Experimenting With Ed (4 page)

“No. Thanks but no,” she told him. “Now give me back my hat. You’ve taken my disguise.”

“No.” Ed touched her temple, as if he couldn’t help himself, and smoothed a strand of her hair between two fingers. “Could tell it was you anyway.”

Rolling her eyes, she said, “Yeah but Gordon doesn’t have your Spidey senses.”

All humor disappeared from his eyes, turning them a flat pewter. He dropped his hand from her hair and sat back. “What?”

“I just…I mean…” she stuttered, startled by the drastic change in him. “I meant you just have really good hearing and you spotted me in here when you thought I’d be at the lab and you’re totally quiet when you walk around—although I guess walking silently isn’t really an official sense. I didn’t mean it as a bad thing at all. I just…”

She glanced hopefully at Ed but his impassive expression didn’t change. With a groan, she let her head fall back against the booth with a thump. “I’m such a socially impaired lab geek,” she sighed. “I introduced you to a
rat
, for God’s sake.”

That brought a slight lightening of his scowl. “I like Wilma.”

“You like the rat,” she said, making a face. “Great.”

“Like you better.”

“Yeah?” A smile tugged at her lips. “Well, I like you too.”

“Yeah?” The corners of his mouth turned up and Claire’s heart stopped.

Yeah
, she thought,
too much.

* * * * *

“Gonna be okay?” he asked as they arrived at her building.

“Job-wise, you mean?”

He nodded.

“Sure.” She shrugged, looking at her feet as she climbed the front steps. “I had a minor freak-out this morning but I think it’s for the best. I’ve been looking anyway.” Sending a sly glance toward Ed, she added, “If I can’t find a lab position, I can always be a cage dancer at Taboo.”

“No,” he grunted, scowling.

“Why not?” Claire gave him an innocent smile. “Don’t you think it would be fun to work together?”

With a growl, he pinned her against the front door. Her laughing squeak was cut off as his mouth caught hers, kissing her with such hunger Claire forgot where she was. She grabbed his head with both hands, pulling him into her, desperate for the contact of their lips and tongues, the press of his body against the length of hers.

“Can I
please
get by?” The voice broke them apart. Claire turned dazed eyes to her upstairs neighbor standing behind them. From his irritated expression, it wasn’t the first time he had asked them to move.

“Oops—sorry!” Claire ducked to the side of the door, pulling Ed with her, allowing the other man to stomp past them into the building.

She grinned up at Ed. “Want to take this out of traffic? We could go upstairs.” It wasn’t until the impulsive invitation was out that she felt a flutter of nerves. When he didn’t answer immediately, her stomach clenched. “If you don’t want to…”

“I want to,” he interrupted. “Never wanted anything so much.”

“But?”

“You don’t know me,” he explained.

Claire flushed. “I don’t normally do this. I mean, I don’t just take guys home—”

“I know.” He cut her off. “I don’t mean that.”

“Oh,” she said, confused. “Then what do you mean?”

Although the intensity in his eyes made her want to drop her gaze, Claire didn’t look away. It was Ed who finally broke eye contact, glancing over her shoulder and shaking his head.

“Can I see you again?” he asked.

She blinked in surprise. “Of course.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Sure.” She gave a humorless laugh. “My schedule is completely free now. Although technically, since it’s Saturday tomorrow, it would’ve been free anyway, even if I still had a job. Wait…have I told you ‘yes’ yet?”

“Lunch?”

“Sure.”

Walking backward, Ed began to descend the steps without looking away from her. “Could have a picnic.”

“A…picnic?” she repeated faintly.
In November?

His brows drew together. “Is that stupid?”

“Of course not,” she told him, shaking her head firmly. “I was just…surprised. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a picnic.”

Ed lifted his hand in a stilted wave, uncertainty looking strange on him. She waved back, sure she appeared twice as awkward as he just did, and slipped through the front door of her building.

As she climbed the stairs to her apartment, she puzzled about the odd conversation. He acted as if he wanted her but, if he did, why hadn’t he accepted the offer to come upstairs? God knows she was desperate for him. Her skin still buzzed with excitement from that kiss against the door. The memory drew hot moisture from her pussy and she gave a soft groan as she unlocked the door to her apartment.

He might be able to wait until tomorrow
, she thought testily,
but I’m not
. An idea popped into her head and a small, catlike smile touched her lips.

It was a good thing she knew where he worked.

Chapter Four

The dress was a mistake.

In the warmth of her apartment, it’d seemed perfect. The dress had been an impulse buy over a year ago. Even as she’d been pulling out her credit card she’d had no idea where she would wear it. It definitely wasn’t lab attire.

Tonight, as she’d dug desperately through her closet, trying in vain to find something even the slightest bit sexy, she’d found the dress. Claire had pulled it out, marveling over the fact she’d almost forgotten it was there. It was a tiny wisp of a thing, red and backless. As the silky fabric slid through her fingers, she’d known she had to wear it.

