No Reason to Run (14 page)

Chapter 23

The muffled knock
came after Chloe drifted off. Olivia hesitated before she approached the door
and placed her palm on the edge. “Yes.”

“Open the door,
Olivia.”

Oh, God. Her lower
region clenched. The husky order brought back all of her arousal which had only
dimmed slightly after her orgasm. She opened the door a crack. Shane leaned
against the door way, one arm braced above where her head reached. Hunger
darkened his eyes to gunmetal.

“Come to my room,
princess.”

Olivia licked her
lips. “Look, the thing in the kitchen was a mistake.”

“You mean when I
fingered you and sucked you off?” His gaze strolled leisurely up and down her
frame. Olivia used one hand to tug on the hem of her pajama shorts. “It didn’t
feel like a mistake and you certainly didn’t taste like one.”

He squeezed an arm
through the opening and ran his thumb over her mouth. Olivia jumped. Christ,
how did he do this to her? “Shane.”

“Don’t say no,” he
interrupted. “Come to my room tonight. Let me have this with you.” Olivia’s
nipples puckered beneath her tank drawing his attention. His hand dropped back
to brace along the door. “I promise to make it good for you.”

The husky tone
backed the verbal promise. “It was,” she blurted, “good, I mean.” She lowered her
voice and checked over her shoulder at a sleeping Chloe.

“I’ll have you back
before she wakes up.”

She shouldn’t. As a
mother, she needed to make the right decision.

“Don’t say no.”

Why did he have to
look so appealing? Those smoldering eyes and the slight flare of his nostril as
if he scented her body lotion.

“Yes.”

His eyes closed
briefly then sprang open and he straightened from his lean in the doorway.
“Come on.” He reached out his hand and Olivia accepted as she closed her
bedroom door behind her.

“I need-”

“I have the back-up
system in my room. We’ll know if she wakes.”

What was it with him
and cameras? “Fine.” Why resist what her body demanded? His large hand held
tight to hers as they made their way to his room. Shane used his free hand to
close the bedroom door behind them. As soon as the latch clicked, he pounced.

Her body was turned
and pushed against the wall. She felt the cool of the wood door on her back and
the hot heat of the male along her front. A shudder racked her frame. “Shane,”
she squeaked.

“I’ve waited all day
for this.” Shane reached up and buried his hand in her hair.

His grip tight
enough to tingle her scalp but not enough to cause true pain. Olivia braced her
hands on his shoulders and arched her neck back. His face loomed close enough
for her to see the darker rings of gray surrounding the light gray pupils. No
wonder his eyes always seemed to change colors, they were two distinct shades
of gray.

“I don’t know what
it is about you, princess, but I can’t stop thinking about getting you in my
bed and fucking you hot and hard all night.”

She flinched from
his harsh voiced desire but her nipples hardened and her panties were
practically soaked. The image he provoked stirred her own desire further. She
wanted him in the worst possible way. Clearing her throat, she found the
strength to remind him of his words earlier. “It’s not rocket science. We want
each other. Have since the first night in your kitchen.”

Shane stiffened but
kept his gaze on her while she spoke. Olivia forced the next words out. “We
just need to get it out of our system.”

“Get it out of our
system?” he repeated as his other hand came up to cup her breast.

Olivia trembled. She
couldn’t read his expression. “Yes.”

“Lady, it would take
more than a night but I’m game if you are.” Without waiting for her response,
he hefted her in his arms, securing her close to his chest and carried her to
the giant king size bed dominating the masculine navy blue décor.

Olivia’s back hit
the bed softly. Raw need was etched with desire on his face while he unfastened
his jeans. Her gaze remained on him as he lowered them to reveal his hard
length. No underwear. Olivia swallowed at her first full view of him. Good to
know he was large all over. A blush heated her cheeks but she didn’t look away.

His trim waist
narrowed to thighs that rippled when he stepped from his clothes. The masculine
tip of him bobbed as he approached the bed. Unashamed of his naked physique, he
joined her. Olivia pulled off her top and pushed down her shorts. She inhaled
sharply as he crawled over her and hovered above as soon as she settled back.
His breath fanned her cheeks. “Do I need to remind you to be quiet?”

