Текст книги "Damsel In Danger"
Автор книги: Olivia Jaymes
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Текущая страница: 11 (всего у книги 14 страниц)
He wanted her too badly.
“Jason,” she whispered against his skin as she pressed her lips to his shoulder. She shuddered underneath him as his hands roamed over her curves urgently, barely able to rein in his impatience. He needed to be inside of her. Now.
“Yes, honey. I know what you need.”
Her own fingers were exploring the ridges of his stomach before slipping down to encircle his hard and ready cock. Jason buried his face in her neck, breathing in the delicate scent of her skin as he kissed and licked a trail to her shoulder, shoving her oversized nightshirt aside to reveal her golden sun-kissed flesh.
Hurriedly he tugged the cotton material over her head and tossed it aside, not caring where it landed. Her lacy panties were next to nothing, barely any covering at all but he wanted nothing between them tonight. All of his own armor had been stripped away with her tender questioning and he was laid bare – body and soul. In the morning he’d have to rebuild it but for now it was a relief to shake it off.
Groaning as her hands caressed his cock, he cupped her breasts in his palms before lapping at a nipple with his tongue bringing it to a hard point. He moved to the other, licking and worrying it with his teeth until it sat up tight and proud in pink perfection.
The pressure was already beginning to build in his lower back, the tide battering at the door. Her own movements were frantic as she wriggled underneath him, rubbing her silky soft skin against him and sending frissons of electricity straight to his balls and cock.
Sliding his hand between her legs, he carefully pressed a finger inside her to test her readiness. Hot and wet, her body wrapped around his flesh and he added another digit to rub her sweet spot while his thumb brushed her clit.
“Yes, oh yes,” she moaned, her head thrown back and her eyes half-closed in ecstasy. She was trembling on the brink; he could feel it as her inner walls fluttered around his hand. He withdrew his fingers and reached for the nightstand drawer, fumbling until he found a condom square.
Clumsy in his haste, he ripped open the package and rolled on the protection. Brinley tried to help but it only made it more difficult with every brush of her hands against his already sensitized flesh. Fire licked his skin and his breathing was ragged as he hovered above Brinley, his gaze taking in every inch of the delicious feast before him.
Her long brown hair was tousled around her head like a halo, a few strands hanging down playing hide and seek with her flushed nipples. Her chest rose and fell quickly, her own breathing ragged even as she paused to allow him to look his fill of her beauty. One of his hands skimmed down her side, tracing the indentation of her waist, the gentle flare of her hip, and the long line of her legs, firm from riding her bicycle. He wanted to spend hours drinking in every minute detail…
But not at this moment. He was too needy and from the restless movements she made Brinley felt exactly the same.
“Are you ready for me?” His hoarsely voiced question was met with an eagerness that made his chest tighten. She deserved better and the right thing to do would be to walk away. Let her find someone less damaged, someone who didn’t dread the long, dark nights.
“Yes. Now.” Her fingernails dug into the muscles of his shoulders and he lowered himself between her legs until his cock lined up with her entrance.
Leaning forward, he captured her full lips with his own even as he surged into her with one stroke. So wet and ready for him, he slid in easily and paused to savor the feeling when he was in to the hilt, her channel walls tightly hugging his cock. He had to close his eyes and think cold thoughts to be able to hold back.
Politics. Ranch bookkeeping. Golf scores. Government expense reports.
Dry, bland topics kept him from embarrassing himself but it had been too close for comfort. This woman was hell on any sense of equilibrium.
Slowly he pulled almost all the way out before thrusting back in, tingles shooting from the top of his head to the tip of his toes and settling in his groin, making it damn hard to think clearly—if at all. Brinley’s hips swiveled as he repeated the movement and he had to choke back a groan of pleasure so acute it was painful. Her fingers dug into his biceps as he sped up, pistoning in and out of her until both of them reached the pinnacle.
Brinley cried out his name as she tumbled over the cliff, her sex clamping down on his cock and making it impossible for him to hold back any longer. Stars whirled in front of his eyes as he dragged air into his starved lungs. The pressure in his balls gave way and his seed jetted into the condom. It seemed to go on forever but then finally he was done, wrung out. He rolled over onto his back, carrying Brinley with him and cuddling her damp body close until he was forced to take his leave for a few minutes.
When he returned he slid next to her on the cool sheets, their bodies still overheated from the passion they’d shared. Jason combed back a few stray strands of hair from her face and dropped a brief kiss on her lips.
