Authors: Jennifer Conner
The French doors slid open and Devan emerged, adjusting the tie on the front of his swim trunks. Propping the cane against the deck table, he moved to her, sitting on the edge of her chair.
“This house belongs to my ex-partner, Mac. He and his girlfriend, Michelle, bought it last year thinking they were getting married. They jointly own the house, but Mac hasn’t gotten the nerve to pop the question yet. He’s such a chickenshit sometimes.”
“I’d love a house with so much open space. The room I rent is cramped, but it’s all I can afford right now. I should be happy I have a roof over my head.” She eyed him. “I take it you and your friend must be about the same size if you’re wearing his swim trunks.”
Devan looked down, following her gaze. “No, they’re actually mine. I left them here earlier this year when I was spending more time at their house. I guess Mac and I are about the same height.” He paused and ran his hand over her thigh. “We were close. Like brothers. That was before the robbery. He’s since transferred to another unit.”
“Was that your choice, or his?”
He shrugged. “I guess it was mutual. We didn’t talk much about it. Mac needed a partner, and he didn’t have shit left with me.”
“You said the two of you were close. Didn’t he call after the shooting?” Luci pulled herself into a seated position and raised her sunglasses to rest on top of her head.
“He called every day. I usually didn’t pick up my cell.” Devan looked off in the distance. “It was hard… you know. He’s still on active duty, and I’m not. I made a mistake that got a kid killed. You’ve got to be able to be able to trust your partner. I can’t blame him for not wanting me as his partner.”
“What would it take for you to get where you want to be? Get back on the streets with Mac?”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen.” Devan pulled in a long breath. “I guess it would take me ditching the cane and walking like a man.”
“You
are
a man.” Luci rubbed the tanned skin of his leg, the coarse hair tickling her palm. “You’re
all
man. I can attest to that. So, if you guys don’t talk, how did you end up watching his house?”
“When Mac called this morning, he said he and Michelle were heading to Frisco for the weekend. He sounded completely shocked when I said I’d look in on his house while he was away. I still have a key from the old days. I’d talked to Mac the night of your robbery. He called to see how the investigation was progressing.”
“Why did you call him?” Luci asked, curiously.
“I wanted him to meet me at the hospital and take you home.”
“You were trying to pawn me off?”
“No.” Devan shook his dark head. The muscles in his arms banded when he leaned his weight on them. “Yes. Maybe. I just wanted what was best for you. I didn’t want you to be stuck with Hopalong-Cassidy in case you needed protection.”
Devan’s dark lashes fanned his eyelids as he watched her.
Luci shifted and laid her head on his shoulder. “Right now, you’re all the protection I need.”
Cupping her cheek, he ran his thumb over her lower lip. Luci’s eyes fluttered closed and waited for his kiss. A heartbeat later, she got what she wanted.
His touch soothed her. The imprint of his finger left a heated trail over her skin. Furrowing his hands though her hair and deepening the kiss, Devan ran his tongue along the seam of her mouth. She melted against him.
When he pulled back, his breathing was ragged. Her gaze dropped to his parted, sexy lips.
Giving in to the urge, wrapping hands around the back of his neck, she pulled him toward her. This time, she took control of the kiss. Desire coiled in her stomach as she plunged her tongue into his waiting mouth.
Luci could kiss him all day… all night… as long as he was willing, she was there. Devan’s hand moved down her back, tracing the bumps of her spine and came to rest on the waistband of her bikini.
As Luci sighed his name into his mouth, Devan shuddered and pulled back. “Woman, you’re going to be the death of me.”
Luci slipped a hand up his bare thigh and under the edge of his swim trunks. She traced the hard outline of his cock through the netting of his trunks and lightly squeezed his balls. He groaned.
“How close are the neighbors?” she asked, in a sultry purr.
Devan looked around, and grinned. “Not
that
close. That’s why everyone in LA has high fences. They’re either sunbathing nude or screwing. Luci, you’ve got me so hot, if I don’t cool down, this afternoon’s going to be over before it begins.” Unwrapping her hand, he pulled his body free. “I’m going to take a quick dip. Then we can start again. Remember, the doctor said that I needed to swim… he didn’t say anything about having sex.”
He stood over her, glistening with sweat and hard ridges. The black hair on his chest arrowed to disappear beneath the waistband of his swim trunks. She licked her lips.
Luci flipped her glasses back over her eyes. “I’m going to have to take a look at that rehabilitation plan.”
Chapter Eleven
Devan limped to the far end, raised his arms above his head and executed a perfect dive into the deep end of the pool. The cool blue water engulfed him. He pushed forward, not breaking the surface until halfway down the length of the pool.
He loved to swim, but never thought about it being good rehab for his leg. Luci had pegged his workout routine. When he was up to working out, he only lifted weights with his arms. But if he didn’t get his ass going in the right direction, his leg would never heal, and he’d never get back on active duty.
Knowing not to push himself too much at first, Dev slowed the pace doing the backstroke. Stopping in front of Luci’s chaise, he pulled his shoulders up out of the water and shook the water from his hair.
