CHAPTER THIRTEEN

 

Heat surrounded her. It wasn’t the hot water pouring down that made her feel wash-cycle dizzy. The granite-tiled wall of water jets and the rain showerhead added to the mind-reeling moment. Cash was naked, gloriously large, broad, and overwhelming. His rolling pecs and biceps rippled as he moved. His muscles barely hid under the layer of golden, water-flecked skin. He locked her with a gaze that made her legs tremble. The knowing and depth in his eyes told the story of their past and made her heart bleed and her hands heavy.

In this impossible moment, she existed in the midst of deliberate, tender kisses. The minty taste of his kiss flooded her mouth and melted away her hesitation in the way only a promise and a hope could. As Cash explored her throat, his stubble tickled the underside of her chin. This was more than she remembered. Deeper. A grown man on a mission. She teetered on the devastating edge of a Cash coma. She’d dissolve and slip down the drain, a puddle of the liquid fire burning through her veins.

“Sweet girl,” wet lips whispered against her neck. Vibrations buzzed inside her, and her body responded with a desperate wetness that only Cash knew how to command.

Nicola swayed forward, her hand finding balance on the rigid plane of his abdomen. Cash cupped her jaw, thumbs skimming over her cheeks.

“You still with me, Nic?”

Absolutely. She nodded, a lust-drunk smile slipping onto her face. “Still here.”

“Good.”

“Wait.” Pulling back, reaching for reality, she grabbed the shampoo bottle. “We’re in here for a reason.”

“Nah. I’m here ’cause you’re the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen, and then you smiled.”

Oh, the things he said to her. Heat flared in her cheeks, and she focused on action, rubbing a dollop of shampoo into a lather. She reached for his hair. Caring for him felt as natural as running kiss-first into the shower.

Her fingers massaged in the soap. Lathered hair feathered under the water. Zips of sensation spiraled from her fingertips. Cash’s eyes closed. Sudsy, soapy water ran down his chiseled cheekbones and straight nose. All hints of the bruises were gone. His face was unmarred and unhurried.

“I missed you, Cash.”

The corners of his mouth turned up, not quite into a grin, just an acknowledgement of this perfect moment.

She rinsed his hair clean, watching the last of the bubbles slip down his chest and over his torso, past the light dusting of hair that rolled down his stomach leading to his hardened shaft. Nicola felt twenty years old again. All she could do was stare. Each time she brushed and moved against him, shockwaves of excitement pulsed to her core.

Startling blue eyes caught her staring. Her breath hitched in her throat, a rare mixed reaction of nervousness, interest, and eagerness. His finger ran over her lips, then he kissed her mouth.

“Come here.”

Water cascaded down her face, dripping off her eyelashes. Cash thumbed the droplets away and carefully lowered her down onto the massive shower’s built-in ledge. The cool tile was a welcome contrast to his warm, strong hands. Cash knelt in front of her and nudged between her knees with his large hands. He was a massive man. Built powerful and beautiful, and his laser focus made her feel like the center of the universe.

She wanted him. Wanted them. Nerves and doubt could disappear. She had no interest in second guesses. Right now, they had the opportunity to make things whole again.

“In your truck tonight—I swear.” Nicola cradled his chin in her fingers, holding his gaze to hers. “I trembled for your touch.”

Honesty. It was the only thing she could offer. The only thing she knew might heal the aching, gaping hole. A hole just like hers that every deep breath in his arms helped to repair.

He took her hand in his, put her palm to his mouth, and kissed. His tongue stroked each finger. Nicola moaned, whispering his name. Steam danced around them. The heat of his touch swirled with memories. Thank God for the warm waterfall protecting them from the outside world.

Putting one word after another was too hard a task, and his kiss said that it was all right. She would be okay.

Cash leaned forward and nuzzled the valley between her breasts, then turned his attention to one stiff nipple. He drew it into his mouth, and the tip grew tighter against his gentle suction. Her sex ached for contact.

He moved to her other breast, repeating the action. She arched forward, needing to be against him. Needed to feel him covering her. Her hands threaded into his hair, moving with the lazy motion of his kisses. Lips, mouth, and tongue, he teased her. Heat bloomed within her, a magical feeling both intoxicating and addictive.

He whispered in their waterfall. “I’d wait a decade for you again. For this.”

Her bottom lip quaked. Cash smoothed his hands over her stomach, gliding between her legs. His lips followed, creating a sensual trail her body craved. Nicola tightened her grip in his hair, shifting toward him. She swayed in place when his tongue licked her hip bone.

“Yes?”

She nodded, scared she’d given him a reason to stop.

