Courting Danger

by Kimberly Dean

  ‘It attracted you.’

  ‘I rest my case.’

  She stomped her foot. ‘Stop. I feel safer working at Luxxor than I did working with third-graders. Just stop it.’

  Whoa. That little bombshell threw his thoughts off track. ‘You were a grade-school teacher?’

  The colour bled from her face. ‘It’s none of your business,’ she said hoarsely.

  Maybe not, but he found it intriguing as hell. How ever had she gone from eight-year-old innocents to the world of callgirls?

  She stood stiffly in front of him. ‘You need to go now.’

  ‘Oh, no. We’re just getting to the good stuff.’

  ‘It’s not anyone at Luxxor,’ she said flatly. ‘I think.’

  A flare lit inside his gut. She knew more than she was saying, or she had a hunch. ‘Then who is it?’

  He dipped his head and made her meet his eyes.

  ‘I don’t know. Not for sure.’

  ‘But you’ve got an idea.’ One that scared her pretty badly. ‘Who’s behind this, Rielle? Come on, tell me.’

  ‘My ex.’

  The flare went off inside Darien’s head like a botched fireworks display, and he struggled not to let it show. Her ex. Someone who should have protected her and cared for her. Loved her. ‘What’s his name?’

  ‘Eddie Hamilton.’

  ‘Where does he live?’

  ‘Baltimore.’

  ‘Why do you suspect him?’

  ‘Because he’s done it before.’

  A muscle in Darien’s jaw knotted. ‘He’s stalked you before?’

  She pushed her hair over her shoulder and looked everywhere but at him. ‘He tried to control me and take over my life, but I…moved away.’

  She’d run away. Darien could see the fear in her eyes. Had the bastard tracked her down?

  ‘Did you tell this to the detective?’

  She nodded in little hitches. ‘It’s one of the leads he’s looking into.’

  But it was the one that her gut was telling her was the real deal. So Darien would make it his priority.

  He rolled his shoulders. It had been bad enough when he’d thought her Luxxor connection was at fault, but an ex-lover? No way was he walking on past this. ‘I can do better than that.’

  Her chin inched up. He saw hope on her face, but it was quickly followed with worry. ‘Wha– what are you going to do?’

  He took in the look of her. One hand was twisting the strap of her purse and, whether or not she realised it, the other was rubbing her stomach as if it hurt. She was all knotted up over this.

  And he wasn’t helping.

  He reached out slowly and cupped her face. She looked soft and delicate, but there were lines of stress around her mouth and dark circles under her eyes.

  ‘How long has it been since you slept?’

  The purse strap got another twist. ‘A while.’

  Too long, that was clear.

  He traced the line of her cheekbone with his thumb. ‘Invite me up.’

  The tip of her tongue swept along her lower lip. ‘No.’

  He went quiet. ‘OK.’

  He dipped his head. When she didn’t pull back, he kissed her. She made a soft sound and her lips moved against his. He eased her into the shadows with him. ‘Then come here.’

  The darkness closed around them as he backed his shoulders up against the wall and wrapped his arms around her. He savoured the feel of her under his palms as he stroked her back. Her muscles were stiff and bunched.

  That needed to be fixed.

  ‘I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you needed me.’ He closed his hand over her breast.

  She arched into his touch and exhaled sharply. He squeezed until he felt the press of her nipple through her bra.

  ‘Where did you go?’ she asked breathlessly.

  ‘Too far away.’ He kissed her again, slower and sexier. On the second pass of his tongue, he felt the tip of hers rub back. A growl rumbled in his chest.

  She let out a sound of defeat and wound her arms around his neck. ‘Why do I let you make me go against everything I know?’

  ‘Because it’s not about this.’ He kissed her forehead. ‘It’s about this.’

  He pressed his thigh between her legs until she rode it. Her hips swung forward, and he cupped her bottom to hold her right where she was.

  ‘It’s the same reason I keep coming back when I know I shouldn’t.’

