by Jana Mercy
“Oh yeah,” he groaned.
He skimmed his fingers over her skin, wanting to know each and every pore on her body, to claim it as his own. Her head dipped back, causing the moonlight to focus on the swells of her breasts above the shimmery triangles. Much like a moonbeam spotlight showcasing a prized star.
He sure couldn’t argue with nature. Her breasts did make a helluva main attraction.
And he wanted in on the action.
He stretched forward, intending to bury his face between her breasts. Sophia apparently had other plans as she planted her hands on his shoulders and pushed him back down.
“Uh-uh.” She playfully scolded. “Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because if you do that I won’t be able to concentrate on what I want to do.” She squeezed his shoulders in a massaging fashion. “And I really want to be able to think my way through a few things before you make me mindless.”
He faked a sigh, excited by the prospect that she wanted to explore his body as he’d done hers. “I suppose I can refrain myself. For a few minutes.”
“It’ll be worth your while. I promise.”
Gray watched her focus on her hands’ movements. She continued to knead his shoulders, unclipped the bowtie from his neck and flung it to one corner of the truck bed.
Her magical fingers stroked over his neck and back down again. Lower. She rubbed and caressed every muscle on his chest and abdomen. When she dipped her head and lapped her tongue over his nipple, he couldn’t hold back his groan. Didn’t even try.
She intentionally drove him to the brink and beyond.
Gray itched to touch her. He latched his hands behind his head, knowing if he didn’t, he’d grab hold of one of the breasts she kept dangling in front of him.
A man could only take so much before the seams on his shorts gave way. His were pretty damn close.
Her tongue gave him as good a going-over as her hands had. Tasting, teasing, torturing in the best way possible.
His teeth ground from his efforts to restrain himself. He’d need dentures before the night was over if she didn’t let him touch her soon.
Milky thighs clenched around his hips, pressing tantalizingly over his rigid cock. She straightened, smiled, then shifted above him. With the greatest of ease, she unzipped his shorts and slid them down his legs. No directions or help needed tonight despite the night.
Gray kicked the black silk free from his ankles. Cool air licked at his skin. Still, he was burning up.
Sophia bent, brushed her breasts over his hairy legs, up his thighs. Have mercy. His hands tightened into fists behind his head. She wasn’t going to?
She did.
Her fingers slipped his cock between her fleshy mounds, the band of her bra holding him in place while she slowly slid back and forth.
The feel of her silky smooth breasts surrounding his steely hard cock robbed Gray of his ability for rational thought. In amazement at the way her breasts’ gliding pumped him, he grabbed hold of a long lock of blonde hair.
“I’ve never done this before.” Why he said the words out loud he hadn’t a clue. It just seemed like the right thing to say. But then, what did he know at the moment? Only that he never wanted her to stop. Never wanted to be without her.
Her sensual movements paused. “Really? Me neither.”
Everything about this night was new to him. In ways that had nothing to do with erotic sexual acts.
Very simply, he’d never felt this way before. Never felt that he could do anything he wanted, conquer any battle, fly to the moon. Only with Sophia had he ever experienced this overwhelming rush of invincibility. His only weakness being his need for her.
And that was a weakness so intense, so frightening he refused to acknowledge it. To do so would kill the mood of complete perfection and raise too many questions he didn’t want to answer.
“Do you want me to make you come like this?”
Speaking of questions.
She tucked her chin to her chest, trapping the tip of his cock. With her gaze locked with his, she rotated her chin, sensually squeezing his engorged head and sending a new wave of pleasure through him.
Damn, she really was perfect.
“I want to be inside you.”
“Did you bring a condom?” She rolled her chin again, then surprised him by releasing her hold and snaking her tongue out for a taste.
His insides quaked.
“It’s inside my boot.” Had his voice trembled? Hell, he trembled.
“It?” She curled her tongue around him, teasing with her light strokes. “As in just one?”
