by Cate Beauman
“How would they know that?”
He shrugged. “Information was sent down to Dr. Lopez, the Site Director, from the University last week. The files were hacked into. Everything short of your social security number was up for grabs: GPAs, financial aid status, home addresses, telephone numbers, work history, etcetera, etcetera. Whoever accessed the data would know we aren’t flying into Cozumel with the rest of the group on Saturday. It’s documented that one of the guards is already here, as is one of Project Mexico’s participants. If they have our names, it wouldn’t be hard to track us down. The island’s tiny.”
She shook her head, unable to find the connection. “Why would anyone be threatened by Project Mexico? We’re here to help.”
“Not everyone wants help, Hailey. Some people are happy with who they are, happy with the choices they’ve made in life.”
She couldn’t help but find a parallel between his statement and Jeremy. She wasn’t ready to give up on him, so she immediately dismissed it. “Are you saying I’m in danger?”
“I’m saying I want you to stop digging for the good in everyone, because sometimes, there’s just more bad, even after you’ve scraped away a few layers.”
“That doesn’t answer my question. Am I in danger?”
“Possibly.”
She tried to ignore the stirrings of fear. No international mission was without risks. The cause was more important. “What should I do?”
“Stay close to me.”
She crossed her arms. “I can’t stay glued to your hip for the next three months.”
“No, but you can stay cautious—keep your eyes open.” He blew out another long breath and glanced down at the floor before he met her gaze. “I don’t want anything happening to you. I care about you, Hailey.”
That took the wind out of her self-righteous sails. She opened her mouth to speak, snapped her jaw closed, surprised. How could she stay mad after that? Hailey rested her hand over Austin’s balled fist on the arm of the couch. “I—I care about you too.”
He played his thumb over her knuckles, leaving a trail of heat. “I don’t want to go back to my room.” He stood. “Let me stay with you, Hailey.”
She licked her lips as nerves fluttered to life. Uncertainty twisted her stomach into a thousand knots. She didn’t want to make a fool of herself again. Did Austin want another movie marathon or something more? “I’m not sure…What are you…” she closed her eyes, her heart slamming in her chest as he skimmed his knuckle along her cheek. “Austin, I…”
He lifted her chin with the touch of his finger, taking her mouth before she could finish. Sighing, she absorbed the hungry pressure of his lips and brought her arms around his neck.
Austin’s tongue sought hers as his fingers glided along her shoulders and down her back, leaving her shivering in their wake.
He deepened the kiss, drugging her with need, as his hands lingered at her waist, brushing, tickling, before he pulled her fully against him. Breasts pressed to firm chest as she rested her hands on his solid shoulders.
Austin’s mouth left hers to wander to her jaw. “I want you, Hailey,” he murmured, as his lips skimmed her neck, teeth nipping at her shoulder, making her suck in a sharp breath. “I want you like crazy.”
Everywhere he touched, tingled. “I—I…mmm,” was the best she could do when his tongue left a steaming trail along the flaming skin of her collarbone. Her head fell back with the anticipation of his next touch.
Austin’s hands wandered into her hair, combing through her light brown tresses, wrapping his fingers around the ends, tugging gently as he nibbled her top lip.
Hailey opened her eyes, staring into his, completely absorbed in the dark green intensity. She took his mouth this time, wanting him as much as he wanted her.
Spurned by need, she unbuttoned his navy blue shirt as fast as her unsteady fingers could manage, eager to feel his skin against hers. She peeled the fabric away, only to come to another layer.
Biting her lip, Hailey stifled a groan of frustrated pleasure as she looked her fill. Austin’s powerful build filled out his white t-shirt and cargo shorts gloriously. He was magnificent, and hers for tonight.
His eyes never left hers as he removed his holster, setting it over the back of the whicker chair, then pulled the crewneck over his head, letting it fall.
She took a step forward, played her fingers over his powerfully muscled chest, down his firm stomach, watching his jaw clench. Growing bold, she snuck a finger into the waist of his jeans. A grumble erupted in Austin’s throat.
Out of nowhere, a twist of nerves slammed into Hailey. Her belly roiled with the familiar sensation that threatened to ruin everything, as it had the two other times she’d been with a man.
Fighting her anxiety, struggling to dismiss the urge to step back, Hailey moved her fingers up, pressing her palms to Austin’s hot skin. His muscles quivered as he drew in a deep breath through his nose then tugged her closer, his mouth seeking hers again.
Hailey battled her doubts, attempting desperately to lose herself in the mind-numbing sensations she’d all but drowned in moments before.
She fought not to stiffen as Austin pulled at the strings knotted at the base of her neck, loosening her halter dress. She clutched her fingers at the waist of his shorts, on the verge of frustrated tears.
He tugged at the thin fabric covering her breasts, cupped them. His thumb found her sensitive nipples and traced slow circles over them, making her moan with the delicious thrill.
You’re a whore, Hailey Roberts. Nothing but trash like the slut who bred you. Tensing, Hailey fought Mother Frazier’s words running shrilly through her mind, words that had poisoned every intimate moment she’d ever tried to have.
