Bare It All

chapter TWELVE

EVEN WHILE BENDING to greet Cash, Reese noted Alice’s scrutiny.

And her scraped knee.

He nodded at her leg. “What happened there?”

Eyes dark and warm, she looked down at her knee. “It’s just a scratch.” Slicking her little tongue over her upper lip, she ogled him. “You’re taking off your shirt?”

“It’s hot as hell out there, and getting grilled has a way of making it worse.” But mostly it was hearing the details of Alice’s abduction that left him sweating.

They’d talked briefly after finishing the coffee, when Peterson had gotten a phone call. Logan had only uncovered what was in the press—which meant what Alice herself had shared. Sketchy details. A few names. A time frame.

Logan had also confirmed that Alice did, indeed, have CCPs in order for her weapons. Why does she need conceal and carry permits? He had a million questions for her, but mostly he wanted to hold her.

She inched closer. “It went okay?”

It made Reese smile, how she stared fixedly at his chest, not his face. “It’s fine. I’ll be back to work Monday.” How could she expect him to keep his hands to himself, to give her the time she’d requested, when she showed such naked hunger? “You’ve seen my chest before, honey.”

She nodded and whispered, “You take my breath away.”

With a final pat for Cash, he stood again—and shrugged the shirt off. “Is that so?” He tossed it over the back of the couch.

“Yes.” Alice drifted her attention over him. “It’s the same as you seeing me without a shirt.”

“Not even close.” But damn, he couldn’t wait.

Her heated examination dipped down to his abs, and then snagged on his fly.

The way Alice looked at him was almost as good as a stroke. Almost.

“Alice,” he all but groaned. “Up here, please.”

She dragged her focus back to his face.

“I need to take Cash out. Change out of these clothes into something more comfortable.” And cooler. “And I could use something to eat. I haven’t had dinner yet and I’m—”

“I’m sorry.” Visibly trying to rein herself in, she nodded. “I didn’t mean to—”

“Don’t apologize.” Not for wanting him. “I like the way you welcome me home.” And damn it, with Alice there, he knew any place would feel like home.

Flustered, avoiding his gaze, she said, “Cash just came back in.” She sidestepped to the kitchen doorway. “I skipped dinner, too. But I can fix you a sandwich while you change—”

“Or you can tell me what you really want.” To hell with food or changing into shorts; he’d prefer to be naked with Alice.

She shot back around to face him, her expression...eager. “Could I?”

Heat rolled through him. “Absolutely. I have the evening free, so I’m all yours.” Slowly, remembering her in that white nightgown, how her small body curled into his through the night, Reese approached her. “I don’t want to rush you. We can go slow.” Torture. “But I know you enjoy kissing me.”

“I really do,” she said with feeling.

Lust deepened his voice. “You enjoyed sleeping beside me, too. I know you need more time, but how about we do those things again—together this time.”

“Kiss...in bed?”

God, he hoped she was willing. “Sounds good to me.” He touched the side of her face, slipped his fingers into her hair—and realized it was somehow different, the adjustment subtle but still evident. “You changed it?”

Big brown eyes dark with desire gazed at his mouth. “It?”

“Your hair.”

“Yes.” Her hands trailed over his shoulders, his pecs, back up again. “My hair,” she murmured, as if she had no clue what they were talking about.

Half smiling, finding her so endearing in her sensual distraction, Reese cradled her head in his palm, stepped closer to breathe her in. “I like it.”

“Reese?”

With a hand opened on the small of her back, he urged her body into fuller contact with his. No way would she miss his erection, but he didn’t care. “Hmm?”

Cuddling her hips against him, she whispered, “I don’t want to wait anymore.”

Reese closed his eyes, fighting the urge to take her to the floor right now. That little catch in her voice almost did him in.

When had he ever suffered this level of lust? Never. Only with Alice.

He did not want to rush through this first time with her.

