His hands were at her waist now, unfastening her pants, and she arched her hips up off the counter to allow him to drag them down over her long legs, tugging off her shoes without slowing until she was entirely naked, sprawled on the counter before him. Now his movements slowed. He straightened, gazing down at her with eyes darkened and a dull flush across his cheekbones.
"Lie back." When she didn't move fast enough, he placed a hand on her shoulder and pushed her gently until her spine rested against the smooth, cool metal of the counter. He trailed his hand down over her breast, rubbing the engorged nipple so sensations shot to her groin. Then lower so it splayed across her flat belly.
"Tell me," he said. "Did you bring me down here just to seduce me?"
She didn't hesitate. "Yes."
He chuckled, but then the laugh stilled in his throat. He dug his fingers into the soft skin of her stomach, then dragged them lower through the pale blond curls. She came up on her elbows because she didn't want to miss any of this, holding her breath, waiting for the first touch.
His gaze was fixed on her sex as he slowly slid a finger along the seam and her thighs widened of their own accord, her hips rising to push against his hand. His finger slipped inside.
"Jesus, you are so wet."
He parted her with one hand, then trailed his fingers over the drenched folds, stopping just short of her swollen clit, so she bucked her hips in protest. Then back down to push inside her, first one finger, then a second, rubbing at her inner walls so her flesh tingled and tightened around him.
Then finally, he lowered his head and kissed her. He used his mouth and his tongue, long strokes along the length of her sex, pushing inside, nibbling at the outer lips, sucking and licking. Heat washed through her in waves, threatening to drag her under.
She growled low in her throat as he circled her clit, never quite touching, until she thought she might go mad with need. His hands were splayed on her inner thighs now, holding her open to him, holding her still, while he continued his slow torture.
"Please, Declan."
He glanced up and his darkened eyes captured hers. "I like it when you beg. Say it again."
"Please."
She could feel his warm breath blowing over her, and her muscles clenched. "You want this?" He dropped the lightest of kisses on the tight little nub and the breath left her in a whoosh. She held herself perfectly still, waiting for his next touch, then nearly jumped as the tip of his tongue teased her until she thought she would go mad with the need for release. He lapped at her gently, and she could feel her orgasm building, tightening everything inside her.
Finally, his mouth closed over her and he suckled her clit into his mouth, and she shattered into a million pieces. Her eyes clamped closed as the pleasure washed over her in waves, her hips pushing against him. As the pleasure ebbed, he bit down and she came again. He straightened, but she was hardly aware as he put on a condom and positioned himself between her thighs.
She opened her eyes as he pushed inside, her inner muscles spasming around him as he filled her in one hard push of his hips. He ground against her sensitive clit, and she gasped his name.
There had never been anything like this. No one had ever come close to making her feel this way. Only Declan. That's why she had given up searching in the end.
At the thought, she had a flash of fear.
But it was only sex.
Mind-blowing, earth-shattering sex. He was pumping into her now, long, hard strokes, and she closed her eyes and let the feelings expand, spiral out of control until she lost all awareness except for the huge shaft between her legs, the hot mouth at her breast.
He sped up and she knew he was close, could feel the tenseness of his muscles, the sheer force of his concentration. He slipped a hand between them, massaged her clit, and she tipped over the edge once more as he spilled inside her.
For long minutes neither of them moved. Jess became aware of the hard metal at her back, the edge of the counter digging into her thighs. The air smelled of sex and sweat and Declan, and she breathed in deeply. Someone rattled at the door, but went away when they got no response.
Finally, she managed to move a hand and make a feeble attempt to push him off. Her legs were wrapped around his waist, and she unlocked them. He put a palm flat on the counter beside her and pushed himself up.
"Fuck," he said and ran his other hand through his hair. At least he'd lost his perfect businessman look. She pushed herself up on her elbows for a better view as he pulled out of her and stepped back.
