by Claire Adele
“I’m happy to meet you, too,” she said. “I couldn’t help hearing you say that you were following the Hawks. Are they the guys who attacked you with such viciousness?”
“Yeah,” he answered, softly. “I’m a private investigator along with my business partners, Derek and Mike Wolfson. We’ve been investigating the illegal activities of the Hawks’ gang for a while. We’re hoping to find evidence that will put them in prison. They’re a ruthless gang of criminals.”
“Oh,” she said, her eyes wide. “What’s the name of your business?”
“It’s Desert Edge Investigations. Let me help you with those ice bags.” He reached out, but she took a step back. He lifted his eyebrows in question.
“Now that I think about it, I imagine you’d like a shower first. I have some clean clothing you can wear afterward, and I’ll wash your clothes for you.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Who was he to refuse her request when she’d come to his aid?
“The bathroom is down the hall, and there are clean towels in a basket in the corner. Help yourself.”
Juan could think of more than a shower he’d like to help himself to. “Thanks, Cynthia. I won’t be long.”
“Just drop your dusty clothes outside the door, and I’ll throw them in the washing machine.”
“Will do.” He’d best head for a cold shower quick if he knew what was good for him.
* * * *
Cynthia put the ice bags in the freezer and gathered the pile of clothing he’d left outside the bathroom door. She could hear the shower going and Juan humming a song to himself. It made her smile. She’d never heard a guy humming in her shower before. It was nice.
After checking his clothes size, she put his clothing in the washer and headed for the garage, where she stored clean clothing ready to be taken to the Desert Edge Rescue Mission downtown. Digging through one of the boxes, she finally found a T-shirt and jeans that should fit Juan’s long legs and narrow hips.
She couldn’t help but notice his trim butt as he walked down the hall to the bath. When she’d helped him outside, the feel of his lean, well-muscled body had amazed her. She folded the clothing and left it on the floor outside the bathroom door.
There was no underwear for him. It wasn’t collected for the people at the rescue mission, only outer clothing. Underwear had to be purchased new. However, the thought of him with only jeans and T-shirt was inspiring.
The shower water quieted. He was finished and would soon rejoin her. She imagined water dripping over that tanned skin and down his torso.
Oh, my. Aching heat spread between her thighs. The vision of him filling her needy flesh left her wet and aching. What was she thinking? What was the matter with her? She didn’t even know this man. It must be the full moon.
The bathroom door opened briefly and closed. It would look odd if she was waiting on the sofa when he came down the hall. She busied herself gathering ice packs from the freezer.
“Thank you for the shower. It felt great.”
“Oh!” She hadn’t heard him enter the kitchen. He walked so quietly. “You’re very welcome. I have the ice packs. Come sit on the sofa, and I’ll help you with them. You’ll have to show me where the worst of the bruises are. Those on your face are obvious. I mean, I can’t see the others under your clothing.”
She gabbed nervously. Her face heated with embarrassment. His proximity and the thought of his bare skin made her self-conscious after daydreaming about him. He smelled wonderful and masculine. Carrying the ice packs, she headed for the den sofa, figuring it would be easiest to arrange the ice packs there.
He followed her, and when she turned to face him, he was carefully pulling his shirt off over his head. She imagined his bruises hurt, and he didn’t want the worst abrasions on his face to start to bleed. She thought of telling him to leave his shirt on, but he was right. It would be easier to apply the ice packs with his skin bared to reveal the bruises.
The lamplight glinted off a gold wolf’s head pendant and chain he wore around his neck, the bruises around his throat a dark contrast. His shirt had hidden the gold chain until now. She should have given him a button-up shirt to make undressing easier for him. How silly she didn’t think of it before. The night’s events and this gorgeous man made her spacey.
His trim waist supported magnificent abs. His chest was broad and muscular. Spread across his chest, a sprinkling of dark hair tapered to a narrow line between his abs and descended beneath his jeans waistline. The bulge below made her look away as she tried not to notice. Her breaths increased in spite of herself. She glanced up to meet his gaze as he eased the shirt off and tossed it over the arm of the sofa.
