Heat of the Night

by Donna Kauffman

He leaned back against the door as the room tilted beneath his feet. She molded her body to his as he continued to take her mouth. Her sweet, hot mouth. His hands moved of their own volition over curves they'd traced many times in his dreams. Dreams that were a pale imitation of this scoring, sensual reality.

  He should stop this. It wasn't too late to stop, to find his way back to sanity, back to control. His hands skated up her sides, his fingers brushing the sides of her breasts. Any second now he'd let her go, step back.

  Then she moaned. It came from deep in her throat and vibrated through him. He wove his fingers through her hair and forgot all about stopping. His kisses were deep, dark and intensely demanding. She didn't pull away, no, not Erin. She responded to his demands fully, then made a few of her own. And then he was the one moaning.

  Her phone buzzed. They both broke free of the kiss simultaneously and quite breathlessly.

  "You—" He rasped. "You need to get that?"

  "Probably." She was still plastered against him, the two of them up against the door.

  His body was a rage of demands, his mind a riot of confusion. "What the hell was that we just did, Erin?"

  "I have no idea." Then a dry smile curved her lips as she looked up at him. "But I wonder. Do you think we'll get even better with practice?"

  He didn't know whether to laugh or groan. "Probably we shouldn't do this again." She looked at him as if he was nuts and he found himself chuckling. "Yeah, okay. But we shouldn't."

  "You go first then. I'll follow your lead." She moved very slightly against him and his body leaped. "Just walk away."

  "I will," he said, his voice strained. "In just a second."

  She laughed now. "How is it we took so long to figure this out?"

  His eyes widened. "I thought it happened pretty fast."

  "Men. Always the last to know."

  His eyes narrowed. "You mean, you've thought about…you know. This?"

  "It will only swell your already oversize ego, but yes." She looked directly into his eyes. "Incessantly."

  He swallowed against the sudden tightness in his throat. "Maybe…maybe it's crossed my mind. Once. Or a dozen times. Maybe more."

  She grinned boldly now. "If it makes you feel any better, I was thinking about trying to, you know, talk to you. About this. I was afraid you'd laugh."

  "You? Afraid? I don't think so." He shifted her away from him, afraid his body would betray him and explode if he didn't get her off of him.

  She moved unsteadily back, finally resting against her desk. She pushed her hair off her face. "I had this plan."

  He folded his arms, wishing like hell things would subside a little. His pants were quite uncomfortable at the moment. But just looking at her kept him rigid. "A plan?"

  "I was thinking we are both pretty busy."

  He nodded.

  She tipped her head back and gazed at the ceiling. "I can't believe I'm telling you this."

  "Go ahead, you've started now." I've tasted you now.

  She glanced back to him. "It's just, neither of us have time for relationships. You don't want one and I would do just as well without one right now. But it's not like we still don't have…well, needs."

  He smiled now. She was flustered. Erin Mahoney. Flustered. Who'd have thought it. "Needs, huh?"

  She rolled her eyes. "Okay, don't make this harder than it is."

  His smile widened to a grin. "Trust me, it couldn't be any harder."

  She laughed, but her cheeks bloomed the most becoming shade of pink. Well, well. Who'd have thought he could fluster Erin and make her blush? He was intrigued and aroused. A very potent combination.

  She recovered from her uncustomary lapse with admirable ease. "I was fairly certain you were attracted to me as I was to you." Her wry smile returned. "Alternating frequently with frustration and irritation."

  "I can certainly identify with that."

  "Which is why I wasn't going to do anything about it."

  "What was your plan? Before you so nobly decided to abandon it." He knew his taunting was only going to go unchallenged for so long. And time was officially up.

  She crossed the room, coming to stand before him again.

  "You work hard. I work hard. You have a great deal of tension on a daily basis. And although mine can't compare to yours, I have my own frustrations." She reached up and toyed with his collar, then finally looked in his eyes. "I thought we both could use a release valve. Of sorts. One with no strings, no demands. Just…a safe outlet."

