Courting Danger

by Kimberly Dean

  She cupped his balls and used her thumb on them. He gritted his teeth. She might be suspicious and wary, but he was goddamn happy she wasn’t afraid of him.

  He’d never hurt her. Ever.

  She wrapped her fingers around his cock.

  ‘Pump it,’ he said gruffly. He was already throbbing. He worried he wouldn’t be able to hold on, but he had to feel it.

  She stroked him up and down, squeezing harder as she gained more confidence.

  ‘Just like that.’

  He kissed her hard, and her tongue slid against his lower lip. He growled and took a taste of his own. God, she was hot.

  He cupped a hand over one of her full, perfect breasts and kissed his way down to her chest. He scraped his teeth across her breastbone, and she arched like a bow when he did the same to her nipple. He’d worked her with his hands, but he hadn’t tasted her yet. He wanted to feel that nub tighten under his tongue until it was so stiff that she squirmed.

  He locked his mouth over her and tugged insistently. She let out a cry.

  ‘Oh. That’s – I can’t – yes!’

  He did it again, and she squeezed his cock hard.

  He groaned. He plumped up her other breast and when his mouth dropped, he took his time. He sucked at her until she was rolling her head against the armrest and groaning in rising pleasure.

  When he saw the bruises again, he gentled. He placed open mouth kisses across every inch of her marred skin and looked for any he might have missed. He’d have to get her in full light to do it right, and he fully intended to do so.

  But right now they had other pressing matters to attend to.

  He pushed himself upright until he had one foot on the floor and his other knee braced on the sofa between her legs. The sight of her hand still stuffed down the front of his jeans was just about the hottest thing he’d ever seen, but he didn’t want to jack off in her hand.

  He needed to be inside her again. He needed to feel her body clenching at his, accepting him and letting him in deep.

  ‘We need to move this along.’

  He pushed down his jeans and swept his hands along her inner thighs. He felt them tremble, but then she pulled her knees up to her chest, opening to him fully.

  He petted her. He circled her clit with his finger, and her body jerked. He carefully pressed his thumb to it and sank two fingers into her. Her pussy clamped down on them and her hips rose sharply.

  ‘Why you?’ she panted. She swept her thumb over the head of his cock. ‘What is wrong with me?’

  ‘There’s nothing wrong with you.’

  She let out a murmur of need, and he let her guide him to where she wanted him. He lowered himself upon her and watched her eyes as he penetrated her and then slid home deep.

  She clutched at his back, and her eyes glazed over.

  She felt more than good. She made him feel real. Connected. He’d started to lose that feeling, and he couldn’t help but hold tight and cling to it. To her.

  It was crazy to get this close. She was a good girl, the white-picket-fence kind. She shouldn’t get involved with someone like him. It was dangerous for both of them, but he needed this night. He needed her to pull him back.

  And he was getting the feeling she needed him to pull her back into the real world, too.

  ‘Rielle.’ He began to work in and out of her. Slowly, steadily. She moaned and when she looked at him, her eyelids were heavy. Dreamy.

  She needed to dream again. He needed to make her.

  ‘Tell me your name.’ She ran kisses along his chest as he hovered over her, and her hands raked down his back. Their stomachs rubbed together as he keep his thrusts steady and smooth.

  The effort to not take her hard and fast again was making his lower back knot, but he refused to rush this.

  ‘Ahhh,’ she cried. ‘Please?’

  He kissed her.

  On and on, he fucked her. She was so slick and soft. Her heels dug into his back as she pulled her legs higher. Her fingernails bit into his shoulders, and her thighs were like lock bars around his ribcage when she came.

  He watched the pleasure blur her features. They softened and her body melted beneath him. She let out a full-throated moan, and he finally gave in.

  His hips slammed home, but it only took a few strokes before he was ejaculating hard. He ground into her to extend it as long as he could. Finally, he let his weight drop upon her.

  Oh, yeah, following his instincts and coming here had been a good idea. The best.

