Kate didn't stop until she stood between his spread knees. She took the beer from his hand, and placed the bottle on the bar behind him. Ethan sat there, unable to move, mouth dry and body tense and ready to snap.
“Sorry I’m late. I wasn’t sure you’d wait.”
Her husky voice slid over his skin like a caress and snapped him from his stupor. Ethan pulled her to his chest.
Kate rubbed her chest across his, and Ethan clenched his jaw so tight he was surprised his teeth didn't shatter. He was so much worse off than he'd originally thought.
Ethan snatched her hand to his lips and nipped her palm, savoring her soft gasp. “I would've stayed here all night if you asked me to.” Although more than likely, he would've ended up back at Noni's to check on her. Kate wasn't the type of woman to stand him up, even if she changed her mind, she would've told him to his face. But when her gaze slid away from his, he felt the first niggling of worry. “Why did you pick this place?”
She nibbled her lower lip and faced him. “To be honest, I didn't want to chance running into any of the other guys.”
That got his back up instantly. Was she embarrassed to be seen with him or something? “Why?”
“I didn't want to put up with their shit tomorrow. I already put up with enough crap just because I'm female, if they get wind I'm banging you too...” She let her words trail off with a shrug and Ethan found himself grinning in response.
“So you're banging me, are you?” He palmed her hip and yanked her closer, allowing her to feel how much that thought turned him on.
Her eyes darkened from pale green to emerald and she lowered her lashes. “In a seedy motel and everything.”
The thought of her spread out beneath him on any bed was enough to drive him past the edge of control. Ethan ripped out his wallet, tossed a five on the bar and pulled Kate out behind him. “You lead the way to the motel.”
He'd only been around her for a few days and yet their tension had built to the point of exploding. Ethan knew as soon as she touched him, he was done for.
* * *
Kate stood with Ethan outside the one-story 1900's era motel, a heavy set of old keys dangling from her hand. Their door, Room 101, boasted a large crack across the top left corner and enough chipped paint she couldn't really tell what color it was supposed to be. Maybe blue? Tan? Red?
Ethan grabbed her hand. “You kidding me? No way I'm letting you stay here for the night. This is the place where murderers and thieves go to get rid of bodies, not for a romantic rendezvous.”
Kate ignored him and shoved the key into the lock, “You said Aaron told you this was the only place within a hundred miles.”
Ethan's hand landed heavy on top of hers, stopping her before she could turn the lock. “I'm not kidding Kate, there's got to be somewhere better than this.”
Kate turned the key. “I'm not kidding either. Besides, I did my own research. The FBI bought this place and uses it for undercover work. That nasty old man who checked us in is an agent. We are safer here than at the Hilton in town.”
Ethan growled and pulled her behind him, stepping into the room first. “You could've told me that.” He pulled a pistol from his jeans and did a quick scan of the room. “You've been sitting here knowing I was worried about this place the whole time.”
Kate kicked the door shut behind her and slid the lock shut. She tossed the keys on a cracked dresser and watched as Ethan strode into the tiny bathroom in the back and disappeared.
Taking her opportunity, Kate peeled her dress over her head and tossed it next to the keys. She'd opted for shock value to hold on to her control of the situation. The only other item of clothing she wore were the heels. Those she left on.
Ethan stepped out of the bathroom and placed his pistol on the small counter. “I don't know, that shower's seen better days...” Ethan's voice trailed off as he turned to her. “Jesus Christ.”
Kate liked the shell-shocked look on his face. With sensual power fueling her veins, she strode across the room and wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling the heat radiate off his body in waves. “You were saying?”
Ethan's head dropped to hers, his words whisper soft. “You don't fight fair at all.”
Kate jumped and Ethan wrapped her legs around his waist. Kate took the opportunity to nip and lick softly at his neck, his masculine fresh scent had her eyes nearly rolling back in her head. “I never said I fought fair.”
