Feeling the Heat (12 page)

A part of her felt that maybe she should pull back. She didn’t want to give him the wrong message, but another part of her was in a quandary as to what the wrong message could be, in light of what they’d shared the night before.

And as he kissed her, she remembered every moment of what they’d shared.

She recalled them making love on the stairwell twice before he’d carried her back to her room. Once inside, they had stripped off their clothes and showered together. They’d made out beneath the heated spray of water before lathering each other clean. He had dried her off, only to lick her all over and make her wet again.

Then they had made love in her bed several times. She had ridden him, and he had ridden her. Then they had ridden each other. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep totally exhausted in his arms.

It was Micah who finally pulled his mouth away, but not before using his tongue to lick her lips from corner to corner.

“You need to stop that,” she said in a voice that lacked any real conviction.

“I will, when I’m finished with you,” he said, nibbling at the corners of her mouth.

She knew that could very well be never. “You need to go to your room so I can get dressed for work, and you need to get dressed, too.”

“Later.”

And then he was kissing her again, more passionately than before. She tried to ignore the pleasure overtaking her, but she couldn’t. So she became a willing recipient and took everything he was giving her. His kiss was so strong and potent that when he finally pulled his mouth away, she actually felt light-headed.

“I missed that,” he murmured, close to her ear. “And I missed this, as well.” He moved to slide his body over hers, lifted her hips and entered her in one smooth thrust.

He looked down at her and held her gaze in a breathless moment before moving his body in and out of her. “Being inside you feels so incredibly good, Kal,” he whispered, and she thought a woman could get spoiled by this. She certainly had been spoiled during their time in Sydney. So much so that she had suffered through withdrawal for months afterward.

“Oh, baby, you’re killing me,” Micah growled out, increasing the intensity of his strokes. Kalina begged to differ. He was the one killing her. Her body was the one getting the workout of a lifetime. Blood was rushing through all parts of her, sending shock waves that escalated and touched her everywhere. Never had she been made love to so completely.

All further thought was forced from her mind when he hollered her name just seconds before his body bucked in a powerful orgasm. She felt the essence of his release shoot straight to her womb. The feel of it triggered a riot of sensations, which burst loose within her.

“Micah!”

“I’m here, baby. Let it go. Give yourself to me completely. Don’t hold anything back.”

She heard his words and tried closing her mind to them but found that she couldn’t. She couldn’t hold anything back, even if she tried. The strength of her need for him stunned her, but whether she wanted to admit it or not, she knew that what she and Micah were sharing was special. She wanted to believe it was meant just for them.

He continued to hold her, even when he eventually shifted his body off hers. He’d gotten quiet, and she wondered what he was thinking. As if he’d read her thoughts, he reached out and cupped her chin in his hand then tilted her head so she could look at him and he could look at her.

She felt the heat of his gaze in every part of her body. He brushed a kiss across her lips. “Have dinner with me tonight.”

She quickly recalled that dinner after a night of passion was how their last affair had begun. They had slept together one night after work and the next evening he’d taken her out to eat. After dinner, they’d gone back to her place and had been intimately involved for two glorious months.

“We’ve done that already, Micah.”

At his confused look, she added. “Dinner and all that goes with it. Remember Sydney? Different place. Same technique.”

He frowned. “Are you trying to say I’m boring you?”

She couldn’t help smiling. “Do I look bored? Have I acted bored?”

He laughed. “No to both.”

“All right, then. All I meant was that I recall a casual dinner was how things started between us the last time.”

“You have to eat.”

“Yes, but you don’t have to be the one who’s always there to feed me. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”

“Okay, then,” he said, leaning in close to run the tip of his tongue around her earlobe. “What do you want from me?”

She chuckled. “What I got last night and this morning was pretty darn good. I have no complaints.”

He lifted his head and frowned down at her. “Shouldn’t you want more?”

“Are you prepared to give me more?” she countered.

