by E. M. Shea
◆◆◆
Fifteen minutes later, Nick pulled into Dani’s driveway. He quickly scanned the Cape-style house before him, making the kind of mental notes that were second nature for a police officer, whether on or off duty. Bright outside light beside the front door, with more subdued solar lights lining the short pathway to the steps. So far, so good. Outside lighting was one of the easiest and least expensive forms of crime deterrence for a residence, yet in his experience of responding to countless incidents both big and small, it was also the most overlooked.
He turned to Dani, watching as she dug into her purse. The glow of a nearly full moon shone into the jeep at just the right angle to fully capture her face. He had never looked at her so closely and full-on before. But now, as she searched the depths of her purse for what he assumed must be her keys, he studied the contrast between her free-flowing chestnut tendrils and the determined yet smooth contours of her jawline and long porcelain neck. And those lips. Those damn lips. Just how was it possible that they managed to look so enticingly full and inviting even when they were spouting off the most maddening—and okay, he had to admit, possibly brilliant—legal arguments that made his blood boil?
“Found them!” she eagerly announced, holding her keys up and meeting Nick’s eyes. Her smile faltered slightly, as though suddenly aware that she had been the object of his mesmerized gaze.
“Great. Now I won’t have to break down your door to let you inside.”
She once again visibly relaxed. “Good. It’s a nice door.”
He smirked. “Let me help you out. It’s as much of a drop down as it is a hike up.”
Several moments later, he opened the passenger door and clasped her hand. It was as petite and soft as he remembered it from their forced charity auction handshake. The observation instantly transported him back to that night—barely a week ago, and yet it could have passed for another lifetime. Because up on that auction stage and singed by Dani’s heated glare, he couldn’t have imagined that he would be standing now in her driveway after sharing a dinner that was actually enjoyable. No—make that very enjoyable. And as much as he despised the silliness of fairytales—he was a guy’s guy, after all—he was starting to wonder if he had landed in one of his own. Did this mean it was just a matter of time before a figurative big bad wolf showed up and knocked him back into reality? Possibly. But for now, he was willing to go along for the ride.
“Thanks,” she said as her feet touched the ground.
“Can I walk you to the door—just to make sure you get safely inside?”
“Don’t tell me those masked ninjas are hiding in the bushes again. I hate when they do that.”
“Are you being a wiseass? Again?”
Dani pointed to herself, mouth agape. “Moi?”
Nick kept a lid on his laughter. Okay, so he was being overly cautious. But he couldn’t help it. Any situation where there was even a one-percent chance of danger lurking in the dark meant his senses would automatically kick in at 100-percent alertness. It was part of being a cop, so sue him. He sighed. Bad choice of words.
“Ready when you are,” Dani said, tugging at his hand.
They headed up the walkway to the front entrance. “I’ll wait for you to get inside and lock the door.”
Dani looked up at him and smiled softly. “That’s nice of you.” She unlocked the door, pushed it open a few inches, then gently closed it again.
Nick eyed her curiously. “You okay?”
“Yes. I just wanted to say something, and I didn’t want to hold the door open in case my cat tried to get out.”
“Is he being held prisoner?”
Dani dipped her head and grinned. “She—and no. She got out once before when I accidentally left the door open after bringing in groceries, and it was three days before I found her. So now I’m a little OCD about making sure there’s no escape route.”
“No escape route. Still sounds like a forced prisoner situation to me.”
“Would you stop,” Dani insisted as she played along, her smile slowly evaporating as she looked into his eyes. “I just wanted to say I had a nice time tonight. I might feel otherwise tomorrow morning when I wake up with a pounding headache …” She paused, momentarily looking down as though searching the ground for words. “But that won’t be your fault.”
“Just the fault of some apple tree somewhere.”
She snickered. “Exactly.”
