Risking It All

by Jennifer Schmidt

  Memphis chuckled.

  “It’s a tempting offer, but I think I’ll just crash on the couch again.”

  “Memphis. Considering what happened I don’t think that’s really necessary anymore.”

  “Yeah, it is.” He pressed his lips together and nodded toward the bedroom. “I’ll just borrow the bathroom for a minute and then get out of your way.”

  “Memphis.” Kennedy reached to stop him as he walked past her, but he was too quick and she missed his arm.

  She stood there, staring after him as he disappeared into the bedroom, and the message couldn’t be clearer if he had screamed it at her.

  Screwing her was one thing, but sleeping with her was another. And she shouldn’t be foolish enough to think what happened between them meant more than it did.

  It meant nothing.

  Chapter 11

  Kennedy yawned and stumbled her way to the front door. Her night had been restless, and Memphis had unintentionally woken her early with the shower. She needed coffee and lots of it, but before she could get her hands on any, someone banged on the door.

  Kennedy dragged her hand through her hair, hoping she didn’t have a terrible case of bed hair, and opened the door.

  Blondie from the front desk stood on the other side, a large, flat, rectangular box leaning against her side. Kennedy scratched her head, trying to remember the woman’s name.

  “Good morning.” Blondie was way too chipper so early in the morning.

  “Uh, morning.”

  “This was delivered for you this morning.” Blondie flashed a megawatt grin and picked up the package from the ground. She walked in without invitation and placed the mystery gift on the island.

  “For me?” Kennedy said. “Are you sure it’s not for Memphis?”

  “Positive.” Blondie nodded and flashed another blinding smile at her as she headed to the door. “Mr. Bell’s assistant was very clear it was for you.”

  “Mr. Bell?” Kennedy’s tired eyes sprang to life as she looked at the box on the island. “As in Alec Bell?”

  “Of course! He owns a cozy little restaurant and gallery in town. He’s an artist himself, you know.”

  “No, I didn’t know that.”

  Blondie—or Piper, as she finally remembered—told her to have a good day and quickly left.

  Kennedy swiped the little white envelope off the box and pulled out the note.

  Kennedy—

  This will look much better in your home than it does sitting on a wall waiting to be owned.

  I’ve never been to Vancouver; perhaps a trip is in order.

  And since I will be in need of a tour guide I’ll have a reason to look you up.

  All my best,

  Alec Bell

  Kennedy giggled, dashed around the other side of the island to grab a sharp knife out of the kitchen, and carefully sliced through the wrapping tape. Inside, beneath layers of Bubble Wrap, she found the painting she had been admiring in the gallery. And in the corner, scrawled in remarkable penmanship, was the artist’s name: Alec Bell.

  She knew it was too much—she should send it back immediately. But she also knew, being an artist herself, he would take that as an insult.

  “Hey, are you going to get dressed or go to breakfast wearing Scooby Doo?” Memphis asked, coming up behind her. “What’s that?”

  “It’s a painting,” Kennedy said, and stepped back so he could see. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

  Memphis came closer; the scent of soap lingered on his skin, potent enough for her to smell through his clothes. His hair was still damp and his skin was still dewy from his shower.

  Kennedy’s body came alive at the sight and smell of him; the painting was quickly forgotten. She had to concentrate on her breathing so she didn’t start panting. Her nipples tightened, hardening against her thin cotton pajama shirt, plainly visible if he looked down. Her heartbeat steadily increased as her stomach flipped and her panties grew damp.

  “Nice,” Memphis said. “Where’d it come from?”

  “Uh . . .” Kennedy tore her eyes away from her perusal and looked at the painting. “From a gallery in town. The one I went to the other day.”

  Memphis’s brow furrowed.

  “The night I had to pick you up because you were drunk with that guy?”

  “I wasn’t drunk!” Kennedy said. “And that guy just happens to be the artist.”