Ethan carried her across the room and sat down on the edge of the mattress with her straddling his hips. Without waiting, Kate took his lips in the searing kiss she'd been dying to take ever since this afternoon.
She deepened the kiss, her control close to snapping and she yanked back, unwilling to lose it just yet. Ethan let her have her way, peppering soft kisses across his nose and cheeks, down his neck, leaning back long enough to rip the shirt from his body.
In the dim glow of the lamplight his chest was all dark planes and golden highlights and mouthwateringly sexy. Feeling as if some sensual spell had taken over her senses, Kate kissed her way across his pecks, tonguing his flat hard nipples into beads. His hands twisted in her hair, almost painfully, but the sharp bite on her scalp transformed into pleasure. “You're going to make me come in my pants.”
His words only drove her further and she kissed her way down his abs, sliding down to the floor between his knees, every intention of continuing on her journey until she learned every inch of his skin. She yanked his belt buckle free, then unbuttoned his jeans, gesturing for him to help as he silently lifted his hips and she slid his pants down to his knees.
“I have no intention of letting you come in your pants.” Kate licked her lips and leaned in to place a soft feather-light kiss on his thigh, the silky hair on his legs tickling her nose. She could hear him breathing hard and fast and she drove onward, skating the edge of control, as her own heat coiled and built to near pain. She wrapped her hand around him and then lowered her mouth to lightly kiss and lick his tip before taking him in deep, savoring how his hard length stretched her lips wide. Kate closed her eyes and gave over to the mindless pleasure of his hot steel encased satin sliding over her tongue.
Ethan groaned and jerked under her touch, and when his hands went to her hair, he didn't do anything but rest and allow her to take the lead.
Chapter 15
She was staring up at him with those heavy lidded sensual eyes and her red lips wrapped around his shaft, Ethan buried his fingers tighter against her scalp, attempting to hold on to some semblance of control, and then she flipped her tongue up his tip and he nearly came undone. “No more, Kate, no more.”
His voice sounded so tortured but it was because his throat was constricted by such intense pleasure that made his eyes nearly cross. He lifted her up and tossed her on the bed, following her down to land on top of her.
“Why did you stop me? I was having fun.”
He leaned in and bit her pouty bottom lip. “Because I want to taste you now. I can't wait any longer.” Her perfect pale breasts now bare before him, Ethan leaned back on his heels, a king before his feast. Ravenous, he fell to her, taking her soft nipple between his lips until she arched and cried out his name.
“My name sounds so sweet on your lips.” Ethan trailed his way over to her other breast, lavishing the same attention until Kate was squirming and her nails digging into his shoulders.
God she was so perfect, made just for him, her every response fine-tuned to his, and he would claim her - claim her so hard she could never run from him or forget him. His cock strained against her thigh. He was inches from fully taking her.
Ethan nestled between her legs, stroking her from knee to heel, savoring every inch of her silky skin. He eased inside her entrance and the intense wet heat that welcomed him made his toes curl. Kate placed her hand on his chest pushing him back. Ethan's brows drew down in confusion, “What's wrong?”
“Do you have a condom?”
Ethan dropped his head to her chest, he'd
been so close to savoring the feel of her sweet pure heaven he’d nearly forgotten. “God, yes. I’m sorry, I was so hot for you…” Ethan dove for his pants on the floor, pulled the packet out of his pocket, sheathed himself, and was back between her legs in less than a minute.
He circled his hips, forcing his tip a little bit deeper and Kate gasped, her nails digging into his shoulders, “Yes.”
Before his mind could tell himself to move, his hips were already thrusting forward to bury himself to the hilt in her tight warm depths. She clenched and spasmed around him nearly milking him right then and there on the spot. “Fuck me you're so tight.” Ethan clenched his jaw and closed his eyes to concentrate. Just hold on for her. He dug deep and held himself back.
Kate wrapped her legs around his hips and dug her heels into his ass. “I swear to God if you don't move right now I'm going to scream.”
