Return to Me (11 page)

Her thoughts scattered as a calloused hand parted her thighs and caressed boldly as it moved up toward the hot throb beating inside her … dying for his touch. A whimper of sound fell from her mouth as reason and thought dissolved. With gentle but purposeful intent, he fondled her curls … parted the folds, a finger pressed into her. Gasping cries caught in her throat as she pushed her body toward his hand.

“Mara.” Her name was a groan of need. Pulling her hard against him, he slammed his mouth on hers and devoured.

Overwhelming need consumed her as she gave herself up to the glory of his mouth and arms. His tongue plunged, retreated, and plunged again, over and over, building heat, creating tension and even more need. Samara was to the point of trying to climb his body when he stopped, scooped her up, and carried her to the bed. The memory of the last time he did this, but left her lying on the bed, went through her. She soon learned he had no intention of leaving. He placed her on the bed, stripped off her panties, and spread her legs wide.

“Noah!”

Triumphant, glittering eyes gleamed up at her. “Everything, Mara. I want it all.” Opening the folds of her sex, he bent his head and licked her as if she were a melting ice-cream cone.

Bucking her hips toward him, she groaned at the thrust and retreat of his tongue, first on her clit, then another lick over her entire sex … then a full thrust into her vagina. Release blasted through her with volcanic intensity. … Bucking up against him, riding his tongue, she screamed his name.

Before she could recover, Noah lifted himself away from her, slid a condom up his hard length, and plunged. Another scream … this time for a completely different reason. “Noah … wait …”

His penis throbbing, insistent inside her, he held still as his hot mouth, moving with delicate precision over her face and neck, whispered, “Shh. Wait a minute, sweetheart. It’ll get easier.” The soft, almost tortured words muttered against her neck speared straight to her sex, causing her to throb and spasm, allowing him fully inside her. “Mara, you feel so damned good.”

The pain subsided as quickly as it came and with it came a realization of fullness she’d never experienced. Wrapping her legs around his hips, her arms around his shoulders, she enfolded him and gave him everything he asked for and more.

Noah rode her hard, knowing he was going too fast, giving her too much, too soon, and unable to stop himself. Control had been his life for so long and now that control was as close to being shattered as it’d ever been. His eyes locked with hers. They were glazed with passion and heat. … He pumped harder. She was going to come. … He could see it in her eyes, feel the tension in her body, winding tighter and tighter.

When she let out a little scream and he felt her pulsing around him, he forced that control, not wanting to give in too soon, not wanting to let go too quickly. God, she felt so good … so right. As her gasping sobs quieted down, Noah finally allowed himself the freedom of release. He plunged, retreated, plunged again. … Bright, colorful fluorescent lights burst behind his eyes, electricity and heat zipped up his spine as his body exploded.

Burying his face against her shoulder, Noah gasped against her soft, fragrant skin as he fought to control another surge of desire. He could take her all night long with no problem. Going months without sex usually meant full gluttony when his body finally let go. He couldn’t do that to Samara. For one thing, she was too small. She’d be tender tomorrow just from this one time. Another, larger reason existed. He’d just made a mistake of monumental proportions. No way in hell did he intend to repeat it.

He gritted his teeth as he withdrew, his cock hard and throbbing again, wanting to drive back into her, relive the tight, hot clasp he’d just experienced. It had been years since he’d done something so incredibly stupid. He wished he could blame it on Samara, but he’d been the one to initiate it. The one to take her. Now he had to live with the consequences of his stupidity.

“Noah.”

The way she groaned his name said it all. Deep satisfaction, total satiation, and insatiable hunger. Exactly the way he felt and the very reason he couldn’t take this any further.

He pulled himself off her and then from the bed. She raised her head, her expression startled, then confused.

“What’s wrong?”

“We need to get back to work.”

She wilted like a tender young flower under a blazing sun. He refused to have any guilt feelings about what had just happened. He was a prick and a bastard. She’d known that from the start. He’d warned her. She shouldn’t be surprised or shocked. They’d come into the bedroom, both knowing this was sex and nothing more.

Pulling his briefs on, he turned away and dressed quickly, well aware that she still sat on the bed and watched him with wounded eyes. As he walked out of the room, he said, “I’ll see if we have any messages.” Then shut the door behind him.

