by Kari Lemor
“It’ll be okay, sweetie,” he said, the endearment rolling naturally from his mouth. “You and I are up first for testifying, so it’ll be done and over with for you soon. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
“Are you sure?” she asked her eyes darting around the back of the vehicle. She gripped his hand tighter. He scooted closer and pulled her in to his shoulder.
“I’m positive,” he whispered into her ear and felt her shiver. Was it from his touch or because she was afraid? He wished it was the former. “Once he’s in prison for good there’s no reason for him to hurt anyone.”
“What about revenge for the people who put him there?”
“Honestly, I don’t think there’s a big chance of that happening. There are dozens of people testifying against him. Dave and Tina will both be there along with many others. We’ve frozen all his assets so he doesn’t have any money to hire someone to get his revenge and it would take a lot to get rid of all of us. Once this is over, it’s over.”
“You don’t know how glad I’ll be for that,” she replied softly leaning against him. He rubbed his hand up and down her arm and enjoyed the last few minutes he had alone with her.
They pulled in to the courthouse so he leaned down again and when she looked up at him with her bright blue eyes, he gave in to his desires and kissed her. It wasn’t a big kiss, or a passionate kiss, but it was a connection to her, letting her know he was here for her.
“You’re going to be fine,” he promised and helped her undo her seat belt as George opened the back door for them.
* * * *
Once their part was over and the judge dismissed court for the day, Meg followed Chris out to the parking lot and gave a puzzled frown as he unlocked the door of a dark SUV.
“It’s mine,” he said as he ushered her into the passenger side. Walking around he got in beside her then started the car. “I drove it down from Baltimore yesterday but left it here because I wanted to be with you when you rode to the court.”
“Why?”
“I hadn’t seen you in a while and I wanted to make sure you were all right. Thought a friendly face might be welcome. Guess not, you were exceptionally quiet on the way down.”
She reached over and touched his arm gently as he maneuvered into traffic. “No, it had nothing to do with you. I was petrified of actually testifying. I’m sorry I wasn’t better company.”
Looking in each direction, he made a turn and headed for the highway. “It’s not your job to entertain me. I was fine with the silence. Gave me an opportunity to check out your new duds. Got to say it’s a far cry from your elegant waitressing outfit.”
She groaned loud and long. “I don’t want to even remember I wore that hideous ensemble for as long as I did. And speaking of clothes, you realize we don’t have my suitcase. It’s still in the car that George drove us here in.”
“Nope.” Winking, he pointed his thumb in the direction of the back seat. “Look there. I had them put it in here while we were inside. Didn’t want to waste any time once court was adjourned for the day. It’s at least sixteen hours to your house.”
“Why are you driving me?” she asked. “I don’t understand. I figured you’d drop me at the airport.”
“It’s the day before Thanksgiving, sweetie,” he chuckled. “There isn’t a flight available to anywhere in this world, definitely not Pennsylvania. It’s easier to drive and I thought maybe you could use the time to prepare yourself for seeing your family again.”
Letting out a deep sigh she stared at her hands. “What if they don’t forgive me? What if they don’t want me to stay?”
He let go of the steering wheel long enough to pat her knee. “They love you and keep checking to see if anyone has located you. They want you back. They’re your family and miss you.”
She nodded solemnly but remained quiet. It would be a long trip if she stayed brooding like this. “Why don’t you tell me more about your family. When I drop you off I’ll probably meet some of them, right? Give me a little background so I won’t be completely in the dark.”
Meg glanced up, a slow smile spreading across her face. “Well, first, my dad, he only knows three jokes and he tells them over and over again. They’re funny the first hundred times you hear them. After that…”
Chris smiled.
* * * *
Meg opened the door to the hotel room, exhaustion overcoming her from testifying at the trial and the eight-hour drive. They’d made it as far as North Carolina. She’d tried to stay awake so she could talk to Chris and keep him awake too. Now she was ready to collapse. However only one room had been available due to Thanksgiving travelers and sleeping near Chris wouldn’t be conducive to a good night’s rest.
She allowed him to go in first as he was carrying both their bags then stopped in her tracks. There was only one bed. One gigantic king-sized bed.
He didn’t seem fazed by the fact, so she shut the door coming in farther. “Do you mind if I go first?” His bag got tossed on the bed and he pulled something out of it heading for the bathroom. “All that coffee went right through me.”
Her lungs still weren’t working as she eyed the bed. “That’s fine. Go ahead.”
It was only a few minutes until he came out, barefoot and bare-chested. She wouldn’t get any sleep tonight. The man was too damned delicious and much too tempting. He was also professional to a fault. She remembered that vividly.
Grabbing her sleep shorts and tank top she spent a few minutes cleaning up. As she brushed her teeth there was a knock on the door.
“Are you almost finished? I forgot to brush my teeth”
“Come in,” she called out and the door opened. Chris placed his shaving kit on the counter then dug out his toothbrush. The smile on his face was pleasant and warm. And a tiny bit seductive? No, it must be her imagination and wishful thinking. He’d told her more than once any relationship between them was taboo.
