Some Like It in Handcuffs (22 page)

“Wildcat.” His voice was hoarse.

A curl of fire wound through her stomach then expanded. The friction of his hips rocking against her most secret place sent an enflamed quiver through her body.

The elevator dinged, the door opened, and Sunny and Judson stiffened in unison.

Judson pulled her shirt down. “You’re driving me crazy.” His voice was thick with passion. Sunny’s hand stroked the bulging line of his zipper. His eyes rolled back until they were almost closed.

With the strap of her shoulder bag slung over her arm, she peeked out the elevator door, grateful nobody else was crazy enough to be up and about at four in the morning. The fluorescent black powder coated sconces dotted the hallway and enhanced the elegant atmosphere of the modern building. Walls were painted a luxurious bold burgundy. The hallway was extra wide and the floor carpeted in a black and burgundy swirl pattern.

“Where’s your place?” Sunny’s overheated body bubbled for release. She needed to get out of the confines of her clothes. Hell, she needed to get him out of his.

“Last door on the left.”

Sunny yanked him to her and pressed her lips into his. She propelled Judson backward down the hallway to his door, their mouths never parting. His back thudded against his door while he dug the key from his pocket. She wrapped her arms around his neck, caressed the back of his head and nipped his tongue with her teeth. He teased her with the grinding thrust of his hips before tugging her to him.

Power radiated from Judson’s arms when he lifted Sunny so they were face to face. She folded her legs around his waist to press into him. The moist pool between her legs spread and she squirmed against him, wanting him to ease the throb. He turned so her back rested against the door and thrust his tongue into her mouth. The lock released and Judson kicked the door open. It hit the wall. They stumbled through the entry and bounced into the wall to the right.

Sunny giggled, threw her bag across the floor then nipped his lip. He kicked the door closed then reversed their positions so his back was pressed to the wall. She slid her legs down the length of his body until she touched the floor. Her fingers undid the first few buttons of his shirt before she ripped the front open. Tiny black buttons scattered across the tiled floor.

“Damn woman.” Judson’s voice thrilled. He pulled her shirt over her head, dropped it to the floor, and followed it with her bra.

Self control vanished and Sunny grabbed the front of his jeans and tugged him to her. Judson’s moist, hot mouth covered hers, the warmth of his breath danced across her face. His lips controlled her, and her abdomen burst into flames when his tongue filled her mouth with a forceful thrust.

Heat from his touch ran the length of her back. He pulled away. Her face burned where his gaze concentrated. The pressure of his fingers kneaded her backside, and a raspy growl poured from her throat.

He trailed kisses down her neck, slow and languid, pushing her toward the edge, and then easing up to pull her back to reality. Her body wasn’t her own when his mouth claimed her breast and his tongue burned a circle around her nipples. A shudder followed her hands as they glided up the back of his smooth head and pulled him close. His warm mouth covered the diamond tip of her nipple and the coarse stubble on his chin scratched her sensitive skin. A shiver speared over her flesh and her body grew heavy.

Sunny’s mind raced, her senses swirled in ten different directions, and the pulse in her throat almost choked her. She wanted to throw caution aside and beg him to have his way with her right there on the cold ceramic floor. Her body felt ready to explode if she waited much longer.

His hand grasped her buttocks. As he lifted her, she snaked her legs around him, rubbing her center against him. If she came across desperate, she didn’t care. She was ripe and willing to experience the next step. The delicious heat of his touch pulsed through her body. She pressed into him in a silent plea for more.

They rolled again. This time she was against the barrier of the wall. Judson lifted his head and his fingers lingered over her cheek. She closed her eyes, unable to breath. Judson invaded her mind, body and soul. Anticipation filled her as she arched her back. His tongue flicked across her other breast and the intensity of her desire caused her head to hit the large ornate framed mirror next to her. She didn’t care.

“Judson.” His name curled from her tongue.

His fingers continued their trek down her cheek, chin, and throat until they caressed the valley between her breasts. They stopped at the waistband of her jeans. She pulled in her stomach to give his hands the room they needed to unfasten the button. Her chest heaved. Breath stilled in her throat as she waited on what he’d do next.

