Simply Sinful - Carly Phillips 8 стр.


Together they toppled onto the bed. In between spurts of laughter and the mess of the whipped cream, which she attempted to lick from his lips, they managed to stand and undress. Kane grabbed for his jeans and pulled a condom out of his wallet, realizing on some subconscious level, hed been prepared for this. Hed made sure his wallet wasnt empty.

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Together they toppled onto the bed. In between spurts of laughter and the mess of the whipped cream, which she attempted to lick from his lips, they managed to stand and undress. Kane grabbed for his jeans and pulled a condom out of his wallet, realizing on some subconscious level, hed been prepared for this. Hed made sure his wallet wasnt empty.

Shaking off the implications, he joined her on top of the mattress. She lay beneath him, naked and ready. His. He shook his head to clear that thought, but it remained. He pushed a strand of hair off her cheek, stuck there thanks to leftover whipped cream.

I never realized making love could be fun, she said, out of breath.

Hed never laughed while having sex, either. At least hed given her something after all. He grinned. Sweetheart, you havent seen anything yet. He shifted his weight and slipped his hand between her thighs.

She was everything hed wanted her to be. Warm, slick and, if the sighs greeting his ears were any indication, she was definitely enjoying. He slipped one finger inside her moist heat.

Kane? His name came out on a groan.

What? Closing his eyes against the tension threatening to burst inside him, he eased his finger out

Id rather youI mean, we

He knew what she meant. But he wasnt ready. He wanted more for her than a fast tumble. More memories. He slipped his finger back in once more. Patience is a virtue, he told her through clenched teeth.

Then Im not virtuous. As if to make her point, she wrapped her hand around his straining length and proceeded to pick up a rhythm that brought him to the brink.

Point made.

Taking care of protection seemed more of a nuisance than it should. Then, grabbing her wayward hands, he yanked them above her head and held her wrists with one hand. With the other, he eased himself inside her, trying like hell to keep in mind it had been a long time for her.

Considering how perfect the fit, how intense the emotion she drew from him, this was a first for him as well. Kane held onto rational thought long enough to recognize hed never felt like this before. Seconds before he climaxed in her arms, he knew hed never feel like this again.

HE WOKE TO THE SOUND of rustling clothing. Kane rolled onto his back to see Kayla slipping back into her clothes. Last night came back to him in a rush of memory and sensation-because his body was rock-hard. Despite that hed slept with her twice, and that the sheets still carried their scent, he wanted her again. Wanted her more than he had the first time.

One glance and he knew shed planned on slipping out before he awoke. Something hed done himself and only now, being on the receiving end, did he realize how low a maneuver that actually was. The sense of loss shocked him.

She was leaving. Because she was sorry for what happened? Because she was embarrassed and couldnt face him? Or because, God help him, hed been nothing more to her than a one-night stand? He couldnt stand the possibility, and in that fleeting second, he wanted more.

Going somewhere?

She glanced up from buttoning her jeans. Her hair fell around her face in easy waves, surrounding guilt-ridden, embarrassed eyes. I was just

Leaving?

Getting dressed. I would have woken you.

Bull.

You like that word.

Only when it fits. He rose from the bed, ignoring that he was naked, and trying unsuccessfully to ignore her gaze following him across the room.

I thought a clean break would be best. Youre going back to New Hampshire later today any way, so I figured, this way, no messy goodbyes. She turned a bright, sunny smile his way.

He shoved his hand into his pants pockets and fished through his wallet. What was he to her? She hadnt accepted his date until hed pressured her into it with the lesson pretense. Was he a client she never wanted to see again or something more?

In his mind, the case had been closed long before he slept with her. He knew she wasnt a prostitute, knew she had no knowledge of any ring that might exist. But she was the woman whod slipped past his walls. No one had ever gotten that close before. If anything would kill the edge Reid was so worried about, the one that kept him alert and alive, this was it. A soft, caring woman.

Kayla Luck.

Kane drew a deep breath. It didnt matter why hed come into her life. The fact remained that he had, and, in the process, hed compromised himself, his principles, his case and his job. Not bad for a nights work, McDermott. He had to let her go. But the same part of him that wanted to kick himself for getting in too deep also needed to know. Could it all have been one-sided?

He turned toward her, wallet open. We never agreed on a price, but Im sure this will cover last nightslessons. She might not think shed taught him anything. But she had. A very expensive and painful lesson. He tossed the wad of bills onto the bed.

