Against the Fire (17 page)

“I’ve got a hot date, big boy,” she said, reaching out to stroke his soft fur. The words made her stomach churn even more.

Hot date was right. She knew how hot Gabe Raines was, and unless she came to her senses, she was going to get another sample tonight.

Mattie’s heart kicked up as she applied lip liner then a light pink shade of lipstick. Yesterday afternoon, after she had left the Zigman Gallery, she had joined Gabe at his pet project, the Egyptian Theater.

“This place means a lot to me,” he had said as he gave her his personal tour of the majestic old 1920’s theater. “I’ve been working on it for nearly a year. Everyone in the community has pitched in at one time or another to help bring it back. I don’t want anything to happen to it.”

“I noticed the security guard.”

“There’s one on the job twenty-four-seven.”

From the theater they returned to the area close to the deli where Angel had been attacked. Going door to door, they showed Angel’s photo to everyone they talked to and asked if anyone had noticed him in the neighborhood.

An elderly lady remembered seeing him near the park when she was walking her dog. “I recall he was talking to a couple of young men about his age, but I don’t remember anything else about them.”

Aside from the cook and the elderly woman, no one remembered seeing Angel. All in all, the afternoon had been a total bust, and Mattie’s Friday night date with Aaron hadn’t gone much better.

From the moment he wheeled himself over to the table where Mattie sat waiting at Taj, he seemed edgy, even a little hostile.

“I’m surprised you didn’t cancel. Seems like lately you’ve got better things to do than spend time with your friends.”

Hurt rolled through her. And guilt. “I’ve just been busy, that’s all. You know how it is, Aaron.”

His mouth thinned. “You’re seeing that guy you met at Club Rio, aren’t you?”

“Not…not the way you mean.” The way he meant was sleeping with him, which was exactly what she had done.

“So what’s his name?”

She didn’t want to tell him. Telling Aaron would be acknowledging that she and Gabe had some sort of relationship, as uncertain as it was. But Aaron was her friend.

“His name is Gabriel Raines.” Briefly she explained about the fires and how the assault on Angel might be related to the fact the boy was asking questions, hoping to find information on the arsonist who had started them.

“Gabe and I are working together, trying to find out who set the fires and assaulted the Ramirez boy.”

Some of Aaron’s anger deflated. “I’m sorry, Mattie. That wasn’t fair. I just…I worry about you. I don’t want some guy taking advantage.”

She almost laughed. “I’m a grown woman, Aaron. I can take care of myself.”

But now, as she finished getting dressed for supper tonight at Gabe’s, she caught the faint trembling of her hand and flush in her cheeks that had nothing to do with makeup. She wondered if Aaron might not be right.

She was in over her head with Gabriel Raines. Gabe was the kind of man who took charge, made a woman feel safe and protected. He made her feel as if she could let down her guard and trust him when it was exactly the wrong thing to do.

Mattie had learned a long time ago the only person she could trust to take care of her was herself. If she went to bed with Gabe, she would only become more vulnerable, more susceptible to all that muscle and macho appeal.

She couldn’t afford to let that happen.

She decided to call him and reached for her cell phone next to Tigger on the counter. His tall swished just then, knocking the phone to the floor. By the time she picked it up, the urge to cancel had passed.

It was only supper, she reasoned. She had promised Gabe he could cook for her. It wouldn’t be right to cancel at the last minute.

Mattie took a steadying breath. With a last check in the mirror, she grabbed her purse and headed for the door. She was taking her own car. She could leave whenever she wanted.

She was just afraid that leaving would be the last thing on her mind.

Sixteen

The condo smelled like garlic and tomatoes. The kitchen was a little bit steamy, the lasagna almost ready. The doorbell rang and Gabe went to welcome his guest, his pulse speeding up at the thought of her arrival.

He stepped back as he opened the door, stood for a moment just staring. In a white flowered sundress with a short narrow skirt, she looked fantastic. But then she always did.

The bad news was she was wearing her beautiful, fiery hair pulled back severely at the nape of her neck, sending him a very clear message. She wasn’t there for sex.

Gabe inwardly smiled.

