Intimate Caresses (The Love and Danger Series) (6 page)

“I know it does,” she said and pressed several more keys.  With that, all the screens went black and she moved in front of him, acting like a lioness defending her cubs.  “
You can’t see any of that.”

Brock looked down at her, surprised she would put her body so close to his, but not minding in the least.  Especially now since he’d already seen the date and time stamps that showed she’d worked on coding
whatever her secret project was last night.  It was a pretty good alibi, proving she was here and not over at her office shooting her boss, or putting massive amounts of anti-depressants into his coffee.  Of course, a good prosecuting attorney would argue that someone else could have been updating the programs while she was out killing her boss, but any decent defense attorney could break that argument. 

“You have an alibi,” he said, leaning closer and smiling slightly when she leaned back.  He loved the way she looked at the moment, all sexy and soft, her lips trembling slightly.  Damn he wanted to kiss her. 

And then it occurred to him.  She wasn’t a suspect any longer!  He could kiss her! 

Bending lower, his eyes dropped from her pretty blue ones to her lips.  “You k
now, I don’t mind you defending your project by standing in front of me.  In fact,” he said as his hand slid from the surface of her desk up her arm, enjoying the way she shivered with his touch, “I really like silk.  I didn’t know that before tonight, but it’s a real turn-on.”

She made an unladylike sound and tried to pull away.  Or at least, she thought she tried.  Maybe she actually moved into his touch instead.  “I wore these clothes to the office.  There’s nothing special about them.”

He didn’t agree with her assessment at all.  “You can’t see the silk from my angle,” he replied, thinking of earlier this morning when he’d watched the silk of her slacks float over her very cute butt.  “I thought it was quite nice this morning.”  He slid his hand higher, moving over to her waist.  “And right now, I can’t imagine that your skin could be nearly as nice as your silk shirt,” he paused, “but I’m going to find out.”

Her mouth dropped open and she leaned back even more.  “You’re awfully forward.”

“I go after what I want.  No time to waste, in my opinion.”

“You don’t want me,” she asserted, halfway hoping he would agree with her and he’d leave her alone.  Maybe then she could finally fill her lungs with air. 

“I want you very, very much,” he said and his nimble fingers had already unbuttoned the lower buttons on her blouse, leaving only the top two to hold the silk in place.

She felt his callused fingers on her stomach and almost gasped with the intensity of the feelings rocking her body.  Nina shook her head, denying what was happening as much as his statement. 
“You don’t even know me.”

His fingers slid onto her skin, his palm warming her side, feeling the muscles and soft, silky skin. 
“Our bodies don’t need to know each other’s minds to want each other.”

“Yes they do,” she argued and her hand reached up to grab his wrist, trying to slow his hands’ approach around her waist, but it was a useless effort. 

“Want to bet?” he laughed softly and pressed closer, showing her how much he really did want her.

Nina gasped at the blatant evidence of his arousal on her stomach.  That evidence only made her trembling increase.  “You have to go.”

He leaned in even closer, his breath mingling with hers, his heated eyes watching her blue ones as the revealed her need as well as her confusion over what was happening between them.  “I’m not leaving.  We have some unfinished business.”

“We don’t.”

“I haven’t finished my tea.”

She laughed, remembering his horror at her herbal tea.  “My herbal tea challenged your masculinity.”

He smiled, his head coming inexorably closer to hers.  “Exactly.  I have to prove my masculinity after that vile stuff.”

She laughed, but only slightly since his mouth covered hers, his tongue invading and her body shuddering as she finally tasted him.  She knew she should push him away, to tell him to leave and go bother someone else.  Instead, she found her arms wrapping around his neck, her mouth opening to his onslaught and her whole body reveling in his touch, beggi
ng for more. 

When his tongue touched hers, his hand moved higher at the same time.  The double assault made her mind spin out of control and her body took over.  She couldn’t believe how incredible his warm, hard hand felt against her body and she shifted, wanting his hand higher, wanting it in more intimate places. 

Thankfully, Brock understood.  Or maybe he was just going with what he wanted, but he lifted her up, pushing her backwards onto her desk and pressing his hips between her legs.  She went more than a little crazy when his hardness nestled right where she wanted it.  But then he leaned backwards and she grabbed his shoulders, not wanting to lose her balance nor did she want to lose that feeling.  It was as essential as oxygen and she shifted her body against his, pressing herself closer, needing so much more of him.

“Don’t stop,” she gasped when his hand moved even higher, covering her breast.  She shuddered as his thumb rubbed against her already hard nipple, not sure if she would melt,
burst into flames, or just explode with the friction.  She didn’t know it, but her eyes were closed and her mouth was open as she endured the tender assault on her breast.  When his other thumb moved up, coming into play, she almost screamed with the intensity of what she was feeling.  “I can’t…” she shook her head and lifted her knees higher, her hips shifting to cradle him more intimately. 

