Inside Out (17 page)

As an answer, Shane’s hands stole to her bottom and pulled her onto his groin, his penis already hard. Without taking his eyes off hers, his fingers found her entrance, caressing the ridge back and forth, and she gasped, pushing herself up against him.

He nudged her away, but only far enough for his hand to continue his search. “This is what we have, see? Chemical reaction. I touch you, you get wet. I fuck you; you come. Simple.” Olivia frowned, and he chuckled. “Chemistry, baby, nothing else. Don’t be fooled. I’m not the man you want outside of a bed.”

She stared at him, stunned. Tears welled up in her eyes as the realization hit her, and she cried, “Why, because I’m not your precious Olivia! This is what I am, Shane. Take it or leave it. I can’t be cleaned up. Ever. I will always be Hunter Orlando.”

When he said nothing, she turned and fled to the guestroom and threw herself on the bed. It was useless. He’d never understand, let alone believe her. He would never ever see past Hunter’s life choices. He would never see that deep down inside she was his loving wife. And now, she knew, Shane only wanted to get rid of her because she made him feel guilty. As if he could be purged of his lust by throwing her into jail. He would never be convinced. When she’d cried herself out, Shane knocked on the door.

Olivia dashed the back of her hand across her nose and cheeks. “Come in.”

Pale and grave, he stepped around the door. “I’m sorry I acted like that. I didn’t mean it.”

She bounced off her elbows into a sitting position and turned on him. “Which part exactly? The fact that Olivia was better than me, or that you could never
stoop
to love someone like me?”

His eyes narrowed dangerously. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Olivia crossed her arms in front of her chest. “About the fact that you’ve never asked me out. Not once. Why would you?”

Shane sighed, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, Hunter. I didn’t mean any of it. I don’t want to lose you.”

“You mean you don’t want to lose a great fuck.”

Shane dipped his head. “I’m sorry I made it look that way. But you’re not just that.”

“Ha,” she snorted.

Shane walked over to the bed and knelt before her on the plush carpet. “I’ve been through hell the past fourteen months. Please bear with me.”

“And then what?”

“I can’t promise you anything right now. I’m sorry. I’m too messed up. I wouldn’t recognize happiness if it clocked me in the face.”

Olivia snickered.

Shane smiled and he reached up to cup her chin. “That’s better. Come on, put your best dress on, Nellie. I’m taking you to the best restaurant in town.”

She stared at him. “But what about the shepherd’s pie?”

“We can have it for lunch tomorrow. For now, I want to show my girl off to everybody in town.”

“Your—your girl?” she gasped, her heart beating against her ribcage.

“For a start. If you’ll still have me.”

For a start? “Oh, Shane,” was all she could say. For now.

Chapter Nineteen

What an asshole he was, the way he’d talked to her, pretending there was nothing between them but sex. He cringed as he remembered the look in her eyes when he’d said,
I fuck you; you come. Simple.
And she’d believed him, every single word. The hurt look in her eyes had killed him, but he’d kept on going, just to protect himself from his feelings. Jerk. And then she’d forgiven him, just like that. Because he’d asked her to. Shit. She did love him. It hadn’t just been one of those moments. Now what?

He put in a few pence into one of the few phone booths left in Ilfracombe and waited to hear Alfie’s voice.

“Has she confessed yet?”

“Alfie, it’s only been a few days.”

“Two days, you said. Get your finger out, mate. Time’s of the essence.”

“What the hell, she’s a woman, not a robot.”

“No, she’s a criminal. If anyone knows something about Randy’s gang, it’s her, believe you me.”

What did Shane know about Hunter? Nothing, except for the fragrance of her skin and the feeling of her body against his. And that she loved him. She hadn’t lied about that. He felt it.

Shane groaned. “Right. I’ll keep you posted.”

“Wait. I had some of my men snoop around her place this morning.”

“Alfie, what the f—”

“And they found a key with the number seventeen on it.”

“So?”

“We figure it’s for a safety deposit box. At this very moment my men are checking airports, gyms, everywhere there are safe-deposit boxes, and when we find it we’ll know what she’s up to.”

Shane’s jaw clenched in an involuntary movement. Alfie was obsessed. If only he’d stop and let it be. She was innocent, for Christ’s sake. “Right. Gotta go, Alfie.”

