It surprised her when he stopped her. “As incredible as this feels—and I should mention that the time you spent online was time very well spent—when I come, I want it to be when I’m inside you.” He sat up. “Where are my jeans? I brought condoms.”
Kate found his jeans on the floor, reached into the front pocket, and handed him a condom. She expected him to hurry, to only be thinking about himself, but he leaned over, kissed her, and began to stroke her the way he had when he’d first started exploring her. His touch was so light, so teasing, that she became aroused again almost immediately, and she arched into his hand, wanting more. When he put on the condom and covered her with his body, she welcomed the solid weight of him pressing her into the mattress.
Wedged between her legs, not yet inside her, but oh so close, he hesitated. “Do you know what I’m about to do to you, sweetness?”
“What?” she asked breathlessly. “Of course I do.”
“What’s it called?” he asked, and there was no mistaking his cocky tone.
When she realized why he’d asked, all she could do was laugh. “You are about to penetrate me, Ian.”
He laughed too. “I am. I’m about to go as deep as I can until I’m as far inside as you’ll let me go. I promise you’ll like it. I am really good at it.”
“Then stop talking and show me.”
Ian made the most delicious sound when he entered her, somewhere between a groan and a sigh. He pulled out almost all the way and slowly pushed back in, eliciting a similar sound from her.
Though she absolutely wanted to be with Ian and was definitely turned on, she didn’t have high hopes that he’d be able to bring her to orgasm again. In the five years she’d been with Stuart, Kate had rarely found her release from penetration alone. This was more than likely due to Stuart’s tendency to skimp on foreplay and the fact that he never varied his rhythm and preferred a speed and intensity that was too hard and too fast for her no matter how much she tried to slow him down. He was always good about circling back around to help her out afterward, but because she knew he’d rather roll over and pass out, she felt like a burden and often told him not to worry about it, especially toward the end of their relationship.
So when Ian pulled back out again, she braced herself for the rapid onslaught that was certainly about to start.
But that didn’t happen.
His pace was slow, rocking more than thrusting, which put the perfect amount of pressure right where she needed it most.
“Oh, keep doing that,” Kate murmured, and he did.
She locked her ankles behind his back and tilted her hips up to meet him. The pleasure started to build as he matched his thrusts to the rhythm she set until she was the one who wanted, needed, him to go faster. Unlike sex with Stuart, it was different when she was the one who increased the speed. Sex with Ian was so much better than she’d ever imagined it could be with anyone, and when she came, she wasn’t shy about letting him know how good it felt.
He joined her moments later, shuddering and shaking, breathing heavily and groaning out her name. Not Katie, but Kate. His pulsing movements slowed and came to a stop, and he pulled out of her and shifted his weight so that he was lying on his side, holding her in his arms. They kissed lazily as Ian stroked her cheek with his thumb. He left briefly to go into the bathroom, and when he returned, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her head down onto his chest.
You let that mysterious hacker right into your bed. You let him do all those wonderful things to you, and you don’t even know his last name.
“I’m not sure how this happened,” she said.
“Well, first I undressed you, and then you undressed me. Then you let me penetrate you. You seemed to really enjoy it,” he said mildly.
“It was absolutely incredible, and enjoy doesn’t even begin to describe how good it felt. I meant how did we make it this far? I didn’t even like you three weeks ago.”
“Maybe you finally realized I’m actually a good guy. And maybe I was right about what you were looking for.”
“Which is?”
“Someone who stimulates your body and your mind. You haven’t completely figured me out yet, but you want to.”
She propped herself up on her elbow and looked down at him. “You’re right. I do.” When he slid his hand behind her head to pull her mouth down to his, she had to admit, if only to herself, that she was more than a little turned on by that.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
It was nearly ten before she opened her eyes the next morning, and sunlight was seeping through the cracks in the blinds. Ian was spooning her, which was apparently his default sleeping position. She listened to him breathing softly, feeling content and pleasantly sore in all the right places.
Slipping carefully out of his arms, she scooped her robe off the floor and headed for the bathroom. After she relieved herself and brushed her teeth and hair, she quietly made her way to the kitchen to start the coffee. As she waited for it to brew, she heard the water running in the bathroom, and Ian walked into the kitchen a minute or two later wearing only his underwear. His hair looked as if a woman had been running her hands through it all night, which wasn’t far from the truth. She’d never known a man whose bedhead only made him more attractive.
He kissed her, tasting of toothpaste. “Good morning.”
“Good morning. Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
Kate opened the refrigerator and found it empty. She wasn’t much of a cook, but she could have made them an omelet or some toast if she’d had any eggs, cheese, or bread. “Unfortunately, I decided not to go grocery shopping before I left.”
“No need for groceries. I say we shower and go out for breakfast after we finish our coffee,” Ian said. “You can wear one of those new sweaters I bought you. It looks cold out there.”
They carried their coffee into the living room and sat down on the couch.
Kate threw a blanket over them. “Did you sleep well?”
