Torrid Love - Caught!

by Lorie O'Clare

  “Are you here to offer a confession?” Jordan watched the fire burn in her gaze when she turned on him, raising her hand quickly to slap at him when he reached for her.

  “No, I’m not here to offer a confession,” she hissed, turning to march back through the house toward her car. “But if that’s what you think, there’s no reason to continue this conversation.”

  The light attached to the side of the house cast dark shadows, making it impossible for her to see his expression.

  She stopped when she reached the patio doors leading back into his home. Turning, she studied him. “I came here to exchange information. Hall Enterprises won’t survive this if we don’t do something soon. Money is disappearing, and you’ve just lost a damn good accountant. And it sounds like you might do better without me, too.”

  “You aren’t going anywhere.” Jordan spoke the words under his breath so that Roxanne almost didn’t hear him.

  He hadn’t followed her this time. He still leaned against the railing that bordered the deck, and she could see his face clearly at this angle. For a second she thought she saw something gentle flicker in those black eyes. He needs me, she thought to herself. Jordan Hall risks losing everything, and if he loses the people around him capable of helping him, he might not stand a chance.

  Why couldn’t he acknowledge that fact himself? He had intelligence. Roxanne would stick to him like glue if he would let her know how much he needed her.

  “I drove to Nebraska to help and couldn’t move for fear of being arrested,” she shouted out at him.

  “That wouldn’t have happened,” Jordan said.

  Roxanne blinked. His words confused her for a moment and she stared at him. “You think that I’m guilty of stealing money from you,” she said under her breath.

  “Did I say that?” Jordan straightened and walked toward her.

  Roxanne forgot to move from his path as a dull throb began in the soft folds of skin between her legs. She craned her neck to watch him as he approached.

  “Your detective implied it,” she said, feeling suddenly confused by his question. “And so did Ralph Layette.”

  “I believe I heard something to that effect.” Jordan stopped as he reached her, and still she seemed unable to move. It was as if he had placed a spell over her, forbidding her feet to take flight.

  “I’m not your thief.” Roxanne didn’t know what else to say to him, shy of rehashing her every move over the past couple weeks in order to prove her innocence.

  “I know you aren’t,” Jordan said, and brushed his knuckles over her cheekbone and then down toward her neck.

  He slid his fingers toward the back of her neck, and then with the side of his hand, pressed against her chin so that she raised her face. His black eyes radiated like onyx, and she felt his breath mix with hers, before his lips pressed against her forehead. He began a path around the edge of her face with his soft, dry lips, and the dull throb between her legs exploded, her cream soaking her pussy. Suddenly it was as if the deck turned sideways, her world toppling over while he made her come with a simple kiss.

  Roxanne took a step backward, and then paced across the deck into a darker corner. She stared at the shadowed landscape without focusing on any of it.

  “Why did you let your investigator imply that I was guilty?” she asked, needing fresh air. Her entire body burned with need. Her legs were like wet noodles and she held on to the deck, inhaling the fresh scent of the flowers in the yard.

  “Because he thought you were guilty.”

  She was going to explode, right here and now, just lose it and scream and yell until Jordan knew beyond any doubt that she was not his criminal.

  He put his hand over hers, sensing her outrage. But she deserved the truth.

  “Take a walk with me.” And he needed assurance that she was really his.

  He wouldn’t make it without her. His business wouldn’t make it, and he sure as hell didn’t want to go another day wondering if she would remain by his side or not.

  Jordan’s request obviously baffled her, since it had nothing to do with her question, and she turned to stare at him. He extended a hand, and she dropped her gaze to it, then looked up toward his face again.

  “The path through the gardens is beautiful,” he told her, enjoying how her eyes sparkled with curiosity, the animosity still there, however. “Even at night, I think you’ll enjoy it.”

  Roxanne looked out across the yard and then back at him. “I’m not going for a walk in the dark,” she told him. “I want to understand why you let me believe you thought I would steal from you. I’ve been loyal to you for two years.”

  Jordan turned from her and walked over to the glass doors leading into the library. He disappeared into the warm flood of light from the room for a moment, and then Roxanne turned as suddenly the yard surrounding the large patio deck flooded with light. He reappeared in the next instant and she turned her attention to him as he walked up to her. Jordan slipped his hand around hers and led her toward the gate in the patio as if she were a child.

  “Why did you come here this evening?” he asked as he opened the gate, and stepped down onto the cobblestone path that disappeared ahead of them into a line of well-trimmed hedges.

  “I thought if we shared the information we had that we might be able to catch this thief together.” Her hand absorbed the warmth of his.

  Light streamed across the path from lights that appeared to be fixed in the larger trees. The surreal sensation it created gave the impression she’d just entered some sort of fantasy world. What a wonderful place to simply forget all of her problems. She wondered if Jordan used this place for just that.

  “Excellent idea.” Jordan slowed as the path split into two different directions, and then led them toward the right, deeper into the maze of flowers, trees and hedges. “And one you should have acted upon a lot sooner.”