She might not think she was going to spend the night in his bed, but Gabe had no doubt that was exactly where they would end up.

“Welcome to my humble abode.”

Her gaze ran over him. “Said the spider to the fly.”

Gabe laughed. “Come on in.”

Her eyes met his as she walked past him into the condo, a tiny pulse beating at the base of her throat. His body stirred. Gabe bent down and very lightly kissed her, then ended the kiss before she had time to back away.

“What are you drinking? Red? White? Something stronger?”

“A glass of white wine would be perfect.”

He led her into the kitchen and reached up for a wineglass, still tasting her on his lips. His groin swelled, pressed against the fly of the black jeans he was wearing with a crisp white shirt. He poured her the wine and carried it over to where she stood in front of the island in the middle of his kitchen.

Mattie took a drink. “Something smells good. What are we having?”

Each other, he wanted to say, but refrained. “Vegetable lasagna. I know you aren’t crazy about meat.”

“Sounds great.” She took another sip of her wine, obviously a little nervous, and glanced at the table, which was set with a white linen cloth, white dishes, wineglasses and a bright yellow spring bouquet he had bought at the market.

“Table looks pretty.”

“Thanks.” He tossed the last of the freshly washed lettuce into a bowl, diced up a tomato and threw it in. “How was your date last night?”

She glanced up. “I told you it wasn’t a date. Aaron is just a friend.”

“Must be a pretty good friend to take up your Friday evening.”

“We’ve known each other since I started working at the firm.”

“And?”

She shrugged. “And he’s very protective. He’s worried I’ll get in deeper with you than I can handle.”

“So you told him about me?”

“I told him we were working together to find the man who is setting your buildings on fire.”

“I guess you didn’t mention the hot sex we had after we left Club Rio.”

Her cheeks turned pink. “That was an anomaly.”

“Was it?” He set his wineglass down and moved toward her, took the glass from her hand and set it on the granite countertop. She stiffened as he drew her into his arms, bent his head and kissed her. Then her lips softened under his and for a moment she kissed him back. He could smell her floral perfume, feel the fullness of her breasts pressing into his chest. She tasted like wine and woman, and he breathed her in, wanting her, aching to be inside her.

Mattie pulled away, embarrassed she had given him a glimpse of her desire. “I knew I shouldn’t have come,” she said, taking several steps back from him.

Gabe reached over and pushed the Off button on the oven, then started forward, stalking her. There was no way they would make it through dinner. Not until this was settled between them.

He dragged her back into his arms and kissed her, more thoroughly this time, urging her to open for him. He felt her hands on his chest, trying to push him away, but her lips clung to his and he could feel the wild pounding of her heart.

“You want this, Mattie.” He kissed her again, running his tongue over her lush bottom lip, coaxing, tasting, and felt her tremble. Her body softened, began to yield and her arms slid up around his neck. She was kissing him back, her tongue sliding into his mouth, tangling erotically with his.

His pulse hammered. Need pounded through him, intense and demanding. He kissed her one way and then another, kissed her until both of them were breathing hard and Mattie was squirming against him. Reaching down, he caught the hem of her white flowered skirt and hauled it up around her waist. He cupped that luscious ass and lifted her against his erection, heard her soft moan.

It was déjà vu.

Skimpy thong panties and firm twin globes that perfectly filled his hands.

Mattie shifted, pressing herself more fully against his erection. They weren’t in a storage room now and he wanted her just this way. Wrapping her legs around his waist, he shifted her panties aside, found her softness and began to stroke her.

God, she was wet. Mattie whimpered and Gabe groaned. Moments later, he was sheathed in the condom he carried in the back pocket of his jeans and buried deep inside her. Backing her up against the wall, he took her the way he had wanted to that night at the club. Took her and took her and still couldn’t get his fill.

Mattie moaned and clung to him, kissing him wildly as he drove himself inside her. Jesus, it was heaven.

He plunged into her, driving deeper, taking her faster, harder. She was so hot and tight. He could feel her pulsing around him, feel the tension in her body, and knew she was ready to come.

“It’s all right, baby,” he softly encouraged. “Just let yourself go.”

