Crossing the Line (The Baltimore Banners Book 1)

by Lisa B. Kamps

  Sensation washed over AJ, as hot and slick as the water of the hot tub. Alec's hands roamed over her, down her back, around to her front, cupping her breasts, kneading them, his thumbs gently teasing her hardened nipples into tighter peaks. She pressed herself further into his lap, his hips thrusting upward as she rocked against his erection. He reached behind her with one hand, sliding it downward and cupping her bottom as he slid forward off the bench, lifting her with him as he stood.

  Her legs wrapped instinctively around him and she rocked against him once more, his arms holding her more fully against him as he turned and moved to the edge. Alec shifted forward ever so slightly, sitting her on the edge of the tub before he pulled away. She raised her arms to cover herself, suddenly self conscious, but he shook his head as he pushed her arms away.

  "No. Let me look." His gaze roamed over her, heated and hungry, then slowly lifted upward and locked with hers. "You're beautiful."

  His heated gaze drifted over her again, slow and lingering, igniting a feverish blush to her skin wherever he looked. Alec slowly leaned forward, his hands skimming over her body as his lips claimed hers, once more hungry, demanding, insistent.

  AJ was breathless and on fire when he pulled away, his mouth trailing along her jawline and her neck, nipping her shoulder blade, lower until his mouth clamped over one nipple and sucked, twirling the hard peak with his tongue. She felt the pull deep inside her, felt an answering liquid heat form between her legs and she shifted, moaning, tangling her hands in his wet hair, holding him to her as her head fell backwards.

  Alec moved to her other breast, treating her to more exquisite torture, gently easing her back until she was laying on the edge of the hot tub, her legs still submerged in the water, Alec kneeling on the bench between her knees.

  His hands skimmed along her sides, his mouth following, lightly teasing her stomach, her hip bone as he undid the ties of the bathing suit bottom. He trailed kisses along the top edge of the material, his large hands caressing her thighs, behind her knees and her calves as he slid the material off her with his teeth.

  AJ's breath caught in her throat and she gasped as the material fell away, exposing her, as his tongue traced a path down her wet center. Her hips arched into his mouth and he eased her legs apart, his hands touching, searching, teasing.

  She reached out for him, her hands searching for purchase as her eyes fluttered, the lights from the stars and surrounding buildings flickering in her vision. Realization crept to the edge of consciousness and she tried to pull away, to sit up.

  "Alec." Her voice was hoarse, breathless, and she had to clear her throat and try again. "Alec, stop. We're outside. Somebody could see us..."

  He looked up at her, his gaze intense, holding hers, as he slid one finger slowly into her then back out, slid it in again. "I don't care."

  A shiver spiraled through her at the look in his eyes, at the intensity of his gaze as he lowered his mouth to her, as his tongue stroked her clit, as he slid a second finger into her, deeper still, his eyes never leaving hers.

  And the knowledge that somebody could be watching, coupled with his heated gaze, his tongue hard against her flesh, his fingers deep inside her, probing...sensations combined all at once and she exploded instantly, her back arching as a small scream escaped her, spasms rocking her body from deep inside her until she lost track of sight, sound, all sensation except for the feel of Alec between her legs.

  A rush of water covered her, hot and pulsing, as arms wrapped around her, strong and supportive, and she realized that Alec had pulled her into the tub, was holding her close, his mouth covering hers in a demanding kiss as her body continued to spasm in his hold.

  Seconds went by, minutes, as her senses slowly returned, as her body calmed. Alec gentled the kisses, his hands skimming across her flesh, cupping her bare bottom and pressing her gently against him, the material of his swimsuit rough against her skin, the hard shaft of his erection pressing against her belly.

  "Alec..." His name was a soft moan against his mouth. She lowered her hand, trailing it down his chest and stomach, easing her fingers into the waist band of his trunks. His hand closed around her wrist, stopping her.

  "AJ, oh God, don't. I don't think I can...holy shit..." She pushed his hand away and pushed at his shorts, freeing his erection, grabbing him in one hand and stroking him, slow and hard, from the base of his shaft all the way to the tip, silky hardness against her palm.

