Dangerous Grounds

by Shelli Stevens

  “I’m ready, Gabe.” She panted. “I don’t need this.”

  “I do,” he answered without pity and drove his fingers deeper into her. He lowered his head to her breast, tracing her nipple with his tongue. The taste of her skin was addictive. Before, he had just touched her, never tasted. He’d missed out. His lips closed over her nipple and he drew it deep into his mouth, sucking on it in a fierce rhythm.

  She cried out again and the sound of her pleas drove him wild. He pulled his fingers from inside her, rolled the condom on, and positioned himself against her tight entrance.

  “Now’s the part where you get your brains fucked out.” Without hesitating, he thrust himself deep inside her.

  Madison bowed against him, whimpering. She jerked at her wrists, trying to get them free, and he let her go. She immediately threaded her hands in his hair.

  “Gabe.” She gasped, her thighs clenched around his hips, her high-heeled feet in the air. “God, you feel so good. More.”

  He thrust into her harder, his eyes just about crossing from the sensation. He knew he wasn’t going to last long, but was determined to take her with him when he came.

  He found her clit again and stroked her until her body tightened against him. She shuddered, moaning out her release in a long breath. He thrust deep, pulling her tight against him. He groaned aloud when he orgasmed; the intense explosion of sensation rocking through his body.

  After things became clear again, he laid his head against her breast and heard the frantic beating of her heart. Her breath came in shallow gasps.

  “Wow…” Her voice came out soft and shaky. “I don’t think I’ve ever had that kind of sex before.”

  Him either, but he wouldn’t admit it. He nuzzled her breast before closing his teeth around one of her erect nipples and biting lightly. She moaned and held his head against her.

  After a moment, he pulled himself off her. When she gave a small cry of protest, he slid his hands under her and swept her up into his arms.

  “Time for bed.”

  “You’re sending me to bed?” Her eyes widened and she looked almost hurt by the idea.

  “My bed.”

  Her face warmed with relief and she giggled, snuggling against him. “Oh, good.”

  He had no intention of thinking about the consequences of what had just happened between them. It was too late. And there was no way he was going to spend the rest of the night regretting it. It had been too good, too right between them to regret it.

  Plus, there were still seven hours left before he had to be at work and he planned to make good use of them.

  Madison woke just before dawn. She lay on her side, her legs intertwined with Gabe’s and her head nestled under his chin. She stretched, testing her body to see if any soreness lingered from their orgasm party the previous night. Between her striptease and the hot monkey sex that had continued into the wee hours, she was a little sore.

  Raising her head, she glanced at the clock on Gabe’s bedside table. It was five in the morning. Didn’t he have to be at work soon?

  Stifling a yawn, she laid her head back on his chest. A second later it vibrated under her as he groaned. His hand, which rested on her ass, tightened and his groan turned appreciative.

  Madison held back her sigh of relief. She hadn’t been sure what to expect from him this morning. He’d fought so hard to try to be good, and last night she’d finally broken him. She’d been prepared for anger or regret. Something.

  “It’s five in the morning, Gabe. Maybe we should get up.”

  His hand stroked over her ass in a gentle caress, then dipped lower between her legs to play with her. His chest bounced under her again as he laughed.

  “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I am up.”

  She moved her leg just a bit and encountered the evidence herself. He used the move to curl a finger inside her.

  Madison’s blood pounded at his touch and moisture pooled between her legs. She closed her eyes. There’s no way I have the energy to go another round.

  Gabe slid out from under her and eased her back onto the bed. He sat beside her, drifting a hand over the curve in her waist and up her hip.

  “Tired?” he asked.

  “After last night? Of course.” Her body tingled.

  “Well, try to rest then.”

  What? He gave up that easily? Disappointment stabbed through her, but then he rolled her onto her back and kissed her navel. Ah, that’s better.

  His tongue snaked out to trace around the dip.

  “Just get some rest and pretend I’m not here,” he murmured, his mouth moving in a slow, agonizing trail down from her belly button.

