Chapter Sixteen
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Owen brought his hand to the curve of her neck, his thumb under her jaw, and dipped his head to capture her lips. This kiss felt different. His tongue sliding along hers offering her the promise of something more. She knew that was a false promise even as the heat of his mouth fueled a fever that built, degree by degree.
Burning up, she shrugged out of her coat.
He moved into her, his hands lowering to stroke, long and slow, over her rib cage, over her hips, and under her buttocks. He hitched her up and walked her back to settle her on the kitchen counter. She spread her legs and he moved between her thighs. She sighed when they were lined up exactly right, heat to heat.
Pushing his jacket off his shoulders and onto the floor, she slid her hands under his shirt. He shuddered when she stroked her palms over all that glorious skin. His chest, his ribs, his belly, then lower to his belt. The only illumination in the room shone through the windows from the patio, casting bands of shadow and light.
He sucked in a breath when she worked his belt loose, then the button of his jeans, and when she slipped her hand into the opening and found him, he pushed into her palm with a low groan.
“ Bedroom,” he growled.
Forced to release her prize when he scooped her off the counter, she shifted her focus. With her tongue she stroked the hot skin at the juncture of his neck and shoulders. When she couldn’t resist, she sank in her teeth. Only a little. He jerked with an uttered oath. “You marking me, woman? ”
“ Hell yeah,” she murmured and soothed the bite with her tongue.
She could feel his erection nudging through her clothing. She pushed against it and he staggered, bumping against the wall.
A giggle escaped her mouth. “You’d fail a drunk test, officer.” She rubbed again.
“ You try walking a straight line when you’re about to erupt in your pants.” His voice held a thread of desperation. “You’re going to be the end of me, but damn, it’d be a good way to go.”
She laughed against the skin of his throat.
He carried her into her bedroom and laid her on the bed, then turned to switch on the lamp on her nightstand. With a sweep of his arm, he cleared her decorative pillows to the floor.
She loved watching him move with the incredibly fluid grace he possessed. He tugged on the back collar of his shirt to pull it over his head, revealing his rangy build with defined muscles. She figured he had to work out.
His jeans were open at the fly and she gulped at the heavy length of his erection encased in navy briefs. The fever raging inside her had ratcheted up until it felt like she could be burned to ashes.
He took his wallet from his back pocket and retrieved a couple condoms he tossed onto the nightstand.
His skin looked golden in the lamplight.
“ You don’t have tattoos.”
“ No, neither do you.”
“ Yeah, but I wasn’t a Marine or a cop. Both occupations where getting tattoos is the norm.”
His frown deepened. “My biological father was heavily tatted. I wanted nothing to do with the guy. I look like him, can’t help that, but I won’t get inked like him.”
“ I have so many questions about that.”
“ Later,” he growled. Hand on her ankle, he brought up her leg, pressing his lips to her shin, then moving to the back of her knee.
“ Later,” she agreed, her breath catching in her throat .
Leaning over her, he took both of her hands in his and raised them over her head. Muscles bunched and flexed deliciously across his chest as he propped himself over her, lowering his head until his lips were a hair’s breadth from hers.
Heat rising from her belly, over her breasts, and up her neck threatened to ignite her in a fiery ball of need.
“ You good with this, princess?”
“ Yes, yes, yes,” she chanted as she strained against his hold. “Consent clearly given.” Since he had her hands, she wrapped her legs around his thighs to pull him into her. “Sweet baby Jesus, I’ve got to get out of these flannel pants so I can feel you.”
He chuckled. “Let me help you with that.” He released her hands and moved his to her hips so he could peel off the cotton pants. She had a moment where she wished she wore sexy underwear, but surprise sexy times meant you had to take what you got.
Then her brain went blank because he also yanked off his briefs.
She wasn’t inexperienced. She was familiar with the male anatomy.
But, holy moly. She hadn’t experienced quite that much male anatomy.
She tugged off her top and when she moved to unclasp her bra, he caught her hands. “I get to do that, princess.”
The puckered scar caught her attention and she raised a hand to touch it, gently rubbing where a bullet had violently ripped through his body. He sucked in a breath when she levered herself up to press her lips to the emblem of her warrior.
“ Jesus Christ,” he muttered. “You turn me inside out.”
He braced himself over her again and she trailed her fingers through his chest hair and down his narrow waist, and over the rippled washboard of his abdomen.
Her hum of appreciation when she reached the velvet hardness of him and began fondling his erection turned to a whimper of frustration when he pulled out of reach.
“ We’ll get to that, baby. There’s no hurry. ”
He played his fingers over, then under the elastic of her cotton panties while at the same time nudging a bra strap off her shoulder. He used his nose to push aside the cup and expose her breast. “You…are…perfect.” The words were spoken between open-mouthed kisses to her breast.
