A Lick of Flame

by Cathryn Fox

  “I’m not staying here.”

  When she gave him an agitated look, he said, “On the job, you’re in charge, but you’re in my territory now, remember?”

  She threw off the covers. “Forget it, Sean. I’m coming.”

  Sean was about to protest but simply shook his head instead. “Fine, but I go first. Remember, male pride and all.”

  Sean pulled on a pair of jeans, and they made their way to the front door. When he pushed it open, the same uneasy feeling that someone was watching him had the hairs on his nape rising in warning. He stepped outside, glanced around the street, and relaxed when he spotted a tipped garbage can, a raccoon sifting through the contents inside.

  When he turned back, Madison was standing so close to him he nearly crashed into her. “Just a raccoon,” he said.

  They both stepped inside and he locked the door behind him. He followed Madison back to the bedroom. She moved past him, jumped into his bed and pulled the blankets up.

  As he stared at her, he knew tonight’s blaze had rattled her more than she let on. He also knew Madison was brave and courageous, but as she lay there in his bed, he couldn’t help thinking she looked a little lost, a little thrown off her game. And why wouldn’t she, considering what she’d gone through? As everything inside him reached out to her, he couldn’t stop himself from crossing the room to slip in beside her. When he put his hand on her shoulder to offer his comfort, she turned her back to him and he felt her stiffen, her guard back in place.

  “What are you—?”

  “I’m just going to stay here for a little bit.”

  “I don’t think—”

  “Just until you fall asleep.”

  “Why?”

  He gave a mock shiver and knew she wasn’t ready to talk about her vulnerabilities, so he said, “The truth is that was one big-ass raccoon.” He snuggled closer. “I’m just hiding out in here until I’m sure he’s gone,” he teased, trying to lighten her mood and help her relax.

  When he felt her warm heat wrap around him, his cock thickened, despite his vow to keep it marshaled.

  The low noise in her throat matched his, and he could have sworn it was a heady mixture of arousal and need. Either that or his cock was bruising her luscious backside as it pressed deep, seeking entry. Good God, he couldn’t seem to keep his dick from swelling when in her presence.

  “Sean,” she said again, and he wondered if she was going to kick his sorry ass to the other room, but then she took him by surprise and said, “Good night.”

  He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight. She shuffled beside him, pulling her blankets higher, and a moment later her hand found his. As her fingers curled through his, he felt her body relax into his.

  He put his mouth close to her ear and whispered, “Get some sleep, sweetheart.”

  As much as she aroused him, and as much as he’d love to bury himself in her and help her forget all her worries, tonight he was determined to just hold her and make her feel safe.

  Tomorrow, however, was a different story. His original plan had been to talk to her, to tell her how desirable she really was, and how much they belonged together, but he suddenly knew talking wasn’t enough. He now knew that Madison had pushed him away because of her insecurities, because she didn’t feel desirable or worthy of love. He’d have to show her how special she really was and he also knew it would take drastic measures to prove to a smart, sexy woman like her that he was interested in playing for keeps.

  Chapter Five

  Streaks of morning light filtered in through the crack in the curtains, the bright rays pulling Madison from her deep, restful slumber. As she stretched her arms out, memories of last night came rushing back and her entire body tightened in response. She slowly turned around, but when she found the other side of Sean’s bed empty, her heart fell into her stomach and disappointment chilled her bones like cold winter rain.

  Honestly, she had no right to be upset to find his side of the bed vacant. After all, he’d said he would only stay until she’d fallen asleep. And even though finding the other side of the mattress unoccupied was probably for the best, there was some small part of her that liked the idea of waking up next to him, liked the idea of him wanting to spend the entire night holding her.

  Oh Lord, she was in serious trouble here.

  No matter how much she wanted him, she never should have handed herself over to him last night at Harry’s. And even though her back deck fire had brought back painful memories, she never should have allowed him to hold her and make her feel warm and safe while she fell asleep.

  During their sexual romp on the rooftop, not only had Sean proved that he cared about her pleasures, but after the blaze he also proved that he cared about her well-being. No man had ever made her feel so important or special. While his compassion and thoughtfulness only succeeded in drawing her in deeper, it still didn’t change the fact that they weren’t, and never would be, a couple.

  Good God, she was in way over her head, and if she hadn’t signed a contract with J.T. Public Relations to oversee security for the Boys of Beachville Calendar campaign, she might just be tempted to skip town until she got her head on straight and her emotions under control. Then again, when it came to Sean, she was pretty certain that was never going to happen.

  When she heard a noise coming from the other room, she pushed back the covers and climbed to her feet. Padding softly down the hall, she listened to Sean talking in soft words.

  She rounded the corner to the kitchen and found him whispering into his phone. Not wanting to eavesdrop, she was about to leave, but when she heard mention of his uncle’s yacht, she wondered if the firm wanted another photo shoot on the water. She cringed at the thought of another trip out to sea, knowing how it would affect him.

  Unaware of her presence, she watched him for a moment and thought more about the quiet, reflective side of him, a side that was both sweet and caring. Jesus, she was crazy to think that when it came to Sean she could keep things casual.

