Burning Seduction (9 page)

T
rent had never
connected with someone as much as he had with Charlotte. She really seemed to get him, in part because they both had a parent who had issues dealing with his job. Somehow in telling his story, Trent could see that he, too, had been quite full of himself by thinking his mom’s death had been his fault. That guilt, along with being a cop, made him keep his distance from women. In hindsight, that might have been a cover up for some deeper issue. Charlotte was right in another way, too. People died for all sorts of reasons, yet he thought it ironic that his father was still alive despite having been in many shootouts.

After dinner, Trent told Charlotte that he wanted to follow her home because he needed to make sure she made it safely, and that while she’d only had two drinks over a two-hour period, her reflexes could be impaired. The truth was that he wanted to follow her home because he hoped she’d invite him in.

Trent pulled to a stop behind Charlotte’s car in front of her house and rushed to open her car door.

As she slipped out, she looked up and smiled. “Do you want to come in?”

“I was hoping you’d ask,” he said, mentally pumping his fist. This time, if Charlotte kissed him, he wouldn’t stop her. Hell, it would take all of his willpower not to rip off her clothes and make love to her for hours on end.

He escorted her onto the porch where she stuck her hand into her purse and then frowned. “I know the front door key is in here someplace.”

He was about to ask why she didn’t keep it on the same ring as her ignition, but he didn’t want to imply she wasn’t capable of handling herself. He hoped she found it, as he didn’t want to have to take her back to his place since Harmon would be there. Tomorrow his brother was thankfully moving into his own apartment.

She lifted the key in her fingers. “Ta da!”

“Good job.”

In seconds, she had the door open. When she flipped on the rather glaring overhead light, he appreciated the soft lamps she’d had on before.

Charlotte would probably offer him coffee or perhaps another beer, and then they’d talk about her new business or one of his old cases, as she seemed fascinated by the scope of his job. As much as he enjoyed chatting, once he’d decided that he wanted Charlotte, his patience had run out. The urge to undress her one piece at a time was driving him crazy.

They both slipped off their jackets, and as she placed them on the back of the sofa Trent moved toward her. “Did I tell you how hot you look tonight?”

She might not be wearing a sweater as tight as the one she had on the other night, but her soft pullover showed off her curves just as well.

She grinned and stroked her chin. “I can’t recall. Maybe you did.”

“If my words didn’t sink in, then perhaps I need to show you.” His cock turned rigid at the thought of kissing her.

“Oh, yeah?”

Charlotte moved close and placed her palms on his chest, the heat from her fingers searing through the shirt to his skin. He wanted to kiss her so badly he could taste it, but he didn’t want to rush her. It didn’t matter that she’d come on to him twice before. Life had taught him that he should take it slowly, but damn, whenever he was around Charlotte, his common sense seemed to vanish.

She grabbed hold of his shirt, and when she tugged it out of his jeans, all he could think of was getting her naked and then sucking on those luscious tits.

“I thought you’d be more comfortable this way.” She dragged her fingers close to his throat and lightly brushed his chest hairs. “So soft.”

He wiggled a bit. “It’s a little tight around the neck. Do you think you can do something about that?”

She bit down on her lip in the sexiest way possible. “I can try.”

Slower than dripping molasses, she threaded the top one he’d buttoned through the hole and then moved down to the second one.

“That feels much better. Please keep going.” His mouth was dry, and he should ask for a beer, but he didn’t want to stop the seduction.

She stepped even closer if that was possible and looked up at him. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to seduce me, Detective.”

Hell, yeah, he was. “And if I am?”

As she ran a finger down the length of his shirt and unbuttoned it from the bottom upward, her scent distracted him. The woman had totally bewitched him.

“How do I know I can trust you?” she asked, looking rather innocent.

Once she finished unbuttoning his shirt, Charlotte slipped her hands under the material and slowly dragged her palms downward, testing his resolve.

“Trust me?” Either what she was doing to him had messed with his head or she was trying to be coy.

She wrapped her hands around his waist and pressed her body against him. “If I recall, you always walk out on me after I kiss you.”

Ah
. He’d apologized for that hurtful action at dinner—a few times. “I don’t remember any such thing.” He raised his chin, trying to look offended, but he probably failed.

“Hmm. Then is it safe to say that if I kiss you, you won’t run away?”

Trent couldn’t keep his hands off the little temptress any longer and threaded his fingers through her hair, his palms cupping her cheeks. “I say give it a go and hope for the best.”

Her hands slid down to his butt, and this time it was her turn to squeeze each cheek. “How about you kiss me?”

“Do you think you can handle what might come afterward?” His damned heart was beating way too fast.

She slid her hands around to the front and popped open the top button of his jeans. “You won’t know unless you try.”

That was all he needed to hear. Trent leaned over and kissed that sassy mouth of hers. For one night, he wouldn’t think about whether he was good enough for her; he’d just enjoy the moment. When she slid her tongue into his mouth, his need exploded, and the urge to take her hard nearly did him in. Charlotte deserved to be loved and not fucked, but right now he wasn’t sure if he could go slow.

