So we can exonerate her and save Charmed!s reputation through you. He glanced down at the first book shed found with any discrepancy. This dates back eight months. But Charmed! had been in business for a little over fifteen years.
She nodded.
Your aunt married your uncle a little under a year ago and took him in as a partner almost immediately.
She didnt question his knowledge. Yes. Kayla did the math. The date on the first book coincides with Charles Bishops entry into the escort business. She heard her voice rising in pitch. Which gives him opportunity.
Do you have a reason to suspect the man of anything?
She shook her head. Nothing more than sweeping Aunt Charlene off her feet. But the names in these books began around the time he joined the business.
Which makes him an equal suspect. Kane grasped her hand.
He obviously sought to reassure, but tremors of awareness acted to arouse her instead. He had no right to be so distracting when so much was at stake. You may have to face the fact that your aunt wasnt an innocent victim, he said.
She shook her head. Not without concrete, irrefutable proof. The kind of proof she intended to get to exonerate her aunt. She didnt want to believe her aunts husband had betrayed the woman he professed to love, but better her uncle be found guilty than her aunt. Kayla believed in Charlene.
Kane nodded. Okay then. We have our work cut out for us.
We? Does that mean you believe me?
Yes.
One little word with a wealth of meaning. She glanced at him for confirmation and found it in the warm blue of his eyes.
Kayla He held his gaze steady with hers. I believe your faith in your aunt is unshakeable unless we find out otherwise. But I have to reserve judgment until the facts are in.
Kane the cop, Kayla thought. And that was okay. Because hidden in all that qualification was one unmistakable fact: he believed in her. No one other than Catherine or Aunt Charlene ever had.
She didnt think. One minute she was standing beside him and the next shed wrapped her arms around his neck. Thank you. She molded her body against his, trying to tell herself it was gratitude. She knew better.
His hands snaked around her waist. If he wanted to push her away, now was the moment, she thought. His grip tightened. The masculine groan and the unmistakable hardness pressing against her told her he wasnt going anywhere, at least for now.
Another seconds thought and he might back off emotionally. Kayla recognized her one opportunity to reach inside Kane and make him hers. To do it, shed have to reach inside herself as well. Take the ultimate risk, and defy every principle by which shed lived so far. She took two steps back. With trembling hands, she reached for the hem of her shirt. She drew it over her head and tossed the garment onto the floor.
CHAPTER SEVEN
KANE TOOK IN THE VISION before him and tried to catch his breath.
Sunlight came in broken waves through the window blinds, bracketing her incredible body in a blazing glow of light and warmth. She inhaled a trembling breath. Her hands shook as she clasped them before her. Arent you going to say something? she asked softly. Dosomething?
He was no saint. He never had been. Faced with Kaylas offering, he couldnt say no. Her body was too soft, her curves too full, her heart too big. He couldnt turn her away. Even if he burned in hell later.
Kane? Even as she asked, she was reaching upward, wrapping her arms around her shoulders to cover herself. From him.
He muttered a savage curse, grabbing her arms before she blocked his view, pulling her hard against his straining body. He held her hands against her sides and looked down at the gift hed been given, if only for one more night.
He traced the black marks on her throat with his hands. This never should have happened.
Its not your-
He cut her words off with his mouth, sealing his lips hard against hers. He didnt want to hear how she didnt blame him. He didnt want anything except the sound of her soft moans echoing in his ears. He wasnt disappointed.
She responded to his kiss. Her lips softened, her mouth opened, and her tongue darted inside. Wild and unrestrained, she met him move for move. Her back arched, crushing her chest against him until he felt the rasp of hardened nipples through his shirt. Too quickly even that barrier became unacceptable.
He tossed his shirt across the room and then he had what he wanted. He and Kayla, skin to skin, her breasts full, flush against him. He exhaled hard, feeling her softness and heat fuse with him. It wasnt enough, for either of them. She moved restlessly, abrading her nipples against his hair-roughened skin. Her fingers gripped his shoulders. Her nails bit into his skin.
Make love to me, Kane.
Her voice broke through the haze of desire. Conscious thought intruded. Instead of listening to the pulsing in his groin, he forced himself to think.
He couldnt have sex with her again. Not without consequences. Not with this woman. She broke his concentration and destroyed his common sense. He raised his gaze, forced his lips off the soft skin of her cheek. Her green eyes were fogged with need and more. With emotions he couldnt, wouldnt face.
