Too Close

by Sasha White

  “No! Not because of that. That was wonderful. I love the fact that I can make you lose control. You don’t strike me as the type of man who lets that happen easily.” She gave him a small smile.

  God! She was such an idiot! What the hell was she doing even bringing this up? She was supposed to be chasing him out of her life. Not inviting him deeper into it.

  “I’m not,” he said as he shifted his stance. “So how do I scare you?”

  Vanessa cringed inside. She’d opened up a can of worms there and wasn’t sure how to close it up again. “Poor choice of words. I just mean… I’d like to get to know you better, but I’m not very good at this sort of thing.”

  “What sort of thing?”

  “I don’t do commitments or attachments very well.” She bit her lip for a moment, trying to stem the flow of words that seemed to be coming from nowhere. “I live in the real world where the divorce rate is skyrocketing, and the marriages that are still together are unhappy ones. I believe more in sexual pleasure than loving satisfaction, yet… you make me imagine lazy Sunday afternoons curled up on together on the sofa watching movies.”

  There. She’d done it. She’d opened herself up to the rejection she knew was sure to come. He might be the only man that had ever made her feel more than a sexual attraction. But how could a man like him, from a high class family of lawyers - yeah, everything she’d sensed about him clicked into place when O had placed him as one of those Michaels – ever fall for a woman like her?

  A con man’s kid that grew up to be a thief.

  Kane’s heart was beating triple time. She’d had thoughts of them together? In a relationship? Damn! He wasn’t nuts then. There was definitely something strong between them.

  But she still hadn’t called him back. And he still felt the sting of manipulation.

  He gazed into her eyes, and forgot all about his suspects. “I don’t know what’s going on between us, Vanessa.” He backed up from the desk and sat himself down in the chair there. “On Sunday night I thought there might be something there too, but now, I’m just not sure.”

  Her head dipped and she seated herself. Her posture was straight, thrusting her perky breasts out, making him highly aware of the fact that he’d been too out of control to even get a taste of them the other night. His dick twitched and he forced the right words out of his mouth. “I don’t think getting involved personally right now is the smartest thing to do.”

  When she met his gaze again, her dark eyes were shadowed, and his chest tightened. He could’ve had her. She’d basically offered herself up to him, and he’d pushed her away because of his innate sense of suspicion. He could literally see her pulling away.

  “I like you, Vanessa, but you’re right. We really don’t know each other. We need to slow things down for now.” He rested his ankle on his other knee, which hopefully hid his reaction to her nearness.

  “Okay,” she nodded. She placed her hands on the desk in front of her and gave him a tight smile. “You said you had questions?”

  He asked her about a few of her customers. How much she knew about them personally. Did she ever think they could be into illegal activities? When she replied she didn’t think any of her clubs members could possibly be the Risqué Robber his surprise must’ve shown on his face.

  “I do read the newspaper, Kane. When they mentioned the unique way the knots were tied and you showed up asking about female clients experienced in Shibari, it wasn’t difficult to put together.”

  It was a smooth answer that made sense. So why did his gut tell him there was more to it than that?

  “If you don’t think the Robber could be any of your members, what about your staff?”

  Her face froze. “My staff? You think it’s one of my staff?”

  “Tell me about J.J.” Fear flashed in her eyes and Kane’s gut clenched. She definitely knew more than she was letting on.

  Vanessa shifted in her seat, slouching back in the chair and folding her arms across her ribs. It was clear body language for Back Off, but the way it plumped up her breasts called him closer.

  He looked away and thought about the shitty hockey game he’d seen the night before. When the blood stopped flooding his groin and started to flow through his system again, he looked back at her.

  She was glaring at him. Not just a frown, but an actual glare. He quirked an eyebrow at her in question.

  “Don’t you dare think you can pin any of this on J.J. That girl has had enough troubles in her life and I will fight you every step of the way.”

  “Whoa!” He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’m not going to pin anything on anyone unless they’re guilty. I just want to know a bit about her background.”

  “J.J. moved here six months ago from Toronto, where she left behind an abusive asshole of a husband. He followed her here and last month he was arrested for assault, and I believe he’s still in jail. J.J.’s had enough taken from her in life that she’d never turn thief.”

  “Then I guess I’ve hit a dead end here.” He shrugged. Unless you’re RR.

  He thought it, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. He hated that the thought even entered his mind. “Listen, I heard about another private ‘alternative’ gathering at an underground club called Chains. Ever hear of it?”

  He watched her shoulders relax and felt a bit of tension drain from his own frame.

  “It’s a small bar by the University. I’ve never been, but I‘ve heard it mentioned.”

  “There’s a private gathering there on Sunday night. I doubt I can get myself in. Are you still willing to help me with this investigation?”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Vanessa threw her hair brush in the sink. God! This isn’t a date! So where did the butterflies in her belly come from, and why wouldn’t they go away?

  Stomping into her bedroom she looked at the outfit she’d laid out to meet with Kane. It was sexy, a bit demure for her, but that was good. She needed to look professional. She needed to look calm and cool, and not like she’d called him because she couldn’t forget the way he tasted. Whether it was butterscotch or beer, musk or male, his flavor was burned into her taste buds, and the dream of a partner was burned into her heart.

