The Touch

by Jaymie Holland

  Chandra sighed. Okay, stolen it.

  She touched the microchip with the pad of her finger and almost dropped the charm.

  An image slammed into her mind so hard her stomach heaved.

  The chip had something to do with Wade.

  She saw his face—enraged. Not at her, no. At a man who was pointing a gun directly at him.

  Chandra’s heart beat faster and she had to fight the urge to throw up. Something was wrong, desperately wrong. And something told her she was destined to help Wade in whatever way she could.

  #

  Throughout the rest of the afternoon and well into the evening the last vision continued to spin through her mind. What was going to happen? How could she help him? Could her sixth sense be what he needed to aid him with something?

  She couldn’t stop thinking of the man himself. The way his big hand had felt wrapped around hers. His dark eyes, dark looks and powerful build. The images that continued to race through her mind about the two of them having sex. The thought of the feel of his big body against hers. She aching for Wade by the time she went to bed that it nearly chased every other thought from her mind.

  She kept reliving that mind-blowing kiss in the restaurant. He’d been poised to kiss her and hell if she hadn’t kissed him instead. She could still taste him on her tongue and she groaned. It had been so good. Too good. The sensations that had shot through her body had been crazy, wild.

  Until he’d touched her hands. Once again she’d been assaulted by images of the two of them. Not to mention shadows and danger. What did it all mean?

  After she climbed into her four-poster bed and under the covers, Chandra stared up at the ceiling of her bedroom in the five-room townhouse. A streetlight’s glow peeked through the slats of her wooden blinds and made a striped pattern across her white comforter. As turned on as she was she didn’t think she could sleep.

  She pushed the comforter down to her waist. Without hesitation she unbuttoned the top of her silk pajamas and completely freed her large breasts to the cool air. She inched her panties and pajama bottoms down until she was bare from her breasts to mid-thigh.

  Her heart pounded a little harder as she imagined she was alone with Wade and he had stripped her bare. She slipped one hand down her belly, slowly, imagining it was his big hand easing between her thighs and into her folds. A light moan passed through her lips as her fingers slipped into her slick folds and she pushed her fingers into her wet core before withdrawing them to circle her clit.

  The images she’d seen earlier when he’d touched her made her fantasy more intense. She brought her free hand up to her large breast and cupped it and pinched her nipple while continuing to stroke her clit with her other hand.

  How would it feel with his mouth on her, licking her, sucking her? And then his kisses as he took her up against the wall. Hard and deep. She’d glanced down and noticed his erection during lunch and it sent another thrill through her belly to know he wanted her just as badly.

  While she touched herself, she could almost feel his big body pressed up against her as he drove into her again and again. Harder and harder.

  Her entire body heated up. The pajamas and comforter settled at her knees felt too hot. A light sheen of perspiration broke out on her skin and her body began to tremble. A spiraling sensation swirled throughout her as she came closer to climax.

  She imagined Wade’s hot mouth was on her increasingly sensitive nub. Her fingers moved faster on her clit. She could barely breathe as she came closer and closer—

  The climax rocked her body and heat flushed her in another hot wave. She released her nipple but continued to circle her clit with her other hand, riding out the orgasm until she no longer jerked with every spasm.

  When her body settled, she let her hands drop to her sides and stared up at the ceiling again.

  There was no doubt in her mind any longer. She had to have the real thing. She had to have Wade Branson.

  And she had to help him in whatever way she could.

  #

  Wade fiddled with the salt shaker on the table as he waited for Chandra in the sports pub again, this time for dinner. Would she show? After lunch yesterday he’d wanted to take her home so badly his cock felt on fire. He didn’t want to push her though.

  Well, hell yes he wanted to push her, but he’d known she wouldn’t just jump into his truck and head out to his home the same day they’d met.

  Yet, there was a connection between the two of them, an incredibly strong one. He didn’t know what that connection was, but he intended to find out.