“You can,” he told her firmly and kissed her neck.  “And you will.”  With that, he lifted her up, planting his hands under her bottom and carrying her towards the only other door in the apartment.  When he saw her bed, his eyes zeroed in and laid her down in the middle, following her.  His fingers quickly dispensed with the remaining two buttons of her blouse, then spread the material away so he could see the beautiful lace of her bra cupping her breasts.  They weren’t large but they were perfect, he thought. 

He lowered his head, his mouth capturing the lace covered nipple and bit gently, then soothed before his mouth teased the lace away.  When he had the material gone, he lifted his head slightly, looking at the raspberry bud.  He loved the sight of her like this but he had so much more he wanted to do.  Looking up, he realized that her eyes were still closed so he took her now-bare nipple in his mouth and sucked, gently at first, then harder, feeling her arch into his mouth, enjoying her new writhing as he teased her unmercifully.  Her fingers dove into his hair and he felt her fingernails, not hard, but definitely there, her fingers gripping his hair.  He moved over to the other breast and he almost lost control when her hand moved out of his hair, whipping the strap of her breast down, revealing her breast for him. 

He might have smiled but he was in pain now, wanting to press his hardness into her heat.  Instead, he ravished her other breast, feeling himself getting harder as she wiggled underneath him.

A moment later, he stood up and whipped his clothes off.  He watched her, loved the way her eyes devoured him while his own feasted on her bare breasts.  She looked like an erotic goddess like this, her nipples pointing at him, begging him for more attention. 

He had no idea how he got all of his clothes off, was fairly sure that something might have ripped but he didn’t care what.  As soon as he was naked, he reached down and stripped those silk slacks off of her long legs, enjoying the way she helped him, still with her bra pressing her pert breasts towards him.  He suspected she didn’t even know she still had her silk shirt and lace bra on, even though no one could really say they were “on” since they were revealing everything he wanted to see. 

He considered taking a moment to pull off those articles of clothing, but he didn’t think he could wait.  His eyes traveled lower, looking at the small, dark patch of hair and his mind zeroed in on his target.  He was very goal oriented now and he bent lower, pressing her legs apart so he could view her whole body, every intimate part. 

She resisted initially, but his teasing kisses and his deft fingers found her core, found her heat and he smiled when his finger slid easily into that heat.  He almost groaned when he smelled her sweet scent, then bent over, his mouth kissing her thighs before going for the goal.  He
laughed softly when Nina screamed with this caress, her fingers diving back into his hair but he didn’t stop, didn’t allow her to pull him away, just continued to tease his way through until he felt her climax against his mouth. 

He thought that was the hottest thing he’d ever experienced but he wasn’t finished.  Grabbing his wallet, he rolled the condom over his length,
then moved up her body.  She was still smiling, still recovering from her first climax and he might have smiled himself, but it probably came across as more of a grimace because he wanted to bury himself inside of her so badly. 

Kissing his way up her body, he realized what a prize her breasts were and fondled them again, bringing her back to awareness of him and what was to happen next.  When he felt her legs move against his, pulling him closer, he knew that she was right back with him and he pressed into his goal, closing his eyes as her body wrapped itself around him, feeling her press closer, her hands moving to his bare shoulders and he realized that this was the first time her soft, tender hands had touched him anywhere other than his head.  And he liked it! 

He continued to sheath himself inside of her, feeling her clench, feeling her heat and her softness surround him.  “Damn!  You feel so good!” he groaned and pressed fully inside of her.  He felt her shifting and paused, waiting for her to become used to him.  When he saw her bite her lower lip, he bent down lower, kissing her gently. 

Nina had loved everything up to this point but Brock was a big man!  And big everywhere!  His shoulders were blocking out the lights and his erection was….well, it was…she moved slightly, trying to…nope, that wasn’t going to work.  She took several deep breaths, trying to relax, trying to...

He moved!  Her eyes opened wide and she looked up at him, her hands clenching his shoulders.  “Don’t!” she gasped but then he did it again and she moaned.  “Again!” she begged, her knee sliding up against his hip.  “Again!” she pleaded and smiled when he did it.  Over and over again, he slid in and out of her body, her own need spiraling out of control.  She clung to him, needing him as her base while he pounded into her body, freeing her from all inhibitions simply because it felt too incredible to slow down or be embarrassed. 

And when she felt her body tightening, her stomach arching to get
that friction just so…

Brock watched her fall apart, her scream echoing in his ears while he came right after her, his eyes tightly shut as the pleasure rode him harder than he’d ever experienced before.  He held her as gently as possible, but he couldn’t hold back, couldn’t stop. Needed to feel her as much as he needed to…Yes! 