  At first she’d been upset when he’d left the bar the bar the night before. Upset with herself for forgetting that she wanted to stay away from the lawman, and letting him know how she felt. Upset with him for choosing his investigation over her. But her dreams that night had been full of his rock hard body and promises of acceptance, of partnership.

  He’d picked up on her deep seated dream the first night they met and she couldn’t forget that. She wasn’t going to let him forget it either.

  Whatever else was going to happen, she decided she wasn’t going to give up the one man that had been able to read her. Not without a fight.

  She glanced at the outfit again, and headed for the closet. Screw demure. She wanted Kane, and demure wasn’t going to get him.

  It was just after two in the afternoon when she strolled into the police station. She was directed to an open room near the back of the building, and there she saw a half dozen desks covered in files, computers and paperwork. She spotted Kane near the windows with a tall dark haired guy whose face was covered by a long unruly moustache.

  She felt the heat of several gazes on her bare legs but the only thing that mattered was the way Kane’s eyes widened and lit up when he saw her.

  “Vanessa! This is a surprise.”

  “Is there somewhere we can talk?” She glanced at the guy next to him. Lean and mean looking in jeans and t-shirt, with visible tattoos on his arms, he had bright green eyes that looked sharp. Like they missed nothing. “Alone.”

  Kane tossed the file folder he’d been holding on a nearby desk and started down the hallway. “Follow me.”

  She noticed the way his trousers fell perfectly over his firm butt and wondered just how yummy it would look naked. It was round and muscled looking. Like something she�
�d really enjoy sinking her teeth into.

  She gave her head a shake and fought to keep her hands from reaching out to pinch him. A second later he led her into a small room with a window that looked over the parking lot. There was a fridge, a coffee machine and sink. A round table sat in the middle of the room and an overstuffed beige sofa against the wall. A staff room.

  “What can I do for you?” He closed the door behind him and turned to face her.

  She reached behind him and flipped the lock on the door. Then looked him right in the eye and grabbed him by the tie. With a quick tug she’d pulled him close enough so that her lips brushed against his when she whispered, “You can tell me how this makes you feel.”

  Then she kissed him. She licked at his bottom lip, tasted his breath as he exhaled sharply in surprise, then sealed her lips over his and snaked her tongue into his mouth. The sweet seductive taste of butterscotch was strong, but soon she could only taste him. The unique flavor of man.

  “Hmmm,’ he hummed in surprise. His hands gripped her hips and pulled her tight to him where she could feel his cock growing rapidly.

  She pulled her head back slightly and gauged his reaction. “Well?”

  “I feel pretty damn good about it,” he growled and tugged her close again.

  She steered him to the sofa and pushed him down on it before climbing on his lap. “When you left yesterday, I thought that was it. That we’d had our chance and I’d screwed it up by not holding onto you when you gave me the chance that first night. Well, now I’m giving you the chance. Take me, or leave me.”

  There was a brief struggle in his eyes before his fingers sank into her hair and the words “Take you” flowed from his mouth to hers.

  She grabbed his head and tilted it to the side, pulling her mouth from his and licking down the side of his neck. She nibbled on his earlobe and felt a shudder go through him.

  His hands ran from her hip to her shoulders, then around her rib cage and up to cup her breasts. God, she was glad she never wore underwear. His hands cupped the small mounds and her nipples pebbled against his palms. “More, Kane. I need more.”

  He groaned and tugged the neckline of her cotton top down, exposing her bare flesh to his lips. His hot breath feathered across her sensitive nubs a second before he sealed his lips around one nipple and suckled.

  She cried out and ground her hips down against him. Her hands reached between them, caressing his cock through the material for a minute before finding his belt buckle.

  Suddenly, Kane pulled away from her, his head back against the sofa and his hands holding hers still. “Stop,” he gasped. “We can’t do this here!”

  “Why not?”

  “This is a police station. I work here!”

  “So what? We did it on my desk.” Kane’s eyes drifted shut and Vanessa’s chest tightened. She needed this. She didn’t know why she needed it so strongly but instinct told her she needed to cement this connection with him.

  He opened his eyes and lifted a hand to her cheek. His calloused fingertip stroked over her bottom lip and her tongue darted out to taste him. “I want you so much, Vanessa. But it should be in a bed, you’re an amazing woman and you deserve more than this. I want to strip you naked, lay you out and worship you the way you really deserve.”

  “I don’t care where we are. I don’t want fancy sheets and candlelight. I just want you. I want that man that lost control on Wednesday, the one that really showed me how he felt, and not just what he thought I wanted to see.” She pulled his belt loose, and undid his pants. When her hand reached in and circled his hot hard cock, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. “I want you inside me now.”

  With a quick wiggle she rubbed the head of his cock against her slit and they both groaned. Kane’s hands tightened into an almost painful grip. One in her hair, the other on her naked hip under her skirt.

  “Hurry,” he commanded hoarsely. “Take me inside you. Show me the way home.”

