Strip Tease

by Karen Erickson

  Chapter Nine

  She’d been avoiding him again and he didn’t like it.

  Nate climbed out of his car, slamming the door with such force, the sound reverberated throughout the quiet parking lot. Glancing about, he spotted the tail car, parked discreetly in the corner of the lot beneath a large willow tree. He nodded in the driver’s direction who nodded back.

  He rubbed a hand along his unshaven jaw, not relishing the conversation that was about to happen. Earlier he received word Ginger had been spotted at Temptations last night. Greg had found a contact there, some doorman who’d called him at one in the morning, saying Ginger was wandering around looking a little worse for wear.

  Of course, the moment Greg showed up, Ginger was long gone, though the doorman had tried to keep her there. Nate chose not to tell Janelle. No use getting her hopes up for nothing.

  But would she tell him if Ginger contacted her? Maybe he should tell Janelle…

  Would they ever find Ginger? Would he ever stop worrying about Billy Diaz’s thugs following Janelle? His boss was growing impatient, had threatened to pull the tail car more than once, calling it unnecessary and expensive. Nate requested one more week, hoping it would be enough.

  He’d gone to see Billy at his club two days ago, ready to confront him all over again but he was nowhere to be found. Though that jackass bartender had been there, ready to kick Nate’s ass at any given moment.

  The case was making him crazy. It shouldn’t such a challenge to find Ginger. If things had gone according to plan, Diaz would already be in jail. Instead, he chased a ghost. Spinning his wheels and dealing with Billy’s constant taunts. Not to mention, he was fooling around with the ghost’s sister.

  And now her sister played hard to get.

  His cock twitched, remembering last night. He’d stopped by her place around midnight, waking her with his impatient knocking. One look at her standing in the doorway, sleepy and mussed, clad in only a thin cotton nightshirt and he’d gone as hard as stone.

  He’d pushed into her apartment, stripped her bare and buried himself inside her within two minutes of arrival. No finesse, no foreplay, no sweet words. Just intense, primal fucking.

  She’d relished it. So responsive, her moans for him loud and needy, her legs wrapped tight around his hips. She’d clung to him as if she never wanted to let him go.

  And then she’d kicked him out once they’d finished. As if he meant nothing to her, though she claimed she couldn’t concentrate with him around.

  What the hell did that mean?

  Now he was back for more shitty treatment. Official business first and foremost, he needed to ask about Ginger. Of course, he was silently asking for her to toss him out on his ass again too. And damn it, he wasn’t a glutton for punishment. If a woman wasn’t interested, he moved on. Eventually found another one to fool around with for a while.

  Not with this woman. It pissed him off, how they’d agreed they weren’t going to play games. She was proving to be the biggest game player of them all.

  He snorted, shaking his head. Women.

  Nate walked up the stairs that led to her door, dread filling his gut. The real reason he was here? It wasn’t about her sister. He wanted to know what was going on inside her head. This back and forth bullshit was getting to him, fucking with his brain.

  He needed to keep his head on straight.

  Knocking on the door, he waited, rested his hands on his hips. He hadn’t changed, was still wearing the suit he’d donned this morning for a court appointment. It felt like a suit of armor, giving him strength to hash it out with her.

  Never in his life had he been so twisted up over a woman. It made him feel weak, out of control.

  He didn’t like it.

  The door swung open and there she stood, her face clearly showing her shock at seeing him. He set his mouth into a grim line and he nodded toward her.

  “Can I come in?”

  Janelle opened the door wider, concern etching her features. “Of course. Is something wrong? Did you find my sister?”

  “No.” He grimaced as he walked inside, guilt assaulting him at the little lie. Should he tell her she was spotted? That Greg came this close to capturing her?

  Turning to face Janelle, he watched as she shut the door. “Have you talked to her in the last few days? Don’t hold out on me. I need to know.”

  Her expression tightened. “Why do we keep having this conversation? No, I haven’t talked to her. And yes, you would be the first person I’d tell if I did,” she practically yelled.