When he lifted his head away from her she tensed. Sunny opened her eyes, but her lids felt heavy, her body drugged. “No, don’t stop,” she whispered.

His eyes darkened into pools of liquid silver. She wanted him naked and all for herself—and she wanted it now.

“Before this goes any further we need to be in the right place, Wildcat.” He kept her wrapped around his middle and walked through his apartment still exploring her backside. His firm hands memorized every inch of flesh across her back. A shaky breath slid from her throat and she pressed her cheek against the curve of his shoulder. A dizzy pressure invaded her head and she closed her eyes. Fire filled her center and spread a drowsy heat to her outer limbs. Her body relaxed to an extent she’d never experienced before. She peeked from beneath her lids when Judson pushed a door open with his foot, his breathing barely controlled.

Excitement filled her when they entered the creamed colored bedroom. A small lamp on the bedside table cast a warm yellow glow across the room. Judson moved toward the bed, a large cherry wood four poster covered in a masculine brown and burgundy striped comforter. He tossed the pillow shams on the floor, and placed Sunny’s body onto the bedding as if she’d break.

She supported herself on one elbow. His fingers moved to his zipper, but Sunny held up her hand. His jaw ticked when she sat up and brushed his hand aside.

“I’ll handle this.” Their gazes locked. A warm trail of fire danced from her stomach to settle between her legs.

The hiss of his zipper caused Judson to suck in a breath. He didn’t wear a loin cloth after all, Sunny smiled. The pulse at the base of his neck throbbed visibly when her fingertips brushed against his throbbing erection. It strained against the thin cotton of his boxers. He moaned and his head fell back.

She looped her fingers into his waistband and tugged his jeans and boxers down. The shudder of his skin followed her hands as she worked them down his legs. In no hurry, she thrilled at how her touch affected him, letting her fingers worship the hardened muscles of his thigh. Sunny’s eyes widened as she exposed his impressive body.

Judson stood before her in nothing but a smile. He was absolutely magnificent to look at. Her gaze wandered over his impressive chest, along his firmly proportioned arms, to his powerful fingers—the fingers which gave her unspeakable pleasure whenever they moved along her skin. His dark toned skin stretched tautly over his well defined abs and renewed heat filled her at the sight of his supreme maleness standing at attention.

“Do I pass inspection?” His husky voice drew her gaze to his face with a jerk.

“More than you’ll ever know. Now come here.”

Sunny reached forward, grabbed his hand and pulled him on the bed bedside her.

His fingers went to work on her jeans. She squirmed and lifted her hips. He worked the zipper in record time, and wrapped his hands around her hips as he moved her jeans and panties down her legs. When they finally reached her ankles she kicked them to the floor.

His gaze drank her in, but she wasn’t embarrassed or unsure. She wanted this, needed this.

They sighed as their lips met. She hugged him to her and explored the firm flesh of his shoulders. He slid her close with a quick tug of his leg. His fingers caressed her flesh, starting with the soft skin of her neck. He moved down the length of her, touching and tantalizing each part. Her fevered body shook against him. She didn’t know how much more she could take. Tiny explosions pinged along her skin wherever his fingers moved. Each breath became more difficult and her body screamed for release.

He teased the soft skin between her thighs until she parted her legs then touched the silky sleekness of her center. Judson slid one thick finger deep inside of her, and Sunny’s hips moved of their own accord. Liquid fire filled her core. Judson groaned deep in his throat. In agonizing slowness he inserted a second finger. The fullness stunned her and she lifted her hips off the mattress. He moved them inside of her, increasing the pressure with each thrust.

****

Judson pushed his fingers inside of her slowly, trying to rein in his animal need. Her hot, sweet passage parted in welcome as she accommodated the width of his fingers. His body hard, ready and barely controlled. The wanton look in her eyes spurred him on. She flicked her head from side to side. Unguarded pleasure colored her features a rosy hue. With gentle pressure he rubbed his thumb over her slick button, unlocking her passion in one swift glide. Her breath rasped and her body quaked then spread apart for his touch. Judson’s insides heated with the force of a pressure cooker. He’d never been this hard or excited for any woman. The swelling between his legs ached for release, he shifted to ease the discomfort, but it didn’t lessen.

