Midnight (McKenna Chronicles Book 1) (34 page)

With
that thought I begin to move, cutting across the street to round the corner en
route to the hotel. Footsteps fall in line with mine; it must be Colin running
to catch up with me after he woke alone. For the fun of it, I pick up my pace
to tease him, make him work for it before he catches me. My breathing spikes as
I push myself even faster, expecting for him to call out in warning when I jump
haphazardly into a side street without stopping for the possibility of oncoming
traffic, yet his voice is silent. I know instantly it's not him. I don't know
who is behind me, but I know for certain it's not Colin. Turning my head
quickly I try to catch a glimpse, but after rounding the corner of a building
there isn't anyone in sight, yet the footsteps echo off the walls of the still
sleeping city.

Driving
even harder, I propel myself the final few blocks to the safety of the hotel,
pumping my legs faster, forcing breath in and out of my lungs to sustain the
pace. The yet to open entrances of shops and businesses become a blur. Glancing
back again I panic when the shadow of a figure turns the corner. The lines are
large, elongated into a grotesquely misshapen man by the rising sun. I thoughtlessly
jump out into the road in front of the hotel. A car horn blares loudly, halting
my progress as the driver screeches to a stop inches from my frozen form. Shit.
Waving a lame apology, I dart the final twenty feet to the hotel entrance,
hands falling to my knees once inside as I begin gasping for air, unable to
manage my racing heart.

Staring
out the door I take in breath after breath. The street is quiet; no one is
walking or running in my wake. I know very well I didn't imagine the sound. The
heavy tread of feet falling in step behind me is still echoing in my ears. With
one last look out the door I turn to the elevators and to Colin, happy to find
peace in our room rather than the streets.

~

It's
not exactly the peaceful homecoming I was hoping for. Colin is pacing with his
phone pressed to his ear as I walk in.

“Phil,
this better not happen again.” His hard, almost frantic eyes find mine.
"No excuses. I've been clear about my expectations, let me state them
again—every minute, every day, no exceptions.” Colin's chest is rising and
falling as if he were out for a jog, but he's only wearing a pair of boxers so
I know that's not the case. Something happened. “No, I haven't. Yes, I
understand it may make things easier, but that's not what I'm paying you for.
I’m sure you can tell by my tone this is of the utmost of importance; I won’t
compromise and I expect the same from you.” After a pause, Colin says, “I’m
trusting you will. Thank you.”

Hanging
up, his eyes don't leave mine as I grab a water from the fridge, drinking it
judiciously while watching his eyes roam over my sweaty body.

“I
went for a run.” I admit the obvious.

"So
I see."

"I
thought maybe I'd be back before you woke."

"You
should have woken me. I would have joined you
in the
hotel gym
,"
he says sarcastically while taking steps toward me. He's angry and I can't tell
if he's upset with me, or the
something
that happened.

"Are
you mad at me?"

"Why
would I be mad at you, Charlie?" His voice is calm, yet I know he's not.
 “You think I'm angry because you left
alone,
" he pauses to
make his point, “in a strange city, without telling anyone where you were
going, how long you would be . . .”

I
interrupt him, stupefied.
I
am the
something
that happened to his
morning. "That's not true, I left you a note."

"A
note? A fucking note, Charlie?" His tone rises and his eyes are flash a
blue I've never seen before. His anger has never been directed at me, not like
this. "I can't find you in a city with millions of people from a God damn
note that doesn't tell me what fucking direction you went in, how long ago you
left, what path you were on! Did you even stop to contemplate the crime rate in
this city, the number of . . ." He shudders, unable to say the words.

"No,
I didn't," I say weakly, remembering the footsteps following behind me at
the end of my run. "I'm sorry; I didn't think you would worry about
me."

Colin's
face is incredulous. Moving so close I have to look up into his eyes, he says,
"Not worry?" The words fall from his tongue as if they're poison.
"Not worry?" he says again, staring into my eyes. "That's all I
do is worry about you, Charlie. My God, do you not know how much I need
you?"

Oh
Lord. His words barely have time to sink in before his mouth is crushing mine.
Melting into him, I wrap my hands into his hair, pulling up and into the haven
of his body. His hands hold my face in place so I can't move away, the anger
radiating into me. I can taste fear on his tongue and he slays me with it. I
match his need, the danger of my thoughtless morning run rolling off of me in
waves. He takes it, takes me until I can't breathe but he doesn't let me go,
punishing my lips with his for the careless worry I caused.

