Everywhere and Every Way(39)

Time to find out.

Cal barely restrained himself from licking his chops like the Big Bad  Wolf. His body pounded with sexual energy, though he tried to leash it  in. "Why don't we discuss it over dessert?"

Morgan stilled. Scenting danger in the air, she ducked her head and  pretended to study a dusty beveled glass mirror. "It's late. I should  go."

His nostrils flared with the thrill of pursuit. "Not without helping me eat some banana cream pie. I'll put on coffee, too."

His tone brooked no argument. She hesitated, dragging her feet, then  seemed to give herself a mental pep talk. "Okay. A tiny slice. It's  late."

"Yes, you said that." He didn't try to take her hand this time, allowing  her the space. The dogs danced around them, occasionally stopping to  investigate a scent or sound, making sure their temporary mistress was  safe from Jason or Freddy. Morgan seemed to tense a notch tighter with  every step. When was the last time he had to work to seduce a woman?

Hmm. That would be never. It was more fun than he ever imagined.         

     



 

Cal busied himself in the kitchen cutting pie and pouring two cups of  coffee. She perched on the stool at the marble island with one foot  dangling toward the floor, as if planning a quick escape. He smothered a  grin and forked up some fresh cream and ripe fruit. It was pure sugar  heaven in his veins.

"I love pie," he managed in between bites. "How'd you know?"

She smiled and looked as happy as he was. "Didn't. Good guess. You seem like a pie sort of guy."

"All-American?"

She tilted her head. "Yeah, I think so."

"Why?"

Her shoulders lifted in a delicate shrug. Her blouse slid slowly down,  giving him a great view. "You have all the trappings. Dogs. A successful  family business. You build things instead of making a living pushing  paper. You have the American flag in front of your house. And you talk  well about your mom."

He licked the fork and considered. "Sounds solid. Must mean I'm trustworthy."

"Yes." The word came out with a touch of wariness.

He propped his elbows on the counter and leaned in. "And that means I always get the girl."

She pursed her lips and slid her plate away. "Not necessarily. It means  you have patience, take your time, and are always a gentleman."

"Two out of three ain't bad," he drawled.

Her eyes widened, but she rallied. "Oh, I forgot the last quality. You're nice."

Cal chuckled. The way she emphasized the word was a direct challenge. "I heard nice guys finish last. I like to come in first."

"That ridiculous philosophy was constructed by a bunch of popular  teenage girls who got obsessed with the bad-boy phenomenon. They weren't  mature enough to see that emotional torture and pain does not reflect  success in relationships. Nice guys get the real women because they have  staying power."

"You date a lot of nice guys, Morgan?"

Her gaze dropped as if she needed distance. "Sure."

"Any of them finish first with you?"

She jerked back. A flash of temper lit her eyes. "Yes," she snapped. "In  fact, I only date nice men. I'm past my experimental,  yes-sir-may-I-have-another phase. I don't like games or cheaters or  liars. I don't like men who have a Peter Pan syndrome or men who just  want another notch in their bedpost."

"Doesn't leave much territory open, does it?"

She tightened her lips and stared at him hard. "Making fun of me?"

"Never."

"Good. I think it's time I say good night. Thank you for cooking. Thank you for the lovely evening."

She was so proper and adorable, he couldn't stop her. Yet. "You're welcome."

Morgan slid off the stool, took her plate and fork to the sink, and  rinsed her hands. "Will you let me know what happened with the inspector  tomorrow after speaking with Dalton?"

"Absolutely."

She nodded and spun on her very smart kitten heel, making her way to the  foyer. The dogs leaped from their beds to give her a hearty send-off.  She knelt down, hugging each of them with an open affection that made  him smile. This was a woman who needed more in her life. More friends.  More animals.

More . . . sex.

Her smile was nervous and forced. "Thanks again."

"Morgan?"

Her hand paused on the knob. "Yes?"

"What about my kiss?"

