The rules of hyperthermia dont say anything about not having sex.
No.
Ive always been one for following the rules. And she wriggled again.
He groaned, but no words came out of his mouth because, with no blood left in his brain, he couldnt talk. Could only feel as she pulled his head down to hers, her mouth sweet and eager.
God, he wanted this, wanted to connect as he hadnt managed to do all those years ago, as he hadnt managed to do at all lately because these days, thanks to his profession, his life was always on the edge.
No softness.
But here she was, warm and naked and very, very soft. It made him ache, ache to change the way hed been dreading the future, ache to have hope instead. Hope that he could find peace, happiness.
Love.
Itd been a damn long time for him, and that it was Lizzy, the girl whod once stolen his heart without even knowing it, made it all the sweeter. Lizzy all grown-up and dancing a hand down his thigh, squeezing the muscles there as she rocked that sweet ass into him.
She was killing him. Killing him. He unhooked her bra at the same time that he dipped his head and kissed her shoulder again, skimming his hand up to cup her now bare breasts.
A low, hungry sound escaped her as she clutched his wrist as if to hold his hand to her.
He didnt need the encouragement. Her breasts were perfect handfuls and he could spend all day touching them.
Ive always wondered, she murmured.
Wondered what?
She hesitated. If youre as good at the rest of this as you are at the kissing.
He huffed out a low laugh against her skin as he rasped his thumbs over her nipples, back and forth, making her stretch and let out a shuddery moan, shifting her hips restlessly. Ill give it my best shot.
Thank you- She broke off with a soft gasp as he hooked a finger in the edge of her panties.
I do my best work without these. He tugged them off, then slid a hand between her thighs, where he found her creamy wet and hot.
God, so hot.
He played there, his fingers gently opening her, finding what he sought, dragging a callused finger over slick flesh as he nibbled on her shoulder, the back of her neck, her ear
Okay, she managed. You are good- She let out a shuddery breath as he slid a finger into her. Really good
Shh. He had a plan. Tear at her defenses until she let him in. And maybe, just maybe, shed do the same for him. To that end, he kissed her neck, and with every glide in and out of his finger, scraped his thumb over her center. She arched, holding him to her, and when her breathing changed into quick, desperate pants, he knew that she was close, so very close. As she tightened around him, he added another finger, and she burst with a soft cry, coming apart in his arms.
As she relaxed into the mattress, he nuzzled at her throat.
More, she murmured. The rest.
That worked for him. I have a condom somewhere gathering dust in my bag-
Im on the pill. Turning her head, she blindly sought his mouth. And its been a long time for me. You?
Very long. Things got a little crazy then, as crazy as the storm wailing outside, and the next thing he knew, shed rocked her hips back and hed rocked forward, and he was inside her from behind, deep inside, surrounded by all that silky, wet heat. God, he breathed with a shudder. God. Ive never-
Never?
I mean-not without a condom.
Me, either, she whispered, and arching back, lifted an arm around his neck, gasping his name when he began to move, thrusting into her, slow and deep, speeding up as she shifted her hips to meet his, both of them breathing like lunatics. When she cried out his name, he nearly came from that alone.
Itd been so long.
So damn long, and she was doing as hed known she would, slowly destroying him, tearing apart his defenses, letting herself inside his heart, making herself at home there.
And she had no idea
God, Jasedont stop She was moving with him, letting out the sexiest little pants and whimpers hed ever heard every time he pushed into her. When he slid his hand back between her legs again, she burst in a series of gorgeous tremors that took him with her straight over the edge, where only one coherent thought managed to stick.
Cast him a line, because he was going down.
11
CECE HAD TO GIVE Hunter credit-he was cool under pressure. He simply seemed to accept what fate had brought him that day-a hugely pregnant chick. One who was losing it.
Oh, God, she whimpered. Goddammit.
Another one?
Another one, the same one. She tried to curl into a ball. Its all the same one.
Look at me. Cece, focus on me.
She inhaled sharply and, following his calm, assertive request, stared into his eyes.
Itd been hours. She hadnt let him go for help. He didnt have reception on his cell phone so no one was coming for them.
It was just the two of them, alone, in this together.
Hed told her that eventually, probably at first light, the emergency crews would make a sweep and find them. Itd been her plan to wait for them.
Shed hoped that was still a viable plan, but she sincerely doubted it because this baby was coming-soon. She knew it.
And so did Hunter.
