Whatever It Takes

by Dixie Lee Brown

  He groaned with the exhale and captured her lips again. Alex moaned into his mouth and squirmed against him, pushing him closer to the erotic moment ahead.

  Nate explored the softness of her skin until he again found the spot between her legs that made her cry out in pleasure. He twirled his thumb in a circular pattern, and Alex jerked in his arms, striking his chest one minute, pulling him closer the next.

  He kissed her gently. “Darlin’, I’m going to put your hands over your head and hold on to them, just so you don’t accidentally deck me. Do you think that will be okay?”

  Panic took root in her eyes for the space of a heartbeat, but then she smiled and lifted her arms over her head until her hands rested on the pillow. “What makes you think it would be an accident?”

  “Good point.” Overlapping her wrists, he secured them with one hand.

  He nibbled her lips and trailed kisses across her neck and chest, then suckled each breast in turn. Caressing her back, down across her firm ass and to her shapely thighs, he eventually arrived at the apex of her legs again.

  The moment that he entered her with his fingers, he took her mouth, plunging deep with his tongue as he sought to own her completely. When Alex was totally caught up in the rhythm and intent on returning his kisses, sparring with his tongue, his thumb slipped back to her responsive center.

  This time, she moaned and pressed into his hand while he kissed her gently. Nate fingered and stroked, and kept pushing her until her climax claimed her body with an explosive shudder. He released her hands, and she flung herself around him as though she couldn’t get close enough.

  Nate lay still for a ­couple of minutes, holding her like the precious gift she was, before he couldn’t hold back any longer. He unwrapped her arms from his shoulders and rolled to the edge of the bed, grabbed his pants from the floor, and dug his wallet from his pocket. The small plastic packet crinkled as he tore it open, and he must have looked like an inexperienced teenage boy trying to get the damn thing on.

  When he returned to the bed, Alex lay propped on her elbows, a ghost of a smile on her lips. Nate didn’t think he could get any harder, but his engorged member constricted painfully.

  He climbed onto the bed and lowered himself between her legs. “I need to be inside you.” He set his lips on hers and nipped and licked while he positioned the end of his shaft at the opening to her warm, wet folds. With a loud groan, he thrust into her, seating himself deep within her tight sheath.

  “Oh God, darlin’. You feel so damn good. I could stay here forever.”

  Alex sprinkled butterfly kisses across his face. “Unrealistic goals.”

  Nate groaned. “Smart-­ass.” He held her face between his hands and kissed her soundly. “I love you, Alex Morgan.” Then he started to move within her.

  He didn’t expect her to tell him if she was hurting, but she wouldn’t be able to hide it in those expressive dark brown eyes. So he’d go slow and controlled, and stop if she gave any sign of discomfort. That was the plan, anyway. Clearly he’d underestimated her effect on him. One minute he was watching; the next he was climaxing with all the finesse of a rogue elephant.

  His breathing heaved in and out as he rested his forehead against hers. Damned if making love to her didn’t get better every time. He would never get enough of her. When he could move again, he raised his head and smiled.

  Alex’s eyes were closed and her breathing was labored.

  He rolled off her, imagining the worst. “You okay?”

  Her eyes opened slowly and a smile spread across her face. “I’m terrific. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this day.”

  Nate kissed the corners of her mouth and then nipped at her lower lip. “We’re going to make lots of memories, darlin’.”

  ALEX WOULD HAVE been content to stay right there in his arms indefinitely, but the ringtone of his cell phone intruded into their relaxed conversation regarding what they would do with the rest of their day.

  “Just let it ring.” Nate pressed his lips to her forehead and settled them more comfortably on the pillows.

  Alex chewed her lower lip and propped up on her elbow to stare at the phone. “What if something is wrong? It could be Joe. Maybe Marco is sick.”

  Nate’s blank expression clearly said he was hiding what he really thought, which was probably that she needed to grow up, but she didn’t care what he thought at the moment and was relieved when he reached for the device on the nightstand.

