She glanced at her nightwear choices laid out on the bed. On the one hand, the washed football jersey Kane had picked out for her the other day. On the other, a frilly negligee stolen from Catherines drawer.
Choices. How many times since shed met Kane had fundamental decisions come down to two drastically different choices? To seduce or not to seduce. To
The jarring ring of the doorbell startled her. She clipped her damp hair off her forehead, yanked on the lapels of her robe and started for the door.
She didnt get far before Catherines voice sounded loud inside the house. No lectures, Detective. I have a right to clean clothes.
Ever hear of a washing machine? Kane asked.
Ill be out of your hair in less than five minutes. Footsteps sounded in the hall and drew closer. Make it ten. I want a visit with the prisoner.
Kayla laughed aloud. A talk with her outspoken sister was exactly what she needed, too. Enforced confinement with Kane was getting to her, making her lose perspective. She only hoped a dialogue with a biased third party didnt complicate things even more.
She opened the door at the same time Catherine pushed from the other side. Her sister stumbled in. Well. She paused in the doorway. At least he doesnt keep you locked in.
The sarcasm was for Kanes benefit, Kayla knew. Catherine had already given Kane the Luck seal of approval. Her sister just didnt want the man to get overconfident and cocky. No chance of that, Kayla thought. Cat didnt realize Mr. McDermott didnt want or need to be a part of their little family.
He couldnt keep me locked in even if he wanted to. She slid the bobby pin out of her hair. Contingency. Kayla grinned.
See? Catherine tilted her head and glanced over her shoulder. I taught her well, McDermott. If you want her, youll have to work for it.
Kayla grabbed her sisters wrist and yanked her inside, slamming the door before Kane could reply. Are you insane?
Just keeping him on his toes, Catherine muttered. Something you should be doing. I come here figuring Im going to interrupt some hot sexual encounter and instead I find you in your bedroom, dressed in a ratty robe, and him on the other side of the house, slamming cabinets and muttering to himself.
So thats why you rang the bell.
I can be discreet if I have to. Cat flopped down on the bed. Now tell me why I didnt have to. She laid her hand down on the mattress.
So thats why you rang the bell.
I can be discreet if I have to. Cat flopped down on the bed. Now tell me why I didnt have to. She laid her hand down on the mattress.
Kayla cringed as her sisters fingers curled around the silk and lace garment shed borrowed. Hmm. Now things get interesting. I guess I jumped to conclusions. You dont need my advice after all.
Wrong, Kayla said. Get up.
Cat frowned. Why? Im comfortable.
Get up.
Catherine rose and glanced down, then picked up the large shirt shed sat on seconds before. Her eyes opened wide and she groaned. Honey, youve owned this rag since we were teenagers. Its fine for hanging around with your sister, but wont do jack to seduce a man.
A vision flooded Kaylas mindof wearing that same shirt when Kane kissed her, moved over her, then came as close to burying himself inside her as possible considering the physical barrier their clothing provided. Slick warmth trickled between her thighs at the memory. Then came another vision. That of Kane easing himself off her when he remembered shed been injured and wasnt ready, of him holding her throughout the night in comfort. This was a man who could make her both writhe in pleasure, and relax in contentment, in his arms. A potent combination.
Earth to Kayla. Catherine waved a hand in front of her eyes. I dont know where you were, but its obvious youve made the right choice. She picked up the leopard print and black lace garment, dangling it from her fingertips.
Cats style, Kayla thought. Not hers. A smile formed on her lips. She felt it. She welcomed it. Things between herself and Kane were sensual, hotand honest. She didnt need sexy clothes to attract his attention. If shed learned nothing else over the past few days, shed learned to accept herself-her heart, her mind and her body.
She had Kane to thank for opening her eyes, for empowering her in ways shed never been before. If she wanted to, she was perfectly capable of enticing him on her own-without the teddy. If she wanted to.
The issue in question wasnt what she should wear to bedbut whether or not she ought to invite Kane to join her. By virtue of his silence, hed conceded his end of the power struggle where the case was concerned. He would support her decision to participate in wrapping up the case on Charmed! Agreed against his better judgment because he believed in her. But he didnt like it and was concerned about protecting her, about keeping the edge that made him effective as a cop.
She loved him too much to jeopardize his careertheir future. She loved him. Heaven help her.