He stood looking at her with a hint of a smile on his face. He must be well aware how his body affected women.
“Let’s sit on the sofa, and I’ll put the ice packs where you need them.” He complied. She sat down near him and put the ice packs in her lap. Lord, they were cold. Probably a good thing for her, too. She needed cooling down.
“Lean back against the pillows in the corner there.” He did as she directed. “You’ll need to hold the ice packs against the bruises on your face. Here, let me help you.” As he gripped a small bag of ice, she held his hand lightly to guide him. His skin was warm and pleasant to the touch.
Surprisingly, the scrapes already looked better. Satisfied that he covered one of the worst abrasions on his face at the corner of his mouth, she gave him another ice pack and directed his other hand to a swollen bruise at his hairline above his temple on the opposite side of his face. Reaching upward, she lost her balance and caught herself with her hand right on top of the wolf‘s head pendant hanging from the gold chain over his heart.
He dropped the ice bag he’d held against his mouth and covered her hand with his. His heat and the strong beats of his heart slammed into her palm. His erection nudged her belly hard.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to,” she said.
“No problem.” His voice sounded soft and deep, like velvet, and his slight smile reached his eyes, the lamplight shimmering in them.
Her gaze dropped to his lips. What would his kisses feel like? Suddenly, the nearness of his face dawned on her as his breath caressed her. Heat rose like an open fire. She looked away and slipped her hand from under his as she sat up and gathered another ice bag from beside her.
Scanning his torso for bruises, she composed herself, unable to decide which one was the worst. “You’re bruised in so many places. I’ll hand you the ice packs and you can put them where you need them.”
His smile broadened, and she expected him to laugh out loud at her, but his lips twitched as he worked to control his humor. Obviously he was affected by their proximity as well. This close to him, her body was so aroused she wouldn’t mind getting to know him better. She hadn’t experienced such a reaction since she’d met her now-divorced husband.
She handed him the ice packs as he placed them over his abs and waist where he‘d been pummeled by those thugs. She picked up the small bag he’d dropped when he’d covered her hand. Leaning close again, she held the bag in both hands.
He raised his hand, but instead of taking the ice, he slipped his arm around her back and gently pulled her closer. Wondering what he intended, Cynthia waited, spellbound.
“Thank you, querida.” He angled his head and brushed his lips across hers. She sat still, captivated by him. Her lips registered every subtle touch and nuance of his warm kiss…and tingled with the sensations.
With that one soft kiss, everything in her world changed. She recognized it as clearly as if the earth had shifted on its axis. Although she had no idea where this would lead, she would never be the same.
Unnerved, she broke the kiss. “You’re welcome,” was all she could think of to say. It had been a long time for her. Until this moment, she hadn’t known she was ready to meet someone new, or explore another relationship.
Again, he smiled at her with that slight upward tilt of the corners of
his mouth. His arm dropped from her back, and she groped for his hand and placed the ice bag in it. She leaned her side against the back of the sofa and watched him as he pressed the bag to the bruised part of his lips.
“You should keep those ice bags on for another ten minutes, and then we’ll take them off for a while. I have a soothing lotion we can put on the bruises around your throat, instead of using ice there.”
“Don’t worry. I doubt I’ll turn into an iceberg. I heal pretty fast.”
She smiled at him again.
Juan wanted to lower her flat on this sofa and kiss her senseless, slide his aroused cock deep inside her warm, wet pussy. She made him hungry to taste her. He wanted to stroke her until she screamed in ecstasy.
It had been a long time. She drew him strongly. He longed to cup her breasts and suck her nipples while she arched against him. What would it feel like to have her hand curl around his cock and stroke him? She had soft, smooth fingers. Thinking about it made him harder.
“I think that’s been long enough,” she said. “Let’s put these back in the fridge for a while.”
