Calculating Desires (The Rockford Security Series Book 4)

by Jones, Lee Anne

  Yep. Hard to get more disgusting than that.

  “Wow.” Owen exhaled and rubbed a hand over his face. “What about the casino?”

  “What about it?”

  “Why were you at the Lucky Ace?”

  “With my identity hidden, getting a job to support myself is impossible. So I put the skills I have to good use.”

  “You always intended to run the next time things got dicey?”

  “Yeah. A girl’s got to survive.”

  “What about Faye? She’s your friend. That’s a big risk with your past, right?”

  Alison laughed. “Have you ever tried denying Faye what she wants?”

  Owen chuckled. “Yeah, I have actually. Not exactly easy.”

  “No, it’s not. Once that girl sets her mind on something, she gets it. She wanted me as her friend and she got me.”

  “Right.” He took her hand, the one resting on Peaches’ back, and held firm. “Anything else I need to know about you?”

  “I think that’s enough, don’t you?”

  He laced their fingers together and leaned back. Peaches jumped down and wandered over to her bowls in the kitchen. Owen pulled her closer to him and she went without resistance, cuddling up into his side. God, she’d never felt safer, more protected, more cared for, than when she was in his arms.

  Alison buried her nose in his chest and inhaled deeply of his spicy, clean scent. Owen wove the fingers of his free hand through her hair and grinned. “So, what should I call you? Alison? Heather?”

  Yours.

  She straightened and did her best to get a hold of herself. “I like Alison. She feels like me now. I’m a different person than I was at Copernatech.”

  “Okay. Alison it is.” He pulled her close again, seemingly missing her as much as she missed him. His deep voice rumbled through his chest beneath her ear. “I have one more question.”

  “All right?” The hint of hurt in his voice made her worries soar once more. Does he hate me after all for lying to him? Is he not able to forgive me? She wasn’t sure she could survive another heartbreak. Still, she needed to know. Her own words emerged more hesitant than she’d wanted. “Go ahead.”

  “What happened between us… Was that a lie too?”

  She sat up and placed her hand over his heart, the steady beat grounding her in this moment, this man, this connection between them. “No. That was all truth.”

  Owen cupped her cheek and ran his thumb along the high ridge of her cheekbone. She couldn’t help shuddering under his gentle touch. “You do care about me, at least a little, then?”

  “A little?” She nuzzled into his palm and placed a kiss there before snorting. “More like a concave up function.”

  He scrunched his nose and gave her an impassive stare. “Sorry. I’m too mathematically challenged to know what the hell that means.”

  “It means they’re constantly increasing.” She giggled and dropped a kiss on his lips.

  “So, yes?”

  “Yes.” She straddled his lap, running her fingers into his short dark hair and savoring his answering shiver. If she was honest, she’d gone well past like days ago and was now on a direct collision course with love where Owen Rockford was concerned.

  Not that she’d tell him. Not yet.

  Not until she dealt with her past and knew where he stood on their future together.

  This time when she kissed him, it was long and hot and deep, expressing all the words and feelings she couldn’t say.

  Minutes later, when they both came up for air, Owen’s hands were beneath her shirt and hers clutched his bare back to keep him close. His warm breath fanned her face and his gaze stayed locked on her mouth. “Stay with me tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll go to Blake’s and get his help. He’ll be able to get a clear handle on your situation. I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”

  Her breath caught at the possibilities he offered—a future, a relationship, a real life again. She wanted those things, with him, more than anything in the world, but wouldn’t allow herself to believe they were possible yet.

  Tonight though? One night I can do.

  “Okay.” Alison rested her forehead against Owen’s and looked deep into his warm brown gaze as her stomach rumbled. “I’d like that. But first, can you feed me?”

  * * *

  “God, that smells amazing!” Alison peeked around Owen’s side an hour later and snatched a slice of green pepper from the pile. “What is it again and when will it be ready?”