Moving off him, she groped for his boot and shook the lone condom free. “Just one?” she repeated with apparent disappointment.
“There’s more inside my glove compartment,” he bit out, unable to keep his hands off himself. “I put an entire box there when I brought the blankets, pillows and a change of clothes to the truck.”
He encircled his throbbing cock and stroked the sensitized flesh.
“Helping yourself?” she teased. Light reflected off her greedy eyes studying the motions of his hand, sexual longing evident in her gaze.
“I need you.” That time he was sure his voice quavered.
“You know, watching you is giving me an idea.” Her words came out calm, slow but her gaze hadn’t wavered from his hand’s actions.
“What-what kind of idea?” Hopefully one that involved her sliding the condom onto his cock and riding him until kingdom come. Until Gray came.
Her mouth curved mischievously. “Just this.”
She bent forward and swallowed his cock. Not literally but she took him so deep into her hot wet throat that it felt like he’d been swallowed.
“Oh God.” His buttocks tightened and his hips lifted. Her mouth and tongue worked magic as she orally made love to him.
His fingers laced into her hair, guiding her movements, her depth, her pace. Bright spots appeared before his eyes. Were the stars raining down from heaven?
“No,” he cried out when his willpower disintegrated. He wanted to be inside her when he came. Tonight might be their last night together. He wanted it to be special.
Her mouth stopped. “No?” she asked, shock evident in her voice.
Pressure continued to mount deep in his gut. He couldn’t wait.
“Yes.” He pushed her back down. “Yes. Yes. Yes,” he repeated, losing control. “Oh, hell yes.”
Stars and rainbows danced above him, blocking all else. Vaguely, he was aware of Sophia crawling up next to him and snuggling into the crook of his arm. Vaguely, he was aware of the satisfied smile on her face, although how, he didn’t know.
Vaguely, he realized that his heart, as well as his body, belonged to the woman he held.
And by the end of tomorrow night she would likely hate him.
Shit.
* * * * *
“Well, that was certainly worth the drive.” Sophia wrapped her arm around Gray’s slick chest.
“You did all the driving, though.” His words were breathy.
“I didn’t hear you complaining about my driving skills, Mr. Erickson.” She traced a heart pattern over his sternum.
“No complaints here. Except I wanted tonight to be special for you.”
“Tonight is special.” In her heart, she knew it was true.
“But you didn’t orgasm.”
“Not yet,” she agreed. She’d wanted to give him pleasure, to push all his buttons, to rock his world. No doubt, her time would arrive before the sun rose. “But I will.”
Gray chuckled and kissed her forehead. “Unfortunately, it’ll be awhile before I’m ready again.”
The fact that he wanted to satisfy her gave Sophia pleasure. She twisted in his arms to look at him. Moonlight shone on where they lay in the back of the truck, illuminating his face, his earnest expression.
The man looked like a Roman god with the moonlight reflecting off his skin.
Moisture dam
pened her thighs.
She wanted him. Fiercely.
“There are other ways,” she whispered, repositioning her body.
His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Other ways?”
“Mm-hmm. Let me show you.” Slowly, she slid her hand over her breast, squeezing, massaging and pleasuring herself. A week ago she’d have died had someone told her she’d touch herself in front of another person, in front of Gray. Now it just felt right. Everything about being with Gray felt right. Probably because even though he was all wrong for her, she cared for him. Too much.
But she wouldn’t think about that now, either. Tonight, she’d take her pleasure where she could find it and in the morning, she’d deal with the repercussions of her actions.
Of all her actions.
Acutely aware that Gray’s eyes lapped up every movement her hand made, she shifted to give free access. She cupped both her breasts and toyed with her nipples until they strained almost unbearably against her fingers.
A rough male hand replaced hers, cupping her engorged breast with tenderness and admiration.
Which left her with a free hand.