Ethan took her head between his hands and kissed her long and hard, savoring every inch of his body pressed against hers, his cock inside of her, wishing he could stay in this moment for the rest of his life. He’d never wanted to stay, always had one foot out the door. But not with Kate. “Yes, ma'am.”
Ethan pulled back and drove in hard in one long thrust. Again and again, his movement slow and methodical, easing out and then thrusting home until she was screaming and tossing her head beneath him. Sweat tracked from his neck and shoulders down his chest.
“I'm so close. Do it harder.”
Her words pushed him over the edge and he took her like an animal out of control, slamming into her until he didn't know where he stopped and she began. Kate stiffened and screamed, spasming around him like a tight fist and throwing him into his own orgasm. “Kate!”
With just enough remaining sense, Ethan held himself off her while his entire universe shattered around him. Until he was spent and he collapsed to the side, pulling Kate with him, unwilling to allow even an inch of space between them.
Both of them panting, Kate laid her head on his shoulder and slung a thigh across his hip, keeping him firmly buried deep inside her.
“That was intense.”
She expelled a breath on a laugh, tickling his chest. “That's an understatement.”
She shifted, probably getting more comfortable, and blood instantly rushed back into his cock. Ethan grabbed her hip, “Be still.”
The little witch that she was, Kate wriggled even more and flipped him over onto his back and the result was Ethan buried even deeper inside her body. Kate trailed a finger down his chest and then lifted her hips and slowly lowered herself back down, wringing a long low moan from his lips.
“This is exactly where I want to be.”
She sat atop him, naked and sweaty and so beautiful it stole his breath. Their gazes collided and held. Transfixed, he slowly pulled her to him for a long, passionate kiss.
He thrust his tongue between her lips, their flesh sliding against each other with friction that sent sparks to flame his need to hold her to him, to take her over and over. Ethan had never felt this way with a woman before, but with Kate he did. He wanted to tie her to his bed and never let her go.
When her lips lifted from his and she sat back to slowly grind her hips in a slow sensual circle on top of him, Ethan felt his hands shake and realized she’d completely shattered the walls around his emotions, pushing him past the point of thinking of her as someone who would tie him down and instead he wanted to tie himself to her.
Kate leaned down to him, her hard nipples brushing his chest, and whispered, “Now, let me show you what I wanted to finish earlier.”
She took him, her movements slow, every inch of skin sliding on skin magnified. She rode him like that, lazy and sensual, and Ethan was in awe.
When they finally finished, he got rid of the condom and eased back in bed. Then he wrapped an arm around her and held her on top of his chest. Kate fell asleep almost instantly, her warm, even breaths tickling across his skin. Ethan squeezed her tighter to him as he shut his eyes, allowing sleep to take hold. His last thought before he drifted into unconsciousness was that he was never letting her go. He'd have to make it work somehow, but Kate was his.
Chapter 16
Kate shifted uncomfortably in the back of the stretch limo, the hot pink Capri's and robin’s egg blue flowing blouse she was wearing was uncomfortable as a coffin full of spikes. Celine, on the other hand, wore her stunning dress like it was a second skin; every time she shifted and moved, the flowing material swayed as if sensing her mood.
“Aaron's jaw is going to drop when he sees you in that dress,” Kate said with not a trace of jealousy. She'd always known she wasn't a classic beauty and had no problem complementing others who were, especially when they were as kind as Celine.
Celine dug in her purse to pull out a compact. “You think he'll notice the eyelashes? It took me a full hour to apply these this morning.”
“If he doesn't, he's blind.”
“You’re one to talk, missy. I believe I created a masterpiece with you. And I'm just a little bit jealous since you barely need mascara with those thick, natural lashes.” Celine made a frown and shook her head before shoving her compact back into its small matching handbag.