Now, however, as she walked to the club, she wondered what she’d been thinking. She still hadn’t retrieved her coat from the lab and the wind cut across her exposed skin. Although it was well after midnight, the streets were busy and her dress, or lack thereof, was drawing attention.

She increased her pace, moving as fast as she could in her heels, trying to ignore the whistles and shouted come-ons. When Club Taboo came into sight, Claire gave a silent sigh of relief. She spotted Ed towering over the crowd gathered in front of the building. Even this late, there was a line. She hesitated, not sure if she should wait her turn or take advantage of knowing the bouncer.

“Claire!”

Her head whipped around to see Ed striding toward her. As he got closer, her welcoming smile fell away as she saw his scowl.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded, looming over her.

Claire had to stop herself from taking a step back. “I—”

Ed cut her off. “Did you walk over? By yourself? Where’s your coat?”

Caught between dismay at his reaction and surprise that he had actually interrupted her with more than his usual two words, Claire tried again to explain. “I wanted to see—”

“You shouldn’t be here,” he said, cutting her off again.

Now she was getting pissed. “I can go wherever I want. Tonight, I wanted to come here.”

“Have to get you home,” he muttered, almost as if to himself.

“No,” she stated. “I’m staying. And dancing. If you don’t like it, then you can just…just suck it.” Although she held his gaze, Claire winced inwardly at her weak comeback.

“No,” he told her. “I don’t want you in there alone.”

“Too bad. You can’t stop me,” she said. Only after the words were out did she realize he
could
stop her. In fact, that was his job.

“Fine.” She turned abruptly and stepped out into the street. “I’ll just find another place. One that will let me in.” She heard a growl behind her as she headed toward the other side of the street. Headlights from down the block caught her attention and she walked a little faster.

When she was halfway across the street, she heard the engine rev.

Turning her head, she barely had a chance to register that the oncoming SUV was heading right at her, going much too fast, before she was snatched off her feet and flying through the air.

Although she didn’t hit pavement, Claire landed on something that felt almost as hard. Her breath left her in a whoosh as Ed’s arms banded around her, tight enough to make her panic. A crowd was gathering around them, voices running together into a jumbled babble as Claire fought for air.

“Whoa, are you guys okay?”

“That dude didn’t even stop!”

“You just grabbed her right out from in front of that car—that was amazing!”

“Never saw anyone move that fast before!”

“Did someone call the cops? That driver’s probably drunk. He drove right at you like he was
trying
to hit you or something!”

“Hey, man—you might want to loosen up your hold a little. I don’t think she can breathe.”

Claire felt an extreme rush of gratitude for the observant person making the last comment. She felt Ed’s arms relax a fraction and air rushed into her lungs.

“Okay?” he asked as he stood up, pulling her to her feet.

Words were beyond her, so Claire just nodded. Her legs wobbled beneath her, making her thankful Ed held her upright. Someone pushed her small clutch purse into her hand and she gave the woman a shaky smile, grateful the stranger had retrieved her bag from where Claire must have dropped it in the street.

“You two okay?” the other bouncer asked, pushing his way through the crowd. “I called the cops. Whoever that was shouldn’t be driving.”

“Yeah,” Ed told him. “I need to take her home. You good here?”

“Well, sure.” The big man looked surprised. “Aren’t you going to wait ’til the cops get here, though?”

“No.” A path opened up as Ed began shouldering his way through the crowd, almost carrying Claire.

“It’s okay,” she finally managed to say as they left the still-buzzing group of people behind them. “I can walk.”

He allowed her to support a fraction more of her weight, although his arm stayed locked around her.

“Thank you,” she added after a short pause. “Sorry I got all snippy with you before. I was just,” she shrugged a little, embarrassed, “disappointed.”

He gave her a questioning look.

Now she could feel her skin heating with a flush. Her face probably matched her dress. “I just thought you’d be more, well…happy. To see me.”

“I was,” he rebutted. “Then I was worried. Then pissed. Then worried again.”

“Oh.” She considered this. “I
am
a fully functioning adult, you know. I’ve survived for twenty-seven years before meeting you. I’m capable of walking around on my own.”

“Where’s your coat?”

Right, there was that. Walking around in the November cold without a coat was probably not the best indicator of self-sufficiency. “Um, I left it at the lab. I’ll go back to get it—I just didn’t want to see Gordon again so soon.”

Ed stopped and pulled his arm away. She looked at him in surprise as he pulled his long-sleeved knit shirt off over his head.

“Are you joining me in chilly solidarity?” she asked, starting to smile.

He ignored her question and ordered, “Hold up your arms.”

“What?” She shook her head. “I’m not taking your shirt.”

“Arms.”

Heaving a sigh, she gave in, allowing him to slip the top on over her dress. It was blissful, the fabric still warm from his body, smelling like fall and clean male.

