Page 39 of The Agent
“Do you ever get attached to people, or are you only attached to your job?”
A wave of discomfort swelled inside him. He’d heard this before, from women he’d had casual flings with, women looking to turn it into something more. Somehow, though, hearing the criticism come from Marley bugged him. So what if the only real relationship he had was with his job? Was it really that unusual?
“My job is all I need,” he said with a shrug.
Marley shot him a knowing glance. “That’s what I thought, too, ever since Patrick took off. I told myself I didn’t need anything or anybody else.”
“And now you need that?”
“Need, no. But I want it.” A smile stretched across her face. “It’s because of you, you know.”
His mouth ran dry. “Yeah?”
“I’m having fun again, Caleb, thanks to you. You reminded me that there are still some good guys left in the world.”
Self-reproach crushed his chest. “Marley,” he started, his voice thick. “I wanted to tell you—”
She cut him off with a kiss. He tried to pull back, but the feel of her lips on his drained all common sense from his brain. As Marley looped her arms around his neck, he curled his fingersover her slender hips and bent down to deepen the kiss. Their tongues danced. His pulse sped up.
“How do you always manage to do that to me?” she said breathlessly.
“Do what?”
“Turn me on so hard, so fast.” She laughed. “You have a gift.”
Caleb took her hand and guided it to the bulge in his jeans. “I think you’re the one with the gift,” he sighed.
He nearly came apart as she gently rubbed his erection. With a strangled groan, he moved her hand and said, “We’re not alone.”
Marley looked around, her eyes widening when she spotted another couple walking hand-in-hand on the beach, as well as three teenagers horsing around in the water a hundred yards away.
She laughed again. “Okay, I guess you can add making me forget my surroundings to the list of things you’re good at.” Her brown eyes sparkled. “Wanna get out of here?”
Hesitation crept up his spine. He knew exactly what they would do if they left the beach and went back to her place, and talking wouldn’t be on the agenda. If they stayed here, out in public, he could fight the temptation to tear her clothes off and muster up enough courage to tell her the truth.
But then Marley kissed him again, and the wave of lust that hit him was so powerful he could barely remember his own name, let alone anything else.
She took his hand and led him toward the narrow staircase leading up to the parking lot where they’d left his car. He followed her blindly, unable to combat the potent force of desire pulling him. When they reached the car, Marley hopped in, her enthusiasm bringing a smile to his lips.
He shut the driver’s door and moved to start the engine, but Marley intercepted his hand. Before he could blink, she climbed onto his lap.
Heat coiled in his belly at the feel of her firm thighs straddling him. “What are you doing?” he choked out.
“What do you think?”
His cock thickened as she unbuttoned her shorts and began to wiggle out of them. All the wiggling succeeded in making him even harder. Fire seared through his blood, his mind turning to mush. All he could do was lean back and let her take control. Tossing her shorts onto the passenger seat, she stroked him over the denim then unzipped his jeans.
A streak of raw lust shot through him. He’d never done it in front of audience, but the notion of getting caught was an odd turn-on. There were no other cars in the lot, but someone could pull in at any moment.
Marley must have considered it, too, because as she slowly drew him out of his pants, she glanced out the window and said, “We’ll be quick. I…I just can’t wait.”
He knew the feeling. He’d never wanted anyone as badly as he wanted Marley, and yet there was more than just desire pulsing through his veins. Emotions he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in years bubbled up to the surface. Tenderness and sorrow and something hot and painful he couldn’t quite label.
His head lolled to the side as she stroked his stiff shaft, bringing him to a level of pleasure he’d never known before. Gulping, he met her gaze, and everything he felt was reflected right back at him.
“You’re amazing,” he said in a quiet voice.
Surprise and joy filled her face. Then she laughed. “You don’t have to woo me with sweet words. I’m the one doing the seducing here, remember?”