Olivia stiffened and
felt the blush work its way down her neck and across her shoulders. Damn him,
her moans had been quite loud. She stared into his eyes debating how to answer
when she caught the trace of humor reflected there. “Bastard,” she whispered
and rolled her eyes. “Maybe I need to remind you not to be loud.”

Shane looked
intrigued and leaned back on his elbows, his body braced to keep his weight
from her. “Do you think you’ll need to?” He allowed a slow roll of his hips
causing Olivia to gasp. “I’m a trained professional. Our government put me
through simulated torture sessions that would make you have nightmares,
princess. I can keep my mouth closed under pressure. I won’t break.”

Olivia frowned and
tried to focus on his words when his body felt amazing against hers. His words
challenged her to push him beyond his tough guy façade. “I’m not your enemy.”

She searched his
face and the sexy twinkle in his eyes dared her to continue. Two could play
this game. Olivia hoped she hid the thoughts racing through her mind. She’d
never played in the bedroom like this. Definitely not with Brian. Tonight she’d
take what she wanted. Enjoy this moment for the pleasure it offered. In the
morning she’d have no regrets.

“Lie back,” she
ordered.

Shane snorted. “I
don’t think it works that way.” His face lowered and he brushed his lips
against hers. “Make me.” A stroke of his tongue and a nip parted Olivia’s
mouth.

The opening provided
him the chance to slide his tongue further in her mouth. He stroked his tongue
against her own in a teasing motion that invited her to explore. Olivia’s hands
came up to loop around his neck and pull him closer until his chest pressed
against hers. His lower half followed and the thick bulge of his erection
rested against her thigh.

When their lips slid
apart, she murmured her daring proposition, “It works exactly that way. How
else can you prove how well you hold up against torture?”

His dark brow hiked
up, conveying surprise at her bold challenge. “What are you asking, princess?”

Faced with the
moment, she flushed but she managed to push out her request. “After the kitchen
it would only be fair play if I got to return the favor.” She could handle
giving a guy oral sex. She’d enjoyed the intimate act in her teens but had
never felt comfortable enough with Brian to offer. Then again with his
conservative approach to their sex life, she shouldn’t use it as a comparison.

Shane didn’t
immediately refuse. Emboldened, she continued. “I get five minutes.” Adding a
time constraint might make him more amendable. The more she thought on it the
more she determined to follow through on this. “Five minutes of you on your
back, letting me have my way.”

Those gray eyes
she’d once thought of as cold studied her for an eternity. Heat flickered and
began to grow within their depths. “Okay but no blindfolds, no restraining my
body and if I tell you to stop you cease whatever you’re doing immediately.”

His response
surprised her. “What if you’re saying stop during…” she broke off and hated the
blush that burned its way down her body.

Shane brushed back a
lock of her hair, his hand lingering near her temple. “I won’t be saying stop
to that.” He flipped them easily. One minute she was under him and the next he
lay on the bottom and she sprawled across his chest. “Those precautions are for
your safety. Some of my reactions are ingrained too deeply for me to turn them
off.” His hands stroked down her back. “This is for pleasure. I don’t want to
hurt you.”

Shane would never
hurt a woman physically. She didn’t have to know him long enough to come to
that conclusion. “Alright. But keep your hands by your head and don’t move.”

“Wait.” He leaned
over and fumbled in his nightstand. When his hand pulled back she recognized
the foil packets.

“Do your worst,” he
invited and the husky words released the last of Olivia’s reserve.

She leaned back and
looked over him. The powerful chest even more impressive up close. Ribbed
muscles covered his abdomen and each of the six-pack clenched and released
under her eyes. Her hands moved of their own accord and caressed the heated
flesh.

The body beneath her
tensed. Olivia looked up but his eyes remained on her face. He’d placed his
hands behind his head and the position outlined the thick coil and bulge of his
biceps. A surge of arousal dampened her thighs. Needing to see more, she
scooted further down his tall frame.

The hardness between
them throbbed. She stroked his flesh firmly and smiled when his hips arched.
“Is this for me?” Olivia didn’t expect an answer and continued to rub him
within her grip. His body responded with a pearly drop of fluid on the tip.