“I always sleep well when I have a naked woman’s body to wrap myself around.”
“You do like to spoon.”
“What’s not to like? Your skin is very soft and your hair smells good. Plus my hands can reach all kinds of places.”
Kate had felt those hands wandering in the middle of the night. He’d kissed the back of her neck and then skimmed his palm down her chest and stomach, reaching between her legs and stroking her until she’d awakened fully, which had led to a rather prolonged and delightfully satisfying round two.
She smiled. “They certainly can. I have fond memories of those hands.”
“I should hope so.”
Kate took a drink of her coffee. “I’m surprised you don’t have that laptop open yet.”
“Cyberspace will just have to get along without me for a while.” He put his arm around Kate and kissed her forehead, drinking his coffee as if nothing was more important than being with her.
She snuggled closer, thinking about how long it had been since she’d felt this happy.
Kate grabbed a couple of towels and set them on the counter in the bathroom. She hung her robe on its hook on the back of the door and turned on the shower to let the water warm up. Ian had disappeared.
She found him in her bed, lounging among the twisted sheets like he didn’t have a care in the world. She stood naked in the bedroom doorway and said, “I thought we were getting in the shower?”
Ian beamed. “I am loving this revelation that you’re not modest either.”
“Well, not now,” Kate said. “What are you doing? I’m so hungry I’m about to gnaw my own arm off.”
“I, Ian, will never, ever infinity, walk in on Katie in the bathroom again unless specifically invited to do so.”
Kate’s eyes widened in disbelief. “After everything we’ve done and all the places your hands have been, you’ve suddenly discovered boundaries?”
“Don’t forget my tongue,” he said, as if she could.
Kate
walked over to the bed and looked down at him. “Ian, would you like to join me in the shower?”
He pulled her down onto the bed and tickled her.
Kate squealed with laughter. “Stop that! Very ticklish!” She tried to get away and almost made it before he grabbed her ankle and pulled her back.
He was laughing as hard as she was, but then the laughing turned into kissing, and the kissing turned into touching.
“If we don’t get in there, we’re going to run out of hot water and then we’ll both be sorry,” she said. “Come with me. I promise to wash every inch of you.”
Ian followed her into the bathroom, stripped off his underwear, and pulled her into the shower with him. “I’m an incredibly filthy man, Katie.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” she said, laughing. “Like your last name.”
They walked to Wilde Roast Café. Ian had pulled off her glove and shoved it in his pocket so he could hold her hand. Despite the single-digit temperature, Kate was toasty warm in her parka and jeans and the white cable-knit sweater he’d bought her.
“Here we are again,” Ian said after they’d been seated and ordered coffee. “What was it I said to you the day I tracked you here by your credit card activity?”
“You should be trying to make me forget you ever did that.”
“Water under the bridge. I believe what I said was that I’d win you over eventually. Considering I’ve now been inside you, my prediction was quite accurate.” His smile got even bigger, as if he couldn’t be more delighted about the way things had turned out.
Ian was always happy. Forget moody. Forget brooding. An air of amusement surrounded him at all times, as if the world he lived in was just so infinitely entertaining and—in his case—there for the taking.
“You’re quite pleased with yourself, aren’t you?” she said, smiling back at him.
“Incredibly so.” He opened his menu. “How was your visit home?”
“It was good. I could have done without all the ‘poor Kate’ comments from my assorted relatives. You know, because I’m no longer making the big bucks and Stuart and I broke up. The worst part was they all acted like I got dumped.”
“But you broke up with Stuart.”
“Exactly!” Kate said, pointing at herself. “I broke up with him. Ugh, I sound like I’m in middle school.”
“You should have told them about your new boyfriend.”
She smiled. “Boyfriend?”
He groaned. “Now we’re both in middle school. I need to say something very manly right now.”
“Trust me,” she whispered. “You are the man. A six-foot-four-inch, gorgeous, strapping man with muscles everywhere and a big you-know-what.”
He winked. “Don’t you forget it, sweetness.”
The waitress brought their coffee. “Are you ready to order?”
“Kate?” Ian said.
“Crème brûlée french toast please.”
“And for you?” she asked, looking at Ian.
“Classic Benedict.”
She gathered their menus. “Coming right up.”
“So the rest of the visit was okay?” Ian said, taking a drink of his coffee.
“Yes. Things seem to be back on track with my dad.”
“Had they been off track?”
“He had a hard time when I stopped practicing law. He began his law career as an attorney. My brother is an attorney. I’m no longer an attorney.”
“What does your dad do now?”
“He’s a justice on Indiana’s Supreme Court. Have I not mentioned that?”
“You have not.”
“Worried?”
“Not at all. Parents always find me especially charming.”
“They’ll be in Minneapolis for Christmas. Knock yourself out. Anyway, for the first time ever, my dad asked how the food pantry was doing. We’d never really talked about it before, so I guess we’re making progress. I felt conflicted when I answered him though. If it wasn’t for you and your donations, the report I gave him would have been dismal.”
