Mistake Me Not Read online

  ‘You did that on purpose,’ he said grinning at her.

  ‘You were being coy,’ she said.

  ‘Do you want me to be direct?’ he asked. ‘Let me find a place to park.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said bringing her feet up under her to lean over the console and drape her arms around his neck. ‘I won’t play with you.’

  Kissing his cheek she rested her head on his shoulder. He appreciated her proximity, and they rode for a moment but curiosity ate at her. Coy was usually her colour but she’d got away with speaking her mind, it had got them this far. Tilting her head, the tip of her tongue touched his earlobe then she breathed it into her mouth sucking gently as her hand fell away from his shoulder.

  ‘Now Baby, we’re almost—‘

  She cupped the length of him through his jeans though the length of her hand wasn’t sufficient. Hissing in the end of his sentence, he swerved again.

  ‘Baby!’ he chided and she took her hand back to his shoulder. ‘No, put it back.’

  With the car back on track and he snatched her hand and pressed it back to his groin.

  ‘You’re always hard,’ she said kissing the side of his neck.

  ‘I’m always hard for you,’ he said. ‘I’m in agony Baby.’

  ‘I should tell you,’ she said nuzzling closer. ‘I’m not very... experienced. But I want to touch you, it excites me.’

  ‘I can tell from the way you’re wriggling there. I love that wriggle.’

  ‘I won’t be able to do anything for you, you know... if we get to it.’

  ‘If?’ he asked and took her palm to his mouth. ‘We don’t know what this is but it’s definitely headed in that direction.’

  ‘I wouldn’t want to disappoint you. I’m being up front.’

  ‘Let’s just keep doing what we’re doing. It’s worked out so far.’

  ‘Except for the part where you lied to me.’

  ‘I didn’t want to scare you and I didn’t know how or when to say it, to tell you.’

  ‘We’ve not known each other long,’ she said. ‘Can we just promise no more secrets? No more lies.’

  ‘You got it Baby,’ he said.

  They stopped outside her place and he pulled on the brake.

  ‘You stay here,’ she said unclicking her seatbelt.

  ‘That’s my order,’ he said catching her wrist. ‘Why do you want me staying here?’

  ‘Because if you come in there I won’t get anything done.’

  ‘I’ll keep my hands to myself,’ he said. ‘I promise.’

  ‘What about your mouth?’

  ‘That I can’t promise,’ he said but unclicked and opened his door. ‘Stay.’

  Without giving her time to answer, he got out, rounded the vehicle, then opened her door for her.

  ‘You’re a gentleman on top of everything else?’

  ‘It’s easier to be a gentleman when we’re in public.’

  The moment the front door of her apartment closed behind them he kissed the top of her head.

  ‘Get packed,’ he said. ‘Then we’ll get busy.’

  Her eye was drawn to that bulge in his jeans, now that she was aware of it part of her was fascinated – like her birthday gift was right there in front of her but frustratingly wrapped and so out of her reach.

  ‘Who is this guy we’re meeting next week?’ he asked and she knew it was a subject changer from what had been in her mind, and her body language.

  ‘I’ve been commissioned before,’ she said. ‘But I’m not a huge fan of private projects’

  ‘Is that who all the men were? Darwin, Briggs, Spencer, and Elijah?’

  ‘You remembered all those names,’ she said to herself. ‘Yes. They’ve all shown interest, and I think they’re trying to outdo each other. I haven’t even decided if I’ll do it yet.’

  Lacie headed into her bedroom to throw some things in a bag but left the bedroom door open so they could continue talking while he wandered around her living room exploring.

  ‘Do you go to a lot of meetings with men like that?’

  ‘Sometimes,’ she called. ‘But I hate going alone, which is why I asked you to join me.’

  ‘I’ll join you for all of them from now on.’

  ‘Planning to never let me out of your sight,’ she teased throwing her toiletries to the bottom of her bag and piling her clothes on top.

  ‘I plan to be supportive,’ he said. ‘Whatever you need.’

  She took the bag to her bedroom door and dumped it at her feet. ‘What are we doing here Ryder? You and me, what is it?’

