Strictly Business (15 page)

“I’d like to take a shower,” she said, looking down at her sweaty gym clothes. She hadn’t had time to shower and change in the melee. She’d just stuffed some clothes and toiletries into her duffel bag, and Wade had escorted her out the door.

She looked up and caught his eyes moving slowly up her bare legs. His gaze was like a liquid caress and her insides buzzed. The look in his eyes was predatory and filled with yearning. She cleared her throat, and his gaze moved back to her face, but seemed to tarry thoughtfully on her bottom lip.

“You
should get some rest,” he said at length. “I’ve got to get back to the office.”

Wade
forked his fingers through his dark hair and turned towards the marble fireplace on the far side of the wall. He stood in front of it, head hanging.

“I’m sorry I was so angry with you
on the phone this morning. I know you’re doing what you can to help. I was just afraid you’d become a target. But the truth is, you’ve probably been on their radar for some time now—well, since getting involved with me that is. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize. I’m appalled that something like this can happen
, and I want to see these criminals brought to justice. I’ll do what I can to help.”

Wade stared at Nina’s jutted chin and squared shoulders. He saw the determination in her eyes and knew there was nothing he could say to dissuade
her continued involvement. Right now though she looked like she was about to topple over from exhaustion.

“Let me show you where the bathroom is and where you’ll be staying.”

Wade turned from the fire
place, and Nina regretfully uncoiled her sluggish body from the luxurious comfort of the couch. She followed him down a long corridor off the living room that led directly to a large marble bathroom. She explored his solid back as she followed him down the hall. His suit was perfectly fitted to his big body, and his broad shoulders tapered athletically to a narrow waist. Nina’s eyes lingered appreciatively on his firm butt, and she blamed her fatigue for her inability to curb her brazen perusal of him.

Light streamed brilliantly through
a large side window in the bathroom, but what caught her attention was the enormous Jacuzzi tub that occupied one corner of the room. Double sinks with chunky silver facets that looked newly polished were on the other side of the room next to a glass shower stall that you could throw a party in, and a thick dark rug covered a third of the floor. She itched to sink her toes into the soft fibers.

He
took her next door to an adjoining room. It was a room he obviously used as a study, but a queen-size bed abutted the wall. There were large neat stacks of text books and newspapers against a wall. The room was decorated in the same modern style she’d seen in the living room.

Wade turned around
and she collided with his wide chest. He wrapped his arms around her, preventing her from teetering. Nina’s palms were flat against his chest, and she could feel his taut body beneath. She could also feel the unmistakable jut of his erection pressing against her pelvis, and her brain flooded with a myriad of sensual thoughts.

“If you require assistance with your shower I’d be happy to offer my help.”

His lips were warm against her temple and Nina took a rallying breath before forcing herself to step back. She knew he was teasing, but shook her head, not trusting her voice to speak. He favored her with a sexy lop-sided grin.

“Sure? I can get to all those hard to reach places.”

He waggled his dark brows mischievously, causing her to return his grin and shake her head in mock consternation.

“I think I can manage. Thanks.”

He paused as if he wanted to say something else, but decided against it. Instead he said, “Make yourself comfortable. I won’t be back until late. You can reach me on my cell if you need anything.” With those words he turned and left.

She
exhaled a long breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. It was strange being in his apartment, surrounded by his things. His very essence permeated the air and she found it unsettling. Fatigue worked its way into her neck and shoulders, and she realized that she wanted nothing more than to shower and sleep. Maybe she could forget the events of the morning. Maybe she could forget about the constant need that was vibrating low in her belly.

She peeled off her clothes and folded them neatly on the bed then walked through the study to the bathroom. The slice
s of sunlight coming through the window warmed her naked skin, and she Nina took a look into the mirror above the sink. She let her toes sink into the thick fibers of the mat and felt like she was standing on a cloud.

She grimaced when she saw her reflection. She had tied her hair back with a
scrunchie before she’d gone to the gym. Somewhere along the way her unruly hair had sprung from its bond and curled in rusty spirals around her face. She yanked the tie loose and let the heavy waves fall on her shoulders. No wonder Wade had been staring. He probably thought she was a frightful mess! She reached to turn on the shower, but her gaze landed on the Jacuzzi bath and she couldn’t resist. Instead, she strolled to the massive structure and filled it with warm water.

Yawning loudly
, she stepped in and inched her body under the pulsating jets of heat. The vibrating water massaged every muscle of her body, melting the tension that had crystallized like a block of ice. The warm water dulled that sharp edginess she’d been feeling all day. She was lost in the sensation as she let the jet flow around her thighs and gently pump against the heated flesh between her thighs.

She wondered briefly if Wade took baths or showers
. She remembered the confession he’d made to her in his office. The thought of his hard sinewy body engulfed in the silky water with his fingers wrapped around the length of his manhood caused a soft moan to bubble from her lips. The feel of the persistent jets between her thighs sent shocks of pleasure darting through her. She imagined Wade’s hand and lips on her. She groaned and squirmed under the water. She rested her head back on the edge of the tub and her soapy hands traveled slowly up her body to massage the tension from her full breasts.

She didn’t want to think; she’d done too much thinking over the last week. She just wanted to feel. She wanted
to go to that magical place where Wade had taken her that evening on her couch. She raised her knees and parted her thighs, feeling the full force of the pulsations. She purred as her hand trailed a path down the curve of stomach and slipped between her thighs. She guessed it would take very little pressure to send her over the edge. Her hand stilled when she heard a slight rustle close by.

