When the Heart Lies - By Christina North Page 0,22
like a mother who was exasperated with her child.
“I told you. I have a plan.” He set his beer bottle down on the dock and jumped in.
“Wha, what the hell are you doing?” She jumped up and down with her forearms together and peeked from behind her fists.
Out in an instant, he lifted himself from the dock, muscles rippling, dripping wet. Shaking the water from his hair like a playful pup, he smiled.
“Alligators, Jackson! What’re you thinking? You’re a fool. You belong in a mental hospital.” She raised one finger in the air as if to make a proclamation. “Yes, yes. I get it. You’re not a detective at all. You’re crazy, and you’re here on R&R.”
His head jerked backward as he laughed. “What?” He continued laughing.
She scrunched up her eyes again and pursed her lips, pissed off and awfully cute. With both fists flying, she headed for him and began earnestly beating him in the chest.
“You son of a—.”
“Whoa, so you’re a potty mouth. That makes you a bad girl.” He grasped both her wrists, wrapped his foot around her ankle, and guided her fall to the ground.
He was wet. She was dirty. And when the ground was finally beneath them, they were face-to-face. This time, when their eyes met, she stopped resisting. His mouth came down on hers, hot and demanding. He groaned when he lifted his lips from the sweet moistness. They returned to taste, again and again, lingering longer each time until he slid them sensuously from the corner of her mouth along her chin, burning a trail down her neck.
Moans escaped her, spurring him on. She wrestled and loosened her wrist from his grasp. He gripped it again, pushed it roughly down to the ground, and slowly slid his hand down her arm toward her breasts. His mouth and hand met together, caressing and nibbling her hardened nipple through the thin, moist fabric of her top. When he let her hand free, she grasped his hair and pulled his mouth to hers. As he became more aggressive, she moved her hips to meet his full hardness and gasped.
She made him crazy, in want of more, but he jumped up as if nothing had occurred. He hadn’t meant to let things get so heated and needed to put some distance between them. As much as he wanted her, he was on a job. He also needed to get her back into the building by four o’clock. Otherwise, staff breaks would be over for the night, and they’d have no way of getting back in without notice. “C’mon. Time to go.”
“Wha? Ah, you.”
Scanning her reaction, he comically mirrored the shocked look on her face. “Do you stutter frequently?” Though he was teasing, he was flattered she was disappointed. Probably not as disappointed as he was, but he wasn’t the one stuttering.
Her mouth opened and hung that way until she clamped it closed with a scowl.
“Woman. You—I’m looking forward to.” He stood and lent his hand, helping her to her feet. He now knew how to render her speechless. He smiled. Both humored and pleased by the effect he had on her.
~ ~ ~
The pout on Kinsley’s face was sincere. She’d let herself get tangled in this man’s allure rather than figuring out how he could be of help to her and Max. How could he be of help when I’m afraid to say what’s happening anyway? Obviously, he’d been toying with her. She kicked herself for falling for his feigned interest in her problems. Only to find out his real agenda was recreation in the grass.
His grip was far too strong to wriggle out of, and he continued to pull her along like a wagon, oblivious to her annoyance and stumbling. Despite her not wanting it to, his hand felt secure, warm, and tender. For some reason, she trusted him. Her panic faded, and she believed him when he said he’d take care of things. But for the life of her, she couldn’t imagine how being wet and filthy would help anything.
~ ~ ~
They approached the main building. Four staff stood near the entrance smoking. Jackson timed their return perfectly, getting to the door during their four a.m. break.
“Damn, Jackson. Where have you two been?” Hector said, wide-eyed, scanning them up and down.
“It’s a long story,” he said.
“I’m sure it is. You two look pitiful.”
“I need a couple of you to help me. Who’s in? I’ll throw in a case a beer for your trouble.”