Step Into My Web

by Cynthia Eden

  “Truly?” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I thought I was doing fairly well. All things considered.”

  “Go to bed, Chloe.” His stare raked over her. Then his eyes squeezed shut. “I am not up for this right now.”

  She looked down at herself. She’d pulled on shorts. A tank top. Hadn’t bothered with much else. But he was half-dressed as well, so why judge her? She dismissed that worry and decided to get to the heart of the matter as she looked back up at him. “Are you going to leave me?”

  His eyes opened. “Is that why you apologized? You thought I had gotten so tired of being played by you that I was going to leave at dawn?”

  She might have experienced a concern or two. “I’m not playing with you.”

  He moved toward her, getting very, very close in her space as he towered over her. “I get the feeling,” he seemed to breathe the words against her, “that you play with everyone you meet. Maybe it’s second nature to you. Maybe your mind just runs so fast that you think no one can keep up with you—”

  “That’s not what I—”

  “But it won’t work like that with me. I don’t go anywhere without knowing the full truth. There is no walking blindly into situations. There is no you holding back on me because you want my reactions to be real.”

  She swallowed. “You’re still angry.”

  That muscle twitched along his jaw again. “Angry as fuck. Eli had a knife, Chloe. What if he’d used it on you?”

  “That wasn’t going to happen.”

  “You don’t know that. You can’t predict everything. You’re walking a very dangerous tightrope. One day, that rope is going to shake or break completely. You’re going to fall. What the hell will you do if no one is there to catch you?”

  A tremble slid along her body. This wasn’t going at all the way she’d—

  He spun away. Stalked back inside.

  Slammed the door.

  She didn’t move, not at first. Chloe stared at the door. He hadn’t told her if he would still be there in the morning. His fury had all but vibrated in the air around her. Her arms rose and curled around her stomach. She knew she should go back to the main house.

  But…

  Anger began to churn inside of her, too. It was hot. Tight. Unfamiliar. Her emotions were normally in such careful check. She didn’t have to worry about things like this but…

  Her left hand shot out to bang against the door.

  It flew open immediately, as if he’d just been standing there and waiting for her. “Seriously?” Joel snarled.

  “Seriously,” she snapped right back. “You asked me a question. I should get to answer.”

  His brows lowered.

  “You.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “My answer is…you are supposed to be there to catch me. You asked me what I’d do if no one was there. You were hired to be my partner. That means you will be there.”

  He leaned one shoulder against the doorframe.

  “It means I can count on you to help me, just as I would help you, and if you’re already backing out on basically day one—”

  “I think it might be day two, or maybe even day three, if you count our bank robbery experience as day one—”

  “If you’re backing out already, then do me the courtesy of telling me to my face. I think I deserve that.” Her chest was heaving. Her cheeks felt quite flushed.

  “Happy now? Glad you got all of that off your chest?”

  “No. I am not happy.” Did she look happy? Sound happy? “You’re angry. You’re—”

  “Aroused as hell.”

  She stopped. Blinked. Tilted her head. Studied him again.

  “Do you know you do that?” Joel asked, voice almost curious.

  “Do what?”

  “When you’re trying to figure someone or something out, you stop, stare, and it’s almost like I hear a little click, click going on in your head as you try to evaluate the situation.”

  Click, click. Her body straightened. “Good night, Joel.” She immediately spun and darted away from him. Her steps were fast as she surged toward escape.

  “Chloe?”

  She went faster. She edged around the side of the pool.

  “Chloe, stop!”

  She wasn’t ready to stop. He’d been the one to tell her to go away and now—

  He grabbed her arm. Whirled her to face him. “What the hell is wrong?”

  “I’m not a robot!” The words emerged far too much like a scream.

  “I never said you were! Hold on! I never said—”

  “Click, click,” Chloe reminded him. “I’m sorry that my mind doesn’t work the way you think it should.” Look, another apology! Maybe she was on some kind of terrible roll. “I’m sorry that I’m not human enough for you.” Third apology! Going for a record.

