by Tawny Weber
All that hair, curls he couldn’t wait to feel teasing his own body, splayed around in sharp contrast to the white bedding.
She gave a shuddering sigh, then slowly, with a gentle flutter of those lush lashes, her eyes opened. Her golden gaze speared him. Then a slow, wicked smile spread over her face.
“My turn,” she said.
“Wasn’t that your turn?”
“Oh, no,” she purred. “My turn includes you, naked. Me, tasting. Then us, hot and wet and wild, coming together.”
Simon damn near came that very second. Gulping hard and clenching his fists to hang on to his fragile thread of control, he shook his head. “You really should work harder to overcome your shyness.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Grinning, she sat upright in one swift move. She tucked her feet under her butt, then quirked a finger. “C’mere.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
As soon as he was in reach, she grabbed the placket of his jeans with both hands and tugged.
“Easy there, sweetheart,” he cautioned with a laugh. “We don’t want to break anything.”
Although he was pretty sure he was as hard as steel, which meant breaking was unlikely.
“I want these off. Now.”
Simon’s laughter faded at the desperate desire in her voice. He’d never had a woman so obviously want him the same way he wanted her. With a strong, powerful passion. Usually, he had to temper his needs. Play nice. Gentlemanly sex was all good and well, but he was starting to think he’d finally found a woman who could meet all his sexual needs.
Who could go hot and wild and a little dirty, and still meet his eyes in the morning.
He was pretty sure this was the biggest turn-on of his life. Until he watched Maya tug his zipper down with her teeth.
Now this was the biggest turn-on of his life. His new fantasy to beat.
Then she nuzzled a soft kiss low on his belly, just above the band of his boxers, and blew his contemplation all to hell. Instead, his body took over. Need pounded through him.
“Off,” she murmured again, her fingers curling into the sides of his jeans. She pushed the fabric down his hips, freeing his straining erection so it stood at attention right there in front of her face.
The grin she shot him was a fabulous combination of naughty and sweet. She shoved his pants to his knees, then gently scraped her fingers back up his thighs to his clenched butt.
It wasn’t manly to shudder in delight, but oh God, she made him feel good. Then, her eyes holding his, she leaned forward and blew a warm puff of air over the head of his straining dick.
Simon did shudder with pleasure then.
Her eyes narrowed, she ran just the tip of her tongue around his head. Simon groaned. His fingers dug into the silky flesh of her bare shoulders.
She sipped, lips pursed, over his flesh. Her tongue swirled. Then she sucked, just the tip. Every nerve in his body was centered right there in his very happy cock.
She ran her tongue down the length of him.
Very, very happy cock.
She took him into the wet heat of her mouth.
Simon’s moan was low, his muscles tight as she sucked, swirled and sipped him into a state of overwhelmingly intense pleasure.
Her fingers slid up and down the back of his thighs, adding another dimension of delight to her ministrations. The apple scent of her hair filled his senses as he combed his fingers through her long curls. Her teeth scraped, edgy and gentle, along the length of his shaft, sending a bolt of excitement that teetered on that border between pleasure and pain.
“More,” he demanded.
Before Maya ask what he wanted more of, hell, before she could even blink, he pulled away.
Slipping his hands beneath her arms, he lifted her high, then sent her flying across the mattress. Her laughter rang out, making him smile.
Simon liked sex. He enjoyed both the simplicity and the complexity of it. And he was pretty damned good at it, if he did say so himself.
His sexual experience had never included laughter before. But watching the humor shining from Maya’s golden eyes, the smile as it played over the tasty fullness of her lips, he realized he’d been missing out.
On humor. On delight.
On Maya.
But no more.
“Bouncy,” she said of the bed as the mattress settled. Her smile was both amused and excited. “You sent my stomach tumbling, like a roller-coaster ride.”
She lay there, her thighs barely spread, her torso at a tempting angle as she propped herself up on her elbows. Black curls tumbled over her breasts, so the deep pink nipples played a game of peek-a-boo.
His mouth watered for another taste. His body, already tense with need, was on fire for her. And for the first time in his life, his brain was as turned on as his body.
“I’ve got another ride in mind,” he told her, sliding his fingers along her foot and watching her shiver.
“Yeah?” Using the foot he wasn’t holding, she tiptoed it up his thigh, then smoothed it back down in an erotically charged caress. “What kind of ride? The kind that goes high and wild? Or low and deep?”
He almost whimpered.
God, she was fabulous.
“Why don’t we find out?”
“Why don’t we?”
Lifting her foot, he nibbled at her ankle, his tongue tracing the tiny rose tattooed along the outside of her foot.
“You’re delicious,” he said.
“How delicious?” Her question was a throaty purr, her smile a siren’s call.
“So good that I’m going to have to taste every single inch of you.”
“Haven’t you already tasted the best part?” she teased, her fingers smoothing down her stomach in a soft caress. She stopped just short of the black curls nestled between her thighs.
Simon’s mouth watered at the memory of just how incredible she had tasted. He pressed warm kisses up the inside of her calf, reveling in the smooth silky skin and lightly toned muscles.