Staring in shock at the closed door, fury and hurt waltzed, then stampeded through her. “No good, low-lying, evil son-of-a-bitch bastard.”

Samara sprang from the bed, ignoring the slight aches in her body. Muttering curses and vile descriptions of what she was going to do to his manhood, she jerked on a pair of jeans and T-shirt and marched to the door. A hand, shaking with temper, but mostly hurt, reached for the knob. She stopped and closed her eyes on a long sigh. Hell, what was she going to say to him? She’d walked into the bedroom with the full knowledge that he wanted to fuck her. That was it. He hadn’t put perfume or flowers or anything remotely romantic in the invitation. A fuck and no more.

So stomping out into the living room and demanding an explanation or an apology would achieve what? Absolutely nothing … other than embarrass her. He’d only tell her what she already knew. She’d been a warm, more than willing body. Nothing more. If she made a big deal out of it, she would reveal that it meant a lot more to her.

No way in hell was she going to do that. She stripped off her clothes, covered her hair with a towel, and practically threw herself into the shower. The spray of water on her face mingled with the tears. Angry tears, mixed with deep, pain-wrenching tears. She’d be damned if he ever saw them.

Shuddering for control, Samara turned the water off and leaned against the shower stall. The knowledge that she’d been manipulated again hadn’t escaped her. Not only had Noah gotten her into bed, he’d maneuvered it so that if she complained at all, she was the one who would look foolish and immature. Damn, the man was good.

Determined to look as though she could have sex with a man one minute and act like it had meant nothing other than a casual conversation the next, Samara dressed again. The fact that the jeans molded her butt quite nicely and the baby-blue T-shirt made her eyes deepen into pools of silver blue didn’t escape her notice.

She quickly applied minimal makeup to her face, just a hint of blush and mascara. She didn’t want Noah to comment or think she’d gone to a lot of trouble to make herself more attractive, but she also wanted to look as good as possible. Let him see what he had given up.

At that thought, her spirits flagged. What was the point? She meant nothing to him other than one good lay. Her spine straightened. She might mean nothing to him, but it didn’t negate her pride, which had been mightily bruised by this man more than once. She’d be damned if she let him realize how he’d hurt her again.

Noah heard the door open and turned. She looked fresh, lovely, and so damned alluring, his body reacted before his mind could control it. Hell, just what she needed to see … a fully aroused man who’d just screwed her and would willingly stay inside her for days if he could.

Something else he saw, she worked desperately to hide, was her hurt. Noah was widely known for his charm and diplomacy. He negotiated and manipulated heads of state, local governments, and law enforcement with little effort. His ability to control and use people to the good of LCR had been his main focus and role for several years. He was damn good at it. So why couldn’t he handle Samara Lyons with the same finesse? Why did she get under his skin so much that he ended up crushing her spirit and making her feel used?

Noah had no answer and refused to ponder it any further. The best thing he could do for her was to get this project over and done with and get out of her life. His gaze flicked back to the computer screen. The response he’d just received from Brian would no doubt do just that.

Samara offered him a tight smile. “Any responses yet?”

“Yeah, I sent something while you were gone on the chance I’d get a bite. It produced just what we’ve been looking for.”

Her eyes flickered with excitement. “Really.” She dashed toward the computer and sat beside him. “Show me.”

Refusing to allow the sweet scent of her hair and the alluring warmth of her body to deter him, Noah slid the screen around and showed her the message he’d sent while she was out.

“Wow. That was gutsy.”

His shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I was tired of flirting with the bastard.” He clicked on the message he’d just received. “Here’s his reply.”

Carly, parents can be so selfish. … I know my mom can be a real bitch too. Do you think we could go out before you go? I can’t imagine not talking to you for two whole weeks. Can you meet me somewhere?

She grinned up at Noah. “Cool.”

“Yep. Exactly what we want.”

“Do you have a place you’re going to suggest?”

“Yeah, but I doubt he’ll take it. He’ll want a place he feels he can control.”

Beside him, he felt her slender body shiver … nervousness or excitement?

“You’ll be okay. You know that, don’t you?”