  “You’re human. Look, I didn’t mean—”

  She yanked against his hold. He held tight, and her reflexes kicked in. The training she’d had over and over again while she was growing up.

  Don’t be taken. Never be helpless. Don’t let him hurt you.

  Her leg swept out as she unbalanced Joel, then she turned with her body and hurtled him toward—

  The gleaming water of the pool.

  Except Joel didn’t go down alone. He had never let go of her wrist and when he toppled into the pool, he was still chained to her. He pulled her with him, and they both crashed into the water. She sank fast and came up kicking, sputtering, and, with her left hand, shoving water out of her eyes.

  He was beside her. Against her. Still holding her right hand. Water dripped down his face. His chest. They’d fallen into the deep end, and her feet didn’t touch the bottom. She was treading water as she brushed against him.

  “Did you just push me into the pool?” Joel demanded in his deep, dark voice.

  Why did she like that voice? “Yes, I did. I thought you looked like you could use some cooling off.”

  “I’m not cooling off.”

  Her legs kicked in the water. “Let me go.”

  His fingers smoothed along her wrist. A careful caress. Then he released her.

  Swim away. An internal order.

  Instead, she kept treading water and staying exactly where she was. “I’m not a robot,” Chloe said again. “I feel and I need just like everyone else.”

  “What do you need right now?”

  That voice… She wouldn’t answer him. She couldn’t open herself up that way.

  “Because I can tell you what I need, Chloe. I can tell you what I’ve been wanting ever since I came home tonight.”

  Home. Did he even realize that he’d just used that word? Probably not. Probably didn’t matter. Just a slip of—

  “You.”

  Her feet stopped kicking. She would have slipped right beneath the surface of the water, but her hands flew out and latched onto his shoulders. She held him tightly as her body pressed against his.

  “I was in my bed, thinking about you. Wanting you. Then you showed up at my door with your half-assed apology.”

  “It wasn’t half-assed.” Her voice had gone husky. “I meant it.”

  “You showed up in the shirt that showed your tight little nipples. A top that told me quite clearly that you weren’t wearing a bra.”

  “In the interest of honesty, I’m not wearing panties, either.”

  His hands wrapped around her waist. His cock shoved against her.

  “You looked at me like you wanted to eat me alive, Chloe.”

  “I was distracted by your six pack…” Twelve pack?

  “You don’t care about my scars.”

  She stared into his eyes. The blue light of the pool was all around them. “Do you care about mine?” Her question slipped out.

  “You don’t have any scars, Chloe. I’ve never seen a single one on your body.”

  That was because the scars weren’t on the outside.

  A furrow appeared between his brows. “What do you mean about yo
ur—”

  She stopped his question by kissing him. She pressed her mouth to his. Opened her lips. Darted her tongue into his mouth.

  If possible, his hold on her became even harder. Even more unbreakable. He kissed her back slowly. Carefully. As if he was afraid he’d scare her off if he used too much force.

  She wasn’t the type to be scared. She wanted force. Passion. Power. She wanted everything that he had to give her. In return, she’d give him all that she had.

  His tongue met hers. He tasted her. Took. He deepened the kiss. Let more of his hunger out to play. She loved that, and a moan trembled in her throat.

  Her legs were curling around his hips. Her body arching into his.

  But—

  He tore his mouth from hers. “Not here. The last thing I want is your brother interrupting again.”

  He kept his hold on her and swam with her toward the stairs that led out of the pool. They walked up together. Her knees felt a little shaky. She stood there, dripping onto the stones of the patio.

  He held out his hand to her. “This has nothing to do with our partnership.”

  She reached for his fingers. “Absolutely nothing.”

  She started walking with Joel toward his place—

  Or maybe she ran with him to his home. It was a little hard to tell. All she knew was that seemingly in the next moment, they were inside the guest house. He’d slammed the door shut, and she was pinned against it. He was in front of her. All big, hot, and sexy, and his mouth was on hers. He was kissing her with the raw power she’d so craved moments before. Kissing her as if nothing mattered more.

