"No big deal? Really? Because I'm guessing Declan McCabe is the reason no one has won that pool we've got going in the office."
She ignored the comment, but she wasn't being totally fair. This was a dangerous business, and Dave had a right to know what was going on and to worry that she would compromise the job. She'd hardly behaved in a professional manner. But shit, surely everyone was allowed to have a bad day.
Though "bad" really didn't describe it. Declan's hands had felt so good. Why did her own never feel that way? For that matter, why did no other man's? Was she doomed to find only him a turn-on? Maybe she'd been programmed too young. Now her body could only respond to one man. Crap.
"Earth to Jess."
Dave waved a hand in front of her, and she snapped out of her daydream.
"Sorry," she muttered, sitting up straight.
"So you should be. You left us with that asshole. I don't like him. He's got an agenda."
"Rory McCabe?" No, she didn't like him either. And yeah, he was up to something. But matchmaking? It hardly seemed likely. And certainly not between her and Declan.
"Why is he pushing this?" Dave asked. "Why us?"
"I don't know. That's the honest-to-God truth. I'm as much in the dark as you are."
"But you still plan to take the job?" He stopped pacing and took the seat next to her, dragging it around so he could stare into her face. "Look, I've known you a long time. I've fought beside you. Christ, you've covered my back a dozen times. You're the toughest woman I've ever come across, and I would have sworn nothing could get through that armor."
"So?" She gave a casual shrug. "Nothing's changed."
He raked a hand through his hair, pressed his fingers to his forehead. "Like fuck it hasn't. You've got a goddamned hickey. The pair of you were making out like a couple of randy fucking teenagers." She looked away and he sighed. "All I'm saying is we can still walk away from this one."
"We've agreed to do the job."
"Then persuade me that we aren't making a big mistake."
She hated justifying herself, but Dave deserved this. "Do you believe the threat is real? Does Declan need protecting?"
Dave nodded. "Yeah. No doubt."
"And can we provide that protection."
"We can. I'm not so sure about you, and I don't like the fact that he's insisting you're part of the team. And I like it even less that you're caving in to that."
"I'm hardly caving in. I'm just going along with it for my own reasons."
"Will those reasons compromise the job?"
She tugged on her ponytail as she considered her answer. Declan, whether she liked it or not, had the ability to make her lose all sense of where she was, of everything except who she was with, and what he was making her feel. Not good for a bodyguard. She was hardly going to be able to protect him if she was underneath him or on top or … But although she was shaken by the strength of her feelings, she had to see this through. Or she would never be free of him. Maybe as he'd said they should sate themselves on each other, and once sated, she'd dump his sorry ass and never look back.
"Okay, so here's the thing. We'll work out a schedule and I'll be on it, but not on it. We make sure I have back up at all times. Rory can pay."
Had she made a mistake letting Declan back in her life?
The question refused to be banished as she lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
But there was no reason why he should be a problem as long as she kept her wits about her.
He was strictly business. Well sort of.
Her hand went to her throat, and she stroked the mark he had left. What did he want from her? Protection against his dad's matchmaking schemes? She just couldn't buy into that one.
Sex?
More likely. Maybe like her, he felt they were unfinished business and if they shagged enough, they would eventually be finished and the craving would fade away.
Or did he want something else?
Maybe the next few days would clear things up.
Right now, she needed sleep, but she twitched and turned and if she closed her eyes, all she could see was Declan.
The phone rang on her bedside table and she jumped. It was close to midnight. Who the hell would call her now? Unless there had been some sort of disaster at work.
She picked it up, but didn't recognize the number. "Hello?"
"Where the hell are you?"
She recognized the voice instantly. "Steve? Is that you, darling?"
"No, it fucking isn't and don't pretend you don't know exactly who this is."
"Declan, what the hell do you want? There had better be someone trying to kill you right now, and they'd better have taken down both of the very capable guards I sent to babysit you."
"I told you I wanted you. That was the deal."
"And you'll get me. Just not 24-7. Where are your guards?" she asked, suddenly suspicious.
