Mask of Desire

by P. L. Harris

  “Not gonna happen, baby.” He lapped up her sweet-smelling juices with his tongue. “Come in my mouth, let me taste you.”

  Kayden stepped up his attentions. He dove his tongue deep inside her, while his thumb slipped over her clit. She went even softer around his tongue, rolling it as he licked and sucked her dry.

  Greedy for her orgasm, his finger delved inside her silky walls. She went wild underneath his touch. “That’s it, baby. Get there.”

  Her juices bathed his lips. He lapped up the smooth, sweet liquid like it was melted caramel. Her hips bucked, riding out the wave of her orgasm. Goddamn it, he was so hard. He wanted inside her. Now.

  He rose up and she groaned at the loss of contact. Kayden’s gaze roamed her breathless, splayed body. His heart surged, adrenaline spiking through his veins. “Been dying to be inside you all night.”

  She gasped, her breathing ragged. “Well, what are you waiting for?”

  He made a mad grab for his wallet. “Just let me get a condom on, baby.” He ripped open the wrapper, and his cock twitched. It hated the touch of his own hand. He took a deep breath and positioned himself over her snug entrance.

  “You’re tight, I don’t want to hurt you. Guide me in, sweetheart,” he said hoarsely. Sweat broke out on his forehead. Her fingers wrapped tightly around the shaft as she guided him to the mouth of her hot pussy. His body shuddered as he slid inside her. A snug fit. He couldn’t help but thrust deep. She gasped and her hands shot to his shoulders.

  The intensity of her orgasm shook her body to its tightened core. She was still riding the euphoria when he entered her. She gasped, and her pussy swathed his stiff rod like a glove.

  Oh God. She closed her eyes and savored the pleasure that washed over her as he thrust harder toward her G-spot.

  She gasped, “You’re so big.”

  His warm breath scooted over the sensitive spot behind her earlobe. “Music to me ears, baby,” he rasped. “The words every man wants to hear, but coming from you, they’re even sweeter.”

  Her breath came out in staggered huffs. She was sure she was going to pass out. A tsunami of heat rushed through her and she couldn’t get enough air into her starved lungs. Her heart raced, beating hard against his chest as if it were running its own sprint race.

  He pulled back, just so the head barely rimmed her entrance then he pushed back in, hard and fast, sending a multitude of shock waves coursing through her belly.

  “Ahhhh,” she screamed. Her skin burned under his potent touch.

  He groaned an assortment of sexy sounds. “I can’t hold back much longer. I want you with me, sweetheart.”

  Her nipples tightened and they strained against her corset, desperate for his caress. Her head thrashed from side to side. “I…I can’t do it again,” she whispered, each word draining the air from her body.

  “Yes, yes, you can,” he grunted between thrusts.

  “Oh God, don’t stop,” she gasped breathlessly, her nails digging into his heated flesh. She knew she’d leave marks. At least he’ll have these to remember me by when it’s over.

  “Are you far, honey?

  “No. Oh God, now…don’t stop. I’m going to explode into a million pieces.”

  Her words seemed to spur the caveman locked inside him. Guttural, animalistic sounds filled her ears. He slapped his body hard against hers, unleashing a multitude of expletives as his orgasm exploded, sending her falling into a heavenly abyss.

  The world went blurry, and her body seemed to splinter in all directions. Shards of sexual desire ricocheted through her body. Tash tightened so painfully that she cried out, her body begging for release.

  And then she was propelled over the edge, as if she had jumped off a cliff into the unknown, free-falling on a wave of ecstasy. Her orgasm sailed on until her body went limp in his arms. Spent, unable to move, the blazing heat in her body threatened her ability to function.

  Kayden’s words zapped Tash from her fantasy. “You’re amazing,” he said still out of breath. “I knew it from the first time I laid eyes on you. You are the woman for me.”

  Damn it, Kayden. This wasn’t part of the deal. You were supposed to be a distraction. You weren’t supposed to work your way into my stone-cold heart. This was a mistake—a big mistake.

