Bare It All (18 page)

Shaking his head, as much to clear it as to offer a denial,
Hickson said, “That wasn’t my fault.”

“Not your fault? You let a woman best you? You let her shackle
you to a wall?”

When Woody Simpson, the boss, got in these moods, there was no
reasoning with him. But he had to try, anyway. “I didn’t mean for Marcia to die.
She flipped out after getting the tat, screaming bloody murder. I only hit her
once to shut her up.”

“You hit her hard enough for her to fall and crack her skull on
the concrete.”

“Well...yeah.” It’d been plain dumb luck that she’d crumpled
like that. In hindsight, he knew he should have just muffled her and waited
until he had her in the motel, on the mattress, to smack her around.

Woody backhanded him this time, but with the brass knuckles in
place, it hurt the same as a punch. He tasted blood.

Phelps and Lowry snickered, the bastards. They’d been riding
his ass ever since they found him bound in the room. “That other bitch had a
Taser, and she damn near killed me with it.”

Woody laughed without humor. “Why didn’t you disarm her first
thing?”

“I didn’t know she was like that! She looked like a mouse. Like
a schoolteacher or a librarian. Said she was lost and just needed to use my
phone.”

“You’re a fucking idiot, Hickson. You know that, right?”

He rubbed his goatee and swallowed his pride. “Yeah, I
know.”

“I want you to find her.”

“Cheryl, or...the bitch that jolted me?”

“Yes.”

Hickson shook his head again, this time bewildered. “How am I
supposed to do that? I don’t know her name. She could be anyone.”

“You said she helped Cheryl? That was all about doing a good
deed for the twit?”

“Yeah.” Hickson brightened as he remembered. “Yeah, she got
riled up when Cheryl cried.”

“So, go to Cheryl.”

Hickson went blank.

Rolling his eyes, Woody strode to his desk. “Cheryl probably
went running home to Mommy and Daddy. I have her address. Get her alone, and get
her to talk. She probably knows the woman, or at least knows a way to get in
touch with her again.”

“If she doesn’t?”

“Find out what you can.” Woody handed over a slip of paper with
an address on it. “Cheryl should at least know the make of her car, if nothing
else. You better hope it’s enough for me to extinguish this problem, and fast.
Because if it’s not, if that woman causes me any more trouble, you’ll be the one
to pay.”

Straightening away from the wall, Hickson accepted the address.
He had a reprieve, and he wouldn’t blow it. “When I find her, what do you want
me to do with her?”

Woody sat back in his desk chair and smiled. “Bring her to
me.”

* * *

R
EESE
REMAINED
IN
an odd, antagonistic mood. Alice thought it might be from worry, but
she didn’t know what to do about it.

She wasn’t a woman who could ignore the pain of others. Never
again.

While Reese spent an inordinate amount of time outside with
Cash, she’d emailed her family, sending them her love and apologizing for being
so distant. She told them she now realized her mistake withdrawing, and promised
to visit very soon.

Every so often, she’d peeked out at Reese, but no one bothered
him. He sat in the grass, tossing sticks for Cash, playing with the dog, even
wrestling with him a little.

Seeing him like that put a lump in her throat and a smile on
her face. He was such an amazing man, so caring, so decent—the antithesis of the
monsters who had used Cheryl.

When he finally came in, she was ready for bed.

He went into the bathroom to wash up and brush his teeth, then
into the bedroom. Uncertain, Alice trailed after him, watched him take off a
shirt, strip off his slacks. Wearing only those dark sexy boxers, he turned to
her.

With iron will, she forced her attention to stay on his face.
“Will you stay here with me tonight?”

His brow went up. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“I mean here.” She gestured awkwardly at the bed. “In the
bedroom, in bed with me, instead of the couch.”

“Is that what you want?”

“Yes.” She nodded hard. “Very much.”

On his way to the bed, he said, “I appreciate that you’re
always honest with me, Alice.”

A gibe? Because, seriously, he knew she wasn’t always, entirely
honest.

Now, as midnight came and went, Alice knew she couldn’t sleep.
Not like this.

Not with Reese still irate.

His body remained tensed, his arms behind his head instead of
around her.