  ‘What do you want it to be?’ he asked putting down the snow-globe he’d just shaken.

  ‘I don’t know,’ she said. ‘This is all new for me. I told you that.’

  ‘Whatever this is it’s new for me too. Sex is easy, this is... different.’

  ‘I suppose it’s probably moot anyway, if these guys are still at that place, we’ll all end up—‘

  ‘What?’ he barked marching from the centre of her living room to face her in the doorway. ‘What do you think will happen?’

  ‘Do you see my face?’ she asked. ‘That pain in the back of your head came from somewhere. You’ve probably got a concussion that’s what the gooey eyes are for.’

  ‘We weren’t prepared,’ he said. ‘It was my fault. I was distracted. You will never be in that kind of danger again. Look at me Dusty,’ he said taking her shoulder. ‘I promise you.’

  ‘This isn’t about guilt, is it?’

  ‘I’ve wanted you since the minute I saw you, I’m not going anywhere. This is important Dusty, do you trust me?’

  ‘Why do you call me Dusty?’ she asked.

  He lifted her hands. ‘I saw the dust on your hands in Shep’s office.’

  ‘It’s clay,’ she said.

  ‘I know that now. Do you work downstairs?’

  Curiosity nipped her. ‘How do you know that?’

  ‘I saw the trapdoor under your rug earlier.’

  ‘It was closed,’ she said. ‘You don’t miss a thing, do you?’

  ‘I want to know everything about you,’ he said. ‘I notice you.’

  ‘That’s a good quality in your line of work,’ she said. ‘How can I support you?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘If you want to support my work, how can I support yours?’

  ‘We’ll get this case dealt with,’ he said. ‘Then worry about us.’

  ‘Is there an “us”?’ she asked.

  ‘Oh yeah,’ he said and moved his hands to her waist to guide her backwards.

  Looping her arms around his neck she hopped into his arms when he took her feet from the floor. His mouth smothered hers but he was careful in laying her down on her bed. Other things played round in her mind; things that should be dealt with because none of them could say how long this “case” would take. The only thing Lacie could be sure off was that Sorcha needed her, she needed all of them, and that Lacie would do whatever it took to support Sorcha, to get her through it. But Lacie didn’t like not knowing how this would all turn out, and she knew Sorcha wouldn’t either – though she’d never admit it. Sorcha was shiny happy... on the surface at least.

  Ryder’s body was incredible, her hands – of their own accord – were shoving his tee-shirt up and out the way to let her fingertips dance over the ridges of his abdomen; but she wanted more. Lacie mewed impatiently and turning her mouth away from his she tugged his shirt higher. The long fingers of his hands were flat on the bed each side of her head in a half push up but she whimpered again and at that unspoken request his hands went to the back of his neck to pull it off.

  When it was over his head she sat up and whipped off her own top. The grin he’d worn over her request vanished when he realised her bra was on show. The cups pushed her breasts together and when Ryder’s mouth opened Lacie was sure he was about to drool into her cleavage. She’d never thought of her breasts as particularly magnificent but no one would know that from Ryder’s exp
ression. Except when his hand came toward her it was her shoulder he touched.

  ‘Your skin,’ he muttered. ‘It’s like silk.’

  Still lying on the bed, she expected his mouth to join hers but his hand skimmed over her breast to her abdomen.

  ‘Are you ok?’ she whispered taking her hands to his face when his desire cooled to torment.

  ‘I’m sorry I wasn’t there,’ he said tracing the red welts on her stomach.

  ‘They’ll fade,’ she said. ‘Bruises heal Ryder.’

  ‘I let you down.’

  ‘You wouldn’t have been there at all if it wasn’t for me. I should apologise to you.’

  ‘Stay,’ he said pinging his gaze from her torso to her eyes. His hands stroked her belly, her hips, her waist, then came to settle cupping her breasts, all the while his eyes remained fixed on hers.

  ‘Where?’

  ‘Here,’ Ryder said. ‘Stay home, out of harm’s way. I’ll deal with this.’

  ‘I can’t abandon Sorcha,’ she said sliding her own hands up his perpendicular torso. ‘You have incredible form.’