  Her heart was beating so fast it felt like it was about to pound right out of her chest. It sent a wave of panic through her body. “I…”

  Tash’s words were stolen by a sharp knock at the door. She bolted upright into his rock-hard chest. Intense fear consumed her and she started to shake.

  “Hey, it’s okay, the door is locked, remember,” his lips murmured against her sensitive skin. “Now…”

  The knock sounded again, more rushed, more urgent. “For God’s sake, will they never give up? Don’t they know I’m in heaven right now?” Kayden said as he ran his finger down the side of her cheek.

  Tash held her breath; his eyes froze her in place. “Shouldn’t we…ah…maybe get dressed?”

  “The only thing I want to do is get rid of this damn condom. Then I want to hold your gorgeous body for a while.” Her silky pussy coated him as he slowly withdrew. “Wait here, I’ll be right back.” He smiled at her. “It seems I finally have a reason to stick around.”

  Butterflies twisted her gut into knots. Why does he have to be so perfect? Too perfect. Why did you have to be so stupid, Tash? You cannot fall for a cop.

  The persistent knock was getting louder by the second. A baritone voice boomed through the solid oak door. “Kayden…Kayden are you in there? It’s Marty. Lucas is looking for you. He wants to talk to you and square away the deal before the night is out.”

  “For God’s sake,” he muttered under his breath, disposing of the condom.

  “Who’s Marty?” Tash asked, her voice shaky.

  “He’s my cousin, and the man that helped me organize the party tonight.”

  “Oh.”

  “I am damn well not talking business tonight,” he said fixing his clothes. “Wait right there while I get rid of him.”

  Kayden opened the door just enough to block the room with his body. Tash scrambled into her dress, his sharp words nabbing her attention.

  “No, I don’t care,” he snapped. “I don’t want to talk to anyone. This is a party, not the time or the place to conduct business. Tell Lucas he’ll just have to call me some other time.”

  Tash’s chest tightened. She swallowed and shook her head. I’m here on business.

  “Tonight is a celebration to bring in the New Year,” Kayden said. “I don’t want to talk to anyone who is here on business. If that’s all they’re here for, show them the door.”

  Tash’s heart pounded inside her chest. Oh God, as soon as I mention Sinead, he’s going to think I used him for sex. Which couldn’t be further from the truth.

  Kayden’s stern voice startled her. “What now?”

  Tash spotted the only escape—through the open veranda doors. If she managed to get out before he came back, her life, past and present, could stay a mystery and he would be none the wiser. At least she’d have this one amazing night to remember.

  Sinead will understand. I’ll just tell her I never got the chance to speak to him alone.

  Tash grabbed her shoes and purse and bolted on tiptoe toward the veranda. Kayden’s voice faded into the distance with each tortured step.

  Why put her heart through this again? A tight knot formed in her throat.

  Will you never learn from your mistakes?

  ****

  Kayden was fast losing his temper. “Listen, Marty I’m not interested in speaking to anyone at the moment. You could say I’m in a personal meeting of sorts. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get back.”

  A smirk spread across Marty’s face. “Of course. Say no more, and if I don’t see you again, Happy New Year.”

  A chill worked up Kayden’s spine. “I intend it to be a very happy new year. Now go.”

  Kayden chuckled to himself as he
watched Marty swagger away. Thank God. The next person that interrupts is going to wish they were never born.

  He closed and locked the door, smiling to himself. It had been a long time since he had a reason to smile. He did now.

  “We’ll have no more—” He stopped midsentence. His breath caught in his throat, his eyes transfixed on the empty couch.

  Kayden’s gut clenched, an unnerving silence filled the room. “What the fuck?” he said an octave higher. Where the hell did she go?

  Anxious, his eyes sort the open veranda door. I don’t understand. Why the hell would she leave after what we shared together?

  His pulse raced, and he battled to keep his thoughts in check. The idea of losing her for a second time nearly sent him to his knees. His eyes scanned the empty veranda, which riled him up even more. “If you think you’re going to be able to skip out, think again. There’s no way I’ll let you go. I’ll turn this town upside down before I give up on you…on us.”

