Lucky Streak

on in Vegas. This was one of those times, so the house was empty. After paying off the houseboy, Marshall had let himself in and prepared himself to wait this mess out.

They were nice temporary digs except that he was bored. He had too much time on his hands, worrying about whether King Bobby would find him and break his legs-or worse. He knew he could stay underground as long as he needed to without being found. What he wasn’t sure of was whether he could trust Amber to keep her mouth shut about their scam if King Bobby managed to track her down first.

Marshall let steam fill the shower stall and thought about Amber. He didn’t feel too bad about letting her take the heat. King Bobby was a southern gentleman. He wouldn’t hurt a lady, he’d only bully her into telling him Marshall’s whereabouts. Since Amber didn’t know where he was, she couldn’t reveal a thing.

She could, however, tell King Bobby he was a class-A con, confirm the King’s hunch about Marshall cheating that night, and cause him to go on the run. Because King Bobby wouldn’t mind calling out his goons to hurt him.

Marshall could call Amber back on her cell and warn her, but she was already furious with him. She’d never believe him and she’d sure as hell never tell him where to find her.

So he wouldn’t call her.

Yet.

Nor could he look around for her. She had too many contacts. If he asked questions, he was bound to arouse suspicion. Or run into King Bobby, who was on the same path.

But Marshall wasn’t stupid and there was a much easier way to find his beautiful Amber. He’d just let King Bobby do all the work. The man was already hot on her trail. All Marshall needed to do was keep an eye on King Bobby without being seen. The Texan would lead Marshall right to Amber.

He’d show up, remind her of how special their bond was, how lucrative their partnership could still be. By the time he located her, she’d be bored with her cop husband and ready to come back to Marshall.

If not, he’d just have to make her see the error of her ways.

MIKE WASN’T AVOIDING AMBER. He wasn’t. The fact that he’d volunteered to cover someone’s shift tonight when he could have gone home to his wife didn’t mean a thing.

Except that by the time he got in around midnight, Amber was fast asleep and he didn’t have to talk about her visit to the station today. Instead, he walked into his bathroom, and could only marvel at how quickly she’d made herself at home.

His countertops were now filled with feminine things-creams, shampoos, conditioners and other assorted items he didn’t recognize.

He picked up one bottle, opened it and sniffed, inhaling an unfamiliar, feminine scent. An arousing scent.

As an only child, he’d never had to share his space before and Amber’s takeover should have felt like an intrusion. Except it didn’t. She’d made herself at home and he didn’t mind.

He found an odd sense of peace being part of a couple, even though being alone had never bothered him before. While he and his cousins, Derek and Jason, had had to deal with the stigma of being a Corwin man, the women-like Jason’s sisters-had married and thrived in love and life. In Mike’s father’s mind, that fact had also proven the curse was alive and well, kicking male Corwin butt.

Mike headed back to his bedroom to discover Amber had claimed her night table with a box of tissues, a paperback book, what looked like lip gloss and a stack of papers. He grinned and settled into bed, wearing nothing but boxers. He wasn’t about to change his routine for the female sleeping beside him. He propped one arm behind his head and stared into the dark, not at all tired despite the late hour. As he breathed in deep, her scent wrapped around him, awakening him even more.

Go figure. Mike hadn’t been determined to remain a bachelor, but until now the lifestyle had suited him fine. So why did he like all the feminine touches Amber provided in his apartment?

He punched up his pillow and rolled onto his side, hoping to somehow take the edge off his arousal and fall asleep. Suddenly Amber sighed and wrapped her arm around his waist. From behind, she cushioned him in head- to-toe contact and warmth, snuggling in with another deep sigh.

He shut his eyes, but how could he even think of sleep when he was surrounded by a new female in his bed and his life?

An enigma named Amber, full of surprises and secrets.

MIKE AWOKE with a morning hard-on and Amber’s hand on his groin. Helluva wake-up call, he thought. The woman was obviously put on this earth to make him a very happy-but insane-man.

Mike knew he should get some answers from Amber while he had her cornered here, but he couldn’t think about anything except the warmth racking his body. He rolled over to find Amber staring at him, sultry heat in her gaze and a smile on her lips.

“Morning,” she murmured.

“Morning,” he said gruffly.

“How was work last night?”

She wanted him to think, let alone have a coherent conversation while her hand was wrapped around him?

She slid her grasp up and down the length of him and he groaned.

Amber grinned. “I take it you like that?”

He pushed her hair back off her face. Even first thing in the morning, while tousled and sleepy, she was too damn appealing.

“What’s not to like?” Encouraged, she picked up the pace, making damn fine use of her palm and her fingers, taking him closer and closer to the edge of climax. He knew it wouldn’t take much for him to come.

But he didn’t want to fall alone. “Hang on.” He reached for his nightstand, opened the drawer and retrieved a condom, making quick work of the foil and sliding it on.

He turned to Amber, who had pulled off her soft negligee and now lay naked and waiting for him. One of the things he found special and refreshing was the honest way she gave herself to him each time they made love. She seemed so open and honest with her body and even her soul. It made the lies and omissions seem out of character. Every time he touched her, he wanted to believe in her again.

Pushing those thoughts aside, he straddled her and looked into her eyes. Warm, welcoming eyes that matched the softness of her body as he slid inside. She was wet and ready, as he knew she would be, accepting all of him quickly, her gaze never leaving his face.

She bent her knees and pulled him in deeper and the sensation was so incredible, he couldn’t keep his mind focused on anything except the building friction between their bodies. Heat licked at him like rising flames attacking him from all sides.

He threaded his hands through her hair and began to glide in, then out again, possessing her, taking her faster and faster still.

Amber was lost. Everything inside her was concentrated on the pressure point between her body and Mike’s. His every thrust brought her closer. Waves pummeled her, bringing her higher as the feelings inside her tightened, coiling, building with each hard, demanding push.

She matched his rhythm easily now, knew what would make her feel best as she rolled her hips, seeking deeper, more intimate contact until suddenly she was there.

Climaxing.

Milking Mike’s body so she could prolong the exquisite sensations, never wanting them to end. And they didn’t. Her orgasm seemed to go on and on until he collapsed on top of her. Even then, she was able to wring one last wave of pleasure from her body before his breathing evened out.

Finally he rolled off her.

By the time she caught her breath and opened her eyes, he’d returned from the bathroom and climbed back into bed.

“You’re something else,” he said, pulling her into his arms.

He no longer seemed to fight their closeness and she snuggled in beside him, wanting this connection as much, if not more, than she’d wanted sex.

“So how was your night?” she asked.

“Pretty routine.” His hand brushed the back of her hair.

She liked the feeling.