Mike was going to be in Troy’s robe when she emerged. He’d
left one behind so he’d have it when he came over to go swimming. But she
didn’t have any excuses not to be dressed when she rejoined him in the living
room. She quickly stripped, and threw on a cashmere sweater and pair of jeans.
Then ran her fingers through her nearly dry hair while cramming her feet into a
pair of warm slippers.
As soon as Emma opened her door and entered the hallway, she
felt the heat of the fire Mike had built. The sound of dry wood crackling
reached her ears, and something else. He’d turned the radio on low and suddenly
the atmosphere he’d created reeked of intimacy.
Emma’s steps slowed as she neared the end of the hallway,
afraid of what she’d see when she finally stepped into the living room. Visions
of Mike lying naked on a bearskin rug. Or in this case, the multicolored throw
on the back of the couch, waiting for her before the fire. Her pulse raced and
she caught her breath.
Nothing prepared Emma for the sight that greeted her when
she peeked around the corner. “Oh my…” she said and gasped behind her hand.
Mike stood and swung around. He slapped his hands on his
hips, which only caused the purple flowered robe he was wearing to part all the
way down his magnificent chest. Emma’s mouth went dry at all that exposed
masculine flesh.
“Is something funny?” he asked in mock anger, the look in
his eyes daring her to laugh at him.
It was too much to take in all at once. Emma’s startled gaze
began with Mike’s neck, taking in the width of his broad shoulders before
traveling down the well-defined muscles of his sculptured chest and abdomen. A
crisp blanket of hair covered his torso, narrowing all the way to his lean hips
before disappearing behind a large pink rose.
Oh my!
Not bad for a forty-year-old man. Was he
completely naked beneath her robe? Her cheeks grew warm as her imagination worked
overtime. To keep him from noticing her preoccupation with what was hiding
behind that enormous flower, she skimmed down the rest of his body, taking in
his muscular thighs and long legs.
Lord, even his feet were beautiful.
“Well?”
“Well?” she breathed softly, clearly confused at what he
wanted. Had he asked her something?
“I asked you if you think something’s funny,” he repeated.
“No-no!” she quickly said, biting her lip to keep from
laughing. However the urge was so powerful that Emma knew the only way she was
going to conquer it was not look at him at all. She glanced around the room,
touching on everything but him.
“Good. Because if you laughed, I’d be forced to do something
about it.”
His challenging tone caused her gaze to swing back his way.
“That’s not fair, Detective.” It wasn’t her fault he was wearing her robe. Troy
must have taken his with him the last time he was there. Her lips quivered as
she returned his stare, before she finally gave in and burst out laughing. “I’m
sorry, Mike. I can’t help it.”
“I warned you…”
“What are you going to do?” As he advanced she retreated,
holding her arms out as though to ward him off. “It’s not every day I get to
see a big, tough, detective wearing my satin robe.” She backed into a chair and
quickly skirted around it. “The color brings out the fading purple around your
eye,” she teased.
Mike made a grab for her. She squealed and just managed to
dash out from beneath his hand. Laughing, she headed for the kitchen, not realizing
she’d backed herself into a corner until it was too late. She swung around to
backtrack but he was there, effectively blocking her escape.
Now he was the one grinning, his electric eyes alive and
pinned on her wolfishly.
“You’re in trouble now, sweetheart.” He advanced slowly, in
no hurry to catch his quarry. Like a cat playing with a mouse.
“You can’t pull off tough in a floral robe,” she said and
chuckled, standing her ground. “What about lunch? Aren’t you hungry?” She
glanced pointedly at the picnic basket, backing up until she couldn’t go any
further. The next thing she knew, she was up against the kitchen sink.
Mike placed his hands on either side of her against the
counter, leaning in close, making her stomach do flip-flops.
“Looks like you’re trapped. I bet you’re sorry you laughed
at me now.”
Emma was still laughing. Her hands fell on his shoulders and
she leaned away from him as much as the counter would allow. But that only
caused the lower half of their bodies to collide. As she gasped loudly, her
smile quickly disappeared. She tried to swallow, all too aware of his hard
flesh pushing against her. Her eyes flared with renewed desire.