He lifted her chin towards him, eyes locked on hers. And then, he slowly leaned in and brushed his lips against hers, those soft, plump lips that he had never wanted to hear from again after they eviscerated him at the court hearing. How they could do a 360 and now be the one thing he wanted more than anything at this moment? Analysis fell by the wayside as he was pulled further into her warmth, their tongues entwined together as their mutual hunger grew.
She pulled him close—so much so that it would have been impossible to slide a blade of grass between them, leaving his lips just long enough to whisper in his ear: “Do you want to come inside?”
Hell, yeah, Nick said inwardly. Outwardly, he hesitated to respond. Not because there was even one cell in his now throbbing body that wanted to decline. Not because he doubted how amazing it would be to explore not just her lips, but every enticing square inch of her. But because of all the other things that he couldn’t believe he was even allowing to cloud his mind at this moment. You know, those things like … up until about 9 p.m. tonight, she hated him. How much of her invitation to join him inside was fueled by a three-martini-induced lapse of judgment? And what would happen if they ran into each other in court again and ….
“You haven’t said yes,” Dani quietly observed, tossing a wrench into his spiraling thoughts. “I don’t have some kind of police ambush waiting inside, I promise you.”
Nick grinned as he brushed a lock of hair away from her eyes. “I never said I didn’t want you to ambush me.”
“Well, good.” She patted his butt. “Now get those hot buns of yours inside.”
Wide-eyed, Nick did as instructed, if only for a change of venue. Her saucy comment made him less convinced than ever that she wasn’t at least partly still under the influence of alcohol, but better to figure that out inside where they wouldn’t be swarmed by late-summer mosquitoes.
He closed the door behind them and watched as Dani dropped her shawl on the couch before turning to wrap her arms around him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a large calico cat jump off of a chair next to the couch. Several moments later, Gypsy was rubbing hard against his leg. As Dani stepped back, Nick reached down and gently scratched Gypsy behind her ears.
Dani appeared impressed. “Well, that’s a good sign.”
“What—that she was rubbing against my leg instead of humping it?”
“Oh, my god. Cats don’t hump legs! That’s a dog thing.”
“Sorry. Guess I need to study up on domestic pets.”
“You do.”
“You still haven’t explained what the good sign is.”
“First, that Gypsy came over to you. And second, that she didn’t hiss and scratch you when you tried petting her. She doesn’t like a lot of men.” Pause. “Not that I can blame her.”
“Yeah, well, speaking of that.”
Dani cocked her head to the side as if waiting for what was coming next. “Go on.”
“I haven’t exactly been on your favorite persons list.”
“Nor I yours.”
“Yet, here we are,” he said quietly.
“Here we are.”
Nick studied her closely for a moment. Though her eyes were somewhat glassy—and her attitude definitely a bit ballsy—she didn’t appear to be nearly as tipsy as she was when they left the restaurant.
“Why are you looking at me like you’re contemplating whether to give me a breathalyzer test?” Dani asked, slightly perturbed. “We’re not at a traffic stop. We’re in my home. I could be falling down drunk and still not be doing anything illegal. And,
by the way, I’m not drunk. At all.”
“This isn’t about that. Everyone has a few too many at one time or another—myself included. I just want to make sure you know what you’re doing.” He paused. “Not that I’m assuming you’ll be doing anything.”
“Good. Because I only invited you inside to meet Gypsy.”
Nick froze for a moment. Was she kidding? If so, she should trade her court briefcase for a pair of dark glasses because that was the best poker face he had ever witnessed.
“Well, looks like mission accomplished,” he said as the purring calico continued to weave between both of their legs. He kissed her on the forehead. “Be sure to take some aspirin before you go to sleep.”
He was about to pull away and head for the door when she tugged him back by the collar. “Stop, Florence Nightingale. I don’t want you to leave.” As she looked up at him, he saw an unexpected vulnerability in her eyes. “Unless, that is, you don’t want to stay.”