  She needed to get out of there, to get herself as far away from Sean as possible before her heart exploded into a million tiny pieces. She made a move to go, but when Sean twisted around and a smile lit his handsome face, her entire body weakened with need. Lord, the man had the ability to set her on fire with just one smoldering look.

  “Good morning.” He placed the phone back on the hook and leaned against the doorjamb.

  “Good morning,” she responded. As his jeans rode low, exposing his tight oblique muscles, she tried not to stare. She really did. But he was so hard and sexy that it was damn near impossible not to drink him in.

  When she forced her eyes to his, Sean made a face, one that reminded her of a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Sorry,” he said.

  Madison’s head jerked back with a start. “Sorry for what?”

  “I didn’t mean to spend the whole night.”

  Okay, that took her by surprise. “You spent the whole night?”

  “Yeah, I promised you I wouldn’t, and then I did.” He gave an apologetic shrug. “I just woke up.” When he gestured toward the countertop, the delectable scent of coffee reached her nose. “Thought you might like to wake up to a cup.”

  His thoughtfulness never failed to warm her heart, but she had no right to feel emotional. She knew damn well what she was getting into when she handed her pleasures over to him. “I would. Thank you.”

  “Did you sleep well?” He reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. Feeling completely self-conscious as he exposed her scar, she was about to flip it back, but when his eyes left her face and travelled the length of her body, some deeper emotion in his expression stopped her. Something tortured passed over his face as he took her in. It was a familiar look, one she’d seen from him before. This time instead of running away, she spent a long time staring back at him, and as she really took the time to decipher the glance he was aiming her way, her heart hammered and she suddenly wondered if she’d be
en wrong about him. Had she been mistaking that tortured gaze for pity? Could that expression stem from something else entirely? Something like desire?

  Perplexed, she frowned and stared at him, suddenly wondering if she’d been reading him wrong all this time. Everything in her gut told her he wanted more from her than just a one-night fling. Her gut had never been wrong before, but did she dare hope?

  “What?” he asked.

  She shook her head to clear it. “Nothing.”

  “You have a strange look on your face.”

  “I do?” She tried to school her features as her mind raced, working to sort things through.

  He gave her a wink and said, “Yeah, you’re kind of freaking me out.”

  With that Madison laughed and pushed past him. Looking for a distraction as her mind raced a mile a minute, she went in search of a mug, but when she spotted a stack of notes on his table, and the words You’ll always be mine jumped out at her, she stopped.

  “Sean?” She knew he’d received disturbing groupie letters in the past, and that was the main reason she was overseeing his security, but something else was going on here. “What are you not telling me?”

  He gave a long sigh, as if he was debating how much to tell her. “A few of the letters have been getting more threatening lately.”

  “I can see that.” Madison looked at the pile, and then thought back to the photo shoot on the yacht, and how Sean seemed concerned about something. Was this what he was keeping from her? “Have you reported this?”

  “I talked to Carter this morning.”

  Tara jumped to her mind. “Did he find anything out?”

  “Not yet. He talked to Tara, but there is no evidence she’s responsible for the fire.” He pointed to the letters. “Or for those.”

  Madison waved the paper. “Well, until we figure out who this is, you’re not safe.”

  “Neither are you. Which means you’re staying with me”—he drove his thumb into his chest—“until this is settled.”

  She planted her hands on her hips, and while she liked this protective side of Sean, she challenged, “Hey, just who do you think is in charge here?”

  Sean grinned and stepped into her, until her body was pressed against him. “You want to wrestle it out?”

  She was well past the point of denying that she liked surrendering her control to him, liked letting him take care of her. But the thoughts of wrestling around with Sean, his body on top of hers, pinning her to the floor, had heat rushing to her pussy. Just then the coffeemaker beeped. “Looks like you were just saved by the bell.”

  Sean laughed, made his way to the coffeemaker, and grabbed two mugs from the overheard cupboard, all thoughts of wrestling seemingly forgotten.

  Less than an hour later, after Madison stopped by her place for a change of clothes, morning sunshine warmed her body as she stood outside the firehouse while Sean took questions from the media, the crowd consisting mainly of women. Laughter could be heard as he entertained the group of reporters, giving each and every journalist his undivided attention as he responded to their queries. A quiver moved through her as she stood back to watch, enjoying the view from the side of the lot. When moisture broke out on her skin, she had the feeling that it had more to do with Sean and less to do with the August heat.

  He shot her a sidelong glance and his eyes filled with interest when they locked on hers. Madison’s pulse leapt as she tried to wrap her head around this turn of events. Could Sean really like her, the way she liked him?

  A movement from behind caught her attention. She turned to see Tara approach.

  “Madison,” Tara said.

  “Tara,” she returned.

  “He looks good, doesn’t he?”

  Just the thought that this woman could have set the fire to Madison’s condo, or that she could be responsible for the harassing letters, riled Madison and had her senses going on high alert. She glared at the woman. “What do you want, Tara?”

  “Just here for my interview.”