A shiver ran through her, a feeling of emptiness that only Declan could fill. It was a feeling she remembered so well from the days after he left her. Another shiver ran through her. Fear, this time. She would not go through that again. But already she wanted to be back in his arms, and that terrified her.
His eyes held a sleepy satiated expression and a slow smile curved his lips. "That was … "
"Just sex," she said and jumped off the counter. After searching the floor for her clothes, she picked up her panties and clutched them in her hand.
His smile faded, and his brows drew together. He straightened his clothes, fastening his jacket over his ripped shirt and was once again the perfect businessman. "You know, it doesn't have to be 'just sex.'"
She glanced at him, a frown forming between her brows. "Oh yes, it does."
"Why? We're good together. There's no reason we shouldn't keep on being good together."
Was he crazy? "Are you crazy?"
"It makes perfect sense to me."
"Hah. Been there. Done that. Never happening again."
"It wouldn't be the same. We're different people than we were ten years ago."
"Really, because you seem pretty much the same to me, Mr. Perfect." She yanked her panties up her legs, grabbed her pants and shirt, pulled them on. "And how long will it take before you realize … again … that I don't fit into your perfect world."
"Is that really how you see me?"
"Oh yeah. And I think I get it. That's how you were brought up to be. Your parents blackmailed you into thinking you always had to do the right thing. Suddenly I'm acceptable, and you think you want me. " She bent down and pulled her shoes on, then grabbed the pistol and took it back to the gun safe, locking it, before turning back to Declan. "But by now, you're so used to doing what's right, that you have no clue what you really want."
"I want you." He took a step toward her and she backed away.
"You just think you want me. Well, perhaps it's time you realized you don't always get what you want, Declan." Grabbing her jacket she stalked to the door, unlocked it, and turned back. "See yourself out."
She needed some time alone. He'd knocked her off balance with his crazy suggestions. Unfortunately, when she entered her office five minutes later, Jake was seated at her desk. She so didn't need this right now. Stifling a groan, she plastered a smile on her face.
"Anything I can help you with, boss?"
"I just got a report there was a problem with the shooting range. Someone had apparently barricaded themselves in."
"Hardly barricaded." She shrugged and plonked herself in the chair opposite. "Declan wanted to shoot a gun. As part of my new be-nice-to-clients image I thought, why not?"
"And … ?"
"And … " She thought quickly. "And he'd never held a gun before so I thought he might be a little trigger happy. So in the interests of safety I locked the door."
He regarded her for a few seconds. "Nice try, but I'm not buying it."
What a surprise. "You're not? Any particular bit of it?"
"All of it."
There wasn't a lot she could say to that, so she stretched out her legs and examined her fingernails.
"What's going on between you and McCabe? And don't tell me nothing. You couldn't take your eyes off him in that meeting, and then afterward you lock yourself in the shooting range with him. And now, you look decidedly flushed and your shirt is inside out."
She glanced down. So it was. No getting anything past Jake. "We're having a thing."
"A thing?"
"You know a … thing. But you don't have to worry. It's not interfering with the job. I have everything organized."
"Maybe I'm not worried about the job. Maybe I'm worried about you."
"Sweet." Actually it was. "But as I said, I have everything under control."
"Why do I doubt that? Probably because you've never shown any interest in a client before. Hell, in anyone before. Have you any idea what you're doing?"
"Of course I do." Actually, she had no clue. But she was working it out slowly. Declan was obviously going through some sort of weird midlife crisis-being shot and almost blown up would do that to you-and had decided that she was the answer. He was totally deluded. "Actually, I'm doing what you told me to do and putting the past behind me."
His eyes narrowed. "Declan McCabe is your past?"
"My very, very distant past."
No way was she going to act as some sort of antidote just because Declan's perfect life suddenly didn't seem so perfect. Because he'd finally get over his little crisis and then he'd no doubt dump her like he had last time. Well, she wasn't going to give him the opportunity. From now on, she was keeping her distance.