His eyes were filled with heat and lust spiked deep into her belly. She wanted this man, had done so for so many years she’d lost count. If it was for just one night then so be it. It wasn’t like she had much more to give anyway.
“I’m sure.”
“I need to know that you’re sober and sure, because I’m not doing this if you’re not. Neither of us is having regrets afterward.”
“Are you sure you want to sleep with me, considering the person I’ve become?” Self-doubt swamped Katie suddenly. What was she doing, even thinking about sex with this man? Her head was all over the place, her emotions a mess, and she was a drunk; he deserved more in a lover than that.
“I love the person you’ve become.” He pressed a kiss on her lips. “You’re brave, strong, and sexy as hell, and I want you very much. Everyone has problems, sweetheart, and you’ll get through them because you have support, and because you’re Katie McBride, kick-ass cop with a hard rep.”
She found a smile as the heart she thought had shriveled began to beat a little faster. “The drinking just kind of crept up on me, Cubby, and once I realized it was a problem I was too far gone to stop.”
“I’ll keep you busy tonight, so you don’t want to drink anymore.” His hand was moving slowly up her thigh, the heat from his big palm leaving a trail of fire behind as it went.
“Ha,” she managed, then, “I’m sorry you had to see me like this. I had these visions of coming home one day and showing you what you’d lost, and instead I came home a mess.”
“I like this mess.” He pushed her hair aside.
“Oh.”
“Is that all you have to say?” He started kissing her neck, moving down to her chest.
“Oh, that feels good,” she managed.
“I’m all about making you feel good, baby, so you just tell me what you like as we go, and I’ll make sure to keep mental notes.”
Lifting his head, he eased her shirt up her body and threw it to one side before moving to the valley between her breasts created by the bra. His touch was soft, but the sensation of his tongue and lips made her breasts tingle. Katie was panting when he lifted his head to kiss her. It was hot and filled with passion, and she met it head-on, eager to have what she only ever dreamed of.
“Bed,” he rasped, standing and picking her up as if she weighed nothing. No one had ever done that to her before, made her feel small and fragile like Cubby did right at that moment.
He slid her slowly down his body as he kissed her again. His hands moved to the waistband of her shorts, easing them down her thighs, before standing back to look at what he’d uncovered. Katie had never been ashamed of her body. She didn’t have the full curves that some had, but she kept in shape and her breasts weren’t too bad.
“I knew you had a killer body, but this….” He shook his head. “I could never have created you inside my head. Will you take off the rest for me, princess, let me see all of you?”
Katie nodded and then eased her panties down her legs before unhooking her bra and dropping it to the floor. His eyes ran slowly over her body, as if he were cataloging every inch, his gaze like a brand.
“Beautiful just doesn’t cut it, but I can’t think of anything else right now because the blood in my body has all gone south.”
“Do I get to look?” She reached for his t-shirt, pushing it up his body. He shrugged it over his head. Every inch of his chest was muscled, every plane taut. She wanted to lie along the length of him and feel his strength pressed against her, she wanted to kiss every inch of hot flesh. Her head was suddenly filled with Cubby and every other problem she had was miles away. There was only now, here on this houseboat.
He pulled his wallet out of his shorts and took out a condom, placing it on the bedside table. Her mouth went dry as he dropped his shorts and boxers. His thighs were big and strong, and sprinkled with hair, calves tapered, feet big like the rest of him.
“If you don’t stop looking I’m gonna disgrace myself before we begin, and I have plans for you.”
He wrapped an arm around her waist and suddenly, naked skin was pressed to naked skin.
“You feel so good, baby.”
Katie shivered as he ran his hands down her body.
He took her mouth again and she could only feel as he pulled her deeper under his spell. He kissed his way down her chest, then down the slope of one breast, licking his way around the nipple.
“Cubby,” she rasped.
“Yes, Cubby or no, Cubby?”
“Don’t stop, Cubby.”
His chuckle was low and dirty. Katie gripped his shoulders, feeling the muscles flex beneath her fingers as she arched into his mouth as he took her nipple. It was exquisite; never had she felt anything like it. He shuddered as she raked her nails gently over his shoulder, and she realized her touch affected him the same way. Skimming her hands down his sides as he laved and sucked her breasts until she was moaning, she reached the top of his buttocks and stroked her fingers over the hard, muscled curves.
