Texan Undercover (Romantic Suspense) (14 page)

"Dillon, please." She whispered his name and
his body flexed in response. He pushed himself harder against her
bottom and she closed her eyes on a moan.

"Watch us in the mirror, babe."

Claire glanced at his face, then at his hands
again. She whimpered and her body bucked as he scraped his nails
softly across her hardened nipples. Her chocolate brown eyes
widened in wonder. She bit her lip as her body tensed. He felt the
shudders of her climax as she suddenly went limp and sagged back
against him. He rubbed her nipples, rolling them between thumb and
finger, murmuring encouragement until he was certain she was over
the first crest of satisfaction.

Dillon lifted her in his arms and carried her
to the bed, where he laid her gently on the mattress. He snagged
his fingers under the elastic of her panties and peeled them down
the length of her long legs. She raised her arms in silent appeal
and his body hardened even more.

"Please, Dillon. I want you. Now."

His control hung on a knife's edge as he
looked at Claire on the bed, her legs spread, ready for him. He
wanted to plunge into her damp heat and feel her muscles contract
around him with no barriers between them. Hot flesh sheathed in hot
flesh. He was sorely tempted to forgo protection this one time. But
Dillon never engaged in unsafe sex. Never.

"Stay put, babe. Don't move." He hated to
leave her for even a second.

"Dillon? What's the matter?" Claire hiked up
on her elbows, a frown on her lovely face.

He grabbed the condom he'd stashed in the
pocket of his pants, quickly covered himself and knelt over her on
the bed.

She sank back on the mattress and smiled.
Something shifted inside Dillon's chest.

"Thank you," she said with a blush, lifting
her arms again. "Make love to me, please."

Dillon didn't think he'd ever heard such
sweet words in his whole life. He'd never wanted a woman like he
wanted Claire. Gathering her in his arms, he positioned himself
between her legs, ready for entry.

She pulled him down and offered her lips. He
caught her mouth and teased her tongue, sucking gently, sucking
hard. He wanted desperately to take it slow, to make it good for
Claire, but it had been too long. He wanted her too much. His
control would snap once he slipped completely inside Claire's
beckoning warmth.

He rocked against her, rubbing her intimate
flesh. Teasing her, teasing himself. Trying to make the sweet
torture last forever.

But Claire would have none of it. She slid
her arms around his neck and pulled him close. "I need you inside
me. I can't stand it anymore." She wrapped her legs around his hips
and rose to meet him on the downslide.

Sweat beaded on Dillon's forehead and he
kissed his hard-fought control goodbye. He plunged into her body,
thrusting with all his might. Claire held him, bit and licked him,
whispered his name.

He pumped faster and faster. Deeper and
deeper. His entire body strained with tension as he sought to make
them one. And finally, when Claire moaned and shattered as another
climax overtook her, Dillon let himself go and followed her into
the welcoming void of paradise and beyond.

****

Claire surfaced from the sensual fog, her
body still heavy with satisfaction, her mind floating in a cloud of
wonder and joy. Dillon's hard body pressed her deep into the soft
contours of the mattress. His forehead rested on the pillow beside
hers.

"Am I hurting you?" he asked, his breath hot
and ragged in her ear.

A tingle of goose bumps skittered down her
spine. "No. I'm okay."

He let out a long sigh. "I don't want to
move. I don't think I
can
move."

She smiled. "That good, huh?"

He lifted his head and brushed her lips with
his. "Better than good, babe."

"Yes, better than good." Wonderful.
Mind-boggling. She'd never experienced anything like it before. She
moved her legs from around Dillon's waist and he lifted his body to
accommodate her new position, still keeping them intimately
joined.

"I'll get up in a minute." He kissed her
neck, then dropped his forehead on the pillow again.

"No hurry. Take your time." She raked her
nails gently up and down his back, loving the feel of him beneath
her fingers.

"You keep doing that and something else will
be getting up," he growled in her ear.

"Promises, promises." Claire increased the
pressure, surprised at herself. She'd never been bold in bed
before.

"We're going to need more protection." He
gently withdrew from her body, but kept his arms around her.

