Long moments ticked by.
“Maybe you should go,” Kasey finally whispered, licking her dry, lower lip.
He yanked her against him and held her so tightly that she felt his rock-hard muscles push into her slender frame. Then leaning back, he took her lips in a long, slow-building kiss that left her breathless and weak.
“Please don’t make me,” he pleaded against her ear, his hot breath sending shivers though her.
“No.”
“No what?”
“No, I won’t make you go,” she responded, gladly giving in to the hot and hungry desire that raged inside her.
“You won’t be sorry.”
“Yes I will, but I don’t care.”
“I want you so much.”
His lips adhered to hers, and he ran his hands under her blouse, wandering across her back where he unclasped her bra. He went from one breast to the other, kneading them.
Only after he pulled her close against him again did he mutter, “The hell with these clothes.”
Holding back their frantic need for each other, they pulled away just long enough to undress. Never removing his gaze from her, Tanner reached for her and sank his lips back onto hers.
His hands made their way down her back and over her buttocks. He traced his fingers down that forbidden path between her cheeks. A gasp of excitement and wonderment split Kasey’s lips in consecutive gasps.
“Like that, huh?” he muttered from deep within his throat.
Too weak to speak, she nodded. His finger found the hot entrance between her legs. Without erring, he thrust a finger into her moistness. She squeezed her thighs together, holding it there as he began to thrust it in and out.
“Oh, Tanner, I’m—”
“Go ahead, darling, let it go.”
Following his throaty command, she pitched her head back, closed her eyes, and cried out, giving into the exquisite sensation that pelted her body.
Once she had climaxed, he urged her into the bedroom and onto the bed. He braced his hands on either side of her, nudged her legs apart with a knee, and thrust into her. While staring down at her, he moved in and out ever so slowly.
“Stop torturing me,” she pleaded.
“That I can do.”
Locking her arms around his waist so as to better anchor him inside her, their bodies joined in a frenzied ride until both cried out in spent satisfaction.
Tanner had a love-hate relationship with erotic dreams. He loved them because they made him feel great. He hated them because he had to wake up.
He didn’t know when he realized the exquisite feelings pounding his body weren’t from a dream. Perhaps it was when he remembered he’d made love to Kasey again and that she was still with him.
Bending over him, actually.
“Kasey,” he heard himself grind out.
“Mmm?”
“What are—” His sentence ended on a deep-seated groan.
“You don’t like it?”
“I love it,” he said, barely able to talk.
Her tongue lashed him again.
“Oh, yes, yes.”
Her mouth surrounded the tip.
“Kasey, Kasey.”
“Do you love this, too?” She sucked.
His buttocks bolted.
“Good, huh?”
“Best ever.”
“I can do even better.”
“That’s…not necessary.”
“Are you sure?”
“Kasey—” He latched on to her hair and dug his fingers into her scalp.
“Yes?”
“You’re…going to make me come.”
She sucked harder.
Twenty-Eight
Kasey had awakened a few minutes earlier feeling somewhat disoriented. But when she saw Tanner sitting on the side of her bed, his sinewy back to her, things fell into place. She jerked her eyes off him and stared at the ceiling, her heart beating overtime.
“What time is it?”
Kasey rolled over and looked at the clock on the bedside table. “A little after three.”
“I’m glad you slept,” he said in a low, raspy voice.
“You didn’t?” she asked.
“I kept seeing Carl Neufield’s battered body and the frantic look on his wife’s face.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” she pointed out in a gentle tone.
“God, I’d like to think that, but since I’m not sure, I—” His words played out on a harsh note.
She ached to comfort him, but she didn’t know how. Like Shirley’s murder, Carl’s accident was another of those awful situations that only time would take care of.
“I should go,” he said in that same raspy tone.
“I know.”
“Look at me. Please.”
Reluctantly she did as he asked. Her eyes were all over him, devouring him.
“I could be persuaded otherwise.”
Her breath came hard and fast. How could he want any more sex? They had made love almost continually throughout the night. “You’re insatiable,” she said in a husky voice.
“Only when it comes to you.” He reached out and covered a breast.
“Would you like some breakfast?” she asked, quickly moving out of his reach.
His eyebrows shot up. “Are you cooking?”
“Of course.”
“You’re on. But I’ll help.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“Sure it is.”
Not daring to consider the consequences of her offer, she got up and reached for a robe that was draped across a nearby chair. When she swung around, he was standing.
Naked.
For a moment, she was robbed of speech. The light from the lamp that they’d left on throughout the night fell just right on him. His six-pack abs and burgeoning manhood reheated her blood. Only by sheer force of will was she able to transfer her gaze back to his face. That wasn’t much better. With mussed up hair and a growth of whiskers, he looked rough and dangerous.
And sexy as hell.
“Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed.” He chuckled.
“Of course not,” she exclaimed, her breath catching.
His chuckle broke into full laughter. “Yes, you are. After last night, I find that mighty hard to believe.”
“I’ll be in the kitchen,” she muttered in a terse tone.