She reached for him again, but he moved away. “Still no. Not yet.”
“ How come you get all the fun?”
“ Don’t worry, princess, you’ll have fun. So much fun.” The huskiness of his voice was like adding gasoline to an already raging fire.
He nudged her up and she arched her back so he could unclasp her bra. Then he began worshipping her breasts with his mouth while slipping his hand under her panties to stroke and fondle. Panting, her breath coming in gasps, she was climbing toward a climax when he raised his head, blue eyes burning, and withdrew his hand.
At her groan of disappointment, his smile turned wicked and he moved down her body, his movements excruciatingly slow.
His warm lips and tongue trailed over her ribs, dipped in the hollows of her belly, and when he tugged down her panties, slipped silkily lower still. His gaze locked with hers as he continued tasting and licking, his hands stroking, until he was there, causing sensation to blaze through her system like a solar flare.
She closed her eyes at the pleasure, letting herself absorb everything she felt.
He urged her on, mouth, tongue, clever fingers pushing her to climb higher and higher, then higher still, until she spun out in a universe of dizzying galaxies, grounded only by his strong hands grasping her hips and his tongue gently soothing her.
When she could breathe again, she murmured, “I think I experienced the Big Bang.” He gave a startled laugh and she stretched languorously. “I now know what it is, the biggest and best orgasm in the cosmos. I feel weightless.”
“ Yeah? Think you could do another? ”
When his grin flashed, she realized she’d never before seen him look unguarded, joyful. That he could feel like that when fully engaged in her pleasure was humbling.
He got to business again, this time reversing the direction of his lovemaking, using mouth and fingers to work his way up her body.
He kissed, licked, and nipped over her belly and breasts, her neck and earlobe, until his mouth was on hers and his erection nudged exactly where she wanted it to be.
Then he muttered a curse and pulled back. “Wait. Condom.”
The wrapper crinkled as he took care of business and then he was back.
Gazes locked together, he thrust forward, shallow at first, then stronger, deeper. They moved together, tension coiling, pressure building.
He took her hands, their fingers linking together. All humor evaporated and she had the feeling neither of them expected the shift of emotion to something that felt weightier. His jaw tensed and she could sense him exerting iron control to hold back on his release.
“ I want you with me, princess.” Hands still holding hers, he changed the angle of his lovemaking.
“ Oh god, that’s so good.”
Trapped by his intensity, she rode the building tide of sensation. He was right there with her as power swept over and through her, her second orgasm cascading in a wave of pleasure that brought him with her as they hurled over the crest together.
He collapsed on top of her, breathing heavily. When he eventually rolled over, she put an arm over her eyes to hide the rawness of her emotions.
She realized he’d been right when he’d said he’d hurt her. Because while for him their being together was temporary, she felt like she’d absorbed him into her soul. He was a part of her now in a way she wasn’t entirely comfortable with.
She heard the swish of a tissue being pulled from the box beside her bed and guessed he was taking care of the condom. Then he scooped her up, holding her with casual strength as he pulled down the bedding and deposited her on the sheet.
He joined her, pulling her into his arms. “We’ll figure this out, princess,” he murmured in her ear as he held her close.
She had a fleeting thought she should practice some self-preservation and sleep on the couch, but instead drifted to sleep in the arms of the man she was worried she’d fallen in love with.
***
Owen woke the next morning and immediately realized he was in deep shit. Much like the first morning he’d woken up in her bed, Keeley was sound asleep, spooned into him, her sweet ass nestled against his groin. He wanted her. Bad.
They’d fallen asleep naked and at some point during the night had woken cuddled together much as they were now.
Her rubbing against him had been enough to set him off. It’d felt like an explosion of nuclear proportions because, good god, the heat, passion, whatever you called it, had consumed them.
Warm skin, lush lips, and a woman he couldn’t get enough of had nearly resulted in him going in bare. It’d been a close call.
Keeley’d been astride and about to take him inside before his brain had engaged and he’d grabbed a condom.
There was no excuse for that lack of control. Even with that thought in his head, he took a moment to absorb the feeling of absolute contentment he experienced with Keeley sleeping securely in his arms after making love into the night.
He breathed deep, filling his lungs with the scent of her, then loosened his hold. He had to take a step back before it was too late.
Last night he’d reached a tipping point. All he could think about was having her. He’d wanted Keeley so badly he’d rationalized giving in to the temptation. It’d be only once. He’d made sure she understood he couldn’t give her anything more. She agreed this was what they both wanted .
But nothing about what they’d experienced together felt like a one-time thing. It’d felt like he’d let her past every defense he possessed, and she’d taken hold of his heart and could rip it out of his chest if she chose to.
