Got it Bad

by Christi Barth

  But stripped down? His lean muscles were readily apparent. His pecs popped. They were covered in a light layer of hair that Delaney couldn’t wait to feel rub against her. His abs were ridged in a six-pack. And there was a trail of dark hair down the center of his abdomen, disappearing into the waistband of his jeans, that positively made her mouth water.

  “No. This car’s been, ah, modified for the Marshals Service. There’s a steel sort of gate that rises up behind the back seats to contain a prisoner. And a hidden compartment with tools of the trade.” Delaney tasted the warmth of the skin along his collarbone, sun baked and slightly salty from their run to the car. God, she could lick at that all day.

  A laugh chuffed out. “What tools? Your gun lockbox?”

  “Among other things, yes.” Then she remembered the best feature for an afternoon car quickie. Delaney dug her nails into his side for emphasis. “But this bad boy does have tinted windows.”

  “God bless the U.S. Government,” Kellan said fervently, unclasping her bra with a single flick of his hand. He swiped the straps down off her wrists. Then he latched right on to her nipple.

  His sucking was hard. Perfectly hard and focused, and it pointed both her nipples and her toes simultaneously. “Keep going,” she said, twining her fingers through his thick dark hair to hold him in place.

  Kellan’s response was to, indeed, keep going. But he added two things. A hand kneading her other bare breast. And just enough pressure from his teeth to shoot her ass off the seat.

  It was like he’d set off a tripwire directly to where heat already pulsed between her legs. Everything on her body tightened. Her fingers in his hair. Her eyelids slamming shut as her eyes rolled back. Her thighs spasmed closed. Not having his own legs between hers was a serious lack, though.

  “We’re not touching enough.” Delaney’s hands scrabbled at his shoulders, pushing him away. “I need to touch you everywhere.” Then she swung a leg up high, over the steering wheel, and straddled Kellan. It rubbed her core directly on the steel of his cock. Holy hell, she’d felt it before while they kissed. But feeling it bump against her belly while standing was nowhere close to the sensation of pressing its length directly on her clit.

  This was going to be good.

  “I’ve barely begun.” Kellan’s eyes smoldered. She could see the banked heat behind them, darkening the pale blue surrounding his pupils to the color of the sky overhead. The heat from his gaze seared Delaney’s skin in prickling awareness as he stared at her bare breasts.

  “We can take our time when we get to the B&B. But neither of us can wait that long. So I’m literally begging you to get inside me. Right now.” Deft fingers that could reload a gun in 1.3 seconds had his jeans undone before she finished speaking.

  He shoved his hand down the back of her pants. Grabbed her ass and squeezed in a rolling grip that jerked her hips forward, back onto that cock Delaney needed so badly. “Condom’s in the bag in the trunk.”

  “Don’t need it. I’m on the pill. And you’re—”

  All the heat and passion fell from his face as Kellan cut her off. “And you’ve studied my medical records. You know I’m clean. You know I haven’t been with anyone since leaving Chicago.” His lips quirked into something that was halfway between a sneer and a smirk. “I’m not wild about you knowing all that about me. About you bugging my laptop so you can spot check us. Seems like those are facts a couple should get to discover about each other.”

  Shit.

  Shit. Kellan was right. She’d plowed ahead, secure in the knowledge of not only his blood type and lack of STDs, but also a lack of dates.

  The job, doing what was best for it, that was second nature to Delaney. Those instincts were strong. Because she’d spent so many years telling herself it was the only thing that mattered.

  But now, something else, someone mattered. A lot. More than Delaney had figured out how to deal with, apparently. She’d damned well try, though. To put more thoughtfulness into what she said to Kellan.

  “You’re right. I saw a problem—not wanting to wait—and solved it. I’m sorry. But you should know that your computer’s not bugged.”

  Kellan gave her the don’t lie to me eyeball roll. “Of course it is. That’s how you caught Rafe checking on the mob a few months ago.”

  “His is. Flynn’s is. We deactivated the bug on yours three months ago.” It was so important that he hear her, that he believe her. “Because I trust you, Kellan.” Holding her breath, Delaney slowly asked, “Do you trust me?”