  ‘I’ll look after Sorcha. I still don’t understand why this is so important, and without knowing why—‘

  ‘She’s pregnant,’ Lacie said scrutinising the grooves and ridges her fingers were sampling.

  ‘What?’

  ‘That’s in strict confidence,’ she said. ‘No one can know I’ve told you, not even Sorcha – her parents don’t even know.’

  ‘And, Bruce is...?

  ‘Yeah,’ Lacie said sliding the leather of his belt from its buckle.

  ‘Your friend can sure pick them. I suppose that’s why she sent you to Shep in the first place.’

  ‘He can’t know, you can’t tell him.’

  ‘We’re not exactly bosom buddies,’ he said pinching her nipples through the satin of her bra. ‘Can I take this off?’

  She whipped his belt from the loops on his jeans. ‘I’m not asking permission to undress you, am I?’

  Arching up she lifted her brows daring him to do his worst, and of course he didn’t shy away from the challenge. His fingers forged to his palms around her ribs, eventually his thumbs slid under the catch. The release had her moaning – even though he hadn’t touched her yet. Bliss was here for her, under him, all alone. Shivering in anticipation of his hands her eyes hadn’t opened. But it was her lips that got his attention. Lingering her arms upward she hung herself around his neck, his hair tickled her forehead sending the cascade of vibration through each nerve ending. Her nipples were hard and sore, and the contact of his chest hair rasping over them made her squeak. He groaned and she took the chance to suck his lower lip, his tongue salved her top one then he went on an excruciatingly slow stroll down her neck then his hands held her breasts, rolling, teasing her nipples in preparation for his mouth. She couldn’t get closer. She needed to be closer. Forcing her body upward as her voice begged for more on the wisps of breath that escaped her lips.

  ‘Ryder,’ she begged rocking herself against the perpetual ridge in his jeans.

  With superior strength and weight his hips pinned hers and he lifted his head to look at her. His fingertips slid up her ribs, under her arms making her flinch, which he enjoyed, noting that she was ticklish. When their fingers locked together his eyes became darker, his palms her held in place. She had no chance of going anywhere, and she wouldn’t even if she could. His gaze gobbled up the feast of her body, her breasts free, bra gone, on show all for him.

  ‘Ryder,’ she said when he didn’t move.

  ‘Shh,’ he said freeing one of her hands to palm one breast then the other. ‘You’re gorgeous. I want to remember this.’

  ‘Remember what? We haven’t done anything yet.’

  ‘Oh yes we have,’ Ryder said. ‘I want to remember everything about the first time I see you.’

  ‘Ok,’ she said walking her fingers down his chest to the line of hair that snuck down into his jeans. ‘Can I see you?’

  ‘We’re topless,’ he grinned. ‘We’re doing this a little at a time.’

  ‘Are we now?’ she asked rolling her head to see the bedside clock. ‘We better get a move on. Time’s ticking away.’

  ‘We have all the time in the world,’ he said.

  ‘Our friends will be here soon, and if we don’t get—‘

  ‘I’m not rushing this, when we’re intimate—‘

  ‘Everybody ready?’

  Lacie hadn’t heard the front door open. Her living/kitchen area was the size of a postage stamp – with the bedroom door open, and a clear shot from the front door Shep and Sorcha must now be entering.

  Lacie didn’t have to worry about decency. Ryder was off the bed in a flash body-blocking her and swinging her bedroom door closed. Pushing up onto her elbow she enjoyed the novelty of having such a perfect specimen of maleness topless, in her bedroom, and enjoying her as much as she was him.

  ‘I’m glad you didn’t have your jeans off,’ she said.

  ‘Wouldn’t have mattered,’ he shrugged hooking his thumbs in his belt loops.

  ‘It would have to me,’ she said. ‘I wouldn’t want to be the one closing the door and giving Shep an eyeful.’

  Slowly he shook his head. ‘Wouldn’t have happened; from here on in no male will get to see what I’m looking at.’

  ‘My breasts aren’t that great,’ she said reluctantly leaving the bed to head for the wardrobe.

  Pondering her outfit, Lacie didn’t have time to make a wardrobe selection; his reflection joined hers, moving in close from behind. Propping his chin on her head his hands crept around to cup her breasts then he rolled her nipples between his fingers.