“It just gets better and better,” she sighed, wriggling until her head was pillowed on her shoulder. “I don’t know any other word but wow.”
Jason chuckled, not at her inarticulate verbal skills but because he completely agreed. There wasn’t an adjective for the incredibly amazing hot sex…except incredible amazing hot sex.
And somehow it didn’t seem enough. Too weak.
“Wow is right. You pack a wallop, honey.”
She balanced on her elbow so she could look into his eyes and poked a finger in his chest.
“I could say the same for you. I don’t think I could sleep after that. Do you want to watch some television or something?”
So sweet and caring but he was on to her. She knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep after the nightmare he’d had but she didn’t want him to feel badly about it.
“I’m not sure there’s much on but we could look for a movie or something,” he agreed. “It will be morning in a couple of hours.”
He reached for the remote but kept one arm around Brinley. He’d have to let her go at some point. It would be selfish to keep her but right now she was all his. He would hold on to her for as long as he dared.
Chapter Twenty-Three
‡
“I’ll be fine here with Logan. Go on,” Brinley urged Jason a few days later over breakfast. “You can tell me about your meeting with Damian Barnes when you get back.”
“Possible meeting,” Jason corrected, helping himself to another waffle and smothering it in syrup. “He hasn’t returned my messages so I’m just going to take a chance and drive to his home and try to corner him. I imagine this is a subject he’s not eager to discuss with me—or anyone else, for that matter.”
“Poor bastard found the body. That will change a person.” Logan leaned against the kitchen counter and refilled his coffee cup. He’d been spending his nights at Brinley’s house to make sure no one broke in but during the day he could keep an eye on it from a distance if needed. “What will we be doing today, Miss Snow? Painting? Wallpaper? No, wait…maybe ceiling fans?”
Logan had that boyish grin on his face so clearly he wasn’t worried. He’d spent the last couple of days helping her hang ceiling fans and replacing the kitchen backsplash with copper tiles. In fact, she’d been surprised to find how handy he was around the house and he didn’t complain a bit about his babysitting job, whether it was her or the house he was watching. She had to admire his “embrace each day and laugh about it” attitude.
“Nothing that interesting, I’m afraid. We’re going to take a break today. I have to meet the flooring company this morning. They’re coming to measure and give me an estimate for refinishing the hardwood. Then I need to go to the grocery store because we’re out of almost everything, unless you two want to eat cereal for dinner tonight.”
Both men vigorously shook their heads. Jason and Logan had healthy appetites and frankly so did she. It didn’t hurt that they raved about everything she cooked, whether it was as simple as waffles or as complex as a chocolate soufflé.
“So it’s a day of rest? I can live with that. We can go see a movie or something if Jason isn’t back yet.”
Jason tossed the newspaper aside. “If I can’t find Barnes I won’t be gone long. This case has come to a grinding halt. Anita didn’t see who shot her and we have no new evidence. Just a bunch of theories we can’t prove.”
She’d been thinking about that very thing last night as Jason had finally fallen asleep around midnight. The fact was she couldn’t live here forever. No matter how nice that sounded. Jason hadn’t said anything these last few days but the question of what they were going to do about her living arrangements was going to rear its ugly head eventually. They couldn’t go on as they were now. At some point she was going to have to suck it up and move back to her house whether it was dangerous or not.
“I’ve been thinking about that. Maybe I should move back to my house as a sort of bait. My presence there might bring out whoever broke in and lead us to the killer if they’re not one and the same person.”
“No,” Logan and Jason practically shouted in unison. Jason looked horrified at the suggestion and even the laid back Logan appeared alarmed.
“I don’t think we’re desperate enough to use an innocent young woman as bait for a multiple murderer. Holy hell, woman, that’s the craziest idea I’ve ever heard.” Jason slapped his forehead and stood so he was hovering over her. “We will solve this eventually but we don’t need to put you in harm’s way to do it.”
“It was just an idea,” she replied weakly. “I can’t stay here forever. No one solved the original murder. What if you can’t get him again?”
Jason looked so affronted she immediately wanted to take her words back. “I always get my man, Brinley. I realize you’re not familiar with my body of work but I dig until I find what I’m looking for. I can assure you Logan and Jared are the same. We’ll get him. I’m sorry that you can’t stay in your own home, but until we know what’s going on here I just can’t take any chances.”
