Keepers of the Cave (22 page)

“We shouldn’t do this,” she murmured again, trying to resist.

“No?” CJ moved her mouth to Paige’s ear. “What
this
are you talking about? This?” she asked as her hand slid low, pulling Paige’s hips against hers in an unmistakable innuendo. “Or
this
?” she said, moving back to Paige’s lips, kissing her slowly, deeply, Paige inevitably responding as she forgot about her half-hearted protest.

She also forgot where they were as her feet stopped moving entirely, her only conscious thoughts involved CJ...and the shocking truth that they had definitely crossed a line. There was no pretense any longer, the charade having come to an abrupt end.

“Paige...
Jesus
,” CJ murmured against her lips, taking a step away from her.

She took Paige’s hand, leading her off the dance floor. Paige assumed they were returning to their table, but CJ kept going, fighting through the crowd of women. Paige didn’t know an outdoor patio existed, but when the door closed—the music now muffled—she found herself being led into a dark corner, lush shrubs providing privacy. She could hear other couples in the shadows, whispered words floating around them, then away. They were alone in their corner, and Paige couldn’t keep her hands to herself as she reached for CJ. Their kiss was hard, wild, and Paige was moaning, her body lost to her as CJ’s fingers trailed under the swell of her breast, teasing her, finally brushing her taut nipple as it hardened even more.

She pulled her mouth away, gasping for breath, leaning into CJ’s touch. If she took the time to think—rationally—about what they were doing, she might have been able to stop it. But she had no coherent thoughts, nothing to cling to other than this raging desire she had, a desire to do so much more than kiss.

Her legs parted willingly as CJ slipped a thigh between them, hands cupping her hips and pulling her closer. They were in a semi-public place and she didn’t care. Her body was no longer hers to control.

“Are you wet?” CJ whispered into her ear.

Paige pressed down harder on her thigh. “Silly question,” she murmured between breaths, her hips rocking slowly against CJ.

CJ nearly growled in her ear, then pushed her away quickly, shocking her. “Jesus,” she said, running both hands through her hair. “No, Paige. Not here. Not like this,” she said, shaking her head. “This isn’t you. Not like this. I’m sorry.”

Paige gripped her arms, moving closer to her again. “This isn’t me? Am I too good for this?” She tried to smile, but her desire was too much. “Apparently, right now, this is me,” she said. “I’m out here with you, aren’t I?”

Their gazes held, neither looking away.

“I want you,” CJ said quietly. “I want to take you home, to bed, and make love to you. Not...not out here. Not like this.”

Paige swallowed, trying to find her voice. She moved back into CJ’s arms. “You’re evil,” she whispered into her ear. “I could come so easily right now.”

CJ groaned, pulling Paige closer again, slipping that same thigh between her legs. “God, I want to be inside you,” she said, making Paige whimper. “Deep inside you.”

Paige’s hips jerked, the seam of her jeans pressing down hard against her clit. She held tightly to CJ, eyes closed as CJ’s breath tickled her ear.

“Not just my fingers. I want my tongue inside you,” she whispered, her tongue snaking in and out of Paige’s ear. “Just like that. My tongue so deep inside you. I want to taste you when you come.”

Paige’s brain was a muddled mess and she felt nearly delirious as she clung to CJ, her orgasm hitting as quickly as she knew it would. She bit her lower lip to keep from crying out, her clit throbbing as she pressed hard against CJ’s thigh.

CJ held her tightly, hands moving soothingly now against her back, whispered words that Paige couldn’t decipher in her lustful daze. She rested her head against CJ’s shoulder, finally able to open her eyes. Good God, had she just done that? Had she been in such a feverish state that she let CJ do that to her?
Yes.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “That got out of hand.”

CJ held her in a tight hug. “I want to make love to you,” she murmured. “Please don’t pull away from me. Don’t...
think
about this so much.” CJ lifted her head, meeting Paige’s eyes. “Let’s have tonight. Please?”

“This is so wrong on so many levels,” Paige said, her voice quiet. Could she deny CJ? Could she deny what she wanted herself? She leaned forward, her kiss light, moving ever so slowly against CJ’s lips. No, she couldn’t refuse this. She wanted it too.

The kiss apparently gave CJ the answer she needed. She smiled with relief as she led Paige back inside. She paused before opening the door.