  They met in an open mouthed kiss, all semblance of control gone the second Vanessa impaled herself on him and started to ride. The muffled sounds of people in the hallway disappeared as she rocked in his lap. She buried her head in his neck and breathed deep, inhaling the clean manly scent that held just a hint of musk. Whiskers were starting to sprout on his jaw and she rubbed against them, the soft scrape making her feel primal. Marked by him.

  He was so deep, settled firmly inside her. With every shift of her weight her clit rubbed against his pubic bone and shot pleasure bolts at the knot of tension low in her belly, making it bigger, stronger.

  She panted against his neck. Trying hard not to be too loud. “More, Kane. So close. Harder.”

  As if he already knew everything about her body, he placed his open mouth against her nipple, sucked hard and reached a hand between them to pinch her clit. The knot of tension in her belly exploded, her thighs squeezed him, and her inner walls clutched at his throbbing cock.

  “Oohhh.” She dug her head deeper into his neck and cried out in pleasure as fireworks went off inside her. Just when she felt herself coming back down to Earth, Kane thrust deep and hard, one, two, three times until hot juice flowed from him to her. She wrapped her arms around him and held his head tight to her chest to muffle his own groan of release.

  When all was quiet she leaned back to gauge his reaction her whirlwind seduction. When his mouth curled into a slow lazy smile, elation floated through her and she giggled like a schoolgirl.

  “So, how is your day?” she asked.

  A chuckled rumbled from him and she realized it was the first time she heard him laugh and her next words jumped from her mouth. “See me tonight.”

  “At the club?”

  “I can usually leave for an hour or so as long as it’s before ten. That’s when things start to get busy. Meet me for a late dinner.”

  “Okay. I’ll be there around eight-thirty.” Kane’s lazy smile spread into a boyish grin and Nessa’s heart skipped a beat. “But I’ll never make it if I don’t get back to work now.”

  They disentangled themselves slowly. Kane tucking everything back in and doing up his pants while Vanessa fluttered her skirt to shake out any wrinkles and adjusted her top. When they were ready he placed a soft kiss on her lips, but said nothing.

  No words were needed.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “You’re thinking with your dick, buddy.”

  “Leave it alone, Jack.”

  Kane knew it was too much to ask that Jack wouldn’t comment on Vanessa’s visit the day before. Especially when he’d let it slip that morning about meeting her for a late dinner the night before.

  The dinner had been great. They’d walked down the street and grabbed pizza at a small hole in the wall place. Seated on the plastic stools at the chipped countertop, he’d felt himself falling harder for the woman next to him. Not only was she sexy as hell, she was intelligent and funny too. They’d spent the whole hour talking about everything and anything, except the past. She didn’t ask about his family and he didn’t ask about hers. There was none of the life history getting-to-know-you shit. It had all been about who they were now, not how they got to be there.

  “You think because you’ve fucked her you know her? Kane, think about it. What do you really know about her?”

  “She’s an Oilers fan, and she’s never tried to tie me up.”

  “I think she doesn’t need to tie you up. She’s already got you right where she wants you.” Jack tossed a file in his lap and limped away.

  With a heavy sigh Kane picked up the folder. What was his problem? He’d only gotten a glimpse at Vanessa the day before and he had an instant dislike for her? It wasn’t like Jack to judge anyone so quickly.

  Kane flipped open the file and started reading only to feel pain slice into his chest.

  Vanessa Lawson had a record.

  Vanessa’s heels clacked against the concrete steps that led to the entrance to Chains. She’d called the owner the night before and he�
��d extended her an invitation, said he would put her name on the list at the door. When they reached the bottom of the steps there was a huge WWF look-alike in leather pants and a mesh t-shirt guarding the door. She glanced at Kane, humor tickling at the back of her throat, but when he met her gaze his eyes were quiet.

  He’d been quiet ever since he picked her up, but she just thought he was apprehensive about facing another alternative crowd. But she couldn’t kid herself anymore. Something was wrong. The connection she’d thought they had was gone.

  “Vanessa, from The O Club,” she told the bouncer.

  He nodded his head and opened the door for them. Loud throbbing music blasted up from even more stairs, making it hard to think. When she reached the bottom of the stairwell, it opened up into a large cavernous room. The basement bar was dark and dingy. The music was loud and throbbing, and the crowd was moistly male.

  It was then that she realized that the Private night wasn’t for a BDSM crowd, but a gay one. “I got you in the door, but I’m afraid I’m not going to be of much help with anything else. This isn’t the type of crowd that will be open to me.”

  Kane’s face tightened even more when it became clear to him what she’d meant. His neck turned red, but that was the only outward sign of his discomfort.

  “I see several women here. Let’s have a drink anyway. I was told there’d be a bondage demonstration and I want to see who does it.”

  Kane’s hand burned at the small of her back as he steered her toward the bar. The second they were there he removed it and she bit her lip. There was obviously something on his mind, something that made him pull away from her, and she wasn’t sure what to do about it.

  This was why relationships sucked. She’d pretty much laid herself out for him, and he closed her out. What was the point? The sex was good. Okay, it was great, but was it worth the pain that was creeping into her heart?