Keep Me Closer (A Dangerous Tides Novel) Read online

  With a low groan, he shifted behind her, taking his weight off her as he carefully eased himself from her tight clasp, and Brit managed to peel herself away from the window. Then she looked down, mesmerized by the sight of his cum dripping down her thighs, splashing onto the floor beneath her.

  “Jesus. I drenched you again,” he rumbled through his ragged breaths.

  “Mmm. I know.”

  Placing his hands on her shoulders, he turned her around to face him. Then he steadied her with a hand at her waist while he reached down with the other and rubbed the thick fluid slipping over her thighs into her skin. It was another sign of his possessive nature, and she knew he’d read her thoughts when he slowly lifted his gaze, locking that smoldering green with hers. One of his dark brows arched as he trailed his wet fingers up the center of her body, and he asked, “You ready to run yet, Doc?”

  “No.” Licking her lips, she stared up at his flushed, gorgeous face. “I can handle you, Hudson.”

  “I’m starting to see that,” he murmured, the look in his heavy-lidded eyes dark and unreadable. But his body was telling her exactly what it wanted, his cock thumping against her belly as it lengthened and hardened. Good grief. Considering Alex was nearing forty, his recovery time was beyond impressive, and she couldn’t help thinking again that his ex must be the biggest freaking idiot on the planet.

  “Again?” she choked out, as they started to move in a half circle, trading positions, their gazes never once losing contact as he ended up with his back to the glass. Then she started backing away from him, toward the bed that was directly behind her.

  His eyes narrowed as he watched her sex-flushed body move in the fuck-me heels, and she caught her breath at the look on his face. God, she loved him like this, when he was raw and in need. Loved watching his big, naked body move, the bunch and flex of lean muscle beneath his tight skin as he started to come toward her the stuff that fantasies were made of. He was like a lethal predator on the scent of its prey, perfect and sinuous and so intensely sexual it made her weak in the knees. Made her pussy flood with moisture, her breasts heavy, her skin tingling in anticipation of his touch.

  When the backs of her knees hit the edge of the bed, she crawled onto it backward, knowing she was playing with fire as she struck a provocative pose, her body braced on her elbows, knees bent and legs spread at her sides, letting him see every part of her. And he didn’t waste any time coming for her.

  “By the time the sun comes up,” he scraped out, coming down over her, “you won’t be able to take a breath without remembering what it’s like to have me buried deep inside you, fucking you raw.”

  “You’re so romantic,” she said with a laugh, swatting his shoulder as she fell to her back.

  “Time and place, Doc.” A deliciously wicked grin curled his lips. “Time and place.”

  “This isn’t the time to be romantic?”

  “I’ll give it to you slow and romantic when I’m exhausted. Right now, I just want to keep making you scream. You okay with that?”

  Grabbing him behind the neck, Brit pulled his beautiful mouth down to hers, and gave him her answer.

  10

  THE MOMENT BRIT OPENED HER EYES THE FOLLOWING MORNING, SHE had to admit that Alex had most definitely meant what he’d said. She could feel the echoes of his possession in every cell of her body, but it was a sweet, satisfying ache. One that brought a wistful smile to her lips. She knew, without any doubt, that she could be happy waking up like this every morning, for the rest of her life. Lazy with pleasure. Deliciously sore. And gifted with the most incredible view in the world.

  She sounded like a sap, but it was true.

  He lay on his back beside her, his face turned toward her, the white sheet draped low over his hips, barely covering his “junk” as she’d heard him and his brothers refer to their goods. Resting her head on her hand, she spent unknown moments simply watching him sleep, her heart pounding as she took in his deliciously masculine beauty. He was so hard and rugged and hot. Dark hair sprinkled his long, muscular limbs, but it was the perfect amount. Not so thick that it made him look like an ape, but not so thin that you could miss it.

  His strong jaw was dark with silky stubble, his sculpted lips parted for his even breathing. There was a relaxed quality to his gorgeous face that she’d never seen before. One she instinctively knew went deeper than the mere fact that he was lost in sleep at the moment. He was different here, in this vibrant city. She didn’t know why, but he was . . . more accessible here. More open.

  Loving the feel of his skin, she trailed her fingers across the sculpted ridges on his stomach, his abs packed hard and tight beneath his tanned flesh, and couldn’t help but smile when he gave a husky rumble of laughter. Ohmygod, he was ticklish! The sound of his laughter and the smile curving his lips were too freaking adorable to resist. It reminded her of how he must have looked when he was younger, and she felt something inside her go gooey and soft with emotion.

  “Ooh, someone’s ticklish,” she teased, leaning close and rubbing her nose against his.

  Without opening his eyes, he spoke in a low drawl. “If you try to tickle me, Doc, there’s gonna be hell to pay.”

  She gave a mock gasp of outrage. “Is that a threat, Mr. Hudson?”

  “Nope.” His deep voice was deliciously rough, and she was pretty sure that the way he looked at her as he lifted his long eyelashes was hot enough to make her melt. “Just consider it a warning, sweetheart.”

  “Hmm, okay, then,” she murmured, quickly straddling his hips. “I’ve been warned.”