  She relaxed beneath him. Her hand was stroking his hip, but she didn’t do this often. He could tell. She might work at an escort service, but she didn’t sleep around.

  He liked that she slept with him – even if she didn’t understand why she was giving in to their attraction.

  Suddenly, she stiffened. He went on the alert and heard the knocking a moment after she did.

  ‘Shit. The pizza.’ He didn’t have the energy to get up.

  He held her pinned until she began to wiggle. ‘I’ll get it.’

  He rose up and looked at her like she was crazy. ‘The hell you will.’

  Nobody else was going to see her this way. He had no right to feel possessive, but tonight wasn’t about the real world. Tonight, she was his.

  Bare-chested and barefooted, he answered Luxxor’s front door. He paid the pizza boy and eyed him carefully. ‘Did Security give you any trouble?’

  ‘Nah. They knew a lady was still up here.’

  The kid could put two and two together. He tried to peer into the office for an equally unclad woman, but no way in hell was that going to happen.

  ‘You never saw me. Got it?’

  The kid’s eyebrows rose when he saw his tip. ‘Right. Thanks, man.’ He ducked away quickly. ‘Good luck.’

  Good luck.

  He considered that. The last two nights were some of the best luck he’d had in a very long time. He wondered how long he could extend his streak.

  When he turned, he saw Rielle peeking around the corner. She was wearing his T-shirt again. It hit her at mid-thigh. She was rubbing a foot against the opposite shin and watching the window by the door.

  ‘He’s gone.’

  They were alone.

  ‘It smells good,’ he said. ‘Want to eat?’

  She hesitated for a moment.

  ‘This way.’ She moved past the lobby and any more seeing eyes, and he followed her to the break room. She turned on a light in there, and he closed the blinds. They washed up and she found paper plates, napkins and sodas.

  She opened the box. ‘Not quite the spread we had last night.’

  He looked at her wearing nothing but his grey T-shirt. Her hair was mussed, and he’d kissed off all her lipstick long ago. ‘This is better.’

  Her gaze flicked away nervously, but when he sat at the table she followed. He gave her a slice before getting one of his own, and they ate in silence.

  ‘You have to tell me how you got into our computer database,’ she finally said.

  He took a sip of cola. She was right. That backdoor could hurt Luxxor and, by extension, her. It had been a last-minute plan that had fallen apart anyway. Mel Summers didn’t exist. He nodded, and she looked surprised.

  He wasn’t claiming anything, but it would be fixed.

  She relaxed after that, tucking a foot underneath her on the chair. More than once, he caught her eyeing him over the pizza. She blushed when he caught her.

  ‘Sorry,’ she murmured.

  She stood up to put the leftover pizza in the refrigerator. When she turned, he was standing before her again.

  ‘You were hungry.’

  And not only for food.

  She had pent-up sexuality that needed to get out. He was more than happy to be the one to help her with that. Watching her face, he slid his hand up her side and covered her breast. ‘Is there a shower in that bathroom I saw back there?’

  Her eyes widened, but she nodded.

  He brushed his thumb over her n
ipple. ‘Want to get wet with me?’

  He went still when she smoothed her hands over his chest. She lifted herself up onto her tiptoes, and his heart was pounding hard when she kissed him.

  ‘Yes.’

  They made love in the shower and this time he checked her over from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet. The bruises he found were the only ones she had. They were consistent with Muay Thai, but he still didn’t like the idea of her throwing herself into the sport like that.

  When she dropped to her knees before him, though, he was pretty happy about the enthusiasm she had for that.

  Her mouth was wet and hot, and her tongue was agile. She cupped his balls as she sucked him into her mouth. She took him deep and her head bobbed. His hands locked tight in her hair until he felt his balls draw up tight. Catching her under the arms, he lifted her and pinned her against the wall.

  He was inside her and pumping hard before she even got her legs wrapped around him.

  He closed his mouth over hers, and she kissed him back desperately as his hips bucked and her breasts bounced.

