Temptation Rising (26 page)

“That’s usually the conclusion people reach when they wake up in a bed alone where someone had once lain beside them.”

He was shaking his head. “I went to a meeting.”

“It wasn’t even eight in the morning, Rome. You don’t have to lie to me,” she huffed, brushing her hands down the front of her clothes as if they were rumpled; she didn’t know what else to do with them. “Look, if it was just meant to be a one-night thing, that’s fine. I can deal with that. What I’d really like to know is how I ended up at your house in the first place? I went to a cookout at Melanie’s. But then I wasn’t there, I was…” Her voice trailed off as pieces began to click into place.

“What happened when you were at Melanie’s?” Rome asked, taking a measured step toward her.

“I saw something, or I thought I saw something.” She’d seen eyes in the bushes, eyes that weren’t human. But something told her that telling Rome that wasn’t going to end with the guy asking to spend another night with her. She cleared her throat. “I mean, I thought there was something in the yard. The neighbor’s dog, I think. But then I was gone. This big guy grabbed me and threw me into a truck.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Into your truck? Why were they there? Did you have someone follow me, Rome?”

Rome didn’t know what to say. How could he even begin to answer this question without revealing too much? Elder Alamar’s accusation still rang in his mind, but as he watched Kalina, with her long legs clad only in nylons and a knee-length skirt that hugged her bottom and her hips to perfection, he didn’t see a shifter. She was exactly as he thought she was, all woman.

“I told you I wanted to keep you safe.”

“So you’re having me followed? You don’t even know me.”

She might have a point there, one he badly wanted to remedy. “I asked you out for a drink, but you turned me down.”

“Again,” she said, giving him a bland stare. “So you have me followed and then kidnap me so you can sleep with me. That’s a little over the top, even for a man like you.”

“What do you mean ‘a man like me’? Exactly what kind of man do you think I am, Kalina?” he asked, moving closer to her but not touching her. She was standing in front of one of the guest chairs and he sat down, right there, so he’d have to look up at her for a change. He loved the view from here, her luscious legs and full breasts at perfect touching range.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “I know you’re an arrogant-ass attorney who thinks just because he has a good track record in court, he can’t ever lose anything. I also know that you don’t give a damn about the women you get involved with. They’re all inconsequential to you, a notch on your bedpost so to speak. I cannot berate myself enough for falling into that trap.”

Rome was standing before she could say another word, and right up in her face. “Whatever you think you know about me and other women has nothing to do with what happened between us.”

She leaned back slightly, tilting her head so she could stare up at him. “Really? Tell me, Mr. Reynolds, how am I so different?”

He didn’t know what to say. How was she different from any of the other women he’d slept with? She was beautiful, sexy, attractive—all traits he’d thought the other women shared. But she was so much more. Something inside made her different, and whatever that was it called to him. Even now.

“All I know is that I can’t stop wanting you.”

She sighed and looked away. He cupped her chin pulled her back to face him.

“That’s not all. I think about you all the time. When I thought those men were going to hurt you I was ready to kill. The thought of you being in danger rips me apart. That’s never happened with another woman. Ever.”

She didn’t believe him.

Didn’t want to but … his gaze locked with hers and it was no longer a choice. In his eyes she saw his honesty and his hunger and reciprocated with a measure of need of her own. “I wanted you to be different,” she heard herself whispering. “From the very beginning I didn’t want to believe the rumors. I don’t know why. I just didn’t.”

“Don’t believe the rumors. I’m not who they think I am.”

“And you can’t be who I think you are.” He wasn’t the man from her dreams, the hero who saved her from the loneliness she’d engulfed herself in. He wasn’t the beast that aroused and yet scared her. He was just Roman, the man she was supposed to be investigating. “Why couldn’t you be him? It would have been so much easier,” she whispered.

“None of that matters now, Kalina. Only this matters,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her so that her center pressed against the bulge of his arousal. “Only you and me.”

