Hot Item

CHAPTER SIX

RILEY SUCKED IN a deep breath, afraid to move, afraid if he blinked he’d discover he was dreaming. Because Sophie had touched her lips to his, giving him a green light.

Did she know how much he needed her? The desire between them was obvious. Mutual. The need was something else. She’d become an anchor in his suddenly turbulent life and, at the moment, he didn’t know where he’d be without her.

He clenched his hand into a fist at his side and held his emotions in check. Testing what she was offering, he parted his lips.

Sophie responded, tasting slowly at first, grazing his lower lip before finally touching her tongue to his. She tasted minty yet sweet, and felt soft yet hot, all at the same time. His dreams held nothing on the reality of kissing this woman. A woman who loved to be in control of everyone and everything in her life, yet whose body shook with tremors that told him she was barely hanging on to that control now.

Riley felt the same way. His body shook with desire, and with the difficulty of holding back, but he respected how difficult this overture must be for her and didn’t want to drive her away. Yet in its simplicity, this was both the most innocent and yet the hottest kiss he’d ever had, bringing everything to life inside him, including things he’d never felt before. Heaven help him when he thrust inside her body for the first time.

A warm, humid breeze blew around them and he couldn’t resist uncurling his fist and burying his hand in the soft curls of her hair. The weather teased her normally controlled hair much the way he teased her, he thought, unable to control a laugh.

“Something funny?” She stepped back, looking completely ruffled and thoroughly kissed.

“Just that I finally broke through your composure and I enjoyed it even more than I thought I would.” He paused to study her. “And so did you.”

“Cocky man.”

He shrugged. “Arrogant, too. Now let’s blow this joint.” In case his meaning wasn’t clear, he held out his hand.

She slipped her fingers inside his and they started for the exit. He wove his way through the partially naked older people at the party, doing his best not to gawk. They reached the gate just as they heard a shriek followed by a loud splash.

Riley turned toward the pool.

A bald man waved from the deep end. “Come join me, Darla!” His toupee floated beside him like a dead rat. His Speedo rose to the top next.

Sophie burst out laughing. “I wish I had my camera. Nobody would believe this.”

“If my stepfather was here he’d disown me for sure,” Riley muttered.

Sophie raised an eyebrow, curiosity written all over her intelligent face.

“Ever hear of Senator Harlan Nash?” he asked her. It was a rhetorical question, really. The man had made a name for himself with his right-wing conservative views and his close friendship with the current Republican president.

“No wonder you don’t want Spencer to acknowledge you now,” she murmured. “Let’s get out of here,” she said, sympathy on her face. But the twinkle in her blue eyes told him sympathy was the last thing he’d be receiving from her when they took off their clothes.

BACK AT THE HOUSE, Sophie trembled with desire. She’d been with other men but never one with the ability to reach past her walls. Never one who’d come to mean something to her so quickly. One day of watching him grapple with his family issues, and she wanted to help him figure things out. Of course focusing on Riley meant she didn’t have to deal with her own life: phone messages from the chaos at The Hot Zone and Athletes Only, calls from reporters asking for Spencer, and their Heisman-winning client-to-be still hanging by a thread.

But it was Riley she wanted to focus on now. She’d thrown all caution aside and she intended to enjoy it. Living for the moment wasn’t Sophie’s M.O., but with Riley it felt so right.

He dimmed the lights in the bedroom, casting a sexy, muted glow, then strode toward her. Wearing nothing but bathing trunks, he presented a powerful presence, all tanned muscle and gorgeous male.

He cornered her by the bed, sexual heat emanating from him in waves. Sophie’s legs shook and she lowered herself to the edge of the mattress.

“You’re beautiful,” he said, the sound of his voice taking her off guard.

She glanced up. “I don’t need a come-on line. I’m already here,” she said wryly.

“It’s not a line, Sophie. You’re beautiful. You must hear that all the time.”