  Brady looked into those bewitching eyes of hers, heard her oh-so-logical plan and knew he'd lost it but good when it actually sounded viable to him. Because there was nothing remotely safe about Erin Mahoney. Not intellectually and sure as hell not sexually. He knew that without doubt. And yet, even as he stood there trying to convince himself he should turn her down…he knew he wouldn't.

  "Interesting plan."

  She held his gaze boldly. "I thought so."

  Brady looked into her eyes, really looked. But that's all he saw there. No starry-eyed dreams of romance, no ulterior motives of pulling the bait and switch when she had him well and truly hooked. All he saw was plain, honest need. And a plan to satisfy that need. With him.

  He reached up and covered her hand with his, stopping her from tracing little patterns along his collar. Her touch made it hard to think. Not that thinking was going to change anything. And not because he was hard up for a release valve as she called it. The truth was, he hadn't sought one out lately for the very reasons she'd listed earlier. Women might say there wouldn't be strings, or expectations. But inevitably there were.

  Erin wasn't most women. In fact, she was the only woman he'd ever met who was most decidedly her own woman.

  "We'll need to set up some ground rules," he said.

  The instant she realized he'd tacitly agreed to her plan, her pupils shot wide with a desire so brilliant he almost—almost—told her right then and there that she could simply name her terms and he'd agree to them.

  "Rules are good," she murmured.

  "Yeah." Damn if they all didn't fly right out of his mind, though. He was looking at her mouth and all he could think about was tasting her again. "This can't interfere." He said the words almost to himself.

  "We'll be smart," she agreed, sounding distracted herself. "Make it be what we want it to be. Nothing more. We're smart people after all."

  "Smart," he said roughly. "Yeah." Then he gave up all pretense of keeping track of what they were talking about and pulled her to him again.

  Brady was all-consuming, overwhelming her senses so fully she could drown herself…in him. And she wanted to sink under, again and again.

  When he moved his mouth off her lips and began the most delicious assault along the line of her jaw, she actually began trying to figure out where they could finish what they'd started. Damn, she wished she'd opted for an office couch. Even a bigger desk would be nice at the moment.

  The knock and Gina's voice came at the same time. "Erin, I need a—" She nudged the door open, then grunted when her attempt met with resistance. "Erin?"

  Erin froze and so did Brady. But he didn't take his mouth, or his hands off her. She wasn't sure if that was reassuring…or mortifying. Deciding it was a little of both, she pushed at his hands first, then his chest, and eventually disentangled herself from him. She was smoothing her hair off her face as she answered. "Just a moment."

  "What's going on? You sound weird."

  Erin looked at Brady and was thankful he quickly looked away, or else they would have both doubled over in nervous laughter. She straightened her jacket as Brady attempted to straighten his own.

  "You okay?" he asked quietly.

  She nodded. "As I'll ever be. Go ahead." She motioned for him to move away from the door and let her partner in.

  Gina all but stumbled through the suddenly open doorway. She spied Erin first, a frown creasing her forehead. "What is going on with—" Then she spied Brady. "You," she finished, b
ut her frown was immediately replaced by a delighted grin. "Well, I'll just let myself right back out."

  "No, that won't be necessary," Brady said, trying to sound more terse than hoarse. Regardless, it gave Erin a shiver of remembered pleasure. "I was just leaving."

  Gina winked at him. "If I'd waited a few more minutes, it might have been just the opposite. I'm so sorry." . "Gina!"

  But Brady just chuckled and saluted her on his way out the door. He sent Erin a sizzling look over Gina's head, then he was gone.

  Gina closed the door behind him then pressed her back against it. "Details. All of them. Slowly. Possibly twice."

  Erin quickly busied herself with settling behind her desk once more and returning her attention where it should have been all along—on her computer screen.

  "If you think I'm leaving with no juicy details," Gina warned playfully, "mink again."

  "I have to get this press release done before my meeting later with the mayor and Todd."

  "Todd?"

  "Fletcher. Henley's campaign manager. I've talked about him before."

  "Yeah, but this is the first time you've called him by a name that can be repeated in mixed company. I didn't recognize it."