Taking her time,
Olivia maintained eye contact with Shane while she lowered her head. She laved
the mushroom top with a soft glide of her tongue then sucked the head. He
hissed and the muscles of his legs bunched beneath her. Olivia moved her mouth
up and down his length in a sensuous dance. His musky scent teased her and she
couldn’t help inhaling deeply when she came up. He throbbed in her hand and she
firmed her hold as she once again took him deep. Every arch and gasp fueled her
pleasure and desire.

Moisture trickled
down her thighs as she worked his thickness in and out her mouth. Within
minutes, his eyes lowered releasing her from his intent stare but his body
strained upward. The hands behind his head fisted and the veins of his throat
displayed prominently when his head twisted to the side on the pillow. Olivia
released him with a pop.

The sound that
escaped his mouth wasn’t quite a groan but his teeth clamped down hard on the
noise. A wicked smile curved her lips. She reached for the condom and opened it
quickly. Stretching it over his length while she continued to play and touch at
her leisure increased her arousal.

Sweat beaded his
upper lip and she knew her touch strained his control. “How are you holding
up?”

Her hands never
stopped their fluid pumping motion when she asked the question. Shane’s eyes
opened to slits before he tilted his head downward to glare. “According to my
clock, you have two minutes left. Better make them count.”

Olivia’s heart
leaped in her throat. “I plan to.” Making her decision, she scooted up until
her hips aligned with his. She waited until he watched her closely before
lowering herself over his erection. The pressure had her biting her bottom lip
but she didn’t stop until she was seated and the twinge of unused internal
muscles clenched tight around him.

Chapter 24

If there was a God
in Heaven, Shane hoped he looked down upon him with favor at the rigid skill it
required for him not to thrust and take over. Olivia’s body rose slowly before
lowering again with devastating effect. One minute. She had one more minute
then he’d show her the repercussions for a princess who felt the need to tease.

Her breathy moan as
she began to rock faster almost broke his control. Shane focused on thoughts of
anything else besides the beautiful woman riding his dick. He mentally field
stripped his favorite Glock and re-assembled it. Her wetness seeped between
them and the warm grip of muscle locked on him.

Shane fisted his
hands to restrain the urge to grab her hips and move her faster. Her head
tipped back thrusting those pert breasts right at him. Mauve colored nipples
tightened to buds and his mouth watered. Shane switched to thoughts of practice
maneuvers in a hostage situation. Step-by-step, he detailed the process and
blocked out the image of the beauty before him. She hovered over his tip on one
tantalizing stroke and then came down with a twist of her hips.

Fuck. No more.
“Time’s up.” His hands came up to clasp her waist and he flipped them. He
reached down and grabbed her legs to pull them up. When he felt the flex and
give of her thighs, Shane entered her in one smooth plunge. Soft, familiar and
wet. Her moan flowed like music to his ears.

Leaning down, he
whispered in her ear. “Remember to be quiet, Olivia.”

Her heels thumped
his ass and Shane found himself smiling. In retaliation she did something
amazing with her inner muscles and Shane arched back from the massaging grip on
his dick. “Fuck, yeah.” He had no patience left for finesse and let his body
speak for him. Every downward stroke brought a wave of pressure that had him
throbbing in her core.

Olivia’s hands held
the back of his neck, pulling him close. Her plump breasts pressed flush
against his chest. Her nipples stabbed at him like hard pebbles. “You have the
most responsive nipples.”

Another moan from
her and Shane sensed the tingle at the base of his spine. He knew he was close.
Too close. She gave excellent head. A quick check on her expression showed she
was just as ready. Thank fuck. “Come on. Let me feel you come, Olivia. Give it
to me.”

Olivia’s eyes closed,
her mouth pulled in a grimace and her moans increased in volume. Shane shifted
the tempo of his hips and fucked her harder. He must have hit her sweet spot
because her keening cry followed. Hearing the sounds of her pleasure spurred
him. He increased his pace, driving forward until his balls screamed in pain
and finally he came. Blistering heat cascaded through him.