"Don't worry. They're in the next room. I'm safe, but it's nice to know you care."
"I don't. But if you die, I don't get my promotion. Furthermore, the company has never lost a client yet. I'd rather not start now. It's bad for business."
"Sweet. So where are you?"
"It's midnight. I'm in bed."
"Naked?"
"No, not naked."
"Could you get naked?" His voice sank lower and warmth washed through her. Just the sound of his voice sent tremors skittering across her skin. Why him? Why did he have to be the one to bring her body to life?
He'd made no indication that he wanted anything more from her than sex. And she was good with that. She would never trust any man with her heart again. Least of all this one, after he'd done such a great job of shattering it the first time. The experience had taken something from her, something fragile that she guessed would never come back: trust.
"Jess? You're thinking too much. You know you want me. Need me."
"Want maybe. Need … no. And you know why?"
"Tell me."
She reached across to her bedside cabinet and picked up her vibrator. "Because I've got something much better, right next to me."
"You have?"
"Yeah, it's long and it's hard and it doesn't have a mouth so no chance it's going to say something that will piss me off."
"You like my mouth. You always liked what I did with my mouth."
"I don't remember."
"Come on over, and I'll remind you." His words made the heat pool in her belly and warm wetness soak her sex. Because she did remember. She'd never been able to get enough of his mouth on her. And he'd seemed the same. He'd spent hours tasting her, licking, devouring. She bit back a moan.
"You remembering yet?" he murmured down the phone. "I particularly recall how you used to love it when I-"
She clicked on the vibrator and held it close to the phone. It was quiet on the other end for a whole minute. Then she heard a deep sigh.
"Christ, I wish I was there. You got a camera on that phone?"
"Not a hope in hell."
"My dick is so fucking hard. Has been since you walked out on me this afternoon." His breathing was loud. "Tell me what you're doing, Jess? Tell me how you pleasure yourself. Are you wet? Touch yourself."
She swallowed. But holy shit this was hot. She imagined Declan in his hotel room, sprawled on a big bed. The phone in one hand … "You first."
"Sweetheart, my hand is around my cock. I wish it was you, but if I don't get off soon, I'll explode. Go on, talk to me … tell me what you're doing. Stroke your breasts."
She closed her eyes for a second, then took a deep breath. Jamming the phone in the crook between her neck and her shoulder, she slipped her free hand beneath her tank top and stroked her palm over the peak, imagined Declan's dark head there, kissing her, his lips tugging on the nipples. She pinched one between her thumb and her finger and moaned.
"You doing it, baby?"
"Oh yeah."
"Now lower. Touch yourself. Tell me how wet you are."
She stroked her hand over her belly, then down under the drawstring of her pants. Her whole body quivered in anticipation. It had never felt like this before. Her fingers slid through the folds, gliding across her drenched sex.
"Talk to me, baby."
"I'm wet."
"Wet enough to push that vibrator inside?"
She wriggled out of her pants, the vibrator buzzing in her hand. "It's sliding inside, Declan." She pressed the head against her opening and pushed it inside, the vibrations tingling through her body. "And it feels so damn good."
"My cock would feel better. I need to picture this-describe it to me."
"It's a rabbit, and the little ears are tickling me. Oh God." She closed her eyes and it was Declan's fingers between her legs, his cock deep inside her. She pulled the vibrator out and pushed back again, harder this time, then left it lodged inside, the pleasure building, a heavy weight in her belly, swelling and spreading outward.
"What's happening?" he asked.
"I'm going to come in about ten seconds."
"We'll come together."
An image of Declan, his fingers wrapped around his own cock, pumping into his fist, filled her mind. The sensations became too much, and she crashed over the edge, getting no relief as the vibrations continued, and she came again. She fumbled between her thighs, switched off the vibrator, and collapsed back on the pillows. She'd dropped the phone; it lay on the bed and she picked it up with a trembling hand. She licked her lips, swallowed, finally, managed to speak. "You still here?"