A body like yours was built for sinning. A man will never see anything more. Just like your mother, little tramp. Hailey shook her head, clutching her fingers against his belt loops.
He pulled her top down to her waist and stared at her small breasts filling her sheer black bra. Groaning, Austin’s mouth moved to suckle. Wet heat laved across her skin and her breath caught, then came out with a shuddering whoosh.
This is where she wanted to be, this is what she wanted to feel—Austin touching, tasting. She caressed her hands up his back, triumphant in the moment sensation finally overruled Mother Frazier.
Austin pulled at the front clasp of her bra, catching sensitized skin with his callused palms, pressing gently, rubbing circles that barely made contact, teasing. Her breast ached with pleasure as a dull throb started low in her stomach. She strained, trembling against Austin’s hands, wanting more as she moaned.
As if he’d read her mind, he took the lobe of her ear in his mouth, sending scatterings of goose bumps along her spine. “Yes, Austin,” she whispered.
He smiled slowly, and her rapid pulse accelerated. She wanted this, wanted him. It was going to be different this time. With a snap of Austin’s wrist, he sent her dress to the floor. “Hailey, my God.” He stared, taking her in, devouring her.
A body like yours was built for sinning. The phrase she heard every day for three years echoed like a nightmare. Nerves flooded back and she covered herself.
Austin frowned. “What are you doing? What’s wrong?”
She tried to relax her arms. “Nothing.”
He caressed her shoulders. “You sure?”
Why did this always happen? Why couldn’t she be normal? She sunk into despair as hopelessness took over. Here Austin stood, the man she’d wanted for three years, and she was ruining everything. “Yes. Just kiss me, Austin. Please.”
Still frowning, he stared into her eyes.
“Please.” She moved forward, capturing his mouth.
He gripped her arms before his hands settled against her hips.
Hailey struggled no
t to push him away, but it felt as though the room were closing in on her. The pleasure of the evening vanished as seething frustration replaced her embers of passion. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Her tongue met his mechanically as she readied herself to fail sexually in Austin Casey’s arms.
Austin eased back and brushed his finger over her cheek. “Hailey, what is it? I lost you somewhere along the way.”
“No, you didn’t. I’m right here.” She wanted nothing more than to be right here, in this moment with him. She moved to kiss him again but he evaded her.
“Hey.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. “If you don’t want to do this…”
She closed her eyes as tears came back. “I do want to do this. I’ve wanted you for so long and you’re here.” She opened her eyes, moved her head so Austin no longer touched her. She fiddled with her fingers, staring hard at the floor. “I’m not very good at this.” Taking a step back, she waited for him to leave. “I’m sorry, Austin, I’m really just not very good at this,” she repeated.
He took her hand, pulled her against him. He lifted her face to his, his thumb under her chin. “You’re doing fine.”
“I can’t relax.”
He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed each one, knotting her stomach with yearning.
“Austin, I—”
“Come with me.” He walked with her to the bed. “Will you lay with me for awhile?”
She nodded, pathetically grateful he hadn’t rushed out the door.
Austin kneeled on the mattress, then lay down. Hailey lay next to him, fighting the urge to cover herself.
He turned on the TV, flipping through channels until he found a music channel. Sarah McLachlan’s easy crooning poured from the speakers. Austin set the remote down and pulled her close. He combed his fingers through her hair. “I want to kiss you, Hailey. I want to be with you.” He met her lips, gently, tenderly. “Let me touch you. Relax. Think of the way you feel when I put my hands on you.” He hypnotized her with his eyes, with his deep voice, as he skimmed her breasts again.
He traced her nipples with the pads of his fingers, making her shudder as he brought his mouth back to hers, drawing the kiss out until she gasped from the heat.
His lips left hers, trailed over her chin, her neck, her chest, her breasts once more. His tongue flittered over aroused skin, his eyes never leaving hers as he applied more pressure and gently suckled.
Hailey closed her eyes and bunched her fists at her side, powerless to do anything but feel. The tug and throb was back, deep in her center, stronger, as Austin continued, relentless.
Small, throaty purrs escaped her throat. Unable to be still, she slid her fingers through his hair, traced his ear, lost in the sensations Austin brought.
He moved to straddle her thighs, his hands spanning the sides of her waist, his touch sending her system raging. Bending, he nibbled her stomach, around her bellybutton, down her hips. She moaned as his fingers snuck under her panties.
As excitement built, as their intimacy increased, Hailey tensed, waiting for Mother’s words, certain they were just a thought away.
“Look at me, Hailey.”
The gentle demand in his voice left her no choice. She met his eyes as he pulled her panties down her legs. Everything but Austin vanished. He sent the black fabric to the floor, snagged her foot in his hand, skimmed her arch with his fingers, started his way back up, stopping at her anklebone, his mouth exploring. His tongue and teeth left her reeling as he teased the back of her knees. Her breath came in pants as his eyes promised more.
He stopped at her thighs, caressing her trembling legs. She was ready for madness, pulsing, waiting, wanting him inside.
“Austin, I’m ready.”
He flashed her one of his killer grins. “Let’s see.” He ran two fingers over her scorching flesh, missing both marks. Her brows furrowed as she groaned her frustration. She needed him to touch her. Her body ached from the agonizing wait. “Austin, please.”