  New Year’s Day

  “Kayden, slow down,” Katie said in a rushed tone. “I’m not sure I know what or who you’re talking about.”

  Kayden held the phone to his ear as he paced the kitchen. Exhaustion filled every pore of his body. He hadn’t slept a wink after his mystery woman bolted. No one at the party knew who she was or had seen her leave. Why hadn’t anyone else seen her tattoo? It seemed that he was the only one who knew about it. Why was she hiding it from everyone? Why the secrecy? He wasn’t about to give up. Those two words had no place in his life.

  Surely, someone must know who she is? He felt like bloody Prince Charming, trying to find Cinderella. Except in place of a glass slipper, she had a tattoo.

  “Kayden, are you still on the line?” Katie asked.

  He shook the random thoughts from his mind. “Yes, I’m still here.” He paused. “I’ve met someone, a woman.”

  “Oh, Kayden, I’m so happy for you. Who is she?”

  He sighed. “That’s just it, I’ve got no damn idea who she is.” He’d spent the rest of the night and the best part of the morning combing every part of town. His pleas were met with blank stares. It was like she was a ghost, as if she never existed. Kayden knew better. The pleasure and desire he experienced with her still lingered in his limbs.

  “What do you mean you’ve got no idea?” she asked. “You must know her name.”

  “No, I don’t. I first met her at the Halloween party, but…” His voice trailed off. The loss of Todd that night still stabbed at his heart every time he remembered what had been ripped from him ahead of time. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I shouldn’t—”

  Her voice was still laced with pain. “No, it’s okay.”

  Kayden could kick himself for being so insensitive.

  “It’s still hard and always will be, but I’m learning to talk about it. Now, tell me about this woman.”

  Warmth filled Kayden’s heart. “She’s beautiful, has the most amazing blue eyes that glow like sapphires, long brown curls that dance on her shoulders, and her tattoo…” He paused. “God, Katie, her tattoo is the most exquisite I’ve ever seen.”

  “Do I even want to know where her tattoo is?” Katie said in a squeamish tone.

  He chuckled. “It runs across her shoulder blades and down her back to—”

  “Okay, that’s enough. Well, someone must know her by her tattoo?”

  “That’s just it. No one seems to have seen it, at least the people I’ve spoken to today haven’t.” Frustration settled in the pit of his stomach. “Listen, are you busy? Can I still pop over?”

  “Um, no, not really,” she said. “I’ve an appointment at the house, so you’ll have to use your key to let yourself in.”

  “No problem, see you soon.” Kayden ended the call and marched toward the shower. Maybe a cold shower will do the trick.

  ****

  Kayden’s gazed scoured the main street as he headed east toward Katie’s house. Thankfully, Todd had provided well for her and Emma, so she’d never have to worry financially. Familiar face after familiar face smiled or waved at him as he drove by.

  Where the hell are you?

  He was so frustrated, he was nearly close to losing his shit right in the middle of town. He reined himself in before he did something stupid like lose control of his damn car. If he had her name, he could use his contacts at the station to find her, but without so much as a first name he was flying blind.

  “You’re here somewhere, I know it.” The thought of not finding her sent a shudder through his body. Losing Todd so unexpectedly reminded Kayden that life was too short to be unhappy.

  She was his “happily ever after.” He would find her, no matter how long it took.

  He pulled up into Katie’s driveway behind an old, sunset-orange Toyota Corolla. “Damn it.” He’d forgotten she had an appointment. Leaning over the front seat, he grabbed Katie’s house key from the glove box.

  Kayden eyeballed the old, beat-up Corolla with caution. “Jesus, I hope to hell that’s safe to drive.” He chuckled to himself. “Maybe I need to give it a once-over before I leave.”

  He took the front steps two at a time. Kayden didn’t waste any time letting himself in and searching out Katie. He followed the sound of female laughter to the back room.

  “It’s good to hear you laugh again, Katie,” he said, leaning against the doorframe, arms folded across his chest. Katie’s relaxed body reclined back on the lounge while a woman fussed over her toenails. He’d obviously interrupted a girly afternoon of pampering and toenail painting.