Full lips tilted slightly. “I trust you in this.”

She didn’t need to expand on that comment. She trusted him to handle this. Anything else, she obviously had serious doubts. Since he didn’t want to get into a conversation about what she didn’t trust him with, he turned the screen back to him and typed,
I think I can get away. Remember, I’m grounded because of my grades. Can you meet me at the Ice Cream Dream … maybe around eleven tomorrow night?

“Ice Cream Dream? You mean the one on Galantine Road?”

His eyes on the screen, hoping for an immediate reply, he nodded. “If he says yes, that’s great. My people have pretty much commandeered the entire restaurant. If he shows up there, LCR will be able to neutralize him fairly quickly.”

“But you think he’ll suggest somewhere else?”

“He’s probably already got a place picked out. But as soon as he gives a location, my people will get there, analyze it, plan the scenario, and we’ll be good to go.”

They both stared at the screen, waiting for a reply. Tension and nervousness bounced off Samara in waves and Noah could feel each pulse of the emotions as if they were tangible. Desire rose in his body. Everything within him fought against touching her. Just as he didn’t think his hands could keep still any longer, an IM popped up.

Carly, meet me at the Mandolin pub on Pinson at 11 tomorrow night. Tell Robert at the door you’re with me
.

“Bingo. He wants a new spot.” Noah typed,
See you there
, and jumped up. Grabbing his keys, he muttered, “Be back later.”

Samara watched in shocked amazement as he slammed out of her apartment without any other words. What the hell had she expected? She was a tool to be used. Tomorrow, she’d dress as a teenager, evil, vile men would be captured, and Noah would be gone from her life for good.

It was what she should want. It was definitely what he wanted. He’d come to her for help, he’d gotten that, plus he got laid on the side. What more could a jerk ask for?

Samara stood and winced slightly. It had been well over a year since she’d had sex … if that’s what one could call the incredible experience she’d had less than an hour ago. She’d always enjoyed sex immensely and was grateful that her lovers … all two of them, had been excellent … caring, considerate, and very skilled. With Noah … of course, one quick screw on the bed didn’t really qualify him as her lover. Still, she couldn’t help but compare her past experience to this time with him. Unfortunately, it couldn’t compare. The heat, intensity, and sheer sexuality of the act had overwhelmed her. Noah, without a doubt, was an excellent sex partner. As a caring, considerate lover, he failed on every level.

Trudging to her bedroom, Samara stripped and slid under the covers. Ignoring the titillating scent of their recent sexual encounter was almost impossible, but she was too tired to change the sheets. She buried her face in her pillow, refusing to admit that the fragrance of hot sex and Noah’s masculine musk were deliciously enjoyable. She fell asleep still trying to convince herself of that.

  Noah let himself into the quiet apartment. It was a little after three in the morning and thankfully Samara was in bed. He didn’t need to see her until he came to terms with this odd weakness. He’d practically run from the apartment, using the ruse that he needed to do something on the op. Which he did, but he could have made the calls from there. No, he left because if he didn’t, he was going to do his damnedest to get her in bed again … or up against the nearest wall.

He was honest enough with himself to know he was in trouble but had enough self-preservation to know how to get out of it. All he needed was one more day and he’d be gone. Though well acquainted with self-denial, he was more than aware that he’d never been tempted like this.

Samara was pure, unsullied, and innocent. Noah had left those things behind years ago. The best thing he could do for her and himself was get out of her life as soon as possible. In a few days, he’d be just a bad memory … with maybe a slight twinge every now and then when she thought about the sex.

Something that surprised the hell out of him was the sex. It’d been about as hot as he’d ever had it and he’d had his share. Samara looked like an innocent angel but she’d been wild, wanton … perfect.

Well hell, his body was hard and aching once again. Since he was doing nothing other than torturing himself, Noah stalked to his bedroom and stripped. Pulling on running shoes and shorts, he headed toward the door. He stopped on the way and jotted a quick note to Samara, in case she woke before he returned, to stay off-line. He didn’t want Brian canceling on them. This was possibly their only chance to catch the pervert and nothing could get in his way. Not even a too-beautiful woman he knew he’d never forget.