  The guilt doubled, feeling like solid steel weights on his shoulders. “I don’t understand why she wouldn’t call you by now.” Especially if she was out, roaming the streets. Where did she crash at night?

  “She always goes into hiding when she’s in trouble. That’s just Ginger.” Janelle’s posture was stiff, her arms folded in front of her chest. The frost in her expression would freeze the sun. “If you’re here to badger me, you can go. I’m not in the mood.”

  He offered a curt nod and moved deeper into the room, sitting on the arm of the overstuffed couch so he could watch her. “I can’t believe Ginger has survived this long without calling you and asking for help.”

  She arched a brow. “Are you saying you don’t believe me? That you don’t trust me, Nate?”

  “I don’t know. You tell me.” Well, shit. He hadn’t meant to approach her like this, but she got his ire up. “You kicked me out of here so fast last night, it made my head spin. Are you hiding something from me?”

  “Oh, my God!” The three words exploded out of her and her arms dropped to her sides, hands clutched into tight fists. “What are you accusing me of? Go ahead and say it, get it over with.”

  Now it was his turn to cross his arms in front of his chest. “I hated how you kicked me out.”

  Pacing about the small living room, she halted at his admission, turning her head sharply to study him. “What?”

  “You know, when you kicked me out last night. This morning. Whatever.” He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. He’d wanted to sweet talk her. Instead, he sounded like an ass. “We had sex, then you pushed me out the door like I had a disease.”

  Her eyes narrowed and she exhaled, the sound more frustrated than anything. “Listen, if you’re here to get into my panties again, you can leave. I’m not in the mood, especially after you call me a liar.”

  Her remark stung. “I didn’t come here to fuck you. I wanted to talk.”

  She flinched at his harsh wording. “About why I kicked you out after you treated me like a common slut? Hmm, maybe it’s you who needs to catch a clue.” She turned, started to walk away but he darted after her, grabbing her by the arm.

  Whipping around, she glared daggers at him. The intensity of her stare so strong, he almost backed away.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” he asked.

  Janelle jerked out of his grip. “We have some big revealing discussion about spending more time together. And then you sneak over here late at night after work, looking to get laid.”

  Nate grimaced. She made what they shared sound cheap. “I thought we had an agreement.”

  “What, an agreement to get it on and that’s it? We didn’t need to have that stupid talk. I don’t like being used, Nate. So get out.”

  “You want me to leave?”

  “If you’re here to bug me about Ginger, then yes, we’re so done with that conversation. And if you’re here to fuck me, then most definitely.” Her eyes flared, her full lips drawn into a tight line. She was angry, her body practically vibrated with it.

  “Look, it’s never been just about fucking,” he started but her laugh stopped him.

  “Yeah, right. That’s all we’ve ever done, Nate. You come over here in the cover of night, put your hands on me and the next thing I know, we’re naked.”

  “You never protest.”

  “I’m protesting now! I can’t deny the sex is good between us. But that’s
not all I want. I want more. At the very least, I want to go on a date or something. Order in and watch a movie—you know, normal stuff couples do together.” She stopped and drew in a deep breath, her gaze meeting his. “I’m not asking for a marriage proposal or even a committed relationship. But I don’t want to be treated like a sex toy you take out when you need to use it.”

  Her words hit him like a physical blow. They made him feel like a moron who didn’t know how to properly treat a woman.

  It had been a while since he’d been in a relationship, and he botched them all anyway. Ever since he lost A.J., he’d thrown himself into his work. Seeking vengeance for his partner’s death, seeking solace for the pain and guilt he felt that A.J. died and he hadn’t.

  “You’re freaking out. I can see it written all over your face.” She shook her head, taking a step closer to him. “I like you, but I can’t go on with this if you won’t acknowledge I’m something beyond a fuck buddy.”

  “I’m not very good at this.” Nate waved his hand between them. “Relationships, whatever you want to call it. I never meant to make you feel like shit.”