His laughter followed her. Damn him, she thought, clinging to the cabinet for a minute, groping to get her bearings. He offered to go; she should’ve let him. Her son’s image suddenly rose to mind, and she sagged against the counter.
Why couldn’t she be strong when it came to Tanner and sexual fascination with him?
“Need any help?”
Without turning around, she said, “No, I’m about to make the coffee.”
“At least let me do that.” He crossed the kitchen and before she could offer further protests, he reached for the filters.
Shortly, the coffee, bacon, eggs and biscuits were done, and they were at the table eating in silence. At least Tanner was. Every bite she took seemed to curdle in her stomach. Not so with him. He had wolfed down the entire contents of his plate which she’d heaped high.
His eating habits reminded her so much of Brock. Her stomach completely revolted at that thought, which forced her to push her plate away.
“Do you ever eat?”
“When I’m hungry.”
“I’m ravenous.”
“No kidding.”
He paused, his cup midway to his lips, a twinkle in his eye. “You shouldn’t be such a good cook.”
“I’ve had a lot of practice,” she said lightly, wishing again she’d kept her mouth shut. The idea that she had made hot love most of the night then fixed breakfast for her lover was ridiculous.
“I could get used to this.” He reached for her hand. “How ’bout you?”
Startled, her eyes widened as goose bumps feathered her skin.
“You’re jumpy as a cat on a barbed-wire fe
nce.”
Kasey withdrew her hand, but the damage was done. That touch had set off every pulse point in her body.
“I’m not jumpy.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“I know.”
His eyes pierced hers. “Which tells me the answer is no.”
“I don’t want any commitments, Tanner.”
“I’m not asking for any. I just want us to be together.”
She shifted her gaze. “For me, that’s commitment.”
“What are you afraid of, Kasey?”
She got up abruptly and walked to the sink, then realized she was empty-handed. When she was around him, all rational thought seemed to leave her.
“I won’t hurt you,” he said to her back. “And I sure won’t hurt your son.”
Her body went rigid. “Leave Brock out of this.”
“I know you’re pissed because I asked him to help me.”
She turned around and crossed her arms over her breasts. “Could we not talk about this right now?”
His lips flat-lined. “I don’t want to stop seeing you.”
“We see each other almost every day.”
“You’re being deliberately obtuse,” he said in an irritated tone.
She kept her silence.
“All right, Kasey, I won’t push. But I’m giving you fair warning, I want you in my life and I’m not going to go down without a fight.”
“We’re too different, Tanner. Our lives are on different tracks. But that aside I—” She broke off. “Look, right now, there’s too much turmoil in my life for you to add to it. Why can’t we just work together?”
His hot gaze raked over her. “I think you know the answer to that. All I have to do is touch you—”
“Stop it,” she lashed out. “And please, just go.”
When the door to her apartment slammed a few minutes later, she flinched.
“I’m assuming you’ve seen the papers, son?”
I’m not your son, Tanner wanted to say, but he refrained. It wasn’t Jack Milstead’s fault that he was out of sorts. It was his own fault for getting involved with a woman who meant more to him than a casual lay. She was fast becoming his obsession.
“Actually I haven’t.”
After he’d left Kasey’s, Tanner had returned home, taken a shower, then crashed. He’d awakened late and had headed straight to the hospital to check on his injured employee.
The second he’d stepped out of his vehicle, Daisy Greer and the others had pounced on him.
“Are you cutting corners on the job, Mr. Hart?” she had demanded.
“Absolutely not.”
“Can you prove that?”
“Yes,” he’d lashed back.
“If Carl Neufield dies, will you assume responsibility?”
He’d never ever considered striking a woman until that moment. Instead he’d told her. “I have no further comment.”
Now, he forced himself back to the conversation at hand. “You’re joking,” Woody Lamar said with disbelief, switching his soggy cigar to the other side of his mouth.
Woody was one of Tanner’s chief financial backers who chose to remain on the sidelines. Because of the latest debacle, however, Jack had urged him to get involved. Tanner didn’t have a problem with that. Even if he did, he couldn’t afford to bite the hand that fed him.
“Nothing about this is a joke, Woody.”
“Well,” Jack said in an ill-humored tone, “the god-damned media’s having a field day with the accident. You and your company are headlines.”
Tanner ignored the sick feeling invading his stomach. “I’ve already been on the receiving end of Greer’s sharp tongue and poison pen. I’m thinking I held my own, but we’ll see.”
He paused, settling his gaze on Jack. “By the way, thanks for asking about Carl.” His tone was sardonic.
Woody removed the cigar, then ran a hand over his bald head. “Who the hell is Carl?”
“The worker who fell through the floor, almost killing himself.”
“I guess I didn’t get his name,” Woody mumbled under his breath.
“You know I’m concerned about him,” Jack said, ignoring Woody’s comment. “But I’m also concerned that this latest screwup is going to cost you the election.”
Tanner almost said screw the election. But he didn’t mean that. He wanted to win the senate seat as much as ever, only not at the expense of a man’s life.