Following the water’s path, his mouth crept across her, inching toward her sex. A kiss captured her breath as he molded his lips and tongue against her heat. A curse slipped from her lips. Cash lowered the width of his shoulders between her legs, relaxing into place, spreading her legs further apart.

Her legs flexed around him. He kissed until she moaned, eyes closed. Water misted around her. One of his fingers teased and tested her sweet spot. He found her willing and wanting, then eased forward, retreated back, and started his seductive torture again. She couldn’t catch her breath. She didn’t want to. This was the beginning of exquisite madness.

The strength and restraint he showed was as much an aphrodisiac as seeing the man so intent on her climax. She wanted to watch, but couldn’t. Her head drifted side to side, his name escaping on each gasp.

Teeth rasped over her. Cash’s fingers speared her as she pushed toward him. A thrilling build started. Feminine muscles tightened. The tight bud of nerves praised his loving attention. An internal, slow pulse started deep within her body, that she knew Cash would drive straight to an explosion.

He growled sweet words against her and thrust his fingers each time she rocked into him.

Nicola cried out as she unraveled, pushing for more and rocketing away almost as fast. An internal supernova— heat and energy—blasted from deep within. Her climax exploded from her core, vibrating to her hands that clung onto the granite and her toes that flexed against the tile floor.

A deep breath rolled into her lungs. She sighed, and he stilled, catching her with his sapphire stare. Watching him was bliss.

Cash leaned back, water rushing over him and framing his face. His smile looked like she felt.

“Hi.” It was the only thing her brain could manage.

He hitched a one-sided grin. “Hey.” He grabbed her purple shower poof and sudsed it up with foaming bubbles. “Give me a second.”

Whatever you say.

He’d smell like a flower and didn’t look like he cared. From shoulders to kneecaps, he covered himself up in bubbles. He snagged a handful of bubbles and put them on her nose.

“You’re adorable.”

No one had called her adorable in years. Warm, fuzzy compliments tended to evaporate in the wake of castrating looks. Funny, she didn’t mind it from him.

“Let me take you to bed.” He turned off the water and leaned over. “Wrap around me.”

Nicola bear-hugged his sturdy body, and they eased out of the shower. Cash grabbed a handful of towels, put one on the counter, and set her on it. He started with one foot, drying her. Methodical as he was tender, he worked up her leg to her shoulders, then back down to the other foot.

She was speechless.

No one had ever paid that much attention to her, and his face said this move was a first for him too. She kissed him a thank you and kissed him again because no moment had ever been sweeter.

He picked her off the counter and sent her world spinning counter-clockwise. Her blood rushed to life again at the sight of her bed. Sex with Cash had been spectacular before, and the anticipation of him holding her, being in her, made her stomach twist into a thousand excited knots.

Cash pulled back the covers, placed her under a sheet, and slipped in next to her, pulling the comforter over their heads. Cocooned away from the world, it was just her and him, and everything felt as it should.

“My sweet girl.” He’d left the lights on, and they could see each other under the bedding canopy. “Hope you know you’re not leaving this bed until sunup.”

“You’ve said worse things to—”

Knock, knock, knock.

She giggled like they’d been caught breaking a rule and whispered the obvious. “Someone’s at my door.”

His fingertip traced down her nose. “Do not engage the enemy.”

She giggled again.

Bam, bam, bam.

Both hands were over her mouth, losing the battle with an attack of the giggles. “Cash, we have to answer.”

“Why?”

“What if it’s impor—”

A voice growled through the door. “Nicola, I know you’re in there. I need to talk to Cash, and I can’t find him anywhere.”

She lost the battle, laughing out loud, eyes watering. “We’re so busted.”

And Jared was so killing the mood.

Nicola sat up, pushing the covers off of them, and Cash looked ready to kill his boss. She could only imagine the things Cash would say once the two men were alone.

Cash-the-sniper, not the man from the bathroom, lumbered out of her bed, grabbed his gym shorts, and stepped into them, cursing Jared with every passing step.

He opened the door and leaned his elbow above his head on the doorjamb, blocking any view inside the room. Good, it gave her a chance to watch without Jared seeing her wrapped in the comforter. It also gave her one hell of a view of Cash. Those gym shorts might as well have been made for his body.

“Better be good, boss man.”

“I thought you two were old history.” She could hear everything Jared said, and maybe that was Jared’s point.

“What do you want?”

“Hey, princess, I thought we talked about keeping it in your pants.”

“Watch yourself, Jared,” a woman’s voice warned from the hallway. Mia Winters. It had to be. No other woman was around, at least that she knew about. From what she’d heard, Mia was one hell of a firecracker. Maybe Nicola could hang with her some this weekend.

“Hey, Mia,” Cash said. “Still wandering the halls?”

