by Mia Dymond
Annessa raised her dress back up and over her head. “Do you think I screwed up?”
“No, I think you did the only thing you knew. You ran to avoid the pain.”
“I didn’t expect things to turn out like they did.”
“No,” her sister said softly. “You expected Casey to give in as usual.” She took the dress and hung it back in the closet. “If it makes any difference, I think he beats himself up on a daily basis.”
“He apologized.”
“Of course.” Vanessa nodded. “But you need more.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Give yourself time.” Vanessa shut the closet door. “There’s something else I wanted to talk about.”
Relieved to change the subject, Annessa plopped down on the bed and waited for her sister to elaborate.
“Something’s up with Travis,” Vanessa continued.
“Like what?”
“Well, last week I dropped by the station to see Dane and Travis was locked in his office on the phone.”
“He’s the captain. Maybe it was a business call.”
“At one o’clock in the morning?”
Annessa bit her tongue to keep from asking why Vanessa was even at the Seaside Fire Department at that hour. Especially since she already knew the answer.
“Okay, maybe not,” she said instead. “Did you hear the conversation?”
“Not word for word, but I’m pretty sure there was a female on the other end.”
“Really? How could you tell?”
“He told someone he couldn’t wait.”
“For what?”
“I have no idea.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know that either.”
“Gee, Van,” she drawled, “you’re just full of information.”
“I know it doesn’t sound like much but I’m still curious.”
“He hasn’t been serious about anyone in awhile.”
“No. That’s why I’m suspicious.”
“Did you ask Dane?”
“Are you kidding? If I asked Dane anything, he’d run and tell Travis and I wouldn’t have even half a chance to figure out what’s going on.”
“Casey hasn’t mentioned anything to me.”
“You know how it works.” Vanessa waved a hand in the air. “We don’t have a chance with the four Musketeers.”
“He needs someone.” She released a sigh. “We, well mostly me, I’ve kept his attention focused on me far too long.”
“He’s sacrificed a lot for us,” Vanessa agreed.
“Without one single complaint.”
“And now, I’ve done it again.”
“Maybe, but this time he would’ve killed you for not coming to him.”
“Don’t remind me,” she groaned.
“Sorry.” Vanessa hopped off the bed. “C’mon, let’s go make a pitcher of margaritas and a pan of double fudge brownies.”
Tension slid from Annessa’s body as she followed her sister downstairs. “God, I’m glad you can read my mind.”
***
Parked safely out of view, he snickered under his breath as he watched the men in black swarm the house, encouraged he’d kept them all on their toes. Obviously they’d taken his warnings seriously.
He took another long pull from the cigarette between his lips and then blew several smoke rights into the air. “It’s only a matter of time.”
His accomplice slammed his palm against the steering wheel. “The hell you say! He’s called in the state police! What the fuck do we do now?”
“Wait.”
“I don’t think so. I say we cut our loss and get out of here.”
“We wait,” he repeated.
“You honestly believe we can get past all those agents? You really are full of yourself.”
“I came to do a job and I intend to finish it.” He inhaled another drag of nicotine. “Sooner or later, someone will screw up.”
“I hope it’s sooner,” his partner mumbled. “For your benefit.”
“And yours. We’ll both end up six feet under if we go back empty handed.”
“Get your head on straight, man! If we stay here we’ll either get caught or killed. Is she worth it?”
He looked at his partner and sneered. “Failure is not an option. If we keep a cool head, no one gets hurt or killed.”
***
After several brownies and several more margaritas, Annessa slept most of the afternoon and evening away, awakened when the bedroom door opened.
Still fuzzy from sleep, she rolled over to see Casey enter and place a sack on the bureau before he approached the side of the bed and bent to place a soft kiss on her lips.
You taste like limes,” he said as he lifted his head and shifted to lie next to her.
“Vanessa and I made brownies and margaritas.”
“Ah.” His chest rumbled with the force of his laugh. “Did you sleep it off?”
“Yes.” She burrowed deeper into him. “You’re home early.”
“I didn’t want to leave you alone in the dark. I know your obsession with pepper spray.”
She settled her head against his chest, his tight muscles providing the comfort she sought. “Are you tired?”
“No. Are you?”
“No.” His fingers drew lazy circles on her shoulder while his breath moved the hair on top of her head. She moved her hands until her palms lay flat against his back and then kneaded the tense muscles.
With a hard sigh, he eased her back from his embrace. “Annessa, I can’t sleep in this bed again while you’re pressed against me without making love to you.”
His admission didn’t surprise her. As gallant as he had been last night, she couldn’t miss his reaction. The length of him resting against the silk barrier between her legs had made her achy and hungry. So much so that she wanted to rip off his pants and ride the wild stallion until morning. No, he wasn’t the only one who couldn’t wait any longer.
She pressed closer, draped her arms around his neck, and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “So don’t.”
His voice was a hoarse whisper as he spoke. “I bought something.”
“Condoms?”
“What? No!”
“We didn’t discuss birth control.”