  Ignoring his narrowing gaze, Brit settled her fingers against his ribs and started tickling him like crazy. He bucked beneath her as he let out a soft growl, and the next thing she knew she was on her back with over two hundred pounds of badass male on top of her.

  “You little minx,” he bit out in a playful snarl, catching her wrists and pinning them to the pillow above her head. “Now you’re gonna get tortured.”

  She squealed with laughter when he leaned down and used the soft stubble on his chin to tickle her ribs, while his hands tickled under her arms and behind her knees. He even found the horrifically ticklish spot just under her ass, at the tops of her thighs, and she laughed until tears were pouring over her cheeks as she begged him for mercy.

  Thinking he was a devilish fiend, Brit was still caught in the midst of an almost painful fit of giggles, when he suddenly opened his mouth over one of her sensitive nipples, the strong suction he applied making her back arch, just as his fingers slipped between her thighs, sliding and dipping into her, stirring her into a froth of need. Too busy moaning to laugh, she lost all concept of time beneath his knowing touch. It could have been minutes that passed . . . Hours? Days? All she knew was that both her nipples were tight and wet from his wicked mouth, and she was hot and slippery between her legs, melting down the insides of her thighs, when he finally levered himself up and worked his heavy morning erection inside her. His hands found hers, lifting them by her head and pressing them into the pillow again as he pushed deeper, giving her every thick, delicious inch of him, until their groins were pressed tight together and she could actually feel the pounding of his heartbeat inside her.

  Then he rubbed his lips against hers, giving her the sweetest, softest kiss, lifted his head, and locked that sleepy morning gaze with her own. And as a slow, steady rain began to pelt against the room’s glass wall, he just held there for an endless moment, sharing her breath as he stared down into her eyes like he wanted to fall into them. Just slip right inside her, brushing against her thoughts and emotions, until he could fight his way to her heart.

  “Alex,” she breathed out, feeling the burning sting of tears begin to fill her eyes again.

  His beautiful mouth spread into an awed, heart-stopping smile, and he said, “You are the most perfect thing I have ever seen, Doc. You take my damn breath away.”
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  And with those husky words, he started to fuck, their bodies moving together in a rhythm that was slow and raw and seductive, each plunging thrust of his hard length making her writhe. Making her moan. She came on a lush, slick wave of ecstasy, the shattering pulses of molten heat rushing through her, burning her from the inside out as she wrapped her legs around his lean hips, holding him to her as tightly as she could, both inside and out. Her lips trembled with emotion as he lowered his face over hers, his heavy-lidded gaze locked with her tear-filled eyes as his breathing grew harder, deeper. She held that burning gaze as if her life depended on it, willing him not to turn away from her. And this time, he didn’t. He kept his gaze locked tight on hers as he went over, letting her see the pleasure shatter him as he spurted hot, powerful blasts of semen into her, working his cockhead against the mouth of her womb with short, jabbing strokes that made her gasp and cry out.

  Brit stared up at him as if she needed that shockingly intense connection to live and breathe, and it was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen, watching him get lost in her . . . in the way she could make him feel. Pulling her hands free, she wrapped her arms around him when he finally collapsed against her with a heartfelt groan, his body wrung out and trembling, her eyes hot with the tears still spilling over her cheeks. She wanted to stay like this forever, but knew they would eventually need to move, and so she simply held him tighter, desperate for every moment that he was in her arms.

  “I’m crushing you,” he eventually murmured against the side of her throat. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry. I’m good. I’m wonderful.”

  “You most certainly are,” he rasped, pressing a tender kiss to her lips as he pushed himself up on his elbows. Her body resisted as he pulled out, struggling to hold on to him, and she could tell by the look on his face that he didn’t really want to leave her. With a rough groan, he collapsed on the bed beside her, his big hand landing on her hip. He gave her a possessive squeeze, before rubbing that warm hand over her stomach, higher, until he cupped a sensitive breast. Then he just held her as they both struggled to catch their breath, his thumb stroking her nipple, and she loved that he enjoyed touching her both before and after sex. That it wasn’t just a lead-up to getting what he wanted.

  When they were finally able to drag their damp bodies from the wrecked bedding, he carried her into the shower and proceeded to wash her with a sensual tenderness that made her just want to wrap herself around him and never let him go. And when he carefully washed the tears from her face, kissing each sensitive eyelid, her throat shook with so much emotion she didn’t know how she managed to choke back all the words she wanted to say to him, but knew that she couldn’t. Not if she didn’t want to send him running from her as fast and as far as he could.

  They had breakfast delivered to the room, then packed, and Brit was sad to be leaving. She’d hoped they could spend a bit longer at the hotel, but Alex explained that his friend had to head out that morning, but was leaving a file for him at his house, and they were going to drive by to pick it up before making the journey home.

  “What’s the file on?” she asked him, once they’d checked out and had climbed into the Range Rover.

  “A special case that needs some pro bono work,” he replied, starting the engine and then reversing out of the parking space.