“Actually Annabelle’s the beautiful one, Micki’s the athletic one and I’m the smart one.” She laughed self-consciously, but the labels had been given-nobody really knew by whom-and they’d stuck.

As a result, Sophie always relied on her intellect, even with men.

Riley stroked her cheek with his hand. “Whoever said that didn’t know you very well.”

A lump rose to her throat. “It’s pretty obvious which sister is an analytical pain in the butt,” she said, forcing out a laugh.

“It’s also pretty damn obvious which sister is beautiful inside and out. You care about people, even arrogant SOBs like me.” A sexy smile curved his mouth.

“Who said I care?”

Without warning, he bent his head and captured her lips in a hot, searing kiss. With no preliminaries, he thrust his tongue deep into her mouth. A tingling sensation took hold of her body and she leaned her head back, giving him complete access to whatever he wanted. His silken tongue swept inside, learning every part of her and then started over again.

She curled her hands around the comforter and held on. His mouth worked magic, arousing her in every way. Her breasts grew hot and heavy, and her nipples hardened into tight aching peaks. Dampness gathered between her thighs, leaving her a trembling mess by the time he was through.

“You did,” Riley said when he finally lifted his head.

“I did what?” She couldn’t think over the loud beating of her heart.

“That kiss just said you cared.”

Sophie laughed, but she knew just how to wipe that smug look off his face. “I didn’t know you needed a woman to care in order to have sex.”

“With most women I don’t.”

Good thing she was sitting or she’d have passed out. “Just how many women have there been?” She closed her eyes, mortified that she’d even asked.

He chuckled low and deep. “Enough, but not as many as you obviously think.” His tone grew serious.

Oddly, she believed him and she was glad. She was so far gone, so enthralled with this man, she didn’t want to think about other women. And she definitely didn’t want to talk anymore.

Neither did he. He stepped forward and nudged her legs apart until he’d moved between her thighs. He knelt down, then ran his fingers over her calves.

“Soft yet muscular,” he said.

“That’s because I shave and I run.”

He chuckled, then trailed a moist path with his tongue, from her knee up the inside of her thigh. Her flesh tingled and she was sure her skin quivered at the intimate touch.

He reached her bathing-suit bottom and paused. “I wonder…with all that control of yours, have you ever really let a man know you?”

She swallowed hard. “Probably as well as you’ve let any woman know you.”

Riley had heard plenty from her uncle about her legendary need to control. He’d seen it on the plane. Viewed the depth to which she needed comfort, routine and the expected. And he doubted she let any man have the upper hand.

He tipped his head back and laughed. That’s what he enjoyed about Sophie. She gave as good as she got. “Touché.”

“I’m so glad-”

He silenced her with a finger as he slipped his hand inside her bathing suit to reach the secrets hidden there.

With his finger pressed on her damp folds, he rubbed light circles and watched as her eyes dilated and she struggled for control.

“I mean it, Sophie. I want to know you. I want to know how you come.”

She tried to clamp her legs closed, but his hand was already where he needed it to be and he knew she was only causing an increase in ecstasy.

“Unfair,” she murmured.

“If we’re going to do this, we’re also going to be honest.” He was pushing her emotionally, pressing her harder. He didn’t know why, only that Sophie brought out a raw, primitive need to protect and defend, to take care of her. Precisely because she’d always acted as if she didn’t need anybody, he wanted to take control and show her just how good it could be.

He released his intimate hold only long enough to ease her bottoms down her legs. Despite her annoyance with his topic of conversation, sexually he had her enthralled and she helped him by lifting her hips, giving him a view of heaven. His cock was hard as a rock, his body screaming for release. With any other woman, release would be enough, but not with Sophie.

While she eased back against the pillows, he kicked off his shorts and joined her on the bed, surprised and pleased to find she’d removed her bikini top as well.

He took in her full breasts and dusky nipples and drew a shuddering breath. “Oh darlin’, you are something.”

