COOP HEADED HOME from work, hoping for a few minutes to shower before Lexie arrived. He’d spent the last couple of hours sorting through the police blotter, deciding what stories would make it into the paper. Sometimes there were serious ones and sometimes, like today, he’d get the oddball crime. An upscale restaurant had hosted a collectors’ meeting of the Fabergé Egg Society—who knew there was such a group?—where a rare egg had been reported missing. One minute the designer egg had been there, the next minute it was gone. All the members of the society, plus the waiters and staff of the restaurant, had been questioned, but there were no suspects. A reward had been issued for the valuable antique. Since Coop had the room, he ran the piece and put the issue to bed.
Now he let himself into his apartment and immediately sensed Lexie’s presence. Once again, he found himself overwhelmed by the rightness of her being here, waiting for him, and no matter how he fought it, he couldn’t shake the feeling.
He tossed his keys onto the hall table and walked inside. The table was set with his mismatched dishes and he winced, taking in the lack of coordination along with the candles she’d had to have picked up herself, since he didn’t own any. Chinese food cartons were also set out and still closed, waiting for them to enjoy.
“Lexie?” he called out.
“In the bedroom.”
His mouth immediately went dry. He stepped closer and a seductive fragrance assaulted him in the best way. He inhaled again and the scent lured him toward the bedroom.
The door was partially closed, a ruffled dress hanging from the doorknob. His entire body went on red alert. He kicked the door open with the toe of his foot, drew a steadying breath and strode inside.
His dimly lit, normally masculine bedroom was also decorated with burning candles flickering seductively around the room, while Lexie lay in the center of the bed, a vision in skimpy red-lace lingerie.
She crooked a finger, a siren calling to him from across the room and all thoughts of Chinese food and showering fled. Coop couldn’t think about anything except the woman waiting for him.
“This is a welcome surprise.” He barely recognized his own voice.
“I thought you were expecting me.”
He loosened the tie he’d been wearing and pulled it over his head, tossing it to the floor. As he continued to walk toward her, he worked on his shirt, opening the buttons one by one until he shrugged it off his shoulders and let it drop.
Lexie watched him with wide, eyeglass-free eyes, which darkened with every move he made.
“I never knew you were a frilly-lingerie kind of girl.” He kicked off his shoes and rid himself of his socks, then unbuttoned his slacks. He hooked his fingers into the waistband and pulled off both pants and boxers in one smooth motion.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” Her voice dropped an octave, her gaze focused on his hard-as-a-rock erection.
He couldn’t be sure, but he thought he thickened beneath that approving, hungry stare.
As he studied her, he wondered what was left to learn about Lexie, but he intended to find out. Sliding beside her on the mattress, he hooked his finger into the thin strap covering one shoulder and buried his face in her neck, inhaling her sweet scent and tasting her with long laps of his tongue.
She shuddered and tilted her head, encouraging him. He complied, laving his way up, taking soft bites of her flesh with his teeth, followed by long, soothing sweeps with his tongue.
Her entire body trembled at the gentle assault, while Coop couldn’t believe how ready he was from just this simple taste. He paused long enough to devour the look of her, tousled and tempting, wearing seductive lingerie that revealed mere flashes of skin beneath the sexy material.
“I bought it for you,” she said in a husky voice.
The admission nearly broke him. It humbled him. It also aroused him beyond belief. He wanted to bury himself inside her wet sheath, but she’d obviously put thought into this seduction and he wanted her to get more than a quickie out of it.
He cupped his hand around her face, turning her toward him. “And I appreciate it.”
She smiled and stroked his cheek with her fingertips. “I’ve been looking forward to this all day,” she said, then sealed her lips over his.
In the instant their mouths melded, things turned from gentle to urgent. She’d planned the seduction, but from the way her fingers dug into his shoulders and she pressed her br**sts against his chest, rubbing restlessly, she obviously didn’t want slow.
Neither did he. Coop dipped his head and pulled one tight, needy nipple into his mouth, sucking on the silken material, flicking at the tight bud with his teeth until Lexie whimpered aloud. She arched her back, pushing her breast deeper into his mouth. He roughly pulled at the fabric, exposing her breast and ripping the flimsy material.
“I’ll pay for it,” he muttered and sealed his mouth over her flesh. He flicked his tongue back and forth over her distended nipple and she groaned, thrusting her fingers into his hair, urging him on.
He tormented one breast until her entire body shook in reaction before exposing the other, licking, biting and soothing, taking himself to an incredible level of hot, clawing need.
They were both in sitting positions and she crawled on top of him, locking her legs around his waist and tilting her pelvis so her moist, damp heat sealed against his stomach.
No panties.
“God,” he said on a guttural groan. She was so damn hot. He couldn’t get enough and slid his hand between their bodies, easing one finger inside her.
Her inner walls clamped around him and he nearly exploded. In and out, he slid his one long finger, pleasuring her while kissing those luscious lips.
She wound her arms around his neck and eased herself backwards, giving him easier access. All the while she rocked against his hand, moaning, senseless, sexy words, urging him to give her more. With his thumb, he began to circle the sensitive outer bud and she cried out, so he deepened the pressure outside, continuing to thrust his finger in and out.
Her breath came in shallow gasps, her lower body moved on him, seeking deeper, more intense contact. Coop grit his teeth and swore to himself that he wouldn’t come until he was inside her. He leaned forward and kissed her again, which had the effect of pushing his finger deeper into her body, pressing his thumb into direct contact with her clit.
Just when he thought he couldn’t hold out, she screamed as her release washed over her, her body milking his hand while he wrung every last contraction he could from deep inside her.