God, he could just stare at her forever, the wild tumble of sun-streaked golden hair, the fullness of her breasts, the lushness of her body.
Admit it, asshole. You screwed up big time. Right here is the only woman you ever wanted or ever will.
Just then she clenched around him, testing the limits of his control. Okay. He couldn’t hold off any longer.
“Now,” he said through clenched teeth.
Hands still at her hips he began to urge her up and down. She caught the rhythm, slow at first, then faster and faster. Noah felt the clutch of her inner walls around him, squeezing him, and he knew he wouldn’t last much longer. He found Randi’s clit and massaged it with his thumb exactly the way she liked it.
He kept his eyes focused on her as the ride grew hitter and harder and faster. Randi braced her hands on her thighs and pushed, again and again. He barely bung on until he felt the first tremors in her soft inner walls and then he let himself go.
It was cataclysmic, the only word he could think of afterwards. They shook like aspens in the wind, everything disappearing except their connection. It was hard to say where one of them left off and the other began. They simply throbbed as one, bodies shaking, hearts thundering, on a wild ride down the mountainside. He lost himself in her and in their shared orgasm, the experience so intense he wondered if he’d even survive.
Finally, when they tumbled down the mountainside, he pulled her down to him. Silently he urged her to rest her head on his chest, as shudders slowed to aftershocks and finally those aftershocks subsided. He could feel her heartbeat thudding against his chest, feel the warm breeze of her breath, and he thought that was just as erotic as anything they’d done tonight.
Noah had no idea how long they lay there like that, connected by more than the joining of their bodies. He brushed the damp stands of hair from her face and idly caressed her cheek, enjoying the satin feel of her skin. Finally he figured he’d better get up and take care of the condom before they did any damage to it. He eased Randi up and away from his body, settling her beside him before padding to the en suite bathroom.
He ditched the condom and used the facilities. As he stood at the sink washing his hands he caught sight of himself in the mirror. The hunger in his eyes still flared, but he knew it had to do with more than sex. He was hungry for the whole woman. He wanted another chance with her. That meant dealing with his own demons, as Jeff had so bluntly pointed out.
Right now he didn’t want to think about that. Right now he just wanted to climb back into bed with the warm, sexy woman who held his heart in he palm of her hand and hold her next to him all night long. Except, of course, when he woke her a time r two so they could make slow delicious love, savoring each moment and each other.
When he reached the bed he stood there, not sure what to do. Wow! Noah Cutler uncertain? Stop the presses.
Randi looked up at him standing there, the expression on her face unreadable. She was silent for so long he was ready to start picking up his clothes and getting out of there before he embarrassed himself by begging to stay. Finally she answered his unspoken question by pulling back the covers and patting the space next to her.
“It’s okay if you want to stay the night.” Her smile was half welcoming, half shy. “No need for you to go back to the hotel. But I warn you. I get up very early in the morning.”
“That’s okay. So do I.” He slid in beside her and pulled the covers over both of them. “But I give you fair warning. You may not get to sleep through the night.”
“Promises, promises.” She grinned. “If that’s the case we’d better fall asleep quickly. You’ll need your rest.”
He spooned her against him, wrapping one arm around her and cupping her breast in a palm. Tentatively he took the nipple between thumb and forefinger, waiting to see if she’d push his hand away, tell him he was bothering her. Instead she wriggled her ass tighter against him, waking up his dick that was begging for rest before Round Two.
As he drifted off to sleep, two things chased around in his mind. The first was if he could get Randi to give him another chance, more than just this one night together. The other was coming to terms with her chosen profession. She might not be on the line any more, but arson investigators still often found themselves in tough situations.
If you want her you’ll adjust. That’s what love is.
Yes, he loved her and yes her wanted her. He just had to get his head on straight.
Chapter 6
Noah pulled his car to the curb in front of the firehouse the next morning, put the gear into Park and turned toward Randi.
“I think your minder is waiting for you,” he joked, inclining his head toward the building.
Sure enough, Dan Kessler was waiting for her outside the firehouse, leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets. He stared at the car, his forehead creased in a scowl.
“I hope that look doesn’t mean he thinks revisiting the scenes is
