Chapter Six
Karis
What the hell was wrong with Bron?
He'd practically yanked my last dance partner away, acted like the two of us had been together for real. Then he'd been snarky and insulting, acting like I'd been inappropriate for dancing with a few men, as if I'd been doing some dirty dancing instead of basically innocent steps. Okay, the last guy had gotten a bit too hands-on, but I'd been ready to remove his hand from my ass right before Bron showed up.
We were undercover. Dancing wasn’t out of line.
Besides, I reminded myself, he wasn't in charge here. This was my case. He was supposed to be my CI, working for me. He wasn't my partner or my boss. Hell, he wasn't even a colleague. He was a grifter, a criminal.
And he'd fucked Leticia's maid, so he had no reason in the world to be jealous.
I never should have taken the case. As soon as I discovered he was a suspect, I should have had Benita take me off. If I'd been too close to the case in the beginning, now I was in too deep to pull back. I had to see it through.
The point was I was stuck with Bron, whether I liked it or not.
The problem was, I didn't know how I felt. Things had been confusing enough before I'd slept with him. Now, I wasn't sure if I was pissed that he was acting like some jealous boyfriend, or if some part of me actually liked him acting like a jealous boyfriend.
The independent woman I'd always believed myself to be said that he'd behaved like a caveman. But another part of me, the part that had never completely embraced being alone, found it...appealing.
“How would you have liked it?”
Bron's question seemed to come out of nowhere. I glanced over at him as we waited for the valet to bring the car around. “What are you talking about?”
He took a step toward me and my heart stuttered. “How would you have liked to watch me on that dance floor with other women?”
A flare of jealousy ignited in me and pushed it down. I didn't care. Couldn't care.
He reached out and brushed a curl back from my face. “What would you have done if you'd seen me holding another woman even though I knew you were right there, watching me?”
My stomach flipped, twisted. “It doesn't matter what I would've thought.”
“Doesn't it?” His thumb brushed across my bottom lip. “You're telling me that this doesn't make you feel anything? You feel nothing at the thought of me with another woman?”
I took a step back. “No.”
Something flashed across his eyes. “No?”
I looked away. “Where's that damn valet?”
“Don't change the subject,” Bron snapped.
“There's no subject to change!” I started walking toward the car that had just pulled up to the sidewalk. The dress was awkward to drive in, but there was no way in hell I was giving Bron the keys.
“We're not done.” His fingers closed around my wrist. “Talk to me.”
I yanked my arm away from him. “Keep your hands off me!”
His eyes narrowed. “You like my hands on you.”
I gritted my teeth. “No, I don't.”
I was lying, and I knew it. Even in that moment, when I was furious with him, I wanted his hands on me. Wanted his touch.
“You do,” he insisted.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the valet — not an agent, thank God — coming around the car, but a sharp look from Bron sent him running, almost literally. When Bron turned back to me, the expression on his face made my mouth go dry.
“You do,” he repeated.
His eyes locked with mine, and I couldn't move. When one hand slid around the back of my neck, and the other gripped my waist, all rational thought fled. Then his mouth was on mine, rough, demanding. This wasn't like the surprised first kiss we'd shared, nor the ones that had followed and continued during sex. This was something more.
“See?” he murmured against my lips. “You do want me, and now everyone knows it.”
The words were like a splash of cold water, and I shoved him back before he could claim another kiss. My hand flashed out, cracking against his cheek. I was almost as surprised as he was, but I managed not to show it.
“I’m not a piece of property for you to claim. You are not my boyfriend,” I lowered my voice until it was almost a hiss, “you're a criminal in my custody. You do not touch me. Do you understand?”
After a moment of silence, he spoke, his voice flat. “I read you, Agent Melendez. Loud and clear.”
“Good,” I said and looked around to see if anyone could have heard him use my name. I caught the eye of the butler/agent and shook my head, silently telling him I was handling the situation and walked around the car to climb into the driver's seat, hoping he couldn't see my hands shaking. “For tonight, you’re free to sleep and shower at my place. It’s late enough now that I don’t want to deal with trying to find a new location for you to stay. Tomorrow, I'll talk to my boss, and Agent Alverez will take over as your handler.”
“I understand.”
My stomach was in knots as silence filled the car. I hated everything I was saying to Bron, but I hated myself even more because I knew that I was lashing out. Sure, he'd been out of line kissing me, but I hadn't needed to slap him.
He just made me lose control sometimes.
All the more reason for me to stay as far away from him as possible. I couldn't trust myself around him.
I wanted him too much.
Chapter Seven
Karis
By the time we made it back to my apartment, I was completely and utterly frustrated. Frustrated with myself for thinking that any of this was a good idea. For letting him kiss me. For slapping him.
For not giving into the temptation to ask him to come to bed with me.
The ache between my legs agreed.
We entered my building and made our way up to my apartment in silence. I wanted to believe it was because there was nothing to say, but that wasn’t true. We were quiet because there was too much we needed to say.
“I’m getting a shower,” I announced as soon as we walked inside. “You’re welcome to get one after me.”
