by Rena Koontz
Lying here with Jake became a completely new experience. Her body heat rose even as goose pimples peppered her arms and he elicited responses with the simple brush of his fingertips or feather breath blown on her skin. Instead of concentrating on her breasts and between her legs, Jake expertly explored her entire body, kissing the crooks of her arms and behind her knees, licking each finger and caressing her feet. And her toes. Wow, that had been a turn on.
When he finally entered her he paused, smiling, his mouth inches from her, his eyes hooded, then slowly pressed his weight into her. She gasped as the inner sensation to open up and draw him in further overtook her. She uttered his name and clung to his shoulders.
“Feel me inside you, Kenna,” he whispered between kisses.
She could feel nothing else.
“Give yourself to me, honey.” There wasn’t anything left to give. He had it all.
“Let it go, sugar.” And then one slow gyration followed another as he probed deeper, capturing her inner most soul. Other men pounded and ground against her. Not Jake. His slow, calculated moves, each one deeper, harder, sent her soaring, high into an unknown. She breathed faster. Her heart raced. Sweat formed on her back and behind her knees. And then she clawed at his back, raised her hips to meet his thrusts, tightened her legs around him and screamed. His name burst from her mouth as an explosion of spasms engulfed her, catapulting her into a world where nothing existed except him and her.
The room spun. Tears sprang to her eyes and she shuddered, clinging to him, her face buried in his neck where she felt his pulse beating wildly. He breathed as fiercely as she did and his back was a sheet of muscle dotted by sweat. Neither of them moved. She didn’t dare let go. What if she never felt like this again? What if he was capable of taking her to these heights every time? Those were two equally intimidating thoughts.
Jake sighed and lifted his head from her neck. His mouth tilted upward in the tiniest of smiles before he gently kissed her. This man, whom she didn’t know, hadn’t liked, and thought she feared was a man she never wanted to leave. But she didn’t dare tell him that. What could possibly attract him to her? A woman with nothing in the bank and the FBI nipping at her heels. Tears pooled in her eyes and a look of concern crossed his face.
“Did I hurt you?’
She shook her head, barely able to find her voice. “That was scary, wherever it is that you took me. I’ve never had sex like that.” They were still connected and now, Jake eased out of her and fell to one side, drawing her into his embrace.
“That was more than just sex, sugar.” He kissed her forehead. “We don’t have to get up yet. Lie here with me a little longer.” She no sooner stretched out beside him than his slow, rhythmic breathing cut the silence. He drifted off to sleep, a half-smile on his face.
She snuggled closer, more than content to wait for him to awaken. Maybe they could spend the day together, if Jake didn’t have to work today. It was Sunday. Didn’t he get a day off? Curiosity about his employment still nagged her but what did it matter? Whatever was between them wasn’t anything that would last. After all, he’d already indicated he didn’t plan to stay here, whether that meant this apartment or this city, she didn’t know.
Her hand glided over his chest and washboard stomach. Even in sleep, his manhood was admirable. Kenna reached to tug the sheet over them, afraid that if she continued to stare at Jake’s nakedness, she’d want to make love to him again. Was that what he’d meant when he said their experience wasn’t just sex? For the first time in her life, at the age of twenty-nine, she’d made love with a man.
Chapter 18
Jake hadn’t slept beyond nine o’clock since he was an unemployed teenager. Kenna snored softly on her side, turned away from him, presenting a lovely view of her backside. Slowly, he drew the sheet over her and slid out of bed. Now what?
Mere hours ago, he’d experienced lovemaking like never before with a woman he desperately wanted to spend the rest of his life with. And couldn’t. At least not yet.