  His heart leapt at the knowledge that she came to him to establish a truce. He hadn’t been at all sure what brought her to his home, but knowing that she wanted to work with him, trust in his judgment, share everything she knew and then catch their thief together, brought peace to him. Suddenly he was a lot more relaxed than he’d been all day. She hadn’t committed her heart to him but this was a start.

  Roxanne cleared her throat. “All we have to do is put aside this physical attraction we have for each other and work together as two professionals again.”

  Jordan chuckled but didn’t say anything. She didn’t try to pull her hand free from his grasp and he had no intention of letting her go. She talked a pretty talk, but he doubted she wanted just a professional relationship with him. And he knew he would never be able to just work with her.

  Nope. Roxanne was the woman for him. There was no doubt in his mind. The way she had come over to his house, so concerned for the well-being of Hall Enterprises, had lifted his heart, brought his mood up from pure grouchiness to seeing some hope. No one had ever cared about his business as much as he did. Hall Enterprises was his baby, and she loved it as much as he did.

  But even more than that, he was falling in love with her. Her energy, her determination, her intelligence, and yes, that gorgeous body of hers. All of it turned him on and he had no intention of letting go.

  “That isn’t how it’s going to be,” he said after a minute, and let go of her hand as they reached the gazebo in the middle of his garden.

  She said nothing, but walked toward the structure, stuffing her hands in her pants pockets.

  “And I know you will submit to me if I wish it,” Jordan said from behind her.

  Roxanne turned around and gawked at him. “You pompous ass,” she hissed. “I am not your slut, or your play toy. You’ll just have to make do with one of your other women for that indulgence.”

  Jordan didn’t comment, but Roxanne wasn’t sure she liked the look that came over his face. Even in the scattered light, she could see his features darken.

  “I do not wish to make do with another woman.�
�� Jordan stood facing her, and the predatory way he captured her with his gaze sent her insides to boiling point.

  She turned from him, needing space, and feeling they were straying into dangerous territory. ‘‘

  “None of this matters,” she said with a wave of her hand in the air. “I came here to talk about business, not your desire to possess me.”

  Her heart about exploded within her when Jordan pressed along her backside, and leaned his head to whisper into her ear.

  “You came here because you thought I believed you were guilty.” His breath scorched her ear and the side of her face, sending a tingling sensation rippling through her. His hands gripped her hips, holding her against him.

  “Your detective almost came out and accused me of stealing from you. And you did nothing to stop him,” she argued. “The only reason I came here was because we have a thief to catch.”

  “That we do.” Jordan didn’t move, but continued to talk with his face right next to hers. “And you believe we’ll think better if we’re together.”

  “Well, yes,” she agreed, but then hesitated at his wording. “No,” she corrected herself. “I mean we need to work as a business team.”

  “But there is more than business between us.”

  Roxanne stepped away from the trance he seemed to be putting her into…again. She walked around the gazebo, glancing at the different paths, not sure where any of them went.

  “I don’t want there to be more between us,” she said, unable to look at him.

  “Yes, you do.”

  Roxanne didn’t need to turn to know that Jordan followed her. He didn’t rush to her, or hurry to grab her as if she would run, but moved with a slow pace, one of confidence, which matched the tone he used in countering her comment.

  “You’re wrong.” Roxanne chose a path that she thought would lead toward the house, and began walking along it with sureness in her step.

  Jordan followed, she knew that, but she didn’t dare look over her shoulder to see how close. “Where are you going?”

  “I’m not going to discuss business with you until you agree that is all that we share,” she said over her shoulder.

  “And what if I prove you wrong?”

  His question challenged her, but the answer she was about to toss at him left her when the path stopped and she faced what appeared to be a forest. Random lights still spread over the denser foliage, but she hesitated in entering.

  “The only way back to the house is if you pass me,” Jordan challenged her. “But the path in front of you will wind back to the house too, if you dare trust yourself alone in the forest with me.”

  Roxanne turned, and attempted marching right past Jordan, but his arm, held out like a steel beam, blocked her path.

  He gripped her forearm and then slid her sideways so that she stood directly in front of him. Before she could protest, he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her with so much intensity her knees buckled.

  She gripped his shirt, holding on for dear life, while his tongue caressed hers, doing a dance of passion that made her head spin. The pounding of her heart throbbed into her pussy, creating a primal beat that wouldn’t be denied.

  Damn him for having control over her body like this.

  Tugging her shirt free of her jeans, he traced his fingers over her skin until he cupped her breast. Molten hot liquid streamed through her, soaking her, preparing her for anything he might do. Everything inside her screamed to submit to him. All the reasons why she needed to fight him dissipated, leaving her a puddle of craving need, unable to do anything but cling to him.

  Jordan forced her mouth open further as he deepened the kiss. The night air teased her feverish skin as Jordan slipped her T-shirt up to expose her.

  His fingers clamped down on her nipple and squeezed, and she about fell to her knees. Her nipples had always been a weakness with her. She could swear there was a nerve connected to them that ran straight to the hardened, throbbing knot just beneath the soft folds of skin between her legs. That focal point of her sex swelled with every pinch and twist that he applied to her nipple.