  Right. She closed her eyes. I’ll just pretend this is a wonderful, delicious dream.

  His wet kisses ended at the swell of her mound, and she wondered for a second what he thought about her being bare. All coherent thoughts disappeared when his tongue swept over and into her.

  Madison moaned and let her knees fall open. His tongue dragged up her folds until it found her clit, twirling around it and causing her head to spin. She bit her lip, but couldn’t stop the cries that escaped her mouth.

  Her response must have encouraged him, because he took her clit into his mouth and began sucking on the sensitive flesh.

  Madison moaned louder as she threaded her fingers into his hair, holding him against her. She opened her eyes to look down at him. The sight of his face buried between her legs sent another pulse of arousal through her and she grew wetter.

  He eased two fingers into her, moving them fast and deep while his tongue swirled around her clit.

  “Gabe…oh my God!”

  She threw her head back, watching the ceiling spin as her hips bucked in helpless pleasure under him. When he drew her between his teeth and thrust his fingers to the hilt, she screamed and clenched around him. Her eyes shut and color swirled behind her lids.

  Her nipples hardened with the orgasm and her legs trembled from the intensity. Madison fought to get her breath back while Gabe lay back down beside her, keeping a hand between her legs and rubbing in a light caress.

  “Still tired?” he murmured, kissing her stomach.

  “No.” She gasped and closed her legs around his teasing hand. “I’m very much awake now, thank you very much.”

  “Do you want me inside you?” His teeth closed around her ear and his tongue stroked over the captured lobe. “Because you are so hot and so wet that I’m going to be in a lot of pain if I don’t get inside you soon.”

  “Do it. Now.” She rolled on top of him. “Condom?”

  “Drawer next to the bed.” His hands moved to grab her ass while she got the condom out and placed it on him.

  A moment later she raised herself up and then moved down onto his erection. Taking him inch by inch.

  “You are so damn big.” She moaned and closed her eyes at the exquisite sensation of having him inside her. God, he was every girl’s dream. Thick and long. “I’m not going to be able to go to spinning class for a week.”

  “Spin on this.” He smiled and thrust his hips upward, impaling her further onto him.

  “Mmm. I love it when you talk dirty.” She gasped and began her workout.

  Chapter Nine

  “Have a great day,” Madison called after the customer who was leaving her shop.

  After the lady had gone, her gaze drifted to the cop who sat in the corner reading a magazine.

  “He’s pretty hot,” Sarah said in a low voice, following her gaze. “Man, this is fun, having some fine-ass cop hang out here all day.”

  It would be, if he’d been the right cop. Madison swiped at the counter with a rag. She’d been pretty disappointed when Gabe broke the news this morning. She’d just assumed that since he’d been trusted to keep her safe at night, he’d be the one to watch over her during the day.

  “I think I caught him checking me out,” Sarah went on after a sigh.

  “Why don’t you offer to buy him a cup of coffee?�
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  “Great idea. Why didn’t I think of that?” Sarah disappeared from behind the espresso bar and headed over to the cop.

  Madison laughed, surprised that Sarah had taken her seriously. She watched as Sarah said something to him and he smiled in response. Not wanting to eavesdrop, she turned her attention away and went back to cleaning.

  While she wiped down the equipment, her thoughts went back to Gabe. Gabe…and last night. Mmm. She’d done it. It was official. She’d moved into her transitional relationship and the sex was great. Scratch that. The sex was freaking phenomenal.

  They still hadn’t talked though. And there was bound to be some kind of post-sex conversation. What would he have to say when they sat down to dinner tonight? Doubt pricked at her. Hopefully it was something along the lines of let’s do it again and as often as possible.

  Since the robbery, she’d decided to change the hours of her shop. She still opened at six, but since business died down in the afternoon, she would be closing at four. Gabe promised he’d be the one to pick her up.

  That was a good thing. Her glance went to Sarah and the cop. It looked like they were making their own plans for the evening.

  Sarah came walking back with a big smile on her face.