  Footsteps rang out across the tiny courtyard, and Darien’s head snapped up. His hand went to the small of his back, but it was an older woman returning with her groceries. Rielle tucked her head against his chest, and he cupped the back of her head.

  They waited, bodies hot and aching, as the woman passed them, none the wiser. He waited for the click of a door before he relaxed.

  Only the woman in his arms had gone tense again.

  Rolling against the wall, he took one step that switched their positions. If the older woman had seen them, Rielle’s long coat would have hidden most of what they were doing, but he didn’t want anyone watching her.

  Anyone but him.

  She wiggled in the small space. ‘We should stop,’ she whispered.

  ‘Probably,’ he agreed, even as he began lifting her skirt.

  She gasped and swatted at his hands.

  ‘But since you won’t let me up to your bed, I’m going to have to find another way to relieve that stress of yours.’

  She caught his wrist when his palms swept up her thighs. They quivered, but when he pushed with his knee again, she parted them. Her nails bit, but she wasn’t pushing him away any more.

  He turned his hand sideways to span her stomach. It was surging up and down as she tried to control her breaths.

  He stared down into her big brown eyes. They were wide with caution, the pupils dilated under the light of the moon. She still wasn’t certain about him.

  ‘Rielle,’ he sighed. He kissed her full-on and turned his hand. His fingertips slid into her panties. Her skin felt hot. Soft. Feminine.

  The kiss turned hungry, and her hold on his wrist gradually loosened. She ran her hands against his chest and timidly pressed her pussy into his hand.

  He crowded her as his hand went to work. He buried it wrist-deep in her panties as he cupped her tender flesh. His knuckles scraped against the brick wall as he fisted his other hand in her hair, but he didn’t care.

  He ground the zipper of his jeans against her hip. Her skirt was full enough that it kept her covered everywhere except where he had it hitched up to gain access. Yet it swung against his legs as her hips began to rock, giving more than a hint of what was going on.

  ‘Easy,’ he whispered.

  He slid a finger into her and caught her moan with a kiss. Her breaths were coming more harshly now, and so were his.

  She was soft inside, and her grip was strong. He pushed another finger into her and felt the way her inner muscles clenched.

  She was wet, but not wet enough.

  He wanted her knees weak, her muscles limp and her thoughts shut down.

  He worked his thumb through her folds until he found her clit. Her hands caught his shoulders convulsively as he rolled the swollen nub.

  He worked his fingers deeper, rubbing, tickling and massaging until he found the spot.

  ‘Ahhh!’

  Her cry slipped out and a passing dog walker looked around in confusion.

  ‘My bad,’ Darien whispered. He sealed his mouth over hers and zeroed in on that magic G-spot.

  Rielle came unglued as he held her in his arms. Her dampness drenched his fingers, and her hips worked jerkily. Her mouth pressed against his, and her teeth scraped. She’d spread her legs wide to let him do whatever he wanted to do.

  Her hands dropped lower, clenching his sides and then his bottom. She came too close to the small of his back where his gun lay, and he squeezed a third finger inside her to distract her.

  It worked. She was so tight, he didn’t want to hurt her, but the e
xtra pinch made her come. He kept his fingers pumping as the orgasm rode through her hard.

  Beautiful. She was so beautiful when she let go.

  She went limp, and he carefully pulled his fingers out of her. He smoothed her skirt down and tucked her up against his chest.

  ‘Oh, my God,’ she whispered. She didn’t feel steady on her feet.

  ‘That’s better,’ he said.

  She leaned against him weakly, and he patted her bottom. ‘Now go on upstairs.’

  She lifted her head. The wide-eyed deer-in-the-headlights look was gone. In its place were soft, gentle doe eyes that made his erection ache.

  ‘But…you?’ she whispered.

  He’d asked twice if he could come up, and she’d said no. When she let him into her apartment, he wanted her head clear and her decision to be sure.

  He just wasn’t a saint. He’d needed to put his stamp on her. Watching her with the hockey stud and hearing about a bad ex had made him defensive. Green-eyed and seeing red.

