Part 10 (1/2)
She wanted to grind against him, wanted to feel his rock hard length more intimately, to h.e.l.l with whoever was watching. But she fought it, kept her physical wants in check. It had been too long since she'd had s.e.x. Her body's betrayal stemmed from lack of intimacy, she told herself. It had absolutely nothing to do with Hugh.
Nothing to do with his s.e.xy mouth taking hers like it was the last kiss he'd ever have.
His hands roamed possessively up her back, around to her sides, and grazed the outside swell of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. A moan escaped his lips, a turned-on gasp left hers. The kiss grew more fevered, more urgent. His hands continued to her thighs. The dress had crept up further and tingles hot and potent pulsed at the juncture there. Sweet sensations and antic.i.p.ation as to his next move overwhelmed her.
And then before she was ready-before she was willing-he pulled away.
He fixed her with appreciative eyes before a warm, closed mouth smile spread across his well-kissed lips.
Her breathing ragged, and the job done, she quickly regained her composure lest anyone see how the kiss had affected her. ”You look better.”
”I feel better.”
”Guess I'm a good dose of medicine.”
A gulp made its way down his throat. ”Nothing's more dangerous than a cure with curves.”
Not sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, she rose to her feet, making sure her dress was back in place. Then she willed herself to look away from the man who'd just made her feel more in two minutes than she had in twenty-eight years.
”I think it worked,” she called across the street to Dane. She was glad he hadn't been hovering while they kissed, even though it wouldn't have changed a thing.
”Looks like it,” he answered, crossing the road and nodding toward Hugh.
Tess turned to find him standing. He looked a hundred times better with only a hint of discomfort evident in his furrowed brows. He ran a hand through his hair.
”Thank you.”
”Don't mention it.” Ever again. She needed to forget that kiss. Forget how h.e.l.lishly good it felt. Now that she'd saved him, she had a job to do.
”You good to go?” Dane asked. ”No lightheadedness, nausea?”
She put her hands on her hips. ”You mean after all that sucking face, you still don't feel good?”
”No worries,” he answered, ”I feel good, but I'll feel even better in an hour or two.” His gaze took her in from head to toe before he moved his eyes to Dane. ”What did you find out?”
”Don't you want to send her on her way first?”
”I am standing right here. And I think I just proved that you don't have to worry about talking in front of me.” She spoke to Dane, afraid to look at Hugh after the perusal he just gave her. Was he looking at her that way because he wanted her with him in an hour or two? She s.h.i.+vered at the thought.
Dane ignored her, choosing to raise his eyebrows at Hugh.
”I'll leave when I'm ready,” she added, wanting to make a deal with Hugh before she went anywhere. The muscles in her back tensed and she blinked furiously. She didn't think it was possible, but the situation bloomed a weird sensation of wanting to belong inside her.
”And when will that be?” Dane asked in a boorish tone.
Hugh stepped by her side. ”That's enough, Dane.” His firm voice left no room for a retort.
She treated Dane to another one of her winning smiles while the rest of her body relaxed. Hugh's show of camaraderie drained the blood from Dane's face. The victory caused a flutter in her chest.
But then Hugh said, ”We had a deal.” And putting an arm around her, he steered her to the car door. ”It's time for you to go.”
”Oh come on,” she said, wiggling out of his grasp. ”I think that deal is null and void now. You owe me.”
He opened her door and nudged her toward the driver's seat before relaxing his arm over the window. ”What do you want?”
Tess shrugged and tried to ignore their close proximity. ”Just thought I'd throw out an arrangement that I think will benefit both of us.” She looked over his shoulder to Dane. ”I'd like it to be private, though,” she whispered, hoping Dane wasn't using his keen sense of hearing.
Hugh's eyes once again moved over her body in a far too possessive way before settling on her face. ”Are you propositioning me?”
”What? No! Well, not the way you're thinking.”
”How do you know what I'm thinking?”
She bit her bottom lip. ”I don't. But what I'm requesting is strictly professional, so quit thinking you're something special, Hugh Langston.”
A warm Santa Ana wind blew by them, carrying the scent of steak and fries from the bar. Her stomach growled.
Hugh clutched his chest. ”You wound me.”
”Yeah. I'm sure. So can we talk?”
”Hugh, I really-”
”Give me a minute, Dane.”
”I don't want him listening,” she said in a low voice.
Hugh gave her a wink before turning his head. ”Wait for me by my bike,” he said to Dane, nodding toward a couple of motorcycles parked across the street. ”And don't listen.”
Dane spun around and stomped across the street. He paced back and forth with his hands fisted at his sides.
Tess still spoke in a hushed tone. ”I'd like your help with something, and in exchange I thought I'd help you find Trey.”
”I don't need your help.”
”Oh really?” she raised her eyebrows to go along with her words. ”You needed my help five minutes ago. And now that I think about it, back at the warehouse too.”
”I don't want your help.”
”I don't want yours either. But sometimes it makes sense whether we like it or not. If you want, I won't call it help.”
His forehead creased and his eyes narrowed. ”This isn't a game, Tess. You've got no idea what you're getting into.” He paused a moment and bore his eyes into hers. ”I take that back. You've got some idea. But after what happened tonight, I'm not about to risk your life to help me find Trey. Your day job doesn't qualify you as a sidekick, as you put it. So get in your car and go home.”
Tess realized she'd approached this all wrong. She needed to make it seem like she needed him more than he needed her. She'd been searching for Jason's killer for five years on her own. Not even Kensie or Francesca knew what she'd been up to. The idea of having someone like Hugh in on her secret mission seemed like the right thing to do at the moment.
”I can't. The truth is I need your help, Hugh. I'm trying to find someone too, and I believe you're just the man to help me.”
”Is this a job you're working on?” He moved from behind the car door to lean his hip against the inside panel, placing him inside her personal s.p.a.ce.
Standing so close to him without support in the open doorway, she almost fell b.u.t.t first into the driver's seat. She still tasted his lips on hers, pleasure still wove a warm path inside her. Much to her dismay, her legs wobbled. ”No. It's personal.”