Moving Target (15 page)

Ani snuggled closer. Bruises spotted her left side from her face to her shoulder and arm to her hip. He brushed his hand gently along the curve of her waist to the large purple bruise on her hip.

The feelings of pleasure slipped away as the bruises reminded him of what had happened to her.

Trying to get his anger under control, Daniel took a deep breath. It was nearly impossible to calm the fiery rage that nearly consumed him at the thought of those Russian bastards who'd been trying to kill her. He'd almost lost her too many times.

Everything seemed to crystallize for him in that moment. Even after the trial, when Ani returned to WITSEC, he intended to keep her in his life.

But, shit. She'd be under the jurisdiction of another Inspector. Ethically, he couldn't continue to serve in that capacity. Hell, ethically he shouldn't be in bed with her right now.

Fuck
.

Frustration stabbed at his mind over and over like an ice pick through his skull. But he tried to keep his expression neutral as Ani snuggled closer.

He had to get another Deputy Marshal assigned to her now. But he wanted,
needed
, to be there for her. He couldn't give up control of her fate to anyone else, no matter how qualified any other Deputy Marshal on this case was.

Daniel closed his eyes. An image seared his mind. Judge Moore with blood pouring from her chest as she lay crumpled behind the judges' bench.

He opened his eyes and forced the image of the dead judge away, but the determination to not lose another person under his care was stronger than ever.

The initial question rounded on him again. What about after the trial?

He'd find a way to make it work between them. He'd make it happen.

If she wasn't too pissed to even speak to him once she found out what he'd been holding back.

A stronger feeling of guilt twisted like a knife in his gut. From the beginning, he'd believed she needed to know the truth about her sister, but his hands had been tied. He would tell Ani, but legally he couldn't until after the trial. She'd signed the contract before going into WITSEC, leaving him with no choices.

Ani brought him back to the present as she ran one fingernail down the center of his chest, moving lower and lower until she neared his cock.

He groaned and placed his hand over hers, catching her fingers before they touched his growing erection. "You're playing with fire, honey."

She gave him the cutest grin that made him smile in response. "Good ride, cowboy. Too bad we don't have any condoms or I'd climb on for another go-around."

This time Daniel's groan was louder. "Woman, are you trying to drive me crazy on purpose?"

This time her grin was wicked. "Is it working?"

"Hell, yes." He took her mouth in a hard kiss. He released her hand and cupped her pussy before slipping one of his fingers into her wet folds.

Ani gasped and moved against his hand as he slowly slid his finger in and out of her slit. She wrapped her hand around his cock and started gently pumping it in her fist at the same time he stroked her clit. She licked her lips and he dove down for another kiss.

This past year he'd had sex with a couple of women, but no one had satisfied him physically or mentally. Come to think of it, none of his past relationships truly had. He'd never had the feelings for any woman that Ani stirred within him.

Once he started talking with Ani regularly she'd been the one on his mind, no matter how much he'd tried to deny it. Ani's sensual voice, soft laughter, and everything else about her had made him want her. Only her.

And despite the situation they were in, she was his. Only his.

Ani increased the pace of her hand on his cock and he rubbed her clit harder as they continued to kiss, their hands, mouths, and bodies moving more frantically as they each neared orgasm. Daniel knew she was close by the way her body quivered against his hand. She made soft moans that became louder as he circled her clit with his finger and stroked her faster.

She cried into his mouth as her body shook. She faltered in her strokes on his cock, but resumed her pace.

It was hard as hell, but he withdrew his fingers from her folds and took her hand from his cock. "Let's save this for later."

He needed to conserve his strength for all the time he intended to keep her in bed.

What the hell am I thinking?

She looked up at him. "Are you sure?"

"No." He brought his fingers to his mouth and licked her juices from them. "For now I'll just have to take a real cold shower. Later I'll get some condoms."

"Make sure you get a big box," she murmured before she kissed him. A knock at the door startled them both and they drew apart. "Who could that be?" she asked.

