Arresting Holli (7 page)

He found her tit-deep in the fridge, her ass at the perfect height for… Damn, he had to stop thinking that way. At least for a few minutes, long enough to feed her. “What are you doing?”

Chapter Eight

Holli
peered around the door. “Looking for something to eat.”

“Uh-huh. You searching for anything in particular?”

“No, just thought I’d see what you have and see if there’s something I can fix for us.”

“If you’ll move, I’ll see what I have that’s quick and would be good.”

She backed out of the fridge and turned to him. “I can cook, you know.”

He lifted his hands in an innocent gesture. “I didn’t say you couldn’t. I just know where everything is. But if you’d rather take the time to figure it all out, then figure out what we’re going to eat, and then cook it…I’ll wait.”

Her brows scrunched down, and her lips pursed as though she were deep in thought. “Well, since you put it that way. I’ll let you do it. I can cook though.”

“Not arguing that point, and I’ll happily let you make dinner if you want.”

Her gaze darted away, then slowly returned to his. “Dinner?”

“Would you prefer to make breakfast?”

“Um…sure.”

She didn’t sound convincing, but he wasn’t going to tell her that. He took her place in front of the fridge as she moved out of the way. Taking a cursory glance at the shelves, he said, “How about a BLT?”

“Okay. Sounds great. I can make one of those.”

He looked over and smirked at her. “You don’t say.”

She stuck her tongue out at him and crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re not going to make a normal BLT, are you?”

He ducked down and started gathering ingredients in his arms from the vegetable and meat bins. “What makes you say that?”

“There was something different about that grilled cheese last night.”

“How would you know?” He stood and elbowed the refrigerator door closed, then laid everything out on the butcher-block breadboard. “You took one bite before you started snoring.”

He hid the smile that was threatening his mouth at her indignant look.

“Yeah, well, it didn’t taste like a normal one.”

“There was a little Dijon, and the cheese was smoked gouda instead of American or cheddar.”

“See? I knew there was something different.”

He snagged the sourdough bread from the basket on the counter and started slicing it thinly. “It was good though, right? What you had of it, at least.”

“Yes. I wish I hadn’t been so tired and could have enjoyed it.”

“Well, maybe you’ll make it through this one.” He turned back to the fridge and grabbed the pesto, then combined it in a small bowl with some mayonnaise. “I should have asked, do you like pesto? If not, I can just put mayo on yours.”

“I love pesto. I’ll have mine however you have yours.”

“Adventurous girl. I like that.” And he started slathering all four slices of bread with the pesto/mayo concoction.

“Can I help?”

“Can you slice tomatoes?”

She huffed. “Yes, I can slice tomatoes.”

He opened a drawer and pulled out a knife, turning it over, handle first, in her direction. “Then you can help.”

For a few minutes, they worked in silence. He prepped some arugula lettuce, and she sliced some Roma tomatoes. When they each had a pile of vegetables, it was time to move on to the cheese and bacon.

“What kind of bacon is that?” she asked, pointing to the meat he’d placed on a silicone cutting board.

“Pancetta. Italian bacon.”

“Do you make anything the normal way?”

“When you don’t eat out but you like to eat good food, variety is key.”

“Where do you learn about all this? Are you a closet chef?”

“No.” He began cutting the pancetta into quarter-inch rounds. “I watch Food Network.”

“You watch Food Network?”

“I do. Along with the Discovery Channel, the History Channel, and
NCIS
.”

“Huh. Well, color me surprised.”

“Why? I’m sure a lot of men enjoy watching cooking shows if they like to cook. Besides, you’ve not complained about the food I make, just that it’s not what you normally eat.”

“True. I don’t know anything about you really, but cooking shows just didn’t cross my mind as something you’d like or watch.”

“It’s relaxing. I’m always learning something. And I eat really well.”

“I guess I can understand that. What kind of cheese are you putting on the sandwiches?”

“I took out both mozzarella and goat cheese.”

“Goat cheese?” She made a face. “I’ll take mozzarella. My simple, southern-fried palette can only take so much fanciness.”

He laughed and got out another knife so he could slice the ball of cheese. “What did you think you were going to be eating in New York?”

“Chinese,” she answered swiftly.

“That’s it?”