  “Kayden,” she said between giggles. “You must think I’ve had one too many wines, but Tash here just told the funniest joke I’ve ever heard in my life.”

  “Really,” he said. “What made it so funny?”

  “I think it was the way she told it, and the funny accent she used,” she said, wiping the tears from her eyes.

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt your afternoon.”

  “Nonsense,” Katie said dryly. “I’m sure Tash is able to work while we talk. Sinead postponed our appointment from last week ’til today, but unfortunately, she’s still ill so Tash is here instead.”

  “Oh.” Great. Just what I need, a nosy busybody, eager to soak up some new town gossip. I can just see it now, details of my mystery woman will be front-page news by the end of the day.

  “Tash, this is my good friend, Kayden Langford.”

  Without turning around, Tash held up her hand in acknowledgement of Kayden’s presence.

  How rude. Kayden grunted. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Come over here and get that hug you so desperately need,” Katie said, opening her arms to him.

  He backed away, ready to leave. “Listen, I’ll come back a bit later, when you two have finished.”

  “Are you sure?”

  He glanced toward Katie. “Yeah, I’m sure. It’s—” He stopped, his words suddenly vanished. The blood drained from his face in two seconds flat.

  What the fuck? He couldn’t breathe underneath the fist crushing his chest. He blinked a few times, praying his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him. No, there it was—the tattoo he’d dreamt about was peeking out from Tasha’s sleeveless top. It was just visible on the edge of her shoulder, teasing his senses.

  “Kayden, honey, are you all right?” Katie asked, her words laced with concern.

  Were his eyes playing tricks on him? “It can’t be,” he muttered, edging closer.

  “Kayden, what is it?” Katie asked worried.

  His eyes locked on to the faint shimmering outline of the supposedly hidden vine. She froze under his constant gaze. She was so still he couldn’t even be sure she was still breathing.

  “It’s you,” he whispered from behind her. Frustration pumped through his veins. “Why the hell did you leave last night?”

  “Kayden,” Katie gasped. “Watch your language in my house.”

  Katie’s angry expression startled Kayden. His heart was about to jump into his throat. “This
is her, the woman I was talking about. There’s only one woman I know that has a tattoo like that.” He pointed to Tash’s shoulder. “And she’s sitting right in front of you and me.”

  “Tash?” Katie asked. “Is it true?”

  Kayden held his breath, waiting for her answer. After what felt like an eternity, she nodded.

  His lungs burned, and he hadn’t realized he was holding his breath until his head started to spin. She slowly stood and turned to face him, her pale skin a picture of an angel. Her strawberry-blonde hair rested above her slim shoulders and her eyes…green? I don’t understand.

  She was skittish as all hell, like a newborn colt. He wasn’t going to let her get away a third time, nor did he want to air his personal life in front of Todd’s wife. “Katie, do you think you can give us a moment…alone?”

  Katie jumped off the couch and moved to Tash’s side. “Tash, are you all right?”

  She paused but finally nodded, all the while her eyes focused on Kayden.

  “Kayden, I love you like a brother and I’m happy to step into the kitchen to make us all some coffee, but if Tash says the conversation is over, then it’s over. Are we clear?”

  “Crystal,” he said, holding his ground. His pulse raced as he sensed Katie exit the room.

  “I don’t understand. Green eyes?” She smiled and he thought his heart would beat right out of his chest.

  “Blue contacts,” she said.

  His brow creased. “Short, strawberry-blonde hair?”

  She shrugged. “Brown hair extensions.”

  “Why?” he asked. “Why the deception?”

  “It’s a long story.” She paused. “And a boring one.” She moved to pack her equipment.

  Over my dead body will you leave without explaining to me what the hell is going on.

  “You’re obviously trying to hide your identity. Why? What was the real reason you were there last night? Don’t you think I at least deserve some sort of explanation?” Frustration wormed its way up his spine. Silence greeted his questions, which only served to piss him off more.

  “So, you were out for an easy lay, is that it?” he spat.

  She gasped, wide-eyed, shock plastered on her face. “No, that was never my intention.”