Run to Ground(89)

As the last barrier between their upper halves fell away, Theo caught the back of her head and yanked her in for another kiss, his mouth taking over hers in that irresistibly bossy way of his she was beginning to know and love. Her breasts met his chest, skin to skin, and she gasped into his mouth at the incredible shock of pleasure that flashed through her at the contact.

He continued to kiss her in that all-consuming way, holding her with the weight of his body pressing her into the smooth wood of the door—living hardness in front of her and inanimate hardness behind—as he unfastened his jeans and shoved them down his hips. When Jules heard the crinkle of plastic and guessed it to be a condom wrapper, reality hit her, and she pulled back.

Theo went still except for his chest heaving against hers, and he eyed her carefully. “Okay?”

This was it. He was giving her an out, an escape path, if she wanted it. If she were smart, she’d take it—pull away and excuse herself and never see him outside the diner again. The thought brought such a rush of sadness that she flinched.

Misinterpreting her reaction, Theo squeezed his eyes closed and gave a short jerk of his head. “Okay.”

When he started to lower her to the floor, though, she clung, her arms and legs tightening around him. “What?” Her voice was almost nothing, a husky, scratching murmur that barely made it to her ears.

He paused, hope reigniting in his expression. “Did you want to stop?”

“No!” Her answer was out before she could consider it, before she could listen to the nagging sane voice in her head, the one telling her to put down the hot cop and back away slowly. “No. I really don’t.”

Theo waited another few seconds, watching her expression as if checking to see if she would change her mind. When Jules, her entire body buzzing with arousal, got tired of waiting, she palmed the back of his head and jerked him toward her. Jules tried out the role of aggressor, giving him the same bossy kisses he’d given her, but that didn’t last long. With a low growl, Theo took over again, his mouth even more ferocious than before.

He must have managed to get the condom on while kissing her, because the next thing she knew, his hands were under her uniform skirt. He shoved her panties to the side, and she cried out as the touch of his fingers lit her up inside. Her hands worked on his neck, kneading the tight muscles, as her body strained to get closer to his touch.

Then his hands were at her hips, holding her steady as he buried himself inside of her. They both went still, frozen against the front door, as her body adjusted to him, to the incredible sensations that he caused. It was that same mix of exhilaration and safety and affection that Theo always made her feel, only more—a thousand times more. The way he watched her, the way he held so tightly and yet so carefully, as if she was something precious, made her breath catch. Jules hadn’t expected to feel this way…not ever. Now there was Theo, and he was touching her like he cherished her, and making her dream come true—a dream she hadn’t even known she’d had. Her heart squeezed with so much love for this heroic man that it was agonizing and amazing, all at the same time.

As if he couldn’t wait any longer, Theo started to move, his hands almost painfully tight on her hips. She clung to him as they found a rhythm, unable to believe what was happening, or how right it felt, or how perfectly they fit together, moved together. The entire time, he still kissed her, as if he couldn’t stop, couldn’t tear his mouth away from hers. Jules didn’t mind at all.

He shifted his hips slightly as he drove deep, hitting a spot that sent shock waves of pleasure through her, and Jules made a hungry sound. His muscles tightened in response, and he closed his teeth on her bottom lip. The slight sting made her gasp and then moan. From Theo’s answering growl and the way he moved faster and harder, he loved her eager noises.

As she lost her grip, her hands slipping from his taut, sweat-slicked back, she tensed, instinctively worried about falling. He didn’t drop her, though. His hold didn’t waiver at all, and Jules relaxed, quickly falling into the abyss of pleasure once again. Now that her hands were free, she explored, drawing her fingers up the straining tendons of his neck and scratching lightly at his scalp.

A shiver vibrated through him, and he inhaled sharply. His kiss intensified as he thrust into her, making Jules forget about everything but the feel of his body against hers, inside her.

The pressure built in her, almost scary in its intensity, and she shifted against him. He tightened his grip, keeping her steady. That security, that strong hold, eased her worry and allowed her to let go, to let the pleasure flood her cells and drown everything else until all that was left was sheer joy.