Questing (Cosmis Connections, Book One)

by Huffert, Barbara

  “I’ve had that reaction since the day we met. Why do you think I’m always carrying my coat?”

  “Hmm, how do I know you don’t react that way to all females?”

  “You know I don’t. I talked to other women several times over the weekend. When my attention wasn’t entirely on you, did you see even a hint of a hard-on?”

  “No, not even in the bakery when that very pretty girl waited on you.”

  “You’re much prettier even though pretty isn’t enough for me. There’s something about you, a feeling I’ve gotten since the moment we met. You’re different from other women. Special. Like you were meant to be mine all along even if we had to wait until now to meet.”

  “I’m not sure I’ll ever understand what you mean by that but I guess I’ll take your word on it.” She kissed him deeply as she stroked him through the cotton of his briefs. “Take these off, Jordan. They’re in my way and I really want to touch you.” He did as she asked. “I absolutely adore your body, did I tell you that?”

  “Yeah, you may have mentioned it over the weekend once or twice.”

  “Will you let me return the pleasure you gave me yesterday? It will make me very happy if you do.”

  “I certainly want you to be happy but don’t you want me to touch you too?”

  “Thanks but not just now. I happen to agree with what you said last night. Giving you pleasure gives me pleasure. Please, Jordan?”

  “All right. Whatever you want. I’m all yours.”

  “Ooh, I do like the sound of that.” Kiley kissed him again, trying to put her emotions into it. Without a doubt, she knew she loved him. Now all she had to do was conquer her certainty that she was too inept and unsophisticated for him. Kiley forced that thought from her mind as she kissed her way down his chest. “You’re an incredible man, Jordan McKade.”

  “Thanks, Kiley but I’m still just me.”

  “Well in my opinion, just you,” she was fondling him again, “is truly incredible. I never met anyone like you before. You’re strong and handsome. You’re so confident that you make me believe you’re capable of anything. You’re funny and charming. You’re powerful and yet gentle and tender. You’re decent and kind. You’re extremely lovable and loving. You have the sexiest voice I ever heard, not to mention the sexiest body.”

  Jordan groaned. “God, Kiley, what are you doing to me?”

  She’d been stroking him as she talked, altering the tempo and pressure, testing his reactions. “I’m touching you, Jordan. Just like I wanted to at lunch. You’re so hard. I’m guessing that means you like this.”

  “Hell, yes!” He couldn’t keep himself from moving his hips.

  “No, no, hold still. I’m not ready for that yet.” She moved to kiss him again, cupping his testicles to lessen his excitement. “I want to enjoy you a little longer.”

  “Whatever makes you happy.”

  “You make me happy, Jordan.” She returned to nibbling on his chest. This time, she continued downward until she was at his hip. When Kiley took Jordan’s erection in her mouth, he groaned, fighting to stay still. She switched between licking the shaft and sucking his cock deep into her mouth. Each time he felt close to coming, Kiley sensed it and eased off. “I love doing this to you,” she muttered around him. “Talk about hot! Do you have any idea how sexy you make me feel, knowing I can turn you on like this? I love the way it feels when you explode in my mouth.” She sucked him in, pumping her head over his groin. “That first night, when you were talking and we were both touching ourselves, I was too preoccupied to watch you closely.” She licked a drop from the tip. “Can I turn on the light? I want to make you come with my hands so I can watch you. Will you let me?”

  “Anything you want.” He could barely speak.

  Once Kiley could see, she spent some time feasting on his mouth, keeping her hand around him but not moving. When she raised her head, she stared intensely into his eyes. Still holding his gaze, she slowly began to caress him. “Watch with me.” She waited for him to nod before settling her head on his shoulder. “Look at you, Jordan. My fingers aren’t long enough to touch when you’re this excited. No wonder I can feel you everywhere when you’re inside me.” Jordan groaned so she peeked at him. “Keep watching, please. See that? When you start to throb like that I can feel it. It’s so amazing. That little pulse has pushed me over the edge more than once. We may still be getting to know each other in lots of ways but I think our bodies already do.”

