Hot On Her Heels

“Wait,” she gasped, pulling back.

She jerked her T-shirt over her head, then unfastened her bra. Before she’d even tossed it away, he’d already bent his head and took one of her nipples in his mouth. He sucked deeply, using his tongue to caress sensitive flesh. She clung to him, feeling the tugs all the way between her legs. Her blood pulsed, causing her to swell.

Without thinking, she pushed down her sweats. Her panties went with them. Even as he shifted to her other breast, he slipped a hand between her thighs and found her wet, swollen center. Two fingers pressed against that one spot, then began to circle it.

He straightened enough to kiss her mouth. Their tongues tangled, she held on to his shoulders, all the while his fingers created magic. She couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything but feel the pressure. He moved steadily, rubbing over and around. Her body tensed. She wanted to part her legs but her stupid sweatpants were in the way. If she could just open a little more and he kept doing that, she would come in a heartbeat.

She tried to kick them away. He broke the kiss then pushed her back a couple of steps.

“Table,” he said, his voice thick with passion.

She stepped out of her sweatpants and panties. He grabbed his shirt and put it on the wood table, then helped her jump up onto the cool surface. She parted her legs and went to grab his hand to show him exactly where she wanted him, but he was busy unfastening his belt and shoving down the zipper.

He pushed into her, filling every inch of her. She stared into his eyes, seeing the fire there, knowing it was matched by the need on her own face. He pulled out and thrust in again, but this time he used his fingers to rub her at the same time.

It only took a few seconds for her to lose herself in her release. Every muscle in her body convulsed as she cried out, clinging to him.

He waited until the shudders had stopped before grabbing her hips and hanging on as he pumped in and out of her. Soon he stiffened and groaned.

They held on to each other. The sound of their rapid breathing filled the quiet kitchen.

“Are you all right?” he asked, stroking her head and kissing her bare shoulder.

“Yes.”

And for that moment she was. She wouldn’t think about tomorrow right now. Or the day after. Or the niggling sense that she was afraid of the wrong thing. It wasn’t that Garth would hurt her physically that should have her on edge. It was that the more she knew him, the more she liked him. And that liking made her vulnerable.

For the first time she realized the true danger wasn’t to her body, but was instead to her heart.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

IZZY SHOWED UP the next morning with Danish, coffee and a copy of the paper. Dana had spent the night in Garth’s bed and there hadn’t been a lot of sleep on the agenda, so she was still groggy and not feeling like she wanted company.

“I should take the food and run,” she said, then yawned. “But that would require too much energy.”

Izzy followed her into the kitchen. “Someone got to bed late last night,” her friend teased. “Want to share details?”

Dana got out plates and napkins, then led the way to the dining room. The small table in the kitchen should probably be wiped down before anyone ate at it.

“He’s your brother,” she said as she took a seat and reached for one of the containers of coffee. “Are you sure you want details?”

“Never mind.” Izzy had already gone through the paper. She pushed a folded page toward Dana. “Brace yourself. You made the society page.”

The hot coffee seemed to get stuck halfway down Dana’s throat. For a second she couldn’t seem to swallow. She finally managed to get it down only to cough until she gagged.

“W-what?” she managed, then cleared her throat. “There’s a society page in the paper?”

“Uh-huh, and you’re the star. That’s what happens when you go out with one of the city’s most eligible bachelors. Being one of Garth’s women comes at a price. By the way, you look great.”

She turned the page so Dana could see the picture of herself standing next to Garth in front of Glory’s Gate.

Dana felt the beginnings of a headache right behind her eyes. “Seriously? I didn’t see anyone with a camera.” She’d been too freaked about the whole party to notice details. That didn’t bode well for her returning to a career in law enforcement. “I’m losing my edge.”

“You were probably trying not to trip in high heels.”

“True, but not an excuse.”

Dana studied the picture. She had to admit, she looked good. The dress fit perfectly and Lexi had worked magic with hair and makeup. But seeing herself with a caption under the picture was beyond surreal.

There were several other pictures, including one of Skye with Mitch, and an article about the fund-raiser. She scanned it.

“They print the menu?”

“The little people are curious,” Izzy teased. “Now that you’re no longer one of them, you’ll have to learn to be kind.”

“Bite me.”

“That would be Garth’s job.”

Dana drank more coffee. The society page. “How do I keep this from happening again?” she asked.

“Avoid society events.”

Dana didn’t think it would be too hard. Then she remembered something else her friend had said. “What do you mean ‘one of his women’? He has others?”

Izzy shifted in her seat. “Not that I know of. It was just an expression. I’m sure he’s not dating anyone else.”

Dana winced and reached for a Danish. “You’re the wrong person to be asking. That’s a conversation I need to have with him.”

She told herself not to worry. He was home early every night. All the time she’d been following him, he’d never gone out with anyone.

Izzy sipped her coffee. “Is it getting to the point where you need to know that kind of thing?” she asked.

“I don’t know. I’m sleeping with him. I’m a big fan of serial monogamy. But I didn’t bother asking about his preferences.”

“He’s a good guy,” Izzy reassured her. “I wouldn’t worry.”

“You don’t have to. It’s fine. We’ll have a rational, adult conversation.”

“Because you like him.”

Dana raised her eyebrows. “I don’t care how athletic you are, I could so take you.”

“You’d have to catch me first.”

Dana nodded. Izzy was skinny, but she was also fast. She sighed. “I guess I do like him. A little.”

Izzy grinned. “Casual like or serious like?”

“I’m not sure.”

“That means serious like, or you’d be willing to say.”

Dana glared at her. “Because it’s impossible to believe I’m actually not sure?”

“Oh, please. You’re very decisive. You wouldn’t be sleeping with Garth if you didn’t already like him.”

“Maybe.”

Izzy stared at her. “How serious?”

“I don’t know.” Dana took a bite of Danish. Maybe the sugar rush would help her think more clearly.

“He’s not like the guys you usually date.”

She swallowed. “Tell me about it. I don’t know. There are things I really admire about him, but sometimes…” she looked at Izzy “…he scares the crap out of me.”

“That’s how all good relationships start. You can’t be scared if you have nothing to lose.”