  ‘I beg to differ,’ he said.

  Both examined the simple action of those long tanned fingers kneading her pale flesh then resting and holding her in such a tender way. While he remained engrossed, her eyes wouldn’t stay open. So, she pushed herself back into the column in his jeans that had become her favourite companion but he moved his hips away.

  ‘Don’t encourage me,’ he said though from the usual pant in his voice she had a feeling he was encouraging himself.

  Opening her eyes, she witnessed his hands all over her so slow, so tender... so tormenting.

  ‘Come on you two!’ Sorcha’s voice called from through the wall. ‘Get your clothes on!’

  Sorcha’s giggle was as loud as her voice and Lacie reluctantly left his hold retrieving a short-sleeved smock top and pulling it on.

  ‘That’s it?’ he asked when she tied her hair on top of her head again.

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘No bra?’ he asked unable to take his eyes from her chest.

  ‘I’ve got some packed; I don’t know where the other one went. Does it bother you?’

  ‘Yes,’ he groaned. ‘But only in the same way everything about you does.’

  ‘I wasn’t wearing a bra in the car when we... when you...’

  ‘You delight in tormenting me,’ he said.

  ‘I don’t,’ she smiled – part of her did enjoy his torment just a little.

  This was an incredible power to wield with such a man and she was sure it wasn’t common for him to be so easily distracted.

  He hooked his arm around her and snagged his own tee-shirt from the bed as they headed to the bedroom door. Mentally she checked everything she needed was packed. Ryder had packed without knowing that they were going somewhere, and she couldn’t imagine why he would be so readily equipped. She feared it meant that situations like the one they’d been in wasn’t unusual for him, which meant he may get himself hurt with some regularity.

  ‘Oh,’ she said ducking away from his arm when he opened the door to the living room an inch.

  ‘What?’ he asked watching her skirt the bed and open the top bedside drawer.

  ‘Nothing,’ she said. ‘Go on. I’m right behind you.’

  He didn’t carry on, he waited for her, and opened her hand to see what she’d retrieved from the dra
wer – he groaned again.

  ‘Sorry, but I take them to give myself a break.’ Her birth control pills kept her regular and light. But she knew from the look in his eye just what they meant to him... which had her tingling again.

  ‘We have guests,’ she murmured sliding the pills into Ryder’s back pocket because her bag was already in the living room – where Shep and Sorcha were.

  Lacie didn’t want to reveal any more of their private life to Shep than was absolutely necessary. With a quick peck on a bounce upward Lacie opened the door fully to join their guests. Apparently, they all had an adventure to get to.

  Chapter Five

  ‘Cassettes,’ Sorcha grumbled slamming the glove box of Shep’s five door electric blue Ford circa nineteen ninety something. ‘This thing is a relic.’ She kicked at the fast food wrappers around her feet.

  Maybe under other circumstances Ryder would agree with her but right now he had a completely different focus. The car was a mess. It was rusted, and old, and had more than a few suspect stains on the upholstery. But the woman nestled under his arm with her head on his chest kept his blood rushing through his veins, and he only caught pieces of what was being said, just enough to monitor what was going on, and that the environment remained safe. Lacie’s hair caught on his stubble, and the inadvertent fortuity bred affection in him; he wasn’t used to this intimate fondness. In his line of work he was usually getting between people and trouble, but his urge to protect her was more intrinsic. She sighed in her sleep muttering something then turned her face against his throat, and her hand slid further up his thigh.

  ‘Hello! Hello!’

  Ryder snapped out of whatever he’d been languishing in and saw Sorcha hanging over the shoulder of her seat.

  ‘She talks in her sleep you know,’ Sorcha said.

  ‘Doubt he hangs around long enough to find that out for himself,’ Shep offered.

  ‘You’re not looking at him looking at her.’ Sorcha fluttered her eyelashes. ‘She’s so cute when she sleeps. She’s always like this when she’s preoccupied with something.’

  Concern zapped through him. ‘Preoccupied with what?’ he snapped. ‘Are those rich boys giving her hassle?’