by Taylor Lee
“Mmm. Oh good, Nate. I was worried about you. When did you get home?”
“Just, now, princess. I can’t believe you aren’t in bed. It’s three in the morning, Erin. You have to be uncomfortable in that chair.”
She frowned, the expression marring her smooth brow.
“How could I sleep knowing that you were out there in the middle of a fire scene?”
As if remembering their argument at the pub, she roused up, her frown deepening.
“Just so you know, I’m still angry that you insisted I come home instead of going with you. I am a firefighter, Nate, and a good one. I belonged there with you.”
Nate shook his head.
“Yes, you are, Erin. But even as good a firefighter as you can’t go to a fire in a miniskirt and sexy halter.”
“I could have changed….”
Nate couldn’t keep the weariness out of his voice.
“Erin, let’s not argue. It’s been a hell of a night and I’m beat.”
Erin looked surprised at his confession. She sat up straight in the chair. “I’m sorry, Nate. I know you must be exhausted.”
She rose to her feet and moved toward him tugging at the short pajama bottoms that barely covered her butt cheeks.
He chuckled and reached for her. “Honey, I can tell you one way to perk up the most exhausted man is to come at him dressed in those cock teasing pajamas. Damn, I thought that skirt you wore tonight was enticing.”
“Honestly, Nate, how can you act surprised at what I wear. Most of it you buy for me, and most of it is so revealing I can’t wear it anywhere but here with you.”
He grinned. “And, your point?”
She laughed and moved into his arms. He closed his eyes and pulled her close to him, burying his lips in her hair.
“Damn, Erin. Do you have any idea what you do to me? God, baby, you smell like flowers and spicy things and fresh woman.”
He ran his hands over her curvy bottom, clasping her round cheeks in his big hands.
“Mmm hmm. Yeah, this is what I have been waiting for. Erin, can we close the door on tonight and just revel in the fact that we have each other?”
She murmured, “Yes, absolutely yes. But, Nate, first, please tell me what happened tonight. I need to know.”
Nate sighed. “Yeah, baby, you do. As much as I’d like to slam the door shut and build a barricade around this place, there’s no way we can shut out what’s happening.”
He stepped back and tipped her chin up to look into her eyes.
“Erin, it’s bad out there. And honey, it’s going to get worse.”
She frowned and reached up to capture his face between her hands.
“I know that, Nate. And I know you’re tired. But can we talk about it? Please, don’t shut me out. This is my town now too, Nate.”
He nodded. “You’re right. How about I get another beer and grab one for you? Then we talk?”
Nate plopped the two beers on the end table and winked at her.
“I loved seeing you sitting in ‘our’ chair waiting for me. But that chair is way too big for that curvy body of yours. There’s only one way you can fit, and that is in my arms.”
He scooped her up in his arms and sunk into the chair with her on his lap.
“Ah, yes. Hell yes. Now I know what I’ve been missing.” He stroked her back and rested her head against his shoulder. She snuggled tight against him. For a long moment, Nate held her, reveling in her warmth and her quiet strength. Resisting the urge to stand up and haul her off to their bed, he forced himself to go over the events of the night.
“Seven fucking men, Erin. Dead. Just like that. Some I didn’t know, but others I’ve known all my life. Mason Quirk and I went through high school together. Hell, before he hooked up with Cougar, he was a decent guy. Worked at the Shell station.” Nate grimaced remembering the bodies before they zipped them in body bags. Most were barely recognizable. Others’ faces had been spared, making their death seem unreal. He continued his gruesome inventory for Erin.
“Jason Sampson and Dewey Carter are, were, kids—not even old enough to go in the army. Damn, I coached Dewey when he was in seventh grade. His mama and daddy are going to be heartbroken. They came to me six months ago begging me to talk to him. Get him away from Cougar. I tried. But even then, I knew he was too far gone. You know what that Devil Dust does. God knows, I do. But Jesus, Erin, when I see what it did to a kid who used to have a hook shot that rivaled mine? Takes my breath away.”