“Cheers, mate. And don’t think all the lads here don’t appreciate the sacrifices you’re making.”

“Sod off,” Shane answered and hung up.

He’d never been good at lying, and now that he was relieved to have let Hunter into his life, albeit a little at a time, he was terrified. There were still so many issues to solve, and it all depended on her now. He’d told her he’d be there for her no matter what. To Shane it was like a confession in blood.

He was the man of her dreams, she’d said. He was falling hard too. No matter what he did. He hadn’t expected that to happen.

* * *

“Hunter, I’m back,” he called as he closed the front door, feeling the same way he did when Olivia used to meet him in the hall, all smiles, to welcome him back home with a kiss.

But Hunter didn’t answer, and his heart fell. He knew she had gone. Like when she’d fled from his boat. Minus the kid with the gun. He called her mobile. Nothing. He hadn’t said “I love you, too,” and for that, he’d lost her.

Shane’s shirttails flapped in the wind as he stood in his front yard overlooking the beach. Seagulls rode the wind as the wild waves lapped at the golden, sandy beach. Behind, the green hills towered high above the bay, and a string of colorful beach huts dotted the shore. He breathed in the salty air, but no respite came from it.

Everything was shit now, with Hunter gone and Alfie on his back. He couldn’t help her if she stayed in incognito. Had she lied when she said she loved him? And now what was he supposed to do with all that stuff broiling inside him, all those emotions that she set off inside him? Damn her.

Then, in the distance, he spotted her long hair billowing in the wind.

“Hunter,” he called, half furious half relieved. “Where have you been? Are you okay?”

She stopped at the front gate, her eyes questioning. “I went for a walk. What’s wrong?”

Had she followed him? She couldn’t have heard his phone call. If she had, she would have bolted like the first time. She still didn’t fully trust him. He had to make her understand he would be her only hope when Alfie came down on the gang very soon.

Shane searched her face, serene and open. No trace of diffidence left, while his soul hung heavy with deceit. She had trusted him enough to come out here, and he had led her to slaughter like the proverbial lamb.

“Come on inside. It’s getting dark.”

They ambled up the steps, his arm wrapped around her. She rested her head against his shoulder.

Only last night, they’d had mad sex. He’d devoured her, licked, nibbled, and sucked every gorgeous inch of her. He grinned at the love-bites on his own neck and shoulders and God knew what his back and ass looked like.

But what captivated him were those enormous amber eyes and the thick, long lashes that fanned the smooth, high cheekbones. He hadn’t crazy-desired a woman,
really
wanted one, since Olivia. Everyone else between Olivia and Hunter Orlando had disappeared instantly—erased, and Shane found himself wanting to pick Hunter up and crawl into bed with her.

Under the dress, her nipples poked through, and Shane could already feel his body react. Everything about her attracted him, from the honey skin he loved to kiss, to the satin hair, and the lithe body he would kill to touch again.

She reminded him of Olivia. Her eyes most of all, with the same twinkle, the same loving light. Hunter had changed these past few weeks. She was no longer that sexy bombshell shamelessly flirting with him across the waves on her boat. That woman had disappeared the moment she’d hit the water; he could sense it.

Shane gently played with her hair as she watched in dreamy silence. Then he nuzzled her neck, feeling her shiver as he pulled her closer to him, his arm secure around her waist.

He cupped her face and he kissed her, lightly at first, then deeper, lifting her onto his lap. They kissed and caressed for long moments, and the room echoed with the sound of their lips smacking and sucking. He wanted her badly again. He didn’t know how this would end, but he would remember her breath on his forehead, her supple frame against his, warming him, body and soul.

And then that familiar, disturbing chant began. Shane stopped to look down at her, puzzled. It seemed to be coming
from
her, but her lips were slightly parted, her tongue licking the droplets of sweat on her upper lip as her breasts rose and fell with her now-shallow breathing. She rose to her knees, and in the dying light spilling through the picture window, she caught her breath, and she pulled her dress over her head with a soft swoosh. He threw it aside as the thousand questions in his mind dissolved.

He lowered his lips to hers, his eyes lost on her face. She reached out and caressed his chest through his shirt, her fingers lingering on his nipples.