“I don’t think we should dance anymore tonight.”

Paige laughed, breaking some of the tension between them. “Afraid we’ll get arrested?”

CJ laughed too. “Ice and Billy would love that, wouldn’t they?”

They stopped at the bar, CJ getting a plain Coke and Paige water, before joining the others back at their table. Knowing eyes watched them and Paige felt herself blushing. She dared to meet Suzette’s gaze and she was surprised at the envy she saw there. And why not? She and CJ could hardly keep their hands off each other. Suzette, as well as the others, knew exactly what she and CJ were going to do when they got home tonight. And that thought, too, made her blush.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CJ felt like a fumbling, bumbling teenager on the ride home. The night had been endless and she didn’t think they’d ever leave. True to their word, she and Paige didn’t dance again. Although, as it turned out, that might have been the safer route. Instead, they’d sat together in their corner of the table like two horny teenagers, touches growing bolder by the second, their kisses hot enough to burn. She knew it was time to stop when she’d pulled Paige’s hand between her legs. Paige could feel the wetness through her jeans; she knew that by the soft moan Paige had let out. She’d allowed Paige to touch her, but only for a second. She didn’t want to totally embarrass them. Paige had taken her hand away, but the hot breath in her ear and Paige’s words nearly caused her to climax right there.

“Do you remember what it felt like when I made love to you with my mouth? With my tongue on your clit, sucking it? I want to do that again. Tonight.”

God.
Yeah, Paige was a darling. She was innocent—she was polished and refined. But damn, she had a raunchy side that CJ couldn’t wait to explore.

Suzette and Becca tried to keep the conversation going, but neither she nor Paige were contributing much. She wondered if they could feel the tension in the car. With the silence lengthening, CJ could hear Paige’s breath, knowing Paige was as aroused as she was. Against her better judgment, she took Paige’s hand and pulled it between her legs. Paige didn’t hesitate as she spread her fingers, pressing against her.

Paige leaned closer, her words barely a whisper. “Don’t tempt me,” she warned. “Because I’ll do it.”

Paige stroked her so slowly, CJ nearly moaned out loud from the pleasure of it. She’d lost all sense of propriety and decorum, forgetting that they were in a car with another couple. Thankfully, Paige hadn’t. She pulled her hand away, pausing to squeeze her thigh before removing her touch completely. “Soon” was whispered into her ear.

After what seemed like hours, Suzette finally stopped the car in front of their house. CJ didn’t want to take the time for pleasantries, but Paige held her hand tightly, preventing her from sprinting into the house.

“Thanks for driving,” Paige said. “We need to return the favor next time,” she offered.

“Oh, we don’t mind,” Becca said. “You two lovebirds have a good night.”

CJ matched their knowing smiles, too aroused to care if they were mocking them or not. She waved them away, then suddenly turned shy as she realized, finally, they were alone. What if Paige changed her mind? What if she had second thoughts? The darkness prevented her from reading Paige’s eyes and she stood still, waiting.

Paige moved first, taking her hand and letting their fingers entwine. CJ let out a nervous breath. She thought she might just die right there if Paige decided that this was a mistake. But it was Paige who led them inside, Paige who kicked the door shut and locked it, not bothering with the lights. And it was Paige who reached for her shirt, pulling it roughly over CJ’s head before pinning her to the door.

This snapped CJ into action, her hands fumbling with Paige’s jeans as Paige fumbled with hers. CJ lost the battle when Paige’s hand stole inside, past the waistband of her underwear. She felt her knees weaken as, without preamble, Paige’s fingers slid through her wetness, not pausing until she was inside her. They both let out strangled moans before their mouths found each other. CJ’s hips rocking against Paige’s hand, only to have Paige withdraw her fingers.

“Bed,” she murmured against her lips.

CJ groaned. “God, woman, are you trying to kill me?”

Paige smiled slightly when she reached around CJ and unsnapped her bra, letting it fall to the floor. CJ’s breath stalled as Paige’s fingers traced slowly around both nipples. “This isn’t like before,” Paige said, her voice quiet, soft. “We don’t have to rush.”

CJ tried to smile but couldn’t. “I’m about to explode here.”

“And I’m going to take care of that for you.” Paige kissed her, lips and tongue teasing. “But not with my hands,” she whispered.