Despite all the planning and effort to remain in control where Kane was concerned, shed failed miserably. Shed fallen in love with the loner detective, which meant she was without a safety net now.
Her entire future hinged on Kanes past. And if things didnt go well when she met with the man whod attacked her, Kane would hold himself responsible, just as he did with his mother. In that case, she had no doubt hed walk away without looking back.
She didnt delude herself. She might lose him either way. But she believed in odds, and she intended to stack the deck in her favor. To regain control in whatever way she could. She grabbed the lingerie from her sister.
Cat smiled wide. Whew. I feel better. She glanced at her watch. Five minutes are up. The wardens going to come knocking any minute. Leaning over, she gave Kayla a quick hug. Ill just grab a change of clothes and get out of your way.
Take care of yourself, Cat. This mess isnt over yet.
I will. You know that. And you do the same. She walked to the door, pausing to glance over her shoulder. Let the seduction begin, she said with a grin.
Bye, Kayla murmured. The door shut behind her sister. Kayla glanced at the garment in her hand, fingering the luxurious silk before burying it in the back of her dresser drawer.
She didnt need clothes to seduce the man, but she intended to do everything in her power to make him realize what hed be giving up should he decide to walk away.
HE COULDNT HANG OUT in the kitchen for the rest of the night. Besides, it wasnt doing him any good. Kane had sat through Kaylas shower. Listened to the pulsing, pounding rhythm of the water while his body throbbed to the same beat.
Hed envisioned the stream of water sluicing over her curves, the beads of water clinging to her skin. He braced his hands on the counter and exhaled a groan.
Something wrong?
His insides twisted even more at the sound of her husky voice. He turned. Kane didnt know what he expected. A sexy siren, a vixen to match the arousing voice? He could have handled her and in an absurd way she would have been preferable to the down-to-earth woman facing him now. The old football jersey wasnt sexy, but the garment had its own share of memories. The faded sweats were far from revealing, but the effect on him was the same.
She looked warm and welcoming.
He felt warm and welcomed. Two sensations hed never experienced before, at least not in conjunction with a woman. What are you doing here? he asked.
I live here, she said wryly. And I was cold after my shower. I figured something hot to drink would take care of that.
She joined him by the counter. The lemony scent of her shampoo clung to her hair, bringing temptation to life. Coffee? he asked. I saw some instant in the cabinet.
She shook her head. Damp strands of blond hair clung to her cheek. God, he wanted her. Tea? he managed to say.
Her smile caused a tightening in his gut.
Not what I had in mind, she said.
What then?
Without answering, she reached for the handle on the cabinet behind him. Her arm brushed his shoulder. The heat struck hard and hot, where it counted most. Her touch was electric. He inhaled and counted to five until a semblance of control returned.
Hot chocolate always seems to do the trickwhen Im cold. Her voice had dropped an octave. The husky sound turned the knot in his stomach even tighter.
She met his gaze. In her eyes he saw a deadly combination of uncertainty and longing. Kane had been around long enough to know when he was being set up, that she was grasping to regain control. But Kaylas seduction, or attempted seduction, wasnt like any other. It was an endearing mixture of innocence and sensuality. One he couldnt withstand no matter how much he needed to.
Hed already drawn the line and Kayla knew it. He was certain shed respect his decision to keep his distance, if only because hed accepted hers to participate with Reid on closing the case on her business. But she was playing a dangerous game with him now, tempting him, hoping hed give inwondering how far hed let her go before backing off.
He wasnt sure himself. Around Kayla, his self-control was minimal. His only choice was to turn the tables and hope she chose to retreat first, instead of advance.
He stepped toward the refrigerator to her left. Would you like some whipped cream on top? I seem to remember you enjoy it. Reaching for the handle, he brushed his forearm across her breasts. The barrier of her clothing might as well have been nonexistent as the hardened peaks of her nipples rasped across his bare skin.
She exhaled a slow moan. He gritted his teeth against the arousing sound and the pleasurable feel of her breasts against his arm. His jeans, already too snug, were now damned uncomfortable. He turned toward her, trapping her between the counter and the length of his body. Her body heat called to his, her scent beckoned to him. Kane wondered when hed begun to enjoy torturing himself without mercy.
He glanced down. She gripped the sides of the cardboard box of instant cocoa mix, denting the box with her grip. At least she was affected, too.
He leaned forward. Whipped cream, Kayla? Her eyes darkened, remembrance and desire flickering in the depths.