Dont take the money. His heart seemed to hammer out the words in rapid beats. Furious with himself, he still needed to see her reaction, needed to know what hed meant to her.

He looked over his shoulder. Shed paused in the process of pulling the baby-blue jacket onto her shoulders.

Whatisthat?

You said wed see how things go. And they had. He thrust his hand toward the bed where the money sat, glaring and rude. Thats payment for services rendered.

CHAPTER FOUR

KAYLA STARED AT THE MONEY on the bed in disbelief. Payment. She forced the words from her dry throat.

You said wed see how things go.

Yes, she hadand now she knew. Things had been unbelievable, or so shed thought. Special, sensual, incredible, fun, she couldnt come up with enough adjectives to describe how being with Kane had felt. Because he was leaving, shed decided to slip out before he awoke. No goodbyes, nor forced smiles. No questions, like will I see you again? Shed been foolish enough to hope hed look her up again on his own, no prompting.

She turned toward the bed. The money marred the mattress where shed come close to falling hard. For a stranger. Her stomach cramped and she was reminded of another morning after. Its been real, Kayla. Catch you around sometime. Different man, another notch in some guys bedpost. Kane had just been so much better at seducing her into denial before slapping her with reality. Men didnt want anything real with Kayla Luck. They never had, never would.

She squared her shoulders and forced a brave front. She refused to let him know how deeply hed wounded her. Youre right, we never agreed on payment.

Unable to look into those dark eyes, she kept her gaze trained on a point behind him. I said wed see how things wentand The green bills caught her eye, mocking the instincts shed trusted as well as her attempt at composure.

She paused, wanting to slam him, wanting to say last night hadnt been good enough to accept payment in return. But that wasnt her nature, though Catherine might have had a choice word or two for a man whod crossed her, Kayla was different. She bent and grabbed her bag. Perhaps she no longer trusted her judgment in men, but she respected herself enough to be strong until she walked out that door. No man had the right to treat her like a prostitute.

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Straightening, she met Kanes unreadable gaze. Know what, McDermott? You and your payment can go to hell. She didnt know him well, but shed learned enough last night to catch a flicker of emotion in his eyes now.

Relief mixed with regret? She shook her head, realizing shed been searching for something to hold onto despite his crude offer. Apparently she harbored unhealthy illusions. For all his suave charm, Kane McDermott was no better than the rest.

Gathering her pride and her jacket, she ran for the door.

Kane didnt try to stop her.

NO CASH EXCHANGED HANDS last night. Unless you can claim success, McDermott, Id say case closed. Reid approached Kane from behind.

Kane eased back in his chair and forced himself to turn and look his superior in the eye. Shes clean, boss.

Damn. Captain Reid crumpled a sheet of paper and slammed it into the trash. Waste of manpower, the older man grumbled.

Seems like, Kane agreed.

Our informant could be blowing smoke, playing both sides for cashbut the teasers he gave us sounded legit. I really believed certain of our politicians were frequenting that place on the sly. The captain paced the short length of Kanes desk and back again before coming to a halt. Any chance things happened before Ms. Lucks reign?

Kane shook his head. Doesnt seem possible. Not without her knowing. She was around during the aunt and uncles days, she helped them out once in a while with classes and handled the books. Now shes running the place herself. If there was anything going on then or now, shed know.

Any chance she was tipped off, then turned those lovely charms your way? Any chance she got to you last night?

Conned me? None. The ladys innocent. Id bet my badge.

Really. The captain raised a knowing eyebrow before settling himself on the edge of the metal desk. Now thats a first.

What is? I always trust my instincts.

But you never put that faith in another human being, especially a lady. He gave Kane a pointed look. Until now. He stood and headed for his office.

Direct hit, Kane thought. He couldnt avoid the truth any longer. Couldnt avoid thinking, either, though thats what hed tried to do since Kaylas abrupt departure this morning.

The captain was right. He had put faith in her and hed let down his guard. For one ridiculous moment, he caught a glimpse of a life different than the solitary one he led. Hed been alone so long without a true connection to another person. But Kayla had shown him there was more than eating, sleeping and working. Shed made him feel alive and, foolishly, hed wanted more. Not that he could have accepted, considering he was incapable of offering anything substantial in return.

Money in exchange for sex. That was one hell of an offer hed made. He snorted in disgust. Hed set out to prove she wasnt a call girl, and had treated her no better than a hooker instead. The wounded look in her eyes hit him harder than when hed been decked head-on with the butt of a gun. Guilt and regret twisted his insides.

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