  Desire exploded within her. Her nails raked over his chest. She wanted to feel every inch of him against her body. Skin to skin. But her wet clothes were in the way.

  He pulled back.

  “The clothes have to come off,” she panted. “I need—”

  He was staring down at her chest. His expression could only be termed savage.

  She looked down. Her wet clothes clung to her like a second skin. Her nipples were shoving forward against the fabric. “Um…”

  He bent his head. Took one nipple—and her wet shirt—into his mouth. She gasped at the contact and arched closer to him. Her hips rocked restlessly because she needed him. Wanted him inside her. “Joel! You’re making me go wild!”

  “Good.” A deep rumble. “That’s the way I’ve been since I met you.” He scooped her into his arms. Carried her into the bedroom. He dropped her on the bed, and she sank into the soft mattress.

  “I’m going to get everything wet…” Her words trailed away at the look in his eyes.

  “I want you wet. Wet and ready.” He leaned over the bed—over her—like some kind of hungry lion.

  I think he’s going to eat me up.

  His fingers curled around her shorts. He yanked them down. Stared at her. “No panties.”

  “I told you I wasn’t wearing them. I wasn’t lying—”

  His fingers went between her legs. Pushed into her sex. Two long, strong fingers and a quick cry of pleasure escaped her. He pulled his thrusting fingers back. Pressed his thumb to her clit. Began to stroke her faster and harder.

  Then he stopped.

  Just…stopped. “Joel!” He’d taken his fingers away. Why had—

  His hands were now on her thighs. He shoved them farther apart. He bent down and put his mouth on her.

  She grabbed the covers. Held tight. His wicked tongue felt so good. Rough and warm and the way he was lapping at her…Licking. Stroking. Tasting her so completely…

  She came. Cried out his name.

  He kept tasting her. Her legs were splayed over his shoulders, and she didn’t even remember putting them up there. Maybe he had. Maybe…

  Who cares?

  He lifted his head. Joel stared at her with a dark gaze that burned straight to her soul.

  Her breath heaved out even as her heart raced. She was still gripping the covers. His hands curled around her legs. Lowered them to the bed. Aftershocks of pleasure hummed through her, and she watched—silently—as he eased away from her and moved toward the nightstand.

  He was still wearing his jeans.

  Those needed to go.

  He opened the nightstand. Pulled out a foil packet. Gripped it. Glanced at her.

  “What exactly are you waiting for?” Chloe asked him as she pushed onto her elbows. “Some fancy invitation? If so, consider that invitation sent. It was sent several moments ago when I was chanting your name.”

  A faint smile curved his lips as he turned back toward her.

  She sat up and reached for his jeans. “These are entirely in the way.” She unhooked the button, pulled down the zipper, and his cock sprang toward her. Heavy, full. Her fingers tightened around him. She squeezed and stroked. Enjoyed the way he felt. So hot and hard beneath her grip. So she squeezed again. Stroked more. Leaned even closer to him.

  “Baby, if I don’t come in you right now, I will lose my mind.”

  “Can’t have that.” She blew lightly over his cock. “I rather enjoy your mind.”

  Things happened very quickly after that. His jeans vanished. He sheathed his dick in the condom, and she found herself beneath him on the bed. He pushed at the entrance of her body. She was slick and ready, but ever so sensitive from her recent orgasm, and when he thrust inside of her, Chloe’s whole body tensed.

  “You…okay? Chloe?”

  “Far better than okay.” She scraped her nails down his back. “Don’t stop. Don’t you dare stop.”

  Laughter. Rough. Ragged. “Wasn’t planning on it.”

  Great. Wonderful.

  He withdrew. Thrust deep. Their bodies heaved together and there was no more talking or laughing. There was panting. Moaning. Her head tipped back against the pillow as she tightened her sex around him. Squeezed hard.