Carefully, he eased away. Luckily, she slept like the dead and he managed to disentangle himself and roll out of bed without waking her.
After using the bathroom, he dressed, then made his way to the kitchen. With the coffeemaker doing its thing, he ate a banana.
He found a notepad and a pen and scratched out a note, placing it by the coffeemaker. He filled a mug and let himself out through the sliding door to the patio.
The sky overhead was the deep blue he’d only ever seen in the mountains. With his eyes closed, he tipped his face back to feel the warmth of the sun on his face.
The squawk of a Steller’s jay had him opening his eyes to spy the bird perched on the top of the patio umbrella. Owen moved around the table, straightening the chairs. There were a couple shards of pottery that’d been missed while cleaning in the dark, but otherwise there wasn’t anything to indicate an asshole with a screw loose had been outside the window terrorizing Keeley only hours before.
Sawyer had texted to say Romero wasn’t talking and there was no new information. Sipping his coffee, Owen made his way across the courtyard to the house where he climbed onto the deck and rapped lightly on the kitchen door. It was early, but Bruce would be up, and if Bruce was up, Abby was up.
Abby opened the door, stepping aside when she saw him. “Come in, Owen. I saw your SUV so I made enough breakfast for everybody. How’s my girl?”
“ Still sleeping.”
Bundled in a thick brown sweater, Bruce sat at the table working a puzzle, its pieces contained on a tray. Owen knew it was part of his therapy .
Bacon sizzled in a pan on the range. Owen set down his mug and swiped a piece of bacon already draining on a plate as he leaned back against the counter.
He knew how things looked. Abby wasn’t dumb, and she’d know his Bronco parked in front of Keeley’s garage meant they’d likely slept together. He’d rather address the truth head on than tiptoeing around it.
“ Keeley and I are involved.”
Abby’s smile brightened like a sunbeam, much like her daughter’s often did. “Oh Owen. I’m so glad. You must know I’ve wanted to see you two together for a long time. You complement each other so well. You’ll be good for each other.”
Bruce spoke from the table, “Who? Who’s good for each other?”
“ Owen and Keeley, honey. Don’t you think they make a good couple?”
“ Hell yeah. Good move, Marine.”
Owen scrubbed a hand over his scruff. “Hold on. We’re involved, but I’m not good for her in the long term. I wish it was different, but I don’t want you to get your expectations up.”
Abby stepped in front of him and laid her hands on his cheeks. “You are a good man, Owen, and I love you. There’s something in your past that makes you feel that way, and I’m sorry for it. But you deserve happiness, and I think you and Keeley will bring happiness to each other. Don’t punish yourself by not going after something good, something you want. You both deserve more.”
Her words held such sincerity and were spoken with such conviction he could almost believe she was right. Almost.
Abby patted his cheek then went to the pan to move the last of the bacon to a paper towel. Owen sat at the table. “How’d you rate bacon?” he asked Bruce.
“ I like bacon. Today’s the day for bacon.”
“ I like bacon too, but don’t get it much.”
Abby spoke over her shoulder. “Bruce gets bacon once a month, so you came on his lucky day.” She poured the bacon grease into a can and wiped the cast iron pan. “I’m making scrambled eggs and there are biscuits in the oven. You’ll eat with us? Then you can tell us what’s on your mind.”
“ Biscuits, bacon, and eggs? As Bruce says, hell yeah.”
“ Good. There’s a cantaloupe in the fridge and a bowl on the counter. Would you prep the melon?”
He scooped out the guts and was cutting the rind off the cantaloupe when Keeley walked through the door, a mug of coffee cradled in her hands. She kissed Abby on the cheek, then shocked Owen by going up on her tiptoes to kiss him on the lips.
Stupid thing was, if she were truly his, he could see exactly that moment playing out on different occasions stretching on for the rest of his life.
He blocked out that dream because yearning for something that could never be would only make him more miserable than he already was.
His gaze searched hers and she gave him a shy smile before setting her mug on the table to wrap her arms around Bruce from behind. “Good morning, Dad.”
“ Good morning, daughter.”
She kissed Bruce on his cheek and took the seat next to his. Her folks’ orange cat left his perch on the windowsill and leapt onto her lap. She stroked him and drank coffee, her gaze steady on Owen.
Abby scooped eggs into a bowl. A timer chimed and she opened the oven and pulled out a tray of golden biscuits. In minutes they were all seated at the table with a breakfast that beat the shit out of his usual oatmeal.
Keeley smiled at her dad when he slipped a bit of bacon to the cat on her lap. The cat knew he had a good deal and was purring his heart out.
“ Tell us what happened last night that brought the police to our home again,” Abby said.