Knock Out (A Reynolds Security Novel) Read online

  Finally he pulled back slightly and carried her back to the bed. Her joints felt like jello. She couldn’t move, didn’t want to. He pulled away from her and disposed of the condom then he was back pulling her tightly against his chest and covering them both with the bedding. She lay there feeling his heartbeat beneath her head and listening to their breathing return to normal. Finally she broke the silence.

  “I just have two questions.”

  “Yeah?”

  “What the hell was that and can we do it again?” He laughed, the sound in his chest vibrating her head.

  “That was the earth shifting, Darlin’. And we can do it again right now. Only this time I intend to taste every inch of you first.” He rolled them both so he was above her and bent kissing her lips, allowing her lower lip to slide between his. He ran his tongue over it and sucked lightly. She moaned arching into him as her body began to warm all over again.

  “You make the sexiest sounds.” He whispered, “Just hearing you makes me hard all over again. I could probably come without you even touching me.” The sexy things he was whispering had the same effect on her. She had always believed dirty talk was crude but coming from him it was an unbelievable turn on.

  “We don’t have to find out, because I plan to touch you all over.” She scored his back lightly with her nails just to prove her point.

  “That’s good Darlin’ real good.”

  Chapter 11

  Lou eased out from under the fluffy down comforter and off the bed. She tiptoed through the plush carpet while she found her discarded clothing. She pulled it on quickly not wanting to be naked anymore now that she didn’t have the sexiest man alive wrapped around her. She glanced back one last time from the doorway. He was lying on his back with one arm across his eyes. The comforter had slipped down to his waist. In the moonlight streaming in the window she could see the ridges of his abdominals. Even now she wanted to go back and trace them with her tongue, again. Shaking the sense back into her head she reluctantly stepped away. She rounded up the rest of her belongings. She was wearing the borrowed shorts and t-shirt home. She figured that would be less conspicuous than the evening gown. The only thing she didn’t have was a decent pair of shoes. The heels would have to do even though she might look like an idiot.

  She slipped out the front door and locked it behind her. She noticed he had an alarm system but he hadn’t set it. It was a good thing too, that would have been an awkward scene. It only took three steps to figure out she couldn’t walk down the steep hill in heels. She slipped them off and walked barefoot. Walking down the hill with a wadded up dress stockings and heels in her hands she almost laughed out loud. Guess this is the walk of shame. She thought. Though it wasn’t light yet.

  She didn’t quite feel shame though. She felt liberated, deliciously sore, alive, satisfied, and a little sad that it would never happen again. She had finally experienced the passion that she had wondered if really existed and it was amazing. Making love to Jace had been everything she had thought it would be and so much more. It had been earth shattering and life altering. Unfortunately, it didn’t change anything. She was still screwed up. She still had major trust issues. She still didn’t want a relationship. She had secrets she didn’t want to expose.

  One of those secrets hit her square in her face when she finally got back to her apartment. She had gotten onto the streetcar on its first morning run without a second thought but now as she approached her darkened apartment she broke out in a cold sweat. She unlocked the door and let it swing open. She listened for anything unusual. She heard nothing.

  She reached into the closet beside the door and used her finger tips to open a lockbox with a fingerprint scanner. The weight of the Glock felt good in her hand, reassuring. She turned on the lights and methodically swept each room. Checking under the bed, in the closets and in every single area that could conceal a human body no matter how small. Only when she was certain she was alone did she relinquish the gun. She returned it to the lockbox.

  When she entered the bathroom she promptly unlocked another box mounted on the wall just outside the shower. She opened the box to assure herself the gun was still inside but left it where it was. She locked the bathroom door and stripped. She showered as quickly as she could and then angrily dressed. She hated this. Hated the routine. Hated the bitter taste of fear in her throat. Hated that she still didn’t have her life back.

  Lou was dozing hours later when the doorbell rang. She edged toward the door unsure of whether to answer it. Jace had never been to her apartment but he was a determined guy he could find it if he wanted to. She peered through the peephole and saw Colby instead. She breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn’t ready to face Jace yet. She hadn’t gathered her resolve yet. If she saw him now she would probably throw herself at him, again.

  “Good Morning.” Colby grinned when she opened the door. He handed her a white cup with a lid and she took it gratefully. He flopped down on her couch and she smiled. He had a way of just doing whatever he pleased with no regard for manners or societal conventions. She had to admit she liked the freedom it gave both of them. They could behave as if they had known each other for years, long enough to be comfortable with each other.

  “It was until you showed up.” She grumbled. He just laughed.

  “Did you sleep with him?”

  “Who?” She played dumb and hoped she wasn’t blushing.

  “Who?” He laughed. “Jace Carpenter of course. Or should I continue calling him Mr. X?” Lou sighed and gave up the fight.

  “Yes.” She sighed, “Twice.”

  “Awesome.” Colby grinned. “When are you seeing him again?”

  “Never.” Colby’s grin fell.

