Playing with Fire

by Amy O'Neill

“Yeah, I think they like you.”

  Noelle laughed, “I barely talked to Damien, but Avery is great.”

  Trent grinned at her. “Damien told me he likes you because I was willing to just hand out at night instead of taking off for the clubs.”

  “When is the last time you went?”

  Trent pursed his lips. “I’m pretty sure it was the first night I saw you.”

  “Do you want to go to a club?”

  He shook his head. “Not really. It was losing its appeal. And I would rather spend my nights with you.”

  Noelle arched her eyebrow at him. “You make that sound like a sleepover.”

  “Not yet, but maybe someday soon.”

  Noelle found it hard enough to resist him as it was, but the idea of taking it further was almost too tempting to stop. As much as she wanted it, she knew she wasn’t ready just yet.

  She smiled slightly. “Maybe someday.”

  Trent walked her to the door when they got back to the motel. The rain let up to a slight drizzle. Noelle shivered in the cool breeze.

  “Do you want to come inside for a little bit?”

  Trent wrapped his arms around her and it helped take the chill off. “Are you sure that is safe?”

  Noelle nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure. Are you sure you can control yourself?”

  Trent nodded. “I told you I wouldn’t do anything you don’t want me to. You’re safe with me as long as you want to be.”

  Noelle took his hand and unlocked the door. She turned on one of the small bedside lamps, giving the room a soft glow. She eyed the two chairs near the table, and then the bed. As much as she knew it was less tempting to sit away from him, all she wanted in that moment was to have his arms around her.

  She kept her grip on his hand and led him over to the bed. “Now don’t go getting any ideas in that sexy head of yours.”

  Trent held up his other hand and shook his head. “I wouldn’t even think about it. You run the show.”

  Noelle arched a brow and gave him a seductive grin. “You better hope all that power don’t go to my head.”

  She pressed her free hand against his hard chest and slowly moved it across the cotton of his shirt, until her fingers traced the pulsing vein in his neck. He let out a low groan and his fingers flexed tighter around hers.

  Noelle released his hand to move hers to his well-shaped pecks. With a confidence she didn’t know she had, she playfully pushed him backward until he was sitting on the bed in front of her.

  She molded her hands against the outline of his strong shoulders and then back to his neck. Finally, she lowered herself until she was sitting next to him.

  Her fingers stroked his neck again and Trent turned his head so she was able to lengthen her caresses. His skin was warm to her touch, making the place where she met him feel like an inferno.

  Noelle leaned in closer and followed the trail with her mouth. Softly, slowly, she planted feather light kisses up his neck to his ear, where she playfully nipped at his earlobe.

  Trent’s skin tasted of salt and the hint of his cologne. It was sinfully delicious. As she kissed her way back down to his collarbone, Noelle let her tongue join the fun, leaving a damp path in its wake. Goosebumps appeared across his honey brown skin and he flexed his hands around her waist.

  “Lord, woman. Whatever you do - don’t stop.”

  Noelle’s laugh was husky as she whispered in his ear, “Now, now. Remember, I’m the one in control tonight. You just enjoy.”

  He swallowed visibly and nodded. “Oh I will, don’t you worry about that.”

  Noelle pushed him back onto the bed so he was reclined against the plush pillows. She stretched out beside him and slowly untucked his shirt from his pants.

  The temperature in the room seemed to escalate as soon as she came in contact with the faint dark brown trail of hair that went from his navel to an unseen destination below his belt. She felt empowered when his breathing quickened, knowing she could have that effect on him.

  She was propped on her elbow, but kept her head down and her eyes on her hand, afraid to look him in the face out of fear that he would see her lack of prowess.

  Almost as if he knew, Trent gently commanded, “Noelle, look at me.”

  She shook her head and continued to move her hand under his shirt. She moved from his navel to run her fingers across his side and over his back. Even there, the muscles were well sculpted and firm.

  “Noelle …”

  “Shh.”