“No, but that’s what everyone is always talking about. I really hadn’t thought much about food, honestly. I was just excited about going to see everything, all the sights, the big and famous department stores, the landmarks.”

His smile dropped, and he paused to look at her. “I’m sorry,
Holli
.”

“I know, and it’s fine. I’m enjoying this, here with you. I can see New York next year. You, on the other hand, are once in a lifetime.”

He wanted to tell her he didn’t have to be just once or just right now. He didn’t though. He didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable or pressured into feeling or saying something she didn’t want.

She turned back to the tomatoes and placed the slices on his end of the cutting board, then put her knife in the sink. “Besides, I think you’re right. I wouldn’t have been ready for the fancy
schmancy
cuisine of New York.”

He started to assemble the sandwiches. “I didn’t say that.” Cheese first, then bacon, followed by the tomato. The lettuce would be last.

“No, but it was implied.” She grinned. “And I heartily agree. I need to work up to that.”

“Why did you choose to drive? It’s what? Fourteen or fifteen hours? You could have flown.” He set the sandwiches on the griddle to warm the bread and melt the cheese slightly. When he was satisfied with the crusty edges, he slid a spatula beneath them and pulled them off the heat, then topped them with the lettuce and cut each in half.

“Yeah, but I like to drive. I wanted to see a part of the country that I don’t normally get to see, so I drove. And I don’t like to fly.”

Michael brought her a plate where she was stretched out on the area rug. The large pillows he usually kept in the corner were now piled on the floor in front of fireplace. He took a seat beside her. “But it’s winter. Snow and ice are everywhere.”

“I know. I didn’t have any issues until I got here. I know how to use chains if necessary. I’ve driven through blizzards before. Driving up here has been a piece of cake compared to some places I’ve gone.”

“Parking in New York is pricey and a bitch to boot.”

Holli
picked off a piece of her sandwich and popped it in her mouth. “Oh my God,” she moaned. “This is divine.”

He watched her take another bite. She closed her eyes and fell backward on the rug, chewing slowly. All the different flavors would mingle together on her tongue…creamy, salty, a little spicy, cool.

“Like it?”

His voice was at her ear, and she turned her head in its direction, opening her eyes as she swallowed. “It’s the best damn sandwich I’ve ever had.”

“Good. Here’s the rest of that half.”

He chuckled at her, and she took the proffered food. “Maybe I need to start watching cooking shows too.”

“I’ll cook for you anytime you’re up this way.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” She finished off that part of her sandwich and took a drink of the milk he’d poured her. She didn’t know the last time she’d been so pampered, so taken care of. As independent as she was, she couldn’t deny how much she liked having someone to lean on, to depend on, to have take the reins for a bit. That’s essentially what Michael had been doing since he’d arrested her. “Why don’t you have any Christmas decorations up?”

“I knew I was working over the holiday, so I didn’t see the point in it.”

She scoffed and nudged him. “There’s always a point in it. I might be a little cynical, but the decorations, the lights, a tree there’s a point. It makes things brighter, cheerier, a little less lonely.”

“I guess, but then you’re never home during Christmas yourself so…” He shrugged and took a bite of his sandwich.

“No, I know. I’m always gone, but did you take a look in my trunk?”

“A little when I stopped you and the flag came up on your license. Why?”

“There’s a box with a little three-foot tree. There’s a small hatbox with a few decorations and a strand of lights. I was going to put it up in the hotel room. I take it with me when I go on vacation.”

“Do you put a present for yourself under it?”

“I usually do, yes.”

“What did you get yourself this year?”

“I hadn’t yet. I wanted to get something in New York.” His jaw clenched, and he turned his head away to stare into the fire. She hated that he felt so bad for the chain of events the last few days. None of it had been his fault. He was just doing his job, and had she not been speeding, well… “Michael, please don’t let it bother you anymore. I’m fine and not mad. Besides, if you hadn’t pulled me over, I wouldn’t have met you. I wouldn’t have played in the snow, had great sex, or eaten at the best restaurant on the Eastern seaboard.”

He looked back toward her and winked. “Making the best of it, huh?”

“Yes and let me tell you, in all ways, you’re the best of it.”

“Even the sex?”

Holli
laughed and leaned forward for a kiss. “Most definitely, even the sex.”