  “Kiley,” he gasped her name as he exploded.

  “That’s it. Did you see that? When you let go like that inside me, it’s simply incredible.” Kiley held him gently even after his climax ended. “Thank you.” She kissed him tenderly, not letting him respond. “Please don’t say anything. And don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

  Jordan lay still, letting her clean him. When she finished and snuggled against him, he said, “You’re the incredible one. You sure you don’t want some attention?”

  “Not tonight, thanks. I’m very content at the moment,” she sighed happily. “Night, Jordan.”

  “Night, sweet Kiley. I love you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Jordan, why don’t you just propose and get it over with? I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay home last night,” Brett teased.

  “Hey, I fully intended to spend to night alone. It’s just when Kiley said she wished I was with her, how could I resist?” Jordan shrugged. “And you already know I can’t propose until this is settled with Winslow.”

  “So you’ll be doing that tomorrow then?”

  “Brett—” Jordan’s phone vibrated, cutting off his reply. “McKade…be right there.”

  “Winslow?” Brett asked.

  “He’s on his way into the bank.”

  “Want me to come with you?”

  “Thanks but no. I don’t know how long I’ll be. If I get tied up longer than expected, you’ll have to handle the meeting.” When he saw Brett’s concern, Jordan added, “Jesse will be nearby.”

  “Don’t be a hero, okay? He’s not worth it.”

  “I know, Brett.”

  As soon as Kiley finished seating two new arrivals, she hurried to the door where Jordan was waiting. “Who called? What happened?”

  “That was Jesse. Winslow’s in the bank. I have to go.”

  “Jordan.” Kiley stopped him with a hand on his arm.

  Quickly, he pulled her to him and held her for a moment. “It’s okay, Kiley. I’ll be careful and everything will be fine. I promise. Trust me.” Jordan kissed her before releasing her. “If I can, I’ll call you before the meeting. If not, I’ll see you as soon as it’s over. Don’t worry, sweet. It’s all going to work out for us.” He waited for her to nod before leaving.

  Kiley watched until he rounded the corner. Then she went and sat with Brett. “I hate this.”

  “Me too but you have to have faith in him. Jordan knows what he’s doing.”

  “Yes but I don’t understand why he has to confront Malcolm. If Jordan knows this Samuels guy, why doesn’t he just go talk to him?”

  “I don’t think it works that way although I suspect he’ll end up doing that at some point.”

  “Oh my God. I really wish I’d told Henry how uncomfortable Malcolm made all of us. If I had, Jordan wouldn’t be doing any of this.”

  “But then you two may not have gotten together.”

  “Or maybe we would have after we’d met at the hockey game like he planned. Come on, Brett. We both know Jordan would have gotten us together eventually. Although, if it had taken longer, you might be more comfortable with me.”

  “It’s not you, Kiley. My best friend has his heart out there, exposed to whatever comes next and honestly, I haven’t seen yours yet. I really do want to believe you. You’re good for him and I like the two of you together. Even a cynic like me is starting to believe it’s possible to find that one perfect someone. You should get back to work.” He nodded toward the door. Kiley rushed off to s
eat the new group.

  As she returned, his phone chirped. “Hudson…oh son of a bitch…damn! No, you’re right…I’m on the way.”

  “What?” Kiley demanded when Brett tossed some bills on the table.

  “Winslow came out of the bank swinging and there was a cop nearby. Jesse said they were just tossed into the back of a squad car. Since Jordan insisted that he stay out of sight, I have to go try to get Jordan out of the station before Shane shows up.”

  “I’m going with you,” Kiley declared. “Dee, tell Henry…”

  “No, Kiley,” Brett interrupted.

  “Yes, Brett. If you won’t take me, I’ll drive myself.”

  He could tell how determined she was. “Jordan’s not going to like this but I don’t have time to argue.”

