Slow Hands (21 page)

She'd always loved Alec Dempsey. Oh, she'd covered it up, ignored it. Learned to live with it. But seeing him again had brought it all out in the open.

He was the only man her heart had ever wanted. Period. And he would never be hers.

Yeah, the sparks were still there. Lust arced between them. She wanted Alec so badly sometimes it hurt. But it was like lighting candles in a fume-laden kerosene factory. Hazardous. And foolhardy.

They had no future. He wouldn't stay. She'd never leave.

She'd been willing to once, but now she realized she could no more leave Fire Mountain than she could stop breathing.

This was her home.

The sound of a window slamming open behind her startled her. She jumped, skittering to her feet, as Alec climbed through her window. Ire vibrated from him.

"Where in the hell have you been?"

"What business is it of yours?" she shot back. "And what are you doing in my apartment?"

"Looking for you." He drew closer, towering over her in the darkness. "And Reggie."

Keira refused to back up. "Well, I'm home—you can scurry back to Scarlet."

Alec grabbed her upper arms, shook her. He caught a whiff of Reggie's cologne. The scent enraged him. "Where were you?"

"I went for a ride."

"Did you take Reggie out to the fire tower?"

"I left Reggie at the park," she snapped. "I was alone."

"Damn it, Keira! What have I told you about going off by yourself?"

She looked pointedly at his hands. "You're overreacting. It was a short ride, and I wasn't gone long."

Alec drew a deep breath and relaxed his punishing grip. "Overreacting? Someone left a package at your door tonight."

"Where?" She hadn't seen anything when she came in.

"I disposed of it."

At his tone, Keira felt a shiver run up her spine. She knew it was awful, but had to ask. "What was it?"

He described the contents. Her eyes grew wide, and her hand went to her mouth. The anger that had moments ago buoyed her, fled. Leaving her feeling defenseless. Frightened.

Seeing her horror, Alec reached out again, gently this time. He drew her close. He had debated not telling her, but she had to know how serious the circumstances were. How sick the person behind all this was.

"Do you think Griggs did it?" she asked after a few minutes.

"I think he arranged it."

Alec had driven past the halfway house, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. The place was dark. While he couldn't see through walls, Griggs should have been inside. Beau's Toyota was parked and nothing appeared out of order. How was Griggs doing these things? It was obvious he had outside help.

"Why doesn't he just get his money and leave?" Her voice rose in frustration.

"Because right now he's enjoying toying with you. But he's up to something, Keira. I feel it in my gut. And when he makes his move, he'll strike fast, then disappear. All the more reason you've got to be careful."

She tried to shrug off his embrace. Couldn't. "I'm not a bad person. I don't deserve this."

"No, you don't." His anger had faded, slowly giving in to relief. Relief that she was safe.
Gratitude that she hadn't gone home with Reggie.

When he couldn't find her, a million things had gone through his mind. The worst was the thought of not seeing her again. Not touching her again.
Not making love to her again.

He shook his head. "Take a vacation. Hell, I'll watch over the business for you. Once you're gone, Griggs will lose interest."

"I can't leave Willis."

"Then let me move in, to protect you." He tightened his arms.

To protect her.

God, she was tempted. To give in. To give over. Just to lose herself in someone else's strength. What was so wrong with that?

Moments ago she'd realized she still loved Alec.

Now she realized it was more than that. She wanted him in a physical sense. Craved him. And admitting her neediness gave it power. Desire swelled, ovewhelming her.

Suddenly, she felt feverish. It had started out as an awareness, but being this close, being held in his arms, pushed her over the edge.

Thunder rolled in the distance, low, powerful, yet subdued. The air carried the promise of rain.

The promise of seduction.

She whimpered.

"Shhh," Alec soothed. "I'm here."

He rocked her slowly in his arms. She felt his mouth brush across the crown of her head. It wasn't enough.

She met his eyes. "Kiss me, Alec. Please."

His response was immediate. He lowered his head, caught her lips.

Keira groaned as his tongue swept boldly into her mouth. His hands moved up, grasping her face, angling it slightly as he deepened the kiss.

When she sighed, Alec caught her breath, sealing her lips until she grew light-headed. Then he breathed into her mouth. Giving air. Taking her will.

This was a kiss. This was heat. This was passion.

And if it was wrong, then it was wrong, and she was about to be very, very bad.

She was weary of struggling, weary of debating herself. No one would ever move her heart, her soul, like Alec. The knowledge frightened her. And excited her.

Her fingers unbuttoned his shirt, hands greedy to feel bare flesh, hard muscle.

Alec didn't discourage her. He broke the kiss long enough to peel her T-shirt over her head. She wore a plum-colored bra. The low-cut cups molded her breasts, lifted them.

He ran a finger along the lacy edge of fabric, outlining the generous cleavage, fascinated by the rise and fall of her flesh as she breathed. Slowly, his hands curved, petting, admiring.

With a flick, he unsnapped the front hook, swept the cups aside.

