Hot Target

She found him on the leather sofa—the sofa they’d made love on—his back to the door. Memories washed over her, of them together, of the passion. And she knew she wasn’t going to deny she wanted Luke. Wasn’t going to let herself run or hide as he’d once accused her.

He turned around. “Hey,” he said, and quickly switched off the television. “Everything okay?”

“Yes,” she said softly. “I need…” Him. But she didn’t say that. Not yet. Business first. She sauntered toward him, aware of his hot stare following her. She joined him on the sofa, a few inches separating them.

“You need…?” he prodded gently, more of the crackling sexual tension from the kitchen flaring between them.

“I need you to tell me about your years in the pros. Maybe it will trigger some bit of information I can use for the investigation.”

He nodded slowly. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know, Katie,” he said. “As long as you promise to tell me anything I want to know.”

Her chest tightened at the ultimatum. Anything was right up there with everything, and she wasn’t sure she still had that to give to anyone, not even Luke.

When she didn’t immediately respond, he leaned forward, still not touching her though his lips lingered by her ear, his breath warm. “Why did you really come in here?” he whispered. “What is it you really need?”

Her pulse sped up as she whispered, “You.”

“Do you now?” he challenged.

“Yes,” she said, reaching for him. He shackled her hands.

“Oh, no,” he murmured. “You touch when I tell you to touch. Get undressed while I lock the door.”

Shaking with that need she’d confessed, Katie did as Luke ordered, amazingly aroused by the added intimacy and vulnerability of her confession.

He returned and scooted the coffee table out of the way before sitting down. “Come here,” he told her, his gaze raking over her naked body with such intimacy she could feel the dampness gathering between her thighs, the heat pooling low in her stomach. He pulled her between his thighs and kissed her stomach. She reached for his hair, and he set her hands away. “No touching.”

“Luke,” she whimpered.

“Here’s how this is going to work,” he said. “I’m going to show you just how much you need me. To be sure you never forget.”

And he proceeded to do so, oh, so well. Katie sighed as his mouth closed over her clit, suckling and licking and taking her to the edge for the first of many times that night. She had no idea where this was going with Luke, but hours later, after he’d driven her to the edge, punished her with blissful pleasure, she wasn’t willing to deny it still wasn’t enough. She needed more.

10

THE STALKER WAS silent for three days after Katie and Luke came out of the proverbial relationship closet, ten days total. Luke’s house was well secured, the top suspects were being investigated and monitored, and everything was otherwise calm. A good thing, since Luke was pitching the first at-home, season game that night. The best case, the stalker had lost interest in Luke. The worst case, well, Katie didn’t want to think about the many possibilities.

It was early morning yet, and since Katie still couldn’t run, Luke and Katie had started the day with a swim as they had the two days before. They’d then tossed shorts over their suits to begin making breakfast, another little ritual they’d formed. As if they were a couple. And maybe they were.

Katie had mixed feelings. She wanted this case over; she wanted Luke safe. But what happened when he was traveling and she went home? Was their relationship simply a bridge through troubled times for each other or were they more than that? A temporary need that fulfilled something they both craved on some personal level?

Rick, Noah and Josh were all gathered at the table, chowing down on eggs, sausage and pancakes. They apparently felt this was their ritual, as well, taking advantage of Luke’s willingness to cook.

Katie looked forward to watching him pitch, never mind cooking, though there was no denying there was a subtle tension mingled with hope in the house as everyone speculated about the stalker’s silence.

Grabbing the coffeepot, Luke filled a couple of mugs meant for himself and Katie. Josh managed to cross the kitchen with lightning speed and claim one of them.

“Thanks, man,” he said. “I needed this.” He sauntered back to the table and cast Rick a look. “Me and Noah were up all night monitoring Rick’s psycho girlfriend, among others.”

Rick grimaced and took the coffee cup from Josh. “Libby is not my girlfriend,” he said. “I broke up with her.”

Noah let out a bark of laughter. “Until he decides he needs another easy booty call.”

Josh snorted. “Yeah.”

Luke and Katie exchanged an amused look. “Hey!” Katie exclaimed indignantly, to no avail. Both she and Luke had lost their mugs.