Her awareness of him was so keen that she felt the lack of his
affection like a douse of ice water.

So unfair.

At the foot of the bed, Cash snored, every so often running in
his sleep. The dog jerked again, and Reese moved his foot against him, saying,
“Shhh...”

Cash settled.

Alice glanced toward Reese, but in the darkness she couldn’t
see much more than his outline. It was torture, being with him like this, but
with invisible barriers keeping them apart.

An accusation escaped her before she could think better of it.
“If you didn’t want to get busy, you shouldn’t have stripped down.”

A moment of stillness nearly smothered her, then slowly, oh, so
slowly, Reese turned his head toward her. She prepared herself for his
annoyance, more of his anger.

He said, “Get busy?”

“That’s what Rowdy calls it.”

She heard a sound—maybe of his teeth sawing together.

“Rowdy is very informative,” she told him.

The bed dipped as Reese came up to an elbow. “I wish you’d stop
talking about Rowdy.”

But Rowdy had given her so much hope. He’d said all it would
take was Reese seeing her naked, and he’d be ready and willing.

Instead, she saw him in nothing more than boxers, and she was
the one who wanted to die of lust.

“He’s been helpful.” So helpful, in fact, maybe she should try
out one of his suggestions.

Reese dropped flat in the bed again.

Enough already. Determination got Alice’s feet to the floor in
seconds. She found the lamp on the nightstand and turned it on.

Momentarily blinded, she shielded her eyes.

Reese did the same. “What are you doing?”

“I’m testing Rowdy’s theory.”

Up on one elbow again, he frowned. “What theory?”

Cash gave them both a sleepy look and bounded down off the bed.
He went over to the closet, dropped down with a huff and curled up to sleep with
his nose close to his rump.

Working up her courage, Alice looked back at Reese. “This
theory.” She reached beneath her gown and took off her panties, then made a show
of tossing them aside.

Going utterly still, Reese said nothing. His gaze burned over
her, hot, expectant, before settling on her face.

He waited.

Alice drew a fortifying breath, thought of the rewards of
brazenness and peeled the nightgown up and over her head. The cool wash of the
air-conditioning tightened her nipples.

Reese wasn’t shading his eyes anymore, and he no longer looked
angry.

Buoyed by his rapt attention, she straightened in front of him,
naked head to toe.

Reese’s chest expanded. His biceps bunched.

Alice chewed her bottom lip. Interest definitely sharpened his
demeanor, but Rowdy had led her to believe he’d react differently.
More...physically.

Had she expected him to jump her?

Yes, she’d been hopeful.

Shaking her hair back over her shoulders and lifting her chin,
she tried staring him down. “Say something.”

Reese lifted an eyebrow over the order. He did a slow visual
examination, pausing to scrutinize her breasts, her belly.

Between her thighs.

“How did you scrape your knee?”

Disappointed that he hadn’t made a move yet, she shrugged and
said, “I think it happened when I knelt down to cut the air valves off Hickson’s
tires.”

His gaze hardened. “I hope like hell no one will be able to
track you down from that stunt.”

His concern made her feel guilty. “No one is after me, Reese. I
promise, I’m
fine
.”

He looked over the length of her legs. “Yes, you are.”

Just when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, he tossed
back the sheet and got out of bed.

A very noticeable erection strained his snug boxers. Alice
braced herself, excitement unfurling...but instead of coming to her, he went to
the door.

Watching Reese leave the room, Alice felt wretched, dejected,
exposed... Until he returned with something in his hand. “Cash, you want a
treat?”

The dog had been ignoring them, but at Reese’s offer, he rolled
to his feet with a lurch.

When Reese led Cash out of the room, Alice hurriedly got in the
bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. Insane, but now she felt shy. Who knew
seducing a man was so nerve-racking?

Reese walked back in, stalled when he saw her bundled in the
middle of the mattress, but then continued on to the bed. He sat down beside
her. “Have a change of heart?”

“No.” Definitely not that.

“Then, what’s this?” He gave a gentle tug to the blankets.

“I don’t know.” And then with annoyance, “You just stared at
me.”

