Reckless

by Teagan Kade

  His grin is definitely more sexual than the subject matter calls for. “Something tells me you’d be good on top.”

  I glance away, hoping to hide the blush that’s risen in my cheeks. “So, what’s with all these pictures on the walls?”

  He shrugs and looks over at one of the pictures on the wall. “My friend Kaia is an action and outdoor photographer. I met her when I was working as a paramedic, before we got the tour business going. My dad got me into climbing, but Kaia got me into free climbing—the kind with no ropes, no harness, no clips—”

  “So the insane kind…” I add.

  He laughs. “The fun kind. I guess I took off with it more than she did and she ended up discovering her passion was with photography, so I’m lucky to get these awesome shots of my climbs when we travel.”

  “Oh,” I swallow a sudden, strange lump. “You guys travel together a lot then?”

  His eyes come back and settle on my face. “Would that bother you?”

  “Of course not. Why should it?” I take a gulp of my drink.

  Play it cool.

  “Too bad, I like how you look when you’re hot and bothered.” He grins and I have an urge to swat him. “But no, Kaia and her husband Greg don’t travel much anymore since they adopted their son.”

  I suddenly feel a lot lighter. I can’t help but smile. “My brother Johnny and his wife are the same. They met in college on a study abroad program in Italy and they travelled a lot until they started having kids. They’re happy, of course, but I don’t know how they can be so content with so little freedom.”

  “You don’t like things tying you down. When you’re not in charge, it makes you feel powerless and weak.” His voice is low and soft and I look up him, startled by how astute his assessment is.

  “I…” I want to argue, I don’t like being so easy to figure out. “Yes,” I admit. I stare at him, a question in my eyes I don’t know how to put into words.

  “I’m not trying to tie you down,” he says, leaning forward.

  “You sure about that?” I ask, feeling nervous and wildly aroused as he gets closer and I lean towards him.

  My eyelids droop closed and right before his lips cover mine, he answers, a smile in his voice, “Well, I might tie you up, but not down.”

  Well, so much for not letting my guard slip again...

  His drink is gone from his hand and it slides up and cups my face, angling me towards him as we kiss. The fire crackles and for a while, we just kiss, desire building and simmering between us. It feels gentle, intimate, and oddly new, like I’ve never been kissed by a guy quite like this, with so much sincerity and patience.

  Then he pulls me onto his lap and the heat of the fire is on my back, the heat of his body everywhere else, and that hard throb between his legs that is definitely not patient.

  I grind against him, enjoying the way he shudders in response. My fingers are in his hair, tousling those buttery soft waves while my thighs grip the rock hard lines of his thighs. He breaks our kiss and slides his calloused hands under my shirt, lifting it over my head so that my bra is at his mouth level.

  He bites at me through the fabric and I let my head drop against my shoulder as I enjoy his warm, wet examination. He draws my taut nipples into his mouth, flicking his tongue through the thin barrier and sending chills of arousal right to my center, building an aching sensation that has me panting and desperate to feel him inside me, stretching and filling me.

  Deric pulls away suddenly, his blue eyes looking almost black with lust. “The bedroom… I never showed it to you.”

  I smile through the fog of lust, “No, you’re a very bad host.”

  “Yes, very bad. I’ll have to make it up to you…” He stands up, lifting me with him and carrying me. “In fact, I haven’t offered you dessert yet.”

  “Mmmm, I didn’t figure you for a baker,” I smile, inwardly hoping he has something store-bought.

  “I’ve got some hidden talents up my sleeve.” The thumb beneath my bottom is rubbing my tight, eager flesh with a deft persistence that tells me he’s not lying, “but a chocolate thong is a bit beyond me.”

  My eyes go wide at the hungry, sexy look on him as he dips in to kiss me, swirling his tongue in a tantalizing demonstration of what’s to come. Never mind I won’t get to eat the chocolate, the idea of him and that tongue spending that much time and attention between my thighs is plenty delicious.

  Ring, ring, ring!

