Martinez, Mary - Classic Murder: Mr. Romance (BookStrand Publishing Romance)

by Mary Martinez

  “Sounds good. Except it sounds dangerous,” Adam said.

  * * * *

  Katie sat crossed-legged on her bed. Adam had gone out on the excuse he had things he needed. What should she wear for her evening of seduction? He’d agreed to have dinner in their suite in front of the fireplace. Very romantic. However, she didn’t want him to know her plan. If she dressed enticingly, he’d know as soon as she appeared. That left her with a dilemma. How do you seduce a man without dressing the part?

  Adam seemed to like her best when she wasn’t trying to be anyone but herself, whether she was wearing ugly black glasses, or wrapped in a warm blanket with a red nose fighting off the flu. She’d just wear what she brought as jammies. With the decision over, she didn’t quite know what to do with herself.

  Spying the stereo, she flipped through the stations for something to listen to. Just before giving up, she was surprised to find some American rock. Jamming to the sounds of ZZ Top, she cranked the sound and prepared her strategy.

  * * * *

  Adam set the key in the door as loud music filtered through to the hall. When he entered, the full blast hit him. What was Katie thinking? She was going to get them kicked out of the hotel. Putting his coat over the chair, he walked to her door and knocked. He wasn’t surprised when she didn’t answer. She probably couldn’t hear a damn thing over the racket.

  Opening the door, he stopped and stared. He would remember the sight until the day he died. Katie bounced around the bed, dancing and playing an air guitar. She was so intent on what she was doing, she didn’t even notice him. He sucked in his breath at her attire. He’d been with the sexiest, most beautiful women in the world, dressed in silk negligees. But this little slip of a woman had his heart racing at the sight of her in an oversized t-shirt, flannel bottoms covered in pink hearts, and fuzzy pink slippers.

  His desire to pull her to him and make love to her, warred with his compulsion to laugh. As he watched, Katie’s feet danced closer with each step precariously close to the end of the bed. He took a step forward in order to save her if she fell.

  Her foot slid off the side, and with a little squeal she started to fall. He scooped her up in his arms. Her lips parted in surprise, and he didn’t resist the impulse to kiss her.

  The loud music finally reminded him of why he had come to her room in the first place. Without setting her to her feet, he carried her over to the stereo and let her reach down to twist the knob. In the absence of the music, the sound of their heavy breathing filled the room.

  Refusing to set her down, he carried her into the living room and settled her on the couch. Walking away from her to the kitchen was hard, but he had to put some distance between them before he let his resolve soften.

  “I didn’t know you liked rock and roll.” Adam pulled open the small fridge and reached in to grab some water. “I bet you need a drink after your workout.”

  When he turned, he almost ran into Katie, who had followed him. She’d obviously showered before she changed into her intriguing outfit. The scent of wildflowers tickled his nose.

  The impact on his senses was so strong that his knees almost buckled. He had meant to put some distance between them. However, she was closer than she had been on the couch.

  “Dinner will be here soon.” Adam almost groaned. He sounded as nervous as he felt. Good grief, you’d think he’d never been this close to a woman before. He made a hobby out of being this close to women, for God’s sake.

  * * * *

  Innocently Katie asked, “Good, do you want to play scrabble after?”

  She could tell she was getting to him—exactly her plan. She took the bottle of water he was holding, taking a quick gulp to hide her smile. Then seductively, anyway she hoped it was, she turned to saunter back to her seat on the couch.

  “I think I’ll take a shower before dinner.” Adam turned so fast, Katie thought maybe she could even say he ran away.

  * * * *

  “You cheated!” Adam complained.

  “I did not. It’s a word.”

  “‘Vair’ is not a word.” Adam sat up. He’d been lying on his side, head on his hand, using his other to move the pieces around the board.

  Katie mirrored him. He watched as she sat up, and he had a glimpse of soft round breast as the fabric pulled. He didn’t think she had anything on under the shirt, and the thought caused him to catch his breath.

  Suddenly he needed a glass of water. He reached to the table and almost knocked the blasted thing over. He watched Katie’s eyebrow rise and had the feeling she knew exactly what she was doing to him.

  “Where’s your laptop?”

  “What?” For the life of him, he couldn’t remember what they were discussing.

  “So you can look up ‘vair’ and see that it’s a word.”

  “I’m not going to go look it up just for that. You cheated. Just admit it.” Adam grasped onto the subject as if it were a lifeline—anything to take his thoughts off what Katie didn’t have on under her top.

  “I did not, and I’m not going to admit it. ‘Vair’ is a fur from a gray-and-white squirrel used for trimming and lining clothes in the Middle Ages,” Katie informed him triumphantly.

  “Only a woman would know something like that,” he muttered, more to himself, instead of replying.

  “I win!”

  “Okay, you win.”

  “You’re a poor loser. I can’t believe it!” Katie clapped her hands and stood up. She bent slightly, holding her hand out to pull Adam up.

  Adam stood up on his own, not trusting the contact if he were to take the proffered hand. He turned his back to Katie and gathered up the game to put it away.