  “Well, I do. I feel like you’re using me. Are you? Screwing me until you get a hold of Ginger, and then you’ll screw me over?”

  “Hell, no,” he said, shaking his head. Reaching out, he drew his fingers down her upper arm, savoring her soft skin. “You know how this started out...”

  “I do.” She sighed. “I’m afraid how it’s going to end.”

  He didn’t answer, he couldn’t. She looked at him as if he hung the moon. As if she might care of him.

  “I want to help you find my sister,” she murmured. “Not only for your investigation, but I want to make sure she’s safe. I’ll help you as much as I can, but I have my own life to live and the two can’t meet.”

  “You don’t want your employer to find out about Ginger.” He totally understood why. The entire situation was a mess.

  “Well yes, but my past isn’t so squeaky clean either. It’s best if we keep everything separate.” Now she was so close, she wrapped her arms around his waist, gazing up at him with those big blue eyes.

  Only minutes ago, she was furious and now she pressed herself against him.

  How could he resist? How could he not give her everything she wanted? He’d be a fool to let her go, after all they’d shared. Not just the sex, which was fucking unbelievable, but they’d grown closer these last few weeks.

  “Want to order in Chinese?” Damn, he wanted to please her. He’d concentrated so hard on giving her body pleasure, he’d forgotten everything else. If she was brave enough to take the leap, then he needed to as well.

  “I would love to.” She smiled and the sight of it made his head spin. “I’m hungry.”

  When she withdrew to head toward the kitchen, he called out her name, making her stop and turn.

  “When I said I’m not good at this, I meant it. I need reminders. Like what you said just now.” He shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I get so focused on one thing, I lose sight of the little stuff.”

  A tiny smile teased the gentle curve of her mouth. “Women like the little stuff. It’s important.”

  “I think I’m starting to get that.” He smiled in return.

  Janelle pulled a menu out of a drawer in the kitchen and opened it, gesturing for him to come over. “Trust me, when you’re clueless, I’ll remind you. It takes two to make something like…this work.”

  He nodded, an unknown emotion threatening to overwhelm him and he turned away.

  Her last remark scared him the most.

  * * * *

  Men. They drove her crazy. They always had.

  Janelle had been ready to give Nate an earful, tell him to leave her alone and never, ever come back.

  He treated her like a no-name sex object. The sex between them was good, she couldn’t deny it, but the aftermath was what nearly broke her. The moment he left, she always felt cheap.

  She hated that.

  She’d been so ready to tell him to fuck off when she found him on her front door, especially when he’d alluded she was a liar, the jerk. But one look into his soulful eyes, his sorry expression, and she caved. His admission took her by surprise, and his easy agreement to do what she wanted even more of a shock.

  The man was so complex, it made her want to scream. If only their circumstances were different...

  But they weren’t. Ignoring the problems didn’t make them go away. Shoving them into a corner made them grow until they overshadowed everything else.

  Why did her life always feel like an overacted soap opera?

  It had been Nate’s unexpected offer to order takeout that warmed her heart. As if he wanted to please her, help her forget their troubles for at least one night. When he suggested the pay per view movie, she was absurdly thrilled. Even when she realized the movie was terrible, she couldn’t complain while watching it in Nathan’s arms.

  “This movie sucks,” he whispered in her ear, tickling her with his too close lips.

  She nodded, tilting away from him which only seemed to make him move closer. “It’s awful.”

  “Then why are we still watching it?” His hands roamed over her body, one large hand settling over her breast.

  “Because you wanted to please me?” She batted her eyelashes.

  “I’d like to please you in other, more exciting ways.” His hand squeezed, thumb flicking up to brush across her nipple and it pebbled beneath his touch. “Or is that not allowed?”

  She shouldn’t have sex with him. To prove her point there was more between them than just fucking.

  But the fucking was so damn good...

  “We shouldn’t.” Her voice was weak and when he flashed that sexy smile, she knew she’d cave.