Erin was quiet for several moments allowing Nate to recount the events at his own pace. She didn’t have to be at the fire scene to know what he was feeling. The destruction and now the incredible loss of life was only too real. She understood his reluctance. Talking about it required reliving it. But she knew from watching Nate in previous crimes that unless she insisted, he would close up, turn away, until he could work his way through the horrific events. The problem was that these crimes all involved fires which meant that for better or worse she was involved. She knew that if she didn’t press he would do what he had done earlier tonight, shut her out, send her home. Tonight it made sense. She was dressed to party. But tomorrow she would be on duty at the firehouse, ready for any and all action that came their way.
As if reading her mind, Nate held her in place with a hard stare.
“Erin, tonight was a turning point. Jeb’s making his move. Seven men means nothing to him. But it does to Cougar. Which means that the next move is Cougar’s. Honey, this week is going to be hell. Literally. I need you to understand that.”
Erin put her fingers over his lips.
“Don’t Nate. I know what you are going to say. I’ll be careful. The same way that I want you to be careful.”
When he just shrugged, her antennae went up. He didn’t usually agree so easily. Instead of arguing, she decided to placate him. Reassure him. Act like the professional that they both knew she was.
“Can you talk about it, Nate?”
He shook his head, his frown deepening. “I can’t, Erin. I will tell you that I received information a couple of days ago that is going to blow this whole damn thing sky high. No telling what will happen after it does.”
When he lifted his beer to his lips and drained it and turned to her, the expression on his face confirmed he was done talking for the evening. He raked his eyes over her making her conscious of how revealing her pajamas were. He ran a calloused finger down her cheek then pinched the corner of her mouth. At her involuntary shiver he chuckled.
“Don’t know how much longer I can hold this sweet little body of yours without starting to feast on you, Erin. But damn, princess, I gotta get this fire stink off me. Scrub the remnants of a hard evening down the drain. I don’t know how you’ve managed to stand me for this long. If I’ve ever needed a shower, it’s now.
Erin peeked up at him shyly.
“Want company?”
Nate groaned as he rose to his feet holding her close to his big body.
“Damn, honey. Ask a dying man if he wants to live another hundred years. Yeah, baby, I want company. I want you, Erin.”
She pushed him away and headed to the doorway. Looking over her shoulder, she let her eyes drift over his tall frame and gave him a saucy wink.
“If that’s the case, Detective, you better not tarry. You have far too many clothes on that sexy body of yours. A girl can only wait so long before she needs to take things into her own hands.”
Nate barked out a short laugh.
“Hmm. Why, Lt. McFadden, I do believe you’re challenging me.”
Erin laughed and tossed her head.
“There’s more than one way for a girl to get satisfaction, Detective Stryker.”
Nate’s voice was gruff.
“And, sugar, if anyone knows most of them, it’s me. Now if you know what’s good for you, you’ll get that hot sassy body of yours into the shower or—”
“Or what, big bad Detective?”
When he advanced on her she
giggled and ran for the doorway, peals of laughter floating behind her.
Chapter 12
When Nate built his cabin masterpiece he created every square inch to please himself—or so he’d thought. Now as he followed Erin toward the extravagant shower which easily held the two of them and had a couple of useful benches and shelves on the side, he realized he’d built it for the two of them. One more outrageous stage for them to indulge their passion.
Connor’s wife, Kaitlin, was always spouting ‘new age’ woo-woo crap. Kait told him not long ago, that he had built the cabin in hopes of attracting someone like Erin into his life. Nate disagreed. He told her not someone like Erin. Erin.
Nate stood in the doorway and watched her slide the skimpy satin pants over her curvy bottom. She gave a sinuous twist of her hips as they hit the floor and daintily stepped out of them. In seconds the miniscule halter top joined the shimmery pile on the floor. He grinned knowing that the exaggerated striptease was for his benefit. His cock reared up in appreciation. Stepping into the shower Erin turned on the water. A cloud of steam blanketed the glass walls casting intriguing shadows over the hills and valleys of her luscious body. Nate stood mesmerized watching her stretch her arms above her head and turn slowly to capture the warm water over the length of her body. For a brief instant he envied the water coursing over her.
