Through the Night

by Janelle Denison

  “Yeah, I kinda am,” he agreed, his gaze flickering with a charming amount of arrogance that few men could pull off—and he was one of them.

  Much too smoothly, he brought her palm to his chest, then slowly slid her hand up and around his neck, until her fingers curved around his nape and tangled in the unruly strands of hair that fell over the collar of his shirt.

  Too late, she realized the intimacy of their position, as well as the fact that he’d just brought his body flush to hers and one of his very large hands was now resting on her hip. Through their clothes, she could feel his taut stomach pressing against hers and his hard, muscular legs bracketing her thighs, keeping her firmly in place.

  “Just one kiss,” he said in a low, cajoling tone that tempted her to do bad, naughty things with him, as did the hand that slowly skimmed upward to the indent of her waist. “If you hate the kiss, it will never happen again. And if you like it … well, then, we could have all sorts of fun together.”

  Spoken like a true player, she thought, which should have fueled her resolve to turn him down flat. But it was the direct challenge in his gaze that changed her mind and made her want to prove to him, and herself, that she could kiss him and remain in control of the situation. And keep a tight lid on her response to this seduction of his.

  As a bonus, they’d get this crazy attraction out of their system, defuse the sparks between them—literally and figuratively—and be able to work side by side without any further distractions.

  Realizing he was waiting for her to make the first move, daring her to go for it with that cocky quirk to his lips, she tightened her fingers around his neck and pulled his head down to hers.

  He came all too willingly.

  The second her lips touched his, she instinctively knew she’d never be the same, because this kiss, this man, was like no other she’d ever met. Immediately, an indescribable surge of electricity jolted through her, stealing her breath and igniting a burst of hunger and need she couldn’t deny. Instinctively, her lips parted, inviting him inside, and with an answering groan he took the kiss deeper.

  The decadent taste of him intoxicated her, and the silky, hot stroke of his tongue provided an erotic prelude to more hedonistic pleasures. The sultry scent of aroused male filled her, increasing her desire for him, making her dizzy and weak, and totally under his command. She struggled to keep a sense of self, but everything about Chase Pierson overwhelmed her.

  Suddenly, his thoughts invaded her mind, and she was helpless to stop them.

  God, you taste good. So hot and sweet. I could kiss you for hours, lick your neck, suck on your nipples, and oh, yeah, between your thighs.…

  A whimper escaped her throat as she felt those intimate touches, whisper-soft over her skin, tantalizing teasing caresses that seemed so real. Yet, he hadn’t moved his hands at all, nor had his mouth left hers. His body was so hot and muscular, and she felt a sudden pressure against her thigh, a hard, thick fullness that hadn’t been there moments before. In a startling quick response, she grew damp, the slick cleft between her legs throbbing, aching for release.

  As his lips and tongue continued to plunder her mouth, more images flooded her mind … Chase moving over her, his lower body grinding against hers, his erection filling her full, stroking slowly, so deeply, so perfectly.…

  Heat and lust arced through her like a bolt of lightning, overloading her system, dissolving her control completely. Her pulse raced and she moaned softly, desperately, against his lips as suddenly she was there, teetering on the shocking edge of release.

  Seconds later, there was absolutely nothing she could do to stop the thrilling rush of pleasure coursing through her, or the way her body quaked and shuddered from the impact of the startling orgasm.

  Oh. My. God. Unable to believe she’d just climaxed with nothing more than a kiss, she placed a hand on Chase’s chest and pushed him back, so that he had no choice but to lift his head and lean back a few inches.

  Dear Lord, what was it about this man that affected her so strongly? She’d never, ever, responded to a man the way she did with Chase, and the intensity between them was both exhilarating and frightening. So much for defusing the situation, and their attraction, with a kiss. Instead, her bravado had backfired. She felt as though she’d been injected with an addictive narcotic, and now she craved more of him, as if that kiss was just a prelude to a deeper, more powerful intimacy.

  A dangerous, alarming prospect.

