Ryan had always been pleasant, on the verge of charming. She couldn’t imagine him in an orange jumpsuit. “Now that I think back on it, a couple of times while I was at his house, a woman called—I could tell by the way Ryan was talking to her. Once I remember him saying he would meet her that afternoon at the Westin hotel at the Galleria.”
Jax started nodding. “That’s good. I’ll check it out, see if I can find something that links the two of them.”
Mindy watched the gentle glide of Jax’s hand over Muffin’s fur. Last night, the way he’d touched her, she’d felt like purring herself.
“We’re getting closer,” Jax said. “I can feel it.”
With a sigh, Mindy fell back against the sofa. “I don’t know...it’s an awful lot of ifs, I-don’t-knows and maybes.”
“You’re right. At the moment it’s all conjecture, but that’s the way an investigation works. You follow a lead till it solves the puzzle or comes to a solid dead end. My gut is telling me to follow this one.”
He glanced at the old-fashioned mahogany clock on the wall. “It’s getting late. Tomorrow while you’re at the office, I’ll take a ride out to the Westin, see what I can find out.” Setting Muffin aside, he stood up from the sofa.
Mindy stood up, too, her gaze going to the glass-fronted Bedford clock, the brass pendulum swinging back and forth with a soft ticktock she usually found comforting. It was bedtime. Or close enough.
When she looked over at Jax, she couldn’t mistake the hunger in his eyes. He wanted her. He no longer bothered to hide it.
Heat tugged low in her belly, spread all the way down to her toes. The more time she spent with him, the more she wanted him. But the deeper she got involved, the more difficult it would be when it was over.
On the other hand, she’d never felt as alive as Jax made her feel.
“You rather we stay here or spend the night at my place?” he asked.
He wouldn’t leave her. She never doubted it. He would protect her until the danger was over.
“I’d rather stay in my own home,” she said.
He walked over to the door and checked the locks, took a walk around the apartment checking windows, making sure there was no one outside. She looked up to see him walking toward her, looking like the hero in an action movie, muscled chest beneath his snug T-shirt, jeans riding low on his hips, a pistol in the holster clipped to his waistband.
His eyes were dark and smoky as they moved over her body then returned to her face. “You said you liked a man who takes charge.”
Her pulse kicked up. Soft heat slid into her core. “I—I meant in the bedroom.”
A corner of his mouth edged up. “Then I guess that’s where I’d better take you.”
She gasped as he swept her into his arms, lifted her against his chest and carried her down the hall. He wasn’t asking her to make some monumental decision. He was going to make the decision for her, going to make love to her and she was going to enjoy every moment.
Desire washed through her, hot as sin, sweet as honey. Jax carried her into her bedroom, closed and locked the door. Slowly, he released her, letting her body slide the length of his, letting her feel every muscle and sinew, letting her feel his arousal.
Unclipping his holster, he set the gun on the dresser, reached for her glasses and slipped them off her nose, set them next to the gun. His hands slid into her hair, tipping her head back. Mindy moaned as Jax leaned down and very thoroughly kissed her.
SHEWANTEDAman who would take the lead? Well, by God, he was going to do just that. Maddox’s words rang in his head. He was a SEAL. If he wanted something, he went after it. He had wanted Mindy Stewart for weeks. Months. He had only recently figured out it was more than her body he wanted.
Since he had to begin his campaign somewhere, sex was a good place to start. Jax kissed her until his pulse was pounding and Mindy was gasping for breath, then he paused long enough to strip off her jeans and panties.
He started kissing her again, lifted her as her arms slid up around his neck. He palmed her lush breasts, felt the tips grow hard in his hands.
“Wrap your legs around my waist,” he commanded, pressing hot kisses against the side of her neck. His hands slid down her body, over the naked curve of her bottom, cupping each globe to hold her in place as he backed her against the wall.
She looked at him, her big blue eyes cloudy with desire and excitement. She was wet and ready. Jax was more than ready as he buzzed down his zipper and freed himself, took care of protection and eased himself inside.
A soft sigh slipped from her throat, and her hold tightened around his neck. Her breasts were round and heavy, sexy as hell. He loved the feel of her body gloving him so sweetly, loved the way she gave herself so totally into his care. He drove into her, taking his pleasure, stroking her as he moved, determined to make it good for her, good for both of them.
What seemed like seconds later, she started coming, her body clamping around him so fiercely it was all he could do to hang on to his control. She was responsive to his every touch, every demand of his body. He had never been with a woman who aroused him more or suited him more perfectly.
She came again before he followed her to release, then he carried her over to the bed and stripped off the rest of her clothes.
A blush crept over her skin. “Oh my God, you’re still dressed. I didn’t even notice.”