He’d said something similar in her dream. Kalina fought to keep her thoughts in the here and now.

“I dream of you,” he said hoarsely, his teeth nipping at the nape of her neck.

Strong hands moved upward, grabbing her breasts, palming them like melons, squeezing as if he fully expected to milk her. Her legs shivered as desire dampened the folds of her pussy.

He wasn’t being gentle. To the contrary, his hands moved roughly. Her nipples were hard. His teeth bit into her skin and the tingle of pleasure/pain rippled through her body. Inside felt like the beginnings of a tornado, a small funnel of desire forming in the pit of her stomach and picking up speed with every touch, every word from him. Her mind clouded and filled with nothing except this man, this moment.

“I dreamed of you.” With that breathy admission her head fell back onto his shoulders. “It was so hot. You were so hot.”

“Was I hot for you, baby? Like I am now?”

He was unbuttoning her blouse, his fingers moving quickly over the small buttons. His palms spread the material to the side as he reached for her breasts again. Pushing down the cups of her bra, he freed the globes and kneaded them with hunger that sent sparks of lust directly to her pussy.

Kalina gasped, her own hands going up to cover his. She felt her turgid nipples and began to shake. Used to touching herself and gaining immense pleasure from the exploration, she was now drowning in the double sensation of both their hands on her body.

“Touch me, baby. I’m dying for you to touch me,” his voice rasped. She dropped her hands.

Moving them behind her, she touched the hard bulge of his arousal. Lust ripped through her. She wanted him like she’d never wanted another before. Deep in the darkest recesses of her mind she wanted with a fierceness that almost frightened her. Instead of grasping the fear Kalina went with the lust, let the rising heat inside bombard any other feelings—even the ones that told her this would be a defining moment for them both.

“You want it, Kalina.” His voice was raspy now, his hands tightening on her breasts until a scream scratched at the base of her throat. “It’s yours, baby. Take it.”

With her heart hammering wildly in her chest, Kalina shifted and turned until they were facing each other. Grabbing the back of his head, she was the one who took his lips this time. In a savage duel of lips, teeth, and tongue she poured into him all the heat that was ravaging her. His hands tightened on her hips, gripping her bottom then sliding down her thighs to push her skirt up.

Panting, she broke the kiss and let her palms drift down the muscled contours of his chest, his tight abs, to the belt buckle at his midsection. With trembling fingers she undid the belt, dislodged the snap of his pants, and heard the sleek slide of his zipper echo in her ears. It was an acute sound, one she’d never paid much attention to until this moment.

His hands framed her face now, his thumbs sliding over her swollen lips. She licked at them, eager, anticipating as her hands pushed his pants and boxers past his hips.

“I can’t get you out of my head,” she admitted, noting that the room seemed to fill with the same insufferable heat that inhabited her dream. “No matter how hard I try, you’re always there.”

“I’m always going to be here” was his reply.

His length filled her. She wrapped both hands around him, loving the heavy heated feel of his arousal and remembering the taste of his silken heat gliding along her tongue. Her mouth watered as she stroked him from the base to the bulbous tip.

Kalina remembered that night he’d caught her and they were in this very spot, her ass against his desk and his dominating presence surrounding her. He’d held himself out to her then, stroking his magnificent length as his eyes had devoured her. He’d told her she wanted him, wanted this, and he’d been absolutely right.

Sliding her body down along his she rested on her knees, tilting her chin so that his dick was in line with her lips. One pearl-size drop of desire eased from his tip. She extended her tongue and licked. Closing her mouth she let the taste of him once again fill her. This time was different from before. It wasn’t an unexpected rush of excitement like a roller-coaster ride. No, this was anticipated, it was welcomed as if she’d known she would taste him again. Everything about him was welcome, as if something inside her was welcoming him home.