Shane continued to
pump after his release, the clasp of her warm center milking him until he felt
drained. His breath billowed from his chest in harsh rasp as he tried to slow
his pulse and get himself together. He lowered his head next to hers on the
pillow with a groan. Fuck him, it shouldn’t feel this good no matter how long
he’d been without a woman. The hands at his nape became soothing and trailed
down his spine.

He bit back another
curse as the tremors continued to roll across his skin. His hips rocked against
hers, setting off minor shivers in the body beneath him. It felt beyond good.
Gradually, her legs fell to the bed and her touch slowed. “Okay?” he managed.

“Yes.” The slight
slur to her voice puffed his chest with pride. He wasn’t the only one impacted
by what they’d done.

“Anytime you want to
test your tax dollars at work, you have my permission.”

Shane winced after
he made the comment and then heard her chuckle.
“Of course. Thank you for the free pass.”

He smiled and rolled
over. The sheets were twisted around them. After some maneuvering, he got up
and went to the bathroom to deal with the condom. When he returned, she hadn’t
moved. He climbed in the bed behind her and his arm banded around her waist. No
explanation came to mind when he tried to figure out what made her different
and why he felt this compelling drive to protect and have her. With each
passing hour he dropped deeper into this need for her.

“I have to get back
to Chloe.”

Did he hear a touch
of reluctance? Shane tightened his hold. “I’ll wake you.” He wanted her close a
little longer. The scent of her filling his nostrils and the warm slightly damp
heat of her skin pressed to his.

He stayed up long
enough to sense when the body beside him slackened in sleep. Shane enjoyed the
quiet. Listening to her breathe lulled him to sleep. His eyes started to close
when his cell buzzed. Shane arched an arm behind him and grabbed his phone.
“Mitchell.”

“Shane, it’s Aidan.
Got your message.”

Shit. “Hang tight.”
Shane eased his weight from Olivia and climbed from the bed. He searched the
floor and snagged his jeans. Once dressed, he went into his master bath and
closed the door behind him. “Okay, man. I’m clear.”

“Before you share
what you got, I wanted to tell you, we ID’ed the bomber as Joseph A. Baker.”

Shane rubbed the
back of his neck. “I’ll have to check with Olivia to see if it means anything.”

“That’s a good idea.
We got a general background,” Aidan continued. “Down on his luck electrician.
Accepted a grand from Robert Haynes and deposited the money in his account that
morning. Another deposit was made directly after the bombing.”

“Do you think his
death played into the mix?”

“Your sources are as
good as mine. Haynes wouldn’t have left a live witness to that transaction. If
not the incident at the bus station, another accident would have befallen Mr.
Baker. Poor fool trusted the wrong person.”

News like this piled
up on a plate that was already full. “I’ve tightened the net around her and her
daughter. There’s a possibility trouble my knock right on my doorstep.”

Shane heard Aidan’s
sigh. “I’m gonna need to question her again, Shane. This isn’t something I can
sweep under the rug.”

“Yeah, appreciate
the heads up.”

“Anything you can
share with me up front,” Aidan asked.

Shane knew this
situation placed Aidan in a tough spot. As the Sheriff he had a job to do for
his badge but his faith in Shane rode deep. “Her ex-husband’s high visibility.
He wants to put a lock down on her and the kid.”

“Any reason why?”

That wasn’t Shane’s
story to share though he’d love to accidently spread the bit of messy business.
The only thing holding him back was the fact that Olivia and Chloe would get caught
in the thick of the fall out. “Need to know.”

“Damn. Alright, I’ll
try not to dig too deep. Tomorrow too soon for you?”

Thoughts swirled in
Shane’s mind. He’d manage and make sure none of this stuck to Olivia. “I have
two guys from my team here helping on my end.”

“Don’t do anything
that puts you in my sights, buddy.”

Shane laughed.
“You’ll never know. Don’t worry, Aidan. This won’t roll back on you.”

“Later.”

***

Olivia must have
fallen asleep. The persistent buzz of her cell pulled her from the restful
dreams. A glance at his alarm clock showed it was a little after midnight.
Three hours of uninterrupted sleep. She’d never come like that in her life. Not
even in the kitchen earlier. Shane’s arm around her waist became iron-clad as
he leaned over and reached for the phone she’d sat on his nightstand. She
wondered if he’d slept at all. Thoughts of Brian and memories of where she was
flooded back. “Shane, don’t.”

