No Limits

by Lori Foster

  “That was so…unexpected.”

  “What was?”

  “How you made me…come.”

  He got his gaze off her rack and onto her face in time to see her tongue slick over her bottom lip.

  He barely contained a groan. Damn, he was on the ragged edge again. If she touched him just once, he’d go off like a Fourth of July celebration.

  Since she was still fussing with the hem of the shirt, he took her hands in his and tried to sound reasonable instead of turned on. “What’s on your mind, honey?”

  In a sudden rush, she blurted, “I hope you believe me. I mean, you made it seem so easy that now I’m kind of embarrassed for making such a big deal of it.” She breathed faster, her hands squeezing his. “But I swear, until last night, I couldn’t… I hadn’t…”

  “We’re good together,” he told her with satisfaction. And he knew, even if she didn’t, that once he got inside her it would be nothing short of mind-blowing.

  “No.” She shook her head. “It was you.”

  “It was us.”

  “But I didn’t do anything!” And with accusation, “You wouldn’t let me.”

  He absolutely could not think about her reciprocating right now, not if he wanted to maintain any semblance of control. “I helped you along, true. It’s called foreplay, and I loved it. But there was never anything wrong with you.”

  Pulling away, she hugged her arms around herself. “But don’t you see, there was. Is. I…I don’t know.” She pivoted back to him. “I don’t want you to think I exaggerated.”

  Now he was really lost. “What?”

  “Don’t think that I was somehow using my—” she searched for a word “—my issues, to use you. That I was only telling you things to get pity or to coerce you.”

  She thought he’d accuse her of making it up? “Yvette—”

  “It’s not a secret that I always wanted you,” she continued in a rush. “Back then, back before—” she swallowed “—before what happened, I’d have done a lot to get your attention.”

  He reached for her, but she sidestepped him. “I wouldn’t use the sympathy card, though, I swear. I would never make up something so pathetic or—”

  “Stop it.” Pushed too far, Cannon caught her shoulders and brought her around. “You think I’d accuse you of that?”

  Her eyebrows lifted at his anger. “I don’t know.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t. Jesus, Yvette, I’m not an idiot.”

  “I never said—”

  He kissed her, but only for a second because, damn it, he had a lot to say. “And you’re not that manipulative.”

  Breath left her in a sigh and she touched his bare chest. “You can’t know that, Cannon, because you don’t really know me. You never did, but now, after so long, well, I’ve barely been home a week, so how could you?”

  She was wrong. On some elemental level, he’d always known her. “I know women.” Kissing her again, he backed her up to the wall, leaned into her and continued kissing her until her hands were clutching his shoulders and her mouth was moving under his, just as hungry.

  He wedged one thigh between her legs, then lifted his head to suck in air because he’d just verified it.

  No panties.

  Slowly, dragging out the suspense, he slid his hands down to her hips, holding her still while he wedged in closer to her.

  All but straddling his thigh, she stared up at him, her gaze smoky, her lips parted.

  He fought it…and lost. Keeping her pinned to the wall, he reached beneath the loose shirt to find warm flesh. Bringing his hands up her body, he raised the shirt so that his hard abs were against her smooth belly, and, God, that was sweet.

  “I know women,” he repeated against her throat. “Groupies who come after all the fighters. Women who just want a good time. Women who hope to tie me down.”

  “I don’t want to hear about them,” she whispered, moving subtly, already aroused.

  Knotting his hands in either side of the shirt, he pulled it up more until her breasts were bared.

  “I know how to read women. I know how to read you. You’re different from all the rest.” He breathed hard, then bent to draw on one nipple.

  Yvette reacted immediately, arching her back, sinking her hands into his hair. Going on basic carnal instinct more than good common sense, he hooked an arm under her ass and lifted her up.

  She wrapped her legs around him.

  This was no slow tease. He sucked at her breast, relishing her broken groans, how she twisted against him.

  Bracing one hand on the wall by her head, he ground against her.

