Sleeping With The Enemy (A Stranger's Touch) (4 page)

There weren’t any left inside of her now.

“The view
is
perfect,” he whispered against her ear, his hands sliding around her body pulling her back against him. “I like it a lot.”

“Alex.” Her
answer sounded soft and inviting.

“Relax, Kate. You know I would never hurt you, don’t you?” His arms tightened possessively. “I’ve been going out of my mind all evening wanting you.” His voice was rough with desire. Alex’s hand slipped beneath the band of her skirt, touching her stomach.

She leaned against him, moaning softly as his fingers moved beneath her panties, cupped her once, then stroked across her entrance, parting her gently.

“You feel good.” He groaned against her neck. With his free hand, he caressed her breast beneath the thin covering of her
clothing.

“Alex.” Kate’s breath caught in her throat when his finger slid inside her body. She pressed closer to him. She felt his arousal against her bottom.

He turned her in his arms, his mouth claiming hers. Kate met his demands willingly. His lips left hers to trail hot kisses down to her throat. Kate’s head rolled back as his mouth ravaged her throat.

“Make love to me, Alex.”

“Yes, oh God, yes.” He lifted her up in his arms and carried her to the bed.

Alex’s fingers slipped beneath the hem of her blouse and lifted it up over her head and then he stopped.

“What is it?” She asked when her eyes locked with his.

“I just want to look at you. Before things get too carried away.”

Heat flamed inside of her. Kate couldn’t hold his gaze. Not when Alex looked at her like he did at that moment.

He slowly unclasped the bra. It landed with her blouse. His fingers reached out to touch her for the first time
without the encumbrance of the bra and she drew in a sharp breath. His fingers trailed across her breast then underneath to hold its fullness in his hand. Her body was all reaction. She trembled with every touch.

“Your eyes are so sexy. When I touch you like this, they grow dark. You’re so damn sexy. I don’t think I can hold out much longer. I want to be inside you.”

Kate didn’t want to wait either. She pulled him closer and claimed his mouth. Her trembling fingers pushed his pullover up and out of the way.

For a moment, surprised by her actions, Alex could
do little more than let her lead the way. He let her hands stroke over his chest, down the hard plane of his abdomen to the button on his pants when he stopped her.

“Wait. Slow down, baby. If you go any further I’m not going to be much good to you.” Alex pushed her back against the soft bed. “Just lie back and let me look at you. Let me love you.”

He had no idea how much he was asking. She wasn’t sure if she could wait for him to remove the rest of her clothes.

Alex slid her skirt down her hips and away from her body, followed by the panties. Shaken by the look in his eyes, she closed her eyes and tried not to think about his lips, moving along her stomach. He was playing with her tiny little broken heart tattoo—a reminder to herself never to let another man break her heart.

“You are so damn sexy. Look at me, Kate. I want to see your eyes when I touch you.”

“I can’t. Not and hold out. I want you inside me, Alex.”

Alex stood and unzipped his pants then stepped free of them along with the boxers before taking her back into his arms.

“All right, we’ll do it your way this time. But only because I love that you’re so eager. Don’t close your eyes,” he whispered softly and she obeyed. “I want to look in your eyes when I take you.” Alex parted her legs with his body and pushed inside of her with one strong thrust.

For a moment, he hesitated. His body went still within hers. He lifted a finger and brushed something from her face in wonderment.

“You’re crying?” he asked in amazement. “Did I hurt you?” Kate couldn’t speak. She didn’t even know why she was crying. She only shook her head.

“Please, Alex. If you don’t make love to me now, I think I will just melt away into a million little pieces.”

Slowly Alex began to move within her. He felt so good. She never imagined feeling this way with anyone after Seth’s disappointment.

A soft whimper caught against her throat when he kissed her again. His tongue slipped inside her mouth, matching the rhythm of his body moving within hers. With each thrust, he plunged deeper, harder. She tilted her hips to meet them. Alex groaned against her lips. He was close. She was closer. She arched closer to the thrusts. From deep inside of her, the pressure grew until she could no longer hold onto it any longer. The waves of pleasure exploded around her—within her. With another deep thrust—another harsh groan, he emptied himself deep inside of her.