  * * * * *

  Brett was parking when he saw Jordan, Malcolm and an unknown man leaving the police station. Jordan was smiling as he spoke like it was any average day. Malcolm looked as if he had gone ten rounds with a prizefighter. His face was purple. One eye was swollen shut and his clothes were a disheveled mess. At the curb, Vincent was waiting beside a large, black car. He reached out, offering Jordan his hand when the trio reached him. After a brief conversation, Vincent made a gesture toward the car. Malcolm was forced into the back seat when he resisted. Jordan, on the other hand, got in willingly, almost as if he was going for a drive with friends.

  Brett heard Kiley gasp and said, “It’s not what it looks like. That’s Jordan’s business face.” He read the doubt in her eyes. “He’s going because he has to in order to resolve this. You have to believe me. Look, there’s Shane. Let’s see if he knows anything more.”

  “What the hell is he doing?” Shane growled when he spied Brett. “I got a call, saying he was picked up for brawling in the street.”

  “He was trying to talk to Winslow.”

  Shane spewed a string of obscenities. “Sorry, Kiley. What is he thinking? Let’s see if they’re going to hold him.”

  “He just left,” Brett supplied as they entered the station.

  “Left? With whom? Brian,” Shane snagged the officer who had called him. “What’s up with my brother?”

  “Hey, Shane. You just missed him.” The man laughed. “Damn, you should have seen him in action. I thought you were impressive to watch but man, your brother can move. I don’t know what had the other guy so pissed off but he came tearing out of the bank and went straight for him. He was swinging and swearing and your brother sidesteps him and calm as can be, tells him to settle down, that he just wants to talk. The other guy went berserk but your brother managed to avoid everything, talking the whole time, trying to get him to listen but he wouldn’t shut up so finally your brother popped him dead on the head. Asshole never even saw it coming but the guy’s so stupid he still wouldn’t quit.” He snorted. “Nope. He kept right on charging even after it was obvious he didn’t stand a chance. I don’t think he came close to connecting anything he threw. Idiot looked pulverized by the time I pulled them apart and your brother didn’t even need to straighten his tie.”

  “Enough, Brian, we get the picture.” Shane nodded toward Kiley, who had gone very pale. “Where’d he go?”

  “Hell if I know.” Brian shrugged. “Five minutes after we got here, some hotshot lawyer in an Armani suit waltzes in and wants to know if there are any charges. Before I could say a word, your brother pipes up that it’s all a misunderstanding. The other guy changed his tune from wanting Jordan to fry for what he did to the same misunderstanding shit. I gave them both a warning, since neither would say more and they left with the lawyer. You have any idea what’s really going on?”

  “No, not really,” Shane answered evenly. “I guess I’ll catch up with him at home.” He motioned for Brett and Kiley to follow.

  Outside, Shane turned to Brett. “Where is he?” When Brett hesitated, he added, “I know you have a way to find out so just do it. Come on, Brett.”

  Brett saw the concern in his eyes. He nodded and pulled out his phone. After a short exchange, he told Shane that Jordan was on his way to Samuels’ townhouse in the hills. “Shane, Jesse says if I can’t talk you out of interfering that I should make you understand how important it is that you leave your badge and gun in the car. You can’t go in there as a cop. Stress the brother thing and you just might manage not to blow this for Jordan. You know you should just let him handle this.”

  “And you know I can’t, Brett.” He met his gaze. “Why don’t you take Kiley home? I know you guys have that meeting today. Kiley, Jordan’ll call you when it’s over.”

  “I’ll be at work,” Kiley stated, surprising them both. She was still pale but she seemed calmer. Her face was unreadable.

  “All right,” Shane glanced at Brett. “It will be fine, Kiley.”

  “I’m sure it will.” She left them and walked to Brett’s car.

  “Brett?”

  “I know, Shane. I’ll stay with her as long as I can.”

  “I’ll tell Jordan. Now, I have to go.”

  * * * * *

  “Mr. McKade, what an interesting surprise to have you join us. Please, take a seat,” Samuels greeted Jordan with courtesy.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Samuels. It’s nice to have the opportunity to meet you.”

  The two exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes, both completely ignoring Malcolm who was still standing by the door with Vincent.

