Cut and Run (19 page)

No matter what Scott was hiding or who he was hiding from, she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. He’d risked his own life to save hers and those of the children in her care.

Gathering all her courage, Phoebe knocked at the apartment door. She heard somebody move inside, then a low curse. Her gaze drifted to the peephole in the door. She didn’t need to have x-ray vision to see that Scott had spotted her.

“Scott, I know you’re there.”

A few more seconds passed, then the door was finally opened. Scott appeared in the frame, opening it only wide enough for himself, so she wouldn’t be able to squeeze past him to slip inside.

“The reporter,” he said by way of greeting. “How did you find me?”

For a moment, Phoebe was speechless, not because of his question, but because her eyes were busy ogling him. Scott wasn’t wearing a shirt. His chest was bare, hairless, and sculpted. He didn’t look like a bodybuilder, but like a very fit man who was no stranger to a gym. His biceps were defined, his pectorals strong, and his stomach sported a six-pack. In the center of it, a thin line of dark hair grew thicker and disappeared into his shorts. She tried to moisten her dry throat by swallowing.

“You done looking?”

Embarrassment sweeping through her, she lifted her eyes to his face. “Uh…”

“Then maybe now you can answer my question. How did you find me?”

“Your license plate.”

Scott raised an eyebrow. “As we both know, that wouldn’t have led you to this address.”

“Which made things a little harder, but I got lucky.”

“Lucky?” He narrowed his eyes. “The jury is still out on that.”

Phoebe shifted uncomfortably. “Listen, I just wanted to talk to you about—”

“How did you find me?”

Clearly, he wouldn’t talk to her until she’d answered his question. Phoebe sighed. “Fine. If you insist. I saw an emblem on your overalls under your jacket. I figured you work in a repair shop of some sort, so I looked for all businesses called Al’s, and found out where you worked. I spoke to Al and asked him where I could find you.”

His jaw tightened. “I’m gonna have to have a serious word with Al.”

Phoebe reached her hand out and touched his forearm. “Please don’t be angry at him. I buttered him up so he’d give me your address.”

“No doubt.” He pointedly looked at her hand that still lay on his arm. “That approach isn’t going to work on me.”

She pulled her hand back. “Please, I just want to talk to you about what happened this afternoon.”

“I don’t talk to reporters.” He took a step back and made an attempt to close the door.

“Please, Scott. Let me come in. We can talk. Off the record.”

He let out a bitter laugh. “Nothing is ever off the record with a reporter.”

“I’m sorry if you had a bad experience with reporters, but I’m not like that. You risked your life for me today, even when I told you to save yourself. My readers want to know why you did it. Everybody wants to read about a hero.”

“A hero? I’m no hero,” Scott scoffed. “It doesn’t matter why I did it. Now leave.”

“No!” She slammed her hand against the door, opening it wider again. “I won’t leave until we’ve talked. There’s so much that needs explaining. How you got there in time. How you knew what to do.” And why he’d had a wrench with him. After all, what mechanic carried a wrench with him just on the off chance he’d need it to smash in a glass door?

“You don’t get it, do you? There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Please, let me come in.”

He suddenly took a step toward her, his face only inches from hers. “I’m not interested in talking. There are only two things I want right now—a beer and sex. And I already have the beer. So, unless you want to provide the sex, I’d suggest you leave now.”

Her breath caught in her chest. Had he just propositioned her? Her heart started to thunder. Her pulse raced and blood rushed through her body, spreading heat into every cell of her being.

“Leave,” he ordered.

Phoebe found herself shaking her head, her hand pushing against the door, opening it wider. She walked past him and entered the apartment before looking over her shoulder, where Scott still stood in the door, frozen and staring at her in disbelief.

“You don’t expect me to have sex with you out in the hallway, do you?” she asked. “Are you gonna close the door or were you planning on having your neighbors watch us?” If he could bluff, so could she.

Scott let the door fall shut behind him then flipped the deadbolt. With two steps he stood opposite her. “You have no idea what you’re getting into.”

Was he warning her? She had no time to contemplate his words, because in the next instant he pulled her to him, one hand encircling her waist, the other cupping her nape. His mouth descended on hers. Hot and firm, his lips pressed against hers, immobilizing her.