  “Sanders . . . Hey, Cap. Thanks for calling back. You suggested I take some personal time after what happened to Burke and Anderson, so I’m going to do that if you can cover things without me . . . ­Couple of weeks at least . . . Those reports are on my desk. I’ll come in and finish that and a ­couple other things . . . No problem. I’ll see you in about an hour . . . Thanks, Gene.”

  Nate put the phone back on the night stand. “Wasn’t Joe.”

  “I got that. It must have been your nice boss . . . and you’re going into work?” Alex tried to keep the bleakness from her voice but she failed miserably.

  He rolled toward her, tucking her close to him. “Not really. I just have to finish a ­couple reports and give details on one of my cases to another detective. I’m sorry. Your first day here and I leave you on your own. You could come with me.”

  Alex was tempted. She wasn’t keen on the idea of rambling around this huge house all alone. “Can we get a dog?”

  A short laugh burst from Nate, which he stifled when she didn’t join in his merriment. He sighed. “Apparently, I have a serious case of can’t-­deny-­you-­anything.”

  She smiled brightly. “Excellent! I’ll make a list while you’re in town.”

  “Very funny. Really? A dog?”

  “You don’t hate animals or something, do you? Because that would be a deal breaker. A dog would be excellent company when you’re gone. No one would be able to sneak up on us.” Alex held up a finger for each point she made.

  “That’s what my expensive alarm system is for, and you don’t have to feed it twice a day.” But the twinkle in his eyes told her she’d won. No doubt he was only grumbling his opinion so that later, when conditions warranted, he could say he told her so.

  She brushed her lips over his. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I’ll stay here, if that’s all right. I need to do some laundry. I don’t have anything clean left to wear. I could do a load for you, too, if you’d like.” The blue of his eyes darkened perceptibly as she leaned against him.

  “That would be great, but no heavy lifting. You’re to take it easy. You can explore this big old mausoleum if you want, but no cleaning. I have a housekeeper who comes in a ­couple times a week for that. And no cooking—­I’m taking you out for dinner.” He nibbled her earlobe and she had to struggle to remember what they’d been talking about.

  “I didn’t bring any fancy clothes on this trip. Rayna is going to send some of my things, but that could take a while.” Great. She’d probably embarrass him during their first time out.

  “You won’t find many fancy duds in my closet either. I was thinking maybe . . . pizza and beer. Sound all right?”

  “Perfect.”

  His warm lips met hers one more time before he swung his feet to the floor and stood. “But tomorrow or the next day, we’re going shopping so you can pick up what you’ll need until Rayna sends your things—­my treat.”

  “No, no way. You’re not paying for my things.” She’d establish that boundary right now. Alex wouldn’t be a kept woman.

  He moved back to the edge of the bed and leaned over, bracing one arm on each side of her. “Uncle Leo left me an obscene amount of money. More than I could spend in three lifetimes. He told me before he died that he’d be happy if I blew my entire inheritance on women. Uncle Leo was kind of a womanizer, but I’ve only found one woman I�
��d want to spoil. I’m looking at her right now. Let me do this.”

  She sucked in her breath. “That is so not fair—­using your dead, womanizing uncle to make me feel sorry for you.”

  Nate straightened and winked, a grin taking root where dejection had been a second ago. “That’s settled then.” He strode, in all his naked glory, to the closet, retrieved some clean clothes, and retreated to the bathroom.

  A second later, Alex heard the shower. She rolled off the bed, searched her bag for her cleanest dirty clothes, and chose a pair of jeans and a long-­sleeved, red V-­neck pullover. When Nate came, bare-­chested, from the bathroom, smelling of clean soap with his hair still dripping, Alex was already dressed, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She’d shower later, after she had clean clothes to put on.

  Nate strode to the chair where he’d dropped his duffel bag. “I’ve got something of yours I think you’ll want.” He pulled out a folded towel, laid it on the bed, and threw back the edges.

  Alex gasped. “My dagger! I thought I’d lost it for good.” Her stomach roiled slightly when the image of where she’d last seen the blade flashed in her mind. A cold chill sent her flying into Nate’s arms.