  It was fast, it was raw and it was wet. It was over too soon, and it left them both breathless.

  He turned off the shower and caught her hand. ‘Come on, it’s getting late. Let me take you home.’

  She surprised the hell out of him by stiffening. She pulled her hand away from his and grabbed a towel. ‘I can get there.’

  He stood dripping onto the floor mat and stared at her. ‘Did you drive today?’

  If that was the problem, he’d ride with her. He could find his way back.

  She wrapped the towel around herself and tucked the end in over her breasts.

  ‘I took the Metro.’

  ‘Then I’m driving you home.’ It was late. He didn’t want her wandering around the subway system on her own.

  Her shoulders set. ‘That’s all right.’

  He frowned. ‘I don’t want you on the Metro this late.’

  ‘And I don’t want you to know where I live.’

  He let his hands drop. They’d already been as intimate as a man and woman could get, and it had all been consensual. Yet her home was too personal to share?

  She still didn’t feel safe with him.

  Smart woman, although it stung.

  He yanked a towel off the rack so hard it snapped. She flinched, but moved out of his way when he picked up his jeans. He dried off fast and got dressed. She wouldn’t meet his gaze as she blotted her hair.

  Was she waiting for him to just leave?

  ‘All right,’ he said sharply. He already knew where she lived. He’d followed her home last night, but she didn’t need to know that. ‘Then get one of the Security guys to take you.’

  ‘They’re waiting for escorts to check in by now.’

  ‘One of them can drive you home. After last night, I’m pretty sure they’re going to insist anyway.’

  She bit her lip. She knew he was right. ‘OK.’

  It was a compromise. He would have preferred to take her home himself. He would have preferred even more to be invited up so he could feel her curling up beside him in bed, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.

  He was lucky he’d gotten the scraps she’d thrown his way.

  ‘Get dressed. I’ll clean up.’ He grabbed another towel and stalked out.

  She really didn’t want him taking her home. But why? They’d already had sex. There was no pressure there. Did she have someone waiting for her?

  His jaw hardened, but he quickly rejected the idea. She worked late every night, as far as he could tell. The long hours crossed a kid off the list. Nobody had called to see when she’d be home. If she did have a significant other, the guy deserved to be kicked to the kerb.

  He knew his excuse, but why did she have to keep so many secrets?

  He stewed on it as he wiped down the sofa in her boss’s office and made sure the furniture was replaced where it had been. He heard a hairdryer turn on behind him. He straightened the chair at the desk, collected his phone and wiped the fingerprints off the windows. He knew how to leave no trace behind.

  He picked up her work dress, bra and shoes. She looked at him in surprise when he returned to the bathroom to hand them to her.

  The look on her face ticked him off. They’d done a lot of things together, but they’d never been awkward with each other.

  ‘What do you want to do with the dress?’

  The party dress’s poor condition would draw attention – especially from the woman who’d charged in last night wearing sky-high stilettos.

  ‘I need to take it to the cleaners.’

  ‘Perfect.’ Let the professionals get rid of the evidence of what they’d done.

  She, apparently, wanted to scrub the rest of it clean, too.

  He scraped back his hair. Why the hell was he being so pissy about this? He’d known it was a one-night stand. He was lucky she’d let him touch her at all. ‘They’ couldn’t happen.

  He swore under his breath.

  He bundled up the frothy green material and looked around for any other betraying signs.

  She cast a shadow across the carpeting when she stood in the bathroom doorway. Her professional garb was back in place: shoes on, bra tight and dress zipped all the way to the top. Yet her hair was still damp. It brought his temper down a bit.

  She wasn’t used to guys like him. Thank God.

  She folded her hands tightly in front of her. ‘You work fast,’ she said quietly.

  When he had to.

  He nodded towards a splash of pink in front of the sofa. ‘Panties.’

