Iris Johansen - Deadlock

"You're welcome. I make mistakes, but I do learn." He lifted his coffee cup in a half toast. "To progress." His phone rang, then he shook his head as she tensed. "It's not Ferguson. It's Dardon." He lis¬tened for a few minutes and said, "Let me know." He said to Emily, "Pauley's almost got it. Dardon says the room looks like a whirlwind of papers hit it. He'll call me when he's finished."

"Good. At least one thing is going right." She finished her coffee. "I don't want to stay here any longer. I'm tired of sitting and waiting for a phone call or something to happen."

He nodded and signaled for the waiter. "I'll take you to your room."

"That's not necessary."

"Yes, it is. I don't want you alone. You should have called me when you knew Irana wasn't coming down with you." He saw her expres¬sion and shrugged ruefully. "Okay, I just said progress, not perfec¬tion."

Five minutes later they were walking down the corridor to her room. "Why?" she asked suddenly.

He glanced down at her as they reached her door. "Why what?"

"Why are you so protective? Have you always been this way?"

"By nature. Not in practice. I've trained myself to stand back and let people live their own lives. It took a long time. I've led a pretty vi¬olent life, and I've lost people I cared about. It's my instinct to step in and build walls and keep them inside." He made a face. "Most people are like you and don't like my walls. I had to adjust. At least, I thought I'd adjusted. It doesn't seem to work where you're concerned."

"Is it because you found me in a situation where I-"

"It's because you're you, and I'm selfish. That's it. End of story," he interrupted. "I don't pity you. I admire your guts and endurance. I want to keep on talking to you. I want to look at you and see you smile. I want to go to bed with you again. Oh yes, I want that. If you get killed, then I lose everything." He reached out and touched her cheek. "Irana would say that I should think of you and forget about myself. Maybe someday I'll learn to do that, but that's not now. All I can think about is what you mean to me." He leaned forward and brushed his lips across her nose. "Selfish."

His fingers were gossamer-light on her cheek, but she felt as if the flesh beneath his touch was burning. She couldn't breathe. He was so close that she could feel the heat of his body.

He stepped back and turned away. "I'll call you as soon as I hear anything from Ferguson or Pauley." He was moving away from her. "Good night, Emily."

No!

"You come back here, Garrett."

He stopped and then turned to look at her. "Why?"

"I don't want you to call me."

He smiled and moved back toward her. "That's promising. Go on."

"You want me to say it? I want you to lean across the bed and tell me anything you have to tell me." She took a step closer and put her hand on his chest. She could feel the pulse leap beneath her touch. "Because I'm selfish, too, Garrett. I don't want to be alone tonight."

"Then you won't be. Whatever you want, remember?"

"Yes." She remembered, and the memory was making her body meltingly ready. "That's good. And I'll try to give you whatever you want, too." She put her cheek on his chest, and whispered, "I won't mind your building walls. Not tonight, Garrett. I want to close every¬one else out."

"Then by all means, let's start doing it." He reached behind her and opened the door. "Because there are all kinds of walls." He was leading her toward the bed. "And they don't have to be a prison." He pushed her gently down on the bed and started to undress. "There can be doors and windows and passageways that can lead anywhere."

Her hands were shaking as she took off her blouse. "I know where I want this passageway to lead. Hurry."

"You hurry." He was naked. "I'm already there."

Lord, he was beautiful, she thought hazily; lean hips, tight butt, and that air of leashed sensuality. In the lean-to at the farm, there had only been heated darkness, and she had not been able to see as well as feel. The sight of him was sending a tingling electricity coursing through her. She could feel it in her breasts, her wrists, her belly. Her chest felt tight, and she was having trouble breathing.

"We'll get there." He was coming down to her. He didn't touch her skin as he rid her of the rest of her clothes. "But let's explore a few of those doors and windows."

"Not now." She tried to move toward him. "I'm done with that."

"Shh." He held her still with one hand on her shoulder. "Just a lit¬tle." His fingers moved with teasing gossamer gentleness over her breasts. "Here's a window."

The muscles of her stomach clenched as heat moved through her.

"Oh, yes." He smiled as he moved down to her belly and started to rub. "There's another one. So many wonderful doors and windows."

She was burning up, she thought desperately.

She needed it.

And so did he, dammit. She could feel the heat emanating from him, and his body couldn't have been more ready for her. Seeing that readiness was almost as much a tease as his hand on her flesh.

Almost. Every stroke of his fingers was bringing her closer to-

"I love to see you like this," he whispered. "And know that I can do it to you."

"Now, Garrett. I can't take any more."

"Yes, you can." He leaned forward and kissed her belly. "But maybe not right now. Later." He moved between her legs. "I think it's time to open another door…"

She cried out as he plunged deep and started to move.

"WERE THE WALLS HIGH ENOUGH?" Garrett asked as he moved off her and rolled with her to his side of the bed. "Enough doors and windows? We can try again."

She laughed as she tried to get her breath. "No, we can't. Not yet. Give me a chance to-" She shuddered as Garrett's hand moved again over her belly. "Or maybe not."

He chuckled. "No, I've been rejected. I think I'll make you wait a while." He cuddled her closer. "Maybe another five minutes. This is good, too."

Yes, it is good, she thought. She felt safe and wonderfully at home being held by him. It had been different tonight, after that first explosive beginning. Sexual, intense, mind-blowing, but there had also been a sort of joyous energy and fun that had surprised her. Was it be¬cause he had sensed that was what she needed? "What are you thinking about?" he asked.

"That you're very intuitive." Her lips brushed his shoulder. "I be¬lieve you're a remarkable man, Garrett."

"This isn't the moment to admire that particular ability." He said. "I'd rather you concentrate on my sexual talents and the size of my-" His cell phone on the nightstand rang. He sighed as he checked it. "Dardon." He punched the button. "Has Pauley got it finished?" He listened. "No, we'll be down to pick it up." He hung up and gazed at Emily. "You heard me. Is that what you want?"

It wasn't what she wanted. She wanted to stay here with Garrett and not get out of bed for a week. But she knew what she should do, what she had to do. She nodded. "As soon as I shower and get dressed."

He tilted his head. "That sounded satisfyingly reluctant." He bent over and brushed his lips over first one nipple, then the other. "So I think we'll compromise." He got out of bed and pulled her to her feet.

"By all means, we'll tend to business as soon as we get dressed." His palm stroked her bottom as he nudged her toward the bathroom. "But we have to shower. It might as well be together…"

"HERE IT IS." PAULEY HANDED them two neatly bound blue books as soon as they entered his room. "Not only accurate content, but a fine presentation. Aren't I wonderful?"

"Exceptional," Garrett said. He flipped through it and gave a low whistle. "Really exceptional, Pauley."

"I'm the one who had to compile all those pages," Dardon said sourly. "Lord, he's nitpicking."