  Madison didn’t buy that for a minute, and just before she was about to ask Tara to leave, Tara said, “Look at him. Isn’t it amazing how he can make each woman feel so special? Like she’s the most important woman in the world to him?”

  As Tara’s words rang true, Madison’s turned to see Sean. There was no denying that Sean had a knack for making everyone in his presence feel important, and Madison was no exception. A lump pushed into her throat as she took a moment to mull that over, to consider what it could mean. Perhaps her gut couldn’t be trusted and she hadn’t been so wrong about Sean after all. Perhaps she didn’t mean anything more to him than a wild night on the rooftop, and that his look really was from pity, not want. As that seed of doubt blossomed, she drew a deep breath and let it out slowly.

  “What, did you think you were different? That the two of you had something special? He’s a playboy, Madison, and not to be trusted,” Tara said, her voice mocking as she glared at Madison.

  Madison, hating that her emotions were so transparent, hardened herself and said, “Time for you to leave, Tara.”

  Maintaining her composure, Tara looked revolted as her glance moved to Madison’s cheek. “And if Sean was playing for keeps, do you really think he’d pick you? I mean, look at you, Madison. You’re not even his type, and that scar leaves you rather…undesirable, don’t you think?”

  Madison knew Tara was taunting her, but the words coming from her mouth still stung anyway, striking a chord that rang too close to the truth for comfort. But she wasn’t about to take the bait, or show Tara how much her words affected her, despite the fact that they were tearing her up inside.

  She kept her voice level and grabbed Tara’s arm to escort her away.

  Following along, Tara said, “You know, Madison. Sometimes when you play with fire, you do get burned.”

  As Madison realized just how true that statement was, her entire world tilted on its axis. God, she’d been such a fool to think she could have meant anything more to him than a fuck on the rooftop, and honestly she had no one to blame but herself. Sean had never promised anything more, and while she hadn’t gone into this blind, she was sure as hell coming out of it with her eyes wide open.

  Chapter Six

  Night had fallen by the time they’d finished all their promo work and now it was time for Sean to put his plan into motion, one he’d set up earlier that morning before Madison had woken up in his bed.

  He’d been swamped all day with the various interviews arranged by the public relations firm and hadn’t had much time to speak with her, but now, as he negotiated the quiet streets in her car, he could tell she had something on her mind.

  He turned to face her. “You okay?”

  “Fine,” she said, and feigned a yawn. “Just tired. I’ll drop you off at the station to get your car then I need to get back to my place. Carter is on the case, so I’m sure it’s safe to go home. And I can always stay with Haley if need be.”

  Sean listened to her ramble on and wondered what was really going on inside that pretty head of hers. She seemed distant and distracted, and he could once again feel her pulling away from him.

  “Okay,” he agreed, even though he had no intention of letting her go home, no intention of letting her out of his sight, partly because he planned to keep watch over her until they arrested the person responsible for the fire, and partly because he planned to show her what she meant to him before the night was over. “We have one more stop to make.”

  She gave him a perplexed frown. “Not according to my itinerary.”

  “It was a last-minute change in the schedule.”

  “Oh,” she said, pulling a paper from her pocket to examine it. When he eased his car into a parking spot near the dock, she asked, “Where are we going?”

  “To the boat.”

  She nodded as if she understood then climbed from the car. He captured her hand in his and carefully guided her along the wobbly wharf. When they reached his uncle’s yacht, Sean
spoke to the captain who was waiting for them, then turned to usher Madison on board.

  When she reached the main deck, she furrowed her brow and glanced around. “Sean, there’s no one here.”

  “Down there,” he said, and pushed open the door to the cabin below.

  Madison stepped ahead of him and descended the three steps. At the bottom, she turned back to him. “There is no one here, either.”

  Sean flicked the lamp on and gave her a smile full of sensual promise. “I know.”

  Confusion lit her eyes. “What’s going on?”

  “What’s going on is that I fucked everything up last night and tonight I plan on making it right.”

  Madison swallowed and a pink flush colored her cheeks as equal mixtures of surprise and curiosity washed over her face. “Making it right? What are you talking about?”

  “You see, sweetheart,” he began as he nudged her until she fell backward on the bed, making it perfectly clear what was going to happen between them tonight. “I want you. I want you so badly that I can barely think straight. But I never should have taken you on the rooftop like that. You deserve better from me.”

  He could practically see the wheels spinning as a bevy of emotions passed over her eyes. Then, when she realized exactly what he was up to, she said, “Ohmygod.”

  He cocked his head. “Praying again, Madison?”

  When the engine started up, Sean began to undress, pulling off his T-shirt and unbuckling his belt. “It’s like this, Madison. Last night when we had sex, it was to prove to both of us that beneath that guarded exterior of yours, a warm and sensuous woman exists, one who gets to me in a way no woman ever has before. But tonight, well, tonight I’m going to prove something else to you.”

  “Something else?” she whispered, intrigue clouding her expressive eyes.

  He bent forward and brushed her hair back to expose her entire face. “Yeah, baby, I’m going to show you what I see.”

  “What are you talking about?”