  Erin laughed. "Hey, I just call 'em like I see 'em."

  Gina crossed the room and propped a curvy hip on Erin's desk. "So, I bet he's a great kisser."

  Erin didn't look up from her screen. "Todd Fletcher? I would have no idea. And I have no plans to find out."

  "Ha ha, very funny. You know who I'm talking about."

  Erin looked up with a knowing smile on her face. "And you're the only one doing the talking, or hadn't you noticed?"

  Gina pulled a pout. "So you're really not going to tell me anything?"

  "I'm really not. What is it you wanted?"

  Gina paused, then laughed and shook her head. "I have no idea now. I took one look at your face, then his, and it went right out of my head."

  "Well, if it comes back in your head, let me know. In the meantime, shoo. I'm really behind now." Erin followed that with a pointed look. "And this wasn't anything more than a temporary moment of insanity, so don't start some kind of campaign."

  Sighing heavily, Gina slid off the desk, but her expression turned decidedly thoughtful as she crossed the room. She paused at the door. "Just tell me one thing."

  Erin groaned and looked over the top of her monitor. "Then you'll promise never to mention this again?"

  Gina just grinned. "I never make promises I can't keep, but it will get me out of your hair for now."

  Erin rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay, what?"

  "Kaboom?"

  Erin was going to shake her head no, if for no other reason than to squash this right now. She had no idea what was going to happen next with Brady, but she didn't want to discuss it with Gina. Not yet anyway. She'd wait until she'd had at least a couple sleepless nights and had become truly neurotic about it. Then she'd call Gina. That's what girlfriends did.

  But she couldn't lie. Her body wouldn't let her. It was already sighing in remembered rapture. So she gave it up, realizing the smile on her face had probably already given her away anyway. "Oh yeah," she said. "Major kaboom."

  Gina started to rush the desk, her expression promising a barrage of questions, but Erin held up her hand. "No, you promised. Just one question. I answered it. Now go."

  Gina stopped, but her expression turned mutinous. "I didn't think you were this cruel."

  Erin laughed. "And I didn't think you were this hard up for salacious details. Has it been that long since your last hot date?"

  Gina rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't know a hot date from a cold one lately."

  Erin knew they'd both been more focused on work lately. She considered her best friend. "Maybe what we need is a girls' night out. We haven't taken time off in forever."

  Gina considered the idea, then shook her head. "That sounds fine and all. But kind of pathetic in regards to our current conversation. What we really need is to get laid." Erin choked on a laugh, but Gina pushed on. "A good, long, headboard-banging all-nighter." Then she shot Erin a knowing look. "You know, it's a real shame to let all that prime detective go to waste. At least one of us should get what she needs."

  Erin realized she'd been neatly trapped, but she wasn't going to let Gina take any satisfaction in it. She shrugged lightly instead. "Go right ahead. You could probably catch him down at the precinct right now."

  Gina didn't buy the challenge for a second. She folded her arms at her waist and said, "Uh-huh. I take one step in his direction and I'm going to have spiked-heel prints permanently imprinted in my back as you race over me to get to him first."

  "I absolutely refuse to respond to that on the grounds that it will incriminate me."

  Satisfied now, Gina nodded. "Glad to see you've come to your senses. So finish that press release already and go round Detective Hunk up and herd him home." She opened the door, then leaned theatrically against the frame. "At least one of us will wake up smiling."

  Erin snorted. "Yeah, right. I happen to know just how many pages are filled up in that little red book of yours. Starred ratings and all. So don't tell me how lonely you are. You're only lonely because you choose to be."

  "You know, I admit I enjoy my rather footloose life-style when it comes to the opposite sex. It suits me right now." She waggled her eyebrows and added, "Even if I haven't had anything in a suit in weeks." Her expression sobered. "But can you honestly say the same, Erin? I know you are focused on this business, just like I am. But…I worry about you sometimes. You just don't handle those kind of jump-n-run relationships like I do."

  Erin wanted to be insulted, but Gina knew her better than anyone. And she happened to be right. "Well, maybe I'll surprise you. And myself. Brady isn't looking for long-term, and I honestly can't right now. Besides, no way do I want to settle down with a cop. So…" She trailed off, not sure where she was going with this.

