Page 7 of Shakedown (Diamond and Diamond Private Investigators 1)

“Thank you again. Do you think you could give me your thoughts on the windows too?”

She had a few different types of windows in the house. He suggested she replace the older ones with something more secure, but told her the newer ones were good. When they got to the larger windows in the bedroom, he said, “Cassidy, you’re not using the built-in safety lock.”

She squinted and asked, “Where? I don't see a safety.”

“Up here, on top.” He pointed to the small latch.

“I didn't even see that,” she admitted. “I'm a little short.” Stretching, she tried to reach, but only managed to stumble. Mike caught her.

For the second time today, she found herself in his arms. She wasn't so sure she wanted to back away this time, either. Maybe it was time to do a little bit of living.

“Cassidy,” he said softly, his eyes resting on her mouth. “You're emotional and I don't want to take advantage.”

“I'm not,” she countered. “I know precisely what I'm doing.”

Chapter Five

When she gazed at him, he didn't really see what he'd expected. Based on her earlier meltdown, he'd been afraid she was clinging to him out of sadness or fear. He looked at her now and only saw her desire.

His hand moved up from her shoulder to cup her cheek. His voice gruff, he asked, “Are you sure you want to go here?”

She grabbed twin handfuls of his shirt and said, “Jesus, Mike. Just shut up and kiss me already!”

“Yes ma'am,” he said, a smile tugging at his lips. He pulled her flush against him and dipped his head down. The second their lips connected, he couldn't help the hungry groan that slid from his throat.

She pressed herself eagerly against him as her lips parted under his. He began a lazy exploration of her curves, letting his palms mold against and trace over every part of her hips and back, while his tongue plundered her mouth.

Eventually the hands that gripped his shirt slid up his chest and around his neck, bringing her soft, full breasts in direct contact with his chest. Fuck, she felt good pressed against him. He tilted his hips forward, pressing his growing erection into the softness of her belly.

At her moan, he broke the kiss and nipped his way down her jawline. He slid one hand into her hair, gripping her wild curls down near the nape of her neck. Slowly, he gave it a tug, tilting her head to expose the soft skin of her neck. Thorough in his exploration, he licked and sucked on every inch of bare skin he was able to reach. She made sexy little whimpering sounds that were driving him wild.

He pulled at the collar of her shirt, revealing one ivory shoulder. He moved his mouth down, determined to swirl his tongue over every inch of her body before they were through here. When her breathing stuttered, he gently bit down on the skin just above her collarbone.

“Mike,” she moaned. He felt her hands move down his body. When they slid under the hem of his shirt and up his back, he made his own soft sound of pleasure. The way her hands slid over the contours of his back had his dick throbbing. He could only hope she would continue to explore him with such thorough, eager hands.

As if she'd read his thoughts, she made a move to strip his shirt off. He momentarily lifted his mouth, then pulled the shirt off over his head, tossing it away. Before the shirt even hit the ground, he gripped her hair again and dragging his teeth along her earlobe.

Her fingernails traced over the ridges of his abdomen, raking lightly up his chest. When he gave an involuntary shiver, she repeated the motion. He tightened the hand that gripped her hair and moaned against the soft skin of her shoulder.

Cassidy snaked her hand down between them and cupped his rigid erection with her palm through the denim of his jeans.

He groaned as she gently massaged him and said, “Oh sweet Christ, Cassidy.”

When she stopped massaging and began to unbutton his jeans, he gave a silent thanks to the heavens. There was nothing he wanted more than to feel her warm little palm wrapped around his aching cock. Before that, though, he needed something.

He reached down to still her hand. She looked up at him in confusion. He was on the edge when he murmured, “I want to see you, Cass. I need to see you.”

A smile played over her face as she slowly reached for the hem of her shirt. She pulled it over her head and tossed it aside for him. He let out a low sound of appreciation.

His hands reaching out, he cupped her breasts through the satin bra she wore. “Fuck, but you're gorgeous. I don't think I was ready for you to be this sexy.”

Her lips curving upward, she stepped back, then reached behind her and unclasped her bra. She slid it forward, watching his eyes as they absorbed every inch of flesh she uncovered. Dammit, he realized, when she paused. The little vixen was teasing him. He groaned in frustration.

Cassidy teased him a moment more, then perhaps sensing he was at the end of his rope, slid the bra off. His hands immediately gravitated toward the soft, round globes. He tested their weight with his palms and gently rubbed his thumbs over her hard, pink nipples.

She got back to work on his jeans now that she'd given him something to play with. He let out a hiss when he felt her hand slide down the front of his jeans through the now open zipper. He'd gone commando today. In retrospect, it was an excellent choice.

While he tugged and teased her tight peaks, she pushed his jeans down. Grabbing his cock by the root, she began to slowly but firmly stroke him. He groaned as his knees turned to jelly.

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