She trusted him. Impossible, he thought. Hed given her no reason. She needed someone and he was available. You should get dressed. He placed her on the bed and wrapped a towel around her shaking shoulders.
I just wanted a shower, but Her teeth began to chatter.
Too much too soon. Especially on an empty stomach. He rummaged through her drawers again and pushed the most flimsy things aside. Shed need help, and hed be wrapping a bra around her full breasts. His hands would be too close, his mouth too tempted. He settled on plain white, no frills, things that covered as much as possible. Then he picked a shirt, a mans football jersey. He didnt dwell on where she got it. At least it was large enough to keep him from staring. He was in too deep already.
Here. He walked back to the bed. She still sat huddled in a tight ball. He worked the shirt over her head. Raise your arms. She complied and her breasts lifted higher, her darkened nipples inches from his face.
To serve and protect, he muttered as a reminder.
What?
Nothing.
Then stop mumbling. This is embarrassing enough already. He ditched the bra. Better to get this over with.
She wiggled a bit and the shirt fell around her generous hips.
Think you can handle these? He dangled a pair of briefs from his fingertips.
Yes. She blushed scarlet. At least her coloring looked better than before. He turned to give her some privacy. A couple of deep breaths and he had himself under control.
Thank you, Kane.
He turned. No problem.
She lay propped back against the pillows. Soft hair fell around her face. A yearning gripped his insides hard.
The steam made me weak, she said.
You dont get out of that bed without my permission. Finding her on the tub floor had taken years off his life.
A weary frown crossed her lips. I need sleep.
First, you need to eat.
Looking out for me, catching me when I fall, cooking my mealsCareful, McDermott, or I might think you care for more than your case.
A weary frown crossed her lips. I need sleep.
First, you need to eat.
Looking out for me, catching me when I fall, cooking my mealsCareful, McDermott, or I might think you care for more than your case.
He caught the teasing in her voice. Fat chance.
She met his gaze. Same with me following orders. Im not some flunky you can boss around.
The words were stronger than her voice, but he accepted her warning. Once she felt better, Kane would have his hands full keeping her in line and out of harms way. What are you, Ms. Luck?
Your equal and I suggest you remember that.
His respect for her rose once more. Shed taken a beating, but she kept pulling herself up. Kayla was a fighter. He liked that about her. She could handle herself, but this wasnt an ordinary situation. When she felt stronger, hed question her about her aunt and uncles dealings.
Meanwhile, he wasnt about to lighten the severity of her situation. You take care of yourself or Ill cuff you to the bed. He gestured to the wrought-iron headboard behind her pillows.
She grinned. First whipped cream, now bondage. Are you kinky, Detective?
Keep that up and youll find out. The sudden banter and teasing caught him by surprise. So did the vision of her naked, shackled to the bed, eager to play sexual give-and-take.
Her eyes darkened. He wondered if she was considering the possibilities, then reminded himself hed had his one night. He refused to take another.
Kane rose. Her fingers around his wrist stopped his escape. Warmth seeped into the places she touched.
Running away? she asked.
Getting you food. Before he drew her down onto the mattress and gave in to baser, misplaced desires. Before he let himself drown in all she had to give.
She released her grip and struggled to a sitting position. Okay.
He raised a suspicious eyebrow.
Whats wrong? she asked.
You gave in.
Dont sound so surprised. I know whats good for me. She grinned. Besides, we already established Im easy.
KANE DISAPPEARED into the hall. Kayla leaned back against the pillows and groaned. Sparring with him had sapped what little strength she had left. The dizziness was better, but Kane was right-she needed to eat. Food would give her the energy to get out of this bed, deal with her aunt and uncles legacy, and confront Kane, all on her terms.
Kane. What did he want from her? And what did she want from the tough cop?
Lunch. He saved her from having to answer.
Standing in the doorway, he was the epitome of every fantasy shed never allowed herself to have. A strong, capable, caring, sexy manconcerned about her.
She glanced at the mug in his hands, pushing herself to a sitting position. Vegetable?
Was there another kind? he asked wryly. He handed her the white ceramic cup. The steaming mug warmed her hands. She inhaled and the aroma of beef stock and vegetables drifted upward. Her stomach grumbled aloud. He chuckled.
Refusing to be embarrassed, she took a grateful sip before meeting his amused gaze. Canned soup at its finest.
Laugh lines formed in attractive crinkles around his eyes. Its the closest thing to homemade youll get from me. Come on. Drink up.