  She scooted closer to him and lowered her head so it was resting in the crock of his arm. He kissed the top of her head and the gentleness of it made her close her eyes to lock in that feeling.

  Her heart pounded in unison with his as they both anticipated what the next touch or kiss might be from the other. She moved her hand back to his chest and the smoothness of his skin.

  Trent put his hand over hers and whispered her name again. Finally, she dared to raise her eyes to his. In their brown depths, she saw the same fire she felt. In that moment she knew he would be a passionate lover.

  “I’m sorry.”

  He jerked his head back slightly. “For what?”

  “For teasing you like this. I can’t help but want to touch you, but I really have no clue what I’m doing.”

  He gave a soft chuckle. “Mi amor that felt damn good to me.”

  Her eyes widen in surprise. “Really?”

  Trent nodded. “Yes, really. Every time you touch me it feels good. I don’t know that I’ve ever wanted a woman as much as I want you.”

  Her heart blocked her throat, making it hard to speak. Finally, she coughed slightly and hesitantly admitted, “I … I want you too.”

  Those dimples of his appeared in the soft lighting and she didn’t stop herself from touching one. Trent nuzzled her fingers and kissed their tips softly. Noelle glided them along his damp lips and the sensation it sent through her gravitated to her femininity.

  She moaned when his tongue darted out to play with her fingers. Her held her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm, her wrist, and down the inside of her arm. The feel of his slight chin stubble against her delicate skin increased the pulsing in her body.

  “Oh, that feels real nice. I never knew a kiss on the arm could be so damn erotic.”

  Trent smiled against her skin as he continued to kiss. “I think I can teach you a lot of damn erotic places to kiss.”

  She sucked in her breath and her heart skipped at the sensory overload at all the possibilities. “When you say things like that, it makes it very hard to stop.”

  “Do you really want me to stop?”

  Noelle was startled by the immediate answer she gave. “No.”

  They stared at each other for a moment; the only sound in the room was that of their breathing. Trent groaned and singed her lips with the fire of his kiss. She could do nothing but open her mouth to his and cling to his shoulders for support.

  His fingers snaked their way through her hair to the nape of her neck, where he gave it a gentle tug. She gasped at the urgency of it. Instinctively, she arched her chest toward him and offered him her neck.

  His kisses burned into her flesh, branding her in a deep place no man had ever touched. She held his head to her as she clenched her hands into his hair.

  Trent’s powerful arm wrapped around her waist and he effortlessly maneuvered her until she was lying on top of him. She stretched out along the length of him and marveled at the way they fit perfectly together.

  His hand cradled her derriere, pressing his evident desire against the front of her thin skirt. She wiggled her hips against him and caught her breath at how such a small movement had such an impact.

  Noelle tried to suppress a moan by biting her lip, but it felt too good to stop. “Please touch me.”

  “Where do you want me to start?”

  Already her mind was dizzy with lust; it took everything she had to shake her head. “Everywhere … anywhere.”

  Trent shut his mouth
over hers again, taking her moans and mingling them with his. His hands moved up the back of her shirt and within a second the fabric was up around her chest. His fingers outran the goose bumps as they raced across her skin.

  Noelle was surprised at the way her hips automatically began to gyrate against him. His arousal grew to the point that she was nearly certain it would break through the zipper on his pants. She reached out and fumbled to unbuckle his belt and relieve the strain.

  “Ah, Noelle.” He nuzzled against her ear, sending a new wave of shivers throughout her body.

  “Did I do that right?”

  He nodded and his nose tickled her under her ear. “Yes. I don’t think there is a wrong way for you to touch me.”

  As he sipped at her neck, Noelle lowered her head and her eyes fixed on his loosened waistband, the half-open zipper…

  “Can I touch you there?” she asked, suddenly bold.

  Trent pulled back until they were looking into each other’s eyes. “As long as you look at me when you do it. I want you to see what your touch does to me so that you never doubt it again.”

  She nodded, never dropping eye contact as her fingers navigated their way past the fabric of his pants. Hesitantly she caressed the cotton of his boxers and his eyes got heavy.