Sunny moaned in displeasure when he pulled his fingers from her moist heat, and gasped when he slid them back in, ever so slowly. Her lips parted and he covered them with his own, sucking in her gasp as their need expanded. Perspiration beaded on her skin and mingled with his own. Her hands rubbed along his hairless chest with aggressive pressure.

A primitive growl rose from his throat. Sunny invaded his mouth with the thrust of her tongue, and he moved his hands along her velvet skin. Her breaths quickened and she pulled at his shoulders to draw him over her ready body.

“Hang on, Sunny, we need protection.”

“Protection?”

He rolled toward his bedside table, pulling her with him by the force of his lips. He rummaged blindly in the drawer. Their kiss deepened into a sensuous caress. His hand closed over the small foil package. His knuckles grazed the hard metal curve of a pair of handcuffs.

He pulled both from the drawer. Their lips broke apart and they shared a secret smile.

Sunny smacked his backside and winked. “Lesson two. Teach me,” she purred.

Sunny sat at the glass table top in Judson’s spotless stainless steel kitchen waiting for him to retrieve the tape player he’d left in the back seat of his Nova. The crystal coffee mug in her hands rested against her bottom lip and steam swirled over the edge. She anticipated the cinnamon creamer she added as she waited for the liquid to cool.

Last night had held a touch of magic. Love, sex, relationships, they were all things she had little experience in.

Relationship, she choked on her coffee, coughing and fumbling to place the mug on the tabletop. Not even sure if what they shared qualified as one, at least the type she wanted.

Long distance relationships worked for others, she could make it work for her too. If things progressed that far.

Sighing, reality sank in. Sure, they’d slept together, but it didn’t mean he wanted anything long term. She wouldn’t be foolish enough to believe he felt anything more for her than lust. And she couldn’t forget Roxanne. Not that she expected him to forget his love for the dead woman, but she had no clue if he was ready to move on.

He would leave as soon as they finished this case. She couldn’t let herself forget that.

She loved him and should be happy for the memories of their one night together. Hell, she could hardly believe her own feelings. Just a few weeks ago, a relationship, or even a man in her life wasn’t anything she was remotely interested in. Career being her only focus.

Her gaze wandered over the barren room and she frowned. Things could sure change in an instant.

“What?” Judson strolled past her placing the cassette, along with the player, on the counter.

Startled, she blurted the first thing that came to her mind. “Um…your place. It’s nothing like I pictured.”

He grinned, pouring a large cup of coffee. “How’s that?”

“Well, I hate to be blunt—”

“No you don’t, but go ahead.”

She smiled. “Okay, you’re right, I don’t. It’s just so—I don’t know—cold. There’s no personality, or color even.” Her fingers touched the heart shaped pendant at her neck. The bauble offered a connection with her mother which calmed her.

“There’s a good reason for that.” He took a drink then balanced the mug in his hand.

“And what would that be?” she teased.

“It’s not my place.”

Her hand stilled. “What?” Sunny’s eyes darted around the shiny room. Half of her expected some stranger to waltz through one of the two entrances to the immaculate kitchen.

Judson laughed and held up his hand. “Not too worry, nobody’s here. I didn’t renew my lease when I decided to move back to Montana. A retired detective friend of mine, Stephan Giles, was going out of the country and offered his place.” He waved his hand around the room. “So, here I am. I took up residence in his spare room and the rest is history.”

Sunny could breathe again. She stood and picked up the tape from the counter then popped it into the battery operated player. “Sorry to say it, but your friend comes across as Mr. Sterile Personality.”

“This isn’t Stephan’s doing. His fiancée was the one who liked the modern, minimalist lifestyle.” His voice tensed, but just as quickly he gave a small chuckle and hit the play button.

They stilled as the tape whirled and hissed before a raspy female voice filled the room. A chill rippled down Sunny’s spine by the words revealed, and her gaze snapped up to Judson’s face when the familiar voice on the tape identified itself as Vivian. This tape not only proved Vivian had left a message on Karina’s answering machine the day she was killed, but that half way through the message, Karina had picked up. They’d arranged a time to meet, chatted and it had all been recorded. Someone had switched out the tapes after her murder.