“If the guy doesn’t die, then maybe there’s hope,” Woody said. “What are his chances for a full recovery?”
Tanner leaned back in his chair. “Good, according to the doctor. But he’s awfully banged up and still in intensive care.”
Jack swore.
“So was it an accident?” Woody asked.
“I’m waiting for Paul to get back to me on that,” Tanner replied. “He and the police are working together to try and determine the cause.”
“If it’s faulty material, then—” Jack broke off with a savage shake of his head, making his pink cheeks jiggle.
“I’m not ruling that out,” Tanner said, blowing out his breath. “We ordered from a new supplier.” He grimaced.
“Just as long as your crew didn’t cut corners.”
Tanner’s eyes narrowed to slits. “I can guarantee that didn’t happen.”
“How?” Jack demanded. “You’re rarely on the job site.”
“I trust Paul.” Tanner’s tone was cold and brooked no argument. “And he’s there. Practically 24/7.”
“I just wish for once some of Butler’s luck would rub off on you, Tanner,” Woody chimed in. “Why can’t you land in a tub of shit and come out smelling like a rose same as Butler?”
Despite his less than flattering comment, Tanner was relieved to see a smile on Woody’s face. Still, he knew Woody was serious. Right now, things couldn’t look grimmer.
“By the time that female reporter gets through with him,” Jack said, “he’ll drown in that tub of shit.”
“Dammit, Jack, stop talking about me like I’m not in the room.”
Jack glared at Tanner.
Tanner’s fury rose. “Are you saying I should throw in the fucking towel?”
“You know better than that,” Jack said.
Tanner’s eyes continued to drill him. “This is the second time I’ve gotten that feeling, and I don’t like it. From now on, I’d advise you to keep those kinds of comments to yourself.”
He was furious and he wanted them to know it. What had happened on the job hadn’t been his fault or his foreman’s. If the supplier had shipped faulty material, then it would pay. He’d see to that.
“Hey, guys, calm down,” Woody injected. “We’re all on the same side here.”
Tanner held his silence, not about to apologize.
“I have to agree with the guys, Tanner. It seems you’re determined to give Butler this election on a silver platter.”
All eyes faced the door.
“Hello, Irene,” Jack said in an unamused voice.
Tanner turned stoic as Irene strode through the door. And let the second round of fireworks begin.
Twenty-Nine
She hadn’t seen or talked to Tanner in several days.
Kasey tried not to let that bother her, but it did. She missed him, though she was loath to admit that even to herself. At certain moments during the night and day, she did acknowledge that. Her heart would almost break at the impossibility of their situation.
She wanted Tanner and he wanted her. They also needed each other during these trying times. Brock’s situation, Shirley’s unsolved murder, and the pending lawsuit with the agency gnawed at her continuously.
Tanner fared no better. He was under siege as well from the media. To date no definitive decision had been reached as to what caused the ill-fated accident. Hence, the investigation was ongoing. And so was Tanner’s campaign even though it was a bumpy ride. The polls bore testimony to that. His popularity was up one day and down the nex
t.
In spite of their emotional attachment, she could never have him. So why did she continue to punish herself? Perhaps it was because she had never experienced this heady, breathless feeling, this rush, she felt with him.
If that wasn’t love, then it was the next best thing. That frightened her even more. How could she have let him invade her soul?
She had always considered herself a strong person, one who played by the rules and who learned from her mistakes. Or so she’d thought. Her involvement with Tanner had proved otherwise. But in defense of herself, he had snuck in the back door of her life, caught her when she was the most vulnerable.
Still, she couldn’t blame him. If she were to give in to her heart’s desire, she and her son would both suffer. She had spent a lifetime guarding her secret, and she would continue to do so.
“My, but you’re deep in thought.”
Kasey shook her head to clear it, then turned and smiled at Red who had just ambled into the workroom. “Not as deep as I should be.” She’d been there since dawn but to her chagrin didn’t have much to show for it.
“From the looks of things, I’d say you’ve been kicking butt.”
Kasey sighed. “In my case, looks can be deceiving.”
“Oh, I doubt that,” Red countered before easing his rear onto a high work stool.
“Doubt what?” Don Hornsby asked, making his appearance into the room.
Red gestured with a hand. “Never mind.”
Don shrugged, then also took a seat.
“What happened to you?” Red asked, peering closer at Don. “Did you tie one on last night?”
“That’s none of your damn business,” Don snapped, glaring at Red.
“Enough, okay,” Kasey said. Though she couldn’t help but notice that Red had grounds for his comment. Don looked different. Acted different. He had gone from one stool to another yet hadn’t taken a seat on either. Agitated was the word. And his eyes, there was something about them that just didn’t appear right.
“Am I late?”
“No, you’re not.” Kasey smiled at the media specialist, Lance Sagemont, as he strolled in. “In fact, you’re right on time.”
Lance was silent, though his gaze seemed to peruse his surroundings, finally resting on Don. “What happened to you?”
Pulse Points Page 20