Nick was all for talking things out when needed … but enough was enough. He answered her with his lips instead, slow and measured at first, but then faster and deeper as his tongue entwined around hers, slowing back again as they eased into a sensual rhythm. Picking her up, he traded the warmth of her mouth for the softness of her neck, kissing her beautiful, pristine skin as he carried her down the hall that led from the living room. Faced with several doors, he paused. “Where am I going?” he whispered.
“Wherever you want, Cowboy,” Dani answered as she pulled his head down into a hungry kiss. “But my bedroom is last door on the right, in case that’s what you meant.”
“Works for me,” Nick said breathlessly as he quickened his pace. Every nerve ending in his body was on fire now, and there was only one way he could see fit to douse the flames. Or more precisely, one person. Had he ever wanted anyone more? He couldn’t be sure what was more unsettling. That he was even posing this question to himself when he should instead be getting down to the business at hand. Or that the answer was a resounding no.
The door to Dani’s room swung open, helped along simultaneously by her foot and his shoulder. Nick spotted the bed up against the far wall and, seconds later, tried to carefully deposit Dani onto the covers. Grabbing both of his shoulders, she pulled him down hard on top of her. So much for a soft landing—not that he minded. An unzip and tug here, a pull and twist there, and suddenly they were both naked, their clothes strewn in a heap on the carpeted floor.
“Isn’t this what they call sleeping with the enemy?” Dani asked as she wrapped her legs around him. Nick wasn’t sure he had much sleeping in mind, but her point was well taken.
“How about we work our way towards a truce.”
“Mmmm.” Her breath was warm against his neck. “That sounds like a good idea.”
His kisses inched downwards, tongue flicking against her hardened nipple as his hand cupped her other breast. Dani writhed beneath him, pulling him closer as she gripped his buttocks, then moving one arm inwards, touching herself and then gliding her hand over his shaft with her wetness. Nick held his breath for several moments, wanting so badly to plunge fully into that warm, inviting place … but not before he had the chance to fully explore every exquisite inch of her body. So he got started. Kissing and touching and licking her sweet, silky skin, then rolling her onto her stomach and starting again from the top on down.
“Wait,” she said, reaching for the nightstand by the bed. She fumbled in the darkness, opening the top drawer. Without further explanation—not that one was needed—she handed him a condom. As he sat up and rolled it in place, she hugged him from behind, kissing the back of his neck until he swung around and playfully pinned her back down on her stomach.
“Where were we?” he whispered as he slid his hands underneath her sides and gently squeezed her nipples, his erection brushing up against her lower back.
Dani flipped over and rubbed herself against his hardness. “I think we were right about here,” she said softly, nuzzling the side of his face and then whispering into his ear, “I want to feel you inside me.” For once, he was more than happy to do as she said.
She gasped as he entered her, their hips slowly rocking together, then harder and faster as he felt her clench tight against him, pulling him closer and more desperately towards a body-wracking climax. Dani let out a choked scream as she came with him, and together they fell back, frenzied breathing slowly subsiding.
“That was so good it should almost be illegal,” Dani said as her damp hair splayed across his chest.
“No argument here.”
She turned her head and kissed his shoulder. “Good. Because it would suck if we had to take this to court.”
Once more, Nick surprisingly found himself completely aligned with Dani’s viewpoint.
◆◆◆
The morning sun streamed in through Dani’s window and cast its rays across her face, like warm, tingling fingers rousing her awake.
Eyes open, she tried to focus as a sledgehammer attempted to crack her skull from the inside out. It had been a long time since she had been in the grips of such a stomach-churning hangover, and one thing was certain—she never wanted to see, smell, taste or even think about an apple martini ever again. Or just an apple, for that matter.
And then, as if memories of the previous night had been on pause and were now on fast forward … it all came crashing back. A heavy arm swung across and landed on her chest, as if to confirm that her recollections—all involving bare skin and body parts—were valid. She stared at the solidly muscular arm for several moments, wondering if she could or should breathe. Nick turned in his sleep yet again, retrieving his arm in the process, and replacing it with a jutting leg that nearly tossed her to the floor.