“Speaking of that,” Ian said.
“No,” Kate said firmly.
He looked surprised. “You’re not even willing to discuss it? Christmas is coming. What about your clients? What about the babies?”
She didn’t want to admit how much she’d already been worrying about Christmas. Kate’s food pantry was teaming up with two other organizations to provide a Christmas Eve dinner that was quite ambitious in scope when it came to the number of people they hoped to feed. Not only that, but Kate wanted to give one unwrapped toy to each child who came through the line. Whether or not they would achieve their goal would depend on the dollar amount they raised and the number of toy donations they were able to bring in.
“I have to do this on my own, Ian. It’s what I set out to do. If I can’t make this work, then I threw away my law career for nothing.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. I’m sure all nonprofit organizations have their ups and downs. Maybe you can’t help everyone, but you’ve helped a lot of people, and that counts for something.”
“I know it does,” Kate said. “It’s just that once I help them, I feel like I’m letting them down if I can’t keep doing it.”
The waitress brought their meals and they dug in.
“Then let me help you,” he said.
“You’ve already been way too generous. I can’t accept any more.”
“I really haven’t given you that much.”
“You’ve given me three thousand dollars, which is a small fortune considering I can feed eight people for six dollars and twenty-one cents. It isn’t your responsibility to keep the food pantry afloat. I’ll just work harder.”
“Is it because I”—he made air quotes—“appropriated the money?”
“That’s part of it, I guess.”
“What if I give you some of my own money? I have plenty.”
Kate shook her head. “I can’t.” Maybe she was being stubborn and ungrateful, but how could she feel like she was accomplishing her goals if Ian swooped in every month with a bag of cash, stolen or otherwise?
“Don’t you think your clients are deserving of the assistance they receive, regardless of where the money comes from?” Ian asked.
“Of course I think they’re deserving.”
“Well, if you won’t take money from me personally, then we’re back to me playing Robin Hood.”
She exhaled, torn between her decision not to accept his help and her desire to see her clients with the things they needed.
“Think of it this way,” he said. “Wouldn’t you rather see your clients benefit from the money instead of the thieves who stole it from people whose Christmases will probably be shitty this year because of it?”
“You make a valid argument.”
He pointed his fork at her. “Exactly.”
“Well, maybe I wouldn’t struggle with it as much if you told me more about it.”
“What do you want to know?”
“How does it work? When I asked you if there was a difference between hackers and cyberthieves, you said there was. What did you mean by that?”
“There are two kinds of hackers—white hat and black hat. The white hats are hackers who hack for good—like me. We hack into things, but our goal is to figure out how to keep everyone else out. The cyberthieves, or black hats, hack for malice or greed. They’re the ones who introduce the malware that causes harm and launch attacks that cripple websites. They hack into Home Depot and Target, and they help themselves to your credit card information when all you were trying to do was buy a drill or paper towels and laundry detergent.”
“Clearly you don’t know how to shop at Target. There are way cooler things to be found there than paper towels and laundry detergent.”
He laughed. “Duly noted.”
Kate poured more syrup on her french toast. “When I asked you why you didn’t return the money to the people it had been stolen from, yo
u said it wasn’t that easy. Why not?”
“Once the credit card numbers are stolen, they’re bundled and sold to people called carders. The carders then use the numbers to make new cards to buy merchandise that will be returned to the store for a refund or sold, possibly overseas. At that point, there’s no way to recover the merchandise or the cash. Most people—after canceling their cards—will hopefully receive compensation from their credit card company or get the charges reversed. But sometimes it takes a while to get everything sorted out, and for those who need the available credit to get them through to the next payday, or to buy food or put gas in their car, it can cause real hardship.”
“So where do you go to steal the money back?”
“Right into the carders’ bank accounts usually. Some of the more prolific thieves have hundreds of thousands of dollars sitting in them. I don’t take a large enough amount at one time to raise any red flags, but even if they noticed the money was missing, they’re not going to do anything about it—other than be very pissed—because they don’t want to draw attention to their own illegal activities.”
Kate was dumbfounded. “Hundreds of thousands?”
“It’s not uncommon. Even a black hat who only dabbles is likely to have more cash than he could ever hope for.”
Kate was silent for a moment.
“What is it?” he said.
“I’m sorry, I just… I got a visual of you all sitting around in front of your computers wearing little hats.”
“That’s very cute.”
“So what color is your hat when you take the money from black hat hackers? Is it gray?”
“Yes. Gray hat hacking is typically done in the name of goodwill even though it’s often illegal. My hat is gray whenever it suits me.”
“I had no idea this whole culture even existed.”
“People wouldn’t sleep as well at night if they knew what hackers were capable of.”
“Then I guess I’ll sleep extra soundly when the best hacker of them all is in my bed.”
“In case you weren’t already aware, I’ll be in your bed on a regular basis from now on.”