  “Was he that bad?”

  “No.” She sat down on the sofa and pulled her knees up. “He was amazing, earth shattering, as good as the blond Greek God he looks like.” She smirked.

  “So what is the problem?”

  “I am the problem.”

  “Did he say that?” Colby shot up from his lounging position. “I’ll kick his ass.”

  “Calm down turbo. He didn’t say anything like that. He was a perfect gentleman.” She felt her cheeks heat as she remembered all the naughty things he had whispered in her ear. “Sort of.” She amended and Colby laughed. “It’s just me. I don’t do relationships. I have baggage.”

  “We all have baggage.”

  “Yeah but some of us need a fork lift to haul it around.”

  Two days, two damn days since he had seen her and already he was twitchy. She had made it clear where they stood. You didn’t sneak out in the middle of the night if it was meant to be more than one night. He knew that. He had snuck out of plenty of times. Until now it hadn’t bothered him in the least. The women he slept with knew how it was. He never made promises, he never lied. The problem was neither had Lou. She had told him more than once that she wasn’t interested in a relationship. He should have known where he stood. But the rush of disappointment he’d felt when he woke up alone proved he didn’t.

  He picked up the clip he had just loaded and slid it home into the .45 which was the loudest meanest gun he could find on the range. He emptied the clip in successive shots. Then slammed another home.

  “It’s a woman isn’t it?” Jace heard but ignored Ethan and proceeded to empty the second clip.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am just getting in a little target shooting.”

  “Right. I was born at night but not last night.”

  “Don’t you have a pregnant wife you can go hover over?”

  “This from the man who claimed watching me and following me was surveillance. At least I haven't taken to following you around. Although it is tempting.”

  “As if you could be away from Erica that long.”

  “Yeah, the right woman is hard to stay away from. Of course when you know she’s the one you don’t stay away. Even if it is for her own good. Even when you think that’s what she wants.
”

  “Careful Ethan, you’re starting to sound like a stalker.”

  “Yeah love and obsession is a fine line.” Ethan sighed. Jace couldn’t help it, he laughed. “What’s up? Is she not returning your calls?”

  “Haven’t called her.”

  “Why not.”

  “She’s not interested.”

  “So make her interested.”

  “How am I supposed to do that?”

  “Come on, you’re a smart guy. Give her what she wants or what she thinks she wants. Eventually you’ll both want the same thing.”

  “What the hell does that mean? You sound like a fucking fortune cookie.”

  “Let me bottom line it for you jackass. In all the years I’ve known you I have never seen you torn up over a woman. Plenty of other emotions yes but never torn up. If she is the right one you’re probably in for a fight but anything worth having is worth fighting for. So just… hold on.” Ethan left without further argument and Jace was glad. Ever since he’d gotten married Ethan had turned into a pansy. As if saying I do, had imparted him with some kind of sensitivity or knowledge that single men didn’t possess. Still he had to admit Ethan had done the impossible, both found and married his soul mate.

  Lou wasn’t surprised to find Jace in the gym when she went in for her work out. She forced her steps to continue. She even smiled and said hello. But inside she was a wreck. She gathered every ounce of self-control she had and channeled it into her will to resist throwing herself at him. Grabbing him and kissing him and ripping that tight black t-shirt right off him. Okay this was not helping.

  She turned away from him and focused on stretching out. She felt him approach as if he had his own gravitational pull, the closer he got the closer she wanted him to get.

  “Need some help?” He asked from right behind her.

  “No thanks I got it.” Even her voice sounded weak.

  “I missed you on Saturday morning.” He whispered in that low sexy voice he’d used to whisper what he was going to do to her. Immediately chills rose up on her arms. She wanted to lean back and tilt her head so he would whisper right in her ear. So she could feel his hot breath. Instead she forced herself to focus.

  “I had to get home to feed the cat.”

  “You don’t have a cat.”

  “How do you know?”

  “You told me you didn’t have any pets, that you always wanted a dog.” Damn she told him that? Okay focus.

  “I told you I just can’t do a relationship. I shouldn’t have… slept with you knowing that. It won’t happen again.” He grasped her shoulders and turned her around.

  “First of all we didn’t just sleep together. We had earth shattering, mind numbing sex. And considering the fact that it is a rare occurrence to find that kind of chemistry I think we owe it to scientists everywhere to repeat the experiment.”

  “That was a very mixed metaphor.”

  “I know. My mind is still numb.” She giggled, she just couldn’t help it.

  “It was earth shattering for you?” She asked a little bit shyly.

  “Damn right, it was for you too. Don’t bother to deny it.”

  “I wasn’t going to. But I am… I still can’t do a relationship.”

  “So don’t. We’re friends, sparing partners. Now we’re just… bedroom partners too.”

  “You’d be okay with that?”