He’s already
hard!
“You’re not laughing now.” Mike leaned into her.
Neither was he. “This isn’t a laughing matter,” she returned
huskily, her gaze falling on his sensuous mouth. She took a deep breath and
raised her eyes to his once more. The sensuality stamped on his face turned her
knees weak. “I’m ready to accept whatever punishment you deem necessary. I
clearly deserve it.”
A husky laugh rushed past Mike’s lips, running over her
senses until she melted against him. No longer was she straining to get away.
He was going to kiss her again; she sensed it. She wanted it. Mike was a
healthy male and thorough lover.
Realization that she wanted his mouth on hers rushed over
Emma in dizzying waves. She began to breathe heavily. Her breasts swelled with
aching arousal, tingling against his hard chest. For once she was glad she’d
left her bra off, relishing in the feel of the soft cashmere against her ultra
sensitive flesh.
He lowered his head, closing the distance between them with
purpose in his darkening eyes.
“Mike…”
“This is going to hurt me more than it’s going to hurt you,”
he said outrageously, continuing slowly. “But someone has to do it. And it’s
not as if I didn’t warn you.”
“I’ll suffer in silence then.”
“It’s only a kiss.” His mouth abruptly cut off Emma’s smile
of mischief and any smart remarks forthcoming.
Her soft moan of surrender was immediate, producing a low
response of pleasure from Mike. They moved at the same time; his arms slid
around her waist to pull her more firmly against him. Her arms encircled his
strong neck as she welcomed his tight embrace. Their mouths moved against each
other’s in a sensual attack that escalated when their lips parted
simultaneously, allowing a more thorough exploration that included warm breath
and velvet tongues. Wet heat.
Did he say only a kiss?
Emma’s mouth burned with fire. It was a kiss like none
before. The meshing of two hungry souls until they became one. Both moved
willfully against each other, taking their time down the path of promised
rapture, each seeking a pleasure beyond the reality.
Sounds of mutual desire filled the room, drowning out the
low beat of a country western ballad on the radio. She cried out with protest
when he suddenly tore his mouth from hers, but it was only to follow the line
of her jaw and glide down the side of her neck, teasing and tantalizing her skin
as he moved leisurely along, testing her eagerness while revealing his.
“I don’t know if I can take much more of your particular
brand of punishment,” she gasped as ripples of pleasure traveled over her. She
turned her neck so he could have better access. His teeth raked over her with
barely controlled desire, producing another wild shiver.
“I want you.” She hadn’t meant to say it out loud and it
created an instantaneous response from Mike. He jerked back, his startled gaze
locking onto hers. His expression was dark with desire, his nostrils flaring
with need and making Emma think of a wild, hungry animal. His cock was hard and
demanding.
She saw the indecision in Mike’s eyes, sensed he was
fighting with himself not to let things go any further. Yet even as he warred
with emotions trapped inside, his body revealed his weakness by thrusting
against her. All at once his hands dropped to her hips, holding her tightly
before abandoning them to glide up her sides and cup her aching breasts.
“I don’t know why I’m fighting it.”
“Oh!” Emma’s arms came down from around Mike’s neck and she
flattened her hands against the countertop behind her. The action thrust her
breasts more fully into his caressing palms. “That feels so good,” she
whispered weakly.
“You like that?”
Their gazes locked as Emma slowly nodded.
His thumbs flicked across the hardened peaks of her breasts
almost roughly.
“What about that?”
She nodded again, a half-smile of pleasure on her lips,
quivering against him. Mike’s hands began to gently knead her. “And that?”
She shook her head yes, little mewling sounds escaping her
parted lips.
Mike lowered his head and she sucked in her breath, fire
engulfing her nipples as he moved his wet mouth over her, soaking her sweater.
“What about this?” Mike’s hands made quick work at raising
her sweater until her breasts were bare before his gaze. He fastened his hot
gaze on them for a few breathless seconds before lowering his head once more,
this time taking her tempting flesh in his mouth and gently tugging on it.