Jared ignored Cash, responding to Mia. “Just ’cause you’re all cute and pregnant doesn’t mean you get to talk to me like that.”

“My house, my rules, big boy. Play by them or go home.”

Jared spoke back to Cash. “I need high explosive, incendiary tipped, green tracer .50 caliber ammunition by oh eight hundred. I’ve got nothing armor piercing. Can you and Miss Betty hook me up?”

“Nothing at home. You ask Roman?”

“He’s got nothing incendiary. You two are worthless.”

“Brock normally keeps a stash of—”

“We’re all dry. Fuck special requests from governmental bureaucrats. They want to start picking the color of tracers? They’ve played too many games of Call of Duty.”

“Sorry, man. Don’t know what to tell you.”

“Find a shirt. You and Roman have to head over to HQ. Check everywhere, I need that ammo.”

Hard pause. Nicola almost felt his jaw drop to his bare feet. “What?”

“Not kidding. Get your ass dressed, Cash, and get to work.”

“Fuck you.”

“More like fuck no one tonight, buddy.”

Jared would pay for this stunt. Jerk. She’d have his ass if Cash didn’t.

Cash didn’t move from the door. “You can’t be serious.”

“Never more,” he said with a grumpy laugh.

“Fine, and a big fuck you.”

“Like I said—”

Cash slammed the door. Nicola sat up in the middle of bed.

He turned. Brooding. Intense.

They stayed silent, looking at one another. The tension hadn’t slipped out when he’d opened the door. The air was just as charged as before the shower.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Was the room too warm? It felt too warm and too small with too many pillows. Just the two of them in a tiny room with a ginormous bed. She tried to catch her breath.

Cash’s jaw flexed. The blue in his eyes sparkled. Every tight muscle looked ready to pounce.

Nicola shifted under the covers. The fabric swished. The pulse in her neck thumped faster and again faster, and she hoped he’d ignore any protest. “But—”

“Do you really think I care?”

Nope. Didn’t look like he cared about anything outside of the bedroom. She shook her head slowly, her stomach launching into her throat. Potent sparks zinged around the room. Cash was coming toward her to take her right here and now, and nothing short of her saying no would stop him.

Holding her tightly with a virile gaze, he stalked forward. Then took another step. The heavy weight of anticipation wrapped its fists around her chest, squeezing. Her breaths compressed. Her mouth watered, but she didn’t move. She couldn’t.

Excitement warmed between her legs. Cash approached as if on a mission to devour and destroy his target. And then he was bedside, broadside, leaning over her, caging her against a wall of pillows with just his arms.

“But?” He took a deep breath and let it out against her skin. “You don’t want me to stay?”

No way would she speak. No way could she try. Her body had abdicated control to him in the shower, and her mind was one sensual touch away from waving a white flag. He knew it too. His eyes danced, knowing that she was only his.

Cash nudged her hair away from her ear and whispered, “’Cause I can leave if that’s what you want, babe.”

“Don’t.” Yeah, her voice quivered and trembled with the acoustic equivalent of her stomach’s reaction to his whisper.

His lips skimmed across her cheek, hovering over hers. His breath tickled. Fire exploded under their lazy, brushed kiss. “Say that again. Not sure I heard you.”

Her head dropped back. Sensations tingled in her cheeks and slalomed down her back. Slow, heavy breaths purred out, the warmth crashing against his very close face. “Don’t you dare leave this room.”

His body eased onto the bed, forearms above her head. Pinned in place, Nicola lifted her chin and closed the distance. His mouth took hers. His temples slid to her cheek, and he pulled her into his kiss. He groaned, and deep within her belly, Nicola needed him all the more.

The covers shifted, and he lost the shorts, sharing with her the bulge that fabric hadn’t hidden. Heavy and hard and hungry. Cash swaddled the covers around them, drowning her in a fury of deep kisses. Her legs shifted, and his body fell into place. The silky smooth glide of his shaft rolled between the vee of her legs.

The taste of mint remained in his mouth. She probed with her tongue, needing and searching for more of him. Pangs of desire flushed through her. He cupped her body to him, tenderly caressing her breasts, thumbing her nipples. With each delicious flick of pressure, she readied for him. Silky moisture dampened her sex.

Her hips reached for more contact. Her pussy ached, rocking against his bare shaft. The build-up was too much. When it seemed like her desire couldn’t jump any higher, his talented fingers slid between them, over her mound, and into her juices. He danced over her nerve endings, driving her to the edge of sexual insanity.

Sweet Cash. “I need you,” she said on a gasp. “I don’t want to wait any longer. It’s been too long.”

She felt his torturing hand fall back and position his erection against her, stealing her breath. She wanted to beg and fought to move, but in that moment, she could only stare at his perfect face.