Afterwards, he collapsed against her and rolled over, knowing he was too big.  With the little strength he had leftover, he pulled her against his side, smiling when he felt her soft, silk shirt tangle against his arm.  Soon, he promised himself, he would take that silk shirt off and feel her soft, satiny skin unhindered.  Very soon, he thought with a smile. 

Nina woke up late the following morning, her whole body
still sated from a night of sex with Brock.  The man didn’t just make love, he overwhelmed!  She’d never experienced anything like the previous night.  He’d been relentless!  Over and over again, he’d pulled her into his arms, driving her crazy with desire, so insane with need that she was screaming out for release before he would give her what she wanted.  He was an alpha male at his most domineering but she’d shivered and trembled anytime he’d touched her.  Never had she felt such exquisite pleasure, such mind-bending, life altering, body shattering joy when he let her climax in his arms.  And his gentle arms afterwards made her sigh with happiness.

But those feelings dissipated when she opened her eyes.  The man had left earlier this morning and she was painfully relieved to not have to deal with the morning after with him here next to her. 

She looked at the clock and gasped, jumping out of bed – only to slow down when she realized how much her legs and arms ached with overused muscles.  Sex with Brock was not a passive sport, she thought as she hobbled into the shower.  She got ready for work in record time, but only because she cut out several parts of her morning routine. 

She was just about to grab a cup of coffee when she saw the note on her counter.  “I don’t think my masculinity has fully recovered.  I’ll call you.”

She crumbled the note in her fist, refusing to laugh at his silly reference to her blueberry tea.  What’s more, she couldn’t believe that he could make her laugh even while she was too embarrassed by everything they’d done the previous night to even look at herself in the mirror.  She wasn’t that person, she told herself as she grabbed her keys and hurried out the door.  She wasn’t the kind of woman who could do those kinds of crazy, sexual…things!  She was prim and proper.  She was conservative and boring. 

She and her ex-husband hadn’t done anything like what she and Brock had done!  They’d been married for two years and she’d thought she’d been more intimate with Steven than any of her other boyfriends.  Well, Steven had been her first lover, so of course they’d been more intimate.  But even at the height of their relationship, sex had never been very
exciting.  “Routine” was the best term she could apply to their sex life.  Morning sex on Saturday and Sunday, always quick and “spontaneous” because they had to get their errands done.  Tuesday was their “slow” night, but even that was over pretty fast.  And Thursday nights was reserved for their “crazy” sex.  Which meant they might have had sex on the couch or something instead of the bed.  It had gotten to the point where she’d started to abhor those four days, wanting them to be over quickly just so she didn’t have to deal with Steven’s rigid sexual schedule. 

But sex with Brock was….she sighed and tightened her grip on the steering wheel.  Last night, she didn’t recognize that woman.  The things they’d done, the insane need…she wasn’t that woman, she thought again. 

And then she remembered Brock’s note. 

With a determination she hadn’t previously experience
d except when it came to her secret project, she made a fast U turn and headed in the opposite direction.  She had something to do and, at the next stop light, texted her team to let them know she would be in late today. 

It took her only ten minutes to reach the police station where she knew Brock and his partner worked out of.  It took a couple more minutes to get directions from the officer at the front desk.  But as soon as she found the conference room where Brock and his partner had set up, she stormed in, surprising Brock who was standing at a white board, pinning various things up. 

“You said you needed a DNA sample,” she explained as calmly as possible under the circumstances, refusing to let her eyes linger on his broad shoulders and lean hips.  Refusing to remember how incredible he looked without the jeans or the tee-shirt.  Shaking her head, she leaned her palms down on the table in front of her.  She was so embarrassed and knew that she sounded angry, but she couldn’t help it.  She was terrified of what he could make her do with just a touch.  She had to stop this insanity before it…okay, so it had already started.  She had to stop this insanity so it couldn’t continue. “If giving you a clean DNA sample will eliminate me from the suspect list, then let’s do it.  I’m here and I’m ready to give it to you.”

Brock
had stood up as soon as she’d entered and was now looking down at Nina, his whole body hardening with the memories of the previous night.  Damn, he’d thought he’d worked her out of his system but just the sight of her, walking in here in those tailored slacks and some asymmetrical blouse thing that did incredible things to her pert breasts and her waist….well, damn if he didn’t want her again.  Now! 

He was on the opposite side of the table and he leaned down, matching her challenging posture.  “What makes you think that a DNA sample will get you out of the running?”

She leaned forward slightly, not backing down and her temper fired up at what he was implying.  “You said I had an alibi because of my computer system,” she glared at him.  “You said I just needed a DNA sample to compare it to some fluids found on my boss.  So here I am.  Go ahead.  Take the sample.  That way, you can make your stupid comparison and there won’t be any reason you’ll need to show up at my place again and barge in like you did last night.”

