. Also, even if you saw one of their rings, without a face to it there's no way to know whose it was. We're still left with the same suspects. Katherine, Richard, Bradley and Lauren."

  Misha wanted to counter his argument, but it was logical enough. Sighing deeply, she lowered her head back to his shoulder. "I hate this case."

  "No, you don't." Danny laughed. His shoulder shaking with his amusement, he added, "You like it when they're not easy to solve."

  "No, I don't." She bumped her elbow against his ribs, even though she was smiling.

  "Do you remember your first case?"

  "Cindy Thalbott's stolen car?"