Remembering You: Pushing the Boundaries, Prequel

by Audra North

  Footsteps approached her desk and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. What the fuck? Her head shot up as Rob walked up. But it wasn’t the older reporter who’d caused the tingle in her spine. Her eyes shifted to the person walking behind Rob.

  Ben. Walking toward her, his eyes intent on her face. Ben. In uniform. Ben in uniform. Ben in fucking uniform.

  She almost fainted from the swift, intense arousal flooding her body at the sight of him. Her breasts swelled, her nipples hardened and her knees felt wobbly.

  Fuck.

  But before she could even whimper, Rob stopped in front of her desk, Ben coming up right next to him.

  Someone save me.

  “Nina, the SWAT officer who led the Rosen Ring bust is here and I wanted to introduce you.” Rob gestured to Ben.

  We’ve already fucked, she wanted to say. And I want to do it again. But she managed to rise gracefully enough, smoothing her gray pencil skirt over her thighs as she stood. She could feel the straps of the garter belt holding up her stockings as she ran her hands over the wool. She hated wearing pantyhose for the sheer fact that pulling them down to go to the bathroom was a pain in the ass, but having the tops of her thighs bare right now, in such close proximity to Ben, wasn’t helping her libido.

  The three-inch heels she was wearing today brought her almost to eye level with him as she walked around her desk to greet him, hand outstretched.

  “Actually, Rob, I already know Miss Lang,” Ben said smoothly, grabbing her hand and catching her to him in a quick, friendly hug, and she reeled at the unexpected contact. For the brief span of time their bodies met, she felt secure, happy and wildly aroused.

  But then he released her and they both stepped back, breathing heavily. If her lips weren’t exploding with the need to kiss him, she’d be laughing at how ridiculously hot for one another they were.

  Rob looked curious. “I didn’t realize you’d met before. Nina hasn’t been around much. Do you know each other from your childhood?”

  Leave it to a fellow journalist to be annoyingly nosy.

  Ben shook his head. “I am an admirer of Miss Lang’s work, actually, and when I ran across her recently in the city, I recognized her right away from the photo next to her byline.”

  Rob huffed a bit, not liking the reminder that, despite her much younger years, Nina had had more success than he. But he recovered quickly and clapped Ben on the shoulder. “Care for something to drink while we talk, Officer Crewes? Coffee, water?”

  Ben held her gaze as he answered. “Water would be great, please.”

  Rob nodded. “Sure thing. Nina, would you mind getting some water for him, please?”

  Seriously?

  She glared at Rob, who raised his eyebrows as though she were an impertinent child and he was some sort of omnipotent king of the newsroom.

  Fine. At least going to get some water would put some distance between her and Ben. Being this close to him was making her head swim and her body go all soft. So she swallowed back her refusal and nodded.

  “Sure. Let me go fetch you a cup, Officer Crewes,” she said as politely as she could, then turned to head to the kitchen.

  But Ben followed her, catching her up in a few strides. “I’ll accompany you, Miss Lang,” he said, all smiles and jovial steps. He called over his shoulder to Rob, who stood looking after them in surprise. “Be right back, Rob.”

  They headed out into the long hallway alongside the newsroom and Nina turned toward the kitchen. It was quiet at this time of day, and they had the kitchen to themselves. She didn’t waste any of their precious time alone, but whipped around and demanded, “What are you doing here?”

  But Ben didn’t seem to understand her discomfort, because he merely chuckled. “Rob is interviewing me about the bust last week.”

  She frowned. “Couldn’t he have done that at the station?” She didn’t like having Ben so close. It was tempting her to touch him again, to start something she knew would go nowhere.

  She grabbed a cup from on top of the water cooler. He stopped her before she could bend to fill it, though, gently taking the cup from her hands. “I can get my own water, Nina. You don’t have to do this. You’re not a servant, for God’s sake.”

  She shrugged. “I figured it wasn’t worth it to argue with Rob.”