“Do you suppose Cash is distracted enough?” Once he got her in bed, he wanted to give her all his considerable concentration—and he wanted to make it very good for her, so good that she’d want many repeat performances.

“I’ll give him another treat.” Alice rushed off before Reese could stop her, came back with two treats, and after a quick pat to Cash’s head, presented him with the gifts.

The dog’s ears went up, and his eyes gleamed with gluttony.

“There.” Standing again, expression expectant, Alice faced him. She bit her bottom lip, shifted her stance. “Should we go to the bedroom?”

Reese didn’t understand the sudden turnaround, but he wasn’t about to question it. “If that’s what you want.”

“I do.” She snagged his hand and hauled him down the hallway at a near trot. “I thought about you all day, in between shopping and manicures and talking with Pepper.”

She rushed them into her bedroom.

Closing the door, Reese turned her to face him. “You enjoyed yourself?”

“What?”

“With Pepper.” He assumed all women enjoyed shopping, but Alice was unlike any woman he’d ever known.

Her face went bright red. “How was your day?”

Interesting reaction. Had she posed her own question to keep from answering his? “Just fine.”

“Good.” She looked away.

Had Pepper said something to upset her? God knew the woman could be pushy—

Alice reached for his belt. “Let’s chitchat later.”

Talk about pushy. It wasn’t like Alice to be so assertive. He couldn’t help but wonder what had brought about the change.

Catching her hands, Reese said softly, “Slow down, honey. I’ve been waiting for this forever—”

“We haven’t known each other that long.”

“Feels like forever all the same.” He tried a smile that hurt, he was so hard. “Kissing first, okay?” He took her mouth before she could say anything more. Kissing her was a unique pleasure. “Open up for me, Alice.”

On a gasp, she did as asked and Reese sank in, tasting her, stroking with his tongue. He angled in for a deeper kiss, both of them already panting...and Alice’s hands returned to his belt again.

He caught them, brought them up to his shoulders then went to work on the buttons to her blouse. Kissing her jaw, her throat, he murmured, “You need to catch up.”

She went very still, her fingers clenching, digging into his shoulders.

He loved it.

When the shirt was open enough, Reese slipped his hand inside and...over her left breast.

Her hands fell away from him, her breath hitching as he touched her.

Ah, God, she felt nice. Small, firm, her nipple drawn tight. “Perfect.”

Putting his other hand into her shirt, too, he cuddled both breasts, brushed his thumbs over her nipples. Watching her face, he lightly caught each one and tugged with the gentlest touch.

She moaned before shrugging the shirt off her shoulders.

It fell to the floor.

Cheeks flushed and her bright gaze locked on his face, Alice stood there.

Her bra was a surprise. Sheer beige edged by black lace. In a voice that sounded like gravel, Reese whispered, “You little tease.” Never had he suspected Alice would wear such sensual underwear.

Breasts shimmying with her fast breaths, she bit her lip in nervousness. “I like nice underwear,” she explained.

“Great. I like it, too.” He especially liked it on her.

Would her panties match? He couldn’t wait to find out.

“You’ve been walking around in front of me, wearing this sexy stuff without me knowing.” Nothing about Alice was ever expected, so he should have realized. She hid so much behind her straitlaced facade.

Knowing she hid this really turned him on—maybe because he’d be the only man aware of it.

Dragging the back of his knuckles down the silky skin of her rib cage, over her narrow waist and flat belly, Reese touched the closure to her capris.

Senses heightened, lust pounding through him, he opened the snap.

“Rowdy said you’d like my body,” she suddenly blurted.

Freezing, his brain going blank, Reese stared at her. His mouth opened, but nothing came out.

Alice just watched him, waiting for confirmation.

In a croak, Reese demanded, “Rowdy said what?”

Maybe because outraged disbelief filled his tone, Alice sucked in a breath and shook her head. “Never mind.” She nodded at his hands on her waistband. “Go on.”

