What She Wants. Lucinda Betts

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      “Not really.” She shook her head, her sober bun catching the hallway lighting. What would her hair look like if he took it down? Would it flow down to her ass or stop at her shoulders? “I send out samples to labs—hair, occasionally blood samples. I don’t know much about the technology used in a lab.”

      “I find that hard to believe.”

      She laughed. “To be more specific, I know more about the labs than any average Joe, but ninety percent of the people at this conference know more than I do. I’d be the last person here someone would stalk for technology.”

      He exhaled. “Just keep the number.” He nodded at the business card in her hand. “If Erik Sutherland harasses you, call me.”

      “Thank you.” She slid the card into her purse, and he turned back toward the elevator.

      “Wait,” she said.

      “What?” When he looked at her, that line was back on her forehead.

      “You wondered about his affiliation. His name tag said he’s from the Brode Institute.”

      3

      “Damn.” Ann swiped her keycard to Daniel’s room. “Damn, damn, damn.” Why had she flirted with the detective like that?

      The lock mechanism whirred, and residual adrenaline from her run-in with the predator churned through her veins. She could blame her blathering on fear—but, with a start, she realized she’d be lying to herself.

      She blinked at the thought. Her kind were always outsiders, and no matter how well she got along with particular humans, her hidden identity cramped her relationships with them—which was one reason she had never told Daniel her true nature.

      For some reason, she hadn’t felt that reticence with the detective. In fact, when he’d told her the predator was dangerous, she’d almost asked him to help her—

      As she opened the door, her thoughts evaporated.

      Light from the moon bathed Daniel in a bone glow, highlighting the planes of his cheeks. His hair was cut to hang at an exact angle, and the cobalt blue of his eyes sparkled with excitement. Modern jazz played from his laptop computer, and he had two bottles of champagne on ice. She knew they’d be delicious. Just like him.

      When she walked in, he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her neck. His arms felt right. It didn’t matter that he was human, not one bit. She wasn’t an outsider in his arms. He’d help her. As soon as she asked, he’d help her.

      Daniel lifted her chin and kissed her, hard. “I saw you out the window and wanted to do that out in the crowd.”

      “You should’ve.” She tortured him a little bit. She knew damned well he wouldn’t claim her, not in public.

      “It’s so good to see you.” He nibbled her ear. “It’s been too long.”

      “Daniel, I need to ask you a favor.” She leaned into him, savoring his strength and scent. The citrus flavor of his cologne mixed deliciously with the heat of his skin.

      “Hmmm.” He nibbled her ear, his hand on her hip. “I went shopping for my favorite girl.”

      She looked. Pink and brown boxes fell over each other on the king-sized bed. Satiny teal ribbons draped over some of the larger bags. Brown bags with expensive-looking embossed stickers provided the icing for the cake. She wouldn’t need new clothes or jewelry for a year—but nothing in this pile would help her raid the vials from the predator.

      “I don’t remember how your mouth tastes,” he said, wrapping her in his arms.

      “We can fix that.” She turned, and he lowered his head. Gently, he touched his lips to hers. Sweet and gentle. So, so sweet. She shuddered and he did, too.

      Skin gliding over skin, she relearned his feel, and he relearned hers. Slowly, he opened her mouth, and she tasted his flavor, as heady as the champagne.

      “My God, I missed you so damned much.” Daniel touched her gently, almost reverently. Like a man drinking water after weeks in the desert.

      It’s your own damned fault. She kept the thought to herself, though. She didn’t want bitterness to intrude on their isolated islands of bliss. Once Harvard came through with their job offer, they wouldn’t need to hide.

      “What did you want to ask me?”

      This wasn’t the time. She drew his head back down so she could press her lips against his, so she could caress his cheeks with her hands and remember the rough angles of his face. “I missed you, too,” she said.

      He growled softly and slid his hand over the bodice of her dress. Through the silk, he palmed her breasts, brushing his thumb against her nipple. Her eyes grew heavy with need for him.

      He slid strong hands down over the curve of her ass. As he pulled her against him, she felt his cock press against her stomach, and she surrendered to him. She let him possess her.

      Maybe the night’s danger added a dimension to her desire. Maybe it had just been too long since she last saw him, but she’d never felt anything like what her lover was doing to her now. Her body shook with need, trembled with desire.

      His hands and mouth and scent shaped her into a honeyed, formless slave to his touch.

      She unbuttoned his shirt and traced her fingertips across his broad chest. His nipple hardened with the scrape of her fingernail, and she laughed. She started to unsnap his chinos, but he stopped her, wrapping her in his arms. She moaned her disappointment.

      “Let’s not rush.” He touched her cheek and walked toward the champagne. With natural grace, he popped a cork on one of the bottles. Of course, he had glasses.

      Her body didn’t want to wait, but she knew if she pushed him, he’d withdraw—and she was too hungry for him. She took a step back. If he didn’t want her right now, she’d change his mind.

      “Daniel.” She let husky desire fill her voice as she slid the spaghetti straps off her shoulder. Her dress slithered to a puddle around her ankles, and she stepped out of it.

      He turned from the champagne, blinked in surprise, and gave a low whistle. “Beautiful.”

      She turned slowly, giving him time to appreciate the way the tiny silk panties clung to her ass. “You like what you see?”

      “Oh, yeah.” He took a long sip of champagne and set the glass on the end table. “Come here.”

      With a laugh, she stepped back. “Come get me.”

      He shook his head, though. He wouldn’t play. No lustful lover chasing a pretend coy maiden for him. He had his own rules.

      No matter. She’d get him by hook or by crook. She shoved all the boxes and bags from the bed and lounged across the pillows. Half closing her eyes, she licked her lips. “This bed’s cold and lonely without you.”

      He kept his distance still and stayed by the champagne. “Spread your legs, just a little,” he said.

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