“That’s bound to happen every time I see you naked, so you may
as well get used to it.”

Clutching the blankets tighter, she wondered if that meant he’d
be around for the long haul, that he’d want to see her naked a lot. “I wasn’t
all that sure you were interested.”

Reese considered her, stood—and pushed out of his boxers.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

A
LICE
’
S
EYES
WENT
wide. God love the man, she would never tire of
seeing his body.

When he snatched the blankets away from her, tossing them to
the floor, she gave a startled yelp but then just froze. What else could she
do?

She pressed her thighs together and folded her arms over her
chest. “I’m cold.”

Wearing a half smile and nothing else, Reese stretched out next
to her. He took his time pulling her hands away, arranging them over her head so
that she was stretched out on the bed. After looking her over with appreciation,
he cupped a hand to her breast, used his thumb to tease her nipple and said,
“Don’t be nervous about tomorrow.”

Tomorrow? What was he talking about?

“I’ll be there with you.” He lightly caressed the other breast,
too, then moved his hand down to her belly.

Alice sucked in a breath. His hand was warm, a little
rough.

“Logan doesn’t bite, and Peterson doesn’t bite too hard.”

He slipped his fingers lower, pressing them between her thighs,
and her breath rushed out. “I don’t want to talk about that.” She wanted him to
kiss her, but when she tried that, he gave her only a warm peck.

Against her lips, he asked, “Do you still have contact with
him?”

With his fingers playing against her, she couldn’t think.
“Who?”

“Your savior.” He kissed her again, this time deeper, hotter.
“Trace Miller.”

Her brain stalled. “Reese...”

He nuzzled her neck, his beard shadow prickly, his breath warm
and soft. “Do you?”

“I...” She felt his tongue and started breathing harder.
“Sometimes.”

He barely moved his fingers, pressing them there, his palm over
her mound. It made her nuts. It made her want to move her hips, but she held
still. Barely.

Opening his mouth over the sensitive spot where her shoulder
met her neck, he treated her to a damp, tantalizing love bite. “How often?”

Unable to think beyond her growing need, Alice tilted her head
more, giving him better access, encouraging him to do more of
that,
and hopefully less talking.

And damn it, her hips moved after all.

“How often, Alice?”

“He...” Reese opened his mouth on her again, sucked at her
skin, and she knew he was marking her. It was so erotic, so sexy. And it felt
so
good. “Occasionally he...checks on me.”

Reese looked at her, his gaze sharpened. “Have you seen
him?”

“No.” She shook her head. She didn’t need to see him. She knew
Trace would be there if she ever needed him. “I...I haven’t seen him since he
got me the weapons.”

“The CCPs?”

She had no idea what that meant.

“The conceal and carry permits. He got those for you?”

“I guess. Yes. He gave me papers.” She tipped her head back,
moaning softly as his fingers both excited and teased. “But I haven’t seen him
since.”

Relaxing against her again, Reese nipped her earlobe, dipped
his tongue inside. “Are you sure?”

Who knew her ears were so erogenous? “It’s been forever.” She
moved against his hand to get him back on track.

Taking the hint, he whispered against her skin, “Spread your
legs.”

Even that, the coarse timbre of his voice, sent sweet lust
coiling tighter. Knowing what he would do, anxious for him to do it, Alice
opened her thighs.

Teasing over her moist flesh, he parted her, barely entered
her, stroking and exploring until his fingertips were slippery wet—then going
high in the briefest touch to her clitoris.

Her hips lifted in reaction; her gasp faded out to a vibrating
groan.

Green eyes heated, voice lower still, Reese whispered, “Right
there, huh?”

How in the world could he continue talking? Why did he want to,
anyway? Barely able to breathe, Alice nodded.

“Like this?” He drew his fingers up and over her again, and her
body clenched in delicious ways.

“Yes.”
Exactly like that.

“What about this?” Slowly, he worked two fingers deep inside
her. Against her cheek, he murmured, “So snug, Alice. Nice and wet. Hot.”

That felt wonderful, too, and again her hips moved despite her
best efforts to keep still.

“And this?” He used his thumb with amazing impact.

Holding her breath, her body taut with need, Alice nodded
hard.