“Then I’ll try not to feel so awful about things.”

“I’d appreciate that. This house arrest thing isn’t so bad, but if you go around sulking, well, I just don’t know how I’m going to make it.”

“Brat.”

“Yeah, probably.” She polished off the rest of her food and milk, setting the plate and glass off to the side. Michael’s joined hers before he arranged a pillow and laid back, his feet pointing toward the fire. He tugged her sleeve, and she fell against him, snuggling into his arms. He really was special and more deeply romantic than she’d have imagined. It was nice, though, that he saw her as a woman and not as his charge.

“What were you going to buy yourself?”

His hand smoothed her hair back, his fingers lifting and letting the strands flow through them. She tried not to purr at the heavenly feel, but the sound emanated from her anyway. At least she wasn’t drooling. “I don’t know.”

“Well, what did you get for yourself last year?”

She held up her arm for him. The brushed-bronze watch had cost her a pretty penny, but the second she’d seen it in the jeweler’s case, she knew at once they were meant to be together. “I’ve always collected watches. I have so many of them. I could wear two a month and never wear the same one twice in the same year.”

“That’s a lot of watches.”

She nodded. “Yeah, I think I might have an addiction. What about you? What do you collect?”

“Nothing. I don’t think I’ve ever collected anything.”

“Nothing? Really? Baseball cards? Action figures? Matchbox cars?”

“Nope.”

“Seems a little odd. Everyone collects something. Phillies stuff?”

“No. I only have a few T-shirts and the cap you ruined.”

Holli
pushed herself up on his chest, then looked down at him. “Ruined? If anyone ruined anything, it was you that ruined my head by shoving it on me. You realize I’d never live it down if my family ever found out I wore it.”

“I’ll be sure to send them a note about it as soon as you leave.”

“What? Why would you do that?”

He leaned up and kissed her hard. “So you’ll come back to me.”

Chapter Nine

Well, hell. What was she supposed to say to that? As she was trying to figure it out, he fisted his fingers in her hair and held her head still for a kiss that stole any further thought from her mind.

And damn, he could kiss.

He put everything into it, answering each slide of her lips with a slide of his own, meeting each thrust of her tongue with a nibble and suck, then offering her his tongue in consolation.

The force of the kiss rocked her from the inside out. She melted against him, sinking into the lean muscles of his body, loving the way they fit together.

“How are you feeling?” he asked after he pulled away. She couldn’t stop staring at his lips, and she tried to lean back down for them again, but his grip on her hair was too tight. God, she loved that tight control he kept on her movements. It was something else she’d never experienced with anyone but him, and it turned her on. “Answer me,
Holli
.”

How was she feeling? Was that his question? “In-in what way?”

“Are you sore?”

“Some.”

“Too much?”

“No.”

“Good. Strip out of those clothes.” He kissed her hard again and sat up. The move pushed her to her knees, and still he hadn’t let go of her hair.

He tugged, and her head fell back, exposing her throat. His mouth was there, sucking at the skin, licking a trail up to her ear. “I want you naked when I get back.”

He did let go then and stood to walk into the bedroom.
Holli
flew into action on her clothes, leaving them in a pile beside her.

She was back on her knees when he returned. He was naked and very hard, and he was carrying another little foil packet. “When did you put the one on earlier?”

“You mean when you were cuffed?”

“Yeah. I don’t remember your hands leaving me long enough.”

“It was while I was under you, just before…”

“Oh…”
Holli
nodded and flushed. “I felt your fingers touch… You were sliding it on.”

“I was. Hate the damn things personally.”

“Me too.”

“I do happen to like you though. Like this. Something very sexy about a woman on her knees. And the way you’re looking at me… Damn, Ms. James, I almost think you want me a little bit.”

Holli
laughed to herself. He was back to their little role-play. “Oh, Officer Hunky, it’s a lot more than a little bit.”

“Care to demonstrate just how much it is?”

“I can certainly try.”

Michael stopped in front of her, and the flames from the fire flickered shadows over his skin. He reached for her at the same moment she leaned forward. His hand connected with her hair in a fist once more as her mouth connected with his rock-hard penis.