“Thank you.” The words were clipped.
“I’ll let you know when I’m finished.” I managed to refrain from slamming the door as I stepped into the bathroom. I turned on the water and quickly stripped off my clothes and yanked off the damn wig. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, my flushed skin, the curls falling out of the knot on top of my head. Physically, I looked like I had fun, and I had until Bron pulled off that macho shit.
I sighed and yanked the rest of my hair out. I didn't know what I was going to tell Benita. The entire night had been a bust. We hadn't found anything on Uaine, and the line I'd been trying so hard to keep between us had been erased.
Now I needed to draw it again.
In permanent marker.
I stood under the hot water and let it rush over my body, melting away all of my worries. I breathed in the steam rising in my tub and let it dissolve my stress. At least in the shower, I could count on a few good minutes when nothing else mattered. In the shower, it was just me. As the anger and frustration from the case melted away, though, the desire was still there. I’d had a taste of what Bron had to offer, and I wanted more.
“Dammit!” I muttered as I finished rinsing off. I'd hoped that taking a shower would relax me, but apparently that wasn't going to happen.
“Shower’s all yours,” I called to him as I hurried across the hall to my bedroom.
As soon as I closed the door behind me, I tossed my towels toward my hamper and closed my eyes. My stomach was in knots again. How had things gone so wrong?
I heard the bathroom door close and the shower turn on. Without a conscious effort on my part, the image of a naked, wet Bron popped into my head. It was bad enough before when I'd just been imagining what he looked like. Now, I knew how firm and defined his chest was. Knew about the trail of reddish-brown curls that ran from his b
ellybutton down to that thick, gorgeous cock of his.
“Fuck.” I ran my hand over my face. The desire coiling in my stomach was almost painful.
I walked over to my bed and let myself fall back on the mattress. Why was my life so complicated? All I ever wanted as an adult was to be a good FBI agent, hook up with a decent lay every so often, eventually get to a place where maybe a family was possible.
And then I'd run into him.
Broderick Murray had turned everything in my life upside-down.
And I still wanted him.
I stared up at my ceiling as the cool air ghosted over my skin. My nipples hardened, and my hands automatically went to my breasts. I'd gone through my moments of self-doubt about my physical appearance like any other adolescent, but as an adult, I usually liked how I looked. My breasts were average size, my body slender but not skinny. I was healthy and strong.
I ran my thumbs across my nipples, let the ripples of pleasure move across my nerves. This was stupid. Bron was right there, across the hall. My bedroom door was closed but not locked. If he decided to burst in...all wet and naked...
Fuck me.
I closed my eyes. No way would I get any sleep tonight if I didn't take care of this ache. And I sure as hell wasn't going to ask Bron to take care of it for me, even if that was what I really wanted.
One hand stayed on my breast, fingers plucking at my nipple, giving my pleasure that little bit of edge that I liked. I let my other hand trail down my stomach and slip between my legs. I didn't shave, but I trimmed, so the curls under my fingers were short and fine. I shivered as my index finger brushed against my clit. Damn, that felt good.
Except I wished it wasn't my hand. I wanted it to be Bron's hand, his tongue, his cock. I wanted him on me, inside me, caressing me.
I knew myself well enough to know that attempting to stop myself from fantasizing about a specific person would actually make it harder for me to get off, and right now, I needed to just get it done and go to sleep. The more I fought it, the worse it would get.
Knowing I'd probably regret it later, I gave myself over to the thoughts that wanted to come.
Beautiful eyes peering up at me as he pressed his mouth against me. Fingers slick with my desire as they slipped inside. Hair brushing against the insides of my thighs.
My own fingers slid into my pussy. They weren't the same, but they were enough to start building that delicious full feeling that I knew would soon explode into a fantastic orgasm. I pressed the heel of my hand against my clit, friction and pressure combining as I let my mind go back to Bron.
As if it'd ever left.
His fingers twisted and curled, pushing against that spot that made me gasp. My hips rocked against him, wanting more of him, but he held me in place, worked his fingers in and out even as his tongue flicked against my clit. In my head, I could hear him telling me how good I tasted, how he loved the feel of my skin against his tongue. Telling me how much he wanted to just bury himself inside me and make love to me all night...
I bit my bottom lip to swallow the cry as I came. The tension inside me dissipated as the pleasure washed through me, but the relief was short-lived when the realization hit me.
Love.
I'd come when I'd fantasized about him using the term make love.
Shit.
Chapter Eight
Bron
I took my time in the shower, hoping the hot water would wash away my desire for Karis. She was drop-dead gorgeous when she was pissed, which seemed to be most of the time when it came to me. She'd get this fire in her eyes, a set look on her face. She'd had it as a kid, and it hadn't changed with age. If anything, it'd gotten more intense.
And damn was it a turn on.