As their tongues dipped and parried, she seduced his mouth. Needing air, he broke the kiss. “I’m not running out on you this time. I promise.”

She grinned. “You better not.”

Trent dragged a finger between her breasts. “To ensure I stay, perhaps you ought to take off your top.”

She laughed, and the pleasure shot straight through him. “You want to help?”

“Fuck, yeah.”

*     *     *

Charlotte couldn’t believe
she was about to make love with Trent Lawson, the man she’d been dreaming about for months. Sure, it was great that he’d protected her when someone was out to harm her, but it was the way he treated her that she really loved. Trent was kind and considerate, and she bet he’d be that way in bed, too. He acted as if he was always in control, but now she could see that he was dealing with inner demons and was probably afraid to let loose.

He dragged his hands under her sweater, and when he cupped her breasts, every nerve in her body shot to life. Needing to see more of him, she popped open the rest of the buttons on his jeans. She meant to keep her focus on his face so that she could tell what he was thinking, but his hard cock sticking out let her know what was on his mind. “Someone’s happy to be free.”

“You have no idea.”

He slid his hands around her back and unhooked her bra in a second. When his thumbs reached in front and strummed her nipples, her legs weakened. His very touch sent her spiraling.

“Somebody likes to be stroked, I see.”

“Maybe.” From the way her fingers were trembling and her breathing was too fast, he had to know she was lying. “Perhaps if you take off my sweater you might have a better idea if I’m enjoying it.”

As if a pistol had sounded, signaling the start of a race, he whipped off her top and tossed it on the back of the sofa. Cool air pebbled her nipples.

“Excellent suggestion,” he said. “Now where was I?”

Charlotte slowly lowered the straps and let her bra drop to the floor. “I think you were about to lick these.”

He grinned and cupped each breast. “You are so gorgeous. Perfect in every way.”

Her heart skipped a beat at his words. She was a bit heavy and had worried he wouldn’t find her body attractive. Perhaps she’d been wrong.

“Let’s get you more comfortable,” he said.

Still holding her tits, he maneuvered her backward until her rear bumped into the side of the sofa, forcing her to sit on the arm. He then leaned over and suckled one nipple while he strummed his thumb across the other tip. Shards of bliss radiated across her body, and she dropped her head back to revel in the pleasure then had to grab his shoulders to keep from falling. What she really wanted to do was latch onto his cock. But her time would come.

He nabbed the hardened peak between his teeth and pulled it taut before moving to the other side. Each tug lit up her body, and she wanted to beg him to take her right then and there. She didn’t though, because she wanted this moment to go on forever.

She dragged her palms up to his head and clamped onto his scalp. “I like to suck on things, too,” she said a bit too breathy.

Trent lifted his head. “I’m a firm believer in equal opportunity.” He stepped back, kicked off his shoes, and stepped out of his jeans. “You want to give him a go?”

She dragged a finger down his covered dick. “I’d like to try him out.”

“I’m all yours.” He held out his arms.

She grinned, excitement sizzling in her veins. Still seated, she dipped her thumbs into the waistband of his briefs and tugged them down. What popped out had her mouth opening in total awe. “He’s huge. I hope I’m not in over my head.”

Trent chuckled. “I can be gentle. Or not.” He stepped out of his briefs and kicked them to the side.

Wanting to taste him, she drew his hard shaft toward her and rimmed the edge of his mushroom-shaped cock with her tongue, loving his slightly salty tang. He groaned and then grabbed a chunk of her hair.

“Better not take too long if you want me to reciprocate.” His words came out tight.

The thought of him licking her pussy had heat pooling between her thighs. Pumping her hand up and down his cock, she licked the tip.

“Suck on it.”

She loved how his voice sounded more like a growl. Wanting to please him, she drew him deep into her mouth, and as she swiped her tongue around and around, the tension on her hair tightened.

Wanting to see how far she could push him, she rolled his balls with her palm, eliciting a soft moan. When the tip oozed a bit of cum, Charlotte feared she might have pushed him over the edge too quickly. Letting go, she dragged her tongue up and down his length.

“Enough.” Trent stepped out of her reach then lifted her leg and tugged off each shoe. He drew her to a stand and unbuttoned then unzipped her pants. “Did you wear something special underneath your jeans for me?”

She laughed. “I didn’t expect to see you today, remember?”

“If you had, would you have worn a bit of frill to entice me?”

Keeping things a bit mysterious seemed a better choice. “I’m not telling.”

Trent licked his lips, dragged down her pants then whistled. “I like virginal white.”

“Virginal, huh?”

He chuckled. Holding onto his shoulders, she stepped out of her jeans. Now dressed only in her panties, she wrapped her arms around her belly.

Trent eased open her arms. “None of that. I love the way you look, especially your womanly curves.”

Warmth flitted up her cheeks. “Thank you.” She had never been insecure about her looks until she’d met Trent. For him, she wanted to be perfect.

“Hold still, and let me love you the way you deserve.”

Charlotte couldn’t wait.

Chapter Nine