Chapter 16

Devon walked beside Ali and tried to remember the last time he'd been this nervous. It was probably high school. No, it had been the night when he first met her. So odd that this woman, one he should never trust and definitely should avoid, was the woman who pulled at him. Even his first love couldn't compare. Nothing did, and that scared the hell out of him.

"You don't live here all the time, so where else do you live?" she asked.

"I have a flat in London."

He sensed her glance. Devon was glad when she didn't ask him about that. He didn't want to explain why he kept a flat there. Part of it was work, but it would be just as easy to rent some place or stay at a hotel. He had pegged her for someone from Great Britain. That had driven him to get a flat there. And now that he was thinking it, he was even more embarrassed. He had told himself at the beginning she had nothing to do with it, but now, with her here, he knew she did. It was kind of pathetic that he had gotten a flat with just the hope of running into her one day.

"I also keep that place in Vegas."

"Doesn't it get on your nerves?"

He felt his lips curve. "At times."

"Then why do you stay?"

"It's familiar and I like the anonymity of it."

She didn't respond, but he sensed that she didn't like his answer. He was lying of course, but he couldn't tell her the real reason he stayed in Vegas. Several times, he'd thought of moving back to the East coast, or making the permanent shift to Hawaii. He found himself unable to move away. The reason was walking beside him.

He had hoped one day she would return. He hadn't realized it until he saw her in Seattle, but he hadn't moved away because he hoped she would just appear again. He'd wanted to walk out to the bench that gave the best views of the sunset, but he decided to stay closer to the house.

"This house is fabulous."

"I like it. I was going to buy a condo, but I found this. The owner was very motivated to sell."

She sipped her wine and looked out across his lawn. "I particularly like the cannons."

He chuckled. "Yeah, like almost everything else, they came with the house."

She nodded and said nothing else. He wanted to demand to know what she was thinking. The truth was that the only person he knew more guarded than Ali was himself. He rarely let people into his inner circle easily. Hell, right now only a handful of people knew where he lived most of the time. And that would be cut in half if he didn't have contact with Dee.

"You think too much."

He turned to her. "Have you heard of the saying of the pot calling the kettle black?"

She chuckled. "Touché."

Then nothing.

It was an awkward silence. At least for him. He had so many questions he didn't even know where to start. He needed those answers to be happy, but there was something holding him back. Maybe he was a little too afraid of what she would say.

He needed answers. No, he needed to touch. The last few days had been stressful to say the least, but this had nothing to do with blowing off steam. From the moment he'd met her, Ali had gotten under his skin. He studied her. She was almost five years older, but it hardly showed. He liked the darker hair. It brought out those amazing eyes of hers. Her skin was just as luminous as before and—he sniffed—she smelled the same.

"Did you just smell me?"

He realized he had done just that and quite loudly. He could come up with something smart to say…if there was any blood left in his brain. It was rushing toward his groin. His cock strained against the zipper of his shorts.

She was smiling at him and he knew she had him. Right then, he would give everything he owned to touch her.

"Yes. I used to wake up in the middle of the night thinking I could smell you there."

She stopped smiling. The air between them seemed to grow hotter and thicker. Her tongue darted out over her fuller, bottom lip. Her eyes darkened, dilated.

His cock hardened, pushing hard again. As his body heated, his heart doubled in speed.

"It wasn't as bad as the memory of tasting you. Do you know what makes me think of slipping my tongue into your hot, wet pussy?"

Ali shook her head slowly.

"Nothing. The truth is, nothing compares to it. I've been to some of the most celebrated bakeries in France…in the world. Nothing tasted so fucking good."

He closed his eyes and hummed. He hadn't been lying. He could taste her there, still. The flavor of her arousal danced over his taste buds even today.

When he opened his eyes, she was still staring at him. The pulse in her neck was erratic and fast.

"It is like pure sin wrapped in sugar."

She sucked in a breath and her face flushed. He knew just how sensual she was, but the fact that she blushed because of his description was an aphrodisiac. It pushed him to tease her more.

"Are your nipples hard, Ali?"

Devon didn't wait for an answer. He leaned forward and pressed his mouth against hers. As he did, he grazed the tip of one of her nipples with the backs of his fingers. Ali shivered and opened her mouth.

Now, he wanted her. He rose and pulled her to her feet, taking her empty glass and set it on the counter. She stopped him and he wanted to growl.

"Maybe we shouldn't be doing this."

"Maybe?" he asked, pulled her closer and kissing her again. She opened her mouth immediately, her tongue tangling with his.

"Yes. Things go wrong when we get together," she said against his mouth.

"Oh, no. Things go very, very right."

She moaned as he sucked on her tongue.

"Devon."

He pressed his groin against her. He was hard and getting harder by the moment. He wanted her…no needed her. It was just like that night years earlier. Something hot and dark moved through him, urging him to take her right there.

He pulled back then lifted her up on the counter.

"Devon?"

