She Who Dares, Wins

by Candace Havens

  Now her mind was filled with the sensations he’d given her the night before. The way his mouth had taken her taut breast, his fingers driving her over the edge. The way he’d said her name as he—

  Get it together.

  Jumping up, she double-checked the lock on the door.

  Then she moved to the terrace doors to check those.

  Face it. This threat wasn’t coming over a terrace ten stories up. Mac was safe, probably more so than if they’d gone to his apartment. No one downstairs could get past the security at the elevators or the stairwell without a key card, and their level had specially made cards.

  She should try to get some rest. Leaving him on the couch, she headed for the bathroom. If he didn’t go into the lab, she’d need to be on call all day tomorrow.

  Katie brushed her hair behind her ears in frustration. If she tried to go to sleep, her mind would drift to thoughts of Mac.

  No, it was better if she tried to stay awake as long as possible.

  She turned on the television. The sound blared and she quickly turned it down. Picking up the files the dean had sent, she used her highlighters and pens to make a list of likely suspects.

  For the next hour she was able to focus. Unfortunately as soon as she completed the task her mind wandered into dangerous territory again. She flipped the channels, but there wasn’t much on.

  Katie curled up, hugged her knees and tried desperately to think about anything but the man in the other room. It was insane—she couldn’t get Mac out of her head. So they’d had great sex. People did it every day. Well, some people. She’d never experienced anything like it.

  Jumping up again, she paced the room. If she hadn’t been worried about leaving the professor alone, she would have gone to the gym to work out her frustrations on a punching bag.

  “Katie?”

  The professor’s voice startled her, and she turned to face him. She thought he’d been asleep for at least an hour. He’d wrapped the towel around his hips, where it hung low. She followed the small patch of hair just below his navel.

  “Yes?” Her voice sounded husky with need.

  “Come to bed.”

  8

  “I’M NOT HAVING this conversation with you again.” Katie planted her feet firmly on the carpet. He liked her this way—her defenses on high alert, ready for a challenge. She didn’t seem to notice it, but she’d pulled her shoulders back and her cheeks had turned a light shade of pink.

  It was charming and hot all wrapped up in one beautiful package.

  Mac stayed in the doorway, but held up a hand to stop the tirade he knew was coming.

  “You’re fired,” he said softly.

  The shock on her face was priceless.

  “You—what?” Her words stumbled as she fought to understand what he’d said.

  “I no longer want you to protect me. Now may I come to bed?”

  Katie waved both hands. “Now, wait a minute. First of all—” she ticked a finger “—I was hired by the dean, so you can’t fire me. And second, what do you think you’re doing? We slept together once—a one-night stand. I realize that is a difficult concept for you, but there isn’t going to be any more, Professor. You tricked me once, but it won’t happen again.”

  Mac bit the inside of his lip to keep from smiling.

  Clearing his throat, he ticked off a finger in the same manner she had. “First of all—” he repeated her words “—I’m more than happy to call the dean right now and tell him that I’m not happy with his choice of a bodyguard. That I would feel more comfortable with a male.”

  He knew that would get her.

  “What a sexist!” Her voice rose several octaves, and the color on her cheeks deepened. “I can’t believe you would say something so chauvinistic. I’m the best there is, buddy. I’ve been here twenty-four hours and without the opportunity to speak to even one person I’ve narrowed down the suspects to ten, out of the hundred or so the dean had listed. You saw what I can do in those videos, and you know you are perfectly safe with me.”

  Mac leaned to the right and crossed his arms against his chest. “I have no doubt my life is absolutely safe in your hands, Katie. I never said you can’t do your job or that you aren’t excellent at it. I said I want to sleep with you again. And I know you want me, too. You have rules about that, and I respect those rules and you. So I’m offering this compromise. You’re fired.”

  “Argh. You are such an arrogant—”

  “Jerk.” He completed the sentence for her. “You value the truth above all else, right?”

  “Yes,” she said suspiciously.

  “So stand there and tell me that you don’t want me. That you don’t want to experience what we had last night again, because it was special. You know it as well as I do.”

  She gave him a look of derision. “You have a very high opinion of yourself.”

  “No,” Mac said seriously. “I have a very high opinion of you. Of the pleasure we can give one another. Answer my question, Katie. It’s simple. Do you want me?”

  “Professor, go to bed. I have work to do.” She turned away from him, moving toward the French doors leading to the terrace. She pulled the handles, checking the locks. He’d already watched her do it once a few minutes ago. Though she hadn’t noticed him.

  “It’s twenty-eight degrees outside, with the worst blizzard in recorded history. No one is coming in through the terrace. I get the feeling you’re avoiding the question. Katie, tell me truth. If you don’t want me, just say so, and I’ll go back in my room without another word.”

  Katie pulled the curtains back over the glass doors. “Yes.”

  His body stiffened.

  “Yes, what?”

  She turned then. Her beautiful eyes focused on him. “I want you, Mac.”

  Before she could say another word he was across the room, but he didn’t touch her. Mere inches from her, he kept his hands to his sides.