  “Jordan, please,” she murmured.

  “Please what?” he growled, and then before she realized what he had done, he’d pulled her T-shirt over her head, leaving her half-naked in front of him.

  Roxanne realized with a wash of clarity that he had half stripped her in the middle of his yard. “Give me back my shirt.”

  And although they were surrounded by foliage, she had no clue how close they were to his property line, or who could be out there.

  “I think it would be a better idea for you to give me your jeans.” Jordan let his gaze swoop down her, and Roxanne took a step backward.

  “This isn’t going to happen, Jordan,” she informed him.

  “Yes it is.”

  “You have no clue how to be faithful,” she told him, placing the truth in front of him.

  “That’s your story,” he said without hesitation, and she stared at him.

  “I caught you, remember?” Roxanne couldn’t believe he would try to deny the day she discovered another woman’s perfume on him. He couldn’t edge out of this one that easily.

  She reached for her T-shirt, but he pulled it away from her, and then with an agility that made her curse, he wrapped his other arm around her waist. Roxanne twisted in his grip, but he held firm until her back pressed against his steely chest.

  She breathed heavily, wishing for strength to overpower him, but knowing it would never exist. “Let me go,” she whispered.

  “You want this too.” Jordan slipped his hand to the button on her jeans, and in the next second had it unbuttoned, and the zipper down.

  “You are not going to strip me out here in front of God and everyone,” she hissed, and fought with all her might to be free of him.

  Jordan let her go, but then tugged on her jeans with both hands as she took a step away from him, and the denim material slid to her knees.

  Roxanne tripped over the bulge of material trapping her legs, and stumbled forward, catching herself before she fell on her nose, and then found herself on all fours, naked with Jordan hovering over her.

  He squatted behind her, and she felt him tug as she crawled forward. Before he could stop her, she had jumped to her feet, but without her jeans.

  “I don’t know about God,” he told her, “but I’m almost certain you and I are the only ones out here.”

  “I’m naked,” she gasped, not believing how easily the man had rid her of her clothes.

  “And beautiful,” Jordan added, unable to stop from grinning while he stared down at her. “I like you this way.”

  “You arrogant buffoon,” she hissed, and his grin broadened.

  “Oh!” She clenched her fists in aggravation, and then determined not to give in to him that easily, turned and bolted into the forest.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Shadows stretched in distorted patterns through the trees. Without a moon, the night air appeared as black as the sky. The flood beams he had installed throughout the yard intentionally were sparse throughout this wooded area. He had wanted the dense trees to offer the sensation of hiking through the woods.

  He stepped onto the packed-down dirt path. He wasn’t too worried if his noise alerted Roxanne to his whereabouts. She had disappeared, and was out of his sight within seconds, but that would make hunting her down all the more pleasurable. She didn’t possess his tracking skills or his knowledge of the forest. It would take no more than minutes to find her. The only thing hindering him was moving with his cock hard as a rock. If he didn’t sink deep inside her soon he would explode. It didn’t take him long to find her. Roxanne had her back pressed against a tree, a wild look in her eyes, and her brown hair tousled down to her shoulders. All he could do was stand there for a minute as his eyes focused on the rise and fall of her breasts. The night air puckered her nipples and the distraction was pure torture. No longer concerned about being quiet, he moved in on her.
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  Roxanne jumped as her gaze shot to him. The white of her eyes stood out around her dark orbs. Instinctively, she took several steps away from the tree.

  “It’s spooky in here,” she whispered at him.

  “Then don’t run from me,” Jordan suggested, not seeing any reason to whisper.

  Somehow she’d managed to keep her sandals on. But, that was all she wore—and her body looked better than any woman’s body had a right to look. His cock throbbed so hard he wasn’t sure he would be able to chase her if she started to run.

  Obviously, she noted his predicament. Her smile was pure evil. “You’re the one who told me I could go past you or into the forest.” With that she turned and darted through the trees, quickly engulfed by the darkness.

  Jordan cursed loudly and accepted the pain as he took off in a full sprint after her. There wasn’t much of a competition at this point. He was head and shoulders taller than she was and there was no way she could outrun him. In the next minute, he reached out and grabbed the back of her head, grasping her tangled brown locks between his fingers. Roxanne stumbled and he almost fell on top of her when she went down.

  Holding her tightly, he managed to keep her from hitting the hard ground. Chasing her naked through the night was one hell of a turn-on, but he didn’t wish her bruised or scraped.

  “You sound out of breath, Jordan. Are you out of shape?” Her purr sounded mocking as she fell to her hands and knees.

  “I have a feeling you won’t be saying that here in a bit,” he growled into her hair as he lifted her off the ground.

  The challenge in that purring laughter of hers about made him come right there on the spot. She seemed to realize his condition because suddenly she wasn’t struggling to get away anymore. Instead, her naked ass twitched against his cock and a growl escaped him before he could stop it.

  “Let me down,” she whispered.

  “Will you promise not to run?” He wasn’t out of shape at all. But she was right. In his present condition, he could hurt himself if he didn’t allow his cock freedom.