  It still was.

  He was up to his neck in intrigue, but she was being threatened. He might not be the best guy for her, but he was done lurking in the background.

  He led her to the door and made sure she made it inside safely. ‘Sleep tight, Beautiful. Everything will be better in the morning.’

  He was going to make sure of it.

  Nina Lockwood sat at her desk with the morning sunlight just brightening in the window behind her. She spread her fingers wide on her desktop and tried to will away the tension headache building between her temples. It wasn’t thudding yet, but she could feel the tightness growing in her neck muscles, and her jaw was beginning to ache.

  She was not happy with the way things were spiralling ever more wildly within her company. Too many things had happened recently that were shaking her control. Rielle had gone out as an escort with a man nobody knew. Then the disturbing calls had started. Just last night, one of Luxxor’s escorts had been mugged at the Metro station. The woman’s purse had been stolen, along with her phone and credit cards. She’d ended up with bumps and bruises, but she couldn’t identify her attacker. First and foremost, Nina was concerned for her employee, but that phone contained contact information for Luxxor, for Rielle and even herself.

  And now she had this referral to worry about.

  She smoothed her fingers across the sturdy oak surface. She knew she’d assumed a certain amount of risk when she’d entered this world, but the request for service disturbed her. It had come in late last night, and mulling over the implications had kept her up into the wee hours. She didn’t want to get involved with these people, yet she wanted even less to offend such a powerful man. In DC, power came in many forms. His was the most definitive. He’d vouched for the gentleman who was coming over to Luxxor right now for services.

  But his employees weren’t just men, they were weapons.

  She adjusted the blue glass dolphin figurine that sat before her. She refused to put her people in jeopardy. If she didn’t like the feel of this man, she would decline. That was that.

  This company was her baby. She’d been there when it had been born, and she’d raised it through the difficult early years. She would not see it come to grief now.

  The dolphin glowed in her hands as the morning rays caught it just right, and she saw the hairline crack in the tail. She’d been here every moment, but somehow the weaknesses of her company were being tested. She needed to do a better job containing things.

  Starting with this.

  Her head popped up when she heard the lobby door in the distance. Well, he was prompt, she’d give him that.

  She stood, smoothed her skirt and went to answer the door herself. The muscles in her neck pulled tighter the closer she got to the lobby. When she turned into the entryway, she discovered she wasn’t alone. He’d already entered.

  And the force of him made her head begin to thud.

  Her toes curled inside her shoes. Well, she wouldn’t have trouble finding an escort who wanted to accompany him. The problem would be finding someone who’d want to do it more than once. The self-preservation instinct was strong, and this one had danger written all over him. He was tall and handsome, but there was a predatory air about him. That crisp grey suit didn’t hide the whipcord strength of his body. The guy was sexy.

  No, not sexy. Sexual.

  ‘Good morning,’ he said in a low tone that made goosebumps pop up on her forearms.

  ‘Hello,’ she said crisply.

  This was her house. She was in charge here.

  The big man’s blue gaze went to the reception desk, and they darkened when he saw it was empty. Her fingers clenched against her skirt. Rielle had overslept, and Sienna had attended a Cherry Blossom Festival event last night for Luxxor. She wouldn’t be in the office until after lunch, but Nina wasn’t going to tell this man she was alone.

  She pulled back her shoulders and puffed up her chest. It wouldn’t be wise to show weakness in front of someone like him, and she was not weak. ‘Shall we go to my office?’

  Where the Security buzzer at her desk would be within reach.

  She walked at his side, refusing to have him behind her, and took her seat of power behind the big sturdy desk. He eased his lanky frame into the chair before her, and they faced one another.

  ‘Can I get you anything? Tea? Coffee?’

  ‘Let’s just get to it.’

  Fine. She didn’t want to drag this out any longer than necessary either.

  ‘I received your referral, but the information was very brief. Can you tell me what kind of service you’re looking for? Is there a specific event you’re attending? Do you have a preference that could help us make a match? Blonde, brunette or redhead, for instance?’