“Are you on something?”
She nodded and watched something between anger and surprise cross his handsome features.
“You didn’t tell me that before.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“I think you’re hiding some very naughty fantasies, sweetheart.”
If he only knew. “Maybe.”
“Does Travis know?”
“Really, Casey? I’m twenty four years old. It’s none of his business.”
“I’ve never had sex without a condom.”
Neither have I. “You don’t have anything to worry about with me.”
“I didn’t buy condoms.”
“Me either.”
He gestured at the yellow gift sack on the bureau. “Open it.”
Curious, she left his arms and rolled off the bed. Once she reached inside the sack, tears burnt her eyes and her heartbeat skittered when cool, jade-colored silk slid through her fingertips.
“Casey,” she whispered.
His low chuckle tickled her ear as he pulled her flush against his chest. “Don’t say anything. Just put it on.” He kissed the top of her head and then released her.
“Where is Travis?”
“Don’t know.”
“What if he comes home?”
“Are you a screamer?”
Annessa bit back her immediate response. A screamer? Hmmmm…. “Actually, I’m more concerned about Travis finding us tangled up naked.”
“I can handle Travis.”
“I’m sure,” she agreed, “but I would feel much better if I knew exactly where he is.”
He folded his arms across his chest, almost as if he enjoyed her distress. “Not here.”
“What about Agent Raman
o?”
“You want him to participate?”
“No! I just—”
“Annessa?”
She released a hard breath. “What, Casey?”
“You’re stalling.”
Desperate for some much needed space, Annessa grasped the nightie and headed for the bathroom. Once inside with the door closed, she squeezed the edge of the counter until her knuckles whitened and wondered if this was really some sort of twisted dream. Her body hummed at the thought of loving Casey, sliding up and down the smooth, toned surface of his body, skin on skin, heart to heart. No way on Earth would she leave that bed anything other than utterly ravished and completely satisfied. Yet, the consequences of what was about to happen still weighed heavy on her mind. Could she do this without suffering a broken heart?
Annessa quietly undressed, slipped the nightgown over her head, and then grinned when she glanced in the mirror. Things had definitely changed in seven years. Curves took center stage and the material wrapped her like skin. She wasn’t so naive to think Casey wouldn’t react; he knew exactly what he wanted when he purchased the temptation. Her confidence just wasn’t quite as solid as before. Some little flicker of fear still burnt inside her that he would turn her away.
Determined to slay this demon, she took a deep breath, gathered courage, turned the doorknob, and then stepped back into the bedroom.
Casey clenched his jaw so hard he thought his teeth might crack. Damn she was absolutely beautiful.
Her teeth worried her bottom lip. “I feel naked.”
He stepped in front of her and grasped her hips. “You look gorgeous, Ness.”
“Thank you.”
He moved one hand to her shoulder and felt a small quiver beneath his grip. “Nervous?”
She gave a slight nod.
“Don’t be. It’s me, baby.” He slid both arms around her waist and pulled her against his needy body. His cock moved against her stomach and he cursed the impatient beast.
“There are things you don’t know about me,” she said into his pectorals.
He grinned and lifted her chin to look into her sexy bedroom eyes. “I know every single thing about you. We don’t have secrets.”
“We haven’t been together much lately,” she reminded him.
“True,” he agreed, “but I’ve kept tabs on you.”
Her lips split into a sexy smile he’d waited to see all evening. “My hero.”
“No hero here.” He lowered his head until his lips were millimeters from hers. “Just Casey.”
He pressed his lips to hers with the intent of calming her but the minute the breathy little whimper left her mouth, every one of his good intentions went south. Literally. All the blood in his body headed for his dick.
Casey crushed her against him and moved a hand to cup the side of her face while he slipped his tongue between her lips to open her mouth. Annessa’s tongue wrapped his, drawing him deeper while her soft plump lips caressed his. Lost in her tender caress, he couldn’t for the life of him remember why he thought staying away from her was even remotely reasonable. No way in hell could they put a muzzle on the chemistry between them.
She pressed her palms to his bare chest and his knees damn near buckled. She lifted her lips from his kiss and he opened his eyes to find hers sparkling in the candlelight. She moved her hands down his chest until they rested against his abdomen.
“You’re so hard,” she whispered.
He released a desperate laugh while the eager soldier between his legs stood tall and proud, fighting to be released from his pants.
“No question about that.” He leaned to take her lips in another kiss when she stepped back.
He frowned. “Annessa? What’s wrong.”
“Nothing.”
“Change your mind?”
“No, but you might.”
He eased her to sit on the bed then sat beside her. “Why would you believe that?”
“I do have secrets, Casey.”
He pushed a loose piece of hair behind her ear. “You used to tell me everything.”
She gave a small smile and when her cheeks pinkened, suspicion crowded his brain. Since when did she hide anything from him? Other than murder, anyway.
“Did someone hurt you?”
“No.” Her teeth began to attack her lip again, a sure sign she was bothered.
