Collared (Going to the Dogs) (12 page)

He dropped his mouth to hers and she wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him like she never wanted to let him go. This was so crazy and out of control. His boss was waiting in the library, she was completely naked. Completely vulnerable, and although it scared the crap out of her, she wanted nothing more than to stand here and let him kiss her.

She’d had no idea how lovely it would be to kiss a man with a beard, but it was, the feeling of the hair on his face as silky as his hot lips. And he was the type of guy who lost himself in the sensation. His eyes closed. His lips pressed against her mouth like there was no tomorrow. She was suddenly sure that he could care less that Tripp was waiting outside.

Reluctantly, she pulled away.

“Do you have condoms in here?”

Her heart lurched against her chest. “What?”

“Condoms?” he growled. “Now, Harper.”

“No, I don’t have any in here, but I’m on the pill.”

It seemed that was all he needed to hear. He pushed her up against the tile.

“What about your shoulder?”

“Fuck my shoulder. Take off my jeans.”

She reached for his waistband, undoing the snap, moaning when her fingers brushed against his skin. Before she knew what she was doing, she pressed against the zipper to feel him pulse against her palm.

“Harper,” he groaned, panting. “Do you want this to be over, princess? Geezus. You already have me jacked up so high, I swear I could come right now.”

That declaration made her feel so much better. She pulled the zipper down, and he was hotter than the shower spray. She swallowed and gripped his hips, being very careful of his bruised one. The sight of the damage made her pause for a second. He covered her hands so gently. Unsettled with the way he grounded her.

She closed her eyes. Oh, God. He balanced her, kept his hands there, firmly, but nothing more, as she struggled to get the soaked jeans off him. He did balance her, in every way, she thought, struggling for the clarity of mind she so desperately needed right now. “C-c-aleb, are you sure?” she stuttered, then stopped, taking him in. Good God he was so built, so cut, so beautiful. Willing her head to stop spinning, her legs to stop trembling, and her heart to stop pounding, she took a breath.

But when she looked up, his gaze was intense, and as serious as she’d ever seen it. “Fuck no, but I can’t seem to give a damn,” he said, his voice satisfyingly unsteady.

He touched her hair, then leaned down and kissed her, firmly, deeply. “I want you. Enough of these games.”

She swallowed against a suddenly tight throat. “There are no guarantees—” she began, needing him to know she was making no promises here. She didn’t even know what she wanted.

“I know. It’s my risk to take,” he told her.

She stared at him, into eyes that held hers so solidly, with such certainty. “I want you so much.” she whispered. “So much.” She was quite aware that it was also her risk. But she couldn’t seem to care.

His gaze hadn’t lessened one whit in intensity, so she felt caught in its laser-like gleam, shining directly, and only, on her.

“No one has ever captivated me like you have,” she breathed. “I can’t get you out of my mind. This
is
happening. I’m not going to waste any opportunity to find out what more there might be.”

She shoved the soaked jeans and his boxers the rest of the way off him, down his long, muscular legs. She wanted to look at him, but apparently he was at the end of his patience. He gripped her hips and dragged her against him, flush against the pulsing, silky hardness that pressed against her stomach. He pushed her back against the tiles.

He made a soft sound of pain as he lifted her and she tried to help him as much as she could, but he grimaced when her leg went around his waist. “Caleb, maybe the bed will be easier.”

“Too far away,” he groaned and she lost every thought in her head when he slid inside her and pumped deep. He was gloriously hard, gloriously large. He touched something deep inside her that shot sparks off inside of her with such an intense sensation she cried out. She was so ready for him, felt like she’d been ready for him her whole adult life.

“Caleb, please,” she whispered, gasping when he withdrew and shoved in again and again. His mouth went to her neck, the silky stroke of his beard sending rippling waves of pleasure into the tips of her breasts mashed against his thick, hard pectorals and to her core.

His panting breath blew hot against her neck. He sucked on her skin as he thrust deep again. Her groan mingled with his.

“
Princess…!
”

His body jerked at the same time that spiraling heat climbed to a breaking point and she convulsed, her hips jerking. He took her mouth this time like a man starved. There was nothing tender about it, and it mattered not a whit.

