Page 10 of Stone Rules

When I’m about to explode from his expert manipulation, his hands fall away. I audibly protest his retreat, but surrender to his plan when he goes a step further, hiking my skirt up all the way to my waist. He removes my panties, hooking his thumbs on either side, dragging them down my thighs slowly. Seductively. Almost painfully.

His eyes follow the motion of his hands, taking in every curve of my legs as they pass over me. He stops when they land on the unicorn tattoo on my inner thigh. He traces it with his finger, sending shockwaves right through me.

When my panties have made their way to the floor, he slips a finger inside me, groaning at the awareness of how wet he’s made me. He coats my clit, gliding his thumb easily across it in slow, tantalizing circles.

I reach for his belt buckle. “You have a condom, right? Please tell me you have a condom.”

He smiles, retrieving his wallet from his back pocket. “I have a condom.”

There is conversation in the hallway as people pass his office door. Then, as if he just realized where we are and what we’re doing, he glances at the clock on the wall. “If we’re going to use it, we’d better be quick. I have a two o’clock.”

I check the time.1:54.

“Just the way I like it,” I say, making fast work of unbuttoning his pants. I push them down until they drop around his ankles, my eyes following the movement.

I see what looks like a garter belt strapped around his calf. I look closer to discover he’s got a gun secured to his leg, down by his ankle.

I question him with my eyes.

He shrugs. “For protection,” he says.

This guy. This virtual stranger is about to fuck me with a weapon strapped to his body. Holy hell, that’s freaking hot.

I snatch the condom from him and roll it on, his cock twitching from my touch as he works his skillful fingers inside me. I give him a few long strokes before I guide him to my entrance. He sucks in a breath as he glides into me. The sound makes me look up at him, our faces inches apart. I could swear the air crackles between us, like static electricity, and for some reason, I can’t look away.

Ineverlook at them as they fuck me. A habit from long ago I suspect.

I put distance between us, leaning back on the desk to give him better access to my clit and breasts. He doesn’t need an invitation to use both of them to bring us to a quick and simultaneous orgasm.

Holy God. It’s only been thirty seconds—a minute max—but damn . . . it’s the best thirty seconds of my life.

We both shout quietly. I could almost swear my name was whispered among his incoherent declarations of ecstasy. And I might be mistaken, because it’s never happened before, but I’m pretty sure I murmured his.

His office phone buzzes and Gretchen’s nasally voice comes over the intercom. “Your two o’clock is here, Ethan.”

“Thanks, Gretchen. Give me five,” he responds as if his dick isn’t still balls-deep inside me.

“Sorry,” he says, looking guilty as he pulls out.

“For what? That was great, Stone.” I shimmy off the desk, looking down in amusement at the sex-smudged glass.

He shakes his head. “That shouldn’t have happened, Charlie. I’m usually not that unprofessional.”

I make quick work of putting my clothes on. “Don’t sweat it. I still have every confidence you can get me what I need.” I nod to the list of names lying among other papers on the floor. “You are totally hired.” I punctuate my words with a playful wink.

He zips up his pants, looking at me in utter disbelief. “What? No. I can’t work for you now, Charlie.”

“Well, why the hell not?”

He gives me anare-you-crazykind of look as he ceremoniously wraps the condom in a tissue and throws it in the trash.

I giggle. But then I realize no other private investigator would give me the good deal he offered. He’s my only option. “Shit,” I say, handing him his shirt. “What if I promise not to take my top off again? Will you work for me then?”

He rubs a hand over his erupting stubble. “It’s a conflict of interest. Rule number one of P.I.s – don’t get involved with clients.”

My face distorts with disgust. “Involved? Who said anything about getting involved? This was just sex. Fucking. A quick lay.” But as I say the words I know to be true, I get a funny feeling in the middle of my chest. I push it down. “Plus, I can’t afford anyone else.” I plaster my best innocent smile on my face. “Please?”

His eyes close as if I’d said something hurtful. As if maybe he’d had a funny feeling in the middle of his chest as well. When he opens them, the intense dark eyes are gone, replaced by cold, distant ones. “Fine.” He bends over to gather the strewn papers. “But this can’t happen again. I’m not in the business ofservicingmy clients.”

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