“Stop,” he said softly while smoothing her lip with his finger. “Tell me.”
Her long eyelashes brushed her cheek as she closed her eyes for a split second, a habit she used to gather courage.
“I’ve never done this.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Yes you have. I threw Zach Peters out of the house on his ass.”
“Okay, so maybe I should’ve been more specific. First, second and third base, I’ve mastered. A home run, well, not so much.” Her tortured green eyes rolled and she released a long sigh. “You do understand, don’t you?”
Casey paused, studying the hidden message in her question. And then he understood perfectly. Son. Of. A. Bitch.
“You’re a virgin.”
She nodded and tossed her hair over her shoulder, almost as if she expected him to wrap her in a blanket and send her away. Hell no. Not this time. Never again.
“Lucky me.” He worked hard to keep the extreme shock from his voice. That, and the incredible hunger.
“I didn’t think you wanted this.”
Casey lifted her hand and placed it against his aching erection. “No question about that now.”
“You love me, right?”
“With all my heart.”
“And you want this because you love me, not because some crazy lunatic wants to kill me?”
Her honesty pinched his heart but he only blamed himself. “Want me to kill the crazy lunatic first?”
She gave him a tentative smile, almost as if she doubted him. She plucked her left spaghetti strap with her thumb and forefinger. “When did you buy this?”
“Six months ago. You were supposed to come home for your brother’s birthday.” And when she didn’t, he bought a plane ticket. The weather was the only reason he didn’t use it.
“You planned to sleep with me six months ago?”
“No. I planned to make love to you three years ago.”
“Why?”
“I love you, Annessa. I gave you plenty of time to find someone else. When you stopped calling me, I figured you made your decision.”
“I didn’t want someone else.” She rubbed her palm against the length of him and sweat gathered on his brow. Instinct made him want to kick patience in the ass, rip the skimpy little scrap of nothing from her body and enter her with a powerful thrust. Seven years was just too fucking long.
“I know that now.” He took a long cleansing breath and gently moved her hand to his chest. At least he could tolerate that touch without scaring her to death. He would tease her without mercy, make her come with his fingers and his mouth. Then there would be no question in her mind what he wanted.
“Sweetheart, I don’t think there’s ever been a time I didn’t want you.”
He pushed the spaghetti straps from her shoulders, bared her lush breasts, and then lowered his head. His tongue circled one areola and then the other until both nipples stiffened. Annessa moaned and then her fingers tunneled in his hair, forcing his head closer. And then his tongue was all over, swishing back and forth from nipple to nipple, biting, sucking, licking like a starved man.
“Casey.” He didn’t miss the desperate need in her whisper.
He lifted his head long enough to lay her back on the bed. “Have you dreamed about this, Annessa? Me touching you like this?”
“Yes,” she answered without hesitation.
He moved the nightie up until it was bunched under her breasts.
“No panties,” he murmured.
“There weren’t any in the sack.”
He gave a low chuckle and moved his hand over her bare mound. “This is nice.”
She lifted her hips. “Touch me.”
“You’ve thought about that too, haven’t you?”
Her head gave a shaky nod just before he lowered his head and placed a kiss on the baby soft skin of her abdomen. “Do you touch yourself when you think about me?”
Her stomach muscles quivered beneath his lips. “Yes.”
“With your fingers or something else?”
Her hips jerked again. “Like what?”
“I’m thinking a long, thick vibrator.”
“Mostly my fingers,” she murmured.
“Mostly?”
“Casey,” she groaned as her head rolled back, “please.”
He took another deep breath of restraint and then lifted his gaze to hers. “Show me.”
She paused for several seconds, her eyes focused directly into his, and he wondered if he’d pushed too far. And then her hand moved down the length of her body, one fingernail stopping to trace his bottom lip on the way, until finally, she rested one finger against her clit.
“Do it,” he whispered.
She gave a low groan and began to work the distended nub.
Casey watched, hypnotized by the sight of Annessa pleasuring herself. Her fingers strummed her folds and rubbed her clit until her breathing became labored and her hips jerked against her assault. He pulled himself out of his lusty fog. Oh, hell no. He wouldn’t allow her to finish without him.
He placed a kiss against the top of her mound and then eased a finger inside her. “Ah Ness, you’re so wet.”
“Casey,” she whimpered.
He slipped another finger inside, rotating from side to side, stretching her, readying her for all the pleasure he had to offer. “Keep rubbing, baby.”
She kept the pace as he encouraged, panting and grinding into his touch. Casey made one more circle inside and then began to thrust his fingers in and out of her, matching her own rhythm.
“Make me come,” she rasped.
Now too far gone to deny her, he brushed her fingers from her body and then took her clitoris between his lips. Her hips slammed against him and he felt her fingers back in his hair, tugging, forcing his mouth further against her. With both fingers now buried deeply inside her, he latched onto the sensitive nub and suckled. Her thighs closed around his head. Her inner muscles gave his fingers a good hard squeeze and then she came apart under his touch.