Page 126 of Family Affair

“What? Your boyfriends didn’t sex you up? You looked downright comfy sitting in that man’s lap when I left. Bet he was disappointed to see you go so soon.”

“I could’ve been raped there, thank you very much!”

“And who’s to blame?” he shouted, a full-throated anger making the veins on his neck stand out. “I could’ve killed that idiot for touching your thighs!”

He reached behind and withdrew a gun, placing it on the nightstand by her bed. An honest-to-God handgun like she saw in movies, with a stubby squarish barrel, heavy and black and big. The sight of it was as unexpected as it was incongruous in her bedroom.

It temporarily distracted her. “Why are you armed?”

“I’m always armed.”

The machismo sent her into a new tailspin of anger. “Does Detective Willis know you’re carrying?” she ground out.

Their gazes clashed.

“Yes, he does.”

“Cade, why?” she asked bitterly, the fight leaving her body like air escaping the punctured balloon. “How could I trust you ever again after catching you with this man? What information are you feeding him?”

He, however, was still juiced up from their confrontation, “I have my reasons, and believe me when I say I work with him for your benefit as well as mine. We’re both in deep shit, in case it hasn't sunk in, so you better stop listening to Ross and start trusting me with what I’m doing.”

He pulled his shirttail from the waistband of his pants and started to unbutton the front in unhurried, sure flicks of his hands.

“You could’ve trusted me and told me about Willis. Why force me to spy on you and learn things the hard way?” He wasn’t wearing anything under his shirt. “And why are you undressing?”

“Hold on a sec, I’ll show you.”

He finished undoing the buttons and shrugged the garment off revealing his stunning upper body. In the warm glow of the lamp his toned pecs and well molded biceps appeared chiseled. He moved, and the muscles flexed, the leaves on his tattooed forearm appeared to move in the uneven light as he reached behind her and gave the door a good push, shutting them in her bedroom.

Her mind might still be processing the sight of his naked torso with the shadows playing on his smooth skin dusted with dark hair, but her body already knew. The blood started pumping hot in her veins in feverish anticipation.

She shook her head hoping to clear it. “Wait, no. Do you think you can simply take off your clothes in the middle of a serious conversation and I’ll be all yours for the taking?”

“I can. And you are.”

He reached for her hoodie and unzipped it in one downward motion, baring her breasts. His eyes darkened.

“This is how you went into that bar?” he sounded choked up.

“I didn’t have time to put on underwear.” She wiggled her arms out of the hoodie, giving her breasts a nice jiggle in the process, and his hot eyes glued to her hardened nipples.

They faced off in the warm yellow light of the low wattage lamp, naked from the waist up, wary, wanting, thinking it was a bad idea and knowing they were going to do it anyway.

She savored the anticipation mixed with fear. For her, this was a pivotal moment. Once they crossed this line, there’d be no turning back. There’d be no other man after him. She knew it deep in her bones.

He reached for her and she stepped into his embrace, the moment of hesitation passed as lust took over.

She skimmed her hands over his shoulders and chest, feeling the texture of his skin, glorying in the roughness of his body hair, kissing his neck and licking and rubbing and it wasn’t enough.

Coherent thoughts fled her mind.

“I want you so much… It’s not enough… I can never get enough of you.” She didn’t know what she was saying. The wild desire removed the filter from her mouth and the words tumbled out, frenzied and candid, coming straight from her heart.

“Shh, easy, I’ve got you.” He bit her shoulder and smoothed the bite with a long, slow lick of his tongue, and bit her again, leaving a red mark. “It can’t last.” His voice hitched. “But for a little while, you’re mine.”

“And you’re mine.”

“Always.”