Too late. His face
had the dark look she was beginning to associate with him when he became angry.
“He’s texting you to call him right back.”

Olivia eased a
calming breath though her pulse kicked up a notch. No longer did she have the
safety of believing Brian wouldn’t hurt her. His calls, these attacks, it all
clearly reflected his growing lack of control. “I’ll ignore him.”

Shane sat up and
handed her the phone. “No. Text him that you want to talk.”

Olivia accepted her
phone and pulled the sheet up over her chest. With passion no longer blinding
her actions, she was overcome with a sense of vulnerability. “He’ll want me to
call him directly.”

“Text him.”

Heaving a sigh, she
sent Brian a quick text. He responded instantly for her to call him. She turned
the phone toward Shane with a now what expression.

“We end this now.
Tell him to meet you.”

Was he kidding? “You
can’t expect him to drop everything and fly to Virginia.”

Shane sat up and she
realized he had his jeans on. When had he dressed and how did she sleep through
it? “He won’t need to. My guess is he’s already here or close by.”

Olivia gathered the
sheet closer suddenly uncomfortable with her nudity in Shane’s bed. “What makes
you say that?”

He turned to face
her, head angled down and touched her face. For once she didn’t let the
distraction of his bare chest pull her away from the conversation.

“It’s the next
logical step. He’s sent men after you three times. He knows where you are. It
stands to reason that he’d want a face to face confrontation since everything
else has failed.”

Olivia dialed even
as Shane spoke. Brian picked up with a snappy. “Olivia, this disappearing act
of yours is ridiculous. We need to talk.”

She glanced at
Shane, reassured by his presence. “You’ll have to come to me, Brian. Chloe and
I aren’t coming back right now.”  Brian’s instant agreement proved Shane right.

“Name a time and
place. I really need to speak with you. We can put this behind us.”

Olivia muffled the
phone and spoke to Shane. “He wants to meet right away.”

Shane’s expression
glowed with satisfaction. “Have him meet you in town.” His voice lowered to a
murmur. 

“Brian, I can meet
you tomorrow. I’m in Harmony. It’s a small town…”

Her ex cut her off.
“I know where it is.”

 His words sent a
chill down Olivia’s spine. “Okay. There’s a coffee shop. It’s the only one
here. Meet me there at two.” Shane nodded his head and twirled his finger for
her to end the call.

“Two. I’ll be
there.”

Olivia ended the
call and contemplated her next words. “Why would you be certain he knows where
I am?”

Shane’s eyes met
hers and she faced the neutral gray stare of a stranger not the man who’d
brought her such pleasure. “Because Striker found the tracker your ex placed in
your phone.”

“Oh God.” Olivia
stomach knotted. She tossed the phone to the floor and hopped from the bed,
sheet tangling around her feet. “A tracker?” Her gaze landed on the phone in
distaste.

Shane nodded and a
bubble of fear rose up. She searched frantically for her clothes and yanked her
arms and legs through the appropriate holes.

“Olivia. Olivia,
calm down.”

Olivia paused, her
chest rising rapidly. Shane had both her hands in his, careful of her bruises
and squeezing her palms lightly. “Take a breath and relax. I promised you he
wouldn’t hurt you and that’s not going to change. I don’t break my promises.”

“Okay, right. Okay.”
Shane was right. Nothing would happen to her. “I need to get back to my room.
Chloe.”

His hand reached up
to grip her neck. The firm pressure blocked any further thoughts of Brian from
her mind. “Sleep. Tomorrow we’ll address this. If you want me I’m only across
the hall.”

She managed a grin.
“Knock first, don’t come in.” She quoted back his words from the first night.

His stern features
eased. “I didn’t think you were listening.” He loosened his hold and Olivia
made short work of returning to the room she shared with her daughter.

She paused at the
door. “Thank you, Shane. For everything.” Olivia didn’t bother waiting for his
response. She hustled across the hall glad no one caught her doing the
semi-walk of shame.