  "So?" Gina urged. "So you're telling me there is more to this moment of insanity. Or you want there to be."

  Erin shrugged, but quickly added, "I don't know if anything will happen, Gina. I—I have to think about this."

  "See, that's half your problem. If you're in for the jump-n-run, you can't waste time thinking it to death. Takes all the thrill out. As long as you both know up front what the deal is, you just enjoy. That's the beauty of it. No worries, no strings, just a good time until it stops being good."

  "Then what?"

  "You just say thanks and move on."

  "Just like that?"

  "Just like that."

  "And you're telling me your feelings don't get hurt?"

  Gina laughed. "Who said I'm not the one saying goodbye first?"

  "Is that your trick then?"

  "I wouldn't call it a trick. But women are usually a bit more in tune to things than men are. I can usually tell if it's getting emotional and walk away. Usually, though, it just starts to bore me."

  Erin couldn't ever imagine Brady ever boring her. But she could imagine getting tired of his job and the constant havoc it would likely cause with their attempts to find time together. Most likely that would be what finished them.

  "Wheels are turning in there," Gina murmured. "You worried you might get emotional with our Detective Hunk?"

  Erin snapped out of her reverie. "No. No, not at all." It was a good answer, and honest as far as she knew. So why was she still thinking it out? "He's far too intense and job-oriented. Police work is his whole life."

  "So where do you fit in?"

  Erin fought a smile as she recalled how she'd outlined her oh-so-practical plan to Brady. "A release valve. That's what we are for each other." She looked at her friend. "Everyone should have a release valve, right?"

  "You won't get an argument from me." But she wasn't smiling. "Just be careful here, Erin."

  "Now wait a minute. One second you're all but throwing me at him. 'Kaboom doesn't happen too of-ten,' I believe were your exact words. Now you'
re warning me off. Make up your mind."

  She just shrugged. "I guess I've thought more about it. And like I said earlier, I'm not sure you can handle the jump-n-run type relationship. I just don't want the kaboom to be your heart exploding into a million pieces."

  "Never happen. Certainly not with Brady."

  Gina studied her, then nodded. "If you really believe that, then you have my complete and total blessing." She grinned and saluted. "Welcome to the Jump Club."

  Erin smiled dryly. "Gee, thanks. I think."

  "Just remember, not too much thinking. That's what will get you into trouble. Just jump."

  Erin said nothing as her best friend exited the room. "And then run like hell," she murmured.

  She looked back at her computer, but her attention had strayed so far from work there was no getting back to it. Might as well go grab something to eat before her meeting with Henley and Fletcher.

  Suddenly pizza and a beer sounded very good.

  And just maybe she'd put a call in on her cell phone to Brady on the way over to Jimmy's. No thinking, Gina had said. Just do it.

  She stood and straightened her hopelessly wrinkled suit. She'd have to change before going to city hall. She scooped up her purse and headed for the door. She'd stop by her place first.

  No thinking, just do it. Gina's advice kept running through her head. Which she totally blamed for the following idea that raced right behind it.

  Maybe Jimmy's had takeout and they could eat at her place. After all, if she had to take her clothes off anyway… Erin swallowed hard, clutched her cell phone and got in the elevator.

  8

  Brady began going over the report for the tenth time but the words refused to unblur. He needed coffee. No, the last thing he needed was more coffee. What he needed was some uninterrupted time in the sack. He groaned, then swore under his breath at the images that thought pumped right into his head. Like he needed any additional help thinking about what had happened earlier today in Erin's office.

  Dear Lord, but the woman was sin in high heels. He couldn't recall ever feeling that blistered by one simple kiss. Not that there had been anything simple about that kiss. He shook his head, then rubbed his eyes. No, nothing simple about any aspect of anything having to do with Erin Mahoney. He should be sending thank-you flowers to her partner for interrupting them when she had. God only knows where that encounter would have ended up, but he was pretty damn certain one or both of them would have been naked before it was all said and done.