  Light-headed and feeling more than a little bewildered and confused, she forced herself to meet Chase’s dark, heavy-lidded gaze, wondering if he had any idea what had just happened to her. If he’d been inside her head the same way she’d been in his.

  If so, he kept that particular secret to himself, and she wasn’t about to ask and risk embarrassing herself.

  A sinful smile curved his damp lips, and he stepped back so that their bodies were no longer touching, giving her some much-needed breathing room. “You liked that kiss,” he said, his expression much too self-assured. “A lot.”

  She had no idea if he was referring to her physical reaction, and decided to take a more playful approach. “Don’t flatter yourself, Romeo.”

  He chuckled, the undertones in his laughter wickedly sexy and downright delicious. “That sounds like a challenge to me, sweetheart,” he said, his eyes dancing with an irresistible allure. “Let the fun begin.”

  Chapter Four

  The dream came again, slipping through her mind with images of broad shoulders; tan, taut skin; and skillful male hands that created pure magic as they slid lazily along her bare thighs, her quivering stomach, and over her naked breasts, leaving a trail of sizzling lust in the wake of his beguiling caresses. His touch was smoldering hot. The slow, deliberate stroke of his fingers electrified her nerve endings and increased the promise of exquisite pleasure building between her legs.…

  Valerie awoke with a startled gasp, her entire body quivering with a feverish arousal that left her physically aching. Then there was the overwhelming and persistent soul-deep hunger that had nothing to do with the relentless desire coursing through her, and instead tugged at something more elemental in her—a need that grew stronger and more powerful with each ensuing dream.

  Sitting up on the bed, she dragged her fingers through her tousled hair and willed her galloping heartbeat back to normal. It would be so easy to blame the sleep-induced visions on a residual effect of last night’s heated kiss with Chase and their wild attraction, but the truth was, the tantalizing dreams had started a few months ago, and she’d written them off as a result of being without a man’s touch for nearly a year.

  Heck, more than a few times she’d used those stimulating dreams as a source of sexual release, but lately, her fantasy lover’s visits were increasing in frequency. Not only that, but she was starting to feel an emotional connection to him, as well—protected, cherished, and accepted—as if he could quite possibly fulfill all the hopes she’d once had for a normal future with a man.

  Which was ridiculous, since he wasn’t real.

  As to who the mystery man in her dream was, she hadn’t a clue. She never saw a face, and the only distinguishing mark she’d seen glimpses of was some kind of symbol tattooed somewhere on his body—a design featuring two intertwined jagged lines in what she could only describe as tribal art. She’d never seen the pattern before, and she didn’t know the significance of the inking, but she had a gut feeling that she was having this recurring dream for a reason that had nothing to do with her current celibate state.

  A glance at the clock on the nightstand told her it was past eight in the morning. Too wired to go back to sleep, she got out of bed and changed into a tank top and running shorts for her morning jog. Hopefully, the run would help her think things through, as well as burn off the restless energy left in the aftermath of her erotic dream before she had to get ready for her trip to San Francisco with Chase that afternoon. More than anything, she needed a clear head to deal with Chase on a b
usiness level, and to figure out what to do about her attraction to him.

  Leaving her apartment, she headed toward the jogging trail built along the greenbelt that ran through the community she lived in, three miles outside the city of Las Vegas. While the main Strip provided a constant hubbub of activity twenty-four hours a day, out here in the suburbs it was blessedly quiet and low-key. And on an early Sunday morning, the jogging trail was nearly deserted, which Valerie appreciated.

  She started out at a steady pace, regulated her breathing, and thought about how the evening had ended between her and Chase. She knew she never should have kissed him last night, but the man was not only überhot and deliciously irresistible, but he also gave good orgasm. Oh, yeah, that had been quite a shocking yet pleasant surprise, especially considering it always took a good amount of foreplay with a guy before she climaxed.

  Undoubtedly, Chase’s flirtatious nature, his come-hither smile, and the way his provocative musings had a way of invading her thoughts when he was touching her gave him a distinct advantage over her better judgment when it came to him and the always-present sexual tension swirling between them. And that’s what concerned her the most.