He ignored her. Instead, he pulled her panties off and leaned down. The scent of her arousal filled his senses. He placed a hand on each of her thighs and pushed them apart. The moment he set his mouth against her pussy, he was in heaven. Hot, intoxicating and amazingly like the night so many years earlier, he found himself lost in her. Her exotic taste danced over his taste buds as he slipped his tongue up and over her clit. Without warning she screamed his name, bucking against his mouth. He lapped at her juices, enjoying the way she pressed her hands against the back of his head. She leaned back, widened her legs and rode herself against his mouth to another orgasm.

He pulled back, stood and cursed. Then he spotted his wallet on the counter behind her. He fumbled with it, dropping it twice before he finally got the condom out. She was clawing at his pants, undoing them for him. He thanked the gods that he decided to go commando.

Ali tried to rush him by trying to grab the condom out of his hands. He batted them way and she growled. He slipped it down his cock, but she was attempting to help him. Her small touches almost had him coming right there. Devon slapped at her hands.

"Oy."

He looked up at her and laughed at the irritated expression on her face. That, along with the British slang, was so uncharacteristic he couldn't help but laugh more.

"I'm glad I amuse you," she said, annoyance threading her voice even as arousal deepened it.

"Oh, it's more than that, Ali. You make me so fucking happy."

The disgruntled expression dissolved into something more vulnerable. It wrapped around his heart and squeezed so fucking hard he almost passed out. That tough layer she presented to the world was peeling back, bit by bit. It was at that moment, he remembered why he fell for her. Remembered the way she had looked at him that night. It made him feel invincible…and it had made him think he had found the one woman who would understand him. In this one instant, he knew this was Ali, bare and undecorated with the years of training. Nothing artificial, nothing to hide her true feelings. This was the woman he wanted, the woman he would kill for.

Before she could collect herself and draw back, he leaned forward to brush his mouth over hers.

He pulled her hips closer so she sat on the edge of the counter. He gyrated his hips, rubbing his penis along her dripping slit. Devon teased them both, allowing the head of his cock to brush up against her clitoris once or twice. She shifted, trying to change position to get him to penetrate her, but he placed a hand on her stomach.

Then, when neither of them could take it anymore, he drew back and entered her in one hard, quick thrust. He stayed there, not moving for a long minute or two. Wet warmth wrapped around his cock. He shuddered as everything came back to him just like before. He'd had good sex, but with Ali, it was hard to explain. Something was different…something made him feel as if he belong.

Slowly he pulled almost all the way out of her, then slid back in again. Damn. He didn't increase his pace. He wanted her with him. He wanted all her inner muscles moving over his cock as she came.

Each time he thrust into her, he sunk deeper…then deeper. She matched him in rhythm, raising her hips off the counter. Her moans rose in volume as both of them drew closer and closer to completion.

When he thought he couldn't hold back any longer, he took her mouth in a hot, wet, long kiss. Then, with his lips still on hers, he said, "Come with me, Ali."

He thrust once more and surrendered. She was there with him, chanting his name over and over as they both gave into pleasure.

Long moments later, Ali became aware of her surroundings. She shifted. She was laying on something very hard and cold. She opened her eyes.

Good God, she made love on the kitchen island. She wasn't inhibited, but…she still had her sundress on and Devon was still dressed. She was lying on top of the counter as Devon lay on top of her. He was still standing, but he was snuggled up to her chest.

"Devon."

"Hmm?" He didn't say anything else, but he did nibble on her neck. The small action had her head spinning. What the bloody hell was the man doing to her?"

"We're on the kitchen island."

He nibbled his way up to her earlobe. "Yeah we are."

"And the doors are open and we're unprotected."

It took him a second. He gave her lobe one last nip then straightened away. When he looked down at her, he was smiling. But after a few seconds, his smile faded.

"What?"

He shook his head. "I like you like this."

"Ravished on your kitchen island?"

"I like you here. I like you with me. Better, I like myself when I'm with you."

She found it hard to breathe. She had never had a man talk to her like that before. On the job, her assignments tried everything to seduce, capture her. Most of the men she'd come in contact with had been accustomed to big gestures. Simple words…honest words. Those were rare, but Devon had no problem with that.

She sat up and kissed him. "I like the way I am with you too."

His mouth curved up on one side. Bloody hell, she loved this man. It wasn't something she wanted right now, but in the depths of her mind, she knew she needed it. Needed him. For more than protection.

And that scared the bloody hell out of her.

"What?"

She shook her head and tried to kiss him, but he stopped her.

"Honesty."

She sighed. He was demanding it. Worse, she wanted to give it to him. In all her life, she had been honest with only two people. Her father and her daughter. Now, this man who had changed the course of her life, given her the one thing that made her complete, wanted something from her.

"I'm a wee bit overwhelmed by you. By my feelings."

His smile was lopsided. "That makes two of us, love."

She nodded.

He stepped back from her and locked the doors, set the alarm and before she could jump down from the counter, he picked her up.

"Wait, Devon, I'm too heavy."

"Why do women always say that? You barely weigh anything."