Going with the flow of desire ebbing through her body, she smoothed her palm down her belly, into the curls covering her pussy. Lower until she parted her thighs and pressed against her swollen nub.
Sophia moaned while she flicked her finger back and forth, making a tiny circular motion. Heat blazed between her thighs, swirled low in her belly, contracted her uterus. Desire pitted in her stomach and ebbed its way through her body. Gray’s mouth covered an aching nipple and fire shot to her core.
“Oh,” she moaned, still circling her aching nub, stroking the flames hotter and hotter. Gray’s hands slid over her sensitized skin, sending shock waves over her flesh as he blazed his path to join her activities. His finger slipped into her, then another.
“Ohmigod.” Stars burst into supernovas, showering down upon her like meteorites. Her eyes stung from the intensity. Her body shook.
Waves of satisfaction washed through her while she slowly drifted back to earth, back to snuggle against the man she had fallen hopelessly and oh so foolishly, in love with.
* * * * *
A shiver covered Sophia’s flesh and she snuggled toward Gray. Only Gray wasn’t there.
Her eyes opened.
She was alone in the truck. Where was he? She sat up and looked around the surrounding woods, looked out at the lake.
A lone cloud shaded the bright moonlight but the soft tones of Gray’s voice helped her spot where he stood twenty feet or so from the truck.
He was on the phone. What time was it? Two? Three in the morning? Maybe later. Who was he talking to? And why?
She strained to hear what he said but could only discern the occasional word. And then she must be mistaken because she’d swear Gray said something about a drug drop-off.
Mind racing, she lay down in the truck bed. Long into the night, she lay searching her mind and soul for answers while she pretended to be asleep with strong arms holding her close.
Chapter Fourteen
“You have the most amazing eyes.” Gray traced the high plane of Sophia’s cheekbone. He couldn’t believe they spent the entire night in the back of his truck. Still, the vision of the sun rising over the lake, over his land, while Sophia lay in his arms made the stiffness in his muscles worthwhile.
“Thank you.” Long, dark lashes batted at him in the early dawn light.
“I’m serious. They’re the same color as violets. Like the ones my sister and I always gave my mom for Mother’s Day.”
Too late he realized what he said.
Sophia’s eyes widened. “I’ve never heard you mention family. You have a sister?”
Now why had he gone and ruined his good mood by mentioning family? “Yes,” he said, hoping his succinct answer would clue Sophia in that he wanted a change of subject.
“What’s she like?”
He sighed. “Beautiful.”
“She’s younger than you?”
“Yes.”
Long black hair and midnight blue eyes. A smattering of freckles across her sunshine-filled face. The teenage image that ran through his mind was laughing at something. Him. He was teasing her. He’d always teased her. Up until those last few months. Then she refused his teasing, refused anything to do with him. Hell, why had he brought up anything personal? If Lawrence found out how badly he’d screwed up this case where Sophia was concerned, he’d throw him behind a desk.
“What’s her name?”
He sighed. “Leslie.”
“Leslie. It’s a beautiful name.”
“I don’t want to talk about her.”
Sophia wiggled out from the crook of his arm. “Okay.” Her voice wobbled.
“What’s wrong?” As if he didn’t know.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t give me that bull.” Her face had fallen from relaxed and sated to worried and on edge.
“I—” Her eyelids closed. “You keep so much locked away. I mean, what do I know about you?”
“That last night was amazing and I’m crazy about you.” It was true. Stupid though it was.
She rolled toward him. “Yet you refuse to share anything about yourself. At least, nothing beyond the obvious. Every time you start to open up, you slam down another door.”
He placed her hand over his heart and the warmth of her palm seared into his flesh. “I’m not real big on talking about myself. Just know you’re special. One of a kind.”
Tears welled in her eyes. He’d failed, not given the words she wanted to hear. Madame G was right. Sophia cared for him. Aw hell.
“Don’t cry.”