"Probably one of the Deputies returning with the clothing and personal items I asked for," he said as he slipped out from Ani's embrace. She made a sated sound of disappointment as he eased from the bed. "You need to get up, honey. We can't get caught like this."

She sat up in a hurry. "I need something to put on."

"Here." He scooped up a towel from the floor and tossed it to her. "Get in the bathroom."

A knock came at the door again and Daniel called out, "Hold on."

As Ani slipped into the bathroom and shut the door behind her, he grabbed his torn and bloodied jeans and jerked them on again, then yanked on the shirt he'd been wearing under the vest.

He picked up his Glock from the nightstand beside his bed and eased toward the door. He was expecting one of the Deputies, but he wasn't taking any chances. He prayed like hell that the Deputy who brought the items wouldn't catch the scent of sex in the room or on him.

Daniel peeked through the peephole. Good, it was McNeal again. He was holding several plastic bags from clothing stores. In the hallway, guarding their hotel room door, were two other Deputy Marshals whom Daniel was familiar with.

Still cautious, Daniel opened the door, keeping his Glock in his hand. "Thanks, McNeal," he said. "Just toss them on the floor and I'll take care of them."

McNeal set the packages down. "This and lunch is going to cost you more than one drink." The extremely fit man, who was Daniel's height, looked up and down Daniel's form when they were face-to-face again. "You look like shit."

"Feel like it, too." Daniel started to close the door when McNeal said, "Need someone to relieve you?"

Daniel paused for a moment. "I do need to make a run, so I'd like someone in here with her as well as the guard in the hall. I'll call after I shower."

"Will do, buddy." McNeal slapped Daniel on the shoulder, before turning and heading toward the elevators.

Daniel nodded to the other Deputies before he shut and locked the door and looked at all the packages. Apparently someone had outdone themselves while shopping.

The sound of the shower caught his attention and he stepped over one of the bags and headed to the bathroom. The door wasn't locked, so he let himself into the steam-filled room. After he peeled off his clothing, he pushed aside the shower curtain and climbed into the shower with Ani. Good thing they didn't have to worry about stitches getting wet since they had liquid bandages.

She was rubbing a soapy washcloth over her body and she smiled when he joined her. Water hit him full in the face as he leaned down to kiss her. She gave a soft little whimper and he growled against her lips, clasped his hands around her waist, and drew her up tight against him.

She stilled, and immediately he knew why. His fingers were touching the bumpy, twisted flesh of her burn scars.

He wasn't about to let her pull away from him or let her think that her scars mattered one bit. He kissed her harder, held her tighter.

Water pounded down on both of them as she gradually relaxed against him and accepted him as he deepened the kiss.

When he finally raised his head, he smiled, took the soapy washcloth from her, and began rubbing her body with it. He was careful to avoid her bruises and cuts as he gently cleansed her.

"How do you feel?" she asked. "That egg on your head has got to ache. And your butt—that must have hurt like crazy when we, when we . . ."

He smiled. "Being with you makes everything else go away."

Ani returned his smile and let him continue to soap her body.

She felt so good beneath his hands and he found it hard to find any words to speak. Right now he'd like to turn her around, brace her hands against the porcelain shower wall, and drive his cock into her slick core. The fact that they still didn't have any condoms shot that idea down in a hurry.

He tried to turn her around just to wash her back, but she shook her head and braced her hands on his biceps as she looked up at him. "I'll wash my own back, okay?"

Daniel had a hard time smiling. He didn't want anything to be between them. "We have clothes now." He forced his thoughts to washing her shoulders, leaving a trail of suds wherever he touched her. "Hopefully some toothpaste and a few other goodies."

"Wonderful." She moaned as he soaped the wash-cloth and began working on her breasts and belly. "I hope they didn't forget the underwear."

He grinned, remembering that first day when she'd forgotten her underwear at the hotel in Tucson. His grin faded at the thought of all they'd been through. It seemed like it was weeks ago that they were in Tucson instead of a couple of days.

