Page 55

He moves fast. His hand closes over mine—warm, rough, and soft at the same time.

“Stay.”

He’s so close the tips of his boots touch my sneakers. I tilt my head to meet his gaze. His eyes are free of those damn sunglasses. I sway a little. God, he’s so beautiful. My heart races like the rat-a-tat-tat of a machine gun.

Jake reaches around me, and the sound of the lock being engaged booms loudly in the silence. His hands come to my waist, and he presses against me with the heavy wooden door cool at my back. His eyes search my face. His head lowers. His lips on mine are sweet agony. I open for him and invite him in with a flick of my tongue against his. Jake accepts my invitation.

Heat spreads everywhere, pooling low in my belly and pulsating between my thighs. My nipples harden, and my body reacts to his like a magnet being pulled closer and closer. I want to melt into him. I want to rub on him like a cat in heat.

One of his hands travels up my side to hold the back of my head. He deepens the kiss, and I moan into his mouth. My hands find purchase on his shoulders, and I go up on tiptoes, needing more. His grip on my waist pulls me even closer to him. He’s hard against my belly.

More. More. More. My body screams at me. I want his hands everywhere and his mouth on me. I moan again, frustration and need nipping at me.

My hips move, rocking against him. A distant part of me is watching, wide-eyed, and asking what am I doing? This is not me. I’m never this forward, this wanton.

Shut up, brain.

The hand on my waist lowers and cups my ass. Jake pulls me closer to him, and I wrap one leg around his knee.Yes, yes, yes. Oh, God, yes.

The friction between us increases, and the hand behind my head falls to my breast. He squeezes the nipple, his tongue toys with mine. This is too much. Too much and not enough. I need a little more—just a little more. My body arches back. I break the kiss and gasp for air. His mouth falls to my neck and suckles there.

Wave after wave of pleasure spreads throughout my body until I’m limp in his arms. My head is cradled on his heaving chest. I drop my trembling leg to the floor. Jake’s arms around me are the only thing keeping me on my feet. Minutes tick by, and we don’t move. My heart slows to a normal tempo, and my breath evens out.

Jake tilts my head up, kisses my forehead, and looks at me, his eyes dark with lust.

My desire-clogged brain clears.

“Oh my God.” My face burns. I squeeze my eyes shut as if doing so will somehow erase my embarrassment.

A low rumble comes from him. “We probably shouldn’t have done that. Not here, at least, but I don’t regret it, and it was not a mistake.” His voice is husky and sensual, like a caress. “Please don’t say it was a mistake.”

I keep my eyes closed. Avoidance and denial taking charge.

“Hey?” He kisses my eyelids.

I don’t respond.

“You okay?” He cradles my face.

I nod but keep my eyes closed.

“Did I . . . hurt you?”

His worry pulls me from my pool of embarrassment. I open my eyes. Look at him. “No, you didn’t hurt me. I’m—I’ve never—you know, done anything like that before.”

He smiles. “Like what? Make out like horny teenagers inside a police station?”

I chuckle. “Yes, that.”

His lips gently brush mine, then he steps back, pulls me with him, and directs me to take a seat. He turns his back to me, his walk a little stiff, pained. He tries to be discreet about adjusting himself, but I catch it. I avert my gaze until the sound of the creaking chair tells me he’s sitting down and then meet his eyes.

Yearning stretches between us like a tangible unspoken thing. My legs are shaky, and I’m glad I’m not standing right now. My entire body still vibrates. Dear God, if this is what it feels like with all the clothes between us, I can’t even imagine what it would be like if we were naked and actually had sex.

“I…” His gaze goes to the door. He runs a hand through his hair. “Sorry. I don’t know what happened. I didn’t plan on jumping on you. . .” His voice is hoarse.

My cheeks burn. I force myself to hold Jake’s gaze. “It’s . . .hmm . . .okay. I think I jumped on you, too.”

He smiles. His hands go to his lap. My gaze follows his hands. They don’t disguise the bulge in his pants. He wheels the chair closer, and the desk blocks the view. “You said you want to look at all the evidence at the same time?”