Riding to Sunset Read online

  “Do you ever want to settle down and raise a family?”

  “I guess. Someday.”

  “What will you do then? Get a job as an in-town bodyguard or something?”

  He laughed. “I’ve never given it any thought. I’ve been pretty much living for the moment the last ten years or so, not thinking of the marriage-and-family thing.”

  She swept her hand over his shoulder, down his chest and across his stomach. God help him, this was torment. The soft hand of a woman over his stomach, knowing that if her fingers crept just a little lower and she’d hit the jackpot? Yeah, that was torture.

  “You’re getting hard, Jed.”

  “I was kind of hoping you wouldn’t notice.”

  “Kind of difficult not to. It’s rather obvious.”

  “Is this because you feel sorry for me? Because of my parents?”

  She paused, lifted herself up and stared at him for a few seconds.

  “No. It’s you I want. Did you feel sorry for me because of my mother?”

  He pulled her down on top of him and tangled his fingers in her hair. “I never once thought about your mother when I was making love to you. The only person I thought about then was you.”

  He put his lips on hers, tasting her. He’d missed her flavor, the feel of her mouth against his. After last night, he wanted more. Maybe they didn’t have anything beyond just this assignment, but he didn’t care. He’d only had a brief taste of her and he wasn’t nearly done with her yet. He slid his tongue between her teeth and deepened the kiss, waiting for her to pull away.

  She didn’t, instead walked her fingers south and rested them on the top of his board shorts, right where his cock was about to burst through the material and leap into her hand.

  When she started to rub his cock through the material, he tensed and pressed against her, unable to resist how damn good it felt. He wanted more, wanted the feel of his cock against her hand.

  He untied his shorts and shoved them down. His cock sprang out and she sat up, straddled the chair and grasped his dick in her hand. She slid his shaft between her fingers then squeezed him with both hands.

  “God, that feels good.” He leaned back, not sure whether he enjoyed the sensation or watching the look of utter rapture on her face as she stroked him. Both were making his balls tighten.

  He wanted to bury himself inside her and forget she had ever been an assignment—that she still was. This wasn’t part of his job. He didn’t have to pretend to get close to her anymore, because this was as close as he was ever going to get.

  And this time, she was here because it was where she wanted to be.

  As she stroked him, she leaned forward, her breasts pressing against the flimsy material of her swimsuit.

  “Take it off,” he said, motioning to her top.

  Her lips curved. She knew damn well she was the one with all the power right now. She released his cock and reached back to untie the string at her neck, teasing him by holding the material while she untied the back. Then she pulled the top away and revealed her breasts.

  Her nipples tightened under his gaze. Jed sucked in a hard breath as she leaned forward and captured his cock between her lips, rolling her tongue around the crest. He jerked against her tongue, the strong urge to let go almost more than he could bear.

  But her sweet, hot mouth surrounded him, and he wanted more of it, knew he could hold on if she’d just—

  Oh, yeah. She took his cock between her lips, took her time sliding her mouth over his cock. It was the sweetest hell. Sweat beaded and ran down his back as he fought to hold on, to keep from jettisoning into her mouth. He needed this to last, wanted to feel every second as she squeezed his shaft with tight suction, only to let go and swirl her tongue over every inch of him as if his cock were an ice cream cone.

  He swept his hand over her hair as she rose to the tip and licked the crest. She lifted her gaze to his and smiled, cupped his balls and gave them a gentle squeeze. He swallowed when she gave him a knowing grin, then covered his dick with her mouth and went down on him again, stroking him with her mouth in a way that made him certain this torment was going to end in a hurry.

  He gripped the edge of the chaise and pushed against her mouth, feeding her his cock as the freight train of orgasm rushed through his nerve endings.

  “I’m going to come, Elena. Fuck, I’m gonna come.”

  She gripped the base of his cock and stroked him, forcing his shaft deep into her mouth.

  He let out a loud groan, wrapped his hand around her hair and held her there while he erupted, shuddering as he climaxed.

  Elena continued to suck him as he came, holding tight to his cock while he gave her everything he had. When he collapsed against the chair, she swept her tongue over the head of his cock, then let go and raised her head, licked her lips and smiled at him.

  She was a vision. Topless, her cheeks pink, her hair wild around her face and her lips moist. If he wasn’t utterly spent, he’d pull her on top of him and fuck her.

  But he was going to need a few minutes until he was ready for that, which didn’t mean he couldn’t get her ready.

  He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her, tasting his salty come on her lips and tongue. He licked her lips, then dove inside for a deeper taste of her. He kissed her jaw, licking along the column of her throat.

  “Jed,” was all she said.

  He bent her back, holding her with his arm across her back while he took a nipple in his mouth, flicking it hard with his tongue, then sucking it deeper between his lips.

  Elena let out a soft cry and reached for his arms, digging her nails into his skin as he moved from one nipple to the other to suck them.

  She liked to have her nipples sucked, the harder the better. His dick began to stir to life again. No surprise, since she was so responsive to everything he did.