  He finished filling the cup and took a deep swallow of the water. She watched his throat muscles work, wanting to run her fingers over the light beard already showing on his jaw.

  “Rob is an ass,” he said quietly. “But he covers most of the crime stories and doesn’t make too much of a nuisance of himself, so we’re cool with him.”

  Her eyes moved to Ben’s lips as he talked, tracking the sexy, plump flesh as it moved around the words. She could almost feel his tongue stroking over her private skin. But he caught her staring at his mouth and smiled, slow and sexy.

  “Are you thinking about last night?”

  She blushed hotly, but shook her head.

  Liar! He must have known she was lying too, because he took a small step closer. “Because I haven’t thought of anything else all day except for you. I almost let a guy get away with shoplifting because I was distracted by the image of you beneath me. I’m hard right now just thinking about it. If I weren’t on the clock for another hour, I’d push your skirt up and take you here, against the counter, and make you come all over my cock.”

  He said it so casually, as though they were discussing the weather or some equally mundane topic, but her blood ran hotter than ever at the words. She stepped closer to him too, without thinking, until her body brushed against his. “I’d let you,” she whispered, unable to tear her eyes from his as his head bent lower, lower—

  “Nina?” Rob’s voice called out from the hallway, and they sprang apart a second before his lips met hers.

  God, he made her forget herself so easily.

  They stared at each other for a moment until Rob’s voice called again, closer now.

  “In here,” she replied weakly.

  Ben took a sip of water, looking unruffled, but she could feel the desire pouring off of him.

  Rob walked in, oblivious to the tension in the room. “Officer Crewes, if you’re ready, would you like to head to one of the conference rooms for the interview?”

  Ben was still staring at her. But he nodded. “Sure. I’ll refill my cup first. I was surprisingly thirsty.”

  Rob nodded. “Yep. Happens to me too. I go so long without a drink sometimes, without realizing, but the second I have even a sip of water, it’s like I can’t get enough.”

  Ben shot a sidelong glance at Nina as he stepped away from the water cooler. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.” He gestured to the door. “Lead on. See you around, Miss Lang,” he threw over his shoulder as he exited the kitchen.

  She watched him walk away and waited a couple of minutes before returning to the newsroom.

  Two of the new staff were giggling when she entered again, and one of them—Katie, a pretty young blonde reporter who looked like she should still be in pigtails—motioned to Nina. “Who was that hot guy?” she asked in an excited whisper.

  Nina shrugged. “The SWAT team leader assigned to the Rosen operation.”

  The other girl, Beatrice, who was an up-and-coming photojournalist and at least looked old enough to order a drink in a bar, hummed. “Is he single?”

  A quick flare of jealousy rose, but Nina pushed it away. Ben was attractive, she couldn’t deny it. Any woman with eyes could see it—and was free to comment on it. Besides, he didn’t belong to her. She wasn’t interested in anything long-term. That little incident in the kitchen was simply the product of residual lust.

  By tomorrow, she’d be over him, and he was free to do whatever—and whomever—he pleased.

  “I don’t really know much about his personal life,” she re
plied, trying to end the conversation without acting like a bitch. If she had learned one thing in her career, it was collaboration was always better than competition when it came to dealing with younger journalists. Being seen as a mentor usually helped keep resentment out of the way of everyone doing their job.

  “He’s in an interview right now with Rob,” said Katie. “But maybe he’ll be off duty soon, and we can invite them both out for a drink.”

  Over my dead body.

  Nina pushed the thought away and forced a friendly smile. “Well, good luck with it, ladies. I’ve got to finish up some work.”

  She headed back to her desk and tried to focus, to get through the painfully boring “news” articles on fashion, but all she could think about was Ben. He’d dismantled Rob’s sexism so subtly she’d nearly thrown herself into his arms before they’d even gotten into the hallway. And he looked delicious in his dark uniform, holding his cap under one arm…

  He’d been sweet to her. Even after last night, she couldn’t believe he was still talking to her.

