Page 12 of Poison Evidence

She wanted him to pound into her until she was sore, so the violence of their coupling overshadowed the violence of the night. She wanted to hold off on her orgasm until she was certain she’d lose her mind and her body was shaking with need. Then she wanted him to take her from behind and finish her off with his cock inside her and his fingers on her clit. There would be no cuddling afterward. She’d pass out from sexual exhaustion, and in the morning, she’d thank him for his service by going down on him while she stroked herself to orgasm.

She ended the kiss so she could tell him exactly what she needed, but he spoke first. “I don’t think we should do this, Ivy.”

Chapter Five

Why the fuck did he say that? He wanted her. God, did he want her. Plus, this would only help him in the long game.

Yet some misguided sense of humanity stopped him. He was taking advantage. But hell, that was what hedid. How he’d been trained. Look for an opening. Seize it. Why stop now when he could have it all? Ivy, her invention, and with it the chance to find the missing equipment.

But that might just be the problem. He could have Ivy now, but tomorrow, she’d hate him.

Well, tomorrow she’d hate him no matter what. Might as well take the hot screw while he could.

But.

Fuck. He kept coming up against that damnbut. Using people pushed him deeper into the pit of self-loathing. It wasn’t who he wanted to be.

But it was exactly who he was.

He turned off the shower. He didn’t have to be that man.

“Please? Ineedthis. Need you.” Her breath hitched. “I—I…” She shook her head even as she held his gaze. “This just feels right. Like the prefect prescription to escape a truly awful night.” Her voice was breathy, her lips wet from the shower spray.

He wanted her mouth, her touch, her tongue. Her wet heat. He wanted all that she offered and so much more.

“I don’t want you to regret this in the morning.” It was as close as he could get to warning her off.

“I won’t. Listen, I know the deal. It’s a hookup. One-time thing. I’m good with that. In fact, I prefer it.”

Hours ago, he’d approached her at the party, hoping to end up in exactly this position. But there’d been a sharp detour on the way, and if he had sex with her now, she’d find it hard to believe he didn’t have a role in the reroute once she learned the truth.

Her hand stroked the crotch of his wet slacks, and logic evaporated in the wake of her touch.

“Escape with me, Jack. We both need this.”

She pulled his mouth to hers again. Her kiss was fierce. Hot. Hard. He slid his tongue against hers, drinking her in as he rubbed his erection against her scant satin panties. It was a good thing he still wore both slacks and boxer briefs. He was hard enough to go off on contact.

He’d tried to stop. He’d been a good guy. Sort of. It wasn’t his fault she’d begged. He’d point that out to her right after she slapped him across the face when she learned the truth.

He buried his face in her neck, pressing hot openmouthed kisses to pale skin that matched the peach-colored orchids that grew in the marina garden, being careful to avoid the dark purple bruises that had developed lower on her throat. The bruises he’d failed to protect her from.

His eyes closed, and his mind filled with trampled flowers. He’d allowed that to happen. His fault. His failure. He ran his lips along her peach skin, across the line of her jaw, returning to her lips. The word “orchid” slipped out right before he delved into her mouth.

She sucked on his offering, causing him to groan. Her laugh came soft and low. “What does that mean?”

He pulled back and gave her a wry smile. “I’m not really sure. Just that you remind me of the peach moth orchids that are ubiquitous around here.”

“I never knew hearing the word ubiquitous during foreplay could be such a turn-on.”

He laughed. This moment of enjoying being with her, it was as pure as any he’d ever experienced.

“Condoms?” she asked. “Please tell me you have condoms.”

He shoved the curtain aside and slid open the door to the storage cabinet mounted under the mirror. “I stock everything for my charter clients. Take your pick.”

“I don’t care, just hurry.”

He chuckled and set her down, but instead of reaching for the condoms, he unhooked her bra. If they were going to do this, they’d do it right. He’d give her exactly what she wanted.

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