Kade spent a frustrating day chasing dead-end leads, finding himself no closer to learning the identity of either Gordo or El Torero. By the time he’d exhausted his last resource, orange and pink streaked the western sky, the sun sinking behind the Mule Mountains.
And he was late. Marnie and Stan Perez had invited Kade’s family and Kelsey to dinner. Marnie had promised to make her wicked chili con carne, homemade flour tortillas, and flan, a Mexican custard, for dessert. But Kade just wasn’t up to socializing, even though he hated to miss the chance of being around Kelsey.
Dead tired, Kade stopped by the Perezes’ ranch to make his appearance and his excuses. Sadie and Chuck were there when he arrived, but he didn’t see Kelsey or Trent. Sadie let him know that Trent had come down with a stomach bug that afternoon, and Kelsey had volunteered to stay with him.
Only the porch light was on when Kade finally made it home, and the house was quiet, save for crickets chirping and Roxie sniffing her greeting. Absently, he scratched the dog behind her ears, feeling a surge of disappointment that Kelsey had apparently gone to bed. He’d hoped to spend a few moments with her—hell, more than a few moments.
Not that he was able to get to sleep right away after being near her. Warmth seeped into his blood when he remembered last night. He’d gone to Kelsey to comfort her, and when she’d calmed down, she’d reached for him with desire in her eyes and passion in her soul. Had he been a fool for turning away from her?
No, as much as he wanted her, he could never do that. When she came to him for more than petting and sexual play, it would be with a clear head. It would be because she wanted him. Last night could’ve just been a reaction to the adrenaline pumping through her body after her nightmare. No greater aphrodisiac than adrenaline.
Kade kicked off his dusty boots by the front door and tore off his socks, then put his Glock in the cabinet. He’d spent the day researching files, watching surveillance tapes, and talking on the phone, and hadn’t come in contact with any UDAs, but he still wanted a shower.
In the kitchen, he washed his face and hands in the sink, before giving Roxie a bowl of dog food and water. He made himself a sandwich with Sadie’s homemade bread and leftover ham, and scarfed it down along with a glass of orange juice.
When he finished eating, he went to the bathroom but found the door locked and heard water running in the tub. So, Kelsey wasn’t asleep after all. What would she think if he slid into the bathroom and offered to join her? Would she welcome him? He shook his head and smiled. Just maybe.
He checked on Trent and found the boy fast asleep. He went to the laundry room and stripped off his clothes, then headed to Chuck and Sadie’s bathroom to take his shower.
After a nice hot shower, Kade felt more than refreshed. His blood boiled and his erection was obvious against the thick terry cloth towel around his waist. The tile felt cool under his bare feet as he headed toward his room. Should he knock on Kelsey’s door?
When he reached the hallway, Kelsey was there. His pulse picked up and his gut tightened. She stood in the doorway of Trent’s room, a soft smile on her face. Only light pouring from her bedroom lit the hall, but it was enough that he could study her.
Heat gathered in Kade’s groin as he watched Kelsey, his arms aching to draw her close, aching to touch her face, aching to stroke her body. She was beautiful. Her skin pink, the ends of her hair damp. And of all things, she wore his faded bathrobe.
She turned away from Trent’s room and froze.
“Hello, Kelsey,” Kade said softly.
“Kade.” She hugged the robe tighter. “I thought you’d be going to the Perezes’.”
“Too tired.” He smiled and leaned against the door frame of her room. “At least I was.”
Kelsey wiped a tendril of damp hair from her face, her chocolate eyes drawing him closer. “I was checking on Trent.”
Kade struggled to stay put, to keep his hands away from her. “How’s he doing?”
“His fever’s down.” She glanced in the boy’s room, then back to Kade. In the background, he heard country-western music playing on Trent’s radio.
Her gaze darted to Kade’s bare chest, as if she’d just noticed he wore only a towel. She blushed as she looked back to his face. “I’d better let you get to bed.”
She brushed past him into her room. Her soft body slid by him as silken as a caress, the fragrance of her warming him like whiskey in his veins. And God help him, he followed her.
“Kelsey.”
The Victorian lamp bathed her in a rose glow, her hair glittering in the gentle light like strands of finest gold. As she turned back to him, she made a soft sound and bit her lip.
“Are you all right?” Kade reached for Kelsey and pulled her to him. She buried her face against his bare chest and slid her arms around his waist. She fit against him perfectly, the top of her head just reaching his chin. He stroked her hair down to the damp ends, and then again.
A deep breath, and then she shuddered. “You smell so good.” His chest muffled her voice.
“No, darlin’, it’s you. Honeysuckle and soap.” He smiled. “You look sexy as hell in my robe.”
Kelsey lifted her head and the sensual glitter in her eyes made him want to take her now. “When I took a bubble bath, I forgot to bring my clothes into the bathroom. So I borrowed your robe from off the door hook. Do you mind?”
“Never.” He gave a wicked grin. “But I envy all those bubbles, touching you, covering every inch of your body. And right now I envy my bathrobe even more.”
She caught her breath, her eyes growing wide and her lips parting.
Her mouth looked so inviting, so delectable. He lowered his head and brushed her lips with his. Kelsey wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Long and tender, her tongue teasing him with timid strokes.
He deepened the kiss, delving into her until his head spun and she had completely intoxicated him. He was drunk with the taste of her, the smell of her, the feel of her. Dear God, this was a woman he could never get enough of.
Kade gritted his teeth, his body rock hard against her feminine softness. He felt the slight tremble of her body in his arms and he pulled away. “I’m finding it tough to control myself around you.” She drew him back and melded her body to his. “You taste like orange juice, and something more.” She kissed him again, and trailed her lips over the stubble on his chin, down to the hollow of his throat. “Man. You’re all man.”
Fire burned within Kade, desire so fierce it shook him to the soles of his feet, nearly knocking him on his ass with its intensity.
His breathing grew ragged as he captured her mouth with his. God, but she tasted good. Her lips, so soft and sweet, tore away at his determination. “Kelsey. Honey. I don’t know if I can take much more of this. I’m about to throw you on that bed and take all of you.”
“Please,” she whispered, nuzzling at his ear. “I want those fireworks you promised me.”
***
He squeezed Kelsey to him, his heart nearly ceasing to beat. “Are you sure? Very sure?”
Kade’s words made her even more confident in her decision. Like a light shining into a darkened room, she realized it was what she had wanted all along. She didn’t just want kisses and almost-sex. She wanted all of him. She wanted him so deep inside her that she could feel him everywhere.
He wasn’t Davis. Kade would never hurt her. And even if it didn’t last, she needed Kade with a desperation that almost frightened her.
She nodded, her heart pounding, her throat tight. “I want to be with you more than anything.”
“You’re trembling.” He stroked her cheek, then slid his fingers into her hair. “Are you afraid?”
“No. It’s just that I... I’ve only been with one man.” She brushed her lips against Kade’s neck. “He never made me feel the way you do. Never.”
“Kelsey,” he whispered. “There hasn’t been a woman I’ve cared more about than you.”
“Please.” She stroked his face, his stubble coarse against her palm. “Be with me.”