  For a moment his thoughts strayed to the transaction with the operative yesterday. Damn. He’d really wanted the painting delivered this morning instead of Monday, but this was another precaution taken by McDougal, the Chief of Operations.

  Wade pushed aside his doubts. When the directive came down, he and another operative, Adam, had altered plans and swapped dates and locations in case there were any leaks. Not to mention they had changed the method of delivery. Yeah, it had been a smart move. It was doubtful the microchip could fall into the wrong hands.

  Even though he trusted and was friends with several other operatives, Wade had kept silent. Not even his closest friend, Mike Fields, knew about the change in plans.

  Mike was also a shadow shifter who worked for the PIA, and of course the organization hadn’t a clue what Mike really was. He was the only other person within the PIA who knew Wade was a shadow shifter.

  When Chandra walked into the sports pub, Wade’s gaze riveted on her. He found himself holding his breath and had to force himself to exhale then inhale again. All other thoughts vanished. She was so damn beautiful. Brown hair that brushed her shoulders, wide eyes he knew to be a shade of violet he could get lost in, large breasts to fill his hands, a figure meant for him to claim, to make his own.

  Wade shook his head. Where were these thoughts coming from?

  Instead of alerting her to his presence, he let her look around the crowded room for him. He wanted to watch her. Tonight she wore a short blue skirt that reached mid-thigh. Damn, the woman had great legs. By her muscle tone it was obvious she kept herself in great shape.

  She wore a lightweight jacket that parted enough so that he had a good view of her breasts. His erection grew rock hard at the sight of the white top that dipped low to expose her very generous cleavage, with her pendant settled just at the top of the soft white mounds.

  His erection ached at the view. The fact she’d worn the top for him was a good sign. Very good sign.

  His gut told him she just a civilian, not another operative, but what if it was his cock doing the thinking for him?

  She wasn’t carrying her backpack, but had shoved her hands in her jacket pockets. The fact that she still kept her hands from touching anything caused his brows to narrow for a moment. Either she had some kind of skin sensitivity or she had something far more interesting…the Touch? With that ability in the wrong hands, yeah, things could get nasty in a hurry.

  When Chandra’s eyes finally rested on him, he smiled and signaled her over. She shouldered her way through the crowded pub. Her expression was confident and self assured, her chin raised just a little.

  Wade felt a mixture of pride and jealousy when he noticed other men watching her walk through the crowd. She had a natural sway to her hips and her jacket fell away to give him—and every other man in the place—an even better view of her cleavage. And damned if she wasn’t wearing a bra and her nipples were pressing against her blouse.

  She finally reached the table and gave him a sexy little smile. “Hi,” she said as she slipped her hands out of her pockets and scooted onto the bench. She didn’t come as close as he wanted her to.

  So he eased himself next to her. “You’re gorgeous.” Light pink tinged her cheeks, down her skin to the swells of her breasts. Her nipples hardened beneath her shirt and he gave her a grin. “Of course that’s something you hear all the time.”

  Fire burned throug
h Chandra at his touch and she managed another smile. “You just want to get under my skirt.”

  “There is that.” Wade laughed, a sound that warmed her even more and he moved his hand away from her face. His expression sobered. “I would never lie to you, Chandra. I might not tell you everything you want to know, might not answer all of your questions, but I won’t lie.”

  She cocked her head. “That makes you more of a mystery than ever.”

  His mouth curved into a grin. “So I’m a mystery?”

  With an answering grin, she said, “And I intend to solve it.”

  “That makes two of us.” He glanced down at where her hands were folded on her lap. “I think you have a little mystery that needs to be solved, too.”

  Heat flushed her again. Did he know? About the chip? About the Touch? About both?

  She cleared her throat. “I’m hungry. What’s for dinner?”

  ***

  Chapter 4

  Chandra couldn’t believe she was going home with a man she had barely met. She didn’t do things like this. But the visions—they had been so intense, and she wanted what she knew he had to offer.