  “Hell, yes.” Kellan surged up to take her mouth. Just like everything about this encounter, his kiss was fast and rough and exactly what Delaney needed at that moment. “But you’ve got to stop talking.”

  “What?”

  He put a palm over her mouth. Long fingers wrapped around beneath her chin. “I’m crazy about you. We have the whole night to sit on the porch and drink wine and tell stories. Right now, though? Respectfully? Shut up and let me fuck you.”

  His command excited Delaney. The feeling of being dominated was just that—a feeling, since she knew at least six different ways to break out of his hold. That feeling drenched her panties.

  So when Kellan removed his hand, she stayed silent. She waited for his next command.

  And the waiting snaked chills of excitement up through her skin, and turned into goose bumps that covered her entire body.

  Kellan pointed past the center console. “Get that sweet ass of yours up there. Plant a knee. Balance your hands on the back seat.”

  As soon as she got one hand on the wide bench seat, Delany saw his plan. This position would enable him to take off her jeans with the least amount of banged elbows and knees for both of them.

  Clearly she wasn’t the only one who could strategize the shit out of a moment.

  Her jeans and panties only made it to her knees, however. Kellan paused. Blew a stream of air down the crack between her cheeks. Delaney shivered, her knee almost slipping off. Kellan caught her, steadied her with a big hand wrapped around her thigh. And then he bit her ass.

  It was good. He licked, bit, and sucked in a wide circle and her other leg fell open as far as the jeans would allow. He didn’t take the hint, though. Didn’t put his hands or his lips between her legs. Simply took his time repeating the sensuous circle of nips on her other cheek. Finally, he finished by blowing another stream of cool air, aimed directly at the narrow strip of hair at her center.

  It wasn’t enough.

  It was enough to make her arch her back, though. To arch and mewl her need for more of him.

  Kellan stripped her jeans off the rest of the way. A firm slap to her ass sent her scrambling onto the back seat. “Flip around,” he ordered. As she did so, he put one knee in each of the floor wells. His feet disappeared under the front seats. Oh, and his pants were down around his ankles. There was his cock, jutting straight up and beautiful. Long and thick, with a big vein that she slowly followed from his engorged balls up to the tip of it, beaded with a drop of pre-cum Delaney wanted to taste.

  He grabbed her ankles. One tug slid her to the edge of the seat. The next put her legs over his shoulders. “Are you sure about this, Laney?”

  Was he asking about not wearing a condom? About the finality, the no-turning-back of breaking the biggest rule in the WITSEC book? About being with him?

  It didn’t matter. The answer would be the same to all of them.

  “Yes.”

  Kellan positioned himself right at her opening. Just let the tip sit there for a moment, driving her wild. Then he pushed. Inch by glorious inch. Inch by excruciatingly slow inch. Delaney swore she could feel every millimeter of taut, velvety skin all the way around him as he sank in with such deliberation.

  He stretched her.

  He filled her.

  And then, just when he’d seated himself all the way in, Kellan reared back and drove into her.

  Fast.

  Hard.

  Deliberate.

  Perfect
.

  With Kellan taking charge, Delaney could completely let go in a way that she never, ever did. Her brain turned off. She lost herself in the pleasure of the moment. In the spiraling sensations that tugged her up toward a peak.

  There was nothing but his warm skin against hers. The sensual slap of their bodies moving together. The fierce passion burning in his pale blue eyes. His grunts of pleasure that made Delaney unself-conscious about the constant stream of moans coming from her own mouth. And the heat that engulfed every last nerve, threatening to burn her up from the inside out.

  Kellan squeezed her breast. Twisted the nipple just enough to send a bolt of excitement through her entire torso. “Do you want it harder?”

  “I want everything you can give me,” she panted.

  As if her words had unleashed the most primal part of him, Kellan growled and surged forward, pounding into her almost savagely.

  His strength, his raw power, and most of all, the unceasing thrusts of his huge cock pushed her right over the edge. She dug her nails into his ass, wanting him impossibly deeper. Delaney screamed as her vision blurred when each and every cell in her body exploded in satisfaction.

