Cole’s throat worked as he gulped. “Nothing will come out of this, Jamie. Even if we give in, I’m in no place for a relationship.”
“I’m not sure I am either,” she admitted. Her fingers tingled as she stroked the hot flesh of his chest. “But I don’t think I can fight this any longer. I…I ache for you.”
Arousal flashed in his eyes, strengthening her confidence. Fine, so this was crazy. Her job, the ongoing murder investigation, Cole’s issues about his ex—the obstacles in their path were hard to ignore.
But tonight, she wanted to pretend there was nothing in their way.
Just for tonight.
Gathering up some more confidence, Jamie dropped her hand from Cole’s chest and moved it to the top of her towel. Then she took a breath and let the towel fall to the floor.
Chapter 11
Cole felt as if he were in a trance as he stared at Jamie’s beautiful naked body. Every inch of her was total perfection. Her high, full breasts tipped by dusky red nipples. Her small waist and long, silky legs. His mouth went bone dry, then flooded with moisture as she reached up to undo her ponytail, causing her breasts to jut out enticingly. She let her hair loose and the auburn waves cascaded down her slender shoulders.
Get out. Protect your heart.
The swift warning made his gut clench, but for the life of him, he couldn’t fight the desire sizzling through his body. Still, he made a last-ditch effort to stop this runaway train before it picked up speed. “We shouldn’t do this,” he murmured. “You need to walk out that door, sweetheart.”
Her gaze heated from the endearment, and he realized that this was the first time he’d called anyone that. With Teresa, it had been babe. Never anything as tender as sweetheart.
“Or I can stay,” she murmured back, stepping closer.
At the feel of her nipples tickling the hair on his chest, Cole smothered a groan. Every muscle in his body was coiled tight, his restraint in desperate danger of crumbling. He needed to touch her. Just one touch, and then he’d stop this madness.
Taking a deep breath, he lifted his hand and stroked one golden shoulder. “Your skin feels like silk,” he rasped.
Your skin feels like silk? He wanted to kick himself for using such a cheesy cliché on her, but it was the truth. Jamie’s smooth flesh slid underneath his palm, hot and satiny, making his pulse drum in his ears.
Lord, he couldn’t stop this. With her warm, naked body pressed against his, his control was obliterated. He wanted Jamie Crawford. Had wanted her from the moment he’d laid eyes on her.
She must have seen it in his eyes, because she gave a faint smile and said, “Yes?”
“Yes,” he choked out.
Her hand came up to his chest, eliciting a low groan from his lips. “I need to touch you,” she whispered. “I need to… God, I don’t know what I need.”
Although it was pure torture, he stood motionless and let her explore, clenching his teeth as her delicate fingers traveled over him. She stroked the center of his chest, then moved toward one flat nipple and touched it with the tip of her finger.
Cole hissed out a breath.
Jamie froze and gave him a questioning look.
“Don’t stop,” he muttered, close to passing out from sheer pleasure. “Keep touching.”
She did. Teased his other nipple, then tickled the hair on his chest, following the narrow line down to his waistband. When she slipped her fingers underneath the elastic of his boxers, he gave an involuntary thrust of his hips. Her hand met his waiting erection. Her lavender eyes widened.
“Cole,” she murmured.
He moistened his dry lips. “Yeah?”
“I don’t know what’s happening to me.” She gazed up at him, her face a mixture of passion and confusion. “I’m not usually like this. But with you… I want you. I want…”
She didn’t finish. He wouldn’t have let her anyway, the need to kiss her so strong he had no choice but to give in. Their mouths found each other. The kiss sucked the breath from his lungs and he nearly keeled over. With a low growl, he yanked her onto the bed and covered her body with his. They kissed again, hot, openmouthed kisses, tongues dueling and chests heaving.
“I want to taste every inch of you,” he muttered against her moist lips.
“Later,” she muttered back, her hand finding his arousal again. “Right now I just want you inside me.”
She didn’t need to ask twice. Somehow he scrambled off the bed and found a box of condoms in the bathroom. He was sheathed and ready by the time he lowered his body over hers again, flames of anticipation licking at his skin. When he slid into her, they both groaned, hoarse, strangled sounds that hung in the heated air.
“Oh, my God,” Jamie choked out, lifting her hips to bring him deeper. “So good…it’s so good…”