Blood Money (NYPD Blue & Gold)

by Tee O'Fallon

Gray’s heart seized.

  He bolted from the sofa and tore down the short hallway. He cranked the knob to her bedroom and threw open the door. All the breath left his lungs. Blood pumped like an automatic weapon through his veins.

  Alex stood next to a lamp that had fallen off the bedside table and broken. Light from the bathroom illuminated broken shards on the floor.

  And Alex’s perfect, naked body.

  His gaze traveled from her shocked face to her luscious breasts, then down her smooth, flat belly, past the blond juncture of her thighs, following the smooth length of her legs. He swallowed hard. If there’d been an infantry of enemy troops bearing down on him, he would gladly have died on the spot.

  The towel in her hand fell to the floor. Her lips parted.

  His feet moved. Before Gray’s brain could tell him to stop, he stood only inches from her. She gazed up at him, unmoving.

  He lifted his hands to her waist. When she didn’t flinch or pull away, he skimmed his fingers lightly up the sides of her rib cage.

  Without taking her eyes off his, she raised her arms and rested her hands on his shoulders. Her delicate touch was warm and cool at the same time, and when she slid her hands down his arms, every square inch of skin she touched, tingled.

  Gray was on edge, his body humming with need. With most women, he didn’t take his time, but he wanted to make this good for Alex. Better than good. He wanted her to remember this for the rest of her life because somehow Gray knew he would.

  She took a step closer. Her breasts brushed against his chest. He slipped his hands to her back, stroking gently at first. His hands couldn’t get their fill. Her skin was like warm cream beneath his rough fingers.

  He lowered his gaze to where her breasts pressed against his chest, pushed upward into lush mounds that he had to touch.

  He inched back until he could cup her breasts, massaging them, rubbing his thumbs over her taut nipples.

  Alex threw her head back and moaned. Her lips were wet and open. Gray leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. He slanted his mouth for better access, kissing her deeply, savoring her honey-sweetness.

  She slid her hands up and down his back, raking his skin with her short nails. The sensation drove him nuts to the point where he had to rein in his supercharged libido.

  He eased a hand to the back of her thigh, hooking her leg around his ass, allowing him to push his rock-hard erection against her bare mound. She moaned again then tightened her leg around him, drawing them more tightly together.

  The lush fullness of her breasts called to him, and he leaned down to suck on her nipple. When he nipped the tight bud, she gasped and cupped the back of his head, urging him to suck harder.

  “Gray,” she whispered.

  He released her nipple. His chest heaved. Blood pounded at his temples and in his cock. “Jesus, I want you.”

  The nod she gave him was almost imperceptible, but it was all the encouragement he needed.

  He clasped her other leg around his waist and carried her to the bed. Gently, he laid her on the comforter, spreading her legs enough for him to nestle his hips against hers. He kissed her as he ground himself against the warm, wet juncture at her thighs.

  Dampness permeated his sweatpants. The sweet scent of her arousal drove him crazy. He had to taste her, had to have his mouth on those slick, wet lips, push his tongue inside and swallow her very essence.

  He laved both her nipples until they were shiny and glistening. All the while, she gyrated against him, holding his mouth tighter to her breasts.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, yes.”

  He gasped for air, struggling to get a grip on his lust. “Baby, I’ve wanted you for so long.”

  Without waiting for a response, he eased down the length of Alex’s body then sat back on his heels and slid his hands up her smooth inner thighs. With another sexy moan, she threw her head back, exposing the most graceful, slender neck he’d ever seen. Part of him wanted to fasten his mouth to the sleek curve of her neck, but her gyrating hips beckoned to him.

  There was enough light from the bathroom for him to glimpse the glistening wetness between her legs. He rubbed his thumb over her clit, smiling as her body convulsed at his touch. He couldn’t bear it any longer and leaned down to fasten his mouth on her slick lips, spreading them wider with his fingers.

  Alex uttered a soft scream. Gray swirled his tongue in and around her silken folds then curved his hands over the tops of her thighs to hold her more firmly.