  “Fucking perfect.”

  The second orgasm blasted through her body. Even longer and stronger than the first. She was shuddering and gasping and probably doing some serious damage with her nails, but there was no control. She couldn’t pull herself back.

  And she didn’t want to pull back.

  He was with her. His hands gripped her hips. Joel’s hold was strong. Possessive. He lifted her up. Positioned her so that he could plunge as deep and hard into her as he wanted.

  As she wanted.

  She was staring into his eyes when the release hit him. She saw the faint gold in his eyes burn ever hotter with pleasure. Primal satisfaction hardened his features. She couldn’t look away. She could feel the tremors in his body. The jerk of his cock inside of her.

  Her hand lifted. Touched his cheek. Her fingers slid toward his mouth. Lightly traced the faint scar that sliced his lip.

  “Kiss me,” she whispered.

  His head lowered. His mouth brushed over hers.

  Even as she felt a teardrop slide down her cheek.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Running away?” Joel asked without opening his eyes. He’d been aware of her careful movements. Sleep hadn’t been a possibility for him. He’d been too focused on her. On the insane pleasure they’d had together.

  In the aftermath, he’d ditched the condom. Come back to the bed. Pulled her into his arms. He wanted to go again. Over and over. But pushing for that hadn’t seemed…hell, he didn’t know what it had seemed. Gentlemanly? Since when was he a fucking gentleman? Or maybe pushing to go again had seemed too savage. Too hungry.

  When it came to Chloe, he was finding that he was rather savage. I need her.

  He hadn’t pushed. He’d just held her a moment. Her breathing had eased. Her hand had pressed to his chest, over the scars as if they weren’t even there.

  She doesn’t care.

  He’d been sure that she’d drifted to sleep. Holding her that way, it had seemed almost soothing for him. He hadn’t actually slept with anyone since his attack. His eyes had slid closed, and he’d been more relaxed than he could remember…

  Until she starte
d to slip away.

  “Hardly running,” Chloe replied. “I was more planning on tip-toeing in the hopes that I wouldn’t wake you.”

  His eyes opened. His head turned toward her. He’d left the bedside lamp on, and he could see her clearly.

  Fuck. She was standing naked near the side of the bed.

  “Just getting my clothes. Dressing. Going back to my room.” She scooped up her shirt. Frowned at it. “Still wet. Do you mind if I just borrow one of your shirts?”

  She was beautiful. Perfect. Those breasts. The flare of her hips.

  “Joel? Do you mind if I use one of your shirts?”

  He’d prefer she stay naked but… “Help yourself.”

  She dug in a nearby drawer and pulled out one of his old college shirts. When she put it on, the shirt swallowed her, falling way past mid-thigh and scooping off one shoulder.

  The shirt shouldn’t have been sexy. It was old and faded. Had a few holes in it. But on her…Better than any negligee.

  What was up with him having that thought? But there was just something about seeing her in his shirt.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” Her head tilted. She studied him and for one second—

  Click, click—

  He stopped. Shut down the thought. She was damn well no robot. She’d burned hell-hot in his arms, and he wanted her, again and again.

  “I’m looking at you like this…” Joel explained in a voice deepened by need, “because I want you again.”

  She bit her lower lip.

  “And you’re running away. So…”

  “I’m not running away. I was going back to my room. I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about someone sleeping in the bed with you all night. And sleeping is…personal.”

  Joel laughed. “But fucking isn’t?”

  She looked down.

  Shit. Had he just hurt her feelings? “Chloe, I didn’t mean—”

  “Sometimes, I have nightmares. They can be pretty intense. I’ve even been known to…hit or attack the person with me.”

  His brows climbed.

  “I thought it would be better if I slipped away. You seemed so peaceful that I thought you were asleep and you wouldn’t even notice that I’d left.”

  He had been feeling peaceful. Not because he’d been asleep, though, but because she’d been in his arms. Now he sat up. The sheets bunched around his waist.