“Touch yourself,” he said, his words husky and low. He wanted to see if she’d do it. If she’d be that free and revel in her own sexuality. But mostly, he just wanted to see. And, he noted as he stared up the long length of her legs, he had the killer view from here. “I want to see you feel pleasure. Watch what makes you hot.”
Maya’s fingers hesitated for just a second, digging lightly into the soft flesh of her lower belly. Then, her eyes locked on his, she slid her fingers lower. She combed them through the nest of black curls.
Simon lifted her leg, draping her ankle over his shoulder as he kissed the rounded curve of her knee. His eyes were slitted with desire, finally releasing her gaze to watch her fingers trace gently over her swollen bud, so pink and wet.
“More,” he whispered against the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh.
Her fingers caressed and lightly pinched her clitoris. Then she dipped one, just one, into her core and swirled it while the others still rubbed her bud.
Simon’s mouth was watering as his kisses pressed higher. Close enough that the rich scent of her pleasure filled him. He lifted her other leg, gave it a quick kiss before draping that thigh over his other shoulder. She started to pull her fingers away to make room for him, but he pressed his hand against hers to stop her.
“More,” he demanded.
Blowing a hot breath over her wet beauty, he pressed his hands up the sides of her waist until he reached her breasts. Cupping their heavy weight, he thumbed her nipples while watching her pleasure herself.
Maya’s moves were getting jerkier. Her chest rose and fell, breath gasping. Her eyes were closed now, her chin tilted high as she seemed to focus completely, totally, on the delicious sensations moving through her body.
Simon’s dick was so hard it hurt. He needed her. Desperately. But not until he drove her so crazy, she’d never think of sex again without thinking of him.
His fingers worked her nipples, twirling and tweaking until she was whim
pering with need. A warm pink flush washed over her chest and her fingers were shaking.
So close.
He leaned in and sipped. Just a quick taste.
She screamed. Back arched, her body tensed as the climax rocked through her. Her fingers dropped to his shoulders, where she held tight as she rode the passion.
Crazy with need, Simon slipped her legs off his shoulders and grabbed for his toiletry bag on the chair. Two seconds later he had a condom in hand. Three seconds later he was sheathed and ready to go.
He grinned a painful sort of smile as he noted that Maya was still riding her wave.
“More,” he demanded again. This time to himself.
Wanting to see, needing to commit every second of this incredible encounter to memory, he lifted her legs again and anchored her ankles on his shoulders.
Then he plunged.
She gasped. Her eyes flew open, her golden gaze foggy with the power of her last climax.
God, she was amazing.
Simon had never, ever felt anything this incredible.
Had never known anyone this incredible.
With that last thought, his mind shut down and his body took over. And pleasure became the priority.
OH, GOD. OH, GOD. OH, GOD.
Maya could barely breathe.
The climax ripped through her like a tidal wave. Tremors of delight quaked through her, one after the other, as the pleasure spun out of control.
Her body was on fire. The passion was so overwhelming Maya was almost in tears. A part of her wanted to follow the waves of the climax as they ebbed, and slide into an exhausted sleep.
But the rest of her, mostly controlled by her body, was tensing for another round. Simon was hard between her thighs. His body poised over hers, he looked like something out of a fantasy. Gorgeous and built, he looked down at her like she was the sexiest thing in the world.
Like she was his fantasy.
Which only turned her on more.
His body slid into hers in a soft, easy rhythm.
Her palms stroked the hard breadth of Simon’s chest, her fingers sliding over the hard little nubs of his nipples. Her inner walls clenched him as he slipped in and out, every slide of his dick sending her higher. Making her want more.
Making her feel more.
Desire coiled tighter, low in her belly. She focused on it, needing more. Desperate to feel the release it promised. He reached between them, his fingers teasing her achingly swollen bud.
Maya’s gasp was almost a scream.
Then his hard shaft plunged harder into her hot, wet heat. Throbbing and oh, so big. Oh, so deliciously big. Her body clenched around him, rising to meet his thrusts.
He plunged harder. Then slowed. Then harder again. His body tensed. Another climax shook her body just as Simon roared. The feeling of him, exploding in throbbing delight, sent her careening over the edge.
Her throat burned, she was breathing so hard. Sweat pooled at her temples and her thighs shook from tension. As the power of her orgasm rippled through her body, it sapped all of her strength, all of her energy.
Her arms fell away, but her legs still clenched tight to Simon. She wasn’t ready to let go yet.
“Perfect,” he whispered, pressing soft kisses over her cheeks. Then with one quick kiss to the tip of her nose, he rolled away. A quick moment to deal with the condom and flick off the light, and he was back. He pulled the blankets up over their suddenly chilled bodies and pulled her into his arms.
Maya curled in, snuggling deep beneath the cozy down comforter and gave a long, satisfied sigh.
Well, that’d been pretty freaking awesome. Never one to dismiss great sex as happenstance, she figured they were probably the best lovers to ever exist. At least, together they were.
She glanced at the window, the moonlight sparkling like glitter against the multipaned glass. There were stars out there. A whole skyful. She hadn’t been raised to believe in magic, but for once she felt the need to wish on one of those pretty stars.
