Page 41 of A Ranger for Christmas
“I know what I want.”
He backed her up to the bed and lowered her to the mattress, sagging under their weight. Reaching for her shirt, he yanked it up until her breasts lay bare to him. He suckled a nipple and she arched, saying his name as if it were a curse.
His smile was wicked. “You like?”
“Yes.”
He pulled her shirt over her head and straddled her. She smoothed her hands over his muscular thighs. They’d been in this moment before. They’d been swept away with desire that had quickly cooled and they’d parted.
No . . . they’d not parted. She’d run away. She’d fled because the intensity of what she’d felt for him had been too frightening to bear. For days she’d thought about him, wondered what he was doing, if he thought about her. But each time he’d invaded her thoughts, she’d pushed him away.
And here she was again, inviting this delicious desire and feeling. As much as she wanted to promise herself she’d act differently tomorrow, she didn’t. All she could promise was now.
Lucas raised his head and studied her face. “I can hear your mind working.”
She smoothed a hand over his broad back. “It does that sometimes. Time to turn it off.”
He cupped her face in his hands for a moment, staring deep into her eyes as if willing the fear away. He kissed her as if he didn’t want to think about tomorrow, either.
She reached for the snap of his jeans and unfastened them. The loosened waistband allowed her to slip her hands over his bare skin, and he hissed in a breath as if she’d seared him with fire.
He rose up on his knees, staring at her as he quickly ripped off his shirt and reached for the snap on her jeans. Soon they were both naked, and he entered her. The sensations overtook them both and their bodies, damp with sweat, climaxed.
Lucas collapsed against Marisa. He rolled on his side and pulled her close, nestling her bottom against him. He held on as if somehow he’d find a way to keep her from running again in the morning.
Chapter 14
Wednesday, December 24, 8A.M.
The next morning, Lucas woke and rolled on his side, expecting to feel Marisa’s warm body. His eyes were barely open, and he wanted her. They’d made love twice last night, and he still craved more.
His hand slid across the sheet and hit a cold, empty patch. Immediately, his eyes opened and when he didn’t see her, he bolted up. He glanced around the dark, empty room, curtains still drawn, and found no sign of her. He tossed back the covers and reached for his pants, which were puddled on the floor.
As he ran through all the possible scenarios, he glanced toward the bathroom and saw the light on. “Marisa, you okay?”
Silence lingered a beat before the door opened to a bleary-eyed Marisa, who held a stack of papers. “I didn’t want to wake you.”
“You didn’t.” Relief washed over him. He resisted the urge to cross and hold her close.
“I remembered the code.” She held up the papers. “I woke up a couple of hours ago, and the pieces fell into place. I found paper and pencil and had to write.”
The smile in her eyes eased his tension more. “What do you remember?”
She explained the basics of the code, which was based on the Mayan language. “There’s a drug shipment coming in today.”
“What?”
She shuffled the papers and frowned as she read. “My handwriting is awful. It’s a code unto itself.” She studied thepage. “Today. Definitely. Twelve noon.” She read off the address. “This is where they’ll be housing the shipment.”
“You’re sure?”
She raised a brow. “I know languages. And I’m right.”
Lucas kissed her on the lips. When she raised her hand to his cheek, he savored her touch. He’d not lost her again.
She finally broke away. “Don’t you have to call someone?”
“Right.” He reached for his cell and dialed headquarters.