Scooting away from the edge and reclaiming some real estate on her own bed, Dani turned to look at the face that was just inches from her own. That handsome, magnetic, don’t-want-to-see-it-when-you’re-speeding but otherwise swoon-worthy face. Suddenly, Nick’s eyes opened, as if pried apart by her thoughts. For several moments—which she surmised probably felt like an eternity on his part—he glanced at his surroundings until recognition seemed to sink in. When his eyes fell back on Dani, they were accompanied by a Cheshire cat smile.
“Good morning,” he said, brushing her hair from her eyes.
“Morning.” She wondered if he felt even a tenth as awkward as she did now, which would still be enough for him to want to hide under the blankets. But he had yet to dive for cover.
Just say something. She gave Nick a sideway glance. “Does this mean I get a free pass the next time I speed through town?”
Nick laughed. “Depends. Are you going to side with me instead of your most-likely-guilty client the next time we face each other in court?”
“Touché—except for the most-likely-guilty part,” Dani acknowledged, her discomfort beginning to dissipate. After all, she was anything but uncomfortable the night before, and all thanks to the naked man lying just inches away.
Well, make that was just inches away. Dani caught her breath as Nick rolled over on top of her. Despite her head still being in the grip of unrelenting pain, she felt the rest of her body relax and begin to respond as the heat of his skin seeped into hers, a growing wetness matching the hardness against her.
His hands caressed the inside of her thigh, parting her legs and following the path of her juices. Kissing her slowly and deeply, Nick suddenly pulled back and looked into her eyes. “I should have asked—are you feeling okay? Your face looks pained.”
“Remember how I once told you I’d rather get hit by a Mack truck than talk to you?”
He grinned. “Kind of hard to forget that one.”
“Well, apparently my wish came true.”
As Nick began to pull his hand away, she grabbed it and placed it closer to the source of her own heat. “Keep going,” she said softly—in part because anything louder would have hurt. “You know what they say about an orgasm. Nature’s ibuprofen.”
“I didn’t know they said that.” He kissed the nape of her neck, his fingers sliding inside her and expertly rubbing her swollen nub. “But I’m more than happy to help.” His tongue slowly traced downwards, lingering at the sensitive crease of her inner thigh, the stubble that had appeared on his face overnight brushing hard against her and tickling at the same time. She moaned low as waves of pleasure began to build, gasping as he slid his fingers out just as she was on the verge of climax. They were replaced with the warmth of his tongue and lips, sucking and pulling at the spot that begged to be released. When she could take it no more, she cried out, an explosion of pleasure that racked her whole body and left her gasping for air.
“Oh my god,” she said breathlessly as Nick pulled himself upwards, an easy smile on his face as he kissed her gently on the lips. “I know one thing.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“I think I need to get a monstrous hangover more often.” Staring at the ceiling as she waited for her racing heart to subside, she glanced back down at Nick. “The cure is so worth it.”
Chapter Eight
“Have a seat,” Leland said casually to Dani after summoning her to his expansive yet stuffy office. It wasn’t that the air itself was thick, but more like the overall vibe. Or perhaps Dani’s lungs had clamped up in wary anticipation of why her boss had called a meeting. Either way, she did as instructed, forcing herself to smile while wondering if she would soon have reason to frown.
“I have a case that I’d normally be handing off to one of our mid-level attorneys, but this one is a personal favor, and I’d like you on it.”
Well, that was fast. Dani managed to keep her lips from too obviously curving downwards, but it wasn’t easy. Because every time the word “favor” rolled out of Leland’s mouth, it usually meant three things. A rich friend. A stupid—or criminal—deed. And an expectation to avoid any consequences.
Leland stood up from his chair with a folder in hand, but made no effort to come around his massive desk. So Dani rose and walked over, taking the folder back to her seat.