  “He sent you a painting? Alec? The guy from the other night sent you a painting?” Memphis’s jaw clenched. “No. He gave you one of his paintings. Is that what you’re saying?”

  “Um . . .” Kennedy instinctively clutched the note in her hand tighter, wishing she could make it disappear in her palm.

  The noise of the paper crinkling caught Memphis’s attention, and his eyes snapped to her hand.

  “Is that a note? From him?”

  “It came with the painting.” Kennedy hid her hand behind her back.

  “From him?”

  The whole situation suddenly struck her as funny, and Kennedy burst out laughing.

  “Oh, Memphis,” she gasped through her giggles, “I’ve never seen you act possessive before. It’s like you’re a jealous boyfriend.”

  Memphis took a step toward her, and she backed up, still laughing. His grin was sinister and instantly turned her on. His eyes darkened like they had the other morning and she almost stumbled over her feet at the sight.

  “You think it’s funny that you make me feel this way, Kennedy?” he asked, his voice low and husky as he advanced on her.

  Kennedy backed around the island, a silly smile on her face from the cat and mouse game they were about to play.

  “Maybe,” she said. “How do I make you feel, Adams?”

  “As if I’m going out of my fucking mind.” He took another step forward.

  “Is that a good thing?” She took another step back.

  “Do you like that I suddenly feel possessive of you?”

  Kennedy shrugged coyly instead of answering.

  “What does the note say?”

  Kennedy grinned as she rounded the counter at the same time he did. They stood face to face, only the island between them.

  “That he wants to meet with me and ravish my body,” she answered.

  She knew instantly it was the wrong thing to say. His jaw clenched tighter and his hold on the countertop tightened, causing his fingers to turn white.

  “Give me the note, Kennedy.”

  “No.”

  Her heart hammered in her chest as his eyes met hers.

  “Give. Me. The note.”

  Kennedy leaned over the island until her face was inches from his. He remained perfectly still, even when she moved in close enough that her lips almost touched his. She licked her lips, causing the tip of her tongue to brush against his mouth. His nostrils flared at the moist touch and he inhaled sharply.

  “No,” she whispered.

  He was fast, but Kennedy was faster. Just as Memphis reached to grab her, she danced away and bolted for the sitting room, laughing at his failed attempt to catch her. She stopped between the couch and the coffee table and grinned at him. Slowly he stalked toward the couch, a dark smile on his face.

  “Let me read the note, Kennedy.”

  “You mean this note?” Kennedy held up the crumpled piece of paper.

  “Don’t play with me, woman.”

  “Oh, I seem to remember you like being played with.”

  Kennedy squealed as Memphis launched himself over the couch. Her heart leapt in her chest as she turned to take off once more, but Memphis caught the bottom of the pajama leg, and she tripped, falling into the recliner. She flipped over onto her back, kicking at his hand as laughter shook her body, making it hard to free herself from his grasp.

  Memphis’s hand snaked around her ankle, and he gave a gentle tug, pulling her off the chair and to the floor.

  “Memphis!” Kennedy laughed as she twisted her body once more to try and get away.

 
; He crawled on top of her and turned her over again so she was lying on her back and he was smirking down at her. He moved his legs over her hips, holding her in place as he grabbed her wrists and moved her arms above her head, pinning them down.

  Somewhere between Kennedy laughing and bucking to get free the game changed. Staring up at him, she wanted anything but to get away from him. With her arms pinned above her head, her shirt rode up baring her stomach and her breasts strained against the material.

  Memphis’s eyes traveled over her body, pausing at her bare midriff, and slowly back up to her face. Her breathing became shallow as his eyes roamed over her body, and she squirmed beneath him.

  Memphis leaned down and murmured in her ear, “Looks like I win.”

  “I wouldn’t say that,” she said, barely able to catch her breath. “But if this is where the loser ends up, you’ll hear no complaints from me.”

  Memphis chuckled and plucked the note from her hand, releasing her arms.

  “Let’s see what this says now, shall we?”

  “I already told you what it says. You don’t believe me?”