“Nicola.” He breathed out her name, eyes closed, body pressed against her wetness. The blunt head of his erection tested entry. She was ready for him, wanted him more than she could understand. He whispered, “I missed you.”

And I love you.

Her mouth shut to make sure she didn’t say that aloud. He didn’t jump away, so love was only in her brain. His hips rolled forward, inching into her. Her opening parted for him, muscles melting away at his command, starting the luminous ecstasy that only he could create.

Love. Love and sex were confusing. Love and sex were often mixed up. Cash withdrew his shaft from her, and her mouth hung open. Gasping for breath, she prayed for his return. Her hips flexed. The need for him to fill her again overwhelmed her. He did. Again and again.

He thrust and kissed, and everything became clear. She loved him. Always had and never stopped.

Her fingers laced into his hair, and she smiled from the inside out. Her legs wrapped around his waist. He moaned into the curve of her neck, biting and kissing. His blond stubble scratched and marked her. A tornado of nerve endings twisted alive from her flesh to her core, starting the unmistakable build she craved.

Nicola mouthed his name. She thrashed for more, needing his strength and power to push her to climatic heaven. She felt the rhythm of their perfect dance. Sapphire blue eyes locked onto hers, Cash took her hands in his, threading their fingers together.

They drove in sync and on fire, deeper and farther than Nicola remembered possible. Her building ripple of muscles tightened around his erection. She cried out, he pulled away from her, and she fought it, needing him. I won’t ever leave again. And she held on tightly, pushing into him. Her orgasm exploded. Her body vibrated, every muscle taking its turn, clenching and releasing around him.

He came with her, in her, reviving her climax.

One breath, and then a longer one. Her eyes opened in lazy satisfaction.

Panic.

She saw wide-eyed, mouth-open panic. He’d turned to stone, unmoving, breath held. The color shattered from his beautiful face.

“Cash?”

“Oh God.”

“Wh—”

“I wasn’t thinking. Then I couldn’t—”

What?

Oh. She hadn’t been thinking either.

Nicola framed her hands around his cheeks, still catching her breath. “We’re fine.” She’d never heard him like that before. He was terror-stricken. “You’re okay. Birth control. We’re okay, Cash.”

He didn’t move, frozen, cemented, stuck in time.

Oh no.

Her stomach dropped. “Are you okay-okay?”

“Yeah. Yes. Of course.” Well, that snapped him to attention. He sucked down a gasp, then a calmer breath. “So we’re okay.”

She smiled, nodding, and he moved. A sensitive flash of nerves reminded her that she was more than okay. Cash’s forehead dipped down, touching hers. He relaxed and, finally, a deep breath fell from his lips.

Cash rolled to her side. Strong arms gathered her up, her back to his chest, and held her close to him. A powerful leg locked over her thigh. He tugged the blankets around them and smoothed her hair.

“I’m sorry, Nic.” His voice was heavy and low. He twisted a strand of her hair around his finger.

“Why?”

“You deserve romance and flowers and stuff, and all you got was Jared hitting the fast forward button and me freaking out.”

She stared at the mocha-colored wall, feeling Cash stroke her hair. “That was both of our faults. But it isn’t a problem. Right? So we move on.”

“I should’ve—”

“Stop.” She turned to him. “We’re not that couple on a first date. We’re not playing by the normal rule book.”

He smiled. “Very logical, Nic.”

She gave him an I’m-super-clever grin and laughed. “Nope. Just observant. I observe. I conclude. I react. You might say it’s my specialty.”

They laughed together, and she turned back to the wall, snuggling into his hold once again. He kissed the back of her shoulder. “Smartass.”

“I thought it was sweet girl.” She looked over her shoulder with a smile and wrinkle of her nose.

He kissed her softly. “Smartass. Sweet girl. Perfect woman. Whatever works—”

Knock, knock, knock.

Go away, Jared.

“Nicola, don’t make me ask if Cash is in there.” The muffled voice bled through the door.

Nope, not Jared.

Go away, Roman.

Cash kissed her again. “I think that’s my cue. I’m sorry, Nic.”

She shrugged a naked shoulder. “It’s part of the job. I’ll see you tomorrow sometime. Morning meeting, I guess?”

He shook his head. “My morning would be a hell of a lot better if I woke up next to you.”

Bam. Bam. Bam.

Go away!

“But I gotta run. Go to sleep. Soon as I’m done, I’m crawling back into this bed.”

“I sleep with a gun under my pillow. That might be a bad idea.”

“So look before you shoot.”

“All right.” She laughed, snuggling down in the covers. “I’ll look first.”

He snagged his shirt and shorts off the ground, threw them on, and loomed over her in bed. “Night, Nicola Garrison. Sweet dreams.”