The elevator rose to the third floor and stopped. She waited for the older couple to get out first. They went one way down the hall and Reese walked with Jamie in the opposite direction.
At her room, she unlocked the door and then pushed it open. Jamie held the door while she entered and followed her inside. Now that they were alone in her hotel room, the energy became much more personal and significant. What was she doing? The last time she had sex was in college, so maybe she could blame the long drought for this impulsiveness. That and the deep ache she had for Jamie.
She removed her jacket and draped it over one of two chairs on each side of a table in front of the window. The drapes were still open and during the day she had a view of the street. He walked toward her, passing the dark mahogany cabinet with a television on top.
Removing his suit jacket, he put it on top of hers and then turned to face her, his incredibly blue eyes communicating intent that hadn’t dimmed since the elevator. He lifted his hand and cupped her face. Just that touch alone stoked the fire to a hot burn. She closed her eyes, in a state of awe and wonder that he could do that to her.
It’s the fantasy.
Feeling his warm lips cover hers, she lost all thought of questioning whether she wanted this. She did. Oh, how she did.
Pressing against him as she had in the elevator, she sought more of him. He held her tighter and gave her what she asked and more. Time slipped away as she savored the contact and caresses of his mouth and tongue.
Jamie tugged at the pins holding up her hair. They fell and she shook her hair to release the rest. He sank his fingers into the strands and kissed her.
She pulled his shirt free of his pants and he loosened his tie. Pulling the tie over his head, he watched her begin to unbutton his shirt, letting her push it off his shoulders. Shrugging out of the shirt while she ran her hands over his smooth, hard chest, he unzipped the back of her jersey dress. The dress sagged off her shoulders and dropped to her feet. She stepped out of the pooled material as he stared at her breasts and underwear.
“Something else you bought today?”
“Yes.” Even before he’d dropped her off at the hotel, she’s secretly prepared for this. At the time she hadn’t really thought anything would happen, but imagining it had sure been a delight. The lacy black panties and matching bra proved to be worth it.
He removed his shoes and unfastened his pants. Down to his underwear, she admired the protrusion before he moved forward, guiding her to the bed.
“My boots.”
“Leave them on.”
She scooted back on the bed as he crawled over her.
“All I want you in are those and that bracelet,” he said.
She opened her legs as he lay on top of her, his erection pressing against the lacy underwear.
A fire so potent that she stopped breathing for a second scorched her. She arched as he took her breast into his hand and ran his thumb over the hard nipple through the material. Reese pushed down the hem of his underwear, getting impatient for what she’d longed for ever since he’d kissed her that first time.
He unclasped her bra and the contraption sprang open, releasing her breasts from the frilly binding. Instead of removing his underwear, as she’d hoped for, he put his mouth on her breast, licking and then sucking with sensual care.
Reese tipped back her head and moved her hips to grind against him. He loved her other breast, making her wait longer. When he finished tasting his fill, he ran his tongue down the center of her torso to the top of her underwear. She was going to erupt if he didn’t hurry.
Taking her panties in his fingers, he pulled them off, removing them all the way over her boots and dropping them to the floor. She lifted her knees, digging the spiky heels of her ankle boots into the mattress, and put her hands over her head.
Jamie made a gruff sound as he saw her pose and then quickly removed his underwear. Not too large and definitely not too small, he made her thirst for him more. Now.
As breathless as her, he slid his hands up her legs as he positioned himself between them. Then he guided himself to her opening.
“Yes,” she rasped.
He filled her and drew back before pushing in again. Everything fell away except him, his ruggedly handsome face, passion-filled eyes, his breathing, and the ripple of arm and chest muscles as he moved back and forth. Wild sensation took her mind away with unbearable pleasure.
She cried out as she reached her peak almost instantaneously. He may have been surprised, but she didn’t notice in the grip of such an intense explosion.
As he continued to thrust back and forth, another wave of pleasure began to build. Gradually he increased his tempo and she could tell he was close. So was she. She ground herself against each penetration and as he reached his limit, she cried out again, writhing with him.
Several tumultuous seconds later, he rolled off her and they both lay on their backs awhile, catching their breath. Then he turned his head and opened his arm for her. Uncertain over what she felt about this, she curled to his side. He said nothing and she said nothing. If he felt anything like her, no words could adequately explain what had just occurred.
When she’d invited him into her hotel room, she thought she’d be safe getting a little reckless. Now she wasn’t so sure. Upon reflection, maybe she should have paid attention to the strength of her attraction to this man. Now she felt strongly that she’d like to see him again. She’d learned the hard way that that didn’t work so well for her. She had plans, short-term plans for her life that she would not, and could not, alter. She had to stay true to herself. She couldn’t allow her feelings to sway her. She wanted to be sheriff someday.
What feelings were these, anyway? She’d just had fantastic sex with a drop-dead gorgeous man. What woman wouldn’t love a night like this?
Tomorrow she’d be gone. This would fade into a pleasant memory. Maybe when she achieved the sheriff position she’d be ready for something serious. Even that amendment churned inside with dread. The thought of sharing a checking account frightened her, and not just the financial part. She didn’t think she’d be able to relinquish control, to have someone else managing that for her—or with her.
Stay focused on telling Kadin your news.
That should be plenty to keep her mind occupied and off how much Jamie made her feel. But it paled in comparison.
* * *
Jamie woke with a smile lighting his heart. He couldn’t have dreamed a woman would feel better than Reese. This fit exactly what he envisioned for his new life. Rising up onto his elbows, he didn’t care about his sappy grin as Reese stepped out of the bathroom. Expecting her to still be naked, he was surprised to see her fully dressed.
“You should have waited,” he said. “I’d have taken a shower with you.”
She eyed him warily. “I...didn’t want to wake you.”
His smile dropped away. Something was off about her. He threw off the covers and stood, still naked. She averted her gaze as he approached. “If you’re uncomfortable about last night, don’t be.” He slid his hand to the back of her neck and kissed her chastely.
She moved away and then stepped back from him.
A sense of warning doused what remained of his elation and prospects of a great future with her. “Is something the matter?”
“I need to go talk to Kadin.”
That wouldn’t take long and they’d already gone over most of the case yesterday. He supposed she might be anxious to solve her