  “You are in my every waking thought,” he whispered. “My entire day was spent trying to think of anything but you. It didn’t work. I don’t do that sort of thing. I’m at a critical point in my research and for the past year I’ve been consumed with it. I’m ready to chuck it all just for one more night in bed with you.”

  “You confuse me.”

  He couldn’t get a read on her emotions. Granted, he wasn’t always the best with that sort of thing, but he actually tried where Katie was concerned.

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  He chanced moving a little closer. When she didn’t back away he put his arms around her waist. When she didn’t throw him over her shoulder, he took it as a good sign.

  “Would you really blackmail me into sleeping with you?”

  “I’m a desperate man, Katie. I need you.”

  She held her head away so she could see his eyes.

  “I have a code I live by. Rules are important to me, Mac.”

  She hadn’t called him Professor. He pushed her hair behind her ears. Then he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I know, Katie. But I want you and if firing you is the only way I can make that happen, well, like I said, I’m desperate enough to try anything.”

  She reached up and touched his face. “If you fired me, who knows who the dean would hire next. I can’t let that happen. Technically, it’s better if I sleep with you so I know you’re getting the best.”

  “Oh, I’m definitely getting the best.” His fingertips trailed down her cheek to her chin.

  Mac propped Katie up on the desk of her suite and slid her T-shirt over her head. “I say we start right here,” he said as kissed his way up her neck. When his mouth reached hers, his hand thumbed her nipple into a taut peak.

  Katie’s body quaked with need, her mind reeling from her sudden change of plans where the professor was concerned. How could she possibly deny herself his touch? And if it was wrong, why did she crave him more than anything?

  “I want it duly noted I’m doing this under duress and you left me no other o
ptions,” she said breathlessly.

  “Noted,” he said before unhooking her bra and sliding the lacy bit of cloth off her shoulders. “You’re so tough on the outside, but this lingerie…” He fingered the lace. “You aren’t always what you appear, Ms. McClure.” Mac tossed the bra onto the chair beside him and his fingers went to work helping her take off her pants.

  “I’m exactly as I appear. There’s nothing wrong with liking soft things against my skin.” Her voice caught as his hand skimmed her stomach. The truth, though she’d never share it with him, was she had a secret passion for all things silk. She loved the way the soft folds of material melted against her body.

  Once Mac had her completely undressed, he took her nipple in his mouth, his tongue laving circles around it.

  “Ohhhh,” she moaned. “You’re making it really hard for me to stay mad at you.”

  “Baby, you have no idea what hard is. I wanted to take you right there on the table in my lab this morning.”

  When he nipped her nipple gently with his teeth, Katie’s back arched and her hands moved behind her for support.

  Mac gave her other nipple equal attention, leaving Katie squirming on the desk. The man had obviously studied a great deal of biology, because he knew exactly what to do to turn her into a heated, needy pile.

  “Mac,” she said huskily.

  “Yes.” His tongue slid down her stomach and stopped at her heat.

  Katie forgot what she was going to say as his tongue kneaded her pink flesh. When he nibbled on the tiny nub there she nearly collapsed on the desk, and when she felt the towel slip from his hips she almost cried out in relief.

  Soon he was inside her where he belonged, thrusting in and out, slowing at times and then speeding up. Katie wrapped her legs around him and shoved her hotness against his hard cock, dropping her head back.

  “You’re so beautiful,” Mac said as he pumped her harder and harder.

  His words blossomed in her heart and made her want him even more. No one ever called her beautiful. Strong. Capable. Never beautiful. The previous men in her life, not that there had been that many, weren’t so free with the compliments. In one way or another they’d turned out to be selfish. She’d realized that even more the previous night when she and Mac had made love. It had never been like that for her before.

  Mac paused.

  “No,” Katie groaned.

  “Trust me, baby,” Mac whispered as he turned her over on her stomach. Her ass in the air, she bent over the desk, hands grabbing the edge. He positioned her so that he could massage her breasts and used his fingers to spread her pink flesh so he could slide his cock back inside her. He penetrated even deeper than before and Katie groaned with excitement.

  Everything became a blur. There was nothing like the glorious sensations their bodies made when working together. Nothing else mattered. One of his hands slid down to the nub as he pumped her, the other one still kneading her breasts.

  “Yes,” she cried. “Yes.” The orgasm ripped through her like a rocket on the rise. Muscles limp, Katie couldn’t breathe. Mac didn’t stop, but he shifted her so she no longer had to support herself and rammed his cock into her so fast she could feel another orgasm building.

  “Come with me, Katie,” he begged.

  She grabbed the edge of the desk, rocking against him as he plunged into her one final time.

  They both gasped as the orgasms took them over the edge into heated bliss.

  9

  MAC HAD A BIG PROBLEM. Making love to Katie hadn’t quenched his thirst a bit. He was inside her so spent he wasn’t sure he could stand another moment. Yet he wanted her again—and again. What was wrong with him?

  “I don’t think I can move,” Katie said softly.

  The woman was everything. He didn’t want to admit that to himself, but she was. Everything he didn’t know he wanted.

  Scooping her up, he gently carried her to the bedroom.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Am I out of your system?”

  He drew his head back. “What?” Mac placed her on the bed. She couldn’t have known what he was thinking. Then again, the woman was always full of surprises.