Go on... She had to be kidding! “Not on your life.” A red haze filtered into his vision. He took a step back, thoughts of mangling Rowdy uppermost in his mind—

And Alice shoved down her zipper. “It’s not what you think!” Hastily, she worked the capris down over her narrow hips.

Even in a rage, he noted that the panties did indeed match. Minuscule, more lace than anything else, barely covering her...

“I was worried about you wanting me, and Rowdy assured me you would. That’s all I meant.”

His brain throbbed at the dual assault of raging jealousy and red-hot lust.

She kicked the pants aside and stood tall, stoic—insecure. “So...do you?”

God Almighty. Could a woman be more appealing?

He didn’t think so.

Unable to get his gaze off her body, Reese took in every delicate curve, each tempting swell. Her thighs were long, trim, her bone structure delicate. “You shouldn’t be discussing things like that with Rowdy.” He shook his head, amending that statement. “With any other man. If you have questions, come to me.”

“I had questions about you.” She shifted her feet, laced her fingers together. “Reese, I’m in an agony of suspense here. You’re just staring at me. Do something, please.”

“All right.” Later, he’d talk to her about inappropriate conversations and timing disclosures. Hauling her up to him, he took her mouth with all the hunger clawing inside him. She wilted against him—for about three seconds. Then she became a very active participant, her hands all over him, her body squirming against his.

She sucked at his tongue, teased him with her own and, this time, when she went after his belt, he helped her.

The second she got his slacks open, she slipped a small warm hand inside.

“Alice.” A weak protest at best.

Curling her fingers around him, she kissed his shoulder, his chest, lightly bit his right pectoral muscle. “I could just eat you up,” she whispered.

Reese tried to tune out the visual her words provoked. If he went there, he’d be a goner for sure. It was enough, more than enough, feeling her small hand holding him, squeezing, stroking—

“Alice...baby, stop. I’m a hair away from detonation.” Catching her wrists, Reese drew them behind her and held them captive with one hand. He searched her face for any signs of uneasiness. “Okay?”

Eyes heavy, lips moist, she nodded. “You really are big.”

Swallowing became difficult. “Yeah, but we’ll be a perfect fit.” He leaned down and drew her nipple into his mouth, dampening the material of her bra.

Her back arched on a soft cry.

Eyeing his handiwork, seeing the now wet material cling to her nipple, Reese said, “So pretty.” He moved to her other breast.

Voice going high, Alice said, “It’s a front closure!”

Hint, hint?

He smiled around the lust and, using two fingers, opened her bra. Pale, smooth, high, her breasts were enough to waylay his good intentions. Releasing her wrists, Reese hurriedly stripped the bra off her, then went to one knee.

Her hand settled in his hair, stroking, curious, a little unsure. “What are you going to do?”

“The same thing I did to your nipples. But—” he touched the tip of one finger to the silky triangle of her itty-bitty panties “—here.”

“Oh.”

Leaning into her, Reese used his tongue to stroke, opened his mouth over her.

“Oh.”

With both hands he palmed her sweet little backside to keep her from moving away. Her scent was indescribable, and he nuzzled closer, made a hungry sound of need.

“I...” A moan, soft and deep, sounded seconds before she wove her hands into his hair, holding him closer. “I want a turn, too.”

He’d never survive her special brand of sweet torture. “Not a problem.” Unless he died of pleasure.

Knowing he had to hurry it along or it’d be over before he got started, Reese caught the tiny waistband of her panties and slowly dragged them down her slender legs to unveil her.

God, she was sexy, standing before him in a wealth of mingled nervousness and excitement. Her soft inner thighs drew him, so he kissed each one, moving higher and higher, sucking gently on the sleek skin, trailing with his tongue.

When he was just shy of tasting her without the barrier of her panties, Alice wailed, “Not fair!”

He cupped a hand over her. “How’s that?”

“I want you naked, too. I want to do...things to you, too.”