Breaking
away harshly, he presses our foreheads together as we gasp to fill our lungs.
"God damn it, Charlie—don't ever fucking do that again." His mouth
finds mine, this time in a tempered, but passionate kiss that frankly has me
panting harder than my morning run.

He
leads me into the bathroom, turning the shower on hot before beginning to undress
me by peeling my sweaty tank top over my head and removing my bra easily. I’m
completely comfortable with him, not moving to shield my naked body from his
heated stare. His eyes smolder into mine as he drops to his knees to undo the
laces of my running shoes, freeing each foot one at a time. Slowly, his fingers
grip my pants, pulling them to the floor, leaving me in nothing but my lace
panties. Pressing his face against them he breathes into me deeply, and I
literally have to grab onto his head so I don't sway toward the floor. He's so
damn sexy. Slowly, deliberately, Colin peels them off, watching as I begin to
writhe from his hot breath pulsing against the apex of my thighs.

Slipping
out of his boxers as he stands, he wraps his arms around me, pressing our
chests tightly together. With me clinging desperately to his neck, he lifts me
into the shower, my feet dangling freely.

The
water courses over us, cleaning away the anger, the fear, and massaging my sore
muscles. As his sour mood dissipates he leans into the crook of my neck,
holding me close, every now and then kissing or rubbing his nose against my wet
skin. He feels absolutely delicious against my worn body; I could stay here
like this with him forever, content and happy.

After
a few more minutes he sets me on my feet so he can wash my hair, lathering it
with a generous amount of shampoo, moving his fingers with the perfect amount
of pressure against my scalp and through the long curls. Closing my eyes, I
moan tipping my head back into his skillful hands. “This feels good.”

After
he does the same with the conditioner he begins to wash my body, every
available inch. Gliding smoothly over my collarbone and arms with a washcloth
laden with soapy bubbles, he then caresses my breasts one at a time, moving
slowly to tease the tips. I moan again. Across my back and butt, around to my
stomach and then achingly, slowly he moves between my legs, rubbing with an
expert touch. I drop my head against his chest, moving in rhythm with his hand,
tempting, teasing, pushing me to a place I love to be with him.

“Colin,”
I breathe into his neck gripping his shoulders to remain standing. He stops,
suddenly dropping to his knees in front of me to wash my feet and legs. What?
No, he can’t get me going like this and stop. Looking up into my shocked
expression, he says, “Your morning run left us little time for anything but to
dress and leave." He has the audacity to wink, teasing me mercilessly.

“You're
so unfair,” I whine. Standing, he leans in to press a chaste kiss against my
lips and begins to wash himself. “Here let me do that.” I take the washcloth
from him, rubbing him down in the same way he did me, but he snatches my hand
away just as I reach for him, leaving little doubt he'll let me entice him into
my own version of an early morning workout.

Clicking
his tongue, he says, "No time for games, Ms. Carter. We have a speech to
get to."

With
the water off, he wraps me in a soft, white towel. Kissing me, he pulls another
one around his waist before heading into the room to dress. Staggering to the
bed, I fall onto it, overwhelmed by everything that's happened in the last two
hours, culminating into his anger and the real, unfulfilled need I have for
him.

Colin’s
movement as he dries himself is unknowingly sensual and pure torture. After
slipping into his shirt, he looks at me while sliding the silk magenta tie
around his neck, watching me watch him.

“This
tie reminds me of you, Charlie. It keeps you close to my heart when I wear it.”
He smiles a sexy
I’m hot, and I know you want me but you can’t have me
look.
Damn him. My eyes connect with his as I lift from the bed. He wants to play?
Game on.

Slowly
I walk to him, casually dropping the towel from around my breasts. The blue of
his eyes deepens with need as he drinks in every detail of my naked, wet body
until I step in front of him, forcing his eyes to meet mine. With deliberate
care I lift my hands into his wet hair, gently running it through my fingers
only to grip it tight, pulling him to my mouth with force. Our lips mold
perfectly together, moving in pure, heated symmetry for long, intense moments.
My intent is clear. I want him and I make it known. Groaning into his mouth, I
pull my legs up, wrapping them tightly around his backside, pressing into him
as my mouth continues to ravage his. Colin’s answering moan is muffled as I
bite and suck on his bottom lip. His hands become greedy, touching every inch
of my back, one of them rounding to squeeze my breast.

