by Cali MacKay
Still sliding his fingers in and out of her at a torturously slow pace, Gabe nestled himself between her legs, loving how her hips shifted and her body undulated to meet his strokes. He kissed his way up her thighs, his stubble brushing against the delicate skin as she sucked in little gasps of air. And when he pressed a firm tongue to her clit and lapped at it, sucking and nipping at the swollen nub of sensitive flesh, he loved that she buried her fingers in his hair, loved the little pants and moans that escaped her.
Gabe reached up and pinched a nipple, twisting it between his thumb and finger as her hips arched up to meet his tongue, his name falling from her lips like a spring rain, over and over and over again. He swore, he didn’t think he’d ever tire of hearing his name said like that.
He felt her body tightening and tensing around his fingers, her hips moving against his mouth, while his rhythm increased and grew rough. And then she was coming, crying out as her orgasm tore through her, her body quivering and shuddering in his arms.
He wanted nothing more than to bury himself in her slick heat, skin to skin, but he fought the urge and managed to pull away just long enough to find his jeans and dig out a condom. He tore at the package with his teeth and slipped it on his hard length with an experienced hand.
Reaching for him, she pulled him to her, her legs wrapping around his hips as he sunk deep inside her with a single thrust. She cried out with a ragged gasp, her body so fucking tight around his cock, he knew he had to give her a moment to adjust to his size. “You okay, babe?”
“Yeah…you’re just really…big. And it’s been a really long time…” She shifted her hips a little, slowly grinding against him as her body stretched around his girth and length.
He had no doubt that once he started to move, there’d be no holding back. “Sweetheart, I’d like to take this slow for you, but the honest truth is I don’t know how successful I’ll manage to be.”
Already, his hips were moving, as if by their own volition, clearly ignoring anything his head had to say on the matter. And yet, hers were moving too, increasing the pace of their lovemaking, as her legs tightened and pulled him in even closer, deeper, with each thrust.
“I don’t want you to hold back, Gabe. I want all of you. Whatever you have to give me…” Her blue eyes fluttered closed, and with her words rattling around in his head, it was nearly his undoing. The fact that she was willing to take him, to have all of him, to take whatever he wanted to give her, and to mean it so sincerely…it had been a long time since any woman messed with his head like that.
He took her hard and rough, each thrust pulling another gasp from her lips, the entire bed shaking as he drove into her, pushing them both closer to orgasm. Hooking her leg, he raised it up onto his shoulder, opening her up even further to him, as her eyes went wide and she started mumbling his name as if it were a mantra.
“Look at me, sweetheart.” He lowered his forehead to hers, his pace quickening as he punctuated each thrust with a shift of his hips, slamming into her. “Don’t you dare close your eyes, babe…I want you looking at me when I make you come. I want you to see who’s bringing you pleasure.”
“I’m so fucking close, Gabe. Fuck me…that’s it…” When she raked her fingers down his back, and started to come, he couldn’t hold back, the flicker of pain pushing him over the edge. He let loose with a grunt, his cock pulsing as he came harder than he could ever remember, her body quivering under him as her eyes slipped shut.
“Babe…” He kissed her sweetly, and then again. But his mind was already on taking her again and again. The poor girl wouldn’t be able to walk straight by the time he was through with her. And even then, he had to wonder if it’d be enough. He pulled free of her and tossed the condom in the trash, before pulling her back into his arms.
“I think my neighbors might complain to the hotel.” She couldn’t help but laugh—and blush. “I wasn’t very quiet, was I?”
“Don’t worry about a thing, sweetheart. You can scream my name to your heart’s content. I promise, the hotel won’t mind.” Not when it was his hotel. He couldn’t help but smile as he ran his hand down her back to grab her ass, kissing her again as his cock hardened, already wanting more of her.
There was something about her being so willing, especially when she clearly didn’t do this sort of thing often. And it was messing with his head. Making him want her in a way he rarely wanted any of the other women he was with.
“Come on, babe…I’m not through with you yet. I’ve yet to have my fill of you, and I’m going to make sure we make up for all the times you should have had your world rocked.”
Chapter Three
Hadley reached out to turn off her alarm clock, only to realize that she was entangled in something heavy. Oh, fuck…not something…but rather someone. She pushed Gabe’s arm off her, trying not to panic as she killed the alarm and he stirred awake.
“Where are you going, sweetheart?” Gabe’s voice was still thick with sleep as his strong arm slipped around her waist and pulled her close, spooning her from behind, so his hard cock pressed against her inquiringly and left her flustered. “I was hoping for an early morning replay of last night. No better way to start the day, as far as I’m concerned.”
She pushed his hand away as it reached up to cup a breast and pinch a nipple, despite the jolt of need traveling right to her aching clit, her body clearly remembering Gabe and all he was capable of. She tried to extricate herself from his grasp, though her traitorous body was already making her second-guess herself as the pleasant soreness between her legs reminded her of just how many times the man had made her come, and just how mind-blowingly good those orgasms had been.