  “Steak stir-fry and a few more minutes.” He slapped her hand away as she went back to snatch another bite. “I can’t believe you’re still hungry after all the bites you’ve stolen.”

  “Oh, I’m hungry all right.” She pressed a kiss between his naked shoulder blades and ran her nails down his spine, just how she knew he liked. “Did you know a statistician can have his head in an oven and his feet in ice, and he’ll say on average he feels fine?”

  “Is that another bad math joke?”

  “It’s a very good math joke, actually.”

  “Whatever you say.”

  “I say.” She giggled and pinched his firm ass, craving more than food at the moment. “Um, maybe we can keep that warm for a while.”

  He cursed and groaned low before shutting off the burner and putting a lid on the wok. “Maybe we can.”

  Owen turned and scooped her up in his arms before Alison could do more than squeak in mock protest, he’d tossed her into the center of his mattress then stretched out his long, warm, muscled length beside her. “God, I’ve missed this. I know it’s only been a couple of days, but damn.”

  She melted against him as he nuzzled the sensitive spot beneath her ear. “Me too.”

  Owen quickly removed her top and bra then bent to run his tongue over the sensitive skin just below her navel. She pulled free from his hands pinning her wrists to the mattress and sank her fingers into his thick, brown hair. “Whatcha doin’ down there?”

  “Playing.” He gave her a saucy wink then returned to nibbling kisses across her abdomen toward the waistband of her jeans. Alison’s pulse pounded as lust pooled hot and thick deep in her hips. “I do love to play.”

  Me too.

  Their last time together had been about exploration for both of them. This time, though, Owen seemed ready to take charge. He trailed his fingers down her sides then undid the button on her jeans before sliding down the zipper. After a few tugs, the rest of her clothes were gone, leaving her in socks and nothing else. Owen spread Alison’s legs wide and lay down between them, kissing her inner thigh before using his thumbs to part her delicate folds and licking her swollen clitoris before taking it between his lips and sucking gently.

  She panted with need.

  No one’s ever made me feel this level of desire. No one but Owen.

  After several minutes of teasing her to the brink of climax only to deny her satisfaction, he slid first one, then two, fingers inside her slick channel to stretch her body for him. Pumping them in a steady rhythm, he resumed his erotic torture on her body.

  Alison arched, needing more, more, so much more. He crooked his fingers inside her and pressed upward into that small area a few inches inside, the one that made her scream for release.

  Pressure coiled tighter and tighter in her abdomen until she was sure she’d die of anticipation. Still, he continued to stroke his tongue against her as if he couldn’t get enough of her arousal. Alison twined her fingers through his hair, guiding him with small moans and sighs and gasps.

  Finally, he sucked her clitoris between his lips again until her world spun apart and all that remained were her and Owen and this moment. Her body pulsed against his fingers and his tongue as she came hard.

  She drifted for what seemed an eternity on a tide of pure pleasure.

  At last, Owen pushed up onto his hands and knees above her to nuzzle her throat. “You are magnificent. Have I ever told you that?”

  “And you are my perfect derivative. I could lay here for
ever tangent to your curves.” she teased, never too drowsy to forego her Brainiac humor.

  He chuckled against her skin as he lowered down to one elbow. “I have no idea what that means, but it sounds dirty. I like it.”

  “I like it too.” She squinted up at him with one eye.

  “Good.” He kissed her long and slow and deep.

  Wanting to return the favor, she gently grasped the length of his hard cock through his trousers and stroked him through the soft material. “And I’ll take this.”

  In charge now Alison pushed him over onto his back and kissed her way down his chest to the top of his waistband. With gentle tugs she removed his trousers and the hard length of his manhood sprang free, no undies in sight.

  My wicked, wicked man.

  Alison grasped Owen’s cock by the base, stroking slowly upward toward his sensitive tip. Owen groaned deep, watching her work him and she bit her lip to keep from moaning herself at the pure lust in his eyes.