  Kellan didn’t let up until she stopped shaking against him. The moment her hips stopped rolling forward, Kellan gave three thrusts and then buried his face in her neck as his cock jerked inside of her. His long, drawn-out groan was loud right in her ear. Delaney didn’t turn away. She relished knowing that she’d pulled it out of him.

  “That was even better than I imagined. And I gotta tell you, I’ve imagined this a lot since November.”

  His reminder of when, and how, they met, set off a tiny warning bell in Delaney’s brain. A warning that this couldn’t last. That she could be fired if anyone found out what they’d just done.

  No. She slammed those thoughts into a mental vault. She’d follow his lead and enjoy this stolen moment. Save the worries for when the sexy, muscled, amazing lover wasn’t still tracing circles with his thumb around her breast.

  “You were exceptional. We get to do this all night long?” she murmured softly.

  “As many times as you want.”

  Delaney smiled in anticipation of what promised to be a night to remember. “I want a lot.” Licking her dry lips, she said, “Okay, I’d kill for some water first. But then, all the sex.”

  “I can do better than water.” Kellan handed her a thermos that had been wedged in the webbing behind the driver’s seat. “I brought you more of Norah’s calming tea. You seemed to like it.”

  “I loved the flavor. I don’t know how calming it was, but I could drink it every day.” Delaney scooted over as he pulled out and sat next to her. He kept an arm locked across her stomach, as if making sure she wouldn’t go anywhere. “So you’re not only thoughtful, but you’re also a fantastic lover? You’re too good to be true, Kellan Maguire.”

  “Wait’ll you see what I can do in a bed. Lots more room to get . . . inventive.” His voice dropped on the last word in a husky promise that raced chills across her body.

  Delaney closed her eyes as she sipped at the tea. Yep, she was going to Scarlett O’Hara the heck out of this date. Tomorrow was another day, indeed. Today, and tonight, with Kellan—that was all that mattered.

  For now.

  Chapter Nine

  Kellan looked at himself in the bathroom mirror at the sheriff’s office. It was like looking at a different person. Guess he was. The ghost of Kieran Mullaney.

  The man in that navy tie with a purple paisley design cinched into a perfect Windsor knot, gelled back hair, and navy blazer who stared back at him was the man he’d seen before prom. Before every graduation. Before slick dates that started with steaks at Gibson’s and ended up cruising the clubs on Rush Street and dancing at Spybar.

  That man had a purpose. A plan. But that plan had always been rooted in someone else’s dreams. Pursuing justice as a lawyer was a way to honor his father.

  Today, Kellan planned to put that ghost to rest. By putting his own twist on the pursuit of justice. By going after a dream that felt right to him. By finally, after eight long months of pretending to be different people, embracing who he was now.

  To hell with that reflection in the mirror. Kellan grabbed his comb and attacked his part, moving his hair to the opposite side. First time in twenty-five years that he parted it on the left. Nobody would notice the difference. But he needed to look different—even just that little bit—from Kieran Mullaney.

  Some water coaxed it into staying. Now he felt ready. Ready to kick some interview ass.

  Because when Kellan put his mind to something, he got it. Aside from finishing law school. He’d never failed at anything in his life, and didn’t intend to start now.

  Which probably explained the faint skitter of nerves in his belly. This interview with Mateo mattered. Not just because it got him out of the fucking cranberry plant, but because becoming a deputy felt right.

  As right as Delaney had felt, wrapped around him two nights ago.

  He shouldered open the door before his mind went any further down that road. Thoughts of Delaney inevitably led to his dick springing to attention. Interview 101 best practices was not sporting a half chub.

  Halfway down the hall, Sheriff Mateo Rogers beckoned to him. “My office is here. Let’s do this thing.”

  Nice to not be in the conference/interrogation room where the Maguire brothers always sat through their lectures from the marshal. Kellan straightened his tie. Threw his shoulders back and took a deep breath as the heels of his dress shoes clicked against the concrete floor. This could be the start, the real start, of his new life.

  Hopefully Kellan Maguire was just as impressive in person—even lacking all the straight-A transcripts and glowing recommendations—as Kieran Mullaney used to be.