  She paused for a moment, until his member twitch under her touch. Slowly she ran her hand along the length of it and her eyes got wide at the size of him. The thought of feeling him inside her made it hard to resist tearing off their clothes and jumping right on.

  Noelle squeezed gently and Trent let out a groan. She leaned forward and kissed him. Her tongue mingled with his and she mimicked the stroking of their tongues with the stroking of her touch. Trent caught her tongue in his and sucked gently, nearly sending her over the edge as she got damper by the second.

  Her fingers slipped through the opening on his boxers and the feel of skin on skin was like a drug as her mind got foggy to the outside world, yet it also honed in on this moment.

  His member slid through the opening, allowing her a better hold. He was warm and hard against the palm of her hand. Slowly she slid her thumb over the tip and gasped at the hint of moisture there.

  “Noelle, mi amor, you’re going to make me explode if you keep doing that.”

  She couldn’t help the seductive tone when she whispered against his lips, “Oh, really?”

  Trent growled. “Two can play this game.”

  Before she could guess at what he had in mind, he had her on her back. Her skirt landed just above her knee, but his hands easily pushed it higher.

  Slowly his fingers tickled the space between the back of her knee and her outer thigh. He used his teeth to pull the bottom of her shirt up over her breasts. Her nipples protruded through the thin silk of her bra, letting him know her arousal was just as strong as his.

  Trent’s hand moved to the front of her leg, and his thumb taunted her inner thigh. He teased her, nuzzling his nose back and forth over the hard bud of her nipple. He lapped at it through the silk, leaving a damp reminder when he moved to the other breast.

  His thumb moved closer to the center of her femininity until he caressed the dampness of her panties. At the contact, Noelle jumped and gasped.

  Trent’s mouth returned to hers and his kisses this time where slower, gentler. “Noelle, has anyone ever touched you here?”

  Here was the place where his thumb threatened to take her over the edge. He pulled back to look her in the eyes and she shook her head. “No.”

  “Do you want me to stop?”

  Again, she shook her head and repeated, “No.”

  He nodded. “If you want me to stop say the word and I will.”

  All she could do was nod as he increased the pressure. She raised her hips slightly at his urging as he removed her panties and then her skirt.

  Noelle felt exposed under his gaze and instinct was to cover herself but when he shook his head, she moved her hands so they were clenching the bedcover.

  Trent caressed her with his eyes and hands. At first the movements were slow and intoxicating, until the tempo reached a fevered pitch and Noelle was nearly certain she was about to explode into a billion little pieces. In the next instant, everything did erupt as her climax overtook her and she yelled in release.

  The embarrassment was almost immediate; she’d never had an orgasm before that moment and the magnitude of it was overwhelming. She tried to duck her head, but Trent wouldn’t let her, instead he cupped her face so she was looking at him.

  “Did you enjoy that?”

  A shyness over took her and she averted her eyes. “Yes”, she whispered.

  Trent stared at her until she finally looked at him. “Don’t ever be ashamed of how you react to my touch.”

  His words were spoken softly and she knew Trent would never use sex as a weapon against her, he would never turn her arousal into something that was anything but beautiful and intimate.

  That knowing nearly brought her to tears. She kissed him deeply and reveled in the safety of him arms.

  When he finally entered her, it was like it was her first time. They both froze after the initial thrust, soaking up the feel of her stretching to accommodate his size and getting a perfect fit. With each following stroke, their bodies coupled further.

  Damp skin danced across damp skin. Noelle clamped her hands to his shoulders as she grasped for control. When she felt another orgasm rushing to break free, she flexed her fingers and her nails dug into the flesh on Trent’s back.

  He thrusted hard and fast until both collapsed in exhaustion from their simultaneous releases. Their gasps and heavy breathing lasted several minutes as both tried to recover.

  Noelle’s mouth felt dry, but her skin and the place where they were still joined felt as if she were submerged in water. It was exhilarating.