She blushed. “There it is again. That hint of a Southern accent,” she said with a pleased smile.

“You like it?”

She grinned. “What can I say? You’ve got a lot to like,” she said, her attention settling on his solid erection.

“Glad the feeling’s mutual.”

“Mmm.” She reached for him, but he playfully slapped her hand away. If she touched him now it’d be over before it started.

“Now quit changing the subject.” He eased beside her naked body and brushed a long, lingering kiss over her lips. “What makes you come?” he asked her again as he slipped his finger deep and deeper inside her.

She let out a moan and her hips writhed in restless motion, clenching around him.

“It feels good, but you don’t come this way, do you? You need to be on top.”

Her hips stopped moving, her breathy noises ceased.

Score one for him, he thought, pleased he knew her so well. “Baby, I’m gonna change that.”

“Nobody has before.” Her eyes flashed with the challenge.

“Luckily for you, I’m not nobody,” he said, bringing his mouth down hard on hers.

Her entire body was as silky smooth as it looked and she smelled as delicious as he’d imagined. As for preliminaries, apparently they’d had all they were going to get-this time. She was hungry for him, too, matching him kiss for kiss, touch for eager touch.

As he’d expected, she attempted to take control, hooking her leg around his and straddling him between her thighs. Fortunately for her, he was stronger and able to flip them until she lay flat on her back.

“You don’t play fair,” she said.

“You’ll thank me for it later.” He reached out, cupping her breast in his hand, feeling her distended nipple press into his palm. He fleshed out the weight and feel, all the while making sure he aroused her further with every caress, every touch.

She fought him at first, her eyes open and wary, but eventually pleasure outweighed her determination and her eyelashes fluttered shut. He took it as a sign of trust and leaned down, drawing one nipple into his mouth.

She gasped aloud, but when he began a steady flicking with his tongue, she relaxed into the sensations. Ignoring his own body’s need, he focused on hers. Never neglecting her breasts-first one, then the other-he cupped her feminine mound in his hand, determined to bring her to release and to be right there with her.

Her hips jerked upward and she whimpered, her desire for increased pressure obvious.

He slid upward so he could see her face. “I hear you,” he whispered softly in her ear, and ground his hand harder.

Her breaths came in shallow gasps and he saw she was close. He could make her come this way or he could be inside her when she did.

No contest.

He lifted himself over her and reached for the condom he’d put on the dresser earlier. She opened her eyes at the crinkling sound. Blue eyes he found way too sexy and welcoming.

She bent one leg and he said, “Don’t even try it, babe.”

“What, you think you’re a mind reader?”

“Are you telling me you weren’t about to try and flip on top?”

A telltale pink flush tinged her cheeks.

“Sophie, Sophie,” he said, poising himself over her. “Did I not promise you that you’d thank me?”

He kissed her at the same time he entered her in a smooth, damp thrust. As he slid deep inside, he realized he should probably be thanking her. Nobody had ever felt this good.

She picked up his rhythm quickly. Each time he pumped harder, she clenched her muscles, wrapping him in moist, intense heat. Each thrust brought him higher and higher still. He had to trust he was keeping his word and she was moving closer, too, because he was beyond thought, beyond reason. Beyond stopping.

Suddenly his world exploded in bright light and an ecstasy unlike any he’d ever known.

RILEY KNEW HER too well. Sophie’s body still pounded with the aftermath of a release she’d had no control over. He hadn’t moved from on top of her, his breath warm against her neck. He’d played on her biggest weakness and then proceeded to break down all her barriers until he’d called the shots. Making her vulnerable. To him.

“Damn you,” she muttered, doing all she could to hold back tears. She hadn’t cried since her first time and that had been because of the pain.

He rolled off and propped his head against one arm. “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said, brushing her tangled hair from her face.

She shook her head. “You didn’t. It’s just…”

“You always cry after sex?”