Just
when he’s about to lower me to the bed, his phones starts ringing. He breathes
heavily into my open mouth, pulling away.

“Don’t
answer it,” I whisper, bringing his mouth back to mine.

Chuckling,
he says, “Hold that thought, baby. I have to get this.” He's lost to me, at
least for the moment.

~

According
to the weather channel it’s going to be sunny and warm today so I decide on a
gray pencil skirt and a white button-up sleeveless shirt that looks like a
collared halter from the front, the back mimicking the same neckline. It’s
demure, yet sexy, and I hope Colin notices. I want to drive him crazy today,
like he has done with me by not finishing what he started in the shower.
Smiling, I slip into light pink lace undergarments. He’s finished dressing and
taken his business into the living room of the suite, his voice muted by the
door.

I
smooth my hair out under the blow-dryer, pulling it into a thick ponytail in
the middle of my head and add a touch of eye make-up to enhance the color. My
skin is pale from the long winter; I desperately need to spend a good amount of
time outside, not for a tan, just to get some much-needed vitamin D. I smile
seductively at myself in the mirror, practicing for my encounter with Colin.

With
four-inch heels in place, I saunter into the suite. He glances at me,
continuing with his work, only to quickly look again, this time turning his
whole head in my direction. His eyes widen as they travel from my feet, taking
in every detail to my lips and eyes.
Mmmmm, I think I have his attention
.
I sway my hips as I move past him to look through my camera bag, preparing to
take it and the video recorder as I plan to upload both products to various
sites. I also have another article in the works I want current pictures for.

Digging
through my bag I feel him behind me, his hands resting lightly on my hips, his
mouth brushing against my ear. “What are you doing, Charlie?” His voice is
heavy with need. I smile broadly but straighten it before turning around to
look into his eyes. His hands remain steady on my hips, keeping me close.

“I’m
not sure I understand the question, Colin?” I look at him with a serious, yet
confused expression. Let’s see how good my acting skills are.

“Don’t
play games with me.” He pulls my hips into his erection. “Why are you
purposefully driving me crazy?”

I
laugh. “Baby, I’m not purposefully doing anything, but I’m glad you like what
you see.” I tease, rubbing into his groin.

“How
do you expect me to concentrate today with you in my line of sight?” He doesn’t
sound happy.

“You’ll
find a way; you always do.” I rub my hands over his butt, patting it before
turning to finish packing. He leans down to my shoulder and bites me, hard.
“Ow, did you just bite me?” I’m incredulous as I look back at him.

His
laugh rumbles deep in his chest. “Yes. I’ve wanted to do that since you offered
me your blueberry pancakes the first morning we ate together. I wanted to taste
you then and now that I have I can’t get my fill.”

"Hmmm,
it's nice to know we were on the same page all those weeks ago. Can I offer you
some breakfast now?" This is fun.

Colin’s
eyes darken and his face changes, back to business. “Stop tempting me, Charlie.
I have a lot to do before we arrive this morning and you’re distracting me.”
When he finishes he’s almost pouting. My plan is one hundred percent working on
him,
and
on me. I don’t know if I’ll manage to wait until I’m alone with
him again tonight.

“Yes,
sir, no distracting, sir. I promise.” I almost can’t contain my
laughter—almost. He swats my butt as he moves to sit back on the couch.

~

I
behave myself, for the most part anyway, on the way to a local high school
where Colin is scheduled to begin his day. Students have the day off to allow
for some sort of professional education, which left the school open for his
campaign speech. I haven’t spoken to him in the car, his attention captured by
Evan, the review of his speech and the constant ringing of his phone. I have,
however, had occasion to cross my legs, causing the line of my skirt to lift
mid-thigh as they rest an inch from his. While the SUV maneuvers through the
morning traffic I can’t help but fall into him, our shoulders and arms pressing
together more times than I can count. After a quick turn, the bag at my feet
rolls next to his so I lean over his knees to collect the items splayed on the
floor, my breasts resting against his leg as I do. Finishing my task, I go back
to my work, updating the media sites, paying absolutely no attention to the man
next to me—well, at least by outward appearances I’m not. An unintended
consequence of this taunting game is the highly attuned thrumming of my body.
Every nerve ending is lit with longing. This could be a problem.