“Bullshit. There’s nothing I don’t know about you, Anastasia. And nothing you don’t know about me.”
“Do you think someone’s a criminal whether they get caught or not?” She knew what his answer would be already. Jake had fully supported the local authorities when Eric had been caught committing a crime. Eric suffered the same punishments as anyone else in town would.
“Of course.”
“Well, then I’m a criminal, Jake. And a good, honest cop like you can’t spend his life with a woman who skates the line and occasionally falls over it.”
He picked up his wine and sat back then, studying her with those cool cop’s eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but let me ask you this: What the hell do you expect me to do if you’re the only woman I’ll ever want? Be alone? You can’t be that cruel, Ana.”
“And you can’t compromise your principles for me. Eventually, it’ll ruin what we have.”
“What do we have? Two lonely, miserable lives? I’d love to fuckin’ ruin that.” He took a drink and held her gaze over the rim of his glass.
Her breath caught at the fiery look in his eyes.
“And by the way,” he went on, “not a news flash that PI’s don’t toe the line. Cops switch to private investigative work because they find the line confining. I know that. At the end of the day, you’re still doing the right thing.”
“What if I told you that I don’t care if the perps get caught? I just want the take. In fact, there are times when I’ve deliberately not pulled on a thread because I almost admire them for the guts it took to make the attempt and the brains to get away with it, if they do.” She sat back. “I may let these jewel thieves I’m chasing right now slip away, Jake, after I get the gems. What do you think about that? Think you can slide into bed at night with a woman who might be an accessory after the fact?”
His gaze narrowed. “Ana—”
“It doesn’t matter, Jake.” She hopped off the barstool and grabbed their plates. “I decided years ago that it’s a question you’re never going to have to answer.”
Ana took the dishes to the sink and willed herself to relax. There was no need for them to fight and she was determined that they wouldn’t, not when they had so little time together.
“You don’t get to make that decision by yourself, Anastasia,” Jake drawled dangerously, coming up behind her.
She gripped the edge of the counter, knowing where the warning note in his voice would lead. “You can’t change my mind, Jake.”
“No. Never was able to do that.” His hands wrapped around her wrists. “But I can remind you of what we’ve both been missing.”
Gently, he pulled her hands away from the counter and brought them behind her, pinning them to the small of her back. A moment later she felt the chill of steel as one handcuff clicked shut around her wrist, then another.
An instant calm settled over her.
He turned her around and cupped her face in his hands, his mouth sealing over hers. Ana gasped at the first press of his firm lips, opening herself to the slow, smooth glide of his tongue. He licked deep and slow, savoring her with an easy, unhurried eroticism. She moaned and wriggled against him, impatient and greedy.
His hands moved down to her throat, wrapping lightly around it. The feeling of being collared soothed her further.
“You with me, baby?” he asked softly, the pads of his thumbs stroking over her fluttering pulse.
“Yes.”
“The first time is gonna be quick. I’ve been waiting too long.”
Ana nodded, feeling the same way. She was so wet and swollen already, she was certain the slightest pressure on her clit would set her off.
Tenderly, as if she was fragile, he squeezed her breasts through the cotton of her baby doll, hefting them lightly to judge how heavy and tender they’d become. He caught her nipples between his thumb and forefingers, rolling them, tugging with just the perfect amount of pressure. Her eyes closed, her body lost to him.
Jake kissed her again, his tongue gliding over the curve of her lower lip. “I’ve missed you so damn much, Ana.”
“I want to touch you.”
“I know.” He hooked his fingers beneath her straps and pushed them off her shoulders. “If you’re good, I might let you.”
“Jake...” She gasped as the scalloped edge of her bodice dragged over her hardened nipples.
“So beautiful,” he breathed, stroking his thumbs over the furled tips. Lowering his head, he took one into the drenched heat of his mouth, swirling his tongue around it before his cheeks hallowed on a drawing pull.