  “I think it’s time we turned in, Katie. Did. I arranged for the car to be here bright and early so we could take your trip around the Arc, then drive to see one of the many castles in the countryside. I ordered a picnic lunch to take with us.” God, now he was babbling like an idiot.

  Pivoting, Adam found himself toe to toe with Katie. She kept sneaking up on him.

  “How on earth did you do all that with your dreadful French? You didn’t call your mother, did you?”

  “No, after several attempts to explain what I wanted, the girl took pity on me and started talking in English,” Adam was chagrined to admit.

  “Well, I think we are going to have a wonderful day.”

  Adam took her hand. Once at her room, he intended to give her a quick peck on the cheek and retreat, in haste, to his bedroom. He leaned in and Katie turned her head to capture his lips. Much to his surprise, she grabbed a hold of his shirt and pulled him close to deepen the kiss.

  He gently grabbed her shoulders and pushed her away and into her room. Taking a moment to collect himself, he finally let go. He intended to close the door, but Katie stopped the process with her foot. When she met his gaze with a question in hers, he let go of the door and straightened.

  “Katie, I want you.” He took another step back, as if more distance would help get back his equilibrium. “When we make love, it will be because you want it, not because I made you want me in the heat of the moment. It will happen when you come to me, after careful thought, knowing it’s something you want. Because when I have you, it’s going to be forever.”

  He reached forward, grasped the knob, and closed the door before she could answer. Katie stood staring at the panel of wood that separated her from the man she loved. What? He was waiting for her to come to him? Was the man daft? She’d given him every signal under the sun during dinner and after. Was she going to have to hit him over the head? Then she grinned. She opened the door and was out in a flash. Adam had his hand on the handle of his room and he turned when he heard her. He raised a brow and waited.

  “Adam, you want me to come to you?” she asked. Then as she ran to him, she continued, “Well, here I am.”

  Katie launched herself at Adam, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. He stumbled a little from the impact, but caught his b
alance. His arms wrapped around her, and it felt like coming home.

  * * * *

  Adam couldn’t believe he held her in his embrace. She wanted him. He pushed his door open with his foot and carried his precious burden to the edge of the bed. Carefully, he laid her down. Katie watched as he pulled his shirt over his head. His muscles tightened in response to the heat of her gaze. He’d never been so glad he kept his body in excellent shape.

  When his hands started on his pants, Katie sat up, to scoot to the edge of the bed. Her small hands brushed his away to take over. She unzipped his jeans. And then as if she savored the sight of her hands on the waistband, she slowly pushed them down.

  * * * *

  Katie gulped at the very sexy sight of Adam in his briefs and nothing else. He stepped out of his pants pooled at his feet and placed his hands on her shoulders to gently push her to the mattress.

  His hands planted on either side of her head, arms straining as he slowly lowered himself to brush his lips to hers. His touch was light as butterfly wings that sent little shivers throughout her body. Grasping the bottom of her T-shirt, he inched it up her waist. His lips nibbled the path of the shirt. He kissed the inside of her arm. Her heart tripped. The material bunched around her wrists, aiding him to hold her captive with one hand.

  His other was busy exploring her naked breasts. The heat of his gaze made her pulse thump out of control. The moment his lips found and tentatively sucked on one nipple, the thump turned to a throb. Hot moisture dampened her panties between her thighs. Her heart slammed against her ribs, reverberating to her inner core.

  His lips wandered to the other, all the while keeping her hands hostage. She withered, trying to loosen her wrists. The need to explore him was strong. He wasn’t through with his torture yet. He lapped around to the side of her breast, using his teeth to graze with gentle nips down her side. Nibbling all the way to her belly button. He dipped his tongue in, the ringing in her ears so loud she thought she’d explode.

  The pressure on her hands released. Frantically trying to free herself from the tangle in her shirt, a rent filtered the air, but she didn’t care. She tossed the remnants of the shirt somewhere. Threading her fingers in his hair, she needed his mouth.

  Despite her anxious quest to pull his head up so she could have what she wanted, his lips continued their path ever lower. She sucked in air and it lodged in her lungs. No way could she stand the fire any longer.

  His hands found the waistband of her flannel pants, and he pushed them down, reaching with one hand to pull them off her feet and toss them in the same direction her shirt had gone. She hadn’t been wearing any panties under and Adam took full advantage.

  Adam groaned when his mouth finally found the nectar of her moist center. She tasted of everything fresh and innocent. His gut tightened, a tremble skipped over his body. No woman had ever had the power over him to render him senseless. Until now.

  Katie held his heart in her small hand. His tongue laved down her leg, then nibbled the inside of her knee. Her quivers became his. His lips touched the arch of her foot, then transferred to the other foot. His journey the same. He couldn’t wait much longer. He stood, pulled off his briefs with one hand, and reached for the condom on the table with his other.

  Fumbling with one hand to get the rubber on, it was almost his undoing when two small hands joined his to help. Sucking in his breath until she was finished, he let it out in a whoosh. He poised over her, and then brought his lips to hers. As his tongue danced with hers, he entered her in one smooth thrust.

  Katie gasped, her eyes opened in shock. His smooth entrance led her to the biggest climax she’d ever experienced. She wasn’t certain, but she may have heard trumpets. She knew she saw stars.