* * * *

“That was incredible,” Alex said in an unsteady whisper.

Somehow, Kate found her bearings again. The world around them at last stopped spinning enough to realize Alex’s body was still sheathed inside of hers. She didn’t want him to leave her again.

He looked down at her in amazement. “Do you realize you eyes turn almost gold when you’re excited? I love that color.” He kissed her long and hard. Kate returned his kiss. She couldn’t get enough of tasting his lips. Soon, kissing wasn’t enough. His body responded once more to their closeness. Her muscles contracted around him.

It was even more sensual than the last time. When he collapsed on top of her once more, she was crying. Actually crying with reaction to emotions she’d never felt before with another man.

“That was amazing,” he whispered against her throat, kissing her there.

Alex rolled over on his back and took her with him. He slid out of her then gathered her close.

“I think we’d better play it safe for a little while. Otherwise, someone’s going to find our dead bodies in a very compromising position in a few days. And I can only imagine their reaction.”

Kate didn’t answer. She didn’t think it was possible for her brain to actually form words.

“Are you sure you’re okay? You’re crying again.”

She tried to reassure him she was okay, but all she could do was cry harder.

Alex held her close and whispered reassuring words against her ear until she had no more tears left.

“I didn’t hurt you? Please tell me I didn’t hurt you?”

“No, I’m okay. I guess—it was—” She shook her head. “I’ve never felt this way before.” She watched the concern in his eyes disappear. He smiled down at her.

“Me either. A first for both of us.”

“Yes.”

“I knew it would be like this between us, Kate,” he told her, his hand cupping her face. “We both knew.”

Kate didn’t answer. She didn’t need to. Alex saw her answer in the tears in her eyes.

* * * *

They spent the rest of their honeymoon never venturing too far from the lodge. It was a fairy tale from which Kate kept expecting to wake up and find her life was still the same as before Alex changed it.

They caught the last possible flight out of Vegas on Sunday night, arriving in
Austin well after midnight.

Kate slept a little on the flight home, but Alex seemed restless. He told her he was worried about one of his clients, but she wondered if maybe he was still trying to figure out the best way to announce his sudden marriage to the team.

Once they reached Alex’s home, Kate fell asleep almost immediately after she and Alex made love. He awakened her early the following morning, pulling her back against his body.

“Back to reality, but first things first. I’ve thought of nothing but this since the last time I touched you.”

Kate’s breath hitched in her throat as she recalled the numerous times they’d make love during the night.

“Oh, you mean five minutes ago?” She heard Alex laugh softly in the darkness before kissing her bare shoulder. He touched her breast. Her heart pounded beneath his touch.

“Is this because of me or is it fear?” His lips teased the words against her breast, before moving lower.

“I’m not afraid of you, Alex.” Kate turned in his arms so that she could look at him. “I love you,” Kate whispered softly.

He stopped for a second to look into her eyes. “Do you have any idea how much I love hearing you say those words.” Alex’s lips glided over her receptive body aware of every single one of her reactions.

“Open your legs for me.” She did exactly as he asked. His lips moved along the soft skin of her thigh before his tongue parted her and slipped inside.

Kate groaned and arched closer to him. His touch was like heaven. She couldn’t get enough of it. Even when her body tightened and climaxed, he continued to taste her. His tongue slowing when she collapsed against him, spent. His fingers continued to stroke her. A tiny moan escaped when he slipped one, then two fingers inside. Alex rose above her and watched as her passion unfolded again in front of him. She climaxed beneath his stroking as another tear slid from her eyes.

He gathered her close and held her until she was still again. Then his lips claimed hers. He parted her legs with his. His body filled hers again and everything ceased to be important for a little while.

* * * *

Alex rolled over on his back and brought her up close to him, still on top, their bodies joined still.

“So, why don’t we go see your father after work tonight and tell him our good news together?” he asked and Kate burst out laughing.

“That’s all you can say?” she asked in amazement.

“Well, I was trying to be polite. What I really want to ask was do you think we’re going to survive each other long enough to tell your father anything. That was the most amazing sex I’ve ever experienced, read about, heard of, or seen on TV. But I’m not sure I’ll see my next birthday if it keeps up with this much intensity.”