Before she succumbed to his warmth, his wandering hands, and most importantly, his all-too-enticing erection, she hopped out of bed and hastily threw on a tank and sweats, needing to put some distance between them. “Get up, Gabe. You need to go and I’ve got to get to work. I’ve got an important meeting, and I can’t be late.”
What the hell had she been thinking to sleep with a total stranger? She didn’t even know his last name, for fuck’s sake. It must have been some sort of post-divorce crisis that made her lapse into wild and irresponsible behavior.
Or the fact that she hadn’t gotten laid in years.
She flicked on the bathroom light, and with her panic now mounting, she started gathering his clothes up off the floor where they’d been discarded haphazardly the night before, and tossed them onto the bed. “You need to go. Now.”
“Fuck…all right. I’ll get up.” Gabe rolled out of bed and stood there, stretching as he ran a hand through his hair so it stood up on end, his hard-on at full attention so that he made one hell of a striking silhouette against the light of the bathroom.
Damn…the man was hot.
She shook her head to clear it of all thoughts that involved Gabe naked, though it was hard to ignore the ache and pleasant soreness between her legs. It had been so long since she’d had sex, and last night had more than made up for it. Gabe had not only been exceptional in bed, but he’d proved that he could go all night, and that cock of his…well, it was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Crap! He was distracting her again. “I’m sorry, but you need to go.” Because if he didn’t, there was a very good chance that she’d climb up that fine body of his and impale herself on his morning wood.
Once he had his jeans and shoes on, she shoved his sweater against his chest and was pushing him towards the door, her hands on his washboard abs. He grabbed her hips, and spun them both, so she found herself pinned to the wall, as he lowered his mouth to hers in a demanding kiss that forced her to yield to him. Her body softened against his, as her hands reached down to stroke him through his jeans, the feel of him like steel against her palm, and her body clearly not listening to anything her brain was screaming.
“Babe…are you sure you want me to leave? ’Cause I’ve got to say, it doesn’t really seem like you want me to go. And you know me, I’m happy to
fuck you again. Over…and over…and over…” His words were spoken between kisses as his hands slipped up her side to pinch her nipples through the all too thin fabric of her tank top. “I promise, I’ll make it worth your while.”
She swallowed a needy moan and then, somehow, found the strength to push him away and shove him towards the door. “You need to go. Now.”
“Babe…you know you want me.”
And she did, damn it. Which was why, as soon as she managed to get him over the threshold and into the hall, she mumbled, “Thanks, Gabe. It was really fun.” And then quickly shut the door behind him.
***
Hadley had planned to use her evening to familiarize herself with her new case file. Instead, she’d spent her time straddling Gabe and having multiple orgasms. Not a bad way to spend the night, but it certainly didn’t leave her feeling prepared for her brief.
It had been a last-minute assignment, after her co-worker Wilson had come down with some sort of stomach flu, which meant she hadn’t had the time to do her usual prep. She hated going into something like this blind, but she had no choice.
McFee Consulting, the company she worked for, had been hired to come in and consult with the Portmore Police Department. They were coming up empty in their search, and didn’t have the resources to keep digging when there were no new leads. Since it was technically the Rykers who’d hired McFee to work with the police, Hadley knew from experience that there was a good chance her help wouldn’t be welcome, even though the Ryker family was the one footing the bill.
At least she’d been sent someplace nice. Portmore had to be one of the prettiest towns in all of New England. Right on the water, it was an eclectic mix of centuries-old historic buildings down by the port, and gorgeous new architecture flanking it. The town could easily do well with only the tourist industry it had going, but it’d also diversified to include a healthy business trade with several large companies basing their operations out of the quaint seaside town.
The police department was relatively large, given the size of the town, though its resources were still limited. There just wasn’t much need for a massive police force given the lack of crime, yet there was now a credible threat to deal with. Though McFee Consulting normally dealt with investigations and security, it was often hired to assist on cases that were losing traction.
She climbed the stone steps to the police station, her file clutched to her chest with one hand as she dug around in her purse for the ID card she’d been given. Although she was on time for her meeting, she hadn’t had the chance to do anything more than glance at the particulars on the case, no thanks to Gabe’s distractions. Not that she was complaining. It was a one-time lapse of judgment that would have to sustain her for a long time to come, if her track record were anything to go by.
The clerk buzzed her in when she showed her ID, now clipped to the pocket of her suit jacket. “They’re expecting you—down the hall and to the conference room on your right.”
“Thanks.” Heading down the hall, Hadley did her best to ignore her nerves, even as her shoulders tensed. Too often she was seen as an outsider coming along to stick her nose in an investigation that she had no right to, and though most of the officers were normally civil or appreciative, the feeling wasn’t usually unanimous.
She opened the file to sneak a quick glance at the information she should have already familiarized herself with as she neared the conference room, flipping rapidly from one page to the next. Ryker Investments…a fire at the Old Port Bistro…two of the Ryker brothers being run off the road… She scanned the pictures as she pulled the door open and stepped into the room—the burnt-out building, the wrecked car, and—fuck!
“Ms. Moore.” The chief of the Portmore police department stood and shook her hand, but her gaze settled on a different man in the room, and she couldn’t for the life of her pull her eyes away from his smug grin.