  ‘Oh, I have a strong preference, and I have something very specific in mind.’

  He sat with both feet on the floor, and his hands lay on the armrests of the chair. It wasn’t exactly a relaxed pose, and his gaze was sharp. His posture was crouched, that’s what it was. He watched her like the predator she’d identified him as. ‘You have a problem, Ms Lockwood. I can help you with that, but you need to help me in return.’

  Nina frowned. She had a lot of problems right now, but how did he know about any of them? The toe of her shoe bobbed up and down. ‘What is it that you desire?’

  ‘Rielle Sands.’

  Rielle? Nina felt the words like a punch in the gut. ‘No.’

  ‘Yes.’

  It all became clear in a flash of insight: the infiltration of their database, the circumvention of their security, the inducement of her most practical and cautious employee…

  She snapped to her feet, her entire body rigid. ‘You’re the one. You’re the one who took her to the White House reception. You’re the one who’s been calling her!’

  The big man leaned forward in his chair and clasped his hands together. The look on his face was dark. ‘No, I’m not. That’s the problem.’

  Nina glared at him. She’d worried that he’d put her people at risk, but he’d already done so. She reached for the buzzer, not even trying to hide her intent.

  ‘Did she tell you The Breather called on her personal cell yesterday?’

  The question was quick and sharp. And disturbing. Nina paused with her finger on the button. ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘Whoever the bastard is, he got her direct line. You’re not protecting her.’

  Nina’s headache squeezed so tightly, she saw stars. ‘Rielle is like a younger sister to me,’ she hissed. ‘I protect her with everything I have. Nobody will hurt her if I can stop it, and that includes you.’

  ‘So far, you’ve failed.’ His fingers whitened where he had them interlaced. ‘I can get the job done.’

  Nina’s eyes narrowed. She worked in the complex field of male–female interaction. She knew the signs, but what she was reading surprised her.

  As intimidating as this guy was, and as much as he could back it up, he had a weakness. />
  He was invested.

  In Rielle.

  ‘How do you know this? You went out with her once. Have you been watching her? Have you been surveilling us?’

  ‘Just be assured that I know.’

  Had he approached Rielle again? Wouldn’t she have told her? Nina pressed her tongue against the roof of her mouth. She had gone a bit haywire that first night. She hated to think Rielle would be afraid to bring something like this to her.

  Unless…

  ‘Have you two been seeing one another?’

  ‘No.’

  But they’d had interactions. Nina suddenly remembered the kiss. She hadn’t thought about it much; she’d just been so happy to see her employee safe and sound. Yet she remembered now the two of them kissing like the night was on fire. She hadn’t even recognised him, the two had been so wrapped around one another.

  She spread her fingers on her desktop again and leaned towards him. He wasn’t the only one who could apply pressure to weaknesses. ‘If you want to protect her, why not just do it?’

  Honestly, she’d take all the help she could get when it came to protecting her employee. And the enemy of her enemy was her friend. If he could eliminate the problem, she’d have no compunction about him doing so. Luxxor and, more specifically, Rielle just didn’t need to be involved.

  ‘If I’m to going to protect her, I’ll need to keep her close to me.’

  It was subtle, but she saw the way his mouth twisted.

  ‘But she won’t let you in,’ Nina declared. ‘She doesn’t trust you.’

  And that, finally, made sense. Rielle was more than an employee and more than a friend. Nina felt responsible for her, and she knew her psyche. No way would Rielle get involved with a man like this.

  But she might be tempted. Behind all the walls she’d erected around herself, she was still a red-blooded woman. Thank God. Nina had worried she’d suppressed all that.

  But this man was not the one to draw her out that way. Never.

  He rose to his feet. She held her ground, but she did lean back when he planted his hands on his hips.

  ‘You can arrange it.’

  She shook her head. No, she couldn’t. She wouldn’t

  ‘Assign her to me…or whatever you call it. Make her my escort.’

  ‘Absolutely not.’ The words came out like rapid-fire gunshots.