Her words jerked him back from his daydream. She removed one ice pack after another. Her fingers grazed the heated skin of his lower torso.
Dios. Juan inhaled swiftly but steeled his reaction. He didn’t want to chase her off.
After she put the bags on the coffee table, she raised her hand to take the one he’d replaced on his face.
He couldn’t resist. He cupped the back of her head. When she didn’t pull away, he pulled her closer and brushed his lips across hers. She didn’t protest. Her warm, smooth lips drew him. He licked the seam of her lips, and she parted them. As he delved his tongue within her sweet, wet mouth and tasted her honey, explored silken textures, and stroked, she moaned. Her body shifted closer, and her hands braced against his chest.
Her touch ignited a fire in him that wouldn’t be easily put out. He shook with the force of his desire. Her scent filled his head, made the beast in him hungry to taste all of her.
The sound of her soft sigh had his cock tenting the blue jeans. Sliding both arms around her, he pulled her snug against him. Her belly pressed against his erection. Groaning with pleasure, he angled his lips over hers and swept his delving tongue through her warm mouth. He touched and caressed every surface but couldn’t get enough of her sweet taste.
His need for her to spread her legs and take his stiffened cock inside her slick pussy drove him without mercy. How far would she go? He hated to scare her off by moving too fast.
He smoothed one hand up her side and covered her full, firm breast. When she moaned but didn’t protest, he brushed his thumb across her nipple. It was hard, and he wanted to taste and suck it deep into his mouth. He lifted the bottom edge of her short top until her bared breast nestled in his palm. Dios, she felt so fucking good.
Breaking their kiss gently, he looked down as he lifted her breast. Her skin was like pale satin, and it shone in the lamplight. Her dusky-pink nipple rose erect and full. He had to taste her.
He lowered his head and took her swollen nipple into his mouth. He drew hard and licked, teasing with his tongue.
She whimpered, moved her hips against him, and arched her back, offering him more. “Oh my. Juan.” Her short breaths came rapidly. “What are we doing? I want you, but I’ve just met you!”
He released her sweet flesh. “I know, querida. I want you, too.”
“This must be happening too fast, but it doesn’t feel that way.”
“No, it feels like I’ve known you a long time. What do you want to do?”
“I think I need to take things a little slower, no matter how I feel,” she said. “I’ve only been divorced for a year. Surely, it’s too soon to become involved again.”
“Cindy, this could be good between us. Do you want to have some fun and see where it goes? We don’t have to take things too seriously. We could have a great time.” He looked at her swollen lips and her serious eyes. Say yes, Cindy.
Chapter Three
Cynthia stared into his dark brown eyes, searching for the truth. She saw honesty. Somehow, looking at his open expression, she saw his willingness to accept what she wanted. He wasn’t like her ex-husband. He didn’t demand she have sex with him no matter how she felt at the moment.
This was different. Juan was different. Yet, she’d thought she’d known her former husband, and she’d been fooled.
“Would you like to play a little without getting seriously involved?” Juan’s eyebrows raised in question. “I think you’d enjoy it.”
“Yes, I think I would,” she answered. “I agree. We don’t need a serious relationship to enjoy ourselves.” And it would give her an opportunity to get to know more about Juan.
The doorbell rang. She hadn’t even heard a car drive up, she’d been so focused on Juan.
“That must be Derek,” Juan said, and sighed. “I guess he decided to come sooner than later.”
Not the best timing. But at least with Juan leaving now, she’d have a chance to think about what she’d agreed to. And reconsider, if she needed to.
She pulled back a little and Juan slid his hands down to her waist.
“When will I see you again?” he asked.
“Later today?” She smiled. “Your clothes are still in the dryer, and you’ll need to pick them up.”
He grinned. “How about I come by this evening for them?”
“Fine. We can have dinner here if you’d like to.”
“Sounds like a plan. Shall I bring wine or beer?”