  He held himself still. She bit back a groan. Until she considered he may have been waiting for her to come back to her senses. She was wrong—the man just wanted to drive her to the brink again.

  Adam watched the expressions skitter across Katie’s face as she reached her orgasm as soon as he entered. He held still as long as he could, then he gently pulled out, waited while he nibbled on her ear, then down her neck. When he pushed in again, he captured her gasp with his lips. Then he stilled again, making love to her with his tongue until she was breathless.

  He followed the same pattern until the small pulse in her neck beat to the rhythm of his heart. He wanted her to reach her peak again, along with his climax. Better be soon, because he couldn’t wait much longer.

  Katie felt the throbbing escalate with each slow thrust, and then he’d pause and nibble until she couldn’t think straight. He must have iron control because she was on the brink again. He pulled out and sent little shivers down her body as his tongue traced her ear, tugging with his teeth on the lobe. He thrust in again and that’s all it took. She hadn’t thought it possible, but her peak was more intense than the first. As his body shuddered along with hers, love for him swelled in her chest.

  Katie laid in the cradle of his arm, head on his shoulder. She let her fingertip lazily trace a pattern on his chest and smiled. She felt at home. Somehow, she knew he felt the same way. He hadn’t said the words. He didn’t need to.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “When did you know?” she asked.

  “I don’t know.” Adam knew what she was talking about. He felt a connection with her as if they had always been destined to be together. “I think you just kind of grew on me. When I hired you, I was glad you had on those ugly glasses. They distracted me from your beauty and helped me keep things on a professional level.”

  “Yeah, right. You were like everyone else. You couldn’t see past them.”

  “No, Katie. I could see how beautiful you were the minute you walked in for an interview. I thought my reputation had preceded me, and you wore them to keep me at arm’s length. So I respected your wish and never thought about asking you out.”

  “What changed your mind?”

  “The last year. I’ve been restless, forcing myself to keep up with the pattern. For as long as I can remember, I never intended to settle down and marry. You know the white picket fence, a dog, and a bunch of kids.” Adam turned his head slightly so he could brush his lips against Katie’s forehead. He squeezed her a little, not really believing she was there in his arms. “Then about a month ago it hit me. I wanted exactly that. So I made a list.”

  “I heard about that list.”

  “How? I threw it away the day after I made it.”

  “Dottie.”

  “How in the world did she know?”

  “Remember that night you came by and interrupted our girls’ night?” Katie told him about Dottie coming to the office. “Dottie wandered around your office waiting for me to finish up so we could go to lunch.”

  “That was the day.” He let his fingers trail up her arm. “I realized you fit everything on my list.”

  “Even the no-brainer part?” Katie couldn’t resist.

  “What?”

  “You know, ‘She has to be beautiful, that’s a no brainer.’“

  “Did she leave anything out when she told you about it?”

  “Nope. I’ve known about it since then. She knew I had been in love with you for years, but she thought I wouldn’t mind if she went out with you on one of your weekends. But when she saw the list, she knew you were in the market for more.”

  “You didn’t have anything to worry about. Although I fought the knowledge, I was in love with you. Since that moment when I realized you were everything I wanted, no other woman had a chance.”

  “What does that mean exactly?”

  “Well, you and I are going to do the dating thing.” He grinned over at her. “You’ll have to have patience because I’m new at it. I want you to get to know me away from the office. When I ask you a certain question, I want you to know what your answer is going to be.”

  Adam gathered her in his arms before she could answer and rolled until she was under him. He kissed her temple, moved next to
the side of her mouth. Even though she moved her head to catch his lips, he avoided her mouth, kissing her ear, down her throat to her shoulder. He lost himself. He loved her and he cherished her the rest of the night.

  When the wakeup call came, neither of them was ready to face the day. Katie turned to him, throwing a leg over to straddle him. The day would have to wait because she was determined to have her way with him until he shivered with need.

  * * * *

  “What do you think, sis?” Across from Katie’s apartment stood a watcher, deep in the shadows. When no answer came, the silhouette continued. “It’s got a rooftop, almost as if it were made for my plan. Let’s take a look in the back.”

  The watcher walked down the alley on the side of the building and stopped at the back. The shadowy figure looked up with satisfaction at the tiers of fire escape ladders leading to the top.

  “All I have to do is get in before that lady friend of hers brings her mutt back. Piece of cake.” The plan determined, the watcher started to climb, stopping on the landing outside of Katie’s window. The only thing left was the wait.

  * * * *

  Katie wanted to pinch herself. Here she was jetting home in Adam’s private plane. Adam had his arms wrapped around her. A huge difference from their previous flight.

  Her hand rested on his chest, watching the pages of the magazine turn as he read. When there was a rumbling in his chest, she looked up to see he was laughing.

  “What’s so funny?” she asked.

  “Just thinking about you driving around the Arc de Triomphe, trying to find a place to get out.”

  “You scared the hell out of me when you yelled, ‘Get out now!’ So I do and almost cause an accident. I thought you’d found an opening.”

  “That’s how they do it. The people in the circle have the right of way, and the cars merging into the circle have to watch out for those trying to get out.”