  “Oh, God, oh, God, oh…” Her voice rose. “Cannon.”

  He was about to tear off his shorts and to hell with consequences when Yvette’s phone rang.

  The sound didn’t entirely cut through the lust, but it did slow him down.

  “No,” she said, her tone pleading. “Cannon, please.”

  The phone stopped ringing.

  He’d just about convinced himself to seal the deal when it started again.

  Then again.

  She groaned loudly.

  “It must be important,” he reasoned. “You blocked Heath, right?”

  She looked near tears. “Yes.”

  Torn over what to do, he stepped away from the wall, still holding her, and went to the couch. He sat with her on his lap, facing him, and snagged the phone with one hand.

  Using his thumb, he answered. “Hello?”

  Silence, before an outraged woman demanded with a touch of panic, “Where’s Yvette? Is she all right? Who is this?”

  “She’s right here,” Cannon soothed. “She’s fine.” Very fine. “Who’s calling?”

  “I asked first.”

  So he had to play? “Cannon Colter.”

  “Oh.”

  She knew of him? “Your turn.”

  “Vanity Baker.”

  Ah, her friend from Cali. Wondering how much Yvette had told her, he said, “Nice to meet you, even if only via cell phone.”

  “The pleasure is all mine.” She made a whistling sound, then said, “Is Yvette there listening?”

  “Right here, yeah.” About as close as a clothed woman could get.

  “The thing is…I have news about her a-hole ex, so do me a favor and stick around, okay?”

  Cannon liked her protectiveness, but not her timing.

  Or maybe that was spot-on. too, considering he’d just told himself to move more cautiously, which sure as hell didn’t include banging her against the wall with very little finesse.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” he told Vanity.

  “Yeah? Good to know.”

  Yvette watched the exchange with minimal interest. Of course, she straddled his lap and was still breathing hard, so…he cupped her breast and watched her eyes sink shut.

  She was every bit as turned on as him, evidenced by the way she kept squirming on his erection.

  But, damn it, he didn’t want to leave her fractured with need. With regret, he arranged her shirt so that it fully covered her again.

  Yvette groaned again.

  “So, Cannon,” Vanity said. “My girl tells me you’re some badass fighter or something.”

  He smiled. “Or something.”

  “You’re also heroic, right?”

  Yvette was starting to look suspicious, so Cannon suggested, “Why don’t you just tell me what’s on your mind, Vanity?”

  “Let me talk to Yvette first.”

  “Hang on.” He held the phone down against the couch. “It’s your friend Vanity.”

  Yvette started to move off his lap, but he wasn’t ready to let her go just yet. With a hand on her hip, he stayed her, then caressed. “I like holding you.”

  She bit her lip, took the phone from him and lifted it to her ear. “Hey, Vanity.”

  “Why didn’t you answer last night?”

  Since she’d accidentally just put the phone on speaker, Cannon heard Vanity loud and clear.


  Blushing, Yvette said, “I was…”

  “What? What were you doing? O. M. G. You did the nasty, didn’t you?” She squealed. “Tell me. Details.”

  “Vanity—”

  She gasped. “You’re in bed with him now, aren’t you? That’s why he answered?” Another squeal. “Was it hot? Have you been converted? Are you now among the must-have-it crowd?”

  Yvette looked so flustered that Cannon grinned. Clearly Vanity knew some of the details.

  “His voice is dreamy,” Vanity continued before Yvette could get a word in edgewise. “Tell me the bod matches.”

  Yvette rolled her eyes. “He’s ripped.”

  She said, “Yes!” like a victory yell.

  Rushing on, Yvette said, “But we aren’t… We haven’t…”

  “Well, damn. Why not?”

  “Mostly because you interrupted,” Cannon said. “But I’ll forgive you just this once.”

  Closing her eyes, Yvette said, “You’re on speakerphone, Vanity.”

  Silence. Then in a scandalized whisper, “He was listening the whole time?”

  “Yup.”