He ran his thumb over her damp lower lip. No protection, sweetheart. He felt sure she wouldnt test his resolve by coming up with a box of spare condoms in the bathroom vanity.
Oh. Shock then disappointment flickered in her eyes. He couldnt stand it. A cold shower would take the edge off his problem, though he knew after last night it wouldnt be damn near enough. But he couldnt leave her hanging, not when he wanted to satisfy her any and every way he knew how.
He wanted to teach her how good things could be between a man and a woman. Shed had little experience, all of it bad. Even he had hurt her in the end. Not this time. Just this once he could give to her, yet still be able to walk away later.
He reached out and cupped his hand around one full breast, letting his thumb brush in rapid motion over her taut nipple.
Her entire body shook in reaction. Had he ever met a woman so soft, so responsive? She exhaled a moan that had his body clenching with need. But you said
He covered her moist lips with one finger. That I didnt have protection, not that we had to stop completely.
Her eyelids opened wide, comprehension dawning. Before she could answer, he swept her off her feet and laid her down on the couch. At the jarring motion, she groaned aloud. He brushed her hair off her forehead, fingering the still red bruise near her temple. You okay? he asked.
Id be better if you stopped talking, she murmured, then blushed scarlet at the admission.
He laughed aloud. Kneeling beside her, he placed his hand on her belt buckle. Good thing for you Im good at following orders. Especially when he wanted the same thing. Kane needed to see her writhe in pleasure in his arms, to watch her climax beneath his hands. He undid the button and began a downward slide of her jeans.
Kayla helped, raising her hips and shimmying out of the heavy denim. This might not be the result shed planned, but she had to admit it might be enough. Without realizing it, hed still given her a measure of control. He seemed more relaxed, less guarded and, best of all, she still had him all to herself.
A phone call to her sister would solve the protection problem later. Catherine wouldnt mind a trip to the drugstore for the right cause. Lassoing Kane was definitely the right cause.
A rush of cool air accompanied the loss of her jeans, but heat quickly followed when Kane placed his hard, hot hand at the juncture of her thighs. A deep pulsing rhythm took hold, starting where his hand pressed intimately against her and traveling to every nerve ending her body possessed. She arched into his waiting palm.
Damn, but you feel good. His roughened voice caused her heart to trip in reaction.
She forced her eyes open and whispered a prayer of thanks that she had Kane. His own eyelids were shut tight, his jaw clenched. He was as affected as she. Kayla didnt need sex to reach Kane. She could reach him with warmth and intimacy, trust and caring-things she could give him.
She trusted him. She laid her head back against the cushion, prepared to show him how much. As he picked up a sensual rhythm, waves of pleasure washed over her, building, then easing up only to rush her again, more insistent than before. The sounds coming from her throat ought to have embarrassed her, but they didnt. Because this was Kane and the only way he would know how she felt, the only way hed open up in return, was if he felt her trust.
The initial hesitancy of their first night together was gone. The soft moans coming from deep within her shook him as nothing ever haduntil her legs relaxed, opening wide, inviting him to continue. Kane sucked in a ragged breath, realizing his mistake. Hed underestimated this woman and her effect on him. Not only was he too damn close himself, but hed been a fool. He hadnt saved himself by not making love with her. Hed drawn himself in deeper.
He picked up the pace with one hand, easing his finger inside her smooth, wet heat with the other. She gasped aloud. Lowering his head, he drew the tip of her nipple into his mouth and tugged gently with his teeth. Thats all it took.
The spasm hit her hard and she arched off the couch. The moist clenching and unclenching around his finger hit him even harder. His own body was close to the breaking point and she hadnt even touched him. He opened his eyes in time to watch her face contort with pleasure he gave.
Kane. His name burst from her lips unexpectedly and the sound triggered an intense reaction so strong, he could no longer remain in control. He straddled her until their bodies aligned, grinding himself hard against her, searching for the fulfillment hed deliberately denied them both. His unexpected climax took him by surprise. Seconds later, Kane eased himself off her. She couldnt take his weight any more than he could handle what hed just done. Another battle lost. He couldnt afford to let it happen again.
That was
Dont say it, he muttered. Hed lost control. Around Kayla, it seemed to be a permanent state.
Incredible. She turned to her side and gazed up at him with trusting eyes. It was more than he could stand. He started to walk away.