Stryker

I’d caught him off guard, and knew it instantly. His body went tense beneath my hands, but as the tension drained from him as quickly as it had come, he nodded. “I promise, but my Christian name only.”

That would have to do.

“At first, I hated that my father was running for senator because it meant he’d be away from home more than he already had been. I missed him and wanted him home. My mother was the social butterfly and still is. She told me that I was selfish and that my father needed and wanted the support of his only child.” I sighed. “When he won, I got caught up with all the celebrations, and accepted that I’d become the daughter of a senator. The thing is, as I became older, I realized he was good at his job. He wasn’t a pompous ass like some of the others I’d met, but he really was making a difference. Slowly, but he was. He always supported the underdog and would only support a cause if it were something he believed in regardless of how popular he thought it would be. I love him for that, and I’m proud of him.”

Silence followed my words and then I almost missed his whispered word, “Jake.” He licked his lips and swallowed, which told me that he was nervous at having shared his actual name.

My gaze caressed his face and I saw the trust that he had in me, regardless of my connection to Patrick, his boss.

“Thank you. I know that there is a lot of speculation about the ‘real’ you, so I promise I won’t repeat it to anyone. You’re secret is safe with me.” I moved closer, knowing that I had to always call him Stryker so that I didn’t slip up.

When our bodies brushed together, I pressed closer, still wanting his warmth surrounding me. His breath was warm and moist against my face, and my heart raced.

The heat on Stryker’s face, high on his cheekbones, made my body tingle. I wanted to get closer still. My arms slipped under his and my hands against his back kept me snug against him. My heart jolted and my pulse pounded when I felt his erection twitch between us. His cock would feel so good as he slipped inside my soaked channel.

Slowly, his hands moved downward skimming either side of my body to my thighs. He grasped one thigh and started to lift it, then the other. Before I could get used to the new sensation, I found myself with my back against the door, my breasts crushed against the hardness of his chest, and his large jean-clad erection pressed, up close and personal, against my panties.

Stryker groaned and dropped his head into the curve of my shoulder. His breathing ragged, he admitted, “I want you, Evangeline…but I can’t have you.” He thrust against me, and my eyes rolled, so close to release.

He rocked his hips and I swore I saw stars as I grabbed his head blindly, wanting, needing more. Wedging me between the door and his taunt body, one of his hands slipped up and rubbed against my pebbled nipple.

I gasped, “Don’t stop,” hoping that he would hear me.

Instead of stopping, he licked my neck before his mouth covered mine hungrily. The kiss sent new spirals of ecstasy through me. When his hands flexed on my bottom, his hips started to thrust hard against the swollen nub between my thighs. His searching tongue slipped between my lips. My eyes closed as wave after wave of pleasure rippled through me.

Stryker gasped into my mouth before he grunted in what I presumed to be his own release. I caressed the strong tendons in the back of his neck to sooth the shudders wracking his large frame.

My trembling limbs clung to him while he held me so tightly against him that I could hardly breathe. I didn’t care because I was in his arms after he’d given me a powerful release.

He slowly let me slide down his body and straightened my dress. His eyes looked everywhere, but at me.

Surely he didn’t regret what we’d just done? We didn’t know each other but the attraction, connection, between us was off the charts.

Instead of wondering, I reached for his jaw and when I brought his face around to mine, I realized that he didn’t regret it, but he was embarrassed.

“I have loved every second of being with you tonight.” I heard his sigh as he sunk into my caress. I continued, “What you make me feel is powerful, and no one has ever caused me to react the way I have with you. This is all new to me.”

He kissed my palm. “This is a first for me too,” he admitted, and blushed like a teenager.

The urge to feel his lips against mine again was so strong that I raised to my toes, and with pressure behind his head, pulled him down to meet my lips.

Stryker raised his mouth from mine and gazed into my eyes. “I’m not sure what to do about you. It would kill me to cause you harm.”

I frowned at his choice of words, and watched as he started pacing back and forth in front of me. Why would he cause me harm?

He suddenly stopped and gently shoved me back into the doorway.

“He’s waiting for you,” Stryker growled, his eyes full of sorrow. “Don’t mention being with me tonight, or—”

“Your name?”

He cupped my face, his thumbs rubbing along my lips. “I wasn’t going to say that, but yes. Don’t mention that you know my name. Knowing me is dangerous… Go.” He gave me a shove toward where Patrick stood waiting, and when I glanced back he’d disappeared down the alley.

I wanted to run after him, but after the trouble I’d gotten into earlier I thought better of it and moved toward my apartment.

Stryker’s words made me wonder what was going on and why it was dangerous to know him. I’d wondered at the gym what was really going on there, and now my curiosity was more than piqued.

I couldn’t ask Patrick because then he’d become suspicious, and I sure as hell didn’t want him paying more interest to what I was doing than usual. It was then that I realized Patrick was indeed waiting for me at the door to my building. I glanced back. Had Patrick seen me with Stryker? I raised my chin. Maybe it was for the best if he had.