Kate reached into her handbag, but not for a compact mirror. She wasn’t concerned with her looks. She wanted to feel the reassuring hard steel of her handgun tucked away safely, locked and loaded. They were sitting on the tarmac at the airport, waiting for the arrival of 'the little bird,' which is what they decided Caroline Cotter’s code name would be.
Kate and Celine were to stay inside the limousine with the senator's daughter, with an escort in front of and behind them just in case. After going over all the maps with Grey, they determined their weakest points of attack occurred on the road exactly one mile from the airport.
Kate tensed when she heard the roar of a jet engine. “Are you ready for this?”
For the first time that morning, Celine shifted uncomfortably. “I can do hair and make you look good, but when bullets start flying, I'm hitting the ground, girl. That's all you.”
Kate nodded. “Stay close to me and Caroline and you'll be fine.”
“The private jet landing right now is holding what's more than likely to be a swell princess who thinks she's better than everyone else?”
“Yep.”
Celine reached into the bucket of ice along the side of the stretch limo and grabbed the bottle of champagne nestled there cooling for the little bird. “And why the hell are we waiting on her to open this?”
“Because the senator said if we don't make sure his daughter is completely happy and safe he's not going to pay us,” Kate said with a smirk.
Celine stuck her tongue out, and shoved the bottle back into the ice. “You sure do know how to ruin a girl’s fun.”
“Just wait another ten minutes. They've already parked the jet. The little bird will be on board shortly and then you can satisfy your alcoholic tendencies.”
“Just wait, when all this is over, I'm taking you out. You have no idea.”
Kate caught a shadow of movement to her left, locked eyes on the familiar trim hard waist of Ethan and instantly went on alert. Their sex had been hot. Not just hot, like melt the bed and set the plantation on fire kind of hot.
How was she going to let him go when this was all over? He lived in Mercy, Mississippi, and now – now Kate was a nomad. A soldier for hire. What kind of relationship could she ever hope to have?
Ethan opened the door and leaned in, one massive arm propped on top of the limo. He was clothed head to toe in black. T-shirt, tactical pants and boots – a look she knew he'd have to trade out later tonight for a tuxedo at the wedding. Didn't matter. No matter what he wore he was completely and utterly devastating.
Her heart did that little flutter thing when he was around, but this one felt good, really, really good. And then he gave her a wide grin and she realized he’d shaved. She'd been so focused on her internal turmoil she hadn't even noticed the smooth cheeks a
nd neatly pulled back hair.
“Close your mouth, sweetheart, you're drooling.” Ethan said with a wink.
Celine chimed in, “Yeah, right before I saw you this morning he came in for a cleanup, and I informed him the grunge look was so nineties.”
“What do you think?” Ethan gave her a flirty look, but the sincerity in his gaze made her realize her answer was important.
“I think...I think...” Kate stuttered, enthralled by the masculine angular jawline and lips that looked even more sculpted now.
“She likes it,” Ethan said to Celine.
“Hey, what can I say? I'm good.” Celine shrugged.
“I think you're in trouble.” Kate frowned and pursed her lips at Ethan.
“What for? I thought you'd like it?”
“Because this whole week you gave me beard burn. I thought you were trying to cover up a terrible scar or something.” Secretly, she enjoyed the abrasive feeling of his beard against her cheeks when he kissed her and against the other more sensitive parts of her body. But the thought of his smooth face gliding against her bare skin... Chill bumps spread across her arms. Kate croaked a finger at him. “Come here.”
He complied without hesitation, something she was enjoying more and more. Unlike the men she'd known in the CIA, Ethan hid absolutely nothing from her. She never had to second-guess herself or wonder if he was secretly shaking his head at something she’d done.
He squeezed into the limo, bracing a hand on the console to lean across. Kate placed a palm on each cheek, savoring the satiny feel of freshly shaved skin and captured his mouth for a smooth, silky kiss.
Ethan let her have her way, meeting her halfway but not taking control, and another part of the armor around her heart cracked.
Kate pulled back, breathless and enjoying the fact he was breathing just as hard as she was.
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