  The familiar sound of my work phone sounds. Deric just keeps walking, either oblivious or apathetic, but the sound triggers a sleeping corner of my brain that is suddenly in command. I tap his shoulder. “I need to get that,” I gasp, breaking my mouth free from him.

  He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, “Now? Can’t they leave a message?”

  Ring, ring!

  “No, hurry, put me down.” As soon as my feet touch the floor, I go running and dive for my phone. “Special Agent Ness, US Fish & Wildlife,” I answer in my robotic duty-voice.

  “Hey, Ness, it’s Jasper. We just got a call come in from some tourists hiking outside the park bounds saying they heard gun shots. The call got disconnected and the State boys aren’t interested in looking into it. Thought I’d give you a head’s up. Could be the same boys you ran into the other night.”

  As we’re talking, Deric comes up behind me and presses himself against my backside, insistent and hard. I let my hand wander beneath his waistband, wrapping my palm around the hard length and stroking. His body is still and firm behind me. I smile at the sensation of having him totally in my control. I turn to face him and lick my palm before wrapping it around him again, stroking him in earnest even while I murmur attentively into the phone.

  Deric’s eyes never leave mine. They simply darken with lust. The desire and appreciation I see there spurs me on. I shift the phone and use my shoulder for support as I lower down to my knees and use my left hand to cup the firm weight of his balls.

  “That’s really helpful, thanks,” I answer Jasper, as he gives me the coordinates and sends me the callers information… all while I’m massaging Deric’s deliciously thick cock.

  The conversation concluded, I let the phone drop to the floor and take Deric fully into my mouth, humming as I curve my tongue and lips around his girth.

  I’ve never gone down on someone this big. I struggle not to gag at first, but to my surprise that reaction seems to make him even more aroused.

  His shaft grows hotter and more swollen in my mouth as I use my lips to stroke and suck at him. His fingers tangle in my hair, gripping me as he thrusts into my mouth. Then, with a ragged groan, he pulls back, gasping from the effort and pulling me up and against him.

  “Fuck, that felt good, but let’s go upstairs and play first,” he whispers into the crook of my neck as his hand rubs at me through the crotch of my jeans.

  “Nice as that sounds, I actually have to get going… sorry.”

  He pulls back and his eyes narrow suspiciously like he’s trying to decide whether I’m joking.

  I can see the faint smear of my lip tint on his mouth and his hair is sticking up in spots, crazy from where I ran my hands through it. Damn if he isn’t about the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

  I really am sorry not to finish what we started, but I can’t risk letting this case slip through my fingers. Besides, his ego and his libido can handle a few dings here and there. In fact, I think all of womankind would probably be the better for it.

  “You’re joking, right?” He puts his hands on my hips, pulling me against him.

  My heart flutters knowing that if he’s this persistent, then apparently the novelty hasn’t worn off, at least not yet.

  “Sorry, shots were heard and Jasper thinks it might be the same guys as before. I need to get out there and see if I can’t drum up some physical evidence to prove there’s really a case.” I pull away and bend over the couch, reaching for my shirt.

  His face comes into view as I pull the shirt back over my
head and he looks concerned. “That doesn’t sound safe… They obviously have guns, and if the guts that were left on your car are any indication, they’re not messing around. You could get hurt…”

  I pull away, not liking the direction I sense him going. “Well, I’m a cop, that’s part of the job. Thanks for dinner. This was nice,” I say and mean it.

  “Edie, wait… I don’t like this. You’re putting yourself in harm’s wa—”

  I sigh, cutting him off. “Look, I’m sorry, but this is part of my job and my job is part of me. It’s non-negotiable. I told you we’re better off steering clear of each other, so let’s just enjoy this for what it was and move on. I’m sure you’re good at that anyway.” I lean up to him and kiss his cheek goodbye, knowing suddenly, sadly, that this has to be the end. It sounds fine and dandy to say he doesn’t want to tie me down, but deep down, I knew he didn’t really mean it. “Bye, Deric.”

