Remembering You: Pushing the Boundaries, Prequel (8 page)

Yes.

Her bag slid to the floor with a dull
thud
and she opened her lips to let his tongue stroke inside, moaning as he licked and nibbled at her, the sound echoing in the stairwell.

After a long moment, she pulled back and smiled against his lips. “Is that a gun in your holster, or are you happy to see me?”

He grinned back. “Both.”

“I thought you weren’t allowed to do this while you’re on duty.”

“I got off a few minutes ago,” he replied, kissing her again, softly.

“Too bad I wasn’t there to watch,” she teased.

It took half a second for the meaning to sink in, and then he laughed before pressing a hard kiss to her lips. It shouldn’t have made him so happy to hear her teasing complaint, but the way she had said it made it sound like a foregone conclusion that if he was getting sexual satisfaction from anyone, it would be her.

It might have been unintentional, but it meant something.

He ran his hands over her ass, stroking the firm globes through her skirt. And there was something else under the fabric. Not her panties. What could that be?

As if she’d read his mind, she gave him a coy smile and said, “It’s a garter belt. I prefer to wear stockings…and no panties.”

Holy fuck.
He really could have had her in the kitchen before, simply by pushing up her skirt and thrusting deep.

The temptation was practically killing him.

He groaned and pulled his hands away, backing up a bit so he wouldn’t end up caving and taking her against the wall, gun, badge, radio and all. He’d never had to fight so hard to keep his hands off a woman. Especially a woman who wanted him as badly as she wanted him. He could smell it.

She’d said yesterday it was only one night. That she didn’t want a relationship…while he wanted her for more than sex. He wanted to get to know her. He’d thought of her for too long to let her go now. But he wasn’t sure how to get through to her. So far, sex had been the only thing that loosened her up enough to let him in. He hadn’t wanted to push it but maybe…maybe it was his best option right now. It could be his only option, sure, but then it would still be his best.

It was worth a shot. He reached out and gripped her upper arm, gently holding her in place as he stepped close again, pressing his erection against the fabric of her skirt where it pulled tight between her thighs.

“Does anyone else in this building use the stairs?” he asked, nudging his hips forward and making her gasp.

“No.” She leaned in and nipped at his lip, then added, “And no cameras either.”

Hell yeah
. She got what he was asking. He kissed her again, sliding his tongue deep into her mouth as his fingers walked their way down her legs to grab at the hem of her skirt.

She wriggled against him, the pressure of her body making his cock swell even more.

“Be still.” He growled it against her lips, yanking her skirt up higher, until it was bunched around her waist and he could feel smooth, bare skin against his palms.

She stilled.

Good girl.

He wanted to come all over her. Inside her. But this wasn’t about him. This was about trying to reach Nina in a way that wouldn’t scare her off.

Leaning back a bit, he gripped her upper thighs and slowly pulled them apart, then brought his thumbs together just over her clit and gently pressed. Her hips jerked and a soft puff of air escaped her lips, striking his face and making him wonder what it would feel like if she blew like that over his dick.

Not about you. Not about you.

Still…

He stepped closer, his legs pressing against hers, spreading them farther open. Then he pulled one hand away from her skin to unbutton and unzip his uniform pants, pushing them and his underwear down just enough to take out his cock so that the base of it was level with her clit.

She looked down at the lewd way they were pressed together, then looked back up at him, her eyes practically glittering. “Fuck me,” she whispered, harsh and demanding.

Damn it, he wanted to.

But he shook his head. “Later,” he told her. “If you’re nice to me.”

She opened her mouth as if to argue, but he grabbed her thighs again at the same time that he brought his lips to hers, and her body practically melted against him. His thumbs slid between her legs, stroking the soft skin alongside her opening, and she responded exactly the way he’d wanted her to—by rubbing her clit against his shaft, the head of his cock leaving a growing wet spot on her blouse with every move she made. Their kiss grew hotter as his thumbs slickened with her arousal, and after another minute he twisted one hand upward, pushing two fingers straight into her channel and making her moan.

He pumped in and out of her, slowly, savoring the wet sound of it, until his hand was slippery from her body. Then he pulled away, repositioned them so that her clit was once again pressed against his erection, and brought his arousal-slicked fingers to his cock, smearing the fluid all over it as he stroked himself up and down.