  Her hands were in his hair, pulling him in tighter. Smooth thigh muscles bunched and tightened beneath his hands. She was close, so close to the brink it made his cock throb with the need to be deep inside her. When she screamed, he nearly came in his sweats.

  …

  The world was teetering on its axis.

  Gray’s mouth, tongue, and lips on the most sensitive part of Alex’s body drove her to the brink of ecstasy and beyond. She would have screamed again, but somewhere in the back of her mind she remembered she had neighbors.

  Alex covered her mouth with her hand, muffling a throaty moan.

  He gripped her thighs, his tongue still probing and licking, eliciting the most glorious, orgasmic aftershocks she had ever experienced. She could only imagine how wonderful it would feel to have him inside her.

  As if reading her mind, Gray muttered something that sounded like condom, and then he was gone. Less than a minute later, he returned. Alex was still breathing hard, gasping. When Gray eased onto the bed next to her, he turned her on her side to face him and began kissing her again. Lord, but the man could kiss, and she tasted herself on his lips and tongue.

  “You taste so damned sexy,” he whispered.

  He covered her body with his. She clasped her legs over the backs of his thighs, loving his warm skin against hers. Beneath her hands, his ass muscles clenched. She slid her hands up his sides and along his upper arms, reveling in the thickly muscled strength and power.

  “Keep touching me,” she whispered as he kissed his way down her neck to her left breast, rocking his cock against her the entire way down. “Don’t stop.” When his mouth fastened on her nipple and began sucking, Alex realized what a turn-on it was to have a man feasting on her breasts. No, not any man. Gray.

  He grabbed the foil package that he must have tossed onto the bedside table while she’d been recovering from the amazing orgasm. As he tore open the wrapper, she stared at his impressive package. Not that she was particularly experienced, but there was no doubting he was large, long, and thick. It occurred to her that she hadn’t been with a man since becoming pregnant with Nicky. Seven years. Seven long years. Could she really take all of him in?

  “Sweetheart, I won’t hurt you,” Gray said softly. “We’ll take it slow, and you tell me if it hurts. Okay?” He stroked the side of her face, a gentle gesture from such a large man.

  Alex had never felt so safe or cherished in her entire life.

  She caressed his lightly stubbled cheek. “I know that. It’s just—been a long time since…”

  “Since you’ve had a man inside you?”

  The smile he gave her made her heart squeeze then thump wildly. She was standing on the edge of that emotional precipice—a hair’s breadth from falling even more crazy in love with the man who was about to become her lover.

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  In another gesture so sweet it tugged on her heart, he kissed her gently, softly, as if to reassure her. He reached between them and positioned himself at her core, rubbing the thick head of his cock against her slick lips.

  Slowly, he pushed inside. She gasped and arched her back. Even with his gentleness and patience, her tight walls were unaccustomed to his size.

  Gray froze. “Are you all right? Am I hurting you?”

  “Just give me a moment.” She pulled his head down, and as he kissed her softly, tenderly, her womb flooded with moisture, and she urged him deeper until he was fully sheathed. The intimacy of the act combined
with his overwhelming gentleness was the most erotic thing she had ever experienced.

  Beneath her seeking fingertips, Gray’s shoulder muscles tightened. He was tense and shaking. She opened her eyes to see his were tightly shut. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and she understood what it was costing him to hold back.

  “Open your eyes.” When he complied, she smiled at the sincere look of worry and caring on his handsome face. “You aren’t hurting me.” To prove it, Alex began moving beneath him, rocking until her hips met his in a gentle rhythm. With every stroke, she took him in deeper, hooking her legs higher on his ass, allowing him to penetrate her even more. “Kiss me again.”

  And he did. With every thrust, his tongue ravaged her mouth in the same erotic rhythm. “You okay?” he asked, pausing to give them both a minute to catch their breath.

  She nodded, and with every meeting of their bodies came closer and closer to the edge. Wanting more, needing more, Alex rocked faster. Their hips slapped together. Sweet tension built in her core until her vaginal walls tightened.