He didn’t want to give up his exploration of her body, but he also didn’t want her so tense. Standing, he asked, “You want me to strip off my slacks?”

She gave a sharp nod. “Yes, please.”

It seemed impossible to find humor in the middle of such lust, but there it was, tugging at his smile, making him want to hug her close and laugh.

Instead, he toed off his shoes, saying, “I’m not modest, you know.” He bent to remove his socks. “There’s no reason to frown.”

“I’m concentrating.”

On his dick, yeah, he knew that. Hell, he felt her hot gaze all but penetrating his slacks. Reese teased her, saying, “They didn’t dub me ‘Bare it all Bareden’ without reason.”

“So, get to the baring part.”

“Such impatience.” And damn it, he started to feel a little unnerved by her intense scrutiny. He’d never done a striptease. Before Alice, sex had been a natural progression, without all the fanfare and discussion. A kiss, a touch, clothes gone, penetration, completion.

Now, with her, it felt like so much more. Important. Special.

Somewhat uncomfortable with that thought, he removed his wallet and cell phone to put on the nightstand, then shucked off his slacks, taking his boxers off at the same time.

Nipples tight and knees locked, she parted her lips on a sharp breath. “Oh, my.”

Reese started to lift his arms, to make some silly comment about giving her what she wanted, but she turned suddenly and scampered up to the center of the bed. His heart nearly stopped over that particular view.

Going to her back, Alice held out her arms. “Enough foreplay. I need you.”

Foreplay hadn’t factored in. He wanted to explore every inch of her because every inch was so enticing. But Reese found himself taking the two big steps needed to reach her. In the back of his mind, he reminded himself to not forget the condom.

But everywhere else, with every other fiber of his being, he immersed himself in Alice’s unique sensuality, her scent and taste and her beautiful, slender body.

Half covering her, locking his teeth at the feel of her breasts cushioning his chest, Reese stroked down to her hip. “No rushing, Alice. I need to know you’re ready.”

“I am.” She clutched at his shoulders. “I promise.”

“How about I see for myself?”

He kissed her lips, her cheek, moving his hand over to her lower belly. She kept her thighs tightly pressed together, her eyes wide on his face, watching him.

“Open your legs for me.”

Her nails stung his shoulders—but after a few seconds, she eased her hold...and spread her legs.

Reese teased her ear with damp kisses. “Nice, Alice. Thank you.”

She held her breath while he slowly trailed his fingertips down, over her pubic hair, lower.

“Breathe, honey.”

“Can’t.” She tightened everywhere, waiting.

Slipping a single finger over her, Reese parted her, touched deeper until he found her wet and hot. Pushing in, he whispered against her jaw, “What about now?”

She gasped in a breath, then let it out on a moan.

“That’s it.” Small and tight, she clamped around him—and got wetter. His erection strained against her thigh; he hurt with wanting her. But more than his own pleasure, he wanted hers.

First. Complete. A done deal.

He withdrew, pressed in again, gauging his moves by the raggedness of her breathing. Nuzzling his way down to her breasts, he asked, “What about another finger?” and as he drew in her nipple, he pushed in a second finger, filling her, loving her reaction.

Groaning deep in her throat, she lifted her hips and let her knees fall apart. He sucked harder, nipped carefully with his teeth and brought his thumb up to touch her *oris.

“Oh, God.” She moved with him, her head back, eyes closed. “Reese. That’s... I’m...”

It was a wonderful thing to render Alice Appleton speechless.

Keeping up the rhythm of his thumb, Reese moved to her other breast, drawing on her easily, gently, curling his tongue around her. Her scent intensified; the sweetness of her skin and hair, the hotter musk of her arousal.

“This,” he told Alice, moving his tongue over her nipple, “would feel even better between your legs.”

Taking him by surprise, she arched up, her mouth open on a silent cry, her eyes squeezed tight. Locking her hands in his hair, she held him there, her hips writhing, her wetness bathing his fingers as she came.