She tucked her head down, avoiding his gaze. How had he gotten so mixed up with a woman involved with one of his cases? Because even if she was innocent, which he believed whether he should or not, she would be affected by tonight. Would be affected and pissed if he arrested Madame G, or worse, arrested her.
“I’m falling for you, Gray.” Hot tears burned into his flesh. “It frightens me.”
That made two of them. Because the way his heart thumped in his chest at her words scared the hell out of him and thrilled him all at the same time.
“I’ll never intentionally harm you.” And he’d give his life to keep anyone else from hurting her. Somehow he’d find a way to protect her from the mess that would erupt before the sun rose again.
“You won’t mean to but you will.” Her words were soft, muttered into one of the pillows tossed on the makeshift bed.
“Look at me,” he demanded.
Slowly, she turned. He kissed her until her heart beat thunderously, until her eyes appeared drugged with sensations.
“Do you trust me, Sophia?”
She averted her gaze. “Should I?”
“Yes. Trust me, Sophia.”
“Okay.”
“You’ll tell me if anything unusual happens?”
She swallowed. “If that’s what you want.”
“It is.” He stared at her pale face. “Sophia, is there something you need to share with me? Something I should know?”
“About what?”
He hesitated. To say too much might compromise the case. “Just promise to tell me if anything odd happens.”
“Okay.”
He kissed her again, hating that her expression was torn, hating that she knew more than she was willing to share with him. Whether from guilt or other reasons he couldn’t fathom, she didn’t fully trust him. Which left her vulnerable.
“Regardless of what happens, I’ll keep you safe,” he promised.
She looked confused but just nodded, snuggling closer in his arms. It scared him to realize he spoke the truth.
Even if it meant going against everything he believed and breaking the law to do so, he would protect her. Somehow.
* * * * *
Sophia smoothed her hand over Gray’s crisp black tuxedo jacket.
“I can’t believe this is my last p
ractice session.” He ran his fingers through his dark locks and stood still while she made last minute adjustments.
The man cleaned up nicely. Of course, he looked pretty hot doing the tousled, just woken up look too.
And the strong protector when she became all weepy and clingy, he did that well too. The request for her trust? Well, she hadn’t quite figured that one out yet but his words haunted her.
Just like his late night phone calls haunted her.
“You’ll do fine.” But would he really? He hadn’t performed in front of anyone except Sophia and Elvis and he never really loosened up unless they were alone. This morning’s trial run with a small audience should prove interesting.
“Fine.” He didn’t sound convinced.
“Elvis gave you a thumbs-up yesterday.” Weak though it had been. The older man muttered something about Gray being a duck out of water.
“I think he was showing me how to ram it up my—”
Despite her misgivings, Sophia smiled. “Never that.”
A grin cut across his face. “Maybe he meant your—”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t think so.”
“It’ll be all right. I’ll do my best not to embarrass you.” He teased. At least, she thought he was teasing.
“What are you two yahoos back here yapping about?” Elvis strutted into the dressing room. “The crowd’s a gettin as restless as a stallion in a field full of mares in heat. Time to strut your stuff, take the roses, or mosey on over to the glue factory, boy.”
Elvis wrapped his arm around Sophia’s neck and rubbed his hand across her hair, noogie style, much as a favored uncle would a child.
Sophia squelched her jitters about Gray and dropped a kiss onto his cheek. “You’ll do great.”
“Come on, boy. Madame G is waiting to see you in action and you’d best not disappoint the lady,” Elvis warned.
“You don’t think the sight of Gray taking off his clothes will be too much for Aunt Genevieve?” she teased.
Elvis’ chest puffed out. “She’s seen better.”
“I imagine she has.” Although in truth, Sophia couldn’t imagine anything better than Gray’s hard, rippled body. But Aunt Genevieve might be biased toward the club’s longest running act. Sophia hid her smile and didn’t comment on how he had worried over her aunt from the time she and Gray brought Madame G home this morning.