  Alec's hands tightened at her waist, holding her still when all she wanted was to feel him against her. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back, his jaw clenched as she continued stroking him, squeezing even as she pushed forward until his back was against the side of the hot tub.

  She knew what she wanted but didn't know how to ask, so she lowered her mouth to his and kissed him, then trailed her lips down his neck and chest until she disappeared under the water, keeping her mouth pressed against his body as she moved lower.

  His hands closed over her shoulders as she ran her lips along his shaft, and he pulled her to the surface, crushing her against him even as a harsh laugh escaped him. "Oh God, you're going to drown trying that."

  His words gave her the opening she needed, and she pushed against him, a shy smile on her face. "Then move so I don't have to drown."

  His eyes darkened instantly, searching hers for a long second before he slowly raised himself on the edge of the tub and leaned back on his elbows, his erection hard and stiff in front of her. She kept her eyes glued to his as she rested her hands on his sides and pressed her lips to his chest, sliding down, following with her hands, down further still until she closed her mouth over him, twirling her tongue around the tip of his shaft then leaning forward to take in his length. A guttural growl escaped Alec's lips and his hands fisted in her hair as she sucked him, teasing, licking the entire length of him, pulling him into her mouth again. She reached out and cupped his sack in her hand, gently squeezing, teasing the base of his cock with her thumb as her mouth devoured him, in and out, hot and slick under her touch.

  Alec's hands tightened in her hair, holding her head tightly, his hips thrusting, forcing his shaft deeper into her mouth as groans escaped him. AJ ran her hands along his hips and down his thighs, digging her fingers into the thick muscles of his strong legs, back up to his hips as she raised herself further from the hot tub, leaning over him, reveling in the taste of him, reveling in the pleasure she was giving him.

  His hips thrust once more then his entire body stilled. His hands tightened around her, pulling her up, dragging her across his body until she was lying against him, his arms tight around her. His chest raised and lowered with each harsh breath, his eyes tightly shut, his jaw clenched. AJ leaned forward and dropped a kiss to his chest, dragging her fingertips across his flat stomach, reaching lower to hold him, stroke him, when his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.

  "AJ..." His voice was a harsh whisper, barely more than a hissing breath. He lay still, not moving for a full minute, then heaved a heavy sigh and opened his eyes, capturing her gaze with his. A dark look crossed his face and he pulled her roughly to him, his mouth crushing hers as he shifted, moving to a sitting position, cradling her in his arms. He swung his legs to the side and swiftly stood, lifting her with him, and she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck to keep from falling.

  He strode across the balcony and into his room, their bodies dripping water as he walked toward the bed and eased her onto it. She lifted herself on one elbow, watching him, her heart stammering at the sight of his sudden intensity. He pulled open a nightstand drawer and rummaged through it, cursing under his breath until he pulled out a foil packet and ripped it open. Still standing, he sheathed himself with the condom then lowered himself next to her, turning so they were face-to-face. His hand reached out and stroked her cheek, tucking a strand of wet hair behind her ear, then cradling the back of her head in his palm and leaning forward to kiss her, deeply, intensely. AJ's stomach flipped and rolled in anticipation
, her hands reaching up and gripping his broad shoulders as he rolled over her, resting the hard length of his erection between her legs, pressing gently against her opening.

  He broke the kiss and looked down at her, fire in the darkness of his eyes as he searched her face. "You have no idea what you do to me, no idea how much I want you right now." His voice was harsh, and she imagined that he sounded not only determined, but confused as well. As confused as she felt, stunned by what had already happened, by what was about to happen.

  She shook her head, not knowing what to say, and lifted her hips to meet his, to encourage him, welcome him. He groaned and dropped his head, his mouth closing over hers in a fierce kiss as his hands closed around her hips. He shifted her slightly under him, then drove his entire length into her in one fluid move. Her body arched under him, driving upward to meet him as a sigh of pleasure escaped her lips.