In a soft, raw growl, he asked, “And this?” before closing his
hot mouth over her right nipple. He tugged with a gentle, insistent suction that
sent new sensations flooding her body.

Oh, God, it was incredible. Almost too much. Alice lowered her
arms so she could hold him close. A climax built inside her, throbbing,
receding, coming back stronger, closer.

His fingers filled her, his mouth pulled at her and he kept up
that slick, rhythmic friction with his thumb, working her until she knew she
couldn’t hang on any longer.

Head back, heels pressing into the mattress, her fingers
tangled in his hair, her body arched hard. He stayed with her, letting her ride
out the release until only little reverberations of pleasure remained. She
collapsed flat to the bed again, struggling to get enough oxygen into her
lungs.

Reese released her nipple with a soft lick that made her moan.
Slowly, he withdrew his hand, and even that, the rasping of his fingers leaving
the tight clasp of her body, sent off more aftershocks.

In seconds he was off the bed. Alice got her eyes focused in
time to see him open a condom packet. Lethargic, still tingling in select
places, she soaked up the sight of his awesome physique. Renewed interest
started a pulse beat of need between her legs as she watched him roll the rubber
on his engorged shaft.

Large, capable hands. Tensed shoulders and thighs. Six and a
half feet of undeniable strength and raw masculinity. Disheveled blond hair and
darkening beard shadow only made him sexier.

Alice could barely believe he was here, with her, and that he
wanted her. Again. “You are so beautiful.”

Reese glanced at her with burning eyes. “You’re seeing through
a haze of satisfaction.” He strode over to her, settled atop her and wedged her
legs apart.

Alice loved the press of his weight, the blanket of his heat
surrounding her. His broad, sculpted shoulders made her feel smaller and more
female, but in such a wonderful way.

Cupping her face, he kissed her and said, “Let’s see if I can
get you there again.”

She inhaled deeply of his wonderful scent and ran her hands
over the crisp hair of his chest, already halfway there.

Balanced on a forearm, Reese adjusted, using one hand to guide
himself—all the while holding her gaze in his. Alice felt him there, ready to
thrust in, and her body trembled in anticipation.

He waited, breathing deeper, his expression strained as he
teased the head of his erection against her. “So damn wet,” he murmured.

“Do it,” Alice whispered. She curled her fingers against his
pectoral muscles, lifted her hips on a wave of expanding need.
“Do it.”

His green eyes darkened, narrowed—and he thrust in, burying
himself deep. They both groaned, and seconds later he took her mouth in a
consuming kiss.

They moved together, harder and faster and within minutes the
pressure began to build. She freed her mouth to gasp for air.

Reese rose up on straightened arms. “I want to see you come
again.”

The idea of him watching her might have been embarrassing,
except that release rolled over her too soon for her to give it much thought.
She grabbed for his biceps, thrilled at his rock-solid strength. Crying out over
and over, she let the pleasure take her.

Watching her, Reese muttered a low curse, and she felt him
pumping into her as he gained his own release.

Carefully, he lowered his body down to hers, his heartbeat
pounding fast and strong against her breast.

Her brain buzzed; her body went limp. Even getting her eyes to
open was a chore too difficult. All she could manage was deep breathing that
tried to lure her to sleep.

After a few minutes, she felt Reese lift away from her, leaving
her skin exposed to the cooler air. She couldn’t react, could do no more than
lay there in a state of contentment.

Reese left the bed, but not for long. He returned, spread the
sheet and blanket over her, called Cash up into the bed and stretched out beside
her. He pulled her close, his arm around her waist, his leg over hers.

Cash walked the perimeter of the mattress, came up to snuffle
her neck and ear then crashed at the foot of the bed.

“Sleep, both of you,” Reese muttered around a yawn.

Something, some strange sense of unease, tried to worm its way
into Alice’s exhaustion. It didn’t succeed.

Tucked warm and secure against Reese’s body, she faded into
sound slumber.

* * *

T
HE
NEXT
MORNING
, Reese watched Alice sleep—his brain buzzing with questions.
Sex with Alice was something special. Real special. Every time he thought he had
her figured out, she surprised him again.