If CJ hadn’t had the wall for support she may very well have collapsed. Paige took her hand and CJ followed her into the bedroom on wobbly legs. She was normally the one in control, the one who took the lead. But she felt powerless as she stood still, staring, watching as Paige removed her own shirt and bra. Paige was clearly the one in control. The sound of rushing blood filled her ears, and she was nearly trembling when Paige finally came to her, deft fingers unzipping her jeans all the way and pushing them down her legs. CJ kicked off her shoes and stepped out of her jeans, leaving her standing naked, watching in anticipation as Paige slowly lowered her own jeans, tossing them away haphazardly.

A part of her couldn’t believe this was really happening. Another part of her—a very small part—wondered at the wisdom of this, knowing they were trampling over all sorts of rules and protocols. But when Paige’s mouth and lips moved across her skin, when her hands cupped her breasts, she lost all thoughts of protocol. Her head fell back as Paige’s mouth closed over a nipple, her tongue swirling around it, causing CJ to moan softly.

“Bed,” Paige said again, her mouth leaving CJ’s breast, urging her back to the bed.

CJ complied, pulling Paige down with her, letting Paige cover her body with her own. There was no time for thoughts as Paige’s mouth, hands, skin, seemed to be everywhere at once. CJ let her have complete control even though her body was screaming for release. She spread her thighs, her hips arching against Paige’s stomach, feeling her wetness coat Paige’s skin, knowing Paige was just as wet. But Paige refused to be hurried. Her mouth left CJ’s, making a slow and deliberate path to her breast.

“God,
Paige
,” she gasped, her breath hissing between her teeth as Paige sucked a nipple into her mouth. “Please, I need you.” Her voice sounded hoarse—and aroused—to her own ears as she gasped for air. “Paige...
please
.”

Paige released her nipple, her teeth raking across it in a deliciously painful kiss. CJ moaned into it, her hips thrusting against Paige, seeking contact.

“Open for me,” Paige whispered against her skin.

“God, yes.”

Then there was no more waiting. Paige spread her thighs even more, holding her open as an insistent tongue swept against her clit, pausing there long enough for CJ to clench her fists together, then moving on, slicing through her wetness, delving inside of her. CJ whimpered at the contact, her hips thrusting hard against Paige’s face, burying her tongue deeper inside her. Paige allowed her only a few strokes before pulling out and settling over her clit. She sucked it hard into her mouth and CJ’s hips left the bed, grinding against Paige. Her mouth was open, gasping for breath, her soft moans tangling with the guttural sounds coming from Paige as she licked and tugged on her.

CJ wanted to prolong it—the sweet and painful torture—but Paige’s mouth, and now her fingers, wouldn’t allow it. She gave in to her body’s release with one last hard thrust, her throat raw as she screamed out Paige’s name.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Paige stretched slowly, her body wonderfully sore. She sighed contentedly, her fingers lightly brushing against the arm that was still draped possessively across her stomach. Being with CJ was as exhilarating as she remembered. Now, like then, she wondered if it had been a mistake. If so, she’d made it willingly. Nonetheless, they were still working a case, and it probably wasn’t the wisest thing she’d ever done.

“We probably shouldn’t have done that,” she said quietly. She felt CJ smile against her neck.

“Which time? The first or the sixth?”

Paige rolled over onto her back, turning to CJ. Her eyes were still closed, but she looked so peaceful, so...“God, you’re so beautiful,” she whispered, giving voice to her thoughts.

Eyes fluttered open, finding hers, then closed again. “Do you know what I regret about that first time?”

“What?”

“This, the morning,” CJ said. “I regret not waking up with you.” She rolled onto her back too, eyes open now as she stared at the ceiling. “I never wake up with anyone. I always escape first. That morning, when I woke, I reached for you, but you were already gone.”

Paige turned to her side, her hand moving lazily across CJ’s skin, her eyes raking over her small breasts, her dark nipples. She didn’t know what to say. Yes, she’d been the one to take off that morning, fleeing before dawn, back to the safety of her own house. Now, here, there was no place for either of them to escape to. But unlike that first time, Paige didn’t feel the need to run. She hoped CJ didn’t either.

“Like I said last night, this isn’t like the first time,” she said. “We can’t ignore this, we can’t run from it. We can’t pretend it didn’t happen.”