The word sex did it. She smacked him in the arm but, before she could speak or explain, he spoke.

“It wasn’t just sex.” He paused. “But I don’t want to talk about what it was.”

In a stupid way and because she was coming to know Riley, she understood. He had walls. So did she.

“That’s fine. I don’t want to explain the tears, either. Just don’t say you proved yourself correct and we’ll be fine.”

He grinned and something inside her righted itself again.

They were two complicated people at a complicated time in their lives. She didn’t need a man to make her life complete-she never had. But for some reason it was important that she matter to Riley.

“Ready for round two?” he asked with a seductive twinkle in his eyes.

Her body heated up all over again, but the jarring ring of the telephone interrupted her before she could reply.

She shot him a curious glance. “Nobody I know has this phone number.”

“Me neither. Elizabeth has my cell, that’s all.” He gestured to the pile of personal things on the nightstand.

She shrugged and answered the phone. “Hello?”

“Sophie? This is Amy.”

“Hi, Amy. What can I do for you?”

“I’m sorry to bother you but I need your help.”

The panic in her voice called to Sophie’s take-charge instincts and she sat up in bed. “Of course. What’s wrong?”

“I can’t believe this. I really can’t. My mother’s in jail.”

“What?” Sophie asked, stunned.

Riley nudged her arm. “What’s going on? Did Spencer surface?”

She shook her head and held up one finger, silently asking him to wait. “What do you mean Rose is in jail? Where’s Darla?”

Amy let out a groan. “Right there with her. I never made it to the party because I had an awful migraine, so I was laid up in bed. Next thing I know, the phone rings and it’s Mom asking me to bail them out.” Amy proceeded to tell Sophie the gory details of what led to the arrest.

Sophie alternated between holding in peals of laughter and exclaims of shocked disbelief. “So you’re on your way to the station?”

“Actually I can barely lift my head to drive. That’s why I’m calling. Can you please go bail them out for me?”

“Of course. Hang on while I find a pen and paper.” She wandered the room naked in search of her purse, completely aware of Riley’s intense eyes following her every movement, and even more aware of her body’s response to the man.

Finally she found what she needed and grabbed the phone once more. “Just give me the information and we’ll get on it right away.” She jotted everything down, including Amy’s phone number, and promised to call when they had the women safely on their way home.

“So what happened?” Riley asked once she’d hung up.

She realized she was about to further distance him from Spencer’s side of the family. “Are you sure you want to know?”

He shook his head. “No, but lay it on me anyway. Fully armed is fully prepared.” He folded his arms across his chest and waited.

She wondered if he realized what an impressive sight he presented-completely naked, muscled, tanned and so sexy he took her breath away. Which, she admitted, had been the problem since the day they’d met. He flustered her to the point where she didn’t know how to handle anything around her. He took away the control that made her life comfortable and manageable. And making love with him hadn’t diluted his impact as she’d hoped. If anything, she’d only fallen harder for this frustrating, sexy, totally inappropriate man.

“Well?”

She sighed, drawn back to the present. “Apparently, after Myron-that’s the man with the toupee-jumped into the pool, Darla joined him.”

Riley raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

“Things got really loud and rowdy, and thanks to the noise, someone called the police. By that time, Darla was standing on the diving board ready to cannonball.” Sophie paused. She really didn’t want to continue this part of the story.

“Go on,” Riley said through clenched teeth.

Sophie closed her eyes and said, “She was naked.”

“Oh gross,” he muttered.

“Anyway, she was skinny-dipping and Rose got upset and went in after her to pull her out. She claimed all she really wanted to do was get her sister wrapped in a towel and sobered up.”

“But?”

“But when she jumped in after her, her bathing-suit top fell off and that’s when the cops arrived and arrested them for indecent exposure,” Sophie finally finished, and opened her eyes to see how Riley had taken the news.

Not well if his flushed cheeks were any indication. “And the Florida cops have never heard of issuing a warning to a bunch of stupid people?” he asked.