  She didn’t normally take risks or make impulsive decisions, yet she’d abandoned all those principles and done both with him. The last time she’d fallen for a man’s charming ways, the end result had been disastrous, and she wasn’t about to repeat past mistakes with someone who drew her like a magnet and had way too strong a hold over her. Even if it was just physically.

  And that meant shoring up her defenses when it came to Chase and the way he affected her. No more deliberately arousing touches. No spontaneous kissing. And absolutely no more mind sex. The two of them had a business arrangement, and for her peace of mind she needed to keep things professional between them.

  Whether or not he’d cooperate was another matter altogether. The man was used to getting his way and had even shamelessly admitted as much. And it didn’t help matters that he’d ended the evening last night with the teasing let the fun begin remark, and she knew he wasn’t referring to the adventure they were about to embark upon. No, the rogue had pure seduction in mind.

  Valerie finished the third mile of her run and headed back toward home, feeling much more in control of herself and the situation. By the time she arrived at the apartment, she’d managed to shake that morning’s arousing dream and had a plan in place to handle Chase. She’d lay down a few ground rules, and as long as he agreed to her working requirements, they’d get along just fine.

  Hot and sweaty from her jog, Valerie took a long, cool shower. She washed and dried her hair, and dressed in a lightweight peasant skirt and blouse that would be comfortable for traveling later. Stomach growling, she made her way to the kitchen, started a pot of coffee, and made herself a fruit, yogurt, and granola parfait.

  Just as she sat down at the small dining table to eat her breakfast, her roommate shuffled into the kitchen wearing an oversized nightshirt that reached midthigh and read LITTLE MISS FUCKING SUNSHINE, and fuzzy pink slippers on her feet. Skye’s blond hair was sleep tousled, her eyes heavy lidded, and she walked toward the coffeemaker like a zombie who needed a jolt of caffeine to wake up.

  The words on Skye’s shirt fit her roommate’s morning mood. When she and Skye had first moved in together to split the expense of a place, it didn’t take Valerie long to realize that her good friend wasn’t a morning person and required at least one strong cup of black coffee in her system before Valerie could hold a civil conversation with her.

  So, she quietly ate her parfait and waited patiently for Skye to go through her morning ritual—sips of her coffee that gradually increased to gulps until she was on her second cup. Only then did Skye sit across from her at the table, able to enjoy round two at a more leisurely pace.

  “Morning,” Skye said as she pushed her disheveled hair out of her face.

  Valerie grinned as she scooped up a few strawberries with her yogurt. “Late night?” She’d gone to bed at midnight, and at that time Skye still hadn’t been home from working her shift at the Onyx.

  “Yeah, another insane Saturday night,” she said grumpily. “The casino was packed, and I swear the full moon brought out all the jerks in the city full force. I was ass-grabbed at least three times and propositioned twice that much.”

  “Oooh, a really good night,” Valerie teased, and took a sip of her own coffee, sweetened with cream and sugar. “I bet Kane had a fun time putting them in their place.” Kane Briggs, an ex–Navy SEAL, worked as casino security when he wasn’t on a case for the Reliance Group. The man was pure alpha male, and had no qualms asserting testosterone and authority when needed.

  “Yeah, he kinda did. Nobody messes with Kane and lives to talk about it.” Skye smirked, because they’d both witnessed grown men cower at a single scathing glance from the SEAL. “Tips were decent, so I can’t complain too much.”

  “That’s because you know how to work your moneymakers in that skimpy corset uniform you wear,” Valerie said, referring to her friend’s double D’s.

  “At least they’re getting action somewhere.” Skye shook her chest for emphasis, causing her ample breasts to jiggle beneath the soft cotton T-shirt she wore.

  Valerie laughed, amused as always by her friend’s bawdy sense of humor. Despite Skye’s big blond hair, smart mouth, and voluptuous curves, which made most men equate her to a bimbo, her centerfold body came with a sharp, keen mind and a sage intelligence that made her wise beyond her years. Unfortunately, there was only one man who appreciated her mental agility—Caleb—and he’d taken on a strict brotherly role with Skye.