Crooking his index finger he motioned for her to come closer. Hesitating for a moment, she finally stood and came toward the edge.
“I don’t want to be in the pool by myself. It would be more fun if you joined me.” Dev chuckled and grabbed for her ankle to pull her in.
“Hey, stop!” she cried.
Her leg stiffened as she yanked to free her leg. When he looked up there was fear on her face.
He dropped his hand away, confused. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I was playing around.” Pulling himself out of the water, he sat next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
Luci stared out across the backyard before she finally spoke, “It’s the water. I don’t like it.”
Dev pulled her against him, and rubbed a hand over her shoulder. “As I said, I’m sorry. I didn’t do it to scare you. You should have said something.”
“I’ve been terrified of swimming pools ever since my stepfather pulled me into a community pool when I was young. He thought he was kidding around, but when he held my head under water, I couldn’t breathe. I’ve never been able to go in without being afraid.”
His heart broke hearing her admission. “I know all about split seconds and how they can change your life. But that wasn’t what happened.” Dev traced gentle fingers over the scar on her hip. There were plenty of monsters in the world. Monsters that hurt beautiful people like Luci. It was one of the main reasons he’d decided to become a cop. He wanted to protect innocents.
“We could help each other in this situation,” he said. “I’m supposed to exercise, and you don’t like the water. What if we worked together?”
Her eyes watched him warily. “It would be better if I just stayed out here.”
Stroking a thumb over her bottom lip, he asked, “Do you trust me?” He brushed his lips softly over hers.
“I trust you. I hope you know that by now.” Luci swallowed deeply and shook her head. “They’re my issues… not yours.”
“Why do I feel like they’re becoming my issues?”
“I told you. I’m a big baby.”
He smiled. “That’s one thing you’ll never be. You’re one of the strongest women I’ve ever met.” Struggling, he pulled himself up and reached for her hand. “Give me a chance. We’ll start in the shallow end. If you get scared, you can get out anytime.”
Luci hesitated, but finally extended her hand for him to take. Steeling his bad leg, he levered his weight and drug her to her feet. After a few steps she tugged his hand, turning him toward her.
Leaning forward, she wrapped her arm behind his neck and pulled him toward her. Dev felt the press of her breasts against the bare skin of his chest as she balanced on her toes. His fingers splayed over the small of her back and her skin which had been warmed by the sun.
There was a sweetness about Luci that drove him mad. She deserved a nice guy, not him. She wouldn’t want a guy who let her down when he was called back to the station to deal with a robbery during their anniversary dinner. Or someone who walked around with lingering memories of a kid’s brain matter blown all over the counter in the convenience store.
He watched the blue of the water reflect in the depths of her eyes. Her sweetness could be his downfall, because how could he ever hurt her? She’d been hurt so often in her life.
Dev held perfectly still as her lips touched his, delicate and delicious. He had to hold back a groan as she sucked his tongue into her mouth then trailed kisses, hot and exciting down his chin and over his chest.
“Are you trying to distract me from taking you into the water?” he said, in a shaky voice. Watching her blonde head bob lower, his erection stiffened. He imagined her lush pink lips wrapped around his shaft.
“Drat. Guilty,” she said, looking up. Her sexy grin shot fire through him.
He pulled her up, kissing her deeply. When he took a step back, she was out of breath and her eyes were glazed. “I’m taking your advice about kissing my woman’s socks off. You still aren’t wearing socks, but I’m trying my best.”
He tugged her hand making her follow him toward the shallow end of the pool.
Dev stepped down onto the first steps of the pool. “Rest your hands on my shoulders, and don’t look at the water.”
She complied, stating, “I won’t put all of my weight on you.”
He chuckled and wrapped his large hands around her waist. “I’m going to take a step down, follow me.” Luci nodded, but when her feet submerged under the water, her body stiffened. “Look at me,” he added. “Don’t look at the water.”
Her fingers clenched into the skin of his upper arms. “You won’t let go?”
“I’m here.”
Right now… tomorrow… forever
. With Luci he knew they could show each other the vulnerabilities they hid without fear of rejection, or misunderstanding. “One more step.” Dev held her tighter by the hips. “That’s all there is to it. See, you’re at the bottom.”
She glanced down for a second, but then her eyes snapped back to his. “No splashing.” A nervous laugh escaped her lips.
“I can barely walk. Do I look like I’m capable of splashing?” He cocked a grin. She trusted him fully. He could see it written on her face. Luci had no idea how much that meant to him. It was a simple gesture, slowly taking her into the water so she could overcome her fear. But she’d trusted
him
with that task. He wouldn’t let her down.
“The water feels good… it’s hot today.” Luci loosened her death grip on his shoulders.
He slowly turned her away from him and stepped close behind her. Wrapping his arms around her chest, he felt her heart thundering against him. “Close your eyes and walk backwards with me. I won’t let water get on your face.”
She turned to look over her shoulder. “What if your leg goes out?”
“It won’t. I won’t let it. Close your eyes.” Slowly his feet took one step, and then another, until they were both submerged to their shoulders. Dev wrapped his arms tighter, feeling her tense. “You’re doing great.”
