"We both are."
He left her then, hurrying across the room to make his excuses and gather his own coat. Catherine didn't linger. Within a few moments she was outside, searching through a sea of parked cars for Royce's.
Before she could spot his black Porsche, he pulled to a fast stop directly in front of her.
The passenger door opened, and Catherine slipped inside. She had barely had time to sit down when Royce reached for her chin, directing her mouth to his for a surprisingly brief, but thorough kiss.
"Royce," she cried, alarmed. "What are you doing?"
"Kissing you." He took advantage of her open mouth by giving her a fleeting taste of his tongue. Despite the fact there could be several important people watching them who wouldn't take kindly to this public display of affection between two officers, one subordinate to the other, Catherine found herself drifting toward him.
"Hold on," he said, shifting gears so hard and fast they ground angrily. The car shot forward. Royce didn't take her far. Just to the other end of the parking lot where it was dark and private. "There's no need to be so impatient," he said, reaching for her even as he spoke. "You're going to have the opportunity to make love to me every night for the rest of our lives."
Chapter Eleven
"Have you gone out of your mind?" Catherine demanded with a free-flowing happiness that refused to be contained.
Royce eased to a stop at the red light, leaned over and kissed her soundly. Once more he used his tongue to tantalize and tease. His eyes were closed when he pulled away. "I am crazy," he murmured, unwilling to deny it, "crazy in love with you."
Catherine felt as though she were in a haze. "I can't believe this is happening."
"Believe it."
The light changed, but Catherine was convinced that, had it stayed red much longer, Royce would have reached for her a second time.
"Just where are you taking me?" The joy seemed to bubble out of her like fizz from an expensive bottle of champagne. If Royce had claimed he was headed for the moon, she would have held on for the ride.
"My house," he told her without hesitating. "Your house," she repeated slowly. "Kelly's going to want to be in on this. If we wait until morning to tell her, she'll be furious." Royce's gaze momentarily drifted away from the road, and his rugged features relaxed into a coaxing smile. "I'm convinced Kelly knew there was going to be something between us even before we did."
Catherine sighed and rested her head against the hard cushion of Royce's shoulder. It felt so incredibly good to be with him, so incredibly wonderful. There was nothing in this world to describe it.
A couple of minutes later, Royce eased his Porsche to a stop in his driveway. He turned off the engine and in one smooth movement reached for her. He kissed her hard and fast, and Catherine kissed him back with every ounce of her being.
Royce moaned as he deepened the contact. His tongue dipped to hungrily drink from her love. His hands were in her hair, and when he drew himself away, it was as though he were forcing himself to walk away from the gates of paradise.
"Let's go inside," he suggested, as though they'd best do it soon or else pay the piper.
Catherine nodded. At the moment, formulating words was beyond her passion-drugged brain.
The baby-sitter, a neighborhood teenager, was slouched across the sectional in the family room, watching television and drinking Pepsi. She looked mildly surprised to see Royce home so early. Her gaze left Royce and rested with candid curiosity on Catherine.
"Kelly's asleep," the teenager explained, her gaze drifting away from Catherine long enough to speak to Royce.
"Fine, thanks for coming, Cindy," Royce said, pulling out the money to pay her. He walked her to the door, opening it for her. "Goodbye, now."
"Bye." Cindy peeked around the door at Catherine one last time. She raised her hand. "Bye," she said, directing the comment to her.
"Bye," Catherine said, raising her fingertips.
Royce eased the door closed and locked it after the teenager. When he turned back, his smile was gone. He murmured something Catherine couldn't understand. "I apologize for not introducing you, but there's a very good reason I don't want Cindy to know who you are." He rammed all ten fingers through his hair in an exercise of ill-gained patience. "Although heaven knows she's probably already guessed."
"Don't worry about it." Catherine stepped forward and pressed the tips of her fingers over his mouth. It didn't take long for her to figure out that Cindy was the daughter at someone who could make trouble for them "I'm not going to let anything or anyone rain this night."
Gripping her by the shoulders, Royce braced his forehead against hers. "Have I told you how much I love you?"
"Yes, but I'd be willing to listen to it again if you're inclined to tell me."
"I'm inclined," he murmured, his mouth brushing hers. "Get ready because it's going to take me a lifetime to say it properly."
They kissed again. The moment was gentle and sweet, so sweet that Catherine had trouble believing everything that was happening between them was real.
"I better get Kelly." Royce said, unwillingly easing himself from her. "While I still have the strength to pull away from you."
Catherine didn know who found it more difficult, Royce or her.
"Wait here," Royce said, positioning her at the bottom of the carpeted stairs. "I'll be back in just a moment." He kissed her once more and raced up the stairs, taking them two and three at a time. Catherine could hear Royce talking to Kelly, but as far as she could tell the conversation was strictly onesided.