She couldn’t allow herself to assign motivation or meaning to every little action he took, or reaction he might have. She could only let herself feel…whatever he made her feel. Then deal with the consequences afterward. Even as he pulled back, set her down, but kept her tight in his arms, she knew this was as big a mistake as she was ever likely to make. And it no longer mattered. If he was going to be a mistake, best she get on with it and start to deal with the implications, but telling herself she was tough enough to do anything else was simply putting off the inescapable.

He gasped against her neck, and she had her fingers in his abundantly thick mane of wet, dark hair. “I want you again, Harper. I don’t want to let you go.”

“I so wish Tripp wasn’t here,” she said, allowing the joy of the moment to push past the fear and anxiety, and holding on to that joy with everything she had.

“He can go to hell,” he growled.

She laughed, feeling suddenly, gloriously free. She had never felt as unfettered and unbound, and could hardly wait to explore this man.
All
of this man, inside and out.

She was naked in Caleb’s arms against his glorious body. Honestly, what more could a woman want? And in that moment, she didn’t want for anything.

“Can’t you let him cool his heels for another hour or so?” he said, his voice already huskier, his body already harder.

“Hmm,” she said.

He spun around, and walked backwards towards her bedroom until the backs of his legs hit her bed. Soaking wet he folded down on top of her very expensive silk duvet, but she didn’t give a damn if it was ruined.

“Wait,” she said as he pulled her hips over his erection. She reached towards the nightstand and hit the intercom on her phone. “Juliana.”

“Yes, Miss,” Juliana said immediately.

“Could you let Commissioner McDonald know that I’m going to be delayed by at least an hour? There’s plenty of reading material in the library. Also, let Mrs. Crumb know as well. Oh, and we’ll be having another guest, Detective Shaw.”

“Yes, Miss. What should I tell the Commissioner?”

“Tell him that…” She looked down at Caleb and smiled broadly. “…something came up.”

Caleb laughed out loud. “Well, done, princess. You know how to take care of your subjects from your throne room.”

Her eyes raked over him. “I’m pretty comfortable with the throne I’m on right now.”

She wiggled and watched as he closed his eyes, groaning softly. His lashes were so dark, so thick, she wanted to brush them with her fingertip. He looked so beautiful, all wet and glistening. She set her hands on either side of him and moved her hips again.

His big hands came up and settled at her waist, sliding up on either side of her ribcage. “Have your way with me, princess. I’m yours to command.”

He cupped both of her breasts, running a thumb over each nipple. It was her turn to close her eyes. He slipped his hands around her back and drew her down. When he clamped his lips over her breast, she moaned.

She reached down and found him hot and hard between her legs, rubbing the flat of her hand over the head of him to make him jerk and thrust heavily upwards, his face rapt.

She could watch him for hours.

She did it again and his chest heaved, his hands shooting down to her hips. She grasped him and guided him where she needed him to be. He twisted beneath her and she eased her hips slowly down over him, drawing him all the way inside. His breath groaned out and he opened his eyes. Her heart lurched. There was something else in his eyes now, something wholly dangerous, a lethal edge of…what? Oh, God, a need for
her
that struck a resounding chord inside her, that reached out and pulled her deep into those intense depths, and she got lost, so lost.

Body shaking, lips trembling, she held that passionate gaze, held on to it tightly, and her mouth dipped down as she slid along his thick hard-on. Her breath eased out of her tight chest. He opened his mouth over hers, kissing her so tenderly, so softly, sending little shockwaves through her, heating her core into a tight knot of delicious, agonizing pleasure.

His tongue slid into her mouth and she sucked on him, making him groan deep in his chest, his hips thrusting up as she slowly descended. The pleasure exploded along her nerve endings. Never had she felt so close to a man she had just met, a shocking intimacy that found its way through that crack she’d allowed in her armor. This gentle, beautiful warrior.

“Harper,
awww…babe
.” He twisted beneath her, his breathing labored. She could tell by his soft moans and his rapid breathing that he was close, really close. She rode him faster as the intensity of her release slammed into her and the spasms started in an ecstatic rush of deep contractions. He thrust hard into her. With a soft cry, he jackknifed and moaned as he climaxed.