Before she could apologize he’d slapped his cowboy hat on his head and snatched up his keys from the counter. He was striding out the door when she finally found her voice.
“Jason, wait a minute.”
“Got to go.” He didn’t turn back but he did pause. “I’ll call later and let you know how it’s going.”
He headed out the door but this time she was ready for it. She grabbed his arm just as he hit the bottom front porch step.
“Please wait.” She tugged at his shirt until he looked at her. The hurt she saw in his eyes almost took her breath away. She’d insulted him and she hadn’t meant to. “Listen, I’m really sorry. I’ve got a big mouth and I let it run this morning. I know you’re going to catch this guy. You’re so close. I just feel like I’m imposing by staying with you. I’m sure you like your privacy and now I’ve got makeup crap all over your bathroom.”
*
Brinley had no earthly idea why Jason was really upset and that was probably a good thing. When she’d started talking about going back to her own house, Jason’s heart had skipped a beat or two in his chest. He didn’t want her to go. He liked having her things strewn through his house. Before she’d come into his life his home had been quiet but sterile. Now it was full of life and he had her to thank for that. Her clothes and mascara didn’t seem like a big deal when the remedy meant he’d be alone. Again.
But she thought he was upset that she’d wondered aloud whether he was going to be able to solve the murders.
That didn’t bother him in the least. Hell, he’d been wondering the same goddamn thing for days so he couldn’t blame her for doing it too. He couldn’t guarantee success although he had a track record that other agents envied. He’d do his best, but in the end sometimes these things had an element of luck to them.
So was he lucky if he didn’t solve the murder and she stayed? Or was he lucky if he found the killer and she went back to her own house?
He didn’t have a fucking clue except that he couldn’t be in this for the long haul. She deserved a better man. A whole man, and that left him out of the running. He hadn’t expected to fall so far, so fast. He never had before. Brinley had changed more than she knew.
“It’s fine. You didn’t say anything wrong. I’m shooting off my mouth too, acting like I know for sure I’m going to solve it when I really don’t.”
He could see the doubt in her eyes and didn’t have a clue how to make it go away. He didn’t like lying to her much either.
“My words were thoughtless and I’m so sorry, Jason. Please forgive me.”
Brinley squeezed his arm, her eyes beseeching him. Dammit. He’d forgive her damn near anything. He couldn’t let her feel like crap when it wasn’t her fault. They needed to talk about this sooner or later, although he’d been hoping for the latter.
“That wasn’t why I was upset,” he admitted. “It was when you talked about moving back to your house. I like having you near me. I don’t mind your stuff at all.”
A slow smile crossed her pretty face. “Not even the clutter in the shower? I have shampoo, two kinds of conditioner, a soap for my body, one for my face, a razor, and body exfoliator.”
“Don’t forget that stone that you use to smooth your feet,” Jason laughed. “And no, I don’t mind. I’m kind of fascinated by it all, actually. I had a sister, but we didn’t share a bathroom so I didn’t know what half that stuff was until you told me.”
He’d asked her about the stone that sat on the edge of the tub after wracking his brain trying to figure out what the hell it was. The only thing he could come up with was a weapon to throw at someone’s head if they intruded on her bath time.
“I just didn’t want to be in the way. In your way, I mean.”
“You could never be that. I’d let you stay just for your cooking alone. But we probably need to have a talk about things eventually. About what happens when this is all over.”
“That sounds ominous.” Her smile wavered slightly. “Am I going to be thrown out of the Homeowner’s Association?”
“No way.” Jason leaned down and pressed a kiss to her tempting lips. She tasted like coffee and maple syrup. “But things will change at some point. We don’t need to talk about it now though. Tomorrow or the next day is soon enough. Have fun with Logan today. I’ll call you later this morning, okay?”
“Okay, drive careful.”
Jason climbed into his truck, his gaze still on Brinley standing on the steps, an uncertain expression on her face. He’d fucked this up royally but he’d make it right. This was about his deficiencies, not hers.
He waved as he headed down the road. It was time to get back to the one thing he knew how to do.
Find a criminal.
Chapter Twenty-Four
‡
“Jason’s running scared, isn’t he?”
Brinley and Logan had spent the last hour debating the merits of blinds versus shutters and were now sitting at her kitchen table as two men from the flooring company measured each room and scratched the number down on a clipboard. They’d already finished the upstairs and only had the living and dining areas left to do.