  His hands catch my waist and he turns into my kiss, deepening it and stealing my breath. He finally breaks it and presses his forehead against mine. “Let me come with you.”

  “What?” I tense up, preparing for him to bully his way in again.

  “It’s dark out there, it’s rough land, you have no idea what these guys are capable of, and I can help you. Come on, you know I can help. I’m not trying to take over, I just… I don’t want to see something happen to you and know I could have done something to prevent it. Edie?”

  Mentally, I’m screaming ‘no;’ every warning flag is at full mast right now. And yet, I hesitate. He’s asking at least and that feels like an improvement. He was a help last time, that’s true. I wouldn’t have been able to get that wolverine out of the trap without him or navigate that rock fall alone, not to mention climb that tree. I hate admitting I can’t do something on my own, so I won’t, but maybe I won’t turn him away either.

  “Okay,” I say, finally giving in and praying to God I don’t regret it.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  DERIC

  The knot of dread in my stomach that balled up as soon as Edie said she had to leave doesn’t go away, but it eases just a bit now she’s relented and letting me come with her. I jog to my room and change, looking longingly at my bed and the nightstand full of toys I was looking forward to using. If only I’d walked faster and carried her back here she might not have heard the phone and my testicles wouldn’t be turning new and undiscovered shades of navy blue.

  Later, I tell myself.

  I plan on getting her there eventually and not letting her up for a good long while. Fleetingly, I wonder what it would be like to wake up with her there beside me. A warm rush of unfamiliar feeling hits me and leaves me winded… and a little freaked out.

  Since when do I have feelings other than desire for a girl?

  My head is a mess, but when I jog back out to meet her and see her still waiting there for me, her long hair mussed from kissing me and her top just a little crooked from where she threw it back on hastily, all this chaos in my mind crystallizes into one definite thought: Edie is not just ‘some girl.’

  Honestly, even though the world may regard me as Mr. Manwhore, I’ve never really thought of women in jackass terms like that. But that doesn’t mean I’ve ever been interested in buying ‘his and her’ hand towels, either.

  Whatever is happening with Edie, it feels different than those casual hookups. Different and powerful. But I push it to the back of my mind because I’m not ready to follow that line of thought just yet.

  “I need to run home, change, and grab my gun,” she says, glancing at me as she fishes her keys out.

  The idea of her handling a gun doesn’t scare me, but the idea of her being in a situation where she’d have to use it does.

  “Okay.” I manage not to choke at the thought. “But let’s take my truck. If it’s the same guys, they already know your Jeep.”

  She bites her lip but relents. I lead her out to the garage where my pickup and my old Subaru are parked side by side. I open the door for her and help her up, admiring the lean, firm lines of her legs as I do. I notice the heels. Interesting. I wouldn’t have pegged her for a high heels kind of girl, but I dig she obviously made the effort to dress up for me.

  Mmmm… I can just picture her walking around in panties and heels and nothing else. Damn, I want nothing more than to pull her back to me and sink into her.

  Instead, I climb in beside her and head towards her house. She runs inside in a hurry when we pull up. I follow her in and look around, wishing I had more time to examine and dissect the place, figure out what of this is hers. Something tells me the overstuffed, pink floral couch and matching curtains didn’t come with her from San Francisco. While the martial arts dummy bag in the corner seems a bit more her style.

  There’s a stack of DVDs on the TV stand I glance over in a hurry. It reads like an anthology of buddy cop films and action heroes. At least I’ll never have to debate whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie with her.

  She comes out moments later, and even though she’s much more covered up and in relatively plain, sensible clothes, something about her feels more authentic and infinitely sexier than when she was dressed up. She’s super fucking hot either way, but I think I like her better in her own element.

  “You ready to go?” She glances at me over her shoulder while she swings open the hall closet and opens a safe, pulling out a holster, handgun, and F&W badge. I have to reach down and adjust myself as images of her in a naughty cop uniform fill my mind.