He didn’t try to control her movements or her speed; he simply held her steady as she explored his taste musk and soap explored his texture, rough and rigid over giving steel. She tested his length with her tongue and throat, which was almost too much for her to take comfortably. Almost. Then she tested his girth with her lips, spreading them wide over the shaft.

She dragged her mouth backward slowly, holding just the head between her teeth. The more pressure she applied, the tighter his hand in her hair became. When she let up, he did too.

“Ms. James, I wouldn’t bite down again if I were you.”

Their little game turned her on. She opened her jaws and let go of his cock, running her tongue around the crown, before pointing it and teasing the slit that was oozing sticky sweetness. Raising her gaze, she pulled her tongue back inside her mouth, but not before licking her lips in an exaggerated move meant to… Hell, she didn’t know what it was supposed to do other than turn him on, but he was already turned on, so…

“What will happen if I do bite down, Officer Hunky?” She loved the way his eyes darkened with hunger when she called him that.

He tore the condom wrapper open and held it out to her. “I’ll have to punish you. Put that on me.”

“Punish me?” Her eyes widened in simulated horror, and she gasped convincingly well, she thought. “How?”

“By not letting you touch it with your mouth anymore.”

She fitted the latex circle over the end of his cock and used the thumbs and forefingers of both hands to roll it tightly over his length. She wanted him to moan and was rewarded with one by the time she was finished with the condom.

Who was being punished here? Him or her? Likely both of them, judging by his fierce arousal and her soaking-wet pussy.

“Stand up and go over to the window. Bend over with your hands on the sill.”

Holli
did as he told her. He talked to her in that commanding police officer voice that sent shivers of erotic excitement down her spine. She loved that tone, that implacable, no-nonsense aspect of him.

She bent forward, her breasts hanging under her, with her nipples stiff from the cold coming off the glass.

“Oh, that’s not going to work. Open the shutters.”

“But that would mean…”

“Yeah, people if there are any out and looking up could see you.”

Her breath hitched in lust. Damn, but did he read her right or what? Instead of being affronted by the thought of being watched, she was turned on even more.

She lifted the S hook holding the two sides of the shutters closed, then pulled them open. The cold was no longer cold. It was now freezing cold, but only on her upper body. Her lower body was still warmed by the fire that had been heating the floor.

Bending forward again, she resumed her position.

“Now spread your legs, Ms. James. Yes, that’s it.” He slid a hand up the inside of her thighs. When he reached her sex, his questing fingers found her clit, plucking at the button and making her squirm. “You’re so beautiful like this: bent, wet, wanting.”

He kissed the back of her neck and trailed his lips down her spine. She shivered again, this time not from the cold. If anything, the cold was a welcome relief from the heat building inside her.

“You are wanting, yes?”

“Oh yes, Officer Hunky. Oh yes.”

“Very good. Let me see if I can help ease your hunger, then, shall I?”

“Please…”
Holli
lifted up on her toes, offering herself. He chuckled behind her and teased her entrance with the head of his cock, circling it.

“Eager, are you?”

“Uh-huh.”

Michael shoved in, and her breath whooshed out, fogging the glass.

There was no slow thrusting, no more teasing. He placed one hand on the window, his fingers splayed wide, and the other hand on her hip. His grip was unyielding as he drove into her, hard and quick.

She used to think she liked slow, soft, romantic lovemaking.

She was wrong.

She liked this kind much better. Rough, hard, hot. She liked the way his cock rubbed against the spot inside her that set off mini-fireworks throughout her body. She liked the way he held her possessively, like he couldn’t bear to let her go. She liked the way he pulled her hair, spanked her ass, and made her come with his mouth. She liked that nothing was off-limits.

She loved sex with him.

Arching her back changed the angle of his thrust and freed her to lower her hand from the windowsill to her clit. His breathing was harsh, and when she touched her fingers to his cock as he pulled out of her, he moaned again.

She left her fingers there to feel him shudder.

“God…”

His hips bucked harder, picked up the pace. She spread her fingers, scissoring his cock between them. She pressed on the base, and his hand flexed at her hip.

“Love it, but…don’t. I want to come. I want you to come with…me.”

Holli
nodded. She circled her clit, rubbed it, tugged, and finally began flicking her fingers over it. That was it. The constant steady pressure built, giving her something else to focus on. She wanted the same thing he did. For her to come with him. She wanted her orgasm to cause his.

