the ex who’d turned out to be harmless.
“I thought that was you,” he said.
“Hi.” I summoned a bright smile.
“Long time, no see.”
“Yeah...”
He cocked his head at the dance floor. “Wanna dance?”
I looked over my shoulder. Caleb’s eyes were fixed on me, narrowing as it flicked between Mark and me. Even from across the wide space, I witnessed tension climbing into his body.
I turned back around. “Sure, why not?”
Mark grinned. We headed to the dance floor and, with a sense of wild abandon, I threw myself into the dance. Seconds later Caleb materialized beside me.
“You. Beat it,” Caleb snarled at Mark.
Like a true analyst, Mark assessed the situation, saw he was on a losing streak and beat a hasty retreat.
Furious blue eyes glared at me. “What the fuck are you doing?”
I lifted an eyebrow. “I should ask you the same thing. You just deprived me of my dance partner.”
“You said you were going to the bathroom,” he accused.
“I did. Only when I returned, you seemed...busy.”
His jaw clenched. “So you decided to let some punk drool all over you?” he bit out.
I shrugged and his gaze dropped to my cleavage. I discarded my jacket a while ago, and without it my attire had transformed from quirky but acceptably professional to risqué.
“Not just some guy. I let my ex dance with me. Now that you’ve driven him away, are you going to take his place or just growl at me? You’re certainly putting on a great show for our audience.”
He didn’t so much as flick a glance at said audience. He stepped closer, towering over me. I tilted my head, met his furious gaze full-on. Then I placed my hands on his waist. He tensed. Still watching him, I began to move, swaying my hips to the slower tempo of the song now playing. Then I added subtle shoulder shimmies.
His gaze dropped again to my cleavage and a light shiver rolled through him. I dragged my nails across his abs as I swayed deeper. His hand landed on my back and yanked me closer.
“Are you trying to make me lose my shit, Lily?” he rasped in my ear.
I pouted. “I’m just trying to dance.”
He stared down at me for tense seconds. “Fine. Let’s dance.”
Over the next five songs, Caleb effortlessly proved how incredible he was on the dance floor. Smooth moves drew increasing attention until every pair of female eyes was fixed on him.
His wicked smile flashed with increasing frequency, until I was turned on beyond belief.
Enough to make me forget my disgruntlement. Enough to make me grip his hand tight as he led me off the dance floor.
“Want another drink?” he asked as we found a quiet spot near the bar.
“No, thanks.”
“Okay.” He smoothed a lock of hair behind my ear, then caressed my jaw.
I looked into his gorgeous face and smoldering eyes.
Heart hammering, I bit the inside of my cheek. It was now or never. “Caleb?”
“Yeah?” His voice was gruff, as if the feelings swirling inside me gripped him, too.
“I don’t want to wait.”
He pulled back, blue eyes piercing as they searched mine. “If this is because of what happened at your presentation—”
“No, it’s not.” I swirled my tongue over my lip, nerves consuming me. “Please, Caleb. You said you wouldn’t hurt me with anything that happens while on this case. I’m saying the same to you. I want you...”
Then he leaned in, one hand braced on the wall above my head. “Just so we’re clear, you want me to what, exactly?” he demanded.
I slid my hand up his chest, over his shoulder to his nape and drew him down to me. “I want you to break your rule and take me home,” I whispered in his ear. “I want you to take my panties off. I want you to undress me. Or I... I can keep my dress on if you want. And I want you to fuck my lights out. Like you promised.”
A deep shudder rolled through him. He continued to stare at me for several heartbeats. “Jesus.” He buried his face in my neck, breathed out harshly, then plucked my hand from around his neck. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold out for much longer. Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
His jaw clenched as he tried to fight it for one more minute. Then: “Let’s go.”
Each mile from Cupertino back home felt like an eternity.
I was hot, getting hotter and wetter every time I glanced at Caleb’s tense profile. At the thick rod of his cock pressing against his fly. He changed lanes suddenly, his thighs flexing as he stepped on the gas.
“I like the way you drive.”
He flicked me a heated glance. “I like the way you’re looking at me.”
On impulse, I reclined my seat by thirty degrees and propped up my legs on the dashboard. The skirt of my dress slid down to midthigh.
Heat turned to flames. “Christ, Lily, you’re going to get me arrested. I swear to God, if I get pulled over before I’ve fucked your phenomenal pussy, I’ll spank your sweet ass until you can’t sit down for a week.”
Why did the thought of that sound insanely heavenly? “I have bail money. I’ll help you out,” I said, sliding my skirt higher.
He swerved into the faster lane, splitting his fevered attention between the road and my thighs. Then he groaned. “Stop. Please, baby, let me get us home in one piece. Then you can show me this insanely sexy, naughty side of you.”
My fists bunched. “I don’t know if I can wait.”
“Well, I’m not fucking you on the side of the road our first time, that’s for damn sure,” he growled. He reached over and gripped my thigh, pressing my flesh a little roughly before snatching his hand away. “Behave.” His terse plea almost made me smile.
“Okay.” I released my skirt and draped my arms around the headrest, exposing a generous amount of breasts.
“For fuck’s sake! You think that’s better?” he rasped hoarsely.
“Hmm. Maybe I’ll take a nap. Wake me up when we get home?”
He cursed again as I closed my eyes. A few sharp turns threatened to dislodge my feet from the dashboard. My saucy smile melted