“You think giving me a sample is going to stop me?”

She shivered, but refused to back down.  “You get the sample.  You don’t show up unannounced.  You’ll have no reason to question me any further.”

He smiled, not relenting.  “
Darlin’ you have no idea how good of an imagination I have.  I will come up with so many reasons to interrogate you, it will make your head swim.”

She shook her head.  “You can’t do that!  Surely it is illegal!”

Nina hadn’t heard the door swing open, nor did she realize there were others in the room.  But the feminine voice behind her caused her to jerk backwards and look at the pretty brunette. 

“Brock, have you been terrorizing this kind lady?” Hannah said, carrying a tray filled with cu
ps of pungent coffee.  Handing a cup to Nina, she introduced herself.  “I’m Hannah,” she said.  “And since I’m guessing Brock has been annoying you,” she said, turning her head to glare at the tall man standing up and crossing his arms over his huge chest, “then you can have his coffee.”  She shook the woman’s hand.  “I’m Sam’s fiancée and from what I understand, you don’t need Brock.  You just need to talk to Joe.  He’s the medical examiner and I can take you downstairs to him.”

Brock growled, “Stay out of this Hannah.”

Hannah just waved her hand in Brock’s general direction, taking Nina’s arm and leading her out of the conference room.  “Don’t mind him.  He gets grouchy when he doesn’t get his morning coffee.”  She turned to face Brock.  “But if what I heard was right, you barged into her apartment last night.  Shame on you.  You need a lot more finesse if you’re going to win this lady!  She seems classy.  Nice!  And I’ve adopted her as a friend so you’re not allowed to be mean to her anymore.”

“You don’t know what you’re getting into,” Brock came back.

Hannah’s smile brightened even more.  “Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea.”  With that, she led Nina out of the room, leaving the rest of the coffee cups on the conference room table. 

Brock watched the two women leave the room, a scowl on his face that didn’t even begin to
convey the fury he was feeling at Nina’s declaration of war.  She wanted him out of her bed?  Hell no!  He’d worked too damn hard to get into her bed.  No way was she going to kick him out now.  Not until he’d gotten that cute little butt out of his system.  And her breasts….and those sexy little moans when he….

Brock forced his mind to re-focus.  Thinking about last night, his body instantly started to harden so he forced his mind to focus on the investigation and not on….

“Damn!” he growled, reaching for the tray of coffee Hannah had just left.  But there weren’t any more cups left and he looked up. 

Sam, Walker and Colt were all sipping their large cups of Hannah’s coffee and he glared at them.  None were repentant.  “You pissed off Hannah,” Colt said, shrugging his enormous shoulders and taking a sip of his own coffee.  “Never piss off that little woman.” 

Sam chuckled but he nodded his head as if Colt had said something wise and profound.  “I learned that one the hard way.” 

They all turned back to the boards, looking at the evidence they’d gathered so far.  Well, Brock tried to focus on the board.  He kept turning around and glancing out the door, wondering if Hannah would bring Nina back after they’d visited Joe’s laboratory on the basement level.  He just wanted one more glimpse of her, he told himself.  Then he could get back to the investigation. 

But she never reappeared.  “They’re gone,” Colt said, smacking Brock on the back.  “Maybe we’ll see them later tonight.”

“How?”
Brock asked before he could stop the question. 

Everyone turned to Sam who looked like a deer caught in the headlights. 

Sam realized what they were all thinking and quickly shook his head.  “How am I supposed to fix this?” Sam demanded, his hands on his hips.

Colt and Walker stood behind Brock.  “No idea.  But don’t you need to meet Hannah at that bar a couple of blocks from
her coffee shop?”

Walker piped up with, “I think Hannah should meet her new friend at that bar as well.” 

Sam blinked, looking at Walker, then at Brock.  Then he threw back his head and laughed.  “Fine!  But I make no guarantees that your woman will be there,” he said and picked up his cell phone to text a message to Hannah.  “And if you screw it up tonight, you’re on your own.  Hannah adopted Nina as a friend, so there’s no way you’re putting me in the doghouse.”

Brock’s shoulders relaxed once the text was sent.  Hannah, being her adorable self, responded immediately.  There were several messages back and forth, none of which were conveyed to any of the others
, but in the end, Sam confirmed that Hannah would do what she could to get Nina to the bar. 

After that, they were all back to
the business of solving a murder.  In the back of Brock’s mind, he knew Nina was still hiding something, but it didn’t have anything to do with the investigation.  He didn’t have any evidence of that, other than her technical alibi from the software that saved her code whenever she was working, which he conveyed to the others. 

No, Nina wasn’t their murderer. 
Which left three other women.