“You drive me crazy,” he said, closing his eyes to enjoy the sensation of her hands on him. He hadn’t been so elated, so exhilarated by a woman since—well, Olivia. But Shane’s feelings for Hunter, he now knew, were beyond madness, beyond any explanation.

As he watched, she placed her slender hands on his shoulders. The contact was surreal. Could this exotic angel be a criminal? He exhaled as she unbuttoned his shirt and their eyes held.

“I want you like never before,” he growled as she now ran her fingers up and down his bare arms.

“I want you too, Shane,” she whispered and crept up his thighs to place herself in his lap, her dark lips caressing his earlobe, her warm breath sending shivers down his spine. “Make love to me, Shane,” she pleaded, molding her breasts to his chest, and Shane’s mouth instantly sought the silkiness of her shoulder, his fingers playing with her lace strap. “I can’t wait. Please…”

As he watched, transfixed, Hunter pulled at her own straps, the gown catching on her nipples, and Shane instinctively ducked his mouth to those dark tips, first one, then the other. She tasted amazing, sweet, warm, silky. Just like Olivia.

The need began to pound in his cock, and he could feel it move, lengthening toward her as his mouth continued to suckle her breasts, his teeth grazing her nipples, his tongue flicking over and over the delicate buds as he fought his instinct to swallow her whole. He looked down and beautiful blue eyes shined up at him instead of amber, begging him, like she had from the bottom of the river, only this time she was alive—his woman, his love. Forever.

“Oh, Livvy,” he pleaded, his hands now searching her thighs. “I need to be inside you. Now.”

“And I—I need you, Shane,” she whispered back, opening her legs to him completely.

In the dim light, Shane studied her still astride him, but poised as if ready to flee. His hands settled on her hips as his mouth neared hers. Her plea had made him lose his head. Yes, he wanted to make her lose her mind tonight, like never before.

He flipped her onto her stomach and pulled her up onto her knees, nudging them apart with his. Her beautiful ass wriggled before him and he grew harder as he squeezed one cheek, his other hand stroking toward her front until he found that special spot between her legs.

“Oh,” she moaned, grinding against his probing fingers and he slid them in and out as his thumb circled over her clit. She threw her head back and he watched, mesmerized, her silky, black hair as it cascaded down her back and parted again, leaving her back bare. He leaned forward and traced his tongue along the knots in her spine, licking each one, deliberately, as his fingers made her buck.

“Please…” she whimpered, pushing her pussy into his hands.

“Please what, Hunter?” He grated through clenched teeth, stilling his hand.

“Fuck me, Shane.
Now
.”

Shane grunted his approval, her wanton command making him incapable of an answer. He was close to losing it. He wanted to be inside this beautiful woman now, too. He wanted to feel her pussy gripping his cock. He moved toward her entrance, and she mewled in anticipation. Without entering her, he rubbed it against her labia, over and over again, until her moistness pooled onto him, covering the head. She moaned and he gripped her hip to still her while he entered as slowly as he could, enjoying her pleas.

Shane rained kisses along her back again, then pulled her up to sit on his lap, her back to him, and she gripped his thighs to lever herself up and down quickly along his shaft. She lifted herself until only the tip of him was inside her, and then she came down as far as she could, over and over as he whispered sweet nothings into her ear. She shivered against his chest, her muscles gripping him until they came, loud and hard, his mind blown to a million pieces.

Only once they were sated, the music in Shane’s ears died down to complete silence.

* * *

Hours later, Shane awoke and found himself alone.
Fuck, what a night.
He’d never been blown away like that before. Ever. He turned to the empty spot in the bed next to him. Now where the hell had she gone? Something told him she wouldn’t be in the kitchen making French toast.

He was wrong. He sauntered downstairs, shirtless and barefoot, and pulled her into his arms. She kissed him thoroughly, and he breathed in the feminine scent, now so familiar he couldn’t remember when it had become a part of him.

He patted her beautiful butt. In her baby blue frock and spatula, she could’ve fooled anybody as the perfect housewife. Soft dresses became her. He noticed that since they’d arrived she’d ditched the leather. Her clothes were classy yet simple, and all her jewelry had disappeared except for tiny diamond studs in her earlobes.