  Heat built quickly inside her, a spontaneous rekindling of the earlier fire. Each thrust forced her closer to the edge, each stroke inside her, each touch of Alec's hands along her skin. He grabbed her hands and held them over her head, his dark eyes boring into hers before he leaned down and claimed her mouth, hungry and possessive. He thrust deeper into her, once, twice, and she exploded, shattering around him, her back arching, her hips grinding as his name was ripped from her lips.

  Alec groaned and sat back on his heels, grabbed her hips and pulled her more tightly against him, his head tilted back as he thrust again. Again, harder, burying himself, a harsh groan signaling his own release.

  Time stopped, silent except for long minutes of unsteady breathing. AJ's body slowly came back to itself, the pieces collecting and reassembling in the quiet semi-darkness. She reached out with one hand and smoothed it over Alec's damp chest, feeling his heart beating rapidly under her touch. He breathed, a heavy sigh, and gently lowered himself on top of her, moving slightly to the side, still buried inside her. His arms tightened around her and he lowered his head to her chest, his breathing deep and steady.

  AJ curled one hand along the back of his neck and rested the other along his arm. A warm feeling of deep contentment flowed through her, a slight smile on her face as she drifted off to sleep, secure in Alec's hold.

  **

  Gray morning light filtered through the open curtains, casting the room in a shadowed glow. Sounds drifted in through the open balcony doors: noise of distant traffic, the faint wail of a siren, the shriek of a seagull floating somewhere over the water.

  Alec stared up at the ceiling, one arm thrown over his head, the other curled across his chest. His breathing was steady but his mind was whirling in a thousand different directions, most of them having something to do with last night.

  With the woman in bed next to him.

  He turned his head slightly to the side and looked at AJ. She was sprawled on her stomach, her face turned away from him, hidden by both her arm and the tangled curtain of her hair. She had kicked the blankets off her sometime during the night, and was barely covered by a corner of the sheet draped precisely over the curve of her bare bottom.

  His eyes drifted over her, from the curve of her skull partly buried in the overstuffed pillow, to her tanned arms and the graceful line of her back. They drifted lower, over her sheet-covered bottom that he now knew was all soft skin over firm muscle, down to the shapely length of legs that had wrapped so tightly around him last night.

  His dick twitched and grew in response to both the sight of AJ's naked body so close to his as well as the memory of what their bodies had done together only hours ago. He silently swallowed his groan and turned his gaze back to the ceiling, trying to pull up images of train wrecks and car accidents and mass destruction, anything to banish the memory of last night and tame his fast-growing erection.

  It wasn't working.

  He was so screwed.

  Minutes drifted by as different scenarios played through his head, all of them ending with him buried deep inside AJ's wet, tight warmth. None of them were a viable option, which meant his immediate future was holding either an extremely ice cold shower or self-gratification. Or both. Probably definitely both.

  His dick twitched again, letting him know that neither option was particularly attractive. Alec swallowed another groan and closed his eyes.

  "You don't have to smother yourself in the pillow. I know you're awake." His voice was hoarse, rusty-sounding, as if he hadn't used it in some time. Alec didn't bother clearing his throat and repeating himself, knowing that AJ had heard him. He felt her body stiffen, tense, but she didn't so much as twitch, not a single movement except for the rise and fall of her breathing.

  He wondered what was going through her mind, what she was thinking. Judging from her absolute stillness, he'd bet it was a safe guess that she was having the same thoughts he was. That she was thinking last night had been a huge mistake. A mistake of mammoth proportions. The mother of all mistakes in the last few mistake-filled weeks.

  So why the hell did that bother him so much?

  He turned his head to look at AJ again, noting she still hadn't moved, that her face was still half-buried in the pillow and the curtain of her hair. "What? I didn't hear you."

  She raised her head only slightly and he heard her blow hair out of her face, but she didn't turn to face him. "I said, would you go away so I can get up?"

  Alec stared at her for a long second then resumed staring at the ceiling, his jaw clenched. "It's my bed." It was a stupid thing to say, juvenile and immature. Rudely inconsiderate. But her request had caught him off-guard, even stunned him. He was laying here with a raging hard-on, thinking only of burying himself deep inside her, and she wanted him to leave so she could get up?