Phoebe realized then that Scott wasn’t bluffing. He really was planning on taking her to bed. And there was one other thing she realized simultaneously: she wanted to go to bed with him.

~ ~ ~

Scott felt Phoebe’s lips yield to him, her body molding to his and her arms coming around his back to pull him closer to her. Her soft palms caressed his naked back, and a shiver raced through him. He slanted his mouth and swiped his tongue over the seam of her lips. Phoebe parted them instantly, inviting him to explore her delicious mouth. Greedily, he swept inside, his tongue stroking against hers, his lips sliding against hers. There was nothing tentative about this kiss, no hesitation, no holding back. Phoebe was kissing him with a passion and wildness he’d rarely seen in a woman.

Fuck! This wasn’t what he’d expected to happen. He’d been certain that Phoebe would flee, shocked by his outrageous proposition. After all, they were strangers, and all she wanted was a story for her newspaper. She’d said so herself. And she was asking all the right questions, questions he had no intention of answering.

But if all she wanted was a story, why was she now allowing him to kiss her? Would she stop him when he got down to business, when he was at a point where he couldn’t stop anymore and had to have her? Would she then insist on him telling her his story before she would go to bed with him?

No, he couldn’t allow her to use him like that.

Scott ripped his lips from hers. “You’d better go now, before we both do something we’ll regret.”

With lust-filled eyes she stared at him, her lips plump and red, her mouth slightly parted. “I won’t regret it.”

Scott shook his head. “If you think by sleeping with me I’m gonna give you anything for your story, you’re wrong.” He pulled away from her, but she gripped his upper arms.

“This is not about the story.”

He tilted his head toward the door. “It was, a moment ago.”

“I know. But sometimes things change.”

“Not even you believe that.” And as much as Scott wanted to believe it, he wasn’t naïve enough to believe anything a reporter said. Even if that reporter was the hottest woman he’d ever touched.

“All I know is that today I would have died had it not been for you. Believe what you want. Whether I do this for the story, or because I want to thank you for saving my life, or just because I want to feel a man’s body, what does it matter to you?”

Scott clenched his jaw and jerked her to him, her pelvis slamming against his groin. “It matters. Everything matters.” He cupped the back of her head and brought her face to his. “So tell me the truth now. Why would you want to sleep with me? I could be a serial rapist for all you know.”

Phoebe trembled, and her lids lowered by a fraction as if she couldn’t look at him. Her cheeks flushed and a rose blush spread over her entire face. She looked almost innocent now.

“I want to feel a man’s body.” She took a deep breath. “No.” She shook her head. “No, not just any man’s. I want to feel
your
body.” When she lifted her lids to look straight at him, the desire in her eyes was unmistakable.

“Uh, damn it, Phoebe!” Scott cursed. Had she said anything else, he would have tossed her out on her ass. But her confession that she wanted him made him weak. Too weak to resist her. And despite the knowledge that he was getting into something he couldn’t control, he couldn’t stop his next words.

“I won’t stop until I’m done. You understand that? Once I kiss you again, you’re not going to leave my bed until we’re both thoroughly satisfied. Last chance to leave. I won’t stop you if you leave now.”

“Scott?”

“Hmm?”

“Where’s your bedroom?”

He twisted his lips into a half smile. “You keep saying stuff like that, it’s gonna get you into trouble one day.”

“But not tonight.”

“No, not tonight.” Scott brushed his lips against hers. “Tonight all you get is pleasure.”

9

Scott laid Phoebe on his bed and slipped the sandals off her feet before he joined her. He wasn’t going to rush this, despite the fact that his cock had already pumped full of blood and was rock hard just from kissing her.

Her dark hair fanned out on the pillow, rendering her face more innocent than she was. After all, no reporter could be innocent, but for the next hour he would forget about what she was and concentrate on only the woman in her, not the reporter who was looking for answers.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, and captured her lips before she could say anything in response.

Bracing himself halfway over her, he kissed her passionately, while he pulled her shirt from her slacks and opened the buttons to get to the prize below. With every button he slipped from its hole, he exposed more of her creamy flesh to his touch. With it, his body heated even more and he was grateful he only wore shorts and nothing else.