  Mateo shut the door behind him. “How about we get the awkward stuff out of the way first?”

  “Isn’t everything about a job interview awkward?”

  “Good observation.” Mateo shook his hand. “We’ve seen each other around town—and around this jail—but it’s nice to officially meet you, Kellan.”

  That wasn’t awkward at all. The usual small-town pleasantry. Piece o’ cake. “Likewise.”

  They both sat. Mateo took off his dark green uniform hat. Then he drummed his fingers across the leather blotter on his desk. “I’m dialed in to the fact that you’re lying to every person in this town about who you really are.”

  Kellan winced. Awkward, indeed. About as awkward as singing the anthem stark naked before a World Series game. But thanks to prepping with Delaney, he had an answer.

  “That’s technically untrue. I really am Kellan Maguire. Now, that is. Who I was, well, that’s a different story. One I’ll tell you today, to get this job, and then never mention again. As long as I can count on your discretion.”

  Closing the manila folder in front of him, Mateo shoved it to the side. “This whole conversation is off the record. Officially. Which put my hackles up, at first, I’ll admit. But I’ve got a personal recommendation from Marshal Evans, and a letter from the director of the Marshals Office in Chicago vouching for your innocence and good standing. And I’m desperate as hell for a new deputy. So I’m willing to listen and give you this one shot.”

  The sheriff had a sharper edge than he let on as he ambled around town with a smile and a handshake for everyone. Which made Kellan want to work for him even more. “What do you want to know?”

  “I need a deputy I can trust. One who’ll prioritize the safety of the people of Bandon over everything else. One who understands, in his gut, the difference between right and wrong and all of its shades of gray.”

  “Do you want to know what I did to be put under witness protection?” Because, damn if Kellan didn’t want to tell him. If he didn’t want to blurt out the whole story to somebody.

  Mateo held up a hand. “I understand I can’t ask what has you in WITSEC. But I do want to know what put you in that chair across from
me. And if any of that motivation comes from who you used to be, I need to hear it.”

  “Fair enough.” Kellan leaned back in his chair, no longer nervous. Not because he’d practiced a speech, but because his motivation was easy to share. He’d done a lot of soul searching since asking for this chance.

  Admittedly, it’d been weird not going to Rafe or Flynn to get their take. They’d always been his sounding board. But Kellan hadn’t been able to gauge what their reaction would be to this interview. If they’d see him as the enemy once he put on a badge.

  So for the first time in his life, he was molding his future by himself. Without a single thought to what would’ve made his parents happy, or his brothers. This was all about his own choice, his own decision. And now he’d get to share his reason.

  “My mom was killed when I was seven. The story I got back then was that she was an accidental victim of a random shooting. It didn’t make sense. It didn’t make sense that they never caught the perpetrator. That she could be gone from our lives for no reason, with no explanation. It made even less sense when my dad was murdered less than four years later.”

  Mateo grimaced. “Jesus, that’s awful.”

  “It was. Got even worse when I found out last year that the same man was responsible for killing them both.” Kellan had flown into a rage that first day, when Rafe and Flynn revealed the truth about McGinty and their parents’ murders.

  He’d kicked a file cabinet in the downtown Chicago marshals’ office. Turned over a desk. Until they got to the part where the raid had worked. How McGinty, thanks to them, was now behind bars.

  That made it . . . well, not right. Not by a long shot. But it gave Kellan some measure of satisfaction.

  “Was he caught?”

  “Yes. He’s locked up, and hopefully won’t ever see the light of day again without bars in front of his eyes.” Kellan planned to be there, in the courtroom, to see McGinty’s face when they announced his life sentence. “Knowing that, it helps.”

  With a nod of acknowledgement, Mateo said, “I’ll bet.”

  “I want to do that for other people.” Kellan stood. There was too much emotion in him to contain without pacing. “People whose lives are turned upside down by crime. Whether it’s a dinged fender or a burglarized house or, yeah, even a violent crime. I want to be the one who stands up for them. Who makes them feel safe again. Who makes them feel vindicated by finding whoever caused that pain and locking them up.”