He seemed to sober with her question. He held her gaze a moment then said, “I want you to get to know the real me, Kal. You never did decide if you’re willing to go home with me or not.”

Mainly because she’d tried putting the invitation out of her mind. She hadn’t wanted to talk about it or even think about it. “I need more time.”

“You have only two days left,” he reminded her.

Yes, she knew. And she wasn’t any closer to making a decision than she had been a week ago. Sleeping together had only complicated things. But she had no regrets. She had needed a sexual release.

She had needed him.

* * *

“Well, that’s it,” Micah told Kalina and Theo several hours later, at the end of the workday. “There haven’t been any more reported deaths, and with the case of the few survivors, the Indian government won’t let us get close enough to do an examination since we have no proof it’s linked and the people did survive.”

“The initial symptoms were the same. They could have survived for a number of reasons,” Kalina said in frustration.

The only way to assure the U.S. military had a preventative mechanism in place if the virus popped up again was to come up with a vaccine. Micah and his team hadn’t been able to do that. The chemicals that had been used were not traceable in the human body after death. And the only sign of abnormality they’d been able to find was the enlargement of the tongue. Other than that, all they had was an unexplained virus that presented as death by natural causes.

She, Theo and Micah knew there was nothing natural about it, but there was nothing they could do in this instance except report their findings to Washington and hope this type of “mysterious illness” didn’t pop up again. Before the Indian government had pulled the plug on any further examinations of the survivors, Kalina had managed to obtain blood samples, which she had shipped off to Washington for further study.

“I’m flying out tonight,” Theo said, standing. “I’m meeting Renee in Paris for one of her shows. Where are you two headed now?”

“I’m headed home to Denver,” Micah said. He then glanced over at Kalina expectantly.

Without looking at Micah, she said. “I’m not sure where I’m going yet.”

“Well, you two take care of yourselves. I’m going up to my room to pack. It’s been a lot of fun, but I’m ready to leave.”

Micah was ready to leave as well and looked forward to going home to chill for a while. He glanced over at Kalina, deciding he wouldn’t ask her about her decision again. He’d made it pretty clear he wanted her to spend her time off with him.

He glanced over at her while she stood to gather up her belongings. He couldn’t stop his gaze from warming with pleasure as he watched her. Kalina Daniels had the ability to turn him on without even trying. His response to her had set off warning bells inside his head in Sydney, and those same bells were going off now. He hadn’t taken heed then, and he wouldn’t be taking heed now.

He wanted her. Yes, she had hurt him by believing the worst, but he was willing to overlook that hurt because he had been partially to blame. He hadn’t given her the opportunity to really get to know him. Now, he was offering her that chance, but it was something she had to want to do. So far, she didn’t appear to know if she wanted to make that effort.

“I’m glad I was able to draw that blood and have it shipped to Washington before the Indian government stepped in,” he heard her say.

He nodded as he stood. “I’m glad, as well. Hopefully, they’ll be able to find something we couldn’t.”

“I hope so.”

He studied her for a moment. “So, what are your plans for the evening?” Because of what she’d said that morning, he didn’t want to ask specifically about dinner.

She drew in a deep breath. “Not sure. I just might decide to stay in with a good book.”

“All right.”

He fought back the desire to suggest they stay in together. Regardless of what they’d shared last night and this morning, Kalina would have to invite him to share any more time with her. The decision had to be hers…but there was nothing wrong with making sure she made the right one.

“I’m renting a car and going for a drive later,” he offered.

She glanced over at him. “Really? Where?”

“No place in particular. I just need to get away from the villa for a while.” He felt that they both did. Although they would be leaving India in a couple of days, they had pretty much stayed on the premises during the entire investigation. “You’re invited to come with me if you’d like.”

He could tell by her expression that she wanted to but was hesitant to accept his invitation. He wouldn’t push. “Well, I’ll see you later.”

He had almost made it to the door, when she called after him. “Micah, if you’re sure you don’t mind having company, I’ll tag alone.”