“Give it to me, baby. Right now. Give it to me.”

She frigged her clit until she thought she’d die of the tense sensations gathered in that one little knot of nerve endings.

“Give it to me,
Holli
.”

He withdrew, then snapped forward, once and again. Her belly tightened, and her nipples tingled. She stabbed her fingers against her clit until she cried out her release as it flowed through her body.

“Yes, baby. God, yes, that’s good…so good…”

He
pistoned
, and his balls slapped the fingers still working her clit, trying to pull another near impossible orgasm from her. She was tender there, sore to the point of pain, but she couldn’t stop. She could feel it coming again.

Pressing down with the heel of her hand, she rubbed herself into a frenzy until her body seized up before clamping down hard on the cock inside her.

“That’s it. That’s it,
Holli
. That’s…oh fuck yeah…”

Holli
placed her hand back on the windowsill to keep from falling. His hand that rested on the window dropped to her other hip. He pushed her forward once as he pulled out, then brought her back when he pushed in again with a hard thrust that stretched her wide. The icy coldness touching her hot skin felt amazing, and she sighed, exhausted from the power of the two creaming orgasms she’d already had.

His cock pulsed and throbbed. His face was buried in her hair. His heart thundered against her back. And she couldn’t remember ever feeling so at peace and so happy.

“You’re
gonna
kill me, Ms. James,” he breathed.

She didn’t think it would be such a bad way to go.

* * * * *

“I don’t remember the last time I sat with someone on the couch like this and flipped through television channels.”

Holli
snuggled deeper into his side. If she got any closer, she’d be in his lap. Not that he’d mind. She held onto the blanket that covered her from her neck to toes, but it didn’t help him any. She was still naked under it, and he couldn’t hide the erection that sprang to life again the second she plopped down next to him. He, at least, had put his jeans back on.

“There doesn’t seem to be anything on TV, though, other than football,” she mused, looking through the on-screen program guide.

“I’m good with football. Who’s playing? Anyone good?” He had to wonder if she knew as much about football as she did baseball.

“I don’t know, and I don’t really care. This is my other love. College football. Bowl season.”

“Well, if you can find Penn State’s bowl game, we’ll watch.”

She tilted her head up to look at him. “And if I can’t find Penn State?”

He kissed the tip of her nose. She was all ruffled and looking well sexed from their play at the window. “Then we turn it off.”

“And do what?”

“Roast marshmallows? Talk? Play
Yahtzee
?”

“You’re kidding?” She turned to him with childlike enthusiasm. “You’ve got a
Yahtzee
game?”

“Sadly, yes.”

She laughed, and he knew he’d be hearing that laugh ringing through his apartment even when she was gone. It was a sad thought. He’d miss her. A lot. She was a real woman, a real person, a real lover. She was, so far, everything he’d wanted in a woman but hadn’t been able to find in the women his friends had tried setting him up with. Or with other women he’d met on his own.
Holli
was special.

“Oh my God. Where? I loved
Yahtzee
as a kid.”

“It’s in the bedroom closet. I’ll go get it. The marshmallows are in the cabinet next to the fridge, and the skewers are in the drawer next to the stove.”

“Okay.”

She was off the couch in a flash. Michael shook his head. There’d not been a dull moment with her around, and he didn’t think there ever would be. He got up and went to the bedroom closet, shifting boxes until he found the little red one. He’d been joking about playing the game. Who played anymore? Who cared? But when she’d jumped on it, well, what was he to do? Besides…

His thoughts took a turn toward the naughty, and he left the bedroom to rejoin her in front of the fireplace.

“What’s that look for?”

She was sitting on the floor still wrapped in the blanket and had set one of the large pillows in front of her. He set the game down on it and took a seat opposite her, but close enough that he could touch her.

“What look?”

“The smile when you came from the other room.”

“Well, if we’re going to play while sitting in front of the fire, you should drop the blanket.”

Surprise registered briefly before she spoke. “And play naked?”

“Yes.” His answer was matter-of-fact.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Then shouldn’t you play naked too?”

Michael shook his head. “No. I don’t have as many fun parts for you to touch as you have for me.”

“Not true. You have at least one very fun part.”