A tiny gasp burst from her lips. Cal straightened to his full height,  slowly moving forward to close the distance between them. Her hand fell  away from the door, and her back pressed against the hard frame.  Stealing her space, he bracketed her body with his thighs, feet braced,  hands on each side of her head so she was trapped. The leashed sexual  tension between them whipped to life, and Cal soaked in the waves of  old-fashioned lust and hunger between man and woman. An ancient dance  that would never go extinct. His dick swelled, and his skin grew hot and  tight, and Cal scented the heady smell of female arousal. Oh, yeah.  Morgan Raines was not feeling very nice herself at this moment.

"What are you doing?"

He ran one finger down her smooth cheek. Her lower lip trembled  slightly, but her chin tilted in pure stubbornness. Amusement touched  his voice. "What do you think I'm doing?"

"Trying to take payment for dinner, Charming? Aren't we past that?"

She was trying to needle him, but it wouldn't work tonight. He wanted  her sweetness and light and honesty tonight. His senses screamed it was  time to take what he wanted. "I don't want to play games with you,  Morgan. I want to kiss you."

"I don't think that's a good idea. It's complicated. I already explained this."         

     



 

Cal pressed a kiss to her temple. Smoothed back the silkiness of her  silvery hair, which smelled like wildflowers. Her body shook so  slightly, if he wasn't close, he would've never caught it. Her muscles  tightened in a grip that told him she was trying to fight her body's  natural response to him.

"I think it's quite simple. This is separate from our business contract.  We can keep this private if you'd like or scream we're together from  the rafters. I'm still going to be a hard-ass, and you'll still be a  pain in the butt. But I swear to God, Morgan Raines, if I don't kiss you  now and take you to bed, it may become the biggest regret of my life.  And I've had enough of them to last me a lifetime." He lowered his head.  His gaze locked with hers. Her breath came in choppy gasps, and as if  she couldn't fight it, her fingers clasped his shoulders and hung on.  Satisfaction shot through him, and the need to claim her for his raged  in his blood, dulling every other thought.

"I don't know," she whispered.

He cupped her cheeks, his thumb pressed against her lush pink lips. "I do. Now open your mouth for me, baby, and let me in."

His mouth took hers.





chapter fourteen







Goodness gracious.

Morgan knew the kiss was coming. She prepared herself for the sensual  assault like bracing her body for a war, ready for the pleasure but  focused on keeping enough control to feel safe. A good-night kiss wasn't  a terrible thing. Besides, she'd been dying to experience his mouth on  hers once more. Even their banter seemed like foreplay, all roads  leading to this one kiss. Morgan could handle it.

His body and spicy scent surrounded her. A little moan escaped her  throat as she hung on, allowing the complete possession of her mouth and  shuddering with pleasure. Strong white teeth nipped at her bottom lip,  demanding entry, and his tongue slid home with no hesitation or apology.

She frickin' loved it.

There was nothing to think about or plan when Cal kissed her. The only  thing Morgan needed to do was give him what he wanted, and she was  rewarded. Rough, capable hands stroked her cheeks, controlling the angle  and thrust of his tongue, sipping every last drop from her like the  sweetest whiskey he'd ever tasted. Morgan arched up to the demand, her  breasts tight and tingly from the delicious pressure of his chest  dragging against her nipples. The thickness of his erection notched  tight between her thighs, causing her clit to throb and ache for better  pressure. She craved the feel of his fingers sliding inside her slick  folds, his hot tongue against her breasts. As if he caught her unspoken  thoughts, the kiss turned a bit wild, a bit savage, and instead of  pulling back to reclaim control, Morgan surrendered without a regret,  letting her body take the lead.

With a low growl of triumph, he picked her up and held her against the  door. Her legs wrapped around his hips and she thrust all ten fingers  into his already messy hair, holding him still and drowning in his kiss.  His hips rocked back and forth, teasing her with what was to come,  until she lost it and clamped her teeth down in a savage bite, arching  her hips for more.

His head shot up. Charcoal eyes simmered with banked fire. "Did you just  bite me?" he growled against her lips, lifting her up a few inches only  to control her slow movement downward. Frustrated already, she wriggled  her hips for more pressure.