  His only response was a grunt as he unfolded the paper and quickly scanned it. Kennedy bit her lip, anxiously waiting for his reaction. When all he did was drop the note and wrap his big hands around her wrists again, she was slightly surprised and incredibly turned on.

  “Are you going to play his tour guide, Kennedy?” He rubbed his thumbs over her palms.

  “I’m not sure. I guess it depends on when he visits and if it fits into my busy schedule,” she answered with as much sass as she could.

  His stroking stopped, and his eyes bore into hers.

  “Are you playing with me?”

  She grinned. “Not yet.”

  Memphis pinned her arms above her head again and leaned over her. He brushed his nose against her ear and Kennedy turned her head, inviting him to explore her skin better.

  “You never answered my question.” He breathed into her ear, sending shivers up her spine.

  “What question?” She closed her eyes, arching her neck to feel more of his mouth.

  “If you like me being possessive of you.”

  “Oh.”

  He moved his lips to her earlobe and sucked it into his mouth. He flicked the flesh with his tongue before sharply nipping at it. Kennedy moaned at the sting of his teeth before he kissed over her jaw, pausing at the corner of her mouth.

  “I think it turns you on,” Memphis whispered against her lips. “I think if I were to slide my hand into your pants right now, I’d find you very wet, Kennedy.”

  He released one of her wrists and slowly dragged his right hand down her arm. Goose bumps rose on her skin as he skimmed his fingers lower, over her ribs and down to her exposed stomach. He tenderly traced his fingertips across her belly and dipped just the tip of his finger inside the waistband of her pants, teasing her with featherlight touches.

  “Am I right?”

  Kennedy knew she couldn’t answer him even if she wanted to. All coherent thoughts vanished as his fingers skimmed back and forth over her skin. She could no longer think, only feel. And everything she felt at that moment was on fire.

  She craved his kiss, and her lips tingled from his close proximity. Her breasts heaved with every breath and her aroused nipples actually hurt, screaming for their own attention. Her stomach quivered with every touch of his hand, knotting on the inside with anticipation. If her legs were free she was sure they would tremble as well.

  And he was right. If he slid his hand just a little lower between her legs he would find her hot and wet. She ached, empty and half-crazed with need to have him fill her. To claim her as his again without holding back or worrying about what they were doing.

  “Kennedy?”

  She shook her head, trying to lift the heavy fog of lust that had settled over her. Opening her eyes, her gaze fell on his hand that pleasantly tortured her and slowly drifted up to meet his stare.

  He watched her; whether he was waiting for her to answer or to tell him to stop, she wasn’t sure. Neither one blinked as their gazes held rock steady. Their tandem breathing and matching pounding hearts were the only sounds in the room, and she feared at any second he would break free of their trance and pull away.

  Kennedy lowered her arm to her stomach until her hand rested on his. Memphis never looked away from her face, but his body tensed, and he pressed his lips together so tightly they lost their color as he waited for her to make a move.

  She linked their fingers together and gradually slid their hands below the waistband of her pajama bottoms. She wore no underwear, and Memphis’s sharp intake of breath told her he had been expecting the barrier of her panties. Her body radiated heat as their fingers found her wet flesh together.

  “Does it feel like you’re right, Memphis?” Her voice was raspy from arousal as she slid both their fingers inside her drenched center.

  The sound that built in his chest was more of a growl than a moan, and he aggressively attacked her mouth, pushing his tongue past her lips and tangling it against hers. Memphis kept one arm above her head as he took control over their joined hands below. He kept their fingers together and slowly, at first, started sliding them in and out of her. But as his kiss grew more fevered, their hands became more forceful.

  Kennedy wiggled, trying to widen her legs, but Memphis still had them clamped together with his thighs. Their hands together were driving her crazy, and she wanted to spread her legs and take everything he was giving her and more. She pushed against his thigh with her leg and wanted to scream for joy when he took the hint and moved so she was no longer trapped by him.