  He slipped his hand under her butt, lifted her and swapped positions with her, leaning her back against the chaise. He draped her legs on either side of the chair, spread her out, then sat back and stared at her.

  He could take a picture of her like this, her legs open, her nipples still wet from his mouth, and her eyes half-hooded, watching him. She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth and he smiled up at her.

  “Now I’m going to lick your pussy and make you scream.”

  Her eyes opened. “Are you sure there’s no one else around?”

  He shrugged. “Don’t know. Don’t care. Either way, it’s a little late to be worried about that, don’t you think?”

  She let out a soft laugh. “I guess you’re right.”

  He rolled over to his stomach and fit himself between her legs. He swept his thumbs over her inner thighs and felt her tremble.

  “Easy, baby.” He reached up and untied one of the strings on the side of her bikini bottoms and pulled it away, revealing her sex. He breathed in the honeyed scent of her, rich with her desire. He rubbed his fingertips over her plump pussy lips. The way she arched toward his touch told him exactly how ready she was for him, so he slid his thumb inside her pussy and gently fucked her with it.

  She was wet, and he was hard again, ready to be inside her. He could already imagine her tight walls squeezing his cock.

  He twisted his thumb around her pussy, leaned in and licked around her clit.

  “Oh, God, that’s so good,” she said.

  He pulled his thumb out and slid two fingers inside her, fucking her while he sucked her clit.

  She gasped and shoved her pussy at his face.

  “Ohhhh. Yes, Jed. More, just like that.”

  He loved a responsive, communicative woman. He gave her what she asked for, pumping his fingers inside her, swirling his tongue over the tight knot of flesh until she squirmed against him.

  “Jed, that’s going to make me come.”

  Exactly what he wan
ted from her. Her pussy squeezed his fingers and he gave her more of the same. She lifted her butt, driving against him, pulling his fingers deeper inside. He put his mouth over her clit and sucked, and she cried out. She raised her head and looked down at him, reaching for his hand.

  “Jed.”

  He held onto her as she climaxed, watching her as she let go. The intensity of emotions crossing her face as she gave him her body was amazing.

  And when he felt the pulses ease, he withdrew his fingers and scooped her up in his arms. She straddled his waist and held on as he grabbed his phone and carried her inside to his bedroom.

  She kept her gaze on his as he walked the long hallway.

  “Tired of the great outdoors?” she asked as he pushed the door open.

  “No, but the condoms are in here.”

  She laughed.

  He set her on the bed, fished the box of condoms out of the bathroom and came back to her. He dropped his shorts while she untied the other side of her bikini and removed it, leaving her naked.

  He got the condom on in record time and climbed onto the bed, drawing Elena next to him. She threaded her fingers through his hair and he took a moment to just breathe.

  Which was all she gave him, because she reached for his cock, caressing him with full, measured strokes. His breathing quickened. He raised her leg and placed it over his hip, then entered her with a quick thrust.

  Her eyes widened, then seemed to melt as her heat surrounded him. He paused, feeling her body tighten and pulse, wanting to savor the sensation. But he couldn’t hold back the need to move inside her, so he pulled back and drove deep.

  She gasped, reaching for him to hold on as he powered inside her.

  She pushed at him, so he rolled onto his back, letting her take the lead. She climbed onto him, straddling him.

  Oh, yeah. Nothing he loved more than a beautiful woman on top. Her breasts spilled toward him when she leaned forward, giving him access to touch her as he pleased. And he did, reaching for her nipples, plucking them until she moaned.

  She laid her hands on his chest and rolled against him, giving them both exactly what they needed. She rocked his world by rising up, then sliding ever so slowly back down onto his dick.

  “This is slow torture,” he said.

  She smiled at him, then surged forward, arching her back and giving him an excellent view of her pussy. He swept his thumb over her clit and she hissed, lifting just enough so he could watch where they were connected, could see her pussy gripping him as she slid back down onto him, his cock disappearing inside her.

  Then she increased the tempo, her body tightening around him as she bent over him. His balls tightened—he was close, and so was she. He grasped her hips and began to lift her up and down on his shaft, their gazes locked.

  She dug her nails into his shoulders. “Jed.”

  “Yeah. Come on my dick, Elena. Squeeze me with your pussy and make me come, too.”

  She was panting, her breath against his face, her lips parted. Their bodies slid together in a sweat-soaked union until Elena laid herself fully on top of him. She pounded his balls as she fought for her orgasm by grinding against him. He gritted his teeth while holding on, wanting her to go first.

  Damn, she was beautiful, her face flushed, her breasts thrust forward as she moved against him. His balls tightened and he held onto her hips, rolling her clit against him.

  Her lips parted and she met his gaze, her eyes widening as she came. Her pussy squeezed his cock and he let out a yell as she tore his orgasm from him. He felt it come at him from the top of his spine all the way through every nerve ending as he emptied inside her while she bucked against him and cried out, shoving her pussy onto his dick.

  She fell forward and lay on top of him when it was over.