  “Why not? If you want me to be the attentive boyfriend, I can be the attentive boyfriend. But that involves all kinds of things. Nights out, long dinners, even longer nights in bed. Naked.”

  He dipped his head, kissing her ear, then the sensitive skin just behind it and she shuddered. She tried to push him away, her hands resting on his broad shoulders, but then she curled her fingers around them and clung to him instead.

  “Nate, I thought we had a deal.”

  Lifting his head, he looked at her, his dark eyes smoldering with lusty heat. Ooh, when he looked at her like that all rational thought flew from her brain. “We had a deal I wouldn’t treat you like a sex toy. I have no intention of doing that tonight.”

  His words, the intense expression on his face heated her from the inside out, made her think of all the naughty things he was capable of.

  Fine, so she was weak. She wanted to indulge in each and every one of those things. Right here, right now.

  “A sex toy is an inanimate object,” he continued with a wicked smile on his face. “Something a person stashes away, until he or she is ready to use it again. Like a vibrator or maybe even a blow up doll.”

  His fingers stroked her back. Up and down in a soothing motion and she practically purred with pleasure. “Are you confessing you have a blow up doll?”

  Nate arched a brow. “Are you inferring you have a vibrator?”

  Janelle’s cheeks heated. Of course, she had a vibrator. What twenty-first century woman didn’t have one?

  She went for nonchalance and shrugged. “I have one. Who doesn’t?”

  “Well, I don’t.” He kissed her, his lips warm and damp, his breath hot as it breezed across her skin.

  “You should try one,” she joked as he leaned into her, causing her to lie back on the couch. “You might like it.”

  “I’d rather use it on you.” He sprawled on top of her, supporting most of his weight on his arms, which he propped on either side of her head. His expression turned serious as he studied her. “I’m sorry for what happened between us earlier, Janelle.”

  She sobered, touched and surprised by his apology. “It’s okay. At least we talked it out.”

  “Yeah.” He blew ou
t a harsh breath. “Like rational adults.”

  “Right.” Janelle lifted her chin, reaching out to cup his jaw. “I’ve never been in a relationship where I was a rational adult before.”

  “Me either,” Nate admitted.

  Shock coursed through her, but before she could ask him any more questions, he kissed her, their tongues meeting, tangling. The kiss quickly turned wild, their hands searching each other’s bodies, tugging at their clothing. Janelle was desperate to touch him, moving her hands to the front of his shirt, fingers fumbling over every button.

  He swatted her hands away and stood, unbuttoning his shirt. Shrugging out of it, he tossed it on the floor and made quick haste of the rest of his clothing. Janelle undressed hurriedly, her skin heating with anticipation.

  Nate joined her on the couch and slid down her body, his hair brushing against her sensitive skin. He palmed her breasts, rained kisses across them, teasing her and she arched into him. His cock probed insistently against her belly and she whimpered.

  “So impatient,” he murmured, his lips tickling her hardened nipple.

  “I am,” she admitted, sinking her hands into the silky softness of his hair, holding him to her.

  He drew her nipple into his mouth, lips sucking, licking her with his tongue. The tug of his mouth was like a direct tug to her womb, making her belly tighten, her sex clench with want.

  As if he knew her needs, he slipped his hand between their bodies, his fingers brushing against the damp curls of her sex. She gasped, her legs spreading, and he took advantage. His fingers teased between her legs, his mouth moving to her other nipple to lick and suck.

  A phone rang, somewhere in the distance, and she knew it didn’t belong to her. They both ignored it, Nate too busy licking her to oblivion and the ringing eventually stopped.

  Only to start up once again.

  “Damn it,” he muttered against the inside of her thigh, tickling her skin. He looked at her. “I should get that.”

  “Get it,” she choked out. Who could be calling him?

  Withdrawing from her, he went to the kitchen counter where he set his wallet and cell. He answered with a curt “Banks,” but she didn’t hear anything else, his voice lowering to a murmur.