She collapsed against him, their labored breathing the only sound in the room. She started to slip off him, worried about his shoulder and his hip, but his arms wrapped around her and held her in place.

He buried his face in the hollow of her shoulder, rubbing his face against her. She wanted to savor the magic for hours, didn’t want to move at all, but they had to. Damn Tripp.

After a moment, she pushed up on her elbows and stared down into his dark eyes. “Now it’s time to pay the piper.”

He sighed. He wrapped a wet lock of her hair around his finger. “Have you dated him?”

She kissed his forehead, trying to avoid the question.

“Harper?”

“Yes, dammit, I’ve dated him. It was before I knew what he really wanted. I thought…it doesn’t matter what I thought. I was wrong.” She thought he would be the man she could have had a deep, abiding relationship with, but he’d proved another big disappointment. Now that she had Caleb to compare to him, she understood why.

His eyes hardened. “I don’t like it that he hurt you.”

“He didn’t exactly hurt me. I would have to had some feelings for him and, believe me, my heart never took that trip.”

He tugged on her hair, bringing her mouth closer to his, brushing his lips against hers. She pressed a kiss to that sexy mouth. “He’s no damn prince.”

“What about you?”

“I’m more like the court jester here.”

She laughed. This man…this
wonderful
man…made her want things with him that were so complicated. She sighed. “We’d better get going.”

He nodded and kissed her several more times before letting her go.

“I’ll go down the hall and get you some dry clothes. Blow dry your hair while I’m gone.”

When she got back, his hair was dry. The impact of him hadn’t lessened. Even in the expansive space of her bedroom he seemed to take up all the available space and oxygen. She handed him the articles of clothing, but didn’t let go.

He gave her a wry smile. “Can’t get dressed if you don’t let go, princess.”

She sighed heavily. “You should be arrested.”

“For what?” he said.

“The way you look…it’s criminal.”

He stepped closer to her, that sinful smile turning into a knowing grin. “You going to cuff me, lady? Make a citizen’s arrest?”

“Don’t tempt me.”

Parting her robe, he slid his arm behind her back, jerking her forward and up against his naked body so that they were skin-to-skin close. He touched her hair, then leaned down and kissed her, firmly, deeply. The clothes dropped to the rug as her hands came up to brace gently on his heavy chest muscles. His mouth was demanding and still a bit needy. And she lost herself in the heat of him. Was this what it was like to swoon? She swayed against him, her knees going weak.

When he leaned back, she said, “Okay, can I borrow your cuffs? Now?”

“Don’t think so. I have a feeling I wouldn’t get outta here anytime soon.” He thickened his Bronx accent and wiggled his eyebrows.

“You really did earn your badge.”

He laughed and dipped down and picked up the clothes. He held up the jeans. “Can’t your brother afford jeans that aren’t ripped?”

“They came that way.”

He shook his head and slipped them on, more careful of his shoulder this time.

“If Tripp sees you like this, will he ask questions?”

Caleb shrugged. “I don’t give a damn what he thinks.”

“I do. I don’t want this to affect your job. I know for a fact that Tripp can be a vindictive bastard when he doesn’t get his way.”

“Ah, you do know him.”

“I’ll get your clothes back to you.”

“We good?” He didn’t move. Just stared down into her eyes and something inside her shifted again. The concern and remorse for upsetting her were there in his eyes. This tough-as-nails man was simply melting her resolve to keep this unemotional.

“Yes, I think so. Damn good, in fact.”

He smirked. “No, you? Us?

“Yes, I just thought you were…”

“No Harper, I wouldn’t ever think that about you.”

She nodded.

“I’m sorry I made you cry. I can’t handle that.”

She laughed. “I don’t cry often, if that helps.”

“It doesn’t.”

“Jeffrey is probably working on the limo in the parking garage. Today’s his scheduled maintenance day. There’s a back service elevator that will take you away from the library.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. I am. Wonderful, in fact.”

“You sure?

“Yes, go. Oh, and take this,” she pushed an envelope into his hand.