  A long while later, Trent rolled to the side and drew her to him so that she lay on her side with him behind her. His hands intertwined with hers and she held them against her chest.

  Neither said anything; words were not needed. Their bodies had said everything for them. Trent kissed the back of her neck and she hugged him tighter.

  As Noelle drifted off to sleep, still naked and uncovered, she couldn’t help but feel as if she’d finally found the safe place she’d once thought she’d never find.

  When the morning finally broke, Noelle woke inside the comfort of Trent’s embrace and knew that for the rest of her life, that was how she wanted to welcome every new day.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Trent opened his eyes and let out a yawn. He nuzzled closer to Noelle and inhaled the faint hint of coconut in her hair. She turned her head toward him.

  “Good morning.”

  He kissed her neck softly and caressed her side. His voice was husky. “Good morning. Did you sleep good?”

  She bit her lip and nodded. “Better than good. How about you?”

  “I slept with an angel, it was better than great.”

  He saw the blush overtake her cheeks and knew she wasn’t used to compliments like that. Then again, he wasn’t used to actually meaning them, but he meant it now.

  Trent propped himself up on his elbow and kissed her shoulder. He looked over at the alarm and scrambled off the bed. “Shit, I’m going to be late for work.”

  Noelle jumped up as well and hurried to grab his shirt and a sock from the other side of the room. “I hope you don’t get in trouble.”

  He looked over and saw the worry in her face. He stopped buttoning his pants to lean over and kiss her. “I won’t be but a few minutes late. Even if I do get in trouble, it was well worth it.”

  The blush returned to her cheeks. “Yeah, you weren’t too bad yourself.”

  He kissed her soundly and lightly patted her derriere. “Now there is the smartass I first met.”

  Noelle gave him a wicked smiled and put on a short silk robe. She walked him to the door, with each step the silk slid over her skin until her nipples were two hard buds pressin
g into the thin fabric. He couldn’t help but eye the deep V where the robe fell open over her breasts.

  Trent felt himself harden and groaned. “Lord, mi amor, you are the most tempting woman I’ve ever met. Tell me you are gonna greet me at the door tonight just like this because what I want to do right now, I can’t.”

  She stood on tiptoes and kissed him deeply. She pulled back enough to whisper against his lips, “I’ll be ready and waiting.”

  Noelle winked at him and waved as he took off out the door. He was almost to his car when he heard Delphine call across the parking lot, “It’s about damn time!”

  He laughed and got behind the wheel, speeding out of the parking lot and into morning traffic. He took out his phone and called Fitzer.

  Trent was surprised to get the voicemail, but left a brief message. Fitzer was always early by at least fifteen minutes, so for him not to be answering his desk phone was odd.

  At five minutes after seven he put his car in park and headed for the back door of the precinct. The smell of burnt coffee and pastries assailed his nostrils, just like every morning. The faint hint of stale cigarette smoke still clung to the walls even though smoking inside had been banned with the California Labor Law in 1995.

  Trent went into the locker room and changed into his spare uniform. He’d always kept an extra change of clothes at the office for days when he was late, usually always because of a woman too. But Noelle wasn’t any woman, she was the woman, of that he had no doubt.

  He strapped on his gun belt as he walked toward his desk. Fitzer’s coffee mug was there, on the right side by his phone, as always. His notepad lay on the left of his keyboard, as always. The only out-of-the-ordinary thing was, Fitzer wasn’t around.

  Trent sat at his desk and looked at the clock. It was ten minutes after, and Fitzer would normally be checking his emails. Hell, Trent knew his schedule so well that he even had down when Fitzer planned bathroom breaks.

  Everyone else was busy with their normal routines, but something didn’t feel right. Trent looked around again, and then headed for the chief’s office.

  Marshall Martin was a barrel chested beast of a man, exactly what you’d think the chief of a busy police department would look like. Fresh from the academy, Trent had been Martin’s rookie partner, and he’d held the older man in high esteem ever since – even when he was ribbing the chief about his receding hairline.