Wrapped around her, replete from a mind-blowing release, he’d
slept like the dead—and awakened with a damned smile.

Seconds after getting his eyes open, the problems all came
swarming back.

How did Alice contact the wraith? Did she use her computer? Had
she lied about the phone number?

It had been dirty pool, using her lust against her. Unfair but
effective. He felt bad about it...a little.

But as a detective, as a man physically and emotionally
involved with her, he
needed
to know.

If it weren’t for her sexual interest in him, if he hadn’t
snuck the questions in while she was in need, would she ever have told him?

It seemed doubtful.

Were there more secrets that she kept from him?

Hoping not, he kissed her bare shoulder, and wanted to go on
kissing her. All over.

He’d been pissed when they went to bed last night, rightfully
so. But knowing what she’d been through, how she’d rehashed it all for him, he
couldn’t make himself walk away. She didn’t want to sleep alone.

He didn’t want to sleep away from her.

Last night had been...amazing. It was such a contrast for Alice
to be so contained in most aspects, only to let it all loose in bed.

With him.

It made Reese smile again, thinking of how she’d stripped off
that gown, how she’d stood there buck-ass, challenging him to ignore her.

Not likely.

Since the day he’d met her, he stayed so aware of her that she
plagued his thoughts. He wanted her always, but when she showed her daring, her
vulnerability, he had no resistance at all.

A unique blend of curious innocence and hot carnality, Alice
tempted him on every level.

There were many ways he wanted to take her, many positions he
wanted to explore with her.

Hoping both she and Cash would sleep a little longer, Reese
eased the coverings off her narrow shoulder, down the dip of her tiny waist,
past her rounded hip. He dragged the blankets all the way to her adorable
knees.

Such a great ass.

There were many things he had to figure out, but damn, it’d be
easy to obsess over having her again and again. He’d love to get her on her
knees, take her from behind, burying himself deep while holding her breasts in
his hands...

On a deep stretch and wide yawn, Alice turned to her back. She
settled again with a sigh—then popped her eyes open. Immediately her gaze
clashed with his.

Finding him so close, realizing he’d uncovered her, left her
eyes nearly crossed.

“Morning.” Reese cupped her breast, enjoying the way her soft
nipple immediately beaded tight. “Sleep well?”

She bolted upright, and it so startled Cash that he nearly fell
out of the bed. His long ears perked up in interest. He looked from Alice to
Reese and back again.

Alice grabbed for the blankets and pulled them to her chin.

Amused, Reese said, “Cash doesn’t mind seeing you naked. And I
enjoy it.” He gave a playful tug to the blanket, but she held on.

“How long have you been awake?”

That sounded like an accusation, making him grin. “Only a few
minutes.” Lacking her modesty, he stretched and got out of bed. “I’ll take Cash
out, then how about we shower?”

Still a little foggy, she dropped her gaze over his bare body
and swallowed. “Together?”

“Yes.”

Another look, longer this time.

Much more of that, and he’d be sporting a boner. “Alice...”

Her grip on the blanket loosened. “Okay.”

It was a nice thing, to be wanted so much by Alice. “Be right
back.” He pulled on slacks, grabbed up his wallet and cell phone, and by the
time he hit the door, Cash was with him. “Good boy. You’re learning, aren’t
you?”

Cash waited like a gentleman while Reese attached the leash,
and on the way down the steps, he only pulled Reese off balance twice.

The progress the dog made pleased him. In such a short time,
Cash had learned to hold it until he got outside, and he hadn’t chewed up
anything in, oh, a day or two. Definitely getting better.

Alice had a lot to do with that. Her gentle, calm nature went a
long way toward reassuring Cash and helping him recover from any past abuse. The
fact that Alice worked from home, so therefore spent more time with the dog,
helped, too.

She was a good influence—on Cash, on Reese.

But she still had those damned secrets.

Reese took out his phone and dialed Rowdy.

On the fifth ring, Rowdy answered with a grouchy, “What the
fuck, Reese? Do you know what time it is?”

“Sleeping in?”

“I had good reason.”

Ah. “Company, huh? Sorry about that.”