Her face felt like it was on fire, and how she managed to refocus her attention on what was being said, she hadn’t a goddamn clue. “Chief Adams. I appreciate you letting me help with your investigation.”
Adams waved his hand around to the other people assembled in the room. “Detective Murphy’s been handling the investigation up until now, so I’ve partnered you with him. He’ll catch you up on everything he’s found so far and will be here to assist you with whatever it is you need. Investigator Langst completed the arson report and can go over those details with you when you’re ready. And this is Quinn Ryker, and his brother, Gabriel Ryker, from Ryker Investments, which has been the focus of the attacks. Gentlemen, this is Ms. Hadley Moore from McFee Consulting.”
Gabriel…Gabe…shit. This was not good. Not. Fucking. Good.
With the only available seats either across from Gabe or sitting right next to him, Hadley opted for the one across the table, though she wasn’t sure she’d chosen wisely when it became impossible to avoid the full force of his gaze. His mere presence in the room was frying her brain cells and making it near impossible for her to concentrate on what Adams was saying as he reviewed the timeline of the incidents.
Avoiding Gabe’s gaze, she forced herself to focus, knowing she’d sound like a complete idiot if she was caught not paying attention. Flipping through the pages of the file she’d been given, she scanned the information, doing her best to pick up on key items. Luckily, this was only the preliminary meeting to get her introduced to the key players, and she’d be allowed to go through all the information in detail once the meeting adjourned.
“I’ll likely want to speak to the people you’ve already interviewed, just so I can get a read on them for myself.” She scanned through the list of witnesses and suspects, doing her best to focus on her work. Someone had to know something, and she’d get it out of them whether they wanted to give up that information or not. The one thing she was good at was reading people. Too bad her skill only seemed to revolve around those prone to criminal mischief, and only if she wasn’t personally involved with them.
Gabe’s deep voice sent a shiver of need through to her very core. “I’ve cleared my schedule over the next several days in order to help you gather whatever information you might need on our business and competitors.”
“Thanks. I’d, um…I’d like to get started immediately, if that’s possible.” Damn it. She was blushing and stammering like an idiot.
How the hell was she going to keep him at a distance when she’d be stuck working with him? As if he’d read her mind, Gabe wasn’t blatant enough to grin at her outright, but there was definitely humor in his eyes—and she knew exactly what it meant. Especially after she’d booted him out the door earlier that morning.
“We can get started after this meeting, if that works for you.” He tipped his head towards her, and there—there was the smile that she’d been waiting for. A smile that would tell everyone in the room that they’d slept together. That she had slept with one of the main subjects of her investigation. That he’d fucked her from one mind-blowing orgasm to the next.
She didn’t know if she’d lose her job over it, seeing that she hadn’t known who he was prior to their encounter, but it’d tarnish her reputation irreparably with the police departments she worked directly with and it could mean trouble for McFee Consulting. If she were a guy, she might get away with a bit of good-natured ribbing or a slap on the wrist. But as a woman? Things may have gotten better over the years with regards to the way women were treated in such an old-school, male-dominated field, but there was still a double standard, and she knew what people would think and say. Her hard-earned reputation would be ruined.
Adams grabbed his papers and tapped them into a neat pile. “Well, that’s about it. Let us know if there’s any way we might be able to help. Murphy, when will you be ready for Ms. Moore?”
“I’ll be able to shift fully to this case in a few days’ time. My apologies for the delay but I have an active case that needs to get wrapped up first.” Murphy gave her a kind smile that made her think she woul
dn’t mind working with him.
Adams shook her hand. “Welcome to Portmore, Ms. Moore.”
Chapter Four
Gabe could not believe it. He’d been sorely annoyed and bothered about the way Hadley had thrown him out that morning, without so much as a farewell fuck, and his cock had been even unhappier. No phone number. Not even a last name. But now? Damn…this was going to be too much fun.
Little Miss Sherlock. He’d have never guessed it.
It was clear she hadn’t a clue as to who he was prior to walking into that meeting, and he swore, if the girl had a tricky heart, it’d have likely given out right then and there. The look on her face had been priceless, and the blush across her cheeks had flamed as if she’d been kissed directly by the sun. And damn, but he wanted her again, his cock standing to attention when it was clear by the look on her face that she was thinking of their night together.
She couldn’t have looked finer, all put together like that. Navy suit with a pencil skirt that showed the expanse of slender legs he’d been kissing only hours before, and a silky pink blouse that lent a touch of femininity. And heels—fuck, the girl had worn high spindly ones that did amazing things to those legs of hers—and damn, but that did amazing things to his cock, too.
Once Adams brought the meeting to an end, Gabe got to his feet and leaned in towards his brother. “I’ll meet up with you later. I want to make sure our pretty little investigator has all the information she needs to get started on the investigation.”
Quinn kept his voice low so no one would overhear, though the look he gave Gabe made it clear he knew something was up—and he knew the nature of it, too. “Gabe…for fuck’s sake. Don’t.”
Gabe couldn’t help the shit-eating grin that sprang to his lips. “Too late, man. That ship’s already sailed.”