With a cry of surrender, she did, clinging to his neck as she moaned his name, her slickness clenching around his shaft, her head back against the wall.

Gabe came in a rush, exploding inside her, his entire body screaming in release. Christ, sex had never felt so damned good.

They rode the crest together then started spiraling back to earth, but Gabe didn’t let her go, just carried her into the bedroom, her legs still wrapped around his waist, her head against his shoulder.

The oven was off. The lasagna could wait.

He had something he wanted a whole lot more than food.

Mattie roused herself from the euphoria she was feeling and slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she realized was that she lay on her side and she no longer wore her flowered sundress or anything at all. She should have been chilled by the air-conditioning but Gabe’s warmth wrapped around her spoon-fashion, cocooning her from behind.

She felt a gentle tug as he pulled the last of the pins from her no-longer-neat chignon and set them on the bedside table. He ran his fingers through the heavy auburn curls, setting them free.

“I love your hair,” he said, brushing a soft kiss on her shoulder.

Dusk was setting in but there was still enough light in the room to see. Mattie rolled onto her back and looked up at him. The muscles in his arms bulged where he propped himself on an elbow. His chest was wide and heavily muscled, and just looking at all that hard male flesh made her mouth water. Gabe leaned down and very softly kissed her. He didn’t push for more and she was amazed to feel faintly disappointed.

She ran a finger along his solid jaw. “You know, I should be mad at you. I said no and you didn’t stop. Modern women are supposed to be able to say no to a man and he’s supposed to obey her wishes.”

“Modern women are supposed to mean what they say.” He eased her back onto her side, nuzzled the side of her neck, nibbled her earlobe, and she trembled. She was nestled against his groin and she could feel his erection, as hard and hot as before.

Her breathing quickened. “How do you know I didn’t mean it?”

“Part of you did. The part that pulls your hair into a bun and picks men who don’t know how to satisfy you. The rest of you wanted me as much as I wanted you.”

A big hand skimmed down and cupped a naked breast. His thumb grazed her nipple and it tightened almost painfully.

“I want you, Mattie. Once wasn’t nearly enough. I can think of a dozen different ways I’d like to have you.”

Her stomach quivered as he eased one of her legs up over his hip and she felt his hardness at the entrance to her passage. His erection slid deeply inside and pleasure washed through her, deep and intense. For a moment, he didn’t move, allowing her to adjust to his heavy length, his breath warm against the skin behind her ear. Then his arm slid beneath her waist and he lifted and turned her until she was on her knees. Still inside her, he settled himself against her bottom.

“Let’s see if you like it this way.” He moved a little, just enough to stir the heat pouring through her. “Oh, God.”

He chuckled, eased himself more deeply inside. “I guess I’ve got my answer.”

Mattie gasped as he began to move, in and out, taking his time, making her so hot she thought she might faint.

Driving deeper, quickening the pace, he carried her higher and higher. One of his hands found her softness and Mattie cried out at the pleasure. Her body began to tighten, gripping her insides so fiercely she trembled.

Her climax came swift and hard, but Gabe didn’t stop, just drove into her until she reached a second, sizzling release. “Dear God,” she whispered.

He followed a few seconds later, his muscles taut, a low groan escaping from deep in his throat.

Exhausted, her muscles gave way and both of them tumbled onto the bed then rolled onto their sides. Gabe was breathing hard and so was she. Vaguely she wondered how she could be twenty-nine years old and never have known this kind of pleasure.

Never even realized it actually existed.

As the world slowly righted itself, she heard Gabe’s soft curse and realized he was sitting on the side of the bed, removing the condom he was wearing.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

“Bad news, honey. The damn thing broke.”

Her insides clenched. Nausea swirled in the pit of her stomach and her head spun, making her feel slightly dizzy. The past rushed in. She was pregnant and frightened. Mark blamed her for what had happened. He was angry. Then he was simply gone.

“Oh, God.” Sitting up in bed, she pulled the sheet up over her, suddenly self-conscious.

Gabe skirted the bed, sat down on the mattress beside her and pulled her into his arms. “It’s all right. Odds are we’ll be fine. It’s only happened this once.”