Phoebe responded to his kiss as if she’d not kissed a man in a long time, with a hunger that he welcomed and a skill he appreciated even more. He wasn’t kissing an inexperienced woman but one who knew what she wanted and how to get it. Making love to her would be a special treat.

Finally he’d opened all the buttons of her shirt and peeled the fabric back. She wore a thin bra which didn’t impede him from feeling the lush fruit beneath, almost as if she were already naked. He slid his hand over one breast and gave it a tentative squeeze. Her flesh was firm and soft at the same time. Perfect. Just how he liked it. Beneath his fingers, her nipple hardened, and a moan issued from her lips.

How he loved a responsive woman.

Scott released her lips amid a disappointed mewl coming from Phoebe, and dropped his head to her breast. He pushed the bra aside enough so her nipple popped free. A moment later, he licked over the rosy bud and took his first taste. Underneath his mouth, Phoebe trembled and released another moan.

“Yes,” she murmured in encouragement.

He hummed his approval against her nipple and sucked it into his mouth while he squeezed her flesh in his palm. He loved the heavy feel as her breast filled his hand, almost spilling over. Despite her slim waist, Phoebe had curves. Her breasts were full and lush, and her hips were cushioned just enough to welcome a man when he thrust into her body. But he was getting ahead of himself. Before he plunged into her, he wanted to thoroughly explore her body and pleasure her until she was begging him to take her.

He’d always loved that, driving a woman so far that she was mad with lust and need and could only think of one thing: to have him inside her. And with Phoebe he wanted it even more. No, not just wanted. He needed her to beg him to take her. And he needed her to scream his name when she came. So he’d know she was truly alive. Because now that she was in his bed, he felt a shudder travel through his body at the thought that she could have died in that collision today. A few seconds later, and it would have been too late for her. A few seconds later, and he would have had to abandon her and save his own skin.

That thought made him lick her breast harder. When he felt her hand slip to his nape and caress him there, he groaned from the intense pleasure of her touch. He knew once she touched more intimate parts of his body, he would erupt in flames. Maybe he’d gone without sex for too long. Or maybe he sensed everything so intensely tonight because of what had happened earlier in the day. Because of the danger they’d been in.

Wanting more of her, Scott let go of her breast for a moment and freed her of her shirt and bra, tossing the garments to the floor. Her ample flesh spilled into his waiting hands. He shifted on the bed. Phoebe understood and spread her legs so he could move into the space and bury his face in her breasts, alternately licking one and then the other peak.

He loved her softness and the openness with which she greeted each of his caresses, whether he was tender or demanding, passionate or gentle with her. No matter what he did, her sounds of pleasure bounced against the walls of his bare bedroom, while her hips ground against him in an unmistakable fashion.

Keeping his lips wrapped around her nipple, Scott slid one hand down her torso until he reached the top of her light linen pants. Phoebe’s breath hitched, and he slowed his descent. Her pelvis arched into his palm, and he moved lower until his hand cupped her sex. Warmth emanated through the fabric.

“Yes.” She hissed out the word in a desperate plea for more.

He lifted his head for a short moment. “Patience, baby.”

Then he was kissing her breasts again, sucking her hard nipples, while his hand moved to the button of her slacks and opened them. The zipper followed. He felt her chest rise and fall with a sigh of relief.

“You want me?” he murmured, his hand resting on her stomach now, his fingers brushing up against her panties.

“Yes, please, Scott, touch me.”

He pushed his fingertips beneath her panties, then slowly moved south, through the nest of coarse hair. Lower still. Phoebe lifted her pelvis, silently asking for more. Gently he complied and bathed his fingers in her wet heat, caressing the aroused flesh with unhurried movements.

Scott lifted his head from her breast and looked up at her, then shifted to bring his lips to hers. “Like that?”

“Perfect.”

He felt a smile curve his lips. If Phoebe thought this simple touch was perfect, she hadn’t experienced anything yet that he could give her. He brought his lips over hers and kissed her, while farther below he extended one finger and carefully drove into her. In response, she bucked against him.