  Christ, she’d shattered him. Limp and sweaty, all he could do was hold her, stroke her back and listen to her breathe. He sure as hell couldn’t move and didn’t even want to. Elena didn’t seem to want to move, either.

  Fine with him, because that had been intense. He’d had great sex before, but something more than just great sex had passed between them.

  He lifted her, swept her damp hair away from her face. She looked down at him, not smiling, just studying his face. He wondered if she was thinking the same thing.

  What had just happened between them?

  “Elena.” He rubbed his thumb over her lip.

  His cell phone rang.

  Shit.

  He reached over and grabbed it. “Yeah.”

  “It’s Grange. We got nowhere here. We’re going to need Elena’s help to find her mother. We’ll be back to pick you up in an hour.”

  “Got it. We’ll be ready.”

  He clicked off, turned his attention back to her. Whatever had been between them, that look in her eyes, was gone now.

  “Did they find anything?” she asked.

  “No. They need your help.”

  She smiled. “I told them.”

  They climbed out of bed.

  “I’ll go take a shower. When will they be here?”

  “About an hour.”

  She nodded and started to leave. Jed grasped her hand and pulled her against him, wrapping her in his arms for a deep kiss that lasted way longer than it should, considering Grange and Pete were already on the way.

  He pulled back and studied her, wishing they hadn’t lost that moment.

  “One of these days we’ll get to stay in bed without being interrupted.”

  She gave him a curious look. “I’d like that.”

  TWELVE

  Elena took a shower, dried her hair and dressed in some of the clothes that had been left for her in the bedroom—a pair of capri pants and a T-shirt, along with some canvas shoes, which suited her just fine. It was a little creepy they had clothes for her, but whatever. Maybe they belonged to a relative or friend of Pete’s. Either way, they fit.

  Jed was already in the living room when she came out. He was dressed in dark cargo pants and a sleeveless shirt that showed off his tanned muscles and made her want to lick her lips. Or lick him. And despite having just had sex with him—she wanted to have sex with him.

  Again.

  What they’d just shared had seemed like more than sex. Afterward, he’d looked at her as if he’d wanted to say something. But then the phone had rung and they’d been interrupted. She wished it hadn’t, but that was her being selfish. Finding her mother had to be first priority, not whatever was going on between her and Jed—which was likely nothing other than just really hot sex.

  She heard the helicopter coming in.

  “Let’s go. We’ll meet them at the beach,” Jed said, sliding his gun into his pants.

  She followed him down the path to the beach, climbed into the helicopter and they took off again.

  They didn’t talk until they landed again at the same spot where they’d taken off in the middle of the night. A beat-up, older-model, four-door sedan was waiting for them.

  “Where’s my Chevelle?”

  “It’s been garaged and is taken care of,” Grange said. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “And what about my shop? And Marco?” She’d been so wrapped up in her own issues and her mother, she’d totally forgotten about her business and her closest friend.

  “We let Marco know—to the extent we can—what’s going on,” Grange said. “He’s taking care of running the shop in your absence. We also have protection there in case someone comes in there looking for you and causes trouble.”

  She nodded, relieved she wouldn’t have to worry about Marco’s safety. “Okay. Thank you.”

  “Now we need your help with your mother’s friends,” Pete said. “I’ve been in intelligence my entire life, and I’ve never not been able to gather information.”

  “Until now,” Grange s
aid with a smirk.

  “I told you they wouldn’t tell you anything. My mother’s friends are very loyal and they don’t trust strangers. They must have sensed you were feds.”

  “Loyal my ass,” Pete said. “Paranoid is more like it.”

  She leaned back and rested her head against the seat. “Same thing.”

  “Okay, so we’ll hit all these locations again,” Pete started.

  “Wait.” Elena topped him. “If they see me coming with you, they might not even talk to me. I need to go in alone.”

  Grange shook his head. “Not going to let you go anywhere alone. That makes you vulnerable to whoever has your mother. If they grab you, we’re fucked.”

  She sighed. “Well, you two sure can’t go with me.”

  “I’ll go with her,” Jed said. “Since you’ve both already been to those places, these people might not say anything, even in front of Elena. I’ll be her boyfriend helping to find her mom.”

  Elena lifted her gaze to Jed. His expression revealed nothing.

  “That’ll work,” Grange said. He looked at Elena.

  She shrugged. “I guess so.”

  They dropped Grange and Pete off at a coffee shop. Jed took the car and they drove to the trailer park where Paco, one of her mother’s oldest friends, lived. It was even more run down than the last time she’d been here trying to find her mother, which admittedly had been about five years ago.

  Junked-out cars littered the landscape, along with bicycles and more kids and dogs than Elena could count. A few chickens squawked and ran across the gravel road where Jed parked.

  “We walk from here,” she said.

  She started, but Jed grasped her hand.

  “I’m supposed to be your boyfriend, remember? We need to look the part.”

  She looked down at his hand, then up at him. “Right.”

  He swirled his thumb over her hand. Goose bumps skittered up her arm.

  “Stop that.”

  “You like it.”