  He put his jacket on as she rushed to retrieve the stretched-out slip of nylon. She bunched it up in her hand, and her face flushed. He was well aware she was going commando under that dress. Finding out what lay beneath had been a mission for him.

  Her gaze flicked away, and he used the opportunity to pick up the other item he’d left on the chair. He tucked the handgun in the waistband of his jeans at the small of his back and pulled his T-shirt and jacket over the bulge.

  ‘Coat? Purse?’ He checked the bathroom. She’d put the towels in the hamper and had tidied up in there. He turned off the light and followed her.

  She gathered her things quickly and stuffed the dress into a bag.

  ‘Lock up behind us,’ he instructed as he held the lobby door open for her.

  ‘Why? It didn’t stop you.’

  He liked it that her spirit was returning, but he leaned into her space. ‘I’m special. Lock it.’

  He waited to hear the tumblers fall into place. When she turned for the elevator, he fell into step beside her.

  ‘Call me when you get home so I know you made it there.’

  She cast him a glance. ‘I don’t have to check in with you.’

  He raked a hand through his hair. ‘Rielle, throw me a bone.’

  ‘I’ll text you.’

  ‘Fine.’ He’d take it.

  She pushed the button to call the elevator, and he leaned his shoulders against the wall so he could watch her. She was a hard one to figure out. So soft and sweet, yet guarded and tough.

  Why couldn’t he have just gotten an escort like he’d planned?

  Because he wouldn’t have wanted an escort.

  He wanted her. He wanted her so badly, his back teeth ground together.

  She stared at the elevator door and held the dress against her chest. ‘Will I see you again?’ she asked so quietly, he almost didn’t hear her.

  ‘No’ was the correct answer.

  But if she was asking…

  ‘Leave my number in your phone.’

  ‘The one for Mel?’

  ‘If I call you, answer this time,’ he said grumpily. ‘Even if it’s only to tell me to fuck off.’

  She looked at him sharply, but the elevator arrived and the doors slid open. She stepped inside, but he didn’t follow. She shot a look of concern back at the office.

  He shook his head. He wasn’t breaking in
again. ‘I don’t think your friends on the first floor would like to see me with you. I’ll take the back way out.’

  ‘The back way?’

  Like most people, she’d developed habits and routes. He, on the other hand, was always looking for the exits.

  The doors began to close. ‘Good night, Rielle.’

  ‘Goodbye,’ she said softly.

  Oh, like hell.

  He stopped the doors inches before they shut. The warning buzzer went off when he pushed them back open, but he shouldered his way between them.

  Her eyes widened, but he caught her by the nape of the neck and pulled her to him. His head dropped, and she lifted her mouth to meet his. The kiss was fiery and emotional. Their tongues tangled, and he nearly picked her up to carry her back to their love nest.

  She trusted him enough to let her touch him.

  But she didn’t trust him enough to let him take her home.

  And that bothered him. It bothered him bone deep.

  He pulled back slowly. Her breaths were unsteady, and her eyes were big. After their shower, not a bit of makeup remained, but she was beautiful.

  So beautiful, he made himself let her go.

  He stepped out of the doors’ path and they closed between them. He shoved his hands in his pockets.

  ‘Darien,’ he said softly. ‘My name is Darien.’

  Chapter Six

  The hang-up call came three days later.

  Rielle was on the computer, looking through pictures of tattoos. She was hoping she could find some way to identify her mystery man – or at least learn something about him. She’d gotten some up-close looks at the tattoos he sported, one on his chest and another on his biceps. They didn’t look like biker tattoos, and she thankfully hadn’t seen the name of another woman. She didn’t know what they meant, or if they had meaning to anyone but him. She was just grasping at stray straws.

  Besides, she’d liked them. They’d been sexy, in a menacing way. He’d had a paw-and-claw mark on his chest and a tribal armband around his biceps. Then again, everything about the man was a turn-on.

  Which, obviously, blew out every rational brain cell in her head.

  She cleared her throat when the second ring cut through her musings. ‘Hello?’