They both stared at it. His painfully hard shaft was sticking straight up between them, his hand rubbing over it in increasingly faster movements.

Okay, so maybe this was also about him, after all. He was going to see this thing through, but he wanted her to come with him.

“Touch yourself,” he demanded, his knuckles grazing the soft skin of her mound, making her breath speed up right before she brought one hand down to circle her clit, her fingers brushing against his thumb, which was still playing between her legs as his other hand jerked his cock even faster. Harder. Rough pulls that she was watching, that she seemed to be getting off on, because her hand was working fast and rough too, her fingernails from time to time catching on the rough hairs at the base of his cock and pushing him even nearer to the edge.

She was so wet.

He was so close…so close…

“I’m
coming
,” she whimpered, arching so hard that he nearly lost his balance but thankfully remained upright, because in the next second he hit his climax too, and he barely had the presence of mind to grab the bottom of his shirt and wrap it over his cock so he wouldn’t leave a mess in the stairwell.

He wasn’t sure how much time passed, with the both of them slumped and panting, but when he finally came back to himself, she was pulling away, smoothing her skirt back down over her thighs and patting at her hair.

He straightened and pushed his damp shirt hem back into his pants, setting himself to rights too.

Well. You wanted to loosen her up with sex. Step one, check. Now what?

“Nina,” he breathed, trying not to sound too blown. He didn’t want her to think his invitation was some kind of afterthought or obligation in response to what they’d just done. “I’ve got to go back to the station and change. It’s a five-minute walk. I can be back here in fifteen. Do you think—?”

But before he could ask her whether she wanted to come over again, she interrupted him. “Do you want to have dinner with me tonight?”

Chapter Ten

Ben was looking at her like she’d sprouted another head.

Considering how she’d been playing him hot and cold these past couple of days, she certainly felt like she had two brains, each wanting completely opposite things and not bothering to communicate with one another.

But before she could take back the offer and blame her invitation on temporary psychosis, he nodded. “Yeah. God. Yeah. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes to pick you up.”

She didn’t even have time to reply before he pressed a quick kiss on her lips and went racing down the stairs. She heard the exit door open and the sound of footsteps running across the lobby, then there was only silence again.

She couldn’t believe she’d asked him to dinner. What happened to not getting involved?

But that had been exactly why she’d suggested it. Things were getting too serious, too fast. She’d wanted to cling to him just now, for God’s sake, after he’d made her come. She wasn’t sure whether she’d be able to keep him away at all if they had sex again. Last night and today it had been too good. Brought them too close.

She
needed
to have dinner with him, because what if they really weren’t compatible outside of bed? What if the brief moments they’d shared so far had been the extent of what they really had in common?

If they sat down and had an actual date, and it was boring, it might help break her of the rather distracting habit of thinking about him every waking moment.

Or it might bind you even more tightly to him. And then what will you do? Will you be able to walk away when the time comes?

After all, he seemed to have thought of her often these past three years too. Words exchanged through a curtain in a hospital room should never have taken on so much significance in both of their lives.

And yet…they had. She’d be an idiot if she said they didn’t matter.

She sighed and picked up her bag from the floor, then descended the stairs to the empty lobby. Only a few minutes had passed, but she found herself scanning the windows in the front of the building, searching for Ben.

She checked her watch. Ten to six.

Was this a bad idea? Yes. No. Yes.

“I have no idea,” she muttered to herself.

“No idea about what?”

She whirled around to see Katie and Beatrice walking toward her. She’d been so focused on Ben she hadn’t realized anyone had come down in the elevator. And now the younger women probably thought she was crazy, talking to herself.

“Just thinking about my assignment,” she lied, waving her hand in front of her as though to say it didn’t matter.

Katie scanned the lobby. “Did you see Officer Crewes leave yet?”

Nina tried not to blush. “Yeah, he headed out a few minutes ago.” She debated whether to tell them he was going to be back any minute now, but decided against it. If he happened to show up while they were still here, it still wasn’t anyone else’s business but hers and Ben’s.

Speak of the devil.

She saw him run past the windows and step into the revolving door, pushing it with enough force to cause a small wind to stir in the lobby, and at the sight of him she bit back a sigh. He looked good enough to eat. He’d changed into a heavy cable-knit moss-colored sweater and dark jeans, and he carried a black jacket over one arm.