  She wanted him.

  When she glanced at Wade, the red glow of the trucks lights illuminated his strong features. He was so damned sexy. Car lights, streetlights, signs and other lights flashed by as he headed toward North Phoenix.

  Chandra clenched her hands in her lap, which frustrated her to no end. Why did she have to constantly be on guard so that she didn’t accidentally brush another person’s hand? How could she be around Wade, be with him, and avoid touching hands with him?

  Perhaps the better question was what was she getting herself into?

  When they arrived at his house, Chandra’s arms ached from being so tense. She bit her lower lip and stared at his home. It was modest, like the man appeared to be, but even then he had some prime real estate.

  Wade lightly touched her arm, drawing her attention to him. “Would you prefer to go to your home and I’ll just kiss you goodnight?”

  The fact that he had offered warmed her like fine wine. Why not walk away? Why not believe this time that fate could be changed? Why not keep herself clear of the danger she knew was in his future?

  Fate.

  Chandra forced herself to relax and shook her head. She wanted tonight. She’d deal with whatever happened when the time came.

  Did she ever want this man.

  He gave her his sexy smile before opening his door and climbing out of the truck. The vehicle was so black it blended with the night once the lights were shut off. If it wasn’t for the moonlight, likely the truck couldn’t be seen.

  Before he could make it around to her side, she was out of the vehicle with her hands deep in her jacket pockets. She didn’t want to know any more about what either of their futures held…just yet. Maybe never.

  Besides, what if this time his touch shot bolts of pain through her head like her visions normally did? Right now the last thing she wanted was a headache.

  While she waited for him to come around the vehicle to meet her, she tipped her head back and looked at the stars. They were so faint here in the city. The times she’d gone hiking with her cousins and sisters in the White Mountains she’d fallen in love with stars and she wished they could be as bright when she was in the city.

  She and Wade walked side-by-side down the lit stone path to the free-flowing home. He had a six-car garage off to one side of the house, but probably parked out front thinking she wouldn’t want to spend the night. Or maybe he just wanted sex and that was it.

  Whatever. She could deal with that.

  Cool air brushed the exposed tops of her breasts. She’d worn the sexy shirt and skirt just for him, which no doubt he’d picked up on. He hooked his arm around her shoulders, holding her close to his tall frame. The jacket and his warmth helped chase away the evening chill.

  After he let her in, illuminated the room and shut the door behind them, she took in the masculine home. It was a beautiful house. He had a great room where you could see the living room, kitchen, and dining area in one fell swoop.

  His couch and chairs were deep chocolate brown, and the floor was made of huge smooth stone tiles. A T-shirt was draped over one chair, a pair of boots kicked off in a corner, paper strewn across a rough wood table and a green pottery mug perched on one of the smaller end tables. It looked lived in and comfortable.

  Before Chandra had a chance to fully take in the furnishings, Wade gripped her from behind by her shoulders and turned her to face him. She tilted her face up to see his eyes were dark with hunger and she felt it straight to her toes.

  He grasped the back of her head with one hand and clasped one of her hips with his other, pressing her body tight against his so that she felt his hard cock through his pants against her belly.

  “I need to be inside you, baby,” he said in what came out as a low growl. “It’s your call, but you need to know how bad I want you.”

  A thrill skittered from her belly to between her thighs. “Yes,” she said without hesitation.

  Wade claimed her mouth, hard, demanding, dominating. He nibbled at her lower lip and she whimpered from the exquisite sensations it caused. When he slid his tongue in her mouth, it tangled with hers. She in turn explored his mouth and reveled in the taste of him. Such a masculine flavor mixed with the beer he’d had earlier.

  He pushed her jacket from her shoulders, slipping it down to her elbows as his callused palms slid along her arms with the movement. She moaned into his mouth. Before he could reach her hands, she wiggled out of the jacket and let it drop to the floor.