“Yes,” she sighed in resignation. “He’s pulling away from me and I can’t stop him. Maybe it’s for the best if he really doesn’t want me.”
“He wants you,” Logan laughed. “Trust me, he does. He’s just confused. Kind of like my mom used to say. He doesn’t know whether to scratch his watch or wind his butt. You’ve got him all turned around and he’s going to go down fighting.”
Logan’s poetic way with words had her laughing right along with him. “What if he doesn’t get himself straightened out? Maybe I should help him.”
“Jason is a hell of a lot like I was, darlin’. Love and commitment snuck up on me. Sure, I fought it, but Ava just quietly hung around and waited for me to remove my head from my ass. No pushing. No yelling. She just carried on with life as if I was smart enough to figure it out on my own. And I did. Jason will too. Give him love and space and he’ll figure out he wants a bunch of the former and none of the latter.”
She hoped so because her feelings deepened with every day that she spent with him.
“I’ll try and relax. No worrying over tomorrow.”
“What Jason is going through – and what I went through – didn’t have a damn thing to do with a female. This is about Jason’s demons, Brinley, and only he can fight them.”
Logan was right but it wasn’t easy to sit back and pretend not to care about the outcome. She cared more than she was ready to admit.
A banging on the front door interrupted them and she apologized and excused herself to answer it, leaving Logan to finish his coffee. She pulled open the door and almost slammed it closed immediately.
It was Greg. He wasn’t giving up. What did it take for the guy to get a clue? She didn’t want to be a bitch but he couldn’t keep showing up here uninvited. And unwanted.
“Hey, Brinley. How have you been?”
Greg’s charming smile did nothing to soothe her ruffled feathers. His habit of showing up out of the blue and trying to charm her was wearing on her nerves. She kept the screen door shut between them, not wanting him to think there was a chance in hell she was going to ask him inside the house.
“What do you want, Greg?”
She didn’t bother to temper the annoyance in her voice and her mother would have told her she sounded rude. Good. Apparently Greg was the kind of guy who needed a brick wall to fall on him before he realized what was going on around him.
That smile she once thought was charming but now just seemed smarmy crossed his pretty boy face. She didn’t know how she ever could have been attracted to him or his type. Jason was a million times more handsome and sexy with his rugged looks and godlike physique.
“I was passing by and thought we might visit for awhile. Maybe have a cup of coffee and talk. You know, catch up.”
“No.” Brinley shook her head, her lips pressed tightly together. “I told you the last time I saw you that this is not going to work out. You need to leave.”
“Trouble, Brinley?”
A deep voice right behind her had a look of dismay crossing Greg’s face. Logan stood to her right but even Greg could see the wide shoulders and powerful muscles on the former sheriff. It wasn’t even a question who would come out on top if there was a scuffle.
“He was just leaving, Logan. Right, Greg?”
Red-faced, Greg took a step back on the porch. “If that’s how you really feel then I will go.”
“Do that. It’s not going to work out. I’m sorry.”
She wasn’t all that sorry really but she was sorry that she was having to deal with this again. The whole situation creeped her out, and that was saying something after what had happened to her in Chicago.
Greg turned on his heels and strode to his non-descript sedan, climbing in and gunning the engine. Dirt flew behind the wheels as he backed out of the driveway and onto the main road. Brinley turned to Logan who was wearing a sour expression as he watched the other man hightail it out of there.
“Thank you. I could have gotten rid of him eventually but you being here made it much easier.”
Brinley closed the door and took another peek out of the front window to ensure Greg was gone. “Who is that and what’s his deal? I know first impressions don’t count for much, but I think he’s an asshole.”
Laughter bubbled from her lips at Logan’s bald statement. “Greg is an asshole. He’s a guy I kind of dated. Coffee dates and stuff like that. Apparently he doesn’t like the word no.”
“Greg, huh? I hope he keeps his damn distance from now on or Jason and I might have to have a chat with him. Man to man. Some guys just don’t get the whole ‘no means no’ thing. I know because I put more than a few of them in jail.”
“He’s harmless. But a nuisance. He keeps showing up uninvited. I have to admit that’s a hot button issue with me.”
“I’ll keep an eye out for Romeo.” Logan crossed his arms over his chest, his blue eyes like ice. “The flooring guys are finished, by the way, and waiting for you in the kitchen. I gave them some coffee. I hope that’s okay.”