  As he pulled the Rover into the light morning traffic, she sat quietly and simply waited, wanting him to go on. When he finally got the hint, he blew out a short breath, shoved his fingers through his close-cropped hair, and said, “It’s a domestic violence case. Some asshole who liked to beat up on his wife found a new woman. Normally that would be good news for the wife, but the fuckhead cleared out her bank accounts when he took off. She’s been left with nothing, and has three kids to feed.”

  “So you’re going to help track him down and make him accountable?” she asked, blinking at his profile in surprise.

  “Hopefully. The fucker deserves to be behind bars.” They drove in silence for a moment, both of them lost in their thoughts. But when he stopped at a red light and turned his head toward her, catching her expression, he asked, “What’s that look for?”

  “I don’t know.” Her shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I guess I just didn’t see you as the kind of man who would do something like that.”

  He cut his attention back to the road as the light changed, and even though she couldn’t read his face, she could hear the stifled edge of bitterness in his low voice. “Because you think I hate women?”

  “No. I know you don’t hate them. You just . . .” She struggled for the right words to say. “I just don’t think you have a lot of respect for them these days.”

  He grimaced, and she rushed on, hating that she’d ruined the fun, relaxed vibe they’d had going. “I’m not judging, Alex. I mean that. After what you told me about your ex, I can’t say that I blame you for feeling the way that you do.”

  He didn’t say anything in response, and Brit silently berated herself for not keeping her mouth shut as they pulled into the driveway of a house that was so incredible, it pretty much left her jaw hanging. The irritated set of his mouth twitched into a lopsided grin when he noticed her dumbstruck expression, and he jerked his chin toward her door. “Come on.”

  She followed along beside him as he made his way around the four-car garage to a beautiful wooden gate that was set in a high Spanish-looking wall. She watched him punch a code into the alarm panel set into the wall, and then the gate clicked open and they went through, walking into a garden that was like something out of a freaking movie. Palm trees and wrought iron arches covered in colorful flowers spread out around them, making it difficult to tell exactly how large the garden actually was. Alex grabbed her hand, pulling her down one of the cobblestone paths that cut through the flower beds, and it was obvious that he’d been there before and knew where he was going. A moment later they came to a secluded patio area with a beautiful outdoor table and chairs, and Alex grabbed the thick file packet that’d been left on the tabletop. The file had been wrapped in a blue waterproof folder, since everyone knew it could rain on the drop of a dime in Miami, even when the sun was shining.

  “So there’s actually a file,” she mused, wincing when she realized she’d just said the words out loud.

  Alex turned toward her with a scowl. “What’s that supposed to mean? Did you think I was lying?”

  “No,” she said quickly, shaking her head, and feeling like the biggest idiot on the planet. She could no doubt learn a thing or two from Alex about the benefits of keeping one’s mouth shut, instead of blurting things out that were better left unsaid. But now that she had, she owed him an explanation.

  Blushing and stammering, looking anything but the educated professional, she locked her gaze with his. “I, um, guess there was a part of me yesterday that thought you . . . well, that thought you might have taken off when we got here not for a meeting, but just because you needed some space. I figured I’d talked too much on the way over or something.”

  “No. Not at all,” he muttered, looking as if he didn’t quite know what to make of her. Which wasn’t surprising, since she wasn’t making any sense. “I wouldn’t have talked to you if I wasn’t enjoying it, Brit. I would have just asked you to shut up.”

  She laughed as she buried her face in her hands, working hard to get control of her jittery emotions, then forced herself to stop hiding.

  “What was that about?” he asked, when she’d lowered her hands and met his gaze again.

  “Your honesty.” She tried to make herself smile, but ended up just blushing and blinking at him, instead. “It’s, um, pretty refreshing, that’s all. Painful sometimes, I’m sure. But at least a woman doesn’t have to worry that you’re feeding her some line.”

  He held her gaze for a moment, then seemed to shake himself out of a daze. “Come on,” he murmured, grabbing her hand. “I want to show you s
omething.”

  “Um, okay,” she said, wondering where the sound of running water she could hear was coming from.

  As they made their way deeper into the garden, Brit could only gape at the beautiful landscaping and design. When they passed through another flower-covered wrought iron archway and found themselves standing beside a rock-faced waterfall that fed into a massive black-bottomed swimming pool, she realized this was what she’d been hearing. Looking at Alex, she asked, “What is it your friend does again?”

  “Believe it or not, he’s a narcotics cop. He spent a few years down in the Keys, but now he’s at the same precinct where Ben worked.”

  Her brows lifted with surprise. “And he can afford this place on a cop’s salary?”

  “Hell, no,” he said, shaking his head. “Diaz comes from family money.”

  “Ah,” she murmured. “That explains a lot.”

  He shot her a wicked grin. “It’s fun to rib him about it.”

  She couldn’t help but laugh at his mischievous expression. “Which means you do it every chance you get, right?”

  “Well, yeah,” he drawled. “That’s what friends are for.”

  She was smiling like an idiot as she moved her body in front of his, facing him with her head tilted back. Reaching up, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him down so that she could reach his mouth. Then she gave him a kiss that started out as a tender press of her lips against his, until the soft, sweet flavor of the exchange shifted into something hungry and erotic and raw, their tongues tangling and sliding as she tried to tell him without words what was happening to her.