Claire pointed to the bedside table. "I think
you'll find what you need in there."

Dillon leaned over and opened the drawer. He
pulled out the small box of condoms Claire had bought at the
drugstore.

"Ah, Claire. Always so organized. Always
prepared." A wicked glint twinkled in his eyes. "Except I don't
know whether to be flattered or insulted."

Claire frowned. "What do you mean?"

He tore the cellophane from the box and took
out a plastic packet. "Flattered because you were thinking ahead,
imagining us in bed. Insulted--" He made a tsking sound with his
tongue. "Such a small box. You obviously lack faith in my stamina
and abilities."

Claire felt her face heat up with a blush. "I
. . ."

Dillon braced himself over her. "You what,
Claire?"

She lost herself in the depths of the desire
reflected in his eyes. "I guess I wasn't thinking far enough
ahead."

"Not to worry. I may not be as organized as
you, but I came prepared, too."

"Really? You sound like a Boy Scout."

"
Boy?
" he said, feigning offense. "Are
you calling me a boy? I must not have done such a good job after
all. I'll have to work harder to impress you."

"So, impress me." Claire tangled her hands in
the thick mat of dark hair on Dillon's chest, gently brushing her
thumbs over the flat male nipples. She smiled at his hiss of
breath, harsh on the exhale.

"Two can play at this game, babe." He bent
and kissed one breast, then the other. Licking and blowing until
the rosy tips beaded.

"Mmm. You're a much better player than I am."
Claire's body tensed in anticipation.

"Are you complaining?"

"Not at all." She pulled him down on top of
her and kissed him, loving the feel of him pressing against her.
Wanting the intimate joining again. Fearing that she was falling
for the sexy private eye and there was nothing she could do about
it.

Dillon pulled back and looked at her. Slowly,
tenderly, he made love to her. Made her forget all her fears and
misgivings. Made her feel good and wonderful and safe.

In the aftermath of their spent passion,
Claire snuggled closer to Dillon, resting her head on his shoulder.
She sighed in contentment. "How long can you stay?"

He twirled a lock of her dark hair around his
fingers. "I'm not leaving."

"You're spending the night?" The thought of
sleeping in the same bed with him made her smile. They probably
wouldn't get much sleeping done.

"I'm moving in."

Claire jerked upright and stared at him.
"What? You can't move in with me."

"Why not?"

"I didn't invite you for one. And two, this
is supposed to be just about sex. No commitment. No strings."

"It's only temporary, Claire. Until we catch
the hacker. I want to keep you safe. I hate it that the bastard
threatened you."

"Well, I'm not exactly thrilled either. But
you don't have to move in with me."

"Yes. I do." He grabbed her shoulders and
pulled her close. "I couldn't live with myself if something
happened to you."

Claire didn't say anything, couldn't say
anything. That sounded suspiciously like Dillon cared for her. But
he'd be going back to Dallas after the investigation was over. She
knew she was falling for him. Becoming intimate had strengthened
the bond. She had to be careful. She didn't want to get involved
with him anymore than she already was. Living together was
dangerous.

"Nothing's going to happen with the hacker,"
she finally said, hoping it was true.

He tightened his arms around her. "I'm
staying, Claire."

God help her from strong overbearing males.
She'd worked hard establishing her independence, first from her
overprotective father and brothers, then her jealous husband. She
wriggled out of Dillon's embrace. There was no way she could hold a
conversation or argue with him in the nude.

"Where are you going?" Dillon asked.

"To get a robe." She grabbed one from the
hook on the closet door, covered herself and returned to stand at
the foot of the bed. "Let me tell you something, Mr. Private Eye. I
didn't like it when you barged into my cafe and set up shop. I
understand it's necessary to catch the hacker. But it's not
necessary for you to move in with me. I can take care of myself,
thank you very much."

Dillon rose from the bed, oblivious to his
nakedness. The man was magnificently built with muscular biceps, a
hard flat stomach, bulging thighs and long legs. Claire swallowed
the lump in her throat. His thighs weren't the only thing bulging.
Even after making love twice, he was fully aroused again. She took
a step back as he advanced toward her.