When she took him deep inside her mouth, he cradled her head, blowing out a rush of breath. Kalina worked her mouth over him, loving the slow rhythm they built—him thrusting his hips slowly, feeding her in measured strokes, and her twirling her tongue around his length, licking the underside like a treasured Popsicle. Her fingers massaged his sack, bringing ragged groans from his lips.

Everything about him seemed right; this time, this moment was where she belonged. For once in her life, she had a place and a purpose. He could bring her pleasure but Kalina realized in this instant that she could bring him release as well. He craved her, hungered for her touch, for the next stroke of her lips along his flesh.

To test her theory she pulled back, let his length slip past her lips until only the tip whispered near her mouth. His grip on her head tightened and he moaned, “More,” before thrusting toward her lips again.

With a sly smile she peeked up at him. Her center pulsated as she caught his gaze. His eyes were bright and they were focused on her, emitting a sort of hazy spell that held her entranced. She opened her mouth, let him spear his erection inside as their gazes stayed connected. He fed her, she took him in, deeper, deeper until she thought she might choke. Rome pulled back at that moment, let her catch a breath, then sank deep inside her again. Her lips were wet, his length was soaked, her nipples ached. She wanted to be fucked. Right here, right this moment, by this man.

Grabbing the base of his arousal, Rome fed her his pre-pleasure release and watched with deep-seated desire as she licked every drop. Looking down at her gorgeous mouth wrapped around his length had pushed him so that his beast strained against him. There was a heat inside him waiting impatiently to burst free. But he couldn’t move fast. He held on to his restraint as he’d been so used to doing in the past. But the more she milked his dick, the more he wanted to let go and give her everything he had inside.

He didn’t know if she could take it, didn’t know if he’d survive it, but feared it was coming anyway. Grabbing her shoulders, he lifted her up off her feet until her lips met his in a deep arousing kiss.

“I want to see you,” he moaned against her lips. “I need to see you.”

And he did. The need had been so heavy inside him he could barely breathe. He wanted to see her body, see her desire for him, needed it like he needed air.

He sat her on the desk, pushing her skirt up over her hips, cursing softly as he spied the garters and nylons she’d worn beneath. A wisp of lace covered her juncture, but he ripped it away. “Fuck! I’m dying here, Kalina. You’re killing me,” he groaned, rubbing his hands over the delicate buckles and smooth silk.

As if she knew exactly what to do, exactly what he needed, Kalina slid back farther on the desk, pushing back papers, pen holders—whatever paraphernalia was in her way—until she could lean back. Lifting her legs, she let the heels of her pumps clap down on the slick surface of the desk and dropped her knees.

Like a blooming flower she opened to him, her pussy bare and glistening with desire. Rome’s mouth watered, his dick so hard his temples throbbed.

“Touch it for me,” he said in a scratchy voice. “Touch my pussy.”

She obliged, taking one hand and moving her slim fingers over the damp folds. Clear nails moved over the smooth flesh, stopping at the tightened bud, working it until her breathing was labored.

“Just like that,” he sighed, his hands going to his length, stroking as he watched her.

Rome loved this. He loved to watch her touching herself. Loved the look of her fingers in her sex, moving to bring pleasure. He could watch her forever, watch her body respond to her own ministrations and get off every fucking time.

“Two fingers,” he groaned. “Two fingers deep.”

Her head fell back as she thrust two fingers into her dripping center and worked them fiercely. Rome worked his length, thrusting as if he were right there inside her. He wasn’t going to last long, his restraint was dwindling, the beast within was taking charge, he knew that with a certainty when his incisors pricked his lower lip.

Reaching for her, he pulled her hand from her center, brought her fingers to his lips, and suckled, licking them completely free of her sweet nectar. She lifted her head, her lust-filled gaze finding his.

“Please,” she whispered. “Now.”

He gave her what she wanted. Pulling her until her bottom was just at the edge of the desk, Rome thrust his length deep inside her. She arched her back and opened her mouth to scream, but he bent forward, catching the sound with his lips.