He carried her up the stairs and into his bedroom. She hadn't been in there before, but she had peeked in. It had the best view out of all the rooms, with a lanai off the other side of the massive king sized bed. The bay sparkled in the moonlight. The colors were bold and masculine, rich with greens and dark browns. She thought he would head to the bed, but he bypassed it and headed to the bathroom. He set her on the counter there, then stripped out of his clothes.

God, he was gorgeous. If anything, he'd improved his physique the last few years and he'd matured. There was a smattering of hair on his chest and a thin trail down his abs.

His cock was hard again, curving up against his stomach. She couldn't resist. She slipped her hand over the long length of his penis. It jerked against her hand.

"You keep doing that, I'm not going to last that long."

She looked at him. "Is that a fact?"

He nodded. "Besides, I want you naked first, then I want you in that shower," he said, motioning with his head behind him.

There was enormous Egyptian shower behind him, with a long ledge against the back wall of it. There were two showerheads.

He pulled off her dress, tossing it aside with little notice from either of them. Cool air washed over her heated flesh.

"Damn."

His gaze focused on her breasts. Brushing the backs of his fingers over one nipple, he sighed.

"I like all that sexy lace you wore before but this…" He didn't finish his sentence. Instead, he leaned down and took the nipple into his mouth. He sucked it into his mouth with such force she moaned. It hurt a bit, but the pleasure out did the pain he had caused. He pinched and teased the other nipple as he grazed his teeth over the one he already had in his mouth.

Soon she couldn't take it anymore. Alicia pushed on his shoulders and he relented. He stepped back, opened the shower, turning on both of the heads, then scooped her up off the counter. Before stepping in, he doubled back and opened a drawer to grab a condom. He set her in the shower and shut the door behind them. The water was lukewarm but she didn't care. He set the condom on the soap dish, turned and backed her against the wall. The kiss he gave her was wanton and delicious. Again and again, he thrust his tongue into her mouth. It was a blatant assault on her senses and she loved it. But she was sick of being taken. She wanted to be a participant.

Alicia pressed her hands on his shoulders and after one last, long suck on his tongue, she pushed him back away from her. Without a word, she slid down to her knees in front of him. His cock dripped with water and droplets of precum wet the bulbous head.

Wrapping one hand around him, she stroked his cock, teasing the head with a swipe of her thumb. A quick drawn in breath was the only response he had to it. She looked up as she continued to move her hand over his hardened flesh. He was watching her hand, then his gaze moved to hers. She leaned forward and took just the head of his cock into her mouth. The sweet/salty taste of his cum danced over her taste buds. She wanted to make him lose control and pour himself into her mouth and throat.

With that in mind, she ramped up her attack. She took him fully in her mouth, as his hands settled on the back of her head. He fucked her face, pushing his cock so far back into her mouth she almost gagged. With delight, she slid her tongue over his hardened flesh. She slipped her hands around to his rear and pressed against him. He was groaning and she thought for sure he would come, but he pulled away with a curse.

She blinked trying to get her focus back. When he reached over to grab the condom his hands were shaking. He fumbled with the wrapper but he got it open and slipped it on. Then, he pulled her up to her feet. The shower spun around her as he reversed their positions.

"Bend over," he ordered.

She turned around to tell him she didn't like his tone, but he smacked her on her ass. The sound of wet flesh against his palm filled the room. That should have outraged her, but the sting filtered out over her rear end. He smacked her again, this time a little harder. The pleasure/pain shot straight to her pussy this time. Bloody hell.

"Don't fuck with me right now." The threat in his voice scared and aroused her. She bent over and rested her weight on her hands on the ledge.

He took her by the hips and entered her from behind. It was hard, fast, and she couldn't seem to keep up. Apparently, Devon didn't care. Again and again he entered her, so hard she almost fell over a few times. He let loose a frustrated growl and turned them around. He was still inside of her as he pressed her against the glass of the shower. She put her hands on the glass to steady herself.

Devon slid his hands around to her breasts, his fingers digging into her delicate flesh. It hurt, but she didn't care. All she cared about was coming. Thrust after thrust, he pushed her closer.

"Fuck," Devon said. He continued to slam against her. She was beyond any kind of rational thought at that point.

One moment she was dying for relief and in the next, her orgasm exploded within her. Relief danced over her nerve endings as she bucked and convulsed. It was as if she had broken through some kind of barrier. Before she was done with the first, she fell into another even more powerful orgasm. This one shattered her. She broke apart in a million little pieces of delight as she screamed so loud the echo of her voice hurt her ears.

"Oh, yeah, fuck, that's it," Devon muttered as he continued to thrust in and out of her.

But he wasn't done. He changed his angle and continued on. He pushed her over the edge so many times; she lost all sense of time. Finally, when she felt she would dissolve if she had another release, she had one more. With a shout, he followed her, pumping into her.

He fell back and sat on the ledge, pulling her with him. He set his head against her back. She couldn't even think, couldn't come up with words, so she leaned back against him and just let the water cascade over both of them.