  Wade groaned as he moved his hands from her arms to her chest, filling his hands with her breasts and massaging them through her low-cut blouse. He moved his mouth from hers, his stubble chafing her skin as he kissed the line of her jaw to her ear. She shivered when he gently bit her earlobe.

  With a moan she tilted her head back and he began working his way from her earlobe to her jaw and down her throat. Kissing, licking, sucking. Chandra brought her hands up and clenched his shirt in her fists. The desire winding through her body was unlike anything she’d ever experienced.

  When his mouth reached her cleavage, he teased her by licking the tops of her mounds just below her penny charm, gently biting her flesh. She was about to beg him to take off her shirt when he pulled the plunging neckline beneath her breasts so that she was bared, her breasts high and raised for him.

  Wade licked the soft skin between her breasts and she slipped her fingers into his hair and held him tight to her chest. He gave a soft laugh, grabbed her ass, and at the same time, latched onto one of her nipples.

  More little mewling sounds escaped her throat as he sucked and nipped and circled her areola with his tongue. The skin around her nipple tightened with every exploration of his tongue. It felt so good having his warm mouth on her nipple.

  He slid his mouth down the curve of her breast, leaving her wet nipple chilled and her other one aching. So damn slowly, he moved his lips up the curve of her other breasts and teased her with his tongue before sucking on it hard. So very hard.

  “I need more, Wade.” Her voice came out low and husky.

  “Mmmm…” He gave another soft bite and she groaned. “I intend to give you lots more.”

  Wade bunched his hands in her blouse and met her eyes as he jerked the shirt up and over her head, completely baring her from her waist up, and she was glad she hadn’t worn a bra.

  He took her mouth again and kissed her as he grasped her hips tighter with both hands and ground his erection against her belly. It felt so hard through the thin material of her skirt. Chandra gasped into his mouth. His T-shirt rasped her nipples and his snug pants scraped the bare skin above the waistband of her skirt.

  Everything was like the first vision she’d had when he took her hand at the festival, yet nothing could compare to how she was actually feeling at this moment. She was so completely on fire, her folds wet, her nipple
s aching, her body craving, needing his touch.

  His lips moved from hers again and made it to the sensitive skin between her full breasts. He brushed his stubble back and forth, the rasping feeling driving her crazy.

  “W-Wade.” She braced her arms on his shoulders and thrust her chest out to him. “I can’t wait.”

  He groaned. “I love the way your skin tastes.” He started his way down her belly and brushed his stubble along with his lips down her soft skin until he reached her skirt. He tugged down, revealing her panties. “Kick off your shoes.” His voice was a husky command that she had no problem obeying.

  The moment her sandals were off, he yanked down both her underwear and skirt to her ankles at the same time he kneeled. She stepped out of her clothing, but had to keep her hands braced on his shoulders to steady herself.

  “I’ve got to taste you,” he said as he audibly inhaled.

  Her pussy was so wet and ready for his mouth, his cock. Her musk mixed with the masculine smell of the room and his male scent of sweat and testosterone.

  He buried his mouth against her mound and his warm tongue slid into her folds. Chandra shouted her pleasure as he licked and sucked her. The real thing was so much better than her imagination or her visions had been. Or her own hand last night.

  Wade teased her clit then moved away before returning to tease it some more. When he added two fingers, thrusting them deep inside her core, she almost lost it. Her legs trembled. She could hardly stand. She was so close to climaxing. So close to the edge.

  “Come for me,” he said just before he sucked her clit, this time hard.

  Chandra cried out as her hips jerked against his face. His rough stubble added to the sensation of his mouth suckling her clit and he continued until she thought she’d scream. “Stop, please.” She tried to pull away even as he kept licking her pussy. “Oh, damn. I can’t take anymore.”

  For a few endless moments more he didn’t listen to her pleas and she cried out with every spasm of her core. She was practically sobbing as she begged him to stop the exquisite torture.