  Skye took another drink of her coffee, a spark of friendly jealousy brightening her gaze. “Speaking of action, I heard that Caleb put you on a new case.”

  It had been a while since Caleb had used Skye for a Reliance Group assignment, and Valerie knew the other woman was getting restless. As a former grifter, Skye always relished the opportunity to employ the more unconventional skills she’d honed as a thief in order to survive as a teenager living on the mean, tough streets of Las Vegas. Back before Caleb rescued Skye from a delinquent life, duping people had been all about self-preservation for her. Now, it was a skill she used to thwart bad guys, when needed.

  “Remember that guy at the craps table yesterday?” Valerie asked.

  Skye’s expression lit up in recollection. “Did you really expect me to forget him? God Lord, that man was pure sex on a stick.”

  Her friend’s description made Valerie chuckle, and pretty much summed up Chase’s gorgeous good looks and hard, honed body. “His name is Chase Pierson. And Caleb paired me up with him, per Steven Wilkes’s request, for a personal, private assignment.”

  Skye waggled her eyebrows, obviously giving her own spin to the words personal and private. “Sounds intriguing. Is he married? Or have a girlfriend?”

  “No,” Valerie replied with a shake of her head. “Not that it matters.”

  “Yeah, it kinda does matter.” Skye disagreed with a cheeky smile. “If I were you, and he was single and available, I’d be all over that.”

  If only Skye knew that Valerie had been “all over that” last night, and had enjoyed every second of it. But she wasn’t going there with her friend, because she wasn’t going there with Chase again. It was a temporary lapse of sanity, and there would be no repeat performances. Therefore, there was nothing to tell.

  “Trust me, it’s all business.” To prove her point to both Skye and herself, she went on to explain the specifics of the case and what they’d be searching for, Chase’s unique gift, and how it all tied together.

  “That’s so cool. You always get the best assignments,” Skye said, an envious note to her voice. “Hot guy, swashbuckling adventure, recovering lost treasures. I’m so jealous.”

  “No need to be. I’m sure it’s all going to be a fairly straightforward assignment,” Valerie said as she stood and took her bowl and coffee cup to the sink to rinse them. �
��A couple of days out of town, a few mental impressions to help Chase track down the rest of the cane, and that’s it. My job will be done.”

  Valerie was certain the case would be that basic and easy. It was the attraction between her and Chase that might prove more complicated if she didn’t put those ground rules in place from the onset of their trip to San Francisco. As soon as they were alone, that would be the first order of business.

  Skye followed her back into the kitchen, her fuzzy slippers scuffling on the tile floor. “You’ll be back next weekend for Zoe and Sean’s wedding on Sunday, right?”

  “Are you kidding me?” Valerie grinned, so happy that their Reliance Group coworker, Sean, had managed to fall in love with such an incredible woman as Zoe, who accepted everything about Sean, including his past as a con man. “I wouldn’t miss that celebration for anything.”

  A mischievous look glimmered in Skye’s brown eyes. “How about we go dress shopping together before next Sunday, to find something fun to wear to the wedding?”

  Valerie was pretty sure that Skye’s version of fun included wearing a sexy, figure-hugging dress that would make Caleb a whole lot crazy with lust. Caleb might have appointed himself Skye’s guardian, but that didn’t stop her from taunting him with what he could have, if he’d just admit to the attraction simmering between the two of them.

  “Dress shopping sounds great when I get back.” Valerie glanced at the clock on the wall, noting the time. “But right now, I need to go and pack for the trip and get down to the Onyx to meet up with Chase.”

  “Have a good time in San Francisco with your hottie, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Skye called after Valerie as she headed toward her bedroom, “Which pretty much leaves the field wide open for you. Oh, and pack your sexy lingerie. You never know if it might come in handy!”

  As far as Valerie was concerned, silky, lacy underthings to entice a man, especially Chase, was the very last thing she’d need on this trip.

  * * *