  She gripped his biceps, digging her nails into his skin.

  “Come for me, sweetheart.” He fastened his mouth on her neck.

  “Oh. Oh!” The tightness in Alex’s core spread like an earthquake from its epicenter.

  Gray lifted her hips, driving deeper. She threw back her head, covered her mouth with her forearm, and cried out his name. Flashes of light brightened the darkness behind her closed lids.

  He pumped once, twice more inside her before groaning against her throat. Even through the condom, Alex felt the force of his semen pummel the thin, vinyl sheath.

  For several moments, neither of them moved. Their chests rose and fell, both gasping for air. Gray slid his arm around her back and pulled her on her side to face him. He tucked her head against his chest. Beneath her cheek, his heartbeat gradually slowed, as did hers. Alex smiled against his warm, damp skin. He was still buried deep inside her, and it felt…right. She wanted this. Wanted to wake up to this man every morning and fall asleep tucked against his side every night.

  So much for my resolve.

  Alex opened her eyes to find Gray’s were closed, a slight smile at his lips. A moment later he opened his eyes and kissed her.

  And Alex fell in love.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Alex woke to find Gray was no longer nestled against her backside as he’d been after they made love for the third time. Exhausted, she’d fallen asleep to the comforting feel of his fingers drawing lazy circles on her hip and belly.

  A glance at the digital clock on her nightstand told her it was only five o’clock, and her stomach clenched at the thought that he’d already left. Not only didn’t she want to believe that he’d snuck out on her the same way Dom had done to Daisy, but after what had happened between them last night she desperately wanted—no, needed—to tell him about Nicky’s father.

  The rich smell of coffee wafted into the bedroom and with it came a sense of relief.

  He didn’t leave.

  A few moments later Gray walked in, wearing his skin-tight jockey shorts and holding two steaming mugs. Even the dark fabric of his underwear couldn’t hide his semi-erection.

  “Coffee, beautiful?” He sat on the bed and held out a mug. “We’ve still got a few hours before we have to leave for the ops meeting.”

  Still basking in the relief that he hadn’t left her in favor of his own bed on the sofa, Alex couldn’t speak.

  “Hey.” He set both mugs down on the bedside table and cupped her chin. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” The fear that had been digging at her eased, and she nestled her chin in his hand.

  “Liar.” He lay down next to her and pulled her against him. “Talk to me.”

  “It’s nothing, really.” She snuggled against his shoulder and chest, her hand stroking the ridged muscles of his abdomen.

  Gray nudged her chin up with his finger, forcing her to look at him. “What?”

  “I thought you left,” she finally admitted, no longer feeling the need to remain silent about her greatest fear.

  “I told you I wouldn’t leave you and I meant it.” He dropped a light kiss on her forehead. “So where in all that did you come up with the notion that I left?”

  “No, not that.” Alex propped herself up on her elbow. “I know you’ll see me through all this with the Pyramid. I thought you moved to the sofa before I woke up so that we wouldn’t have to go through all that morning-after awkwardness.”

  “Morning-after awkwardness? The only thing awkward,” he said, lifting up the edge of the sheet to peer under the covers, “is that you’re still naked and I’m not.”

  He tugged the sheet away, then shucked his shorts and sheathed himself in a condom. He slid onto the bed, scooped her up, and deposited her on top of him. She gasped as he eased her onto his fully aroused cock.

  “You tell me,” he growled. “Is this awkward?”

  “No.” She laughed as he clasped her hips and raised her up.

  Firm, thick pecs and biceps bulged as he lowered her again onto his shaft. Ridged abs rippled as he thrust upward to meet her hips. She laid her hands on his chest for balance, awed by his strength and power. Moist though she still was, the lovely friction had her shuddering as he filled her again and again. She threw back her head and moaned.

  With his hands at her waist, Gray lifted her and kneeled, still sheathed inside her. His mouth was now level with her breasts, and he alternately sucked her nipples into his mouth, nipping and licking them into hard, wet peaks.