  “I am a guy. We live for no strings sex.” The words tasted sour in his throat but he forced them out anyway. He was sure this is what Ethan had been talking about. He would give her no strings sex. He would get past her defenses and show her how good a relationship could be. She bit her lower lip, her indecision clear and he moved in for the kill. He leaned in close and whispered.

  “I didn’t have nearly enough time to try all of the things I wanted to. Right now it is all I can do not to suck that lip out from between your teeth.” He saw the arousal flare in her eyes. He closed the space running his tongue along the crease where her teeth and lip met. Her mouth opened, her tongue coming out to meet his. Suddenly they were like Velcro sealed tight. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her up until she wrapped her legs around him too. He drank from her lips like it was his last chance at freedom and she was equally desperate. He was hard and throbbing and she squirmed against him. He was about to pull open the fly on his pants when the last shred of reason entered his mind. He broke the seal of their lips panting.

  “We can’t here, cameras,” he said. She glanced up at the cameras she had forgotten were there. “Come back to my place.”

  “My place is closer.”

  “Perfect.”

  Chapter 12

  Lou realized her hormone induced mistake just when they reached her apartment.

  “Maybe we should go to your place instead.”

  “Still worried I’ll see the dirty socks on the floor?” He joked. She tried to laugh but she was suddenly too apprehensive. “Come on we’re here already.” He got out of the Range Rover and walked around to her side when she didn’t move. She was trying to convince herself that she didn’t have to sweep the apartment if he was with her. It wasn’t working.

  “Are you alright?” He asked noting her strange expression.

  “I am neurotic.”

  “Always a good trait in someone trained to handle a gun.” This time she smiled despite her apprehension.

  “Shut up I’m serious. If we go in there you might see something you don’t want to.” He arched a brow at her and held out his hand.

  “I’ll take my chances.”

  Jace could feel her apprehension almost like a palpable thing as they neared her second floor apartment. She unlocked the door and drew a deep breath.

  “Alright, just wait here.” She said softly after she’d opened the door. He watched as she listened before entering the apartment. Even more intriguing he saw her retrieve a hand gun and sweep the entire apartment. Very quickly and efficiently, without missing a single place. She even looked under the bed despite the fact that it appeared to be too close to the ground to allow a human to hide underneath. She replaced the gun and didn’t meet his gaze.

  “See neurotic.”

  “Not neurotic.” He said softly. “Do you want to tell me what happened?” It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that something bad had happened inside her apartment. Maybe she surprised an intruder.

  “No.” she said vehemently.

  “You know we could put in a security system.”

  “I’m not putting a security system in a rented apartment. I told you I am crazy.” She moved away and he reached out and grabbed her waist pulling her back against him.

  “You’re not crazy.” He whispered. He wrapped his arms around her and she pressed her face into his neck. “I told you I don’t sleep with crazy women.” She snorted with the effort to keep from laughing.

  “Right because you don’t want your rabbit to get cooked.”

  “That’s right, or things glued to things they shouldn’t be.” He said with a mock shudder. She laughed.

  “Well I don’t have any glue but just so you’re forewarned I don’t like surprises and I have three licensed handguns.”

  “Duly noted.”

  “Does this mean you don’t want me naked and sitting on your desk?”

  “Sweetheart, I will take you naked anyway I can get you.” He swiveled his hips against her and she remembered what had prompted their trip here in the first place. She reached over and flipped the locks on the door and pulled him into the room.

  “Tell me about the rest of those kinky fetishes.” She grinned and he laughed.

  “I’ll be honest. I was kidding, I don’t actually have a foot fetish. At least I didn’t. I think maybe I do now.”

  “I think maybe I do too.” She laughed.

  “Good, let’s see what other fetishes we can inspire in you.”

  “As long as you whisper it real low and slow in my ear I think I am game to try just about any
thing.”

  “Good to know.” Jace grinned and pulled her tightly against him. “I have to kiss you now.” He followed the statement with the action. His lips scrambled her brain. Made her forget, well everything but she wanted to get a few things settled first.

  “Wait, have you ever done this before?” She asked slightly breathless. He quirked an amused eyebrow at her. “Not this this.” She flushed slightly. “I mean the whole no strings thing?”

  “Well one night stands. But not friends with benefits.”

  “What are the ground rules? Should we have ground rules?”

  “No rules, just go with it.” He kissed her again trailing kisses down her throat. “I am dying to see if you are really wearing white cotton underwear.”

  “Don’t make fun of my underwear,” she said on a breathy laugh.

  “Who’s making fun? I am hard just imagining the outline of your pretty dark nipples through white cotton.” He whispered and she moaned leaning against him as her knees weakened.

  “Oh what you do to me with that tongue.” He laughed deeply and lifted her up so she wrapped her legs around his waist.

  “Let me show you what else I can do with my tongue.” She pulled off her shirt as they walked. He laid her down on the bed and grinned rubbing his face against the soft white cotton of her bra. He put his mouth over her nipple sucking and licking it though the cotton. When he pulled back there was a wet spot that made her nipple look that much darker.