“Red wine would be perfect.” She smiled at him again. “I’d better get the door.”
She rose from the sofa and headed to the front entry. Opening the door wide, she felt Juan’s warmth close behind her.
“Hi,” a tall, good-looking, sandy-haired guy said.
“Derek,” Juan said.
“Come in,” Cynthia invited.
“Thanks, but I left my date waiting,” Derek said. “Can I take a rain check?”
“Sure,” Cynthia assured him.
“Cynthia, this is one of my business partners and my good friend, Derek Wolfson. Derek, meet Cynthia Krystal. She helped me out when the Hawks attacked me.”
“Good to meet you. Thanks for coming to my partner’s rescue.”
“I would have called 911 for him, but he refused.”
“That sounds like Juan.”
“Come on, Derek, before we wear out our welcome,” Juan said as he took a step past her and clamped a hand on Derek’s shoulder. Juan looked at her and met her gaze. “Thank you for your help,” he said, his voice soft and warm. “I’ll call you later.”
“Let me know how it goes with your car.” She grinned at Juan.
He waved and pushed his friend toward a gray Honda Civic. It seemed like Juan didn’t want Derek hanging around her too long. Maybe Juan was a little possessive. That was all right with her, since she’d just as soon keep their future fun private.
It was too soon after her divorce to even think about a serious relationship.
Her personal goals came first these days. Second would be getting to know Juan. Handsome as sin, he must work outside mostly. He didn’t seem the office-paperwork sort. Those firm, sculpted lips and his big gentle hands had done amazingly sexy things to her.
* * * *
“She seems nice,” Derek said as he and Juan strode to his Civic.
“Real nice. Keep your hands off her, my friend,” Juan said.
Derek’s eyebrows shot up just as they opened the car doors and lowered themselves into the seats. “But she looks like she’d be a fun girl to know,” he protested, fastening his seat belt.
“Definitely,” Juan admitted, stretching his legs out and settling back in the seat. “Except we’re not sharing this time. Cindy’s all mine.”
“When did this happen?”
“After the fight with the Hawks. I don’t understand it myself, but I want Cindy, and I’m not interested in a threes
ome.”
On occasion in the past, he and Derek had enjoyed sharing a woman. Now, he felt an unusual feral possessiveness about Cindy. He had no plans to let things get too serious. The way he felt about her didn’t make sense, especially after Angie, but there it was.
“If that’s how you feel, I understand. I’ll just have to find myself a voluptuous blonde.”
Juan snorted and smiled at his friend’s comment.
“How did those Hawks get hold of you?” Derek asked.
Juan explained how it went down, and added, “I won’t let that happen again.” The old, green, ’69 Grand Prix was probably done. It had met its match in the big Hummer.
Derek shook his head. “Next time you decide to follow the Hawks to their gated neighborhood, take me with you. The odds will be more even that way.”
“You got that right,” Juan agreed.
* * * *
Cynthia curled up in the overstuffed armchair in the den. She needed to sort through what had happened this night. Although she was attracted to Juan, was she making another big mistake by encouraging him?
There were obvious, big differences between the image Juan put forth and how she had come to live her life and portray herself as a well-to-do woman. She’d worked hard to make her place in the social strata her former husband took for granted. He’d been born to it, and she had not. Now she was able to accomplish good things for the needy, and she knew people who could help her accomplish those goals.
Juan seemed less refined than the men in the circles she’d come to frequent, but he was a good guy, honest, and seemed genuinely interested in his work as a private investigator. From what he’d told her, he focused on ridding the community of that gang that attacked him.
She wouldn’t let anything interfere with her charity work for the Desert Edge Rescue Mission. She refused to allow anyone to keep her from providing clothing and food for the most desperate cases of homeless people on her side of the city.
Just thinking about that sexual tug Juan’s kiss ignited in her made her wonder if maybe she could handle a short fling now, or a low-key relationship with him. His long-fingered, strong hands had left her definitely wanting more of his touches.