  Focus. Get it done and get out of here, before you run into him again.

  But for the life of her, she couldn’t remember why that was such a bad thing.

  * * * * *

  An hour later, Ben sighed as he rose and shook Rob’s hand. The guy was kind of insensitive, but he did his best, and always wrote stories that gave as balanced an account as possible. As journalists went, he was actually okay.

  Ben couldn’t fault him for the quality of his work, but his treatment of Nina had grated. Ben had tried to defuse the situation without causing more problems between him and Nina, but he wished he could do a better job of protecting her. Though he had been glad for the excuse to be alone with her, even for a short while.

  It was weird, actively wanting to be around a journalist. But she was a woman who got him. Who knew enough things about him already that there was no more story to be had, no more secrets to uncover.

  He wanted her, not just because she was sexy and smart, but because she was the one person who had ever wanted to know so many things about him that no one else seemed to see.

  “Thank you again for coming to Excelsior, Officer Crewes,” Rob told him. “It certainly is an honor.”

  Ben barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes. He was a police officer, not the fucking president.

  He knew Rob meant well, though.

  “No problem. Anytime.”

  Rob motioned to the door. “Shall I walk you out?”

  Ben shook his head. “Actually, I need to stop by and see Miss Lang again. Thanks, though.”

  He didn’t offer any explanation. Rob looked at him strangely for a moment and then, as the silence stretched between them, Rob finally nodded. “Sure, I’m headed back to the newsroom too. I’ll walk with you.”

  The two men walked from the conference room and back down the hall to the newsroom, the floor-to-ceiling windows along the large space allowing Ben to see several reporters still hunched over their desks. But he didn’t see Nina.

  Damn it. She must have left while he was in the conference room with Rob.

  He huffed in frustration, then said a quick goodbye to Rob before turning to head out of the building. He wanted to see Nina again, but he had avoided calling her because the only reason he had her phone number was that she’d given it to him as part of her contact information when he’d hit her car. It seemed like ill-gotten gains.

  He bypassed the elevator and headed for the stairwell in time to see the door to the stairs swing shut, the back of a brunette’s head disappearing through the small window in the fire door.

  Nina.

  He strode fast to the door, yanked it open and practically sprinted down a flight of steps before he caught up to her. She’d already stopped and turned on the landing, and he didn’t even hesitate, just took her in his arms and put his mouth on hers, pulling her body flush against his. She didn’t fight him at all, but came to him as though she’d wanted this to happen all along.

  Yes.

  Her bag slid to the floor with a dull thud and she opened her lips to let his tongue stroke inside, moaning as he licked and nibbled at her, the sound echoing in the stairwell.

  After a long moment, she pulled back and smiled against his lips. “Is that a gun in your holster, or are you happy to see me?”

  He grinned back. “Both.”

  “I thought you weren’t allowed to do this while you’re on duty.”

  “I got off a few minutes ago,” he replied, kissing her again, softly.

  “Too bad I wasn’t there to watch,” she teased.

  It took half a second for the meaning to sink in, and then he laughed before pressing a hard kiss to her lips. It shouldn’t have made him so happy to hear her teasing complaint, but the way she had said it made it sound like a foregone conclusion that if he was getting sexual satisfaction from anyone, it would be her.

  It might have been unintentional, but it meant something.

  He ran his hands over her ass, stroking the firm globes through her skirt. And there was something else under the fabric. Not her panties. What could that be?

  As if she’d read his mind, she gave him a coy smile and said, “It’s a garter belt. I prefer to wear stockings…and no panties.”

  Holy fuck. He really could have had her in the kitchen before, simply by pushing up her skirt and thrusting deep.

  The temptation was practically killing him.

  He groaned and pulled his hands away, backing up a bit so he wouldn’t end up caving and taking her against the wall, gun, badge, radio and all. He’d never had to fight so hard to keep his hands off a woman. Especially a woman who wanted him as badly as she wanted him. He could smell it.