She glanced over a few times as he cleaned his teeth, so conscious of his presence. Her own teeth brushed, she wiped her mouth with a towel.
He slid up behind her to wipe his hands on the same towel and her skin tingled with awareness. Closing her eyes, she stood perfectly still for a second, enjoying the feel of his bare chest against her back. No movement from him either.
He pushed her hair aside lowering his lips to her shoulder. Tiny kisses made a path up to her ear and down again. A gasp escaped her mouth as his tongue swirled over her skin.
“You like that?” His whisper was right next to her ear and she shivered in reply. He knew precisely where to lick and suck to get a response from her. He’d done it more than a few times while out by the pool. Did he know she hadn’t faked her reactions?
Settling his hands on her hips he pulled her back against his hard body then slid them under the loose edges of her top. He couldn’t keep doing this. It was driving her mad but it would kill her if he stopped.
It was like old times except now there wasn’t anyone around to put on a show for. Moreno was behind bars and would hopefully stay there for the rest of his life. Meg wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth so she rested against the very masculine chest and enjoyed. Tomorrow she would be back home and he’d be long gone.
Chris must have felt her deep sigh as he wrapped both arms around her. He nuzzled his face in her neck and said, “It’s all over, sweetie. Now it’s time for you to start living again. No more thoughts on all that happened in the last two years.”
Meg nodded, the feeling of his strong arms surrounding her driving away those awful memories, though it would take a lot more to make them disappear for good. When he pressed his lips again along her neck and shoulder, all bad thoughts scattered like dust in the wind. A tiny moan escaped from her mouth causing the kisses to gain momentum and fervor.
She leaned her head back against the firm chest feeling strong hands slide up her rib cage. What the heck was going on here? Hadn’t he always stopped himself, citing p
rofessionalism?
“Should we be doing this?” she teased though she certainly didn’t want him to stop.
“No reason not to,” he whispered as his mouth traversed over her shoulder pushing her strap off. His hands moved higher and she gasped as they cupped her fullness. “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. Now that you’ve testified and your part in this case is over, I don’t have to remain strictly professional with you.”
“You don’t?” she squeaked, her heart hammering faster at the thought.
“No,” he said roughly, sucking on that sensitive spot on her neck. “Right now we’re simply friends. Although I have to admit, I want to be more, if you feel the same way.”
* * * *
Chris held his breath waiting for her answer. She’d been passionate with him before, but that was when she was still in danger and working at the club. Maybe it had been her way of showing her appreciation. It wouldn’t be the first time that had happened to him.
He paused in his ministrations hearing her tiny whimper of protest and her breathless voice answer, “More than friends. I like that.”
Sighing with relief he bent his head to lick from her shoulder to her neck again then slipped his hands under her shirt to continue their investigation of her delectable curves. When his palms traversed over the center of her breasts, her nipples puckered in welcome and his arousal grew in response. Could she feel it pressed to her back?
She arched against his hands, reaching her fingers back, digging them into his hips. Warmth grew inside him knowing she was the one. The woman he’d been searching for, who he’d needed to rescue him. He’d helped her to escape her predicament but he’d been stuck in his little rut, helping fair damsels but always bidding them adieu once they were safely back in the castle.
Too often he’d gone back to his trusty steed, alone and satisfied that he’d done his job. But not anymore. These last few months without her had shown him he needed her in his life to find his happily ever after. She was it. His happiness was dependent on her and he wanted her forever.
Now he should show her how much he wanted her--his body was certainly telling her already. His cock hardened as she wiggled against him, his caressing hands squeezing and pinching. His lips had never tasted anything this good. The forbidden fruit was now accessible and it still tasted like ambrosia. More proof he needed her in his life.
Frustrated with her top, he reached for the hem, slipped it over her head then tossed it to the floor. He groaned at the sight of her bare chest reflected in the mirror, her perfect breasts heaving with desire, all for him. “You are absolutely gorgeous, you know. It still amazes me how I resisted temptation as long as I did. I never realized my iron control was this strong.”
A shaky breath released from her mouth. “Oh, I knew how strong it was. Frustrated the hell out of me most of the time. I’ll forgive you now as long as you don’t stop.”
Chuckling in her ear he let his hands glide down her stomach, one hand dipping inside her waistband. Her muscles tightened allowing more room for his hand to slide deeper until he slipped his fingers into her neatly trimmed curls. The sounds slipping from her mouth when he rubbed his hand over her womanly mound excited him. He wanted to please her, would do whatever it took to make her happy.
Looking down, seeing her mouth open in mid-cry, he wanted to taste her sweetness that had been missing these past months. He’d become addicted to her kisses and needed a fix right now. It should be slow and sensuous this first time. As much as he was aching to plunge inside of her delicious warmth, he’d regret not taking his time. Enjoy every moment. We can do hard and fast next time.
His gut clenched thinking this loving could be repeated. He could do this with her forever. She might not be ready to take that step yet but it was what he wanted. Him, her, always, forever.
Lowering his head to kiss her open lips he shifted her so she was facing him, one hand staying on her breast the other moving to run along her back. Meg lifted her hands to run through the hair on his chest then surround his neck, pulling his head closer. Lips opened and closed in rhythm, nipping, sucking, tasting. He slid his tongue inside meeting hers to battle and play.