  “Well.” Shaking off the awkwardness, Vanity said, “C’est la vie. I refuse to blush. In fact, jump his bones, I say. He sounds worth it.”

  “Vanity.”

  “That’s her warning tone, Cannon, just so you know.”

  Cannon liked Vanity more by the moment. “Thanks.”

  “And now here’s mine—be good to her.”

  “We already worked that out, didn’t we?”

  “Maybe. Yvette wouldn’t let you near her if you weren’t one of the good guys. Which is why old Heath got booted. But I meant sexually. She deserves—”

  “Vanity!”

  Fighting off a laugh, Cannon said, “Agreed.”

  “I might visit.”

  “You’d be more than welcome to stay with us.”

  “Us?” More silence, and then, “Yvette, you hussy. You moved in with him? Why haven’t you called to tell me that?”

  “We’re sharing her grandfather’s house,” Cannon explained.

  “Tell me there’s only one bed, one shower—”

  “I’m going to kill you when next I see you.” Yvette snatched up the phone to take it off speaker.

  Vanity said quickly, “Wait! I want Cannon to hear this.”

  “If it’s advice—”

  Vanity snorted. “If he needs it, then you should move on.”

  Though recent actions couldn’t prove it, Cannon said, “I don’t.”

  “Didn’t think so. But anyhoo, I wanted to tell you about Heath.”

  Cannon sat a little straighter, one arm going around Yvette. He had a very bad feeling. “What about him?”

  “He hopped a plane last night and, sadly, he’s headed your way.”

  “No,” Yvette said. “That’s…nuts!”

  “Which describes Heath perfectly. He posted on Facebook that he was going, then did a status update at the airport. And get this, he said he’s going after what’s his. In case that’s not clear enough, he means you, toots.”

  “He means me,” Yvette repeated, looking dumbfounded.

  “Figuring time difference and flight times, I’m thinking he’s probably already there. So you might want to keep an eye out. You remember what an ass he was before you left—”

  “Thanks for telling me,” Yvette interrupted as she scrambled off Cannon’s lap.

  Which made Cannon wonder just what Heath had done, and why Yvette didn’t want him to know.

  One hand in her hair, Yvette said, “I blocked him from my Facebook and from my phone, so I had no idea.”

  “He’s seriously unhinged. I’ll keep watch and if I see anything else I’ll text you.”

  “Do me a favor,” Cannon said. “If you see anything over-the-top, copy it and send it to me. I’ll give you my contact info.”

  “Will you kick his ass?”

  He had no idea what the right answer might be, so he said, “I’m not going to let anything happen to her.”

  Yvette propped her hands on her hips. “Stop it, both of you. I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself.”

  The silence following that statement only infuriated her more. She gave a low sound of frustration. “Vanity, thank you. Seriously. You know I love you.”

  Vanity made kissing sounds into the phone.

  “But it might be best if we just ignore Heath—”

  “Oh, hell, no. Tried that last time and look where it got us.”

  She scowled, probably because she realized Cannon would insist on knowing now.

  Thanks to Vanity, he didn’t even have to ask.

  “He broke in,” Vanity stated. “He rifled through your stuff. He’s an unbalanced perv, Yvette, and you shouldn’t forget it.”

  *

  THEY DIDN’T GET to run, not after Vanity blabbed about Heath. But Cannon got in his exercise by following her around the house and grilling her in great detail.

  He paced around her while she drank her coffee and ate a muffin, leaned against the sink as she brushed her teeth, didn’t budge when she got out clean clothes, but at the shower, he relented and gave her some privacy.

  When she emerged, dressed and slightly refreshed, Cannon was on a laptop checking out everything he could find about Heath. “I can’t see much since we aren’t Facebook friends,” he said, “but I connected with Vanity.”

  Which meant he could now see her photos, and he’d know just how gorgeous she was. “And?”

  “And what?” He closed the laptop and stood, his gaze going over her in that heated way.

  “Did you look at her photos?”

  “I saw a few of you with her.” Moving closer, he said, “Including one with you in a bikini.”