He needed to talk to someone he could trust, someone who wouldn’t judge and wouldn’t tell him he’d just thrown away a career he’d worked damn hard to achieve. With brains as scrambled as breakfast eggs he dialed his friend, Adam Michaels. They’d met at a training seminar, both Southern boys with an immediate connection. Adam was from Oklahoma and worked for a state agency but had been in a similar predicament. While he worked an undercover assignment, he became entangled with the woman he eventually married. Whether federal or state, undercover rules are the same and Adam had been suspended three months without pay despite both he and Valerie risking their lives to apprehend a serial arsonist. Like Jake was doing now, Adam had harbored Valerie in his undercover suite when she’d needed protection. And he’d fallen in love with Valerie. Same scenario for Jake.
Being “on the beach” was the FBI’s slang reference for a suspended agent. It meant time off without pay and a permanent page in his personnel file. Jake didn’t have near the years of experience that Adam had, nor the track record for solving major cases. No mitigating arguments to wage in his favor. Unlike Adam’s bosses, the FBI might simply terminate him. The question Jake faced was simple. Was Kenna worth it? Adam said that Valerie was.
After an hour conversation with Adam, Jake wasn’t any less certain about his course of action. He only knew one thing for sure: he couldn’t let Kenna go. The men promised to visit with their respective ladies and Adam hinted he might be able to secure a job with his own agency if Jake found himself unemployed. He and Valerie lived in Pittsburgh now. Would Kenna be willing to leave everything she knew and all her friends to follow him?
No sooner did he disconnect with Adam than Vinny called. Jake was glad he’d settled into the lounge chair out on the balcony for the phone calls so Kenna didn’t overhear the conversations. Vinny wanted Jake to make another set of collection runs with him.
“You’re like a good luck charm, man,” Vinny coaxed when Jake didn’t immediately commit to the evening. “Last time we only encountered that one problem and he made good the next day. Ever since you dragged me from the wreck, I’ve been sailing through life. It’s because of you, I can feel it. You gotta come tonight.”
He’d have the full day to spend with Kenna. Perhaps it was better if there wasn’t another night together. Reluctantly, he agreed but insisted it’d be later than usual.
When she finally appeared, Mackenna had showered and made up her face. The sliding glass door slid to the side and she stood in the opening, her hands locked in front of her.
“Hey, sugar. You look great. It’s past breakfast time but I’m starved. Brunch? Or lunch? Your choice.”
Mackenna cast her eyes downward and picked an imaginary spot on the top of her hand. “I think we should talk first. I feel like I owe you an apology but”—she paused, reluctant to look at him—“what happened . . . Well, you’re right. It changes things between us.” She stood wringing her hands.
Jake’s stomach dropped. “It must not be a change for the better. You can’t even look at me.”
Her head sprang up, and she focused on his face, causing him to immediately smile. “Much better, thank you. Listen, Kenna, what happened happened. It doesn’t have to happen again if you don’t want it to but I sure hope it does. But I don’t want to mess this thing up between us, whatever it is. How about we enjoy being together and let nature take its course. I’m a no-strings guy, remember?”
The slightest smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “I told you I’m a big girl, Jake. Having sex with you is not what has me off balance. It’s the way you made me feel. I totally lost myself in your arms. That’s what scares me.”
He rose and walked to her, taking her hands in his. “Well it scared me too. But neither one of us is in a position to start a new relationship so let’s not fret about it, okay?” His head lowered and he kissed h
er gently, the taste of toothpaste still lingering on her tongue.
“I’m going to shower, honey. And then I want to head to some all-you-can-eat diner. I’m starved. We should be able to move you in upstairs today before I go to work.”
Her eyes widened. “You have to work tonight?”
“Yeah. I hadn’t planned on it but something came up. See? There’s nothing to worry about. Tonight you’ll be in your own bed and I’ll be working so your virtue will be safe.”
He brushed past her before she could agree.