  “I’m a good detective—we figure these things out. I wanted to know if it worked.” She studied him with that intense gaze of hers.

  “No. The experiment didn’t go as I expected. I’m afraid we call that a null hypothesis with a type-two error.” He sat next to her on the bed, but he didn’t miss the sly smile that slid across her face.

  “How about you? Did you get me out of your system, Katie?” Part of him wondered if she’d say yes out of spite, but he knew how her body responded to his touch. What they had together was far beyond anything he had ever experienced. It was as if their bodies came alive at the connection—atoms knocking against one another with incredible force.

  “I always tell the truth, Mac. You know that.”

  He nodded.

  “No.” She took a deep breath. “No, you are still very much in my system. I think we should try your experiment again. Maybe it’s one of those false positives or something.”

  “Or something.” Mac grinned at her. “So you want to try it again?”

  “Yes, but I need some of that wine we had with dinner. I’m thirsty.” Her hand touched his cheek.

  This woman was dangerous to his sanity. Making love to her again took no thought at all. Being with her was the most important thing to him now, and that scared the hell out of him.

  He jumped up.

  Coward. Mac was more than happy to oblige her desire for more lovemaking, but he needed a moment. One for his body to recover, though as soon as she’d said again, his cock had begun to harden.

  “Wine it is,” he said as he leaned down to give her a kiss.

  Mac stopped by the bathroom to clean up. Staring at himself in the mirror, he frowned. He’d known this woman for less than twenty-four hours, and he was already attached. The man who never held on tight to anyone couldn’t imagine letting this woman go. But he would have to, eventually. The only reason she was here was to protect him.

  He thought about the way she’d moaned when he’d pounded her so hard he thought he’d break her, and she’d wanted more. His gut tightened at the thought of her skin under his hands, so soft and supple.

  He was rock hard.

  What have I done?

  Mac gathered their glasses and the bottle of wine they’d had at dinner. As an afterthought, he picked up the chocolate-dipped strawberries.

  Yes, she was here for a short time. They might as well have fun while they could. Once she solved this case, she’d leave and that would be the end of it. They’d both move on with their lives. Their experiment would be over.

  Mac stood at the doorway and glanced at Katie’s backside as she climbed into bed. Though there was absolutely no reason they couldn’t continue pleasuring one another while she was here protecting him. As if his cock weren’t hard enough already, the sight of her naked propelled him into the room.

  No, their little experiment was far from over.

  BUCKINGHAM PALACE was more grand than Katie had ever expected. She watched as the guard changed. Wrapping her arm around Mac’s, she gave him a squeeze. The heavy snow had virtually shut down the city, so he didn’t have to teach at the university. Most of the restaurants and pubs were open, but the museums and tourist places were closed. Claiming cabin fever, Mac had convinced her to get out of the hotel.

  After trying to contact all the people on her list to see if she could meet with them, she’d given up on work. She hadn’t reached a single person, so she’d left voice-mail messages all around London. She would never admit it to Mac, but she had cabin fever, too. She didn’t like to sit still in one place too long.

  Katie worried about his safety in public, but Mac told her he didn’t mind being bait. If his stalker was stupid enough to go out in that weather, Mac was certain Katie would spot him. It had taken an hour and a half of cajoling, but she’d eve
ntually given in.

  “I can’t believe you talked me into this, but I’m grateful,” she said, watching the pomp and circumstance before her. Katie’s mom had always been fascinated by anything to do with the royal family, so she took pictures to send.

  “If I’m going to be bait, at least we can have some fun.” Mac kissed the top of her head.

  Katie wished he wouldn’t joke like that. The man didn’t take the threat against him seriously. The only reason she’d finally allowed the outing was that Mac had been right about the weather. The snow still fell at a steady pace and was three feet high in places. Not many people were out and about, and it was easy for her to keep an eye on suspicious behavior.

  They’d taken the subway, or the tube as they called it here, to each of their destinations. So far they’d seen Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square. They’d even visited famous Beatles landmarks. That would please her father to no end. He was a huge Beatles fan—the back wall of the pub was loaded with memorabilia.

  Mac’s phone beeped. “We’re in luck.”

  “Why?” Katie had no idea what his phone beeping meant.

  “It’s a surprise,” Mac said as he took her hand. “Come on.”

  Katie followed him back to the tube. In the subway car they were alone, and he stole a kiss.

  “Except for the last two nights, this is the most fun I’ve had since I came to London,” Mac said against her lips.

  “It’s the most fun I’ve had in years,” Katie admitted. For so long it had been nothing but the job. During her childhood she’d learned doing a good job gave a person a sense of accomplishment. Her dad would come home bone tired from his patrol, and she’d ask why he did it.

  “I’m making a difference, cupcake. Daddy’s helping people and making the world a better place for you.”

  While Katie’s friend and favorite psychologist, Makala, would argue that she’d had no other choice than going into police work, Katie disagreed. Yes, she’d been born into a family of cops, but she’d never let them define her. Her goal was to be the first one in the family to graduate from college. She beat both of her older brothers in that respect. They finished their degrees on the job, but she’d whizzed through school.