Excerpt:
With a secret grin for her naughty indulgence,
Heather kicked off her sandals and hauled her summer dress
over her head. Her bra came off with a quick flip of the
front clasp, and she shimmied out of her panties. Casting
one more glance over her shoulder, she ran into the ocean
and dove through the next wave.
The rush of the cool water over her skin
revitalized her. The sound of tiny bubbles and sand rubbing
against sand soothed her even more. Her lungs burning, she
shot to the surface and gulped in air. Floating on her back,
she stared up at the twinkling stars and let out a breath
that she felt she’d been holding for weeks.
She could stay here forever, trapped between
the peaceful pitch-blackness of space and ocean. Her ears
below the water, she felt isolated from everything. Every
fear, anger, and hurt she’d ever experienced were
vanquished by the steady water lapping against her body,
rocking her as if she were a child.
The waves slowly propelled her toward the
beach and, when she felt the sandy bottom against her butt,
she sat up, wrapped her arms around her knees, and stared
out at the distance horizon. So dark was the night, the
ocean looked like a shimmering sea of onyx. Only the soft
waves that licked the shore, the little breakers tickling
her toes, were as pale as her skin.
“Public nudity is an indictable offense.”
Startled, she bit her lip to stifle the yelp,
but didn’t move. And when her heart settled its cadence,
she grinned. Somewhere in the back of her mind she’d
known—hoped—Paul would show up here. She knew
he watched her every move. Deep in her heart it thrilled
her, even though her mind insisted she should be pissed
he’d disturbed her solitary peace and quiet.
Slowly, she rose to her feet and faced him.
He was little more than a silhouette against the backlight
of her bungalow. “Are you here to arrest me, Detective?”
She felt his gaze as if he’d stroked
her, even though she couldn’t see his eyes.
“I could.” He stepped closer,
but stayed far enough back that the water didn’t touch
his booted feet. “I should.”
She’d told herself to avoid him. Stay
away and don’t give in to his dominance. He was too
powerful, and her heart would be shattered in the end. But
what her logical mind said couldn’t compete with what
her heart and body kept yelling at her. Let him in. Let
him in.
Let him in.
She stepped toward him, each step measured,
calculated to emphasize the sway of her hips, the thrust
of her breasts. When she was but inches from his big, hard
body, she whispered, “You wouldn’t dare.”
He moved like lightning, as she knew he would.
No Dom worthy of his title would let such a blatant statement
go without punishment. He spun her around and, before she
could even suck in a surprised gasp, her hands were cuffed
behind her, his arms around her middle, and her wet back
was molded against his heated front.
“You have the right to remain silent—”
The cuffs were cold, hard metal. Beneath
her fingers was the hot, hard bulge of his cock in his jeans.
She tingled from head to toe.
“And if I give up that right?”
He turned her again, slower this time, and
cupped her face in his big, gentle palms. “Then you
must be punished.” His voice was as dark as the night.
As seductive as the ocean.
Her heart pounded in excitement, her breaths
ragged with anticipation. “You don’t scare me.”
This close she could see the depths of his
eyes. They searched hers for a long moment as if asking
whether she meant her words. She dropped her gaze from his
in a show of respect and gave the slightest nod. She meant
it. He didn’t frighten her. Not the way he thought.
Her fear of him came from the fear of giving her heart away.
Of trusting in someone again. Of being hurt emotionally,
not physically.
She turned her face to press a kiss into
his palm, then leaned forward and touched her lips to his
neck, the flesh exposed by the V of his shirt.
He seemed to hesitate, but eventually his
arms wrapped around her. He dipped his head for a kiss,
but she avoided his lips, sinking lower to his chest, nudging
the material aside as far as she could. His hands released
her and yanked the shirt over his head in one smooth motion.
“Are you sure, Heather?”
She answered by nipping his hard male nipple,
which made him growl and bring them both to their knees.
“You’re going to get us both arrested,”
he chastised, but that didn’t stop him from unfastening
his pants. Pulling his handgun from his waistband, he set
it on the blanket.
She giggled and attacked his neck with more
kisses, sucking and licking his skin, enjoying the slightly
salty taste and the heady feeling of control he allowed
her despite her bound wrists.
When his jeans tangled around his legs, he
fell back on his butt, and she tumbled forward on top of
him, between his bent knees. With his legs now bound by
his own pants and her weight, he gave a bark of laughter
and threw up his hands as if in surrender.