"What's wrong, Claire? I'm not good enough
for you?" He looked down at her and she could see the vulnerability
lurking in his eyes. His mother had really done a number on
him.

"Of course, you're good enough," she said.
"This isn't about you; it's about me. I don't want to get involved
with you."
Or fall in love.
But she couldn't say that.
Besides, she was half afraid it was already a done deal.

"We aren't really involved," Dillon argued.
"Like I said, this is only temporary. Let me stay, Claire. Let me
keep you safe until this is over."

Her stomach bottomed out at the tenderness in
his voice. Dillon might keep her safe from the hacker, but he
couldn't safeguard her heart. The heart she was fast losing to
him.

He reached out and trailed a finger gently
down her cheek, down her neck, tracing the V of the robe, easing it
open. "Let me stay," he said again, his voice warm as honey.

Claire knew she should stand her ground and
refuse, but her body had other ideas. Against her better judgement,
she stepped into Dillon's arms. Immediately his heat engulfed her,
banishing the feelings of trepidation.

He looked down at her and smiled. "I take it
this means yes?"

She nodded. "Shut up and kiss me. And don't
gloat."

Claire woke up alone in bed. Her body hummed with happiness and
contentment. She snuggled deeper under the fluffy comforter and
hugged the feelings close.

After a little while, her mind started
churning. Thinking. Panicking. What in the world had she done last
night?

Given in to temptation, that's what. Claire
sighed and flopped onto her back, staring at the ceiling. She
couldn't regret the lovemaking. Wouldn't regret it. No way. It was
everything she'd imagined it would be. But she'd opened up and left
herself unprotected. Something she'd vowed never to do again.

Apprehension clawed around her gut. After her
disastrous marriage, Claire had closed off her heart and guarded
against hurt. For five years, she'd stayed her course. The handful
of men she'd dated were easily dismissed; none threatened her safe
little world. Then along came Dillon, knocking aside her good
resolutions.

She turned her head and stared at the empty
pillow.
Where was he?

Claire pushed away the covers and scrambled
out of bed. Because her experience with morning-after
confrontations was practically nonexistent, she was grateful for
the reprieve. She needed to pull herself together before seeing
Dillon again. Heading for the shower, she snatched her robe from
the floor where it had dropped last night when Dillon pushed it
from her shoulders and seduced her with his kisses. She ignored the
zing of excitement in her stomach and continued to the
bathroom.

Stepping into the shower, Claire let the hot
water gush over her. Quickly washing her hair, she rinsed away the
suds and wished the uneasiness would rinse away as well. She
toweled off and dressed for work, wondering where Dillon was and
what he was doing. His duffle bag lay on the floor next to the door
of her bedroom, but she hadn't heard a peep from him since she'd
awakened.

He'd been so adamant about moving in and
keeping her safe. So where was he? She made her way to the kitchen
just as the back door opened. Her mouth went dry and her heart
turned over. Embarrassment and excitement mixed in the pit of her
tummy at the sight of the large man filling her kitchen with his
sexy-as-sin presence.

"Good morning." Dillon kicked the door
closed, his eyes raking her from head to toe. A delicious warmth
stole over Claire, reminding her of their time together in bed. As
if she could think about anything else this morning.

Dillon snagged a towel from the back of a
chair and dried his face and neck. He'd obviously been jogging.
Claire took in his sweatshirt with the sleeves bunched up above the
elbows and the sweatpants that couldn't disguise those muscular
thighs. His sweaty hair only enhanced his sensual allure.

She cleared her throat. "Morning."

"Sleep well?" Dillon walked over to where she
stood by the refrigerator, gave her a quick kiss and opened the
fridge door.

Claire stepped away and tried not to stare at
his butt. Everything about Dillon aroused her.

He held up a pitcher and frowned. "What is
this?"

"Kiwi juice." She bit her lip at the look of
disgust on his face.

"Don't you have anything to eat or drink that
doesn't belong in a health food store? All that's in there is
yogurt and green stuff. And what about coffee? I've looked
everywhere. Are you hiding it or what?"