"I can't believe I didn't think about a condom," Daniel said, grumbling under his breath. "I lost my mind with you."

"It's okay." She smiled. "No regrets, right?"

"Not one." He pushed her wet hair from her face. "I just worry about you getting pregnant. It could still have happened, even though I pulled out."

She caught his hands in hers. "I know. Let's just worry about one thing at a time." She gave a wry smile. "Like living through the next few days."

He sobered. "I'll protect you, honey. With everything I have."

Ani reached up and brushed her lips over his. "I know you will."

He took her in his arms, pressed her head against his chest and simply held her as the water pounded down on them.

After they climbed out of the shower, Daniel noticed Ani made sure he didn't see her back by wrapping a towel around herself. He wished she hadn't. He wanted to see all of her.

She headed straight out of the bathroom for the bags of clothing and essentials. Instead of getting to see her naked again, he settled for watching her go through the bags. She dumped everything out then began to hang shirts, jeans, and other clothes in the closet. He pitched in and helped her.

She bent over to draw more clothing from the pile and the towel barely stayed on over her breasts. His mouth watered at the sight of her cleavage.

"Wow, even a couple of suits." She held up a black two-piece woman's outfit. "For the trial, right?"

"Guess so." He leaned over beside her and picked up a white button-up shirt, a pair of men's black dress trousers, and a matching blazer. "Looks like they expect me to appear civilized."

Ani gave him a sexy little grin that turned his heart inside out. "I rather like you uncivilized."

He leaned closer and kissed her. "I intend to be as uncivilized as possible when I'm alone with you."

"Good," she said softly, before standing and hanging up her suit. She had to tug her towel firmly around herself again to keep it from falling.

Come on, baby, let it drop
.

After they'd sorted everything out, he was pleased to see a pair of toothbrushes among other things. All that was missing was a box of condoms.

Like Ani said, a big box
.

He'd have to remedy that with a trip to a pharmacy.

A great little Korean bakery was just down the street from the hotel, several doors before the pharmacy. He'd just make a run to purchase sweet red bean and white bean buns and other bakery items and hit the pharmacy, too.

Ani selected a pair of blue jeans and a blue blouse, along with panties and a bra. Facing him, she dropped the towel and started dressing. She gave him a sultry smile, watching him as she dressed, knowing exactly what she was doing to him.

His cock ached so badly. If he had a condom he'd take her right now.

Daniel's mouth watered at the sight of the curls of her mound and her hard nipples that were covered all too quickly to suit him when she yanked on her underwear.

"How'd they know my size?" she said as she slid into the jeans.

His mind had stalled and he had to snap his attention from her breasts to her face. She wore an amused expression.

"A little detective work," he mumbled as he headed for the bathroom. "I need a drink of water."

Once he was standing in front of the sink, he braced his hands on the countertop and looked in the mirror. "Get a grip, Parker," he growled at himself. He couldn't protect her if his mind was always on being inside her sweet body.

He clenched his hands and ground his teeth before running the tap and grabbing one of the covered glasses on the countertop. He filled it to the brim and drank three glasses straight before he had calmed down enough to go back into the bedroom and dress.

He didn't say anything as he jerked his clothes on. The jeans were a little snug, especially the way his cock was straining against the zipper. Just being around Ani alone gave him a hard-on. Nothing like being in constant pain.

After he'd put on his belt with his gun and other equipment, he pulled on an overshirt then called Mc-Neal on his cell.

"Come on up."

"Be right there," McNeal said before punching off.

"I'm heading out for quick run," he said to Ani as he raked his fingers through his damp hair.

"It's been so long since I've been in the city." She glanced toward the window that was shaded by gauzy curtains before her gaze returned to his. "I've really missed it."

Despite herself, she felt the backs of her eyes sting. "This was my city. I loved everything about this place, and I've been forced to stay away from it for over
two years
," she said, as Daniel moved closer. She reached up and gripped his T-shirt in both hands, her eyes moist and her throat hurting. "I want to feel it. Taste it. Experience it."