The pad of his thumb found her, then began to trace, to rub in slow, torturous circles.
She gasped, grabbed the sheets, fisting them in her hands as a flood of electric heat built, filling her with sensation. Whimpering, she begged, ready to burst.
He added more pressure, keeping his lazy pace. Her hips gyrated out of control as she grasped for the peak, just out of reach. Husky moan after husky moan filled the room, as she climbed higher until white-hot flames careened through her center, through her core, and sent her over the overwhelming edge. A long, loud cry escaped her lips as she quivered, shuddering with the shock that swept her body.
She was sure she couldn’t take anymore until Austin brought her a new sensation. His tongue flicked and she arched to meet it. “Austin. Austin,” she moaned, losing her thought as he slipped, slid, suckled, probed over and over until she tensed, convulsing against his mouth.
When Austin relented, Hailey sat up, craving one thing only—to feel his body cover hers, to feel him moving inside. Her gaze trailed over him, stopping at the bulge in his shorts as he undid his button, as he tugged at the zipper. He yanked off his pants, pulling his boxers with them.
Hailey stared. Holy dear God, he was huge. She swallowed as he crawled toward her.
He met her in the center of the bed and took her lips. As tongue played against tongue, she moved her hand, touching him hesitantly at first until he groaned. “Wrap your hand around me,” he said against her mouth. She did, and he tipped his head back on a rough sigh. Hailey slid her hand up and down, slowly, until he panted and his stomach muscles quivered.
Bringing Austin to the edge left her heady with power. She sped up, sinking her teeth into his chin as he shuddered.
He pushed her back on the bed, covered her with his body, leaving hurried, hungry kisses along her neck, her jaw, as he nestled himself between her legs. He pressed at her center. Shivering, she came to her senses. “Wait, Austin.” She pushed at his shoulders. “ Do you have anything?” she asked, struggling as he ravaged her mouth. “I’m on birth control, but I only started it a couple months ago. I’m a little nervous about free diving.”
He sat up, breath heaving, reached for his shorts. He dug into his wallet and removed a gold-foiled package. “I made a quick stop off while we both showered and changed for dinner—thank God.”
She smiled, flattered that he had thought ahead to this, that he had been wanting her as much as she wanted him.
Austin ripped the package open and took the rubber from the foil.
“Let me.” She nibbled her lip as his gaze shot to meet hers.
He handed her the condom. She grasped him and he clenched his jaw. Her eyes stayed on his as she rolled the condom over him.
He pushed a strand of hair from her face. “Hailey, I need you, right now.”
She’d never heard anything better. She held out her arms, welcoming him.
Their mouths met and he laid her back. His weight pressed against her as he settled himself between her legs again. He suckled at her bottom lip before his tongue sank deep, leaving her breathless. She played with his hair, reveling in the feel, as the kissed turned hungry.
Austin pushed himself forward, slowly entering her. She gasped, clamping her fingers around his powerful forearms, holding on as twin spears of pleasure and pain catapulted through her. She whimpered from his size with each gentle thrust.
“Hailey, oh my God, Hailey,” he said on a strangled gasp. “You feel so good.”
She sucked in a breath, sure she couldn’t handle him.
“I’m trying to be gentle.” His voice was strained.
“I know.”
“Just relax, Hailey.” He pressed his forehead to hers, moved his hand down, finding her. He stopped thrusting, concentrated on her, until she no longer felt the tight fit of hav
ing him inside.
Her fingers tensed and relaxed against his shoulders, in time with his rapid circles. When her breath shuddered in and out, he plied her with kisses. Her hips moved, urging him on, as the tingling heat traveled deep inside, through her stomach, making her shudder.
Austin began to move again, slowly at first as she gasped. She tried to speak but words failed her as she let out a strangled cry of pleasure. Dear God, what was he doing to her? How was it possible to live through something like this? As his finger sent her over, he quickened his thrusts.
She arched her head back and called out for him. She clutched around him in spasms, her body trembling uncontrollably. Each time he thrust, she contracted, shuddering on an endless moan.
Her hands grasped his shoulders, his arms, as her shattering orgasm consumed her entirely.
Austin took her mouth, once, twice, in between her gasps and his. He mumbled something unintelligible before he rested his head against her shoulder and thrust himself deep, tensing with a strangled groan.
Chapter 14
AUSTIN KISSED HAILEY’S SHOULDER, WATCHING the pulse pound in her neck. Her breath still shuddered in and out as his did. He lifted his head and stared at her. Hailey’s eyes were closed, her cheeks rosy, the hair around her forehead damp. She was beautiful.
Austin touched his lips to hers and her lids flew open. He smiled as he settled his weight on his arms. “You gonna make it?”
“I’m not sure. That was…insanely amazing.”
He grinned. “That doesn’t hurt my feelings.”
She beamed back. “Doesn’t hurt mine either.” Hailey pulled his face to hers and kissed him.
“I have to get up.”
“No, stay here.” She wrapped her arms around his waist.
“I’ll be back. If I don’t get to the trash, the whole purpose of the condom will be null and void.”