It was so hot, so unexpected that Reese knew he was a goner. The second she uncoiled and her tension seeped away, he sat up and grabbed for his wallet. Hands shaking, he opened a condom and rolled it on.

But when he looked back at Alice, he caught her dazed smile, and he had to kiss her again. Then once more. “You are incredible.”

“I am limp.”

He carried her hand down to his cock, wrapped her fingers around him. Heat washed over him. “Limp is okay,” he promised in a low growl, “as long as you’re still with me.”

“I’m very much with you,” she purred back, stroking him once, twice. Her thumb brushed up and over him, and he shuddered clean down to his toes.

Pulling her hand away again, he moved over her. “Next time,” he promised her roughly, “I’ll be a little less voracious.” He settled between her legs, using a knee to open her even more.

“I hope not.” Holding his face, looking into his eyes, she wrapped her legs around him.

He saw so much emotion in her gaze, both wonder and excitement, that it should have made him uneasy.

It didn’t, not with Alice.

“You like me a little lost, is that it?” He positioned himself, her creamy wetness bathing the head. Hot. Slippery. How the hell could he still form a coherent thought?

“I think,” Alice whispered, going serious, “that I like you any way I can have you.”

That did it. He kissed her hard—and thrust in.

It was a tight fit. Always. But with Alice being so small and delicate...he thought he might die from the exquisite pleasure of her squeezing around him.

She’d gone still beneath him, breath suspended, her nails again leaving half-moons in his shoulders.

He knew she needed a minute—a minute he didn’t have. He braced on his forearms, jaw clenched, shoulders bunching as he fought for control. Tension squeezed around him like a vise, and he knew he’d break at any second.

“Reese?”

Her tiny voice pained him; he held himself as immobile as he could, but no way could he reply.

Her puffing breaths met his lips. She shifted a little, probably trying to accommodate him but only inciting him more.

It felt as if lust boiled inside him, churning, rising.

“Reese?” she whispered again, this time with a question. He heard her swallow, felt her deliberately ease. She let out a long, broken breath. “Reese.”

Well, now, that sounded different.

He met her dark, smoldering gaze, saw her face flushed with need—and realized that she was with him after all.

He withdrew slowly, watching her, fascinated with her shuddering reaction. He knew he stretched her, that as he slowly sank back in she felt a measure of discomfort.

It was there in her halting breath. In the way she arched and tensed. How her lips parted and her thighs strained against him.

But he saw the rising pleasure, too.

God, she was amazing.

Keeping the rhythm slow but steady, he kissed her jaw, the corner of her mouth. With one hand, he reached beneath her hips, positioning her just enough that each penetration stroked along her *oris—making her wetter, hotter.

Anticipation showed in her heavy-lidded gaze as she touched his shoulders, his chest—and finally locked eyes with him.

Wondering if he’d ever tire of having Alice watch him in just that way, he drove deeper, rocking them both, wringing a small cry from her.

He went still deep inside her. “Okay?”

She licked her lips and nodded. “Again...ah...”

Reese felt her pulsing around him.

“Again, please.”

The break in her voice told him that she was close to another climax, and suddenly he wanted that more than he wanted his own release. Leaning into her, Reese moved harder, faster, heat pouring off him, her scent and her escalating cries filling his head.

Suddenly she clenched, her slim body bowing hard on a deep, throaty groan.

Reese could literally feel her tighten around his cock, feel the milking spasms of her climax. The sounds she made, raw and real and exciting, pushed him right over the edge.

He gathered her close, put his face in her neck and ground out his own release.

* * *

AN INDETERMINATE AMOUNT of time later, Reese awoke, aware of Cash snuffling against the bottom of the closed door. Still sluggish both in body and mind, he lifted his head and looked at Alice.

She rested on the bed beside him, not curled close as was usually the case with women, but sprawled out, exhausted, limp.

Naked head to toe.

The covers completely off the bed.

Tumbled around her face, resembling a halo, her soft brown hair reflected the muted light of sundown through the open window.