  “I take it he said yes?” Madison drawled.

  “He said yes to coffee,” Sarah replied as she filled up one of the ceramic mugs with the fresh brew. “And then I said yes to dinner.”

  “Nice. Good job, Sarah…” Madison trailed off as the cop started talking into his walkie-talkie thing. A moment later he stood and approached the counter.

  “Just in time.” Sarah gave him a bright smile and held the mug out to him.

  He gave a bashful grin and Madison realized just how young he was. He didn’t look more than a tad above the legal drinking age.

  “Well, I just got a call from the dispatcher. I’m being relieved for my lunch break.” He gave Madison a hesitant look and then back to Sarah. “Do you have a break coming up?”

  “She’s long overdue for a lunch break,” Madison answered. “It’s two now and the lunch rush is over. Go enjoy yourselves. I’ll be fine alone.”

  “Well that sounds great.” He nodded and hurried to say, “But I won’t leave you alone, ma’am. We’ll wait until my partner comes to replace me.”

  “Oh, right.” Madison noted the looks the two exchanged and she cleared her throat. “I need to go over some of the books in the back. Can you handle things up front, Sarah?”

  “Of course,” Sarah answered right away and gave her a big, grateful smile.

  “Great.” Madison took her cappuccino and hurried to the back room. She sat in the cushioned chair and laid her head on the desk.

  Watching the shy flirting going on between the two up front had her thinking again about last night with Gabe. Her head filled with the image of his head between her legs, driving her wild with his tongue and mouth. Madison groaned and crossed her legs, as if that could stop the immediate dampness in her panties.

  She wanted him again. Now. But it would be a good four hours until she saw him. Lord, she was weak. She knocked her head lightly on the desk in silent reprimand.

  Her thoughts turned from sex to the fact that Gabe had held out as long as he had. It was actually kind of sweet. Most men would’ve shelved their morals and just screwed her, especially the way she’d been throwing herself at him.

  Her stomach warmed and she giggled quietly. She stood and went to turn on some music. A slow and sexy R&B song came on and she smiled. Mmm, such a sensual song. Great background music to make love to. Too bad she was missing half the equation.

  Knock. Knock.

  Madison snapped out of her newest fantasy and went to the back door where someone pounded. She unlocked the deadbolt, swung it open, and grinned.

  “I was just thinking about you. I thought you were working.” Her eyes devoured him. He was so sexy in his uniform. Was he here to talk about last night? Already? She swallowed hard. Or maybe this was the part where he said the sex was great, but it couldn’t happen again? The thought had her stomach in a knot.

  “You should never open the door without asking who it is, or checking if at all possible. You should get a peephole put in.”

  “Right. Nice to see you too.” She rolled her eyes.

  “I just want you to be careful. And, yes, I am working.” His expression relaxed into a slow smile that had her stomach doing back flips. “But now I get to spend time with you because I’m relieving my partner.”

  Spend time with her? Here it came. She forced a laugh as he walked past her. “Ah, yes, the junior cop. Sarah likes him.”

  “His name is Brian, and he’s just a couple of years younger than you,” Gabe replied in amusement and walked over to her desk, placing a paper bag on top. “I brought you lunch.”

  She blinked, finally noticing the delicious smell. “You always seem to be feeding me, you realize that?” Madison flipped open the bag. “Soup?”

  “Clam chowder.”

  “Oh, yummy. One of my favorites. That’s sweet of you.” She pulled out the bowls, set them on the table, and pried off the plastic lids. Should they go up front and eat? She hesitated. No, it appeared slow enough. Besides, the bell would ring on the door if any customers came in. “Be right back—I’ll go grab us some spoons up front.”

  He caught her wrist as she went to walk past him, and pulled her back toward him.

  “Aren’t you going to say thank you?” He slid his hands down her waist to rest on her hips.

  Madison’s pulse skipped as he pulled her snug against him. This was a good sign, right? She licked her lips and raised her gaze to his.