“Perfect. Now cross your fingers that their estimate to refinish these floors isn’t an arm and a leg. I’ve only budgeted for one limb. Two is out of the question.”
Shaking off her anger and frustration, Brinley crossed into the kitchen. It was sadly ironic that Greg wouldn’t leave her alone and Jason was looking for reasons to bolt.
All she needed to do was make sure she didn’t give him any reason to do so.
*
Jason entered the elevator and punched the “4” button on the panel. He’d struck out at Damian Barnes’s home. There’d been no one at the house and the place looked deserted with a pile of newspapers on the front porch. So now Jason was giving Barnes’s workplace a try but wasn’t optimistic about his chances of meeting the elusive man.
The doors slid open and Jason walked down the hallway of the office building. There wasn’t anything special about the place, just the typical gathering of companies that didn’t have anything to do with one another. Some fly by night and some more established. According to Jared’s research Damian Barnes’s software company was a successful one. He had twelve full-time employees and was a member of the local business association. An upstanding citizen by all accounts.
Jason found the door with the plaque next to it that read, “Barnes Financial Software, Inc.” Pushing it open, he took a cursory inventory of the room behind it. On the small side, it had a few chairs for guests but most of the space was taken up by a receptionist desk that was currently empty. A glass wall behind the desk revealed even more offices and people but none of them seemed to notice his arrival.
Waiting for someone to greet him, he examined the photos on the walls. There was a large one with two men, one holding an award and the other older, maybe mid-sixties. The younger man was probably what women called handsome, but then Jason wasn’t much of a judge regarding male attractiveness.
“Can I help you?”
Jason turned quickly to find a middle-aged woman standing there with a disapproving look on her face. He gave her his most charming smile, hoping to make a better impression and perhaps learn something about the elusive Damian Barnes.
“I hope you can. I’m Jason Anderson. I was hoping I could speak to Damian Barnes if he was available. I only need a few minutes of his time.”
The woman sniffed, not moved at all by his debonair display. “Mr. Barnes does not see people without an appointment. Are you selling something? You can leave a business card if you like.”
“No, I’m not selling anything.” Jason cleared his throat, hating to reveal all the details of why he was there to someone he’d never met. He dug a business card out of his wallet and handed it to the woman. “I’m working with the Tremont Police Department to investigate a crime. We have reason to believe that Mr. Barnes might have been a witness and may have some important information.”
That was kind of the truth. Damian Barnes might know much more than he realized.
The woman looked at Jason, looked at the card, and then looked back at him. “He’s not here, actually. He’s on vacation. He went to visit a friend in San Francisco.”
Jason could believe that Barnes wasn’t at home after seeing the piles of newspaper on the front porch, but he wasn’t about to give in that easily.
“Does he call in? It’s very important that I talk to him, ma’am. I’ve left messages at his home and here–”
“Yes.” The receptionist nodded and placed the card on her desk. “I was the one who took those messages and I did pass them on to Mr. Barnes. He calls in every other day. I’m sure he’ll contact you when he gets back into town.”
Fighting his rising frustration, Jason tried one more time. “Would it be possible for me to talk to him when he calls in? Does he call at the same time of day?”
More disapproval. The dragon lady clearly didn’t like being questioned.
“No, he doesn’t. I’m afraid you’ll just have to wait until he gets back.”
Effectively cornered, Jason admitted defeat. At least for the battle but not the war.
“I’d appreciate you letting him know again that I’m anxious to speak to him. Do you know when he’ll be back?”
The first crack in the woman’s armor. Her smile faltered and she seemed unsure. “That I don’t know. He left a few weeks ago and hasn’t given a return date.”
Jason whistled. “Lucky man. Thank you for your help.” He turned to leave but then pointed to the framed picture on the wall. “Is that Mr. Barnes?”
The receptionist beamed with pride for her boss. “Yes, it is. He was receiving the very prestigious Alliance Award for excellence in interface design. Mr. Barnes is a brilliant man.”
Barnes sure as hell didn’t look much like his childhood photos. The skinny, geeky boy with thick glasses had grown into a confident man despite what he’d experienced as a youth. It was good to see he hadn’t let the trauma of his past affect his future.
“I’m sure he his. Thank you and I hope to hear from him very soon. Good day.”
Jason exited the office and strode down the hall, punching the down arrow with too much force. The case was frozen in place and going nowhere fast. He’d promised Brinley he’d find this guy but things were not looking good.
Time to go back to the beginning and start again.