Slipping her shorts over her hips, he allowed them to slide to the floor leaving her in only a scrap of lace. He picked her up, depositing her on the counter then stood back to stare. God, she was exquisite. The desire shining from her eyes was meant only for him. Shit, he couldn’t get much harder than this.
She leaned back on her hands, an impish grin on her face. “You got something in mind for me up here, soldier? Or are you planning on staring all night long?”
“Staring’s good for now. But probably not all night long. I have a few other ideas I’d like to try.”
“You going to share or will I be surprised?”
He stepped forward resting his hands on either side of her, leaning in close. “I want to take things slow and sweet. Not sure I’m going to make it that long, but I’ll try my damnedest. I thought I’d start by kissing every inch of that silky skin of yours.”
“Every inch?” Her breath hitched with her reply.
“Yeah,” he said lowering his mouth to touch her forehead. “I’ll start right here.”
Pressing soft kisses all around her face, he made sure to get every freckle, then skimmed his lips over her shoulders to nip down one side of her arm before licking up the other. Across the plains of her collarbone then south to the summit of her breasts. Here he flicked his tongue over her rigid nipples, tiny cries of pleasure escaping from her mouth.
He stayed longer, making sure each peak got equal time, then journeyed lower to navigate the terrain around her navel. Dipping his tongue inside, he reveled in the taste of her skin. He skimmed his hands over her thighs, groaning when they parted to allow him to pull her closer.
God, this was a dream but he’d never truly believed it would happen. He continued kissing all he could, hoping it would continue, not knowing if it would. This could all end when he dropped her off tomorrow. But he wouldn’t think of that now. Concentrate on giving her the ultimate pleasure. He’d get his own joy from that.
Hesitating only briefly when he arrived at the juncture of her thighs, he slid the lace down her long legs. The look of longing and desire flaring in the crystal blue of her eyes kept him going. Her whimpers escalated to cries of passion as he pleasured her. She clasped her hands around his head pulling him in deeper. He had no complaints. Soon she’d be at her peak and he wanted to be there to share it with her.
When her breathing grew ragged and her cries rose in volume, he quickly reached in his bag to sheath himself then thrust his arousal into her wet heat.
He didn’t move for a second, just held her close staring into her mesmerized face. She had him completely under a spell. There was no other explanation for how he’d suddenly decided he wanted someone in his life forever. He kissed her swollen lips hoping there was no cure for this. Permanent had never sounded so good.
“If you move even a little,” she warned, her hands sliding into his hair, “I’ll burst into a million little pieces.”
He gave her one last hard kiss then thrust in deeper. “Good, I want to see you fall apart in my hands. I’m on the edge myself now, just from watching you.”
It didn’t take much. He pumped against her a few times and her whole body shuddered. Swallowing her cry of ecstasy, it wouldn’t be long before he joined her. He thrust in and out rhythmically, the desire and intensity building and finally exploding, heat permeating every part of his body. His legs could barely stand yet he still held her firmly in his arms. She looked like a satisfied cat.
“Oh, God,” he breathed out harshly. He wasn’t sure he could say much else.
“I think you mean goddess,” she purred looking sultry and pleased all at once.
“Goddess, you’re absolutely right.”
She played with the hair on the back of his neck. “You should know by now I’m alwa
ys right.”
“You’re also amazing. It’s a good thing we didn’t do that while we were still undercover.”
Meg slid her leg up his, her voice husky, “Why, because it wasn’t professional?”
“No.” He gave a tiny chuckle. “Because I don’t think I would have ever let you out of the bedroom.”
She ran her fingers through the hair covering his chest. “Hmm, I like that idea. We could start now.”
“You’re insatiable and I’m exhausted,” he said as he reluctantly pulled himself from her body and disposed of the condom. “I can’t believe after that much driving I still had enough energy for what we did.”
Meg slipped off the counter and sauntered toward the door. “Maybe after you get a little sleep you can show me what you’ve really got.” She threw him one last mischievous look then disappeared.
She was going to kill him. He grabbed a handful of the packets in his shaving kit and followed her into the room. But what a way to go.
Chapter 22
Meg folded her hands in her lap as they exited the highway. Another mile and they’d be home. Her home. Although she hadn’t been able to call it that for almost two years. Could she do so again? And did she want to?
She lifted her gaze to the handsome man sitting in the driver’s seat. The one who had intensely rocked her world last night and again this morning. She still couldn’t believe the wild and passionate sex as if a dam had burst open and they couldn’t control it. Chris had certainly fulfilled every fantasy she’d ever had and then some. She chuckled silently. She probably needed some better fantasies.
But now that she was in reach of getting where she’d wanted to be for the past two years, she again felt the regret of settling down to a boring existence. Thinking of all she’d been through with Moreno she knew she should be embracing a quiet life. But Chris had made her feel alive again as they’d explored and discovered. That kind of passion was what she wanted always. Would he want it with her? Or was last night merely the scratching of an itch so he could move on to the next damsel?