She heard Katie gasp, and then Beatrice mumbled, “I already know how this is going to play out, Katie. We may as well go now so we can have a few extra minutes to drink ourselves stupid.”

Nina grinned. She liked Beatrice. The photographer was a little reserved, but once she loosened up she could be pretty funny and was genuinely nice to boot.

Ben approached the three women. “Hi, ladies.”

Katie sighed.

Beatrice yanked on Katie’s arm and pulled her toward the front doors. “Good to see you again, Officer Crewes. Sorry to be rude, but we’re in a hurry. Come on, Katie.”

The girls shoved themselves together into one of the revolving door compartments and began pushing their way out, but not before Nina heard Katie protest, “But I wanted to stand there and stare at him some more!”

This time, Nina and Ben both laughed.

“Looks like you’ve got a fan club.” She stood completely still, looking up at him.

He grinned. “As much as I like the idea of a whole club cheering me on, I’m really only interested in making one particular woman scream my name.”

She was tempted to suggest they skip dinner after all and get straight to more sex, but she managed to hold back. She needed to know whether the fantasy of him through the years had been played up to the point of impossibility.

He took her bag from her shoulder, slinging it on to his own, then moved to stand next to her and offered her his arm. “Ready?”

She giggled at the sight of this big, tough man toting a cherry-red laptop bag. She placed her hand through the crook of his arm and squeezed his biceps.
Wow, he feels good.

They headed out of the building and he guided her up the street. “Italian okay?”

She nodded. “I love Italian. I’m part Italian, in fact. On my mom’s side.”

They turned at the top of the street and he pulled her a bit closer to avoid another pedestrian. She loved the feel of his body next to hers.

“Are you really?” He looked down at her. “You don’t look particularly Italian.”

She nodded. “It’s true. But it was only my great-grandparents who were from Italy, so I have a lot of other things in my ancestry, as well. I do know how to make an amazing homemade Bolognese, though.”

He used his free hand to clutch at his heart in mock surprise. “You know how to shoot and cook? You’re killing me, woman,” he teased. “But I heard your mom is from South America. Is that right?”

At the mention of her mother, she briefly stumbled, but he pulled her up, keeping her steady with his arm. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s okay. Yes, my mom is from Argentina. Was, I mean. She died.”

“I heard,” he said, his voice full of sympathy.

He had?

So he knew a lot more about her already than she knew about him.

She nodded. “It’s all right. It’s been a long time. She and my dad met and got married when he was stationed down there for a year. But I have to admit, I’m surprised you know so much about me, seeing as I only met you face-to-face yesterday.”

She felt his muscle flex under her arm at those words, but couldn’t figure out whether it had been involuntary or something she said. They turned again, and she could see a sign ahead for Trattoria Due Figli.

“Actually, one of the guys I work with, who was at the bar last night, told me. I guess his sister went to school with you, and your dads grew up together. Small world.”

She scanned her memory of the guys at the bar, trying to figure out which one he was talking about, but came up with nothing. Then again, she hadn’t paid much attention to the other guys last night. She had been so focused on Ben.

Hearing he had been talking with his friends about her, and about her dad, should have made her upset, or at least uncomfortable. But all she felt was a sort of giddy pride.

You’re trying to get to know this guy so you can be sure he’s not right for you, remember?

“I didn’t recognize anyone last night. Who was this guy’s sister?”

They reached the restaurant and he pulled the door open for her. “Kelly Davis,” he replied as she walked past.

Kelly. Of course. Her dad had been a police officer. She had gotten pregnant and dropped out of high school in their junior year. Nina remembered Kelly as being impossibly gorgeous, with long black hair that shimmered in the sun and flipped around her toned, lean body during her cheer practices. Kelly’s boyfriend had been on the football team, and they’d been the perfect, most popular couple. Nina would sometimes cover the football team and cheerleaders for the school newspaper and she used to secretly sigh over how romantic they were together.

It had been shocking for the entire student body when Kelly had gotten pregnant and kept the baby. Her boyfriend, whose name Nina couldn’t remember anymore, had dumped Kelly within weeks and started dating a new girl.