  He tucked her against him. “Whoa . . . what’s this? You told me Diego didn’t hurt you. Was that the truth?” He tipped her head and stared into her eyes.

  “He didn’t . . . but he wanted to . . . would have if I hadn’t had my dagger. Thanks for bringing it back.” She laid her ear against his chest and took comfort in the beating of his heart.

  He pressed his lips to her forehead. “I hope you’ll never need it again, but you’ll have it just in case.”

  She wiggled free and ran her hand the length of the blade, then picked it up and went to find her empty scabbard. With the familiar weight hanging off her belt once more, she turned as Nate came from the bathroom, pulling his shirt over his head. He shrugged into his shoulder harness, checked to make sure his forty-­five was loaded, and donned a light jacket over the top.

  “Come downstairs with me. I want to make sure you know the alarm codes, and I have something else for you.” He reached for her hand.

  “My—­so mysterious.” Alex studied his eyes, flashing with humor.

  He made her set and deactivate the alarm twice. “The same code works on the gate. I’m not very original when it comes to that sort of thing. The alarm system was Uncle Leo’s idea, so I kept the same codes he used.” Nate opened one of the cupboards and reached inside. “And . . . this is for you.” He held a set of keys at arm’s length in front of her.

  Her gaze flew to his. “Your car? You’re letting me use your car? But you love that Mustang.”

  He stepped toward her, took her hand, and placed the keys on her palm. “I love you more, so if you go anywhere, drive carefully.”

  His kiss warmed her and sent a tingle all the way to her toes. When he released her, he grabbed another set of keys from the cupboard and headed for the door.

  “Oh, hey, before I forget.” She removed Val’s wedding rings from her finger and held them out to him.

  He came back and accepted the rings. “Right. I guess we don’t need those anymore. I got kind of used to them on your hand, though.” His brow furrowed as he dropped them into his jacket pocket, brushed a kiss on her cheek, and started for the door again.

  “Hey, Detective.” The huge lump in her throat made it hard to get the words out. She couldn’t tell him that she was going to miss the rings—­and her role as his wife.

  He stopped just inside the kitchen.

  “Hurry home.” She smiled and looked away, suddenly embarrassed by the open lust in his gaze.

  His eyes darkened, and he smiled. “Count on it.” He waved before he closed the door behind him.

  Alex weighed the keys in her hand, amazed that he would leave them with her. Slowly, she shuffled to the door and punched in the code to activate the alarm before she shoved the keys in her pocket and headed upstairs.

  She sorted her few articles of clothing, unpacked Nate’s duffel bag, and added his clothes to her piles. Then she went downstairs and started a load in the washer. On the way back through the kitchen, she noticed the light still on for the oven so she switched off the warmer, threw the food out, and placed the dishes in the dishwasher.

  On the next trip upstairs, she passed the room Jimmy had stayed in and reached out to touch the knob. She stopped, suddenly battling a serious bout of homesickness. He’d be okay. He’d made it for years before she dropped into his life. Still, he was her friend, and she wasn’t about to stop worrying just because they were separated geographically.

  She turned the knob, pushed the door open, and crossed the threshold. A laugh escaped at his neatly made bed—­a product of his military training, no doubt. Picking up his pillow, she brought it to her face, inhaling the scent of pine forest and coffee that always seemed to follow him. Abruptly, she dropped the pillow. This was only making her sad, and that simply wouldn’t do. Turning to leave, she stopped short when she saw Jimmy’s handgun lying on the table beside the door.

  “Oh, Jimmy.” He was forever forgetting his weapon. Joe said it was due to the fact he didn’t really need one, but it was obviously a point of contention between them. She grabbed the gun and closed the door behind her. In Nate’s room, she placed it in the bottom of her bag, planning to return it to Jimmy at her first opportunity. Then she grabbed the other pile of clothing and headed downstairs again.