  “Yeah.” I nod, and start to follow her out, hoping that the movement will force the blood to return to my extremities. “Oh, shit!” I blurt out as I notice the giant fucking tarantula watching me like some kind of horror movie prop.

  Edie looks mischievous as she asks in a voice of feigned innocence. “You’re not scared of Miss Muffet are you, big boy?”

  “Nah,” I shake off the surprise. “But call me ‘big boy’ again in that sexy voice and that won’t be the only muff I can’t control my reaction to…” I wag my eyebrows.

  She looks over at tarantula who is still watching us with those creepy dead eyes. “Earmuffs, Miss Muffet. Seems this one can’t turn his dick off.”

  “Ooh, baby, I like it when you talk about my dick.” I say, and get a laugh out of her as she closes the door and locks it.

  We climb back into the truck and head out. Edie shows me the map on her phone of where the hikers claimed to have been camping. They were out at Devil’s Trap—an old campground between the mountain and the gorge that doesn’t get a lot of use. It has a bit of a reputation for being an area prone to disappearances, which is hardly surprising when you consider it’s situated at the confluence of a number of extremely difficult hiking and climbing routes.

  We turn off the highway and onto the dirt road that leads to the campground. It’s overgrown with vegetation and the occasional flash of yellow eyes watching from the brush gives it an eerie feeling. I know the area, of course, but it’s been a while since I’ve been out here since there are now better ways to get to the climbing routes I like the best.

  The decrepit wooden sign at the parking lot of the campground is riddled with bullet holes from some long ago target practicing and covered mostly in moss.

  “Spooky,” Edie says, but she sounds more excited than anything else.

  “If you get scared, I have something you can hold onto,” I offer.

  “Yeah, me too. It’s called my gun.” She pats her hip.

  “Touché.” I park beside a big Doug Fir tree.

  We pull on the light backpacks we both grabbed and head out, foregoing headlamps. There’s another vehicle there in the parking lot: a small blue Hyundai Elantra with a license plate holder that reads “Not all those who wander are lost.”

  The car appears to be in fine condition. Edie snaps a picture of it with her phone before we set out to find their campsite. It’s a three-mile uphill hike to the actual camp ground, which is on an overlook with cliff above and below. It’s in
credibly scenic but also dangerous. More than one person has walked off the edge in the dark because they were either too drunk or stupid to wear a head lamp.

  The further we get from the car, the more wrong this starts to feel. I like to think of myself as quick on my feet, and I’m comfortable enough out here, unlike a lot of people, but I don’t like the fact that Edie’s okay charging in here like this without backup. I’ll protect her, but I’m not a cop. As much as I’d like to flout my own skills, objectively this feels like a stupid risk.

  We climb the last rise and the campground comes into view. We both stop and scan what we can see in the faint moonlight.

  “I don’t like this…” I start to say, as that uneasy feeling starts to really take hold.

  I hear her exhale loudly. “You can go back if you want, but I’m here and I’m not stopping now.”

  She walks ahead and around some tall bushes. I lose sight of her. I swear under my breath and catch up. I come around one giant rhododendron to see her crouched low looking at a smashed campsite. It’s a small tent and it’s been trampled. Gear and food are scattered around, but not torn into and shredded the way it would be if a bear or some other animal had been responsible for the mess.

  “Doesn’t look like things ended well here,” I whisper, walking along the outside of the site. My adrenaline is kicking up a notch. I pull out my phone—no reception. I didn’t think there would be. Cell reception anywhere in these woods is spotty at best. “We should go. Something obviously happened here and you shouldn’t be out here investigating this by yourself.”

  Edie’s got her phone out taking pictures. “I can’t go now and I’m not by myself. I’ve got a big, strong man with me,” she answers in a patronizing voice.

  “Toss all the empty flattery you want at me, sweetheart, but I’m not so big I can’t admit when something feels wrong.”

  She studies her phone for a minute, not answering me before sitting back on her haunches and looking around. “Hmm… I don’t have service.”