“I know. I think you may be killing me.”

“Mmm. Well, my love, I can’t think of a better way to die. But now I’ve got my fill of you for the moment.” She pretended to be angry, but he brought her back against him. “Keep that up and we’ll have a repeat performance like the last time and I should remind you, we’ve just spent half the night making love already.”

“Then maybe you’d better...” She pointed down and he eased his body from hers. Alex glanced at the alarm clock and cringed.

“I have to go, baby, but you should try and get some rest. Why don’t you see if Brandy will cover for you?” He kissed the tip of her nose tenderly before releasing her.

“I’m way ahead of you. I told her I wouldn’t be in until late today. I want to unpack and maybe pick up Earl and some of my things from the apartment.”

“Sounds like a good plan you’ve got there, Mrs. Bradshaw. Okay, but promise me you won’t talk to your father until tonight?” Something in his eyes made her uneasy. Alex looked too serious.

“I promise, but you don’t have to worry, Alex. Dad is going to love you,” she told him before kissing his mouth.

He didn’t answer, but the expression in his eyes frightened her. Something was wrong. Was he having second thoughts?

Please God, no.

“Alex?” Kate asked when he didn’t say anything. “Are you okay?”

He smiled and kissed her nose then got out of bed. It must be her imagination. All of her old insecurities were resurfacing. She heard him turn on the shower, but still couldn’t dispel the feeling that something was wrong between them.

Somehow, she fell asleep before he returned. When she awoke again, the sun was streaming through the bedroom window.

Kate showered and poured herself coffee from the pot Alex had made earlier. She retrieved her bag and noticed he’d managed to unpack his without waking her.

In their bedroom, Kate hesitated, uncertain of which closet or drawers to use. There were still so many things she didn’t know about him. They’d fallen in love so quickly.

She opened the first closet and found Alex’s clothes neatly hanging in a row. He’d left his suitcase sitting out.

In the other, she saw he’d made room for her things. Kate smiled as she put away the items she’d taken on their honeymoon.

Once everything was unpacked, there was nothing to do but go get Earl from Brandy’s apartment.

Before leaving for Vegas, she’d called Brandy and asked her to pick up Earl. Of course, Brandy was dying to ask where she was going. Kate promised to explain everything the minute she got back.

She wanted to call her father. His health had been getting worse since the last heart attack. She hadn’t talked to him all weekend. Kate knew he’d be worried about her. They’d been all each other needed for so long.

She picked up the phone in the bedroom and dialed his number, then took Alex’s suitcase from his closet and placed it on the upper shelf. Even though she’d promised Alex to wait, she knew her father would keep her secret. He’d just have to act surprised when she and Alex stopped by later tonight.

Something fell off the top shelf to the floor. A small box filled with newspaper clippings.

“Hello? Who is this? Is this...” Her father’s shocked tone came through the headset.

“Dad, it’s okay, it’s just me.” She picked up the pages and started to place them back into the box when something caught her attention.

“Dad, guess what? I’m married! I got married in Vegas. I married Alex Bradshaw over the week...” Her voice died away as the words on those pages jumped out at her.

Alcohol suspected in death of twenty-three-year-old wife...

“Oh my God.” Kate barely registered her father’s disbelief.

“Dad, I have to go. I have to.” She didn’t wait to hear Robert’s response. She disconnected the phone and let it fall to the floor at her feet.

Marissa Bradshaw, twenty-three, wife of Alex Bradshaw was pronounced dead at the scene early Tuesday morning...

Wife of Alex Bradshaw. Marissa Bradshaw—wife of Alex Bradshaw. Wife of the man who told her he’d never loved another. Alex had been married before.

Suddenly everything around her shifted into slow motion. Even the words spilling out before her. Her thoughts. Her breathing. Time itself. Everything slowed to nothing.

Alex Bradshaw—her Alex Bradshaw had been married! The man who told her he’d never loved another woman before her had lied about everything.

Kate scanned the headlines again in disbelief and then began to read the story.

“No,” That single word slipped out into the silent room.

Alex Bradshaw, the man she loved with all her heart was nothing more than a cold, calculating liar.