  She’d said yesterday it was only one night. That she didn’t want a relationship…while he wanted her for more than sex. He wanted to get to know her. He’d thought of her for too long to let her go now. But he wasn’t sure how to get through to her. So far, sex had been the only thing that loosened her up enough to let him in. He hadn’t wanted to push it but maybe…maybe it was his best option right now. It could be his only option, sure, but then it would still be his best.

  It was worth a shot. He reached out and gripped her upper arm, gently holding her in place as he stepped close again, pressing his erection against the fabric of her skirt where it pulled tight between her thighs.

  “Does anyone else in this building use the stairs?” he asked, nudging his hips forward and making her gasp.

  “No.” She leaned in and nipped at his lip, then added, “And no cameras either.”

  Hell yeah. She got what he was asking. He kissed her again, sliding his tongue deep into her mouth as his fingers walked their way down her legs to grab at the hem of her skirt.

  She wriggled against him, the pressure of her body making his cock swell even more.

  “Be still.” He growled it against her lips, yanking her skirt up higher, until it was bunched around her waist and he could feel smooth, bare skin against his palms.

  She stilled.

  Good girl.

  He wanted to come all over her. Inside her. But this wasn’t about him. This was about trying to reach Nina in a way that wouldn’t scare her off.

  Leaning back a bit, he gripped her upper thighs and slowly pulled them apart, then brought his thumbs together just over her clit and gently pressed. Her hips jerked and a soft puff of air escaped her lips, striking his face and making him wonder what it would feel like if she blew like that over his dick.

  Not about you. Not about you.

  Still…

  He stepped closer, his legs pressing against hers, spreading them farther open. Then he pulled one hand away from her skin to unbutton and unzip his uniform pants, pushing them and his underwear down just enough to take out his cock so that the base of it was level with he
r clit.

  She looked down at the lewd way they were pressed together, then looked back up at him, her eyes practically glittering. “Fuck me,” she whispered, harsh and demanding.

  Damn it, he wanted to.

  But he shook his head. “Later,” he told her. “If you’re nice to me.”

  She opened her mouth as if to argue, but he grabbed her thighs again at the same time that he brought his lips to hers, and her body practically melted against him. His thumbs slid between her legs, stroking the soft skin alongside her opening, and she responded exactly the way he’d wanted her to—by rubbing her clit against his shaft, the head of his cock leaving a growing wet spot on her blouse with every move she made. Their kiss grew hotter as his thumbs slickened with her arousal, and after another minute he twisted one hand upward, pushing two fingers straight into her channel and making her moan.

  He pumped in and out of her, slowly, savoring the wet sound of it, until his hand was slippery from her body. Then he pulled away, repositioned them so that her clit was once again pressed against his erection, and brought his arousal-slicked fingers to his cock, smearing the fluid all over it as he stroked himself up and down.

  They both stared at it. His painfully hard shaft was sticking straight up between them, his hand rubbing over it in increasingly faster movements.

  Okay, so maybe this was also about him, after all. He was going to see this thing through, but he wanted her to come with him.

  “Touch yourself,” he demanded, his knuckles grazing the soft skin of her mound, making her breath speed up right before she brought one hand down to circle her clit, her fingers brushing against his thumb, which was still playing between her legs as his other hand jerked his cock even faster. Harder. Rough pulls that she was watching, that she seemed to be getting off on, because her hand was working fast and rough too, her fingernails from time to time catching on the rough hairs at the base of his cock and pushing him even nearer to the edge.

  She was so wet.

  He was so close…so close…

  “I’m coming,” she whimpered, arching so hard that he nearly lost his balance but thankfully remained upright, because in the next second he hit his climax too, and he barely had the presence of mind to grab the bottom of his shirt and wrap it over his cock so he wouldn’t leave a mess in the stairwell.