  That was what he’d noticed? Next to Vanity, she all but faded away, or so she thought. “Vanity was in a bikini, too.”

  He cupped her face and bent to her mouth for a soft kiss. “I’m sorry I rushed things again.”

  The sudden change in topic had her shaking her head. “What?”

  “Earlier. Before Vanity called.” Another kiss, this one a little longer but also restrained, as if he held himself in check. “I hope you’re still hungry.”

  How did he mean that? “Umm…”

  Smiling at her, he kissed her nose and stepped back. “My sister called this morning. She wants us over for breakfast.”

  Oh. Knowing he meant hungry for actual food instead of sex left her deflated, proof that Cannon had turned her life upside down.

  “I’d enjoy that.” She and Rissy had known each other through school, had been casual friends back then, but hadn’t been close enough to stay in touch.

  “Good. On the drive there, you can tell me more about Heath breaking in.”

  Within minutes they were on the road, but it’d be a short trip so she got right to it. Hoping her private business could stay private, she wanted to finish up this discussion before they reached his sister’s. “I’m not sure what else I can tell you, Cannon, but I’ll try.”

  “You said you came home and the place was trashed. You had stuff missing.”

  “Not cash or anything valuable. All of my electronics were still where I’d left them, but someone had been going through my emails and my Facebook. My, um…” Knowing how Cannon would react, she decided to just get it said. “My panty drawer had been dumped.”

  His hands tightened on the wheel but he said nothing.

  “I tend to buy matching bra and panties, so I realized some pieces were missing.”

  “He sounds sick and desperate.”

  That about covered it, which was why she refused to take his calls. “He gave everything back.”

  Incredulous, Cannon glanced at her. “Are you making excuses for him?”

  “No! It’s just…well, it was kind of pathetic. Desperate, like you said.” And she had to admit, to herself if not to Cannon, she’d felt guilty for hurting him so much.

  “I’m guessin
g he didn’t do any time?”

  “He was never arrested.”

  More squeezing of the steering wheel. “Why not?”

  “I knew when I saw the mess that it was Heath. I was so furious that I called him and set him straight.”

  Cannon grunted at that, making his opinion of her tactics for handling it understood.

  Defending herself and her decisions, she forged on. “He fessed up, apologized profusely, gave back my stuff and for the most part has left me alone.”

  “For the most part?”

  She hated how the day had gone sour, especially when it had started with that amazing kiss and the promise of more.

  Against a wall.

  Pinned there by Cannon’s hot, hard body.

  She got tingly all over again just thinking about how urgent he’d been. She wanted to have sex. She wanted to know it all.

  And instead she was stuck talking about stupid Heath.

  She needed the day to improve.

  She needed…Cannon.

  Distractedly wrapping two fingers in a long lock of hair, she tried to defuse his mood. “As you already know, he’s started sending the occasional resentful text. I plan to ignore it. To ignore him. I hope you’ll do the same.”

  Cannon pulled into the driveway of his family’s modest house, now his sister’s home, put the truck in Park and turned off the engine. The seconds ticked by in silence before he took out the keys and shifted toward her, his blue eyes impossibly bright in the morning sunshine.

  “I’ll think about it.” He gently untangled her hair from her fingers, then lifted her hand to kiss her knuckles. “Unless he shows up here and tries to hassle you. Then all bets are off.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  ARMIE COULDN’T BELIEVE he’d been summoned to Rissy’s house. Damn and double damn, he didn’t want to see her again. Not this soon.

  No matter that he’d gotten to the gym early, that he’d lifted weights, done cardio and pounded the heavy bag until he’d been drenched with sweat, he hadn’t yet recovered from that close encounter with her last night.

  When he pulled up to the curb, he saw Cannon, Yvette and Rissy all standing beside Cannon’s truck. Rissy wore shorts, so his attention snagged on her until he caught himself. Never mind that the temps were nudging upward of the mid-nineties. He knew why he was suddenly too hot, and it didn’t have a damn thing to do with the weather.