How are you doing? he asked, stroking her hair back.
Im losing it, big-time.
Youre not.
There was admiration in his voice, which she marveled at. Shed told him about herself, practically thrown her past at him, and he still was looking at her as if she mattered. Tell me about you, she whispered. Tell me your story.
You have other things on your plate right now.
She managed a laugh. But were about to get fairly, horrifyingly intimate here. As in Im going to drop a baby into your hands. I could use a little distraction.
All right. I work at the nine-one-one dispatch center for the county. Im the night dispatch supervisor there, thats why you havent seen me. I moved from Texas to take the job because I wanted a change.
Change as in you cheated on your wife and she kicked you out? she asked, fishing.
His mouth quirked. No. Theres no wife.
Okaychange as in your girlfriend wanted a diamond and you bought a Harley instead and ran off?
No girlfriend, either, not at the moment. And my Harleys ten years old and paid for. If I wanted to buy a diamond ring, I would.
She stared up into his calm, very pleasing-on-the-eyes face. I know you have baggage. Everyone has baggage. I need to know yours, Hunter. Start with your family. Truth. Are they crazy?
No. He smiled again, and she decided she loved it when he smiled. Well, maybe a little, he corrected. I have five older sisters, three brother-in-laws, two elderly parents, and lets seeseven nieces and nephews. All is good there, sorry to disappoint you.
What about crazy exes? You can tell me-youre a serial dater, right? Love em and leave em?
Ive had several long-term relationships, but they ran their course.
Okay, she said, talking fast because she wanted to get to this before her next contraction, needed to get to this. Maybe youre not hearing me. Im going to need a flaw here, a biggie, Hunter. Preferably before I take off my panties for you.
What?
Hello, baby coming.
He let out a shaky breath. Right. A flaw
Quick, she gasped as the next contraction took her and the first urge to push came. Oh, God. Thats not quick, Hunter!
Im stubborn, he said quickly. Completely mule-headed if I think Im right. I can be a complete ass.
Yeah? Do you throw things? Hit people?
God, no.
Then its not a fault. Jesus, Im about to pass the equivalent of a football out my hoo-ha, think!
All right. He clearly racked his brain. I know. I like my forty-two-inch plasma more than I like half my co-workers.
She laughed. Okay, thats a start. What else?
Im a slob. I dont do my laundry until Im completely out of clothes, and even then Im likely to just go buy more.
Serious?
Serious. And I dont own dishes. I wont wash them. My last girlfriend dumped my sorry ass because we tried living together. She made it one week and gave up on me. There. My deepest fault, exposed. He spread his arms. Im not live-in material.
She looked up into the steady gaze of the man kneeling at her side in the backseat of a Hummer, desperately trying to distract her, trying to keep her calm. The man who maybe was a badass, but at least hed stepped up to the plate when shed needed him, which was more than any other guy had ever done. Her loss, she whispered, mirroring his words back at him.
IT WAS SO BLACK THAT Lizzy could see nothing, not what time it was, not what she wore-which was nothing-and not what Jason was doing to her.
But, Lord almighty, could she feel. And what she felt was his hands on her in the dark bedroom, turning her to face him, pressing her to her back. He held her wrists, anchoring them on either side of her head as his mouth came down on hers in a soul-destroying kiss. Then, when she was breathless, heart and all the good parts revved, he slipped down her body, kissing a breast, then sucking the hardened tip into his mouth until she arched up for more.
But, Lord almighty, could she feel. And what she felt was his hands on her in the dark bedroom, turning her to face him, pressing her to her back. He held her wrists, anchoring them on either side of her head as his mouth came down on hers in a soul-destroying kiss. Then, when she was breathless, heart and all the good parts revved, he slipped down her body, kissing a breast, then sucking the hardened tip into his mouth until she arched up for more.
Working his way down, he stroked his tongue over her ribs, her belly, swirled it into her belly button, and then nudged her legs open enough for his broad shoulders, where he proceeded to drive her right out of her ever-loving mind with a fierce intensity that left her sobbing for breath.
Before she recovered, he surged up and sank into her, burying himself deep, and just like that, she found herself hovering on the edge again.
Without even the faint slash of a streetlamp or moon, there was nothing but sensation, sensation as shed never known. There in the dark, he pushed into her again and again, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, wanting it to never end. He whispered her name, touching her everywhere, his hands warm and sure, his mouth hot and talented, as he slowly, languidly moved inside her.