But sweet as she might be, Alice was far from angelic.

Thank God.

Now without that haze of blinding lust, Reese studied her body. Slim, pale. Intrinsically female.

Her nipples were the same soft pink as her lips.

And thinking of lips...he sat up carefully so as not to disturb her, soaking up the sight of her, her belly, her thighs—and between them.

So damn pretty.

Again he noted the scrape and bruise on her knee. Had she fallen? He didn’t wonder about it long, not when she had that leg bent, showing him everything.

Using just his fingertips, Reese touched the soft triangle of hair. Much more of that and he’d be on her again.

Instead, he transferred the touch to her pale belly, teased over a sharp hip bone, along a rounded hip.

Alice stirred, mumbled an incoherent sound and turned to her side away from him.

Why, thank you, Alice.

She had a great ass. Later, when he didn’t have Cash at the door, he would spend more time on that curvy little tush.

On all of her.

The more Reese studied her, the more he liked what he saw. The more special she seemed.

At thirty, he’d seen plenty of naked women, some with truly remarkable bodies, some beyond beautiful, all of them sexy.

None of them compared.

He couldn’t pinpoint what it was about Alice that set her apart. It wasn’t just her trim body or sincere face, her nurturing nature or cautious approach. It was...everything. Every inch of her, every facet of her character.

Cash whined, urging Reese from the bed. He didn’t want Alice to wake just yet. In fact, it astounded him that she slept on. He knew her to be ultra-aware. The fact that he could sneak around the room without disturbing her must mean she trusted him, at least a little.

He wanted her to trust him a lot.

Grabbing up his wallet and cell phone from the nightstand, his boxers and slacks from the floor, he eased the door open, using his knee to keep Cash from bounding in.

“Shhh,” he whispered to the dog. “You’re okay. We didn’t leave you.”

Cash leaped and twisted and woofed a few times, as if he’d been days without a visitor instead of a few hours.

It remained a challenge, reassuring the dog after finding him abandoned in a sealed box in the middle of the road.

“Love your enthusiasm, boy. And the fact that I don’t see any puddles. Give me a second, and I’ll take you out.”

Cash amped up the excitement over that idea, so much so that he made it nearly impossible for Reese to pull on his slacks.

Clearly, the dog enjoyed being outdoors. Perhaps it was time for him to consider a house instead of the apartment. He could afford it. The apartment was just easier, or at least it had been up until he’d rescued Cash.

The dog deserved room to run, maybe in a big backyard. He’d have to give it some thought.

In nothing more than his slacks, Reese snuck out the front door with Cash on a leash. Though it wasn’t entirely nightfall yet, security lights flickered on over the parking lot. Reese strode out to the requisite tree, propped a bare shoulder against the bark and gave Cash enough leash to do his business. While he watched the dog sniff an imaginary trail, his thoughts wandered to Alice.

He’d meant to ask her about her day, to find out if she and Pepper had gone shooting or if—with any luck—they’d stuck to shopping. He’d planned on dinner, conversation, a little necking to ease her into things....

Alice had sidelined those plans easily enough.

The second he’d walked through the door, he’d known something was up. Amazing how she could remain so secretive about some things but didn’t even try to hide her attraction to him.

She’d seemed almost frantic to have him.

And he’d loved it.

Once she awoke he’d fix her dinner, shower with her and then take her right back to bed for a slower, more thorough taste. It didn’t matter that he’d buried himself inside her not that long ago. Already he burned with need, especially knowing she remained in the bed, so relaxed—and so naked.

Yeah, once she awoke, the last thing he’d want to do was talk about shopping.

With that decision made, Reese pulled out his cell phone. Better to get the deets from Rowdy so he could concentrate on more important things with Alice.

Namely, her sudden decision to move their relationship into scorching-hot intimacy. He didn’t know why she’d suddenly lost inhibition and caution, but he was more than grateful.