  “You get me so damn hard when you do that.” He traced the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip and brought his mouth down on hers.

  She opened her mouth to his deep, possessive kiss, willing to give him anything he wanted to take. When his tongue stroked over hers, she stroked back. His hands moved up and down her back in a gentle caress. He pulled away and touched his nose to hers in a brief gesture.

  “That’s more like it.” He let her go.

  Madison walked—a little unsteadily—to the front of the store. She let Sarah know it was okay to leave and grabbed spoons. Her mind swirled with different reactions. Gabe certainly seemed to be adjusting to the fact that they were now lovers. Did this mean no talk?

  When she turned around to go back, he stood watching her from the doorway. She tapped the spoons together anxiously and gave him a puzzled look.

  “I know I’m being stupid for even bringing it up,” she started and then sighed. “I mean, why risk wrecking a good thing? Right? But I have to know. Have you decided to be okay with the fact that we’ve had sex?”

  Gabe opened his mouth and closed it again, looking away from her for a moment. “Maddie…I didn’t want us to have sex. We both knew that, but it happened anyway. We can’t undo it, and I’m not sure I’d want to if I could. So, here I am. Mr. Rebound.” He looked back at her and gave a slow smile. “I’m done fighting it.”

  Confusion swept over her. Mr. Rebound? What kind of answer was that? A suitable answer, you moron, because it’s exactly what you wanted to begin with! So it was a good thing. Right?

  “Here’s your spoon,” she said, choosing not to respond to his answer.

  He gave her a searching look as he took the spoon, and they walked back to the desk and sat.

  “Anything exciting happen today?” he asked, crushing a pack of saltines into his chowder.

  Relieved by the new topic, Madison smiled. “Meaning did the Espresso Bandit come by and try to knock me off? Nah. Although my business has doubled from all the publicity.”

  The bell at the front of the store jingled.

  “See?” She raised an eyebrow and stood. “Be right back.”

  “You’re still making the drinks?”

  “Relax, I get better every day.” She ruffled the top of his head as she passed.

  “I’ll watch
from the doorway.” He followed her to the front, stopping again in the doorway.

  Boy, he sure was protective.

  Gabe watched her swinging hips as she moved to the cash register to help the customer. His cock stirred and he had to adjust his stance. Damn, he wished his lunch hour were longer. Although she looked about as tired as he felt. A night of marathon sex had done them both in. But, damn, what an amazing night. Why the hell had he fought against sleeping with her for so long?

  Because she’s Eric’s sister, dumb shit. And by this point with a woman, he’d usually be making up some excuse as to why he couldn’t see her again. But since this was Maddie and right now she lived with him, that wasn’t much of an option.

  Besides, something seemed different this time around. There hadn’t been the usual urge to get out and fast. No. He actually liked the idea of having her around…and having more amazing sex.

  Robert Phillips’ warning to not let her do anything crazy floated back to him. Guilt pricked at his conscience, but he shrugged it off. Madison was a grown woman. She made her own choices.

  Maddie laughed as she bantered cheerfully with the customer, and then she waved goodbye.

  “Jeez, we barely get a second to eat, do we?” She grinned and walked past him to the back room again, plopping herself down in the chair.

  “I feel like some kind of celebrity,” she said breathlessly, her cheeks flushed. “Maybe getting robbed was a good thing. Business has been great.”

  What? He narrowed his eyes, annoyance drawing his mouth into a frown. She had to be joking. “I hope you’re kidding.”

  “Well.” She blushed, but raised her chin. “I mean, of course it was a bad thing. But no amount of money could have bought this kind of advertising.”

  He leaned forward and looked her straight in the eyes. “He would have killed you, Maddie. That’s not worth selling a few extra mochas. It’s not a good thing that you got robbed.”

  “But he didn’t kill me, Gabe.” She folded her arms across her chest and gave him a defiant glance. “I’m fine. I’ve got round-the-clock protection, and soon you’ll have the Bandit. If my business profits from this, I’m not going to complain.”