"Jesus!" He'd forgotten how perfect she was. He cupped her breasts, rubbed his thumbs over her nipples. The small pink aureoles puckered tightly, like two plump, sun-kissed raspberries. Responsive, begging for his touch.

He felt Keira's hands on his chest, her fingers raking
muscle, moving lower. He caught her lips in a brutal onslaught and groaned in encouragement as she fondled him through jeans that were uncomfortably tight. He felt her fumble with his belt, felt the zipper lower.

Alec growled with approval when she shoved roughly at his pants, tugging them down his hips. He shook as she freed his flesh, her touch tentative at first. Then finally her hand closed over his throbbing penis.

He had never desired a touch so desperately in his life.

He jerked, breaking the kiss. Looking down, he watched her fondle him. She knew how to touch him, remembered he liked a firm grip.

He lowered his mouth, eager to show he remembered what she liked, too. He caught a pointy nipple gently between his teeth, tagging. She hissed, bucking her hips slightly. In need.

Stepping back, Alec unfastened her pants then eased her jeans lower, aware that they were still outside. Aware that to stop would break the spell. Aware that he couldn't wait.

He checked their surroundings quickly, confirming that no one could see them. There were no floors above them, and the balcony faced a windowless building in the alley.

He slid a finger between her legs, found her blistering hot. Dripping wet.

She moaned.

"Here. Let me—" His thumb sought her clit, massaging it as his mouth once again closed over her breast.

He started sucking, pulling the tight nipple farther into his mouth as his thumb increased the pressure. The results were immediate as she bucked with a swelling orgasm.

Alec quickly covered her mouth with his when she came. Even as he swallowed her scream, he kept his fingers busy. Rubbing, teasing, taunting, until he'd coaxed yet another orgasm from her. Her responsiveness inflamed him.

Keira trembled, beyond rational thought, wanting only to feel.

Thunder rolled again, but she paid it no heed, her mind centered solely on one thing:
Alec.

She had to have him. Here. Now. Knew she wouldn't be satisfied until every hot, heavy inch of him was inside her. Making her whole.

But first... she wanted to make certain he was every bit as turned on as she was.

She dropped her gaze, teased him unmercifully with her hand. His erection was long and painfully hard. Superb. She ran her fingers down its length yet again, marveling anew at his size and heat. Anticipating. She'd forgotten how magnificent Alec was. Endowed.
Blessed.

She pressed a kiss to his chest, intent on dropping to her knees and taking him in her mouth. Alec stopped her.

"You go down on me and I won't last ten seconds," he warned.

"But don't you—"

"Oh, yeah. I want it. Bad." He punctuated his words with a kiss, wedged his hand between her thighs. "But I remember that sweet mouth of yours too well. Just the thought makes me want to come."

Keira's eyes closed as Alec's finger began yet another dance of torment. Fire raged in her veins, building toward an explosion. They were both on the edge, both beyond waiting. An anguished cry escaped her. "I need you, Alec.
Now."

Her words hit Alec hard.

Now
meant there was no time to duck inside to find a bed, a chair.
Now
meant no second chances.

Now
meant finding a position good for both of them. Fast.

Before she changed her mind.

Swearing, Alec turned her around, until she faced away from him. He placed her hands on the railing, his lips brushing her shoulder, his teeth grazing the soft skin.

He slid his hands down, sliding around her abdomen. Then he tugged her hips back, leaving her bent at the waist.

His hands glided over her buttocks, teasing along the firm crevice.

"Please," she begged.

"Shhhh." He touched lower, found her heat, and quickly fitted the head of his shaft against her. "Is this what you want?"

Keira felt a hot, heavy pressure from behind. "Yes." She strained backward, eager.

Alec pressed into her, but just barely. He grasped her hips, holding her steady as he worked in another inch. Her body was unnaturally tight. It was obvious she hadn't been with anyone in a while. Which pleased him. And made him even more eager to possess her. Mark her.

He drew back. She cried out at the loss. "No!"

"Hush." Alec leaned into her once more. "Just changing angles, babe. Hold on."

He pressed forward with a speed and strength that shocked Keira. She bit back a sharp cry as he buried himself to the hilt, then withdrew, before plunging forward yet again.

The relief she felt was fierce, hot. And temporary. When he drew back she resisted, only to surrender with each stroke. It was madness.

Keira was lost, as a thousand impressions melted over her heated skin like glaze. Sensation overwhelmed her.

Tender torture.

Exquisite relief.

Thunder crashed, growing closer. The heavens let loose with a downpour.

Oblivious to the rain, Alec moved against her, over and over. His hands came around, teasing at her nipples, tugging.

She writhed, the raindrops seeming to sizzle as they hit their overheated skin. Then his hand dropped lower, relentless, as he coaxed her to the brink.

"You are mine," he shouted hoarsely, struggling to be heard above the thunder. "Admit it."

She fought to deny his words. But it seemed as though Alec controlled her flesh. Her will. Her heart.

She shook her head from side to side, striving to control the feelings he evoked.

At her silence, Alex growled, refusing her denial. He locked an arm around her waist, holding her still, while he pulled back, nearly withdrawing. In complete control.