~ ~ ~
Hours later, Jake struggled to concentrate on Vinny’s ramblings. Mainly because every time he thought about Mackenna, he got hard. She was so easy to be with. Maybe it was because he wasn’t actually courting her, which allowed them to drop all pretenses and simply relax in each other’s company. But what passed between them in the wee hours of the morning brought them closer in little ways. Mackenna easily slid her hand into his as they walked. When he leaned and brushed crumbs from her cheek, she didn’t bristle. They tasted food off each other’s plates and playfully bumped shoulders as they shared corny jokes. He hadn’t wanted the afternoon to end.
Together, they relocated her clothes and personal items to the apartment two floors above his. He hated leaving her standing in the new place, piles of clothes and shoeboxes precariously balancing on every piece of furniture. Not that he would’ve helped her unpack. He simply wanted to be with her.
It made the evening with Vinny and his bimbos more intolerable than usual and Jake found himself snapping at the women to leave him alone. His short temper paid off when Vinny suggested he needed a good Italian meal to improve his mood and invited him to the next Cabacolli family dinner. Vinny wanted Jake to meet his father. The bosses at the Bureau would be thrilled. This was a giant leap for their investigation and this case could accelerate Jake’s career. And all he could think about was rushing back to Kenna.
He ended the night early by Vinny’s standards, and unlocked his apartment door shortly before two in the morning. The place seemed emptier than usual without her. By now, Mackenna likely was sound asleep. Even as he dialed her cell phone the thought that he shouldn’t be waking her crossed his mind. After all, she had to go to the bank in a couple of hours. And he? Well, he’d probably be headed to jail.
Chapter 19
He was at odds with his partner. The dude wanted another heist. Right away. Like yesterday.
And this time he wanted to choose the bank and had a specific teller in mind. What the hell. The idiot identified the same woman he’d already robbed twice. It was a crazy idea.
Right now, he was sitting pretty. He couldn’t ask for more perfect days. After the last heist, he’d returned the pickup to his buddy and treated himself to a steak dinner, which included a hefty tip for the waitress. He could afford it. The last bank haul would keep both of them flush for months, even after the major deposit he made into his savings account. After all, a man had to insure his future financial security.
Still, he was an odds man and the odds were against another heist too soon. Seven bank robberies in three months without a hitch. No one hurt and no problems. And best of all, the cops had no idea who they were looking for. A kid? A woman? An executive? The briefcase, three-piece suit, and canted fedora had been inspired by a late-night gangster movie. The Feds had turned to the news media with grainy photos and the offer of a reward for information. He laughed the night he listened to the newscaster ask the public, “Do you recognize this robber?” Laughed so hard, his soda bubbled up and out through his nose.
That would only help him. Every wacko who watched television would likely call the hotline, convinced they knew him. It was bound to cause confusion and send the cops chasing false leads.
He wanted to leave well enough alone. But his partner pushed for another hit. Pushed hard. Flat-out insisted and threatened to expose him if he didn’t agree. The reality was he had more to lose than his partner. Hell, he wasn’t positive he knew the man’s name. But for sure his partner could identify him.
Would he turn him in if he didn’t agree to rob another bank? Sure he’d collect the reward money but he’d also be killing a good thing. Like cutting off the nose to spite the face. It would be a stupid decision to rat him out.
He eyed the stacks of money that lined the baseboard of his bedroom. Two walls now. One more hit and the procession would be halted by the legs from the bedroom bureau. That would balance the display, running it end to end from bureau leg to bureau leg. A beginning and an end.
Another haul would accomplish that. And then he could take a break. Maybe even disappear. He doubted his partner knew where he lived and likely would be unable to track him down. He could relocate and think about going out on his own. There wasn’t much more inside information he needed about a bank. Especially since he’d learned his way into the vault. Man, that robbery had been a trip.
So it was settled. One more job that he’d split fifty-fifty with his partner. That would complete his money train around the room, like a sign to take a new road. He’d leave town and fly solo after this. It’d be easy, especially since the Feds weren’t on to him yet. And this was too much fun.
Chapter 20
The phone startled Mackenna. She didn’t recognize her surroundings and sweat broke out on the back of her neck as she panicked. The screen from the ringing phone cast the slightest beam of light and she honed in on it. Her heartbeat switched from panic-mode to excitement. Jake.