  “Excuse me, Mr. Samuels,” one of Samuels’ men said as he entered, crossing the room to whisper something that only Samuels was able to hear.

  “By all means, show him in,” Samuels said cheerfully. A moment later, Shane was ushered in. “Detective McKade, how nice of you to come. I must say it’s not every day that one of our city’s finest shows up at my door, at least not without a warrant.”

  “Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Samuels. I assure you that I am not here in any official capacity.”

  “No? Why then, are you here, Detective?”

  “Pure and simple concern for my brother. You are probably still wondering why, since he obviously isn’t happy to see me and I know I’ll hear his opinion on my interference later. The fact is that no matter how old we get, Jordan will always be my kid brother. And now he’s gone and fallen in love so I’m afraid he might not be thinking as clearly as he usually does.”

  “In love? How nice. Tell me, Mr. McKade is this girl special?”

  “Kiley Fisher is more than special, sir. She’s my future, my life.”

  “Pretty?”

  “Not that it matters but yes.” When Samuels looked at him expectantly, he continued, “She has the softest red hair, the biggest, most expressive green eyes, the most caressable skin with the perfect amount of freckles, a smile that lights up her whole face and a laugh that I can feel in my heart. She has a great sense of humor and an adventurous streak that I’m sure is going to surprise me endlessly. She’s clever and interesting although I’m going to have to work on her self-confidence in those. Kiley’s caring, kind-hearted and compassionate. In fact, she’s the reason I’m involved here.”

  “Do you intend to marry Miss Fisher?”

  “If she’ll have me. We need to put this behind us first.”

  “Do you see yourself getting bored and letting your affections wander, Mr. McKade?”

  “Never,” Jordan answered truthfully. “If Kiley becomes my wife, I intend to cherish her forever. No matter what our future holds, she’ll know without a doubt, that we’ll face all of it together.”

  “Detective, what’s your opinion of this Miss Fisher?” Malcolm’s nervous shifting distracted him. “Stand still, Winslow. We’ll get to you.” He pinned him with a deadly glare. “My apologies. Detective, you were about to comment?”

  “Honestly, I haven’t spent enough time with Kiley to know her very well but I do know that she looks at Jordan the same way he looks at her. I also know that my brother is an excellent judge of character. His instincts are phenomenal so if he believes Kiley is the woma
n meant to share his life then I believe it too.”

  “I see.” He looked back and forth between them. “All right, Mr. McKade what does your Miss Fisher have to do with me?”

  “She is the girl Winslow chose for his scheme last week.”

  “Ah.” He shot Malcolm another glare. “As I understand it, she had been drugged?”

  “Yes, sir,” Jordan confirmed.

  “The odds of you being there at that precise moment are astronomical. Winslow,” Samuels stood, “you are damn lucky to be alive. If I’d caught you doing that to my woman, I would have killed you, very slowly and very painfully. In fact, if you’d succeeded in getting here with Miss Fisher, I might have killed you on principle. Come to think of it, I still may.”

  “Begging your pardon, sir but that’s another reason I had to come,” Jordan risked interrupting. Samuels turned to stare at him. “I was afraid that would be your reaction, knowing how you treasure your wife. When I told Kiley, her gentle nature overruled her sense of outrage and hoped to prevent that.”

  “Amazing. The fool here chooses a woman willing to want to save his miserable hide, regardless of what he intended. She’s loved by a man noble enough to put aside his own desire for revenge and get involved where he most definitely should not be. On top of that, the nobleman’s brother waltzes in, declaring his loyalty and risking it all over a piece of scum who truly doesn’t deserve to live.”

  “In my defense, Samuels I meant no disrespect. I had the impression that the girl was willing but needed something to help relax her. She asked me for it.”

  Samuels silenced him with a glance. “That’s Mr. Samuels to you and you’d do well to remember it. Might I recommend you stop lying before Mr. McKade loses the tremendous control he’s exhibited thus far and tears you to pieces? Perhaps you’d like to begin again.”

  Malcolm was visibly shaken. “Uh, yes, Mr. Samuels. The thing is I was on my way to pay you today but McKade stole my money.”