  Her pleasure was short-lived, however. Just as she broke free, he removed their hands and again found herself his prisoner with both hands held captive above her head.

  She bucked her hips against him, pressing herself against the thick bulge beneath his jeans. She needed relief and she needed it now. Kennedy rocked her pelvis against his, dry-humping him with no shame as she tried to relieve the ache between her legs.

  Memphis groaned into her mouth and thrust his hips, pressing against her more firmly. He pulled his mouth away from her swollen lips, sucking and nipping his way down to her throat.

  Kennedy tried to pull her arms free, but he tightened his grasp on her hands, ignoring her grunts of frustration as he explored her body.

  “Memphis, please,” she begged, tugging her arms again. “Let me touch you.”

  He nudged her breast with his nose, drawing his mouth closer to her nipple that was poking against her pajama top. He grasped the hem of her shirt with his teeth and dragged it up, exposing her breast, and flicked the pebbled flesh with his tongue, causing Kennedy to shudder beneath him.

  “I think I’ve found a sensitive spot,” Memphis said before swirling his tongue around her again.

  “Jesus, Memphis.” She whimpered wantonly. “Please.”

  She wasn’t even sure what she was begging for anymore: For him to let her hands go? To strip her totally naked and fuck her like he had yesterday?

  Memphis closed his lips around her nipple and sucked hard, clamping his teeth around the peak at the same time. Kennedy cried out, arching her back at the erotic feeling of his teeth on her.

  “Memphis, please.” She began to sob from so much built-up sexual frustration.

  He released her nipple from his teeth and smiled lazily up at her before blowing on her wet skin. Her body jerked, trembling from being wound so tight and needing more than he was giving her.

  Memphis lowered his head, his mouth finding her bared stomach as he moved their hands from over her head and rested them against her sides. Kennedy inhaled sharply as his lips reached the waistband of her pants, and he slowly slid his tongue under it. Her hips jerked as he dragged his tongue from one side of her to the other, and Kennedy rolled her head back and moaned.

  She felt him smile against her stomach, and when she opened her eyes and peered down her body at him, he was
watching her. He sat up and tugged off her bottoms, flinging them behind him.

  Kennedy watched as his eyes traveled up her legs, stopping at the juncture of her thighs. His tongue flicked over his bottom lip as he drank in the sight of her. She waited for the blush of embarrassment to creep over her body but the only thing she felt was arousal. It turned her on to have Memphis look at her like this, to see the lust and desire darken his eyes.

  “I want to feel what I do to you, Kennedy,” he whispered as he lowered his head between her legs again and placed her hands on his head. “Don’t hold back and don’t worry about hurting me.”

  Kennedy swallowed, nodding as she stroked her fingers through his hair.

  Memphis pressed his lips just below her navel, softly kissing his way down. Kennedy inhaled quickly, holding her breath as Memphis moved lower, his lips sliding along the folds of her sex.

  Her legs trembled as he glided his hands over her hips and down her thighs to her calves. He wrapped his hands around her slender calves and pushed up, bending her legs and spreading her open even more to his exploring tongue.

  The air whooshed out of her lungs the second his tongue grazed her clit. He circled it, teasing her before changing the pace and quickly flicking it. Kennedy’s hands fisted in his hair and she bucked her hips, crying out as he moved his mouth down and dipped his tongue into her wet center. He licked and sucked at his leisure as she ground herself against his face. Her fingers tightened with every lap of his tongue, tugging on the roots of his hair so hard she was afraid she’d scalp him, but she couldn’t loosen her grip even if she tried.

  And when she thought she couldn’t take any more, that nothing could feel as sensual as his mouth teasing her, Memphis cupped her breasts, pinching her sensitive nipples.

  Kennedy’s legs started to shake and soon her entire body was burning. She was panting, moaning for him not to stop as she thrust her hips up to meet the strokes of his tongue. Her body suddenly tensed and then she exploded, crying out his name as she came around his tongue.