  Alex threw her head back as the explosive orgasm shattered her.

  A moment later, Gray held her hips tightly to his while his orgasm spurted against the protective shield of the condom. In the hazy recesses of her brain, she wondered what would happen if the condom broke and she became pregnant with his child. The thought had her smiling.

  “Aren’t you glad I didn’t leave?” Gray kissed her neck then eased onto his back, pulling her down on top of him.

  Beneath her cheek, his heart raced. “Mmm,” she murmured, sifting her fingers through the dark, springy hair on his chest.

  A few minutes later he kissed her forehead. “How ’bout that coffee now?”

  When she sat up and reached for their mugs, his fingers caressed her back and the side of her breast, nearly making her spill coffee all over the bedsheets. She seriously doubted she’d ever get over that super-charged electricity from his touch.

  After handing Gray his mug, she snuggled next to him, sipping her own coffee. As the caffeine began to work its energizing magic, she couldn’t stop wondering what changed last night. Why did Gray, who only saw things in black and white and never did anything outside the box, make love to her—a police cooperator?

  For her, their lovemaking was more than just latent sexual attraction. Somewhere in the middle of all this, she’d come to the frightening conclusion that she was in love with Gray. But did he feel the same, or was it merely lust for him? Would he cast her aside when her usefulness to the department was over?

  Alex couldn’t imagine Gray was that callous, but there was too much at stake. She’d never given her body—let alone her heart—to anyone unless she was certain her feelings were returned. She’d once felt that way about Nicky’s father, and look how badly that had turned out.

  Interrogating a lover about his feelings had never been her style, but dammit, this situation was different and she had a right to know. The last thing she wanted was to get involved with another man who wouldn’t be there for her. Not in the way she wanted.

  “Gray?” she asked between sips. “Two nights ago I told you not to touch me again.”

  “I do recall you saying that.” He watched her over the rim of his mug, the hint of a smile playing at his lips.

  “Yes, but that was after you said this would never happen between us.”

  He rubbed a hand over his dark stubble. “I did say that, didn’t I?”

  “Was it beca
use I’m a police cooperator?” Alex paused before taking a giant leap that might completely alienate him. “Or was it because of something that happened with a woman in Afghanistan?”

  Gray’s jaws clenched and his nostrils flared.

  Suddenly worried that he would totally shut down on her, Alex hurried to lighten the mood. “Don’t worry, Cassie didn’t divulge anything private. It’s amazing what a girl can learn by lingering in the break room. That place is rife with gossip, and anyone is fair game.”

  “I’ve heard that.” Gray’s face softened as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “What else did you learn in the break room?”

  Alex set her mug on the nightstand and turned onto her side so they faced each other. “Did you know all the women talk about you behind your back?”

  “Uh-oh.” Gray squeezed his eyes shut and grimaced.

  “Nothing bad. They all secretly lust after you, even the married ones.”

  “Same goes for you, princess.” When he smiled, Alex breathed a sigh of relief that she’d taken the right approach in changing topic. “All the guys in the squad take bets on who will be the first to get lucky with you.”

  “I’d say you won that wager by a landslide.” She licked her lips, recalling every sensual detail of last night. “How much did you bet?”

  “I didn’t.” He wound a strand of her hair around his finger. “Not my style.”

  She tucked her cheek against his hand. “Tell me, detective, what exactly is your style?”

  “Dinner, normally several before sex. Maybe a ballgame. I’m a traditional guy, but when it comes to you, nothing is traditional.”

  Alex felt a shaft of disappointment when Gray referred to their lovemaking as sex. But she knew enough about men to realize they often weren’t aware that their choice of words could be hurtful.

  “You mean because we slept together and we’ve only had one date?” she asked.

  “Yeah, that. And the fact that when I’m around you I can’t think straight. All I want to do is touch you, kiss you, taste you.” His eyes darkened, and he lowered his voice. “Get inside you.”

  Alex slanted him a suspicious look. “Is that all you want from me, aside from helping you with this case?”