  She mumbled something into the pillow, and again he had to ask her to repeat it. This time when she lifted her head, she turned to face him, fire clear in her heavy-lidded blue eyes. "I said, some gentleman you are." She closed her eyes and turned her head away, then slowly pushed herself up to a sitting position and swung her legs over the side of the bed with a small groan.

  Alec watched the swing of her hair against her back, watched the play of muscles in her arms and caught a glimpse of the full curve of her breast as she reached behind her and tugged on the sheet. She pulled harder, dislodging it from his waist and wrapping it around herself before she stood. He gritted his teeth as his hard-on stood even straighter, waving as if trying to get her attention.

  No doubt about it, his body was a total traitor. And he was totally screwed.

  She walked around the edge of the bed, going out of her way not to look at him. "I'm taking a shower. I smell like beer and hot tub and...I need a shower."

  She had been going to say "sex". Alec knew it without a doubt. He closed his eyes, let out a heavy sigh. "AJ, I'm sor—"

  "Don't you dare say it!"

  The vehemence in her voice startled him. His eyes flew open and he pushed himself to a sitting position just as she straightened from picking something up off the floor. She had a pillow in her hand and threw it at him left-handed, her right hand still tangled in the sheet she was trying to cover herself with. Her feet got tangled in the excess length and she stumbled, quickly righted herself, and glared at him.

  "I swear, Kolchak, if you even think about saying you're sorry, I'll...I'll...you'll regret it!" She stood a few feet away from him, her eyes blazing, her hair tousled around her face and shoulders, the ridiculous sheet wrapped haphazardly around her. Her chest rose and fell with each harsh breath, drawing his eyes downward—where they widened in alarm.

  He pushed himself off the bed and reached her with one long stride, gently grabbing her elbow when she would have stepped away from him. He pulled her closer to him, out of the shadow, and straightened her left arm in front of him. There, ringing the soft flesh on the inside of her bicep, were four fresh bruises, each a little larger than a dime, overlaying the fading bruise from when she had fallen on the ice. He placed his hand along the marks and lifted her arm, finding a slightly larger b
ruise on the underside of her arm.

  The marks fit his fingers perfectly.

  Alec actually stumbled, feeling sick to his stomach at the sight of the marks marring her flesh. He dropped her arm and stepped back, raising his eyes to hers, waiting to see his own horror and condemnation reflected back at him.

  Instead, AJ stood there looking at him as if he had lost his mind. He cleared his throat and motioned to her arm. "I'm sor...I didn't mean..."

  "You're kidding, right?" She pulled the sheet more tightly around her then lifted her arm and looked at it before dropping it to her side. "Seriously? You're upset about this?"

  "AJ, I marked you! My God, I actually hurt you!"

  "Alec." Her voice was sharp, impatient. She blew out a deep breath and stared at him, different emotions playing across her face. "You did not hurt me. Last night. Nothing you did...we did...last night hurt me. We got a little...enthusiastic, that's all."

  A blush crept across her cheeks and she looked away, embarrassed or ashamed, he couldn't tell. He was afraid to ask. She cleared her throat and lifted her eyes briefly to his, then lowered them again.

  "Besides," she continued, motioning to his chest and lower, "you have some marks on you, too. So get over it, and don't you dare apologize. Because you did not hurt me. Last night."

  AJ turned away from him, stumbling just a bit on the ends of the sheet, and walked out of the room, quietly closing the door behind her before he could think of anything to say. He knew, without knowing how, that he had just missed something, that there was something in her words or voice that he should have picked up but was missing.

  Muttering under his breath, replaying her words in his mind, he walked into the bathroom and reached into the shower, turning the water on full blast to the hottest setting. Seeing the bruises on AJ's arm had taken care of his hard-on faster than anything else could have.

  He turned and looked at himself in the mirror, his eyes widening briefly. AJ had said she wasn't the only one with marks, and he now understood. There were several scratches on his chest, as well as some small bite marks along his collarbone and the crook of his neck.