He toed off his boots and yanked at his socks. Grabbing for the hem of his t-shirt, he dragged it over his head. As he slid his jeans over his hips he guffawed. It was a damn good thing he went commando. His aroused prick, unruly bastard that it was, wasn’t interested in niceties, much less unnecessary layers of clothing. No. His dick was on a mission and the object of his rampage was standing naked five feet away. Closing the shower door behind him Nate reached out and pulled Erin up tight against him. Because he towered over her his erection pressed against the small of her back.
He nuzzled against her ear. “Darlin’, we’ve got a problem.”
She gasped as he ran his hands over the front of her body, his fingertips grazing the sides of her full breasts. He slid his hands over her hips, and rested his fingers on the sensitive crease at the top of her thighs.
Erin leaned against him twisting her head to ensure that his lips found that exquisitely sensitive place on her throat. Her voice was husky, low.
“Mmm, what… what kind of a problem? Is there something wrong with my body? Something you don’t like?”
“No, darlin’. As you know well, there’s not a damn thing wrong with your sexy body. The problem is mine. Sometimes I think I may be too big for you.” He laughed when she demurred. “No, honey, I mean too tall.”
He pressed his hard erection against the small of her back and grinned at her squeal.
“Tell you what, I think I have a solution to the problem. How about you put both of your hands against the wall and scoot that sexy butt of yours up in the air so that this unruly guy of mine has a fighting chance of getting closer to where he wants to be.”
Delighting in her low moan, he maneuvered her into place. Pressing her hands against the wall, he bent her over and lifted her hips so that they were at precisely the level he needed.
“Hmm, yeah. That’s the way. Now we’re getting somewhere. I knew our problem could be solved if we could just get the proper parts of us communicating.”
At her groan, he laughed, a hoarse demanding sound.
“Now honey, one more thing. I’m gonna need you to spread your legs. Mmm, like that.”
He nudged her feet apart and pressed his iron-hard staff against the crack in her ass.
“There now, is that better or what?”
Erin struggled against him, a harsh groan escaping her lips. God, how did he know just what to do to drive her into a frenzy? She pressed up against him needing his hands, his fingers between her legs, driving her to distraction.
He laughed and murmured in her ear, “Uh uh, Erin. You think I’m that easy? Why, a couple of minutes ago you were tormenting me, threatening me with the chance that you might ‘go it alone’, not need me.”
He pulled her butt back against his hard thighs and laughed when she fought to get closer.
“Is this what you need, Erin?”
“Yes, Nate. Please. Don’t tease me. I need more, like that.”
He nudged her legs further apart and pressed the end of his turgid staff against her entrance.
His voice was close to a low growl. “I’m going to take you Erin. You know that don’t you baby? I need to be inside of you. Do you understand? But first, I need to touch you. Make sure that you are ready for me. I don’t want to hurt you, Erin.”
She gasped when he slid his hands around her hips and rested on her mound. She cried out when his expert fingers moved unerringly to separate her intimate folds. She wiggled against him doing everything she could to maneuver her bottom closer to his burgeoning arousal.
“Yes, Nate. Like that. Oh God, I need you. Don’t stop, please!”
She wailed when he pressed one thick finger up inside of her searching for and finding that perfect place that only he knew. That place so sensitive that one touch drove her desire from zero to fifty in seconds. Writhing against his strong thighs she cried out.
“Nate, please.”
He chuckled a raspy sound against her ear.
“What, Erin? What do you want? I thought you liked it when I touched you like this. When I rub up against these soft moist folds? Would you like me to stop? Give you a chance to catch your breath so that you can give me more orders?
“I know how you love me touching you here,” he said as he circled her clit with his thumb and forefinger. “But, how about we up the ante, darlin’, and add this? He clasped her firm ass cheeks in his big hands and slid one finger around the rosebud of her ass.
Erin couldn’t contain her shriek. His teasing touch and taunting words set off a firestorm of sensations rioting through her. Oh God, she needed him. Now. She couldn’t wait.
“God yes, Nate. Don’t stop doing that. Please, let me come!”