Now, standing where she'd stood just a few minutes ago, her naked body under the same hot water, steam licking her as it rose from the tub...my cock was rock-hard in seconds. I was always at least half-erect around her, and the thought of her bare body never failed to make me ready to go.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I wrapped my hand around my shaft, closed my eyes and pictured her above me. Her hands on my chest, steadying herself as she rode me, moving up and down, that hot pussy of hers gripping my cock. I imagined her gasping, my hand squeezing to mimic how tight she’d felt the other night, how it'd felt when her muscles had flexed around me.
I wondered if she had touched herself in here too. No matter what she said, I knew she felt the connection between us, that she wanted me. Had she quenched that desire in here like I was doing?
I controlled the rhythm of my hand as I slid it down my cock slowly, imagining I was driving myself deep into her, listening to her sharp breaths as each stroke sent shivers of ecstasy through her body.
As electricity raced through my cells, I gave myself over to the fantasy.
I raised my hips to meet hers, desperate to get as deep as I could. I wanted to be a part of her, one with her. I grabbed her waist and pulled her down, controlling how fast and how deep I went. Each thrust drove the air from her lungs, the sound making my insides clench.
“What do you want, baby?” she whispered in my ear. “What do you want to do to me?”
“So many things,” I confessed. “I've dreamed about all of the different ways to take you, claim you.”
“Tell me.” The words were a demand, not a request, but I didn't mind. I wanted her to know.
“I want you on your knees, taking me all the way into your throat. I want you to swallow my cum, lick my cock clean.”
She moaned, hands going to her breasts.
“I want you on all fours so I can spank your ass until it's cherry red, feel your hot skin against mine.” I reached up and buried my hand in those thick dark curls. “Do you want me to do that? Spank you? Pull your hair?”
“Yes,” she gasped.
I slid my hand down her back, my finger slipping down her crack until I reached that tight ring of muscle. She tensed, whimpered, when I teased it.
“Have you ever had it there?” I asked.
She shook her head, her eyes dark as they locked with mine.
“Would you let me?” I slid just the tip of my finger into her ass.
“Yes!” She practically screamed the word as she came and I held myself inside of her as her muscles clenched around me. I arched my back, grunting in the effort to prolong the pleasure.
“Come for me, Bron,” she begged, her voice breathless. “Come inside me.”
I erupted. I opened my eyes to the warmth of myself spilling over my hand, washing away as the water poured down on me. I pulled up on my shaft and squeezed that last little bit out, forcing myself to finish even though the fantasy was gone.
The real thing had been so much better than my hand, but that was usually how it went. My hand was good for releasing tension and allowing myself to relax, but there was nothing like a woman.
And definitely nothing like the woman I wanted.
“Fuck,” I muttered as I finished my shower.
I dried off quickly, hissing as the towel slid over my still sensitive cock. I picked up the boxers I'd brought with me and pulled them on. I hadn't bothered with any other clothes, originally meaning to use my body to tease her, maybe even make her admit that she wanted me.
I stepped out of the bathroom and stared at the door to her room, wondering if she'd fallen asleep. Wondering if she'd found release without any true relief. Imagining those thin fingers working between the folds in her delicate skin was almost enough to make me want to go again. I didn't dwell on it though. While it'd been physically satisfying, I wanted more than my hand the next time I came.
I wanted to be inside her. Mouth. Pussy. I didn't care which, as long as it was her.
I swore quietly and headed for the living room and my uncomfortable couch. What was happening to us? For a while, it seemed that she was going to give in to me and actually allow something to blossom between us, but then it came crashing down. I knew she didn't trust me, but I hadn't r
ealized just how deep that went.
I had to figure a way to convince her that I wasn't playing her. I might not know exactly what all of this meant, but I knew it wasn't a lie.
My mind continued to work as I stretched out, and I knew I wasn't going to fall asleep anytime soon, no matter how relaxed my body was now. I couldn’t stop thinking about how I'd royally screwed things up for her.
I knew that in the morning, she'd decide my fate. My nerves knotted up in my stomach. I should have been planning an escape the whole time I was in custody. I should have counted on this, on being cut off from any deal, and held until the investigation had been fully carried out.
My only leverage was that they wouldn’t find Uaine without me. And the only person who would find Uaine with me was Karis. I wasn’t going to lead anyone else to him. This was going to be her victory. It was the very least I could do for her. I owed her that much.
Chapter Nine
Karis
Monday morning began in silence. I made Bron ride the subway with me instead of driving to the office. I was in no mood to be trapped in the car with just the two of us in morning rush hour. We hadn’t spoken a word to each other, not even the sort of basic small talk that one would expect of two people sharing space. I didn’t even tell Bron that we were taking the subway instead of the car. I just started walking. The silence wasn't only on my side either. He followed me without a word.
The thing that bothered me the most about this morning wasn't the fact that neither of us were talking. It was that we'd managed to go through an entire morning routine without needing to talk. We moved around each other almost like we knew where the other one would be. I hated how aware I was of him, as if my body refused to acknowledge what my brain insisted was right.
Last night was proof of that.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat as I remembered the fantasies I had about him. My body throbbed in response, and I mentally cursed myself. It was going to be a long day, no matter what I ended up doing about this whole situation.