“Great…” she repeated slowly, looking more confident. “The water’s not that bad when I know I’m not going to get dunked under.” Swiveling in his arms she faced him. The fear left her eyes, replaced with something he was surprised to see.
Lust
?
“Hang onto my neck, and let your legs float behind you. Use me as your anchor.” Gradually her feet left the pool floor, keeping her shoulders above the water line.
With Luci’s arms wrapped around his neck, he would stand there until he dropped if that’s what she needed. His leg was weak, but Dev had to admit that after the chiropractic adjustment, the gnawing pain he usually felt had eased drastically.
His gaze dropped. “How many bikinis do you own? Do you have certain ones for work, and others for the beach?”
She grinned, kicking her feet behind her. “I have lots of different ones. Mainly tops. They get messy every night with spilled milk and chocolate syrup at the espresso bar. I stop by secondhand shops in the off season, and scoop them up. Women in LA won’t be caught dead in the same swimsuit for two years in a row.”
“You’re a smart woman.” He watched her blonde hair glimmer in the rays of the overhead sun.
“I’ll let the rich women of LA spend hundreds of dollars, wear it twice, and then get rid of it. Then I’ll buy them. I bought this bikini for three dollars.”
“It’s very nice.” Nice wasn’t a fitting word. Spectacular was closer to the truth. Dev was thinking that Luci could rival any Bond girl with the curves she had packed into that black and white number. His eyes looked across the polka dot top to the prefect mounds of her breasts.
“It ties… and
unties
in the front.” In a second Luci turned their swim lesson into something hot enough to boil the pool’s water. Her eyes shimmered with seduction. “But only if you can figure out a way to untie it without getting water on my face.”
“You told me
you
like challenges…
so do I
. Are you sure about this?” he asked. “We can get out of the water.”
She shook her head, and took a breath. “I need to work on my fears. What better way than with you?”
Dev’s fingers rose from the grasp on her waist and ran a finger over the curve of her breast. The cotton lace on the edge of her top was rough in comparison to the silk of her skin beneath. Slipping a finger under the cup, he stroked her nipple until it beaded into a stiff peak.
His toes were still balanced on the pool’s floor as he tugged at the knot of her bikini until it loosened and slipped free. Dev flattened his hand under the fabric and slid the straps off her shoulders.
Rolling the tight bud between his thumb and forefinger, Dev was pleased to hear her sigh. Dipping his head beneath the water, he pulled a nipple between his lips. There was a sharp contrast between the hot tip of her breast and the cool water in his mouth, as his tongue tormented the tips. He was going to make sure that he was the only thing she was thinking about. He bit her nipples sharply, but gently.
When he bobbed to the surface, Luci’s breathing was shallow. “You can hold your breath a long time,” she stated.
“In high school I played football, but I was also on the swim team. I can hold my breath for a
long
time.” He grinned and curled his fingers under the waistband of her bikini bottoms. His cock jumped with the feel of her so close.
Kissing her, he walked her backwards toward the side of the pool. When her back touched the wall, her arms grasped the cement edge. Her upper body was out of the water but her lower body was still submerged. Raising one of her arms, he pulled her bikini top down, and then repeated the action with the other arm.
He had to chuckle seeing she wasn’t going to let go of the pool’s edge for a second. This gave him an idea. He’d do his own strip tease. Reaching for the white tie on the waistband of his swim trunks, he wiggled the knot free. Running his hand through the water, he trailed a path from his waist, up over his chest. Grabbing the elastic, he balanced and pushed the pants down his legs.
He loved the way Luci’s eyes darkened with lust when she saw his erection spring free. She made him feel confident about being a man. He let the pants float off toward the deep end, and swam the few feet, stopping in front of her.
Her breasts bobbed, wet with water, and her skin sparkled like diamonds. It was silly for a guy to have his breath taken away, but that’s the way Dev felt whenever Luci was around him. He felt like he couldn’t breathe unless he was touching her.
“If at any time you want me to stop, grab my shoulder. But now, I’m putting my breathing skills to the test.” He gulped in a lungful of air, and submerged under the water. Pushing her until he knew her back was securely against the pool’s wall, he lifted one of her legs over his shoulder.
Running his tongue up the indented cleft in the cotton bikini bottoms, he could feel the bump of her clitoris through the fabric. He pushed a finger under the edge and into her hot channel.
Opening his eyes, he looked up through the water at the shimmering image of Luci, seeing her head thrown back in ecstasy. Dev found the moment surreal, but at the same time, the most sexually exhilarating experience he’d ever had.
Surfacing, careful not to splash water on her, he gasped in air. “Did I break a world record?” Dev asked, running a hand to clear his eyes.
“Uh… huh…” she said, her chest rising and falling with unsteady breaths. “I’m afraid to ask
what
world record you were going for.”
“Are you still all right in the water?” When she nodded, he asked, “Want to stay in a bit longer?
Dev pulled his weight up by his arms, got out of the pool, and strode quickly to the pile of clothes next to the chairs. Pulling a condom from his wallet, he flicked his head her direction. “Come down here where the water’s shallow.”