Inwardly, he released a sigh of relief. He slowly turned to her. “No, I wouldn’t mind. I would love having you with me. And there’s a club I plan to check out, so put on your dancing shoes.” Then without saying anything else, he walked out of the room.

* * *

Dancing shoes
?

She shook her head recalling Micah’s suggestion as she moved around her room at the villa. She loved dancing, but she’d never known him to dance. At least he’d never danced with her during those two months they’d been together. Even the night they’d met, at the ball. Other guys had asked her to dance, but Micah had not.

Micah had a lean, muscular physique, and she could imagine his body moving around on anyone’s dance floor. So far, that had been something she hadn’t seen. But she had been more than satisfied with all his moves in the bedroom and couldn’t have cared less if any of those moves ever made it to the dance floor.

She heard a knock at the door, and her breath caught. Even with the distance separating them, she could feel the impact of his presence. After making love that morning, he had left her room to go to his and dress. They had met downstairs for breakfast with Theo. Today had been their last day at the lab. Tomorrow was a free day to do whatever they wanted, and then on Friday they would be flying out.

Major Harris had already called twice, asking where she wanted to go after she returned to Washington, and Kalina still wasn’t certain she wanted to join Micah in Denver.

She knew she’d have to decide soon.

She quickly moved toward the door and opened it. Micah’s slow perusal of her outfit let her know she’d done the right thing in wearing this particular dress. She had purchased it sometime last year at a boutique in Atlanta while visiting a college friend.

“You look nice,” he said, giving her an appreciative smile.

She let her gaze roam over him and chuckled. “So do you. Come in for a moment. You’re a little early, and I haven’t switched out purses.”

“No problem. Take your time.”

Micah followed her into a sitting area and took the wingback chair she offered. When she left the room, he glanced around at the pictures on the wall. They were different from the ones in his room. His cousin Gemma was an interior decorator, and while taking classes at the university, she had decorated most of her family members’ homes for practice. He would be the first to admit she’d done a good job. No one had been disappointed. He had been home for a short visit while she’d decorated his place, and she had educated him about what to look for in a painting when judging if it would fit the decor.

He was sure these same paintings had been on the wall when he’d carried Kalina through here in his arms last night. But his mind had been so preoccupied with getting her to bed, he hadn’t paid any attention.

“I’m ready. Sorry to make you wait.”

He glanced around, smiled and came to his feet. “No problem.”

For a moment, neither of them said anything, but just stood there and stared at each other. Then finally he said, “I’m not going to pretend last night and this morning didn’t happen, Kal.”

She nodded slowly. “I don’t recall asking you to.”

She was right, she hadn’t. “Good, then I guess it’s safe for me to do this, since I’ve been dying to all day.”

He reached out, tugged her closer to him and lowered his mouth to hers.

The arms that encompassed Kalina in an embrace were warm and protective. And the hand that rubbed up and down her spine was gentle.

But nothing could compare to the mouth that was taking her over with slow, deep, measured strokes. Already, desire was racing through her, and she couldn’t do anything but moan her pleasure. No other two tongues could mate like theirs could, and she enjoyed the feel of his tongue in her mouth.

He shifted his stance to bring them closer, and she felt his hard erection pressing into her. It wouldn’t bother her in the least if he were to suggest they stay in for the evening.

Instead, he finally broke contact, but immediately placed a quick kiss on her lips. “I love your taste,” he whispered hotly.

She smiled up at him. “And I love yours, too.”

The grin he shot her was naughty. “I’m going to have to keep that in mind.”

She chuckled as she saw the glint of mischief in his gaze. “Yes, you do that.”

Kalina always thought she could handle just about anything or anyone, but an hour or so after they’d left her room, she wasn’t sure. She was seeing a side of Micah she had never seen before. It had started with the drive around the countryside. There had been just enough daylight left to enjoy the beauty of the section of town they hadn’t yet seen, especially the shops situated at the foot of the Himalayas.