To wish for something special for her future. Something worth believing in.
Something like Simon.
Crazy. Just because he made her laugh and feel safe, made her go wild with need at the same time he made her feel like the strongest woman in the world? Was that enough to think they could last past this week?
Especially since this week was based on a lie.
Suddenly so sad she could cry, Maya pulled her gaze from the window and its tempting lies of hope.
“Did you ever wish on a star?” she asked. Her words were so quiet, they were almost a whisper. Not for fear of waking him. But out of nerves for sounding so fanciful.
“Sure. When I was a kid,” he said, his words low against the top of her head. His hand combed through her hair, curling the tresses around his fingers then letting the silky mass fall against her shoulder before lifting it again. “For a while, I wanted to believe in anything. Stars and birthday candles. Blowing on those dandelion things. I was pretty big on hope.”
Maya’s heart shivered at the sound of loss in those words. She’d rarely lacked confidence, but hope? That tended to rank right up there with Santa Claus. So what made a child need that kind of promise? “How old were you when you stopped wishing?”
His fingers stilled for a second, then Simon dropped his hand around her waist, pulling her tighter against the tempting hardness of his body.
“I guess I was about eight when I realized that no amount of wishing was going to work. If I wanted changes, I’d have to make them myself.”
Eight? Her shivering heart almost cried at that. “What happened to make you give up?”
“My dad walked out. He taught me not to depend on anyone. And not to believe in anything other than what I could guarantee myself.”
At a young age, Maya had mastered the three-card monte. She’d been well on her way to learning the ins and outs of computer programming, a necessity upon which to develop her hacking skills. She’d even lost her mother to the viciousness of cancer.
Hardly an innocent.
Even so, it’d been years before she’d developed that level of cynicism that Simon had discovered at eight.
She wanted to ask him what had really happened. To hear all the details so she could find a way to comfort him.
Casting her gaze back at the window, she made her wish on the brightly twinkling star.
I wish I could give Simon that hope he lost so young, she thought.
She placed her hand over his where it was curled over her waist in a silent, pseudo hug. And she swallowed back the litany of questions aching to slip off the tip of her tongue.
Nope. Couldn’t go there. Because asking him to open the door to his past meant offering to open hers.
And hers was off-limits.
Especially if she wanted to keep seeing him.
And she really, really wanted to keep Simon in her life for a long, long time.
“Tonight makes me think wishes could work, though,” he said, his tone lighter. As if he were making a concerted effort to shift the mood. He released her waist to reach up and move her hair aside so he could press tiny, warm kisses there, just behind her ear.
This time, Maya’s shiver was for a totally different reason.
He made her feel so much. Hope for even more.
And believe, even if it was only in one tiny corner of her heart, that they had a chance.
Needing the distraction, desperate to get away from her own thoughts, Maya turned in Simon’s arms. The over-sensitized tips of her breasts brushed the soft hair of his chest and a spark of heat flashed low in her belly.
Her breath caught in her chest as her body went soft with desire.
Again?
Heck yeah.
And not just because it was the perfect distraction.
“More?” she murmured as her lips skimmed over the hair-roughened planes of his face and down his throat. She breathed deep, loving the spicy rich scent of his skin. Loving even more h
ow it blended with her own perfume so perfectly.
“You’re ambitious,” he said with a laugh that was just a little husky with sleep.
“Can you keep up with my ambitions?”
“Babe, I guarantee, you’re keeping me up just fine.”
She giggled.
Then she reached between them to test that claim for herself. “You’re right. You are quite fine,” she said, leaning in to whisper kisses over his mouth. He tried to take the kiss deeper, but she kept the brushes of lips and tongue light and teasing.
Fun.
Because she was pretty sure the both of them needed a little fun right now.
Something she was realizing neither had probably had much of in their lives.
8
SIMON WOKE TO A SENSATION he’d never felt before in his life. Maya was wrapped in his arms, all that glorious hair splayed over his chest and her head tucked sweetly under his chin.
And the weird sensation?
He struggled to identify it. Finally, he figured it out.
It was contentment.
It scared the hell out of him.
What had he been thinking? She was a suspect. He was using her in a case. He was here to arrest her old man. That made every single thing about this a bad idea. A horribly bad idea.
One that had felt better than anything he’d ever experienced in his life.
Obviously, he hadn’t been thinking at all.
If he had been, he’d have spent the wee hours of the night breaking into Tobias’s house, business and the three rental properties he’d discovered the man owned. Instead, he’d been doing the guy’s daughter.
Freaking unbelievable.
As quickly, and as stealthily, as he could, he pulled his arm from under her shoulders and got the hell out of the bed. Time to go.
In the bathroom, he tried to gather his thoughts, his composure and, dammit, his control. By the time he’d brushed his teeth and ran a comb through his hair, he had a semblance of a plan.
Daytime B&E was out. But he was pretty sure he could still knock a few of Tobias’s properties off his list of possible storage places for the stolen weapons just by doing drive-bys. He’d made contact with the suspect, had established his cover. He was in. He needed to take advantage of that fact. He just had to act professionally, utilize his training and break this case.