“Yes!” Emma cried out, clutching him to her, as he loved her
with his mouth. She would have fallen if she hadn’t clenched her hands into the
robe he was wearing, laughing softly when the feel of satin in her fists
reminded her it was her robe.
“I’ve never made a woman laugh while making love to her,”
Mike said, moving back and forth between her breasts so he could love them both
equally. “It’s a good thing I don’t offend easily.”
Emma’s throaty laugh sounded deep and sensual. “Believe me,
it’s not your technique, Detective.” Her hands released the death grip she had
on the robe, slipping inside to touch his bare chest. “I can’t get what you
look like in my robe out of my head.” She lightly raked her nails across his
nipples, getting the response she wanted when his big body shuddered.
Mike pulled back, his eyes smoldering with desire. “Then
maybe it’s time to take it off.”
Chapter 17
Mike watched Emma’s pupils dilate, her eyes changing color
with the intense emotions ruling her. All at once she turned cautious,
obviously weighing her response. He couldn’t fault her for that. Hell, he half-hoped
she’d say no and they could both come to their senses.
God knew he wasn’t strong enough to rein in his control and
halt the madness overtaking them. He’d known for a long time that he wanted
Emma and he was tired of denying it. What’s more he knew she wanted him too.
As the silence stretched between them he continued to caress
her breasts with the palms of his hands, testing their weight and marveling at
how smooth her flesh was. His body tightened even more when she slowly lowered
her lids and purred like a satisfied kitten.
“Mike—”
Whatever Emma had been about to say was interrupted by the
buzzer on the dryer. At first he didn’t know what it was until he remembered
putting his wet clothes in and turning it on while she was in the bedroom. She
jerked with surprise, the desire in her startled eyes clouding with confusion.
It was obvious she didn’t know what was happening.
“The dryer,” he explained.
“Oh,” she said and chuckled softly, almost embarrassed.
Mike lowered her sweater and kissed the tip of her nose.
“Saved by the bell, sweetheart.”
Emma’s slow reply came while she struggled to bring her
breathing under control. “And exactly what am I saved from, Detective?”
Mike pulled back so he could meet her smiling eyes. “You
want me to spell it out?” He leaned into her so she could feel his hard cock.
“Right now I’d like nothing better than to lift you up on this counter and take
you quick and hard.”
Emma’s soft laugh wasn’t what he was expecting. “Not that I
don’t like the thought of being ravished in the kitchen by a big sexy
detective, but I was thinking it might be from something deeper, with emotions
attached.”
Mike detected the underlining of hurt in her tone. He forced
himself to relax. “Mind explaining that?” Stepping back a few steps, he wanted
to make sure there were no misunderstandings.
Emma glanced at him long and hard, as though sizing him up.
After a moment she inhaled deeply, and plunged ahead. “There’s only one person
in this room who doesn’t want to take things to the next level, Mike, and it
isn’t me.”
Well, at least he knew where she stood. In addition, it was
obvious she understood the turmoil and indecision he was battling.
“You’re not ready for a committed relationship.” He winced,
realizing his comment didn’t make sense.
“No, you’re the one not ready,” she interrupted, running a
nail down his chest where the robe parted.
The belt prevented her from going any further than his
waist.
“Maybe I had qualms before, but I know what I want, Mike.”
Damn, he hadn’t stepped away far enough. He clenched his
hands into a fist to keep from ripping the robe open and forcing her hand the
rest of the way down to his erection. “Don’t say it.” Desperation bordered the
mild threat in his tone.
Emma plowed on as though he hadn’t spoken. “I’ve already
said it once, I want you.”
Her tone almost demanded he do something about it.
“You want forever after.”
“Did I say that?” She made an impatient sound. “But what if
I do?”
“You’re that kind of woman,” he agreed.
“But you aren’t that kind of man? You must have been once.”
“This isn’t a joke, Emma. There’s no use beating around the
bush; you know exactly why I don’t want to get emotionally involved with anyone
right now. I have Melissa to think about.”