“You’ll freeze,” she protested weakly, hugging the shirt against her. The sleeves fell over her hands, even warming her chilly fingers.

He just shook his head and wrapped his arm around her again. Her knees, which had finally stopped shaking from almost being run over by a drunk driver, now grew rubbery from being held so close to his bare chest. She couldn’t pull her eyes away from the hard, exposed planes of his body.

“You must work out
all
the time,” she marveled.

“Not really,” he said dismissively. “Sure you’re okay?”

With enormous strength of will, she ripped her gaze from the hypnotic motion of his ab muscles and looked up at his face. “Absolutely. Not a scratch. Do you think we should have waited for the police to come? Whoever that was shouldn’t be driving. They could really hurt someone.”

“Lots of witnesses.” He glanced down at her. “You see anything?”

“Just headlights.” She shivered at the blurred memory. “Thank you again—you probably saved my life.”

Ed grunted in response and then asked, “What’s your ex-boss drive?”

“Gordon?” Claire stared at him. Was he suggesting…? “I’m not sure what he drives. I don’t think I’ve ever seen his car. He lives pretty close to the lab, so he just walks to work. Why?”

“Seems the most likely suspect,” he told her. “Unless you’ve pissed off someone else recently?”

She shook her head. “Of course not but Gordon wouldn’t do that, would he? I mean, try to kill me?” Her stomach churned at the idea. She preferred to think it was an anonymous drunk driver, not someone she’d known and worked with daily for two years. “No.” She shook her head briskly. “He’s an ass but he’s not homicidal.”

Although Ed’s grunt was skeptical, he didn’t contradict her as he helped her climb the stairs to the front door of her building. He held out an expectant hand. Claire didn’t argue, just dug her keys out of her bag and handed them over.

When they reached the door to her apartment, he opened that as well. Instead of stepping back like he had the night before, he followed her in, swinging the door shut behind them and twisting the deadbolt. Claire gave him a quick surprised look.

“I’m not leaving you alone,” he stated, his face set. “I can sleep on the couch.”

“No.” After the word left her mouth, Claire flushed a deep red but held his eyes fiercely. There was no way he could stay the entire night and not be in her bed—in
her
.

“I’m staying,” he insisted.

“Fine,” she agreed, clearing her throat when her voice cracked. “But not on my couch.”

She saw his throat move as he swallowed. His eyes had heated to silver again. “You don’t know me,” he said hoarsely.

She scowled. “I hate it when you say that. It makes me feel like such a slut. I don’t drag every strange guy I meet into my bed, you know.”

He flinched, the muscles in his face tightening so slightly Claire wondered if she imagined it. Shaking his head, he told her, “I didn’t mean that.”

“Then what’s the problem?” Her voice grew husky as she took a step closer to Ed.

His hand lifted, as if to touch her face, but froze before making contact.

“What if, after…” He dropped his hand.

“What?” she asked in almost a whisper.

“You find out things about me.”

Despite the urgent desire licking beneath her skin, Claire had to smile. “Isn’t that the point of getting to know someone?”

He didn’t return the smile. “What if it makes you not like me anymore?”

“That’s just the risk you take,” she answered thoughtfully, catching his hand in hers and kissing the palm. She felt him shudder, a barely there vibration, and thrilled in the knowledge she could affect him so strongly. “I have all sorts of bad habits you don’t know about—I drink out of the milk carton and I love trashy reality TV shows and sometimes I fart in bed,” that one surprised a snort of laughter out of Ed, “but we just have to find out if something’s a deal breaker. There’s no guarantee we’ll be together forever but I just know, right now, I really, really want you. You married?”

“No.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Ed tugged his hand from hers so he could cup her face. “Little mouse,” he said, so gently she felt the prickle of tears behind her eyes and nose.

She masked the rush of emotion with a mock frown. “You know, that nickname falls under the little annoying things that—”

He cut her off with a kiss. It started off sweet and slow, but the instant rush of heat made Claire gasp against his mouth. His tongue invaded as his arm wrapped around her hips, lifting her feet clear of the floor in order to pin her body against his.

He nipped at her lips and she moaned into his mouth, so distracted by the feel of his tongue and teeth she barely noticed he was moving to the couch. The world tilted as he tipped her backward, following her down until his weight pressed her into the cushions, his erection throbbing against her thigh.

Wrapping her legs around his hips, Claire ground against him, desperately needing the pressure against her pussy to assuage the ache that had been building since her first glimpse of him. He groaned at the contact and rolled, tumbling them both off the couch.

They landed with Ed on the bottom and Claire had a momentary flash to earlier, when he had pulled her out of the way of the SUV and she had toppled onto his hard chest. Now, however, his chest was bare and there was no crowd watching. Flattening her fingers against his lightly furred pecs, she pushed herself up until she sat straddling his stomach, her tiny, soaking-wet panties the only barrier between his skin and her pussy.