“Hey, sugar. Did I wake you?”
“Yes, but that’s okay. Is everything all right?”
The breath Jake released filled her ear. “Yeah, I, ah, I just thought I’d check on you. I shouldn’t have called this late.”
Mackenna sat up in the dark. “No, it’s fine. I’m glad you called.” Glad was an understatement. She’d crawled into this huge bed wishing he waited for her under the covers and now, hearing his voice, her thighs tingled. “How was work tonight?”
“Not the best night tonight. I couldn’t keep my mind on what I was supposed to do. A certain homeless brunette kept creeping into my thoughts. You all settled in?”
She was grateful he couldn’t see the grin that erupted on her face. He’d been thinking about her. As much as she’d been unable to think about anything else besides him? “Pretty much. I still can’t believe I’m staying in this apartment. It’s like a palace. This king-sized bed is huge. I’m lost in it all by myself.”
Did Jake just catch his breath? It sounded like it through the phone. Seconds of silence ticked off between them before he spoke, his voice a chord tighter. “Well, I’m only two floors away if you need anything.”
Him. She needed him. Even if it was only for one more night. “Two floors. That’s rather far away. What if the elevator doesn’t come quick enough? And you get a cramp and can’t climb the stairs?” Her hand throbbed a silent protest at her tight grip on the phone. She wasn’t usually this coy. Why didn’t she simply invite him up? That’s what she wanted.
As always, Jake was on her wavelength, even via an electronic connection. His voice was low and suggestive when he asked, “You want some company in that big ole bed?”
She purred her answer. “Know anybody on their best behavior? No strings attached.”
Jake laughed. “Give me ten minutes to shower and I’ll be up. Wait for my knock before you unlock the door, please.” He disconnected the call, not giving her the chance to ask why.
An intercom system secured this building against unwanted visitors, and residents had individual ID numbers they punched into the keypad. She’d never considered that anyone other than people who lived here could gain entrance to the building. Would Mr. Gleaner know how to get in if he discovered where she was? Obviously Jake considered it a possibility.
Mackenna suppressed a shiver and jumped out of bed, spl
ashed water on her face and brushed her teeth. She tossed the oversized sleep shirt in the hamper and evaluated the contents of the underwear drawer. She couldn’t answer the door in a bra and panties and she didn’t own any sexy lingerie. Arthur scoffed at such displays. Sexy wasn’t the look she wanted anyway, was it? She didn’t want Jake to think she was cheap. Or easy. Or too eager. But the mere thought of his hands on her titillated her.
Slamming the first drawer closed and searching the second, she scowled. The pair of pale-blue cotton boxer shorts and matching tank top were hardly suggestive. Arthur hated the pajama set, claiming it made her look like a young boy. He’d used the word ridiculous, which likely meant it was bland enough to wear in front of Jake. Let him decide how the next few hours would progress.
When she opened the door and stepped back to let him inside Jake’s jaw dropped. His eyes raked over her before he stepped over the threshold, kicked the door closed and cupped her face, just as he’d done that day in the department store. “Jesus, Kenna, how am I supposed to be on good behavior when you open the door looking like this?” His mouth swooped down to capture hers in a kiss so hot with longing it could reshape steel. Never had anyone made her feel so desired.
His arms wrapped around her and she melted into his embrace, her body reacting to his touch and taste. The muscles in his back bulged when he tightened his hold. She ran her fingers through his hair, still damp from the shower, to press her mouth tighter to his. It would be better if she could crawl under his skin, or have him slip beneath hers.
Like a sponge, she was ready to soak up and absorb all the sensual water he poured over her. She wanted to drown in this craving.
A pang of disappointment shot through her when Jake ended the kiss and drew back an inch from her mouth. “I’m sorry,” he said, hoarsely, “you didn’t invite me up to manhandle you.”