Nina looked up at Ben as the door closed behind them and a short, stocky bald man with a thick black moustache came forward to seat the pair.

“How is she?” she asked, just before the man shouted out in a strong Italian accent, “Officer Ben, it is an honor!” The small man grabbed Ben in a hug and gave him a kiss on each cheek, then stepped back and clapped his hands on Ben’s upper arms.

She tried not to laugh at this boisterous little man, but the mirth bubbled out. He turned to her, his dark eyes twinkling, and asked, “And who is this bella donna?”

“She’s mine, Carlo.” Ben laughed. “And her name is Nina.”

Carlo kissed his fingertips in a stereotypical passionate Italian way, but he did it so naturally she couldn’t help but be charmed.

“What, I don’t get kisses?” she teased.

Carlo grinned and looked at Ben, who nodded, then Carlo grabbed her face and smacked two loud kisses on her cheeks. Carlo smelled of heavy cologne, but she liked it. The strong, musky scent suited him. And she found it cute that Carlo had nonverbally asked Ben’s permission to touch her. As though she belonged to him.

It felt…nice.

Who was she kidding? It felt amazing. She’d grown so accustomed to not getting too attached, first because of her father’s risky job and later because she was always on the move. To belong to someone, even for the span of a few hours, was surprisingly…comforting.

Carlo put his hand to his chest as he moved away. “Now I can die a happy man. But first, I will seat you.”

Nina and Ben both chuckled and followed Carlo to a table in the corner of the restaurant. Even at this relatively early hour, the place was bustling with diners, most of them in suits. But the corner table was more secluded, the overhead lighting dimmer here.

Carlo held her chair, and after they were both seated, he handed them their menus with a flourish.

“Enjoy your meal.” He bowed himself away, and she turned to Ben with a smile.

“He’s a character.”

Ben nodded. “And it’s not even an act. He’s like that all the time. Davis is friends with his two sons—the restaurant is named in honor of them—and I’ve been over to Carlo’s house on occasion. That’s his normal personality.”

A waiter appeared, filling their water glasses and rattling off the night’s specials. Neither of them had even opened their menus, but she didn’t feel in any rush to order. After last night, she’d asked the helper to stay with Dad again tonight, realizing it was going to be much more difficult than she thought if she had to care for him completely alone. She’d have to look into someone who could take the second shift on a regular basis.

She didn’t realize she was frowning, thinking about her dad’s situation, until Ben reached over and took her hand. “Hey.” He massaged her fingers. “You okay?”

She nodded. “Sorry, my mind wandered.”

“I’ll try to channel Carlo and be more entertaining.”

He was smiling, but she still grimaced. “I’m sorry. It’s not you. I—” She took a deep breath.
May as well tell him, if you’re trying to poke at all the weak points tonight
. “Did Davis tell you why I came back to Greenbriar?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think he even knows. All he told me was your dad was Army Military Police and finally decided to retire.”

She nodded. “That’s true, sort of. My dad did retire, but not voluntarily.”

He raised an eyebrow, and she hastened to clarify. “No, he didn’t do anything wrong. He retired when they discharged him because he was no longer mentally sound. He was struck by flying debris after an explosion hit a convoy he was traveling in while stationed in Afghanistan. It did something to his head, and he lost a lot of memory and basic function.”

She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. “He was in the hospital for a couple of weeks and slowly regained all of his motor function, but his memory still hasn’t caught up. It took those two weeks for them to locate me in Venezuela, where I was working on a documentary about life under the rule of Hugo Chavez.”

She looked at Ben, who was listening patiently, his brow furrowed. “They sent him home because he couldn’t do his job anymore. He doesn’t have a good relationship with any of his family, even though they still live around here, and I
am
his daughter. So I handed over the documentary to a friend of mine and came back to take care of him until hopefully his memory returns and he can live on his own.” She dropped her gaze to her hand, still nestled in Ben’s. “But he doesn’t even know who I am.”

She grew quiet, watching Ben’s thumb stroke over her fingers. After a while, he tugged her hand gently, and she looked up into his eyes.

“Nina…I’m not sure what to say, except to tell you I’m pretty certain there’s at least a part of him that knows you. Take it from someone who has thought of you constantly for the past three years after merely hearing your voice. You’re impossible to forget.”