  A drop of fluid emerged from his tip and she gathered it with her thumb and smoothed it into the velvet soft head of his cock before dipping her head down to taste him for the first time—warm and slightly salty and completely delicious. She swirled her tongue around his crown then lowered to take several inches of him into her mouth. He slid his fingers into her hair and gave her gentle direction to what he liked the most. After several heady minutes, his fingers tightened against her scalp and he forced her to look at him.

  “I need to be inside you, honey.”

  “I thought you’d never ask.” Alison crawled up his body to give him an open-mouthed kiss then took a condom packet from his nightstand drawer and ripped it open with her teeth. As she slicked it onto his length she gave him a playful smile. “Saddle up, cowboy.”

  “Giddy up.” He smacked her on the ass and she laughed.

  Alison placed her knees on either side of his hips and raised herself over him, reaching behind her to position his tip at her wet entrance. “Ready?”

  He didn’t answer, just closed his eyes and smiled.

  Power surged through her system. He made her feel this way, like she could conquer her past and win the future of her dreams, as long as he was with her. This powerful, passionate, perfectly beautiful man had allowed her to take his pleasure into her hands and she damned sure wouldn’t let him down.

  Not tonight. Not ever, if I can help it.

  Slowly, she lowered her body, inch by delectable inch, until he was buried deep inside her. Their groans of satisfaction mingled as she leaned forward to kiss him. “This,” she said against his lips. “Is so good.”

  “Good doesn’t begin to describe what I’m feeling right now, honey.” Owen gripped her hips and started a steady rhythm within her. His words tumbled out in a cascade of need. “Christ, you feel so incredible.”

  Alison rocked against him, eliciting his deeper moan. She smiled.

  Yeah. I could definitely get used to this.

  “Why are you grinning?” He hit that special spot inside her, the one that made her knees shake and her hands tremble. “I can play dirty too.”

  “How about we play dirty together, cowboy?” She kissed him passionately as they each raced closer and closer to the edge. Soon, her muscles tensed as another climax built hot and sweet. Owen gripped her harder and his body tightened beneath hers, signaling he was close as well. She whispered close to his ear, “Are you ready?”

  “Fuck yes, honey.” He lowered one hand between them to stroke her clitoris and she came hard around him, her head falling back and her eyes closing as wave after wave of exquisite pleasure washed over her. Lost in desire, she was barely aware of Owen sitting up to slip an arm around her waist and drive hard into her several more times until his body went whipcord tight and he buried his face in her neck as he climaxed hard.

  They clung to each other, moaning and whispering endearments as they gradually floated back down to earth. When Owen finally lay back with Alison atop him, their bodies still connected, she couldn’t remember a time she’d ever felt happier.

  “Okay, honey?” He kissed the top of her head.

  “Excellent.” She smiled against his chest. “And you?”

  “Beyond words.”

  Silence descended as they snoozed.

  The next time Alison opened her eyes, darkness had fallen through the gauzy curtains. She glanced beside her to find Owen wide awake. “What time is it?”

  “A bit after nine at night. Why?”

  “No reason.” She stretched then smiled. “I slept like a baby.”

  “Me too. I wonder…”

  “What? What do you wonder?”

  “What you looked like as a kid.”

  “Ugh.” She rested her head against his chest once more, right over his heart, enjoying the steady, reassuring thump, thump, thump of his pulse. “Believe me, nothing to write home about.”

  “Was your hair always this red?” He picked up a curl and twined it around his fingers.

  “Yeah. I used to get made fun of for it all the time. Well, that and my brain.”

  “People made fun of your brain?” Owen raised his head to squint down at her. “I think your brain’s amazing. I don’t understand half of what comes out of your mouth, but it’s still amazing.”

  She giggled and kissed his chest. “Thanks. It’s okay. I’m over it now. It’s just hard being the different kid, you know?”

  “Yeah, I know.” From the sad note in his voice, she got the sense that he did. She wanted to ask more, but his stomach grumbled loud this time and he laughed. “You ready for dinner?”