“Come, now, baby? You want to come—even before I get inside of you? You want to ride this wave all by yourself? Hmm? Is that what your hungry body wants?”
“Yes, please, Nate. I can’t wait….”
“Sure you can, Darlin’. Why I haven’t even touched you here.”
He snaked his fingers inside her swollen folds until he found the sensitive nub at the apex of her core. He moved his fingers up and down from side to side in a maddening circular motion, but never fully touching her throbbing clit. Waves of heat wrenched through her. She needed more—just a little more, now before she died from need.
She didn’t recognize her voice, it was a low needy growl.
“Now, Nate. Dammit, now!”
His sexy laugh echoed over her fevered skin.
“Ah, my hot baby is a demanding little wench. She can’t wait. She has to have it now! Is this what you need, Erin? For me to touch you here, and here, and right here?”
She screamed when his slick fingers grasped the aching nub and pinched hard. At the same time he bit down on the sensitive place between her neck and her shoulder sending an electric current streaking toward her clit.
With a shriek she shattered, waves of heat flooding her. She would have fallen except that he held her in his tight grasp murmuring soft encouraging words urging her to give in to the torrents of passion enveloping her.
For long moments he held her. Her heart was pounding so hard she was afraid it might break through her chest. When her trembling slowed somewhat, he eased her to her feet. She didn’t think she could stand. It didn’t matter. He wouldn’t let her fall. Turning her so that her back was against the wall, he pressed her against the cool tile. Dragging her hands over her head, he fastened her hands around the towel rings.
“Mmm hmm. That’s what I need, Erin. I need to see you, look at you. Damn. Do you know how beautiful you are when you come? Your cheeks are flaming, and look at your chest. It’s rosy red,
hot. And honey, look at your breasts. They’re swollen and your nipples are like hard red berries. God, Erin. I thought I was hard before watching you come but I might explode if I don’t get inside of you in the next thirty seconds.”
Erin tossed her head from side to side, stunned that her desire was peaking again, so fast, so hard. She didn’t think it was possible to come again so soon, but his voice, his sexy words made her throbbing clit ache to be touched.
“Yes, Nate. Yes. That’s what I want. I want you inside of me. Now!”
He groaned. “Christ, honey, turn me on much? Tell you what. You hang onto these rings and, yeah, arch your back like that. Meantime I’m going to put you right up here—here on my thigh where you can ride me. And baby, you need to do that because I’m going to ride you hard, hard and deep.”
Nate lifted her up and rested her bottom on his muscular thigh. Grabbing her legs he spread them apart, wrapping her ankles around his slim hips. He pressed his weeping cockhead against her slick entrance. He knew if he didn’t get inside of her now it would be all over. There was no way he could hold back another minute. He had to believe that she was ready, that he could drive in without further preparation.
“Can you take me, baby? Now? Right now?”
She dug her fingernails into his back and cried out. “Yes, Nate! Yes, yes!”
Lifting her, he spread her folds with one hand. Grasping the base of his staff he thrust up inside of her, her keening wail urging him forward.
He didn’t realize until much later that the harsh animal growl was from him, a passionate cry of need as he thrust higher, harder and deeper. When he could go no further, his balls jerked up hard against his groin. With a deafening roar he let go, plunging his seed and his passion deep inside of her.
Nate held her against the shower wall for several long moments praying that his trembling legs would hold him up. When he regained enough strength that he trusted himself not to fall, he slid out of her and stepped back.
“Keep your hands up like that, Erin. I need to wash you.”
It was a strange thing to say but he had to make sure that all the ugliness he’d brought into the house from the hideous crime scene was removed, scrubbed off. That the awful images didn’t corrupt the powerful emotions he felt for this beautiful fragile woman. That the evil didn’t come between them in any way. He soaped her body, working the fragrant bubbles into the tender skin of her breasts, across her peaked nipples and between her legs. He smiled when she flinched as he washed the swollen tissues gently but thoroughly. He angled the showerhead to spray currents of warm water over her flushed skin, standing back to allow the bubbles to swirl down the drain.