Nina’s eyes popped open
, and she turned to see Wade standing in the doorway. His eyes were deep and dark like royal midnight, his body stiff, and his hands fisted at his sides. He stared unblinkingly at her, and she thought she would dissolve into the heated bath as his smoldering gaze liquefied her insides.
Oh God…How long had he been watching?

“The—the door was
left open.”

She
sank low into the tub and prayed that she was seeing an apparition. Had she been thinking about Wade so intensely that her mind actually conjured him up? The solid figure in front of her was so unmistakably flesh and blood that she hoped the steam from the tub hid the scarlet that spread over her entire body.

“I must not have closed it. I’m sorry. I though
t you had gone.”

He
raked his fingers through his hair, tousling the short waves into disorder and a tight muscle twitched in his jaw.

“I had. I
came back to leave you a key in case you wanted to go out.” His gaze was boldly absorbing what little he could see of her, and he made no attempt to move away. “Let Michael, the concierge, know if you’re leaving. And try not to wander too far, or away from crowds.”

“Wade…” Nina started softly
, but had no idea what she would say to him. She could still feel the burning ache between her thighs, and it was obvious he was struggling to discipline his own arousal.

He
exhaled slowly and pressed his eyelids tight. “I didn’t bring you here to take advantage of you. I want you to be comfortable. You went through a lot today and you’re tired and rattled. Our
business
arrangement was your idea, remember? When you’re truly ready to revise it let me know,” he said huskily then disappeared.

Wade didn’t know where he’d found the strength to walk out of
the bathroom. The sight of her lovely naked body, with her long legs spread and her fingers exploring in obvious ecstasy was enough to unhinge his control. He desired Nina more than he’d ever desired another woman. He knew she still didn’t trust him and that cut him deeply. He still saw traces of raw pain and betrayal in her eyes when she looked at him. He’d been only teasing her before she’d entered the bath, but seeing her beautiful form displayed before him had been a true test of his self control.

If he’d acted on his desires back
there in the bathroom, as he’d desperately wanted to, certainly he would have had her body and sated their potent lust for each other, but he would not have captured her heart. In the end she would distrust him even more and further warp his motives for being with her. He wanted her faith wholeheartedly and unconditionally.

He paused momentarily, trying to understand why that meant so much to him.
It did not take a great leap for him to realize that he was falling in love with her. Instead of the panic he thought he’d feel at this realization, slow warmth spread through his chest. He had to protect her at all costs. Maybe it was time to get the police involved. He made a mental note to stop by the prescient on his way home from work to speak to the captain.

Nina stretched under the cotton sheets
, and her lashes flitted open as sleep loosened its hold on her. The enticing aroma of coffee tickled her nose, and she turned over in bed, remembering that she was in Wade’s apartment.

She
threw off the covers and patted her way barefoot down the hall, following the delicious scents. She crossed the living room and emerged into an enormous chef’s kitchen.

This room was different from the rest of the apartment.
It was a lot more homely and inviting. Mahogany wood cabinets lined the wall. The floor was a rustic ceramic tile, and a massive rectangular oak island dominated the middle of the room. She watched as Wade, clad in jeans and a tee shirt moved easily around the kitchen. He was now bent over in the refrigerator rummaging through a bottom drawer. Nina couldn’t help but take advantage of the view.
Nice!
His blue jeans molded perfectly to his narrow hips and flaunted a firm butt that tapered into thick muscular hamstrings.

“You’re awake.”
He turned and flashed a perfect white smile when he saw her, causing a summersault of emotion in her chest. He closed the refrigerator door with his hip and carried two large plastic bags to the sink. “How’d you sleep? I didn’t want to wake you. You’ve been out for a while.”

“I slept
well. Something smells good,” she said, coming up behind him and peeking into the sink.

“
Breakfast,” he announced.

“
Breakfast?” She looked around in search of a clock, but the brilliant yellow sunlight bouncing around the room told her it was sometime in the early morning.

Wade laughed.
“You’ve slept for almost twenty four hours.”

“Wow. No wonder I’m starving.” She
frowned, her confusion replaced by alarm. “What day is it?”

“Wednesday.”

Her shoulders sagged. “Good. I’m not due back at work for a few days. We do thirteen hour shifts, so it’s only a few days a week.”

She
noticed a shadow cross his face, but it was quickly replaced by a sexy grin as he directed her to sit at a nearby table and placed a steaming mug of coffee in front of her.

“Are those blueberry pancakes?”
she asked, eyeing the tall stack next to him on the counter. Her empty stomach immediately started to complain. “Humm...” She sniffed.

“Home made,
” he informed, bringing them over to the table.

“I’m impressed.”

“Don’t be,” he said and Nina’s gaze followed his to the empty take-out containers near the counter. Her jaw dropped in mock consternation, and he shrugged sheepishly.

“Well, they were made in
someone’s
home. Just not mine.” He cracked a wide smile, his blue eyes dancing with amusement. “My Aunt Bev tried to teach me how to cook, but it never stuck. She’d say, ‘there’re two ways to win a woman’s heart’. Cooking was a necessary skill.”

“What was the other thing?”
she asked, digging into the stack.

Wade chuckled. “She
always claimed I was too young to know. Although I think I eventually figured it out.”

She
couldn’t help but shoot him a cheeky smile and roll her eyes. She knew he enjoyed teasing her. Seeing him move around his home, comfortably clad and aiming to please her softened a special part of her heart.