Under Fire Read Online Free PDF Page A

thigh toward the bulge in his jeans. “I want to touch you.”
    His hand handcuffed her wrist. “No touching. I’ll come.”
    His voice was hoarse and each one of his quick hot breaths seared her neck.
    “Ditto.”
    “What?”
    The muscles in his chest and arms tensed against her.
    “If you don’t stop—” she gasped in a breath, “—doing what you’re doing, I’m gonna come.”
    “Truce?” He shifted enough to allow her to turn and wrap her arms around him.
    “Truce? Are you…” She wanted to ask if he had changed his mind but couldn’t finish the thought. His scent, heat and weight against her stole her mind…and maybe her soul.
    Crap. She would let him take her right here if he wanted. She wrapped a leg around his. Rico pushed it down and stepped back.
    “We need to stop while I still can.” He grimaced and opened the Jeep door. “Get in.”
    As soon as he pushed the door closed, Olivia pitched the station newsletter and Coast Guard Magazine with her picture on the cover onto the back seat. He slid behind the wheel, started the engine and paused. He rested a warm hand on the nape of her neck, massaging lightly, his hot breath on her cheek.
    “You had a lot to drink tonight. I want you to be sure about this.”
    “I’m sure.” She nodded, surprised by his concern.
    Did he want to get out of this? She glanced at his crotch. Nope, it didn’t look like he wanted out.
    He wasn’t kidding, the condo was directly across from the bar. As Rico punched in the security code at the gate she read the sign next to the entry. Luxury Condominiums $950,000.00 and Up. He pulled her battered Jeep into a spot marked Penthouse Only.
    Could he be serious about the million in a bank account and the inches? She licked her lips and swallowed hard.
    He came to help her from the car. She slid off the seat into his arms, kissing and groping. She wanted to leave no doubt she was into this. Rico didn’t hesitate, returning the kiss and doing some groping of his own.
    “I don’t want—” he gulped a breath, “—to have sex with you in a parking lot. Can we cool it?”
    “Okay,” she said in a small voice.
    He wrapped an arm around her and guided her to the elevator. Riding up, Olivia’s nerves returned.
    “I don’t do this. I mean, go with someone I don’t know. I work a lot and…” She stopped and tried not to cringe as she realized how pathetic she must sound.
    Rico took her hand, laced his fingers between hers and squeezed. “If it makes it any easier, I don’t do normally do stuff like this either.”
    She looked at his reflection in the polished doors. He didn’t turn, but his eyes cut to her and the corner of his mouth turned up slightly. The chime announcing the floor broke the awkward silence and the elevator opened. Hand in hand they walked to his door.
    Inside, Olivia was drawn immediately to a wall of floor to ceiling windows facing the ocean. The clear night offered a spectacular view. She opened the sliding glass doors and stepped onto the balcony, a diversion to buy time and get control of a pulse thudding so hard she feared Rico would hear it. No matter what her head told her she wouldn’t listen. Not tonight. She missed the comfort being in a man’s arms brought and she missed sex. Behind her the sound of fabric brushing over Rico’s skin as he stripped off his shirt caused a quick intake of breath. Tonight she wanted, no, needed to be with this man.
    “It’s beautiful,” she sighed. “I never get tired of seeing the ocean at night, the way the phosphorus glows on the waves or the static lightning snakes across the sky.”
    He wrapped his arms around her and placed his hands on her stomach. She snuggled against his chest.
    “Do you want anything?” His lips rested lightly on her ear. “I have wine, whiskey, tequila …”
    Did she detect a smile in his voice?
    “Condoms are all I need.” The feel of his body chased away any misgivings.
    “Got plenty.”
    “Good.” She turned.