  The laundry taken care of, she returned to the kitchen. She hadn’t eaten, and her stomach was beginning to rumble. Making herself a salad and pouring a glass of ice tea, she ate at the kitchen table, fighting the loneliness that stole over her. It wouldn’t be long now. She smiled. Her stomach did a little flip-­flop at the prospect of Nate’s return. How strange to miss someone so much.

  She’d come so close to telling him she loved him as he was leaving, changing it to “Hurry home” at the last second. What was holding her back from repeating the words she’d uttered in the tunnel? Nate was a great guy—­sexy, hot, kind, and compassionate. The miracle was that he loved her. He knew her worst faults and loved her anyway. The guy was a friggin’ saint, and he deserved a constant reminder of how she felt. So, as soon as he got home, she would make sure he never had to wonder again.

  When the final load of laundry was dry, she selected some clean things for herself and put the rest away, then shut the door on the bathroom and turned on the shower.

  The Ace bandage around her ribs had to be removed, and she wasn’t as good as she probably should have been at keeping the stitches in her forehead dry, but the hot water pouring over her bruised body was regenerative. Who knew how long she would have stood there, but eventually, light-­headedness forced her to stop.

  Dressing in fresh-­smelling clothes was like a glorious spring day. She didn’t have the patience to dry her hair so she pulled it back loosely and clipped a barrette on the back of her head. Her dagger went in its scabbard on her hip, and she looked around the room. Nate had said it was her room now, too. How unbelievable was that? She stepped out, closed the door, and continued to the stairs, happiness lightening her heart and her step.

  Halfway down the stairs, she heard Nate’s Jeep and quickened her pace. She rushed across the kitchen, intending to fly into his arms as soon as he appeared.

  The door banged open and flew back. Nate stumbled through the gap, pushed by someone behind him, his hands locked behind his head. His jaw clenched when he saw her, and his eyes conveyed a silent warning.

  A cut over his right eye bled profusely, and a wound on his shoulder seeped blood that had already soaked the front of his shirt. Pain and rage dulled his eyes. The man who had shoved him stepped out of his shadow and waved his gun at Alex.

  Her hand skimmed her dagger as she slid to a stop. Daniels. She recognized the man Nate had been crossways with at the bar a few nights ago.
Two of his Herculean henchmen pushed through the door behind him, along with a smaller man Alex couldn’t get a good look at who stayed in the shadows.

  “Ah, there you are, Alexandria Morgan. I’ll take that dagger now.” Daniels stepped toward her and held out his hand.

  Alex couldn’t breathe, much less move. Only one person had ever called her that.

  “Or . . . one of my men is going to kill Detective Sanders.” A cruel smile thinned his lips.

  Alex flinched when she heard a shell inject into the barrel of a gun. She pulled her blade free and handed it to Daniels.

  He accepted the dagger and passed it to the small man behind him.

  “I had to do a lot of digging to find out about you after you interfered in my business last week, but it was worth it.” He circled her like she was a prize painting on the auction block. “Don’t you want to know how I learned about you?”

  Alex stared into Nate’s eyes, ignoring the taunting voice in her ear.

  Daniels stopped in front of her, blocking her line of sight. “I have a few friends on the police force, and they were happy to provide me a copy of the report your friend Captain Morris filed after our meeting in the bar. Interesting reading. I wonder . . . did you tell the captain about Hu Sun, or did Nate? Or perhaps the captain was simply curious about you and decided to do some digging.” Daniels stepped aside so she could again see Nate.

  The force of the tremor that raced through her almost brought her to her knees. She looked at Nate, and he met her gaze with a silent shake of his head. Of course she’d known he wouldn’t have disclosed her shame to anyone. Had Captain Morris thought it necessary to investigate her before he believed her account of what happened that night? She could understand that, but it didn’t change the fact that this scumbag now apparently knew about Hu Sun. What did he plan to do with the information?

  “The rest was simply dumb luck. Once I had Hu Sun’s name and learned you spent all that time in Hong Kong, I put out a few feelers, greased the wheels in a few places. Of course, getting him to cooperate was the hard part.”