  “Is a forty-five-degree angle acute?”

  “Pretty sure I remember the answer from high school geometry.” He tossed back the covers and stood to tug on a pair of jeans. “But I’ll take that as a yes.”

  She leaned back on an elbow and admired the view. “Take that as a hell yes.”

  Fifteen

  Alison awoke to the sound of scratching.

  Squinting into the pre-dawn grayness, she spotted Peaches standing near the door. Besides her, spooned against her back, all warm and delicious, was Owen, His soft snores echoed as she propped up on one elbow and pushed the hair from her eyes. The warm weight of his arm around her felt like heaven on earth and she couldn’t help saying a little prayer of thanks that she’d decided to talk to him, to finally open up and let someone in before taking off again.

  Now, she had the possibility of a future, the possibility of love.

  Now I have hope.

  She cleared her throat and made kissy noises at the dog. “What’s the matter, girl? Do you need to go outside, huh?”

  Peaches padded over and whined.

  “Okay.” Alison stood and pulled on her clothes from the day before then quietly led the dog from the room so as not to wake Owen. “Let’s find your leash and I’ll take you downstairs.”

  After getting the dog ready, she slipped her feet into her sneakers and pulled on her hoodie before heading out of the apartment. She could only imagine her hair looked like some kind of crimson nightmare after all of her and Owen’s lusty activities and she hadn’t taken the time to do more than run her fingers through it before leaving his place, but at this early hour, who cared?

  The elevator took her and Peaches down to the lobby and she walked outside into the crisp air then around the corner to a small patch of grass with a tree near the curb. Owen’s place was close enough to Fremont Street and the Lucky Ace that tourists still milled about and the traffic was as thick as it was at noon. This little side street, however, was blissfully deserted.

  “C’mon, girl.” She coaxed Peaches to get her business done faster while bouncing from foot to foot. “I don’t know about you, but I’m chilly out here.”

  The dog obediently sniffed the tree trunk several times then chose her spot and squatted. Moments later, she kicked her back legs a few times then trotted excitedly, panting.

  “What is it, girl?” Alison grinned down at Peaches then scratc
hed her behind the ears. “Did you get your business done? Did you? That’s such a good girl. Yes, it is.”

  A slight whistle sounded near her ear, followed by a spray of wood chips.

  Wood chips? That’s weird.

  Confused, Alison straightened and looked around.

  Another whistle sounded, followed by something hot grazing her back.

  What the…?

  Several thoughts popped into her head simultaneously. First, there were now round holes in the tree trunk where before there’d been none. Second, her T-shirt stuck to her back and something wet trickled down her skin like she’d been injured. Like she’d been shot.

  Sharp stinging soon followed.

  Oh. God.

  I’ve been shot. Someone’s shooting at me.

  Copernatech!

  She dove out of the way as a third bullet whizzed by and Peaches’ leash slipped from her hand. The dog, ears back and tail down, bolted fast around the corner, leaving Alison alone.

  Fuck.

  Pressed tight against the wall of the apartment building, she battled against her rising panic. They’d finally found her and of course they wanted her dead. She needed to run. She needed to hide. She needed to warn Owen and Faye so they’d be safe.

  Think. Think. Think.

  She leaned forward slightly and peered down the street. A hooded figure approached from around the corner, the streetlights glinting off the barrel of a gun, and for a moment she froze with fear.

  Run. Hide. Escape.

  Fight-or-flight took over in the nick of time and she raced away, her mind whirring with self-recriminations at near light-speed. She should’ve never been stupid enough to believe it was all over, that she was safe, that she might have the future of her dreams. Happy endings weren’t meant for girls like her.

  Throat tight and chest burning, she charged forward, tears in her eyes as she headed for the main street where there would be other people, hoping the assassin wouldn't shoot where anyone else was around. Forget the money she had stashed in her duffle. Forget Faye had been her best and closest friend in years. Forget the life she’d built here, the relationships, the love.