She narrowed her gaze. Do you take such good care of all your assignments, Detective?
His hand went to her cheek. She felt his touch shoot straight to her heart. Dont sell yourself short, Ms. Luck.
The jangling of the phone jarred them. She darted a glance at the phone. Catherine thinks she needs to protect me from you.
I already reassured her earlier, but apparently she needs proof. Besides, shes right. His dark gaze met hers, his barely readable expression revealing hidden knowledge and a deep yearning need. Her stomach twisted again but hunger wasnt the cause.
The phone rang once more, breaking the connection. Better let Catherine know youre okay or shell be showing up on your doorstep. He grabbed the cup and placed it on the nightstand before walking toward the door.
She picked up the phone. Im fine, she said without preamble.
You wont be if I dont get my take and I want the books.
She gripped the receiver hard. Who is this?
Have you forgotten already?
The gravelly tone chilled her. You attacked me.
Kane whirled around and stalked back to the bed. A strong, supporting hand cupped her shoulder. When she glanced up, he merely nodded, urging her to keep talking.
That was just a preview, the voice on the phone said.
She drew courage from Kanes presence. What do you want?
For you to stop playing dumb. My share and a resumption of activities.
I dont
You cant cut my man out, and you cant run this on your own. Get the money. Ill be in touch. A click and she was disconnected.
He grabbed the phone out of her hand and punched in a succession of numbers, then muttered a curse.
What? she asked.
Untraceable. Probably a damn phone booth. He placed the phone back in the cradle, then turned to Kayla. What did he say?
She couldnt meet his gaze. Seems you were right. Charmed! is a front for something illegal, after all.
The anger shed held toward him left in a rush. Fear still pulsed inside her, but she needed answers and knew just where to find them.
Kayla threw off the sheets. Her head pounded in opposition to the sudden movement, but she forced herself to swing her legs over the side of the bed.
Hang on. His hand on her bare thigh stopped her. Blazing heat seared her to the core.
He didnt speak. Neither did she. Sexual tension crackled in the air between them, fierce and alive. His large hand remained on her bare skin.
Where are you going? His roughened voice didnt surprise her. Shed be shocked if she could speak herself.
I- She stopped and cleared her throat. To the office. There are boxes, things of my aunts I havent looked through yet. Not that she believed for a minute that her mothers sister would be involved in anything as sleazy as prostitution. But the fact remained there was obviously much she didnt know about her newly inherited business.
Ill have them brought by along with a change of clothes for myself. We can go through them together.
Together. The word caused an involuntary shiver. She liked the sound. Too much. But once again he was right. After her pathetic shower attempt, a trip to the office seemed ridiculous.
Thank you. She hated ceding control to Kane but she had no choice for now.
She focused again on his large hand still covering her thigh. His thumb moved back and forth, his finger gliding over her skin. What was meant as comfort her body read as sensual. The rhythmic motion of his hand released a steady beat between her thighs.
His touch ruled her senses, but she still had presence of mind. He had set her up and used her in the name of his job. For him, it was a professional relationship after all.
She glanced at his taut jaw and his darkened gaze. Or was it more than professional? Her heart kicked into faster speed as the past twenty-four hours came back to her in a rush. The minute hed slept with her, hed compromised his job. Hed taken time off to care for her when his boss vetoed protection. Hed talked her sister into spending time with a friend. And hed crawled into her bed to keep her warm. In Kaylas book that went beyond police protection.
The answers about Charmed! might have to wait, but the ones about Kane would not. You could have left. Even your boss wouldnt authorize this kind of protection.
His hand stilled and his eyes cleared. My gut told me the case wasnt over yet.
She swallowed hard and forced herself to continue. She might never get another chance to find out the truth. And thats the only reason youre here?
If Id trusted my gut instinct I wouldnt have left you alone. You wouldnt have been attacked.
Guilt.
Reality.
Whatever. Let him think what he chose. Neither answer accounted for the more intimate aspects of their relationshiplike the hard arousal pressed against her belly each time shed awakened in his arms last night.
So youre making up forwhat? she asked.
Sleeping with you made me lose my focus. His grip on her leg loosened and he stood. It wont happen again.
I see, she murmured. A mixture of understanding and awe filtered through her. Shed gotten to him. Shed penetrated the tough exterior and made Kane McDermott feel. She didnt know what women had come before her, but she doubted with all the strength borne of feminine instinct that hed ever lost focus because of a night of hot sex.