Sophie winced. She’d thought the same thing. “Apparently it wasn’t the first time.” Before he could work himself up further, she reached for his hand. “I’ve got to go bail them out. Amy can’t do it because she’s laid up with a migraine and can’t move. Why don’t you wait here-”

Riley groaned. “I’m coming with you,” he said, obviously resigned to his fate.

RILEY HAD SEEN his share of precincts. He’d bailed high-school and college buddies out of county jails after juvenile pranks and drunken brawls. But he’d never had to rescue a relative from their own blatant stupidity.

A relative he couldn’t afford to claim as his, yet he also couldn’t ignore the sense of responsibility he felt for the older women. Blood was one hell of a motivator, he thought as he entered the police station with Sophie by his side.

Sophie. Now there was another complication in his life. He’d hoped having sex with her would finally get her out of his system. After all, that was the way it usually worked. Sex, some good times, some more sex and Riley and his woman of the moment went their separate ways. Once his marriage had ended, he’d never had the desire to stay in a long-term relationship and he’d never thought to give another one a try.

Thanks to a few psych classes in college and a couple of sessions with a shrink, he also knew why. Spencer had rejected him despite his best efforts to prove himself and as a result, deep down, the great Riley Nash believed he wasn’t worthy of love and acceptance.

“What can I do for you folks?” the desk sergeant asked as they approached.

“We’d like to post bail,” Sophie said.

“For Darla Atkins and her sister, Rose.” Riley realized they didn’t know what last name Rose went by.

The burly man behind the metal desk leaned back in his chair. “A dollar short and a few minutes late,” he said, laughing. “Somebody beat you to it.”

“Who?” Sophie asked.

But even before he turned around, Riley already knew. His stomach clenched and nausea washed over him, but he straightened his shoulders as he turned to see his father.

“The ladies should be out in a few minutes,” the man behind the desk said. “You realize we had to teach them a lesson, Mr. Atkins.”

Spencer nodded. “Just don’t count on it sticking, Joe.”

“You’ve got your hands full with those two,” the younger man conceded, then turned his attention back to the ringing phone and the paperwork on his desk.

Riley stared at Spencer, acutely aware of Sophie standing behind him. After days of worry, he had no doubt she wanted to hug Spencer and then give him hell for causing her such concern. Instead she stood back, giving him time and space with his old man.

He turned to him now. Instead of demanding answers to a litany of questions as he’d always imagined he’d wish to do, Riley found he just wanted to speak his mind and get the hell out. “So tell me how it is you sort out your priorities,” Riley said, speaking without polite preliminaries. “You’ve always ignored me, but how the hell do you justify taking off on your business and leaving Sophie to handle your mess?”

Riley held up a hand to forestall Spencer from answering before he finished. “Yet you show up now to bail your rowdy sisters out of jail as if you haven’t been MIA for days?” Riley shook his head in disgust.

Spencer bowed his head. “I don’t expect you to understand.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his expensive trousers.

“Riley, let’s give him a chance to explain,” Sophie said, softly. She reached out and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Too bad he was past being comforted.

“You and I have a lot to talk about,” Spencer said to Riley. “Too much to cover right now.”

Riley stared into hazel eyes so like his own they unnerved him. “Don’t worry. I don’t expect anything from you. Not anymore. So give whatever time you have right now to Sophie. Just one favor though.” He forced out the word for his mother and stepfather’s sake.

“Anything.”

Riley scowled, but stepped closer so no one would hear. “Since you never bothered to claim or acknowledge me when I needed you to, don’t bother doing it now. My mother, father and his campaign will thank you.”

The color drained from Spencer’s face. Riley forced back the wave of guilt. After all, he wasn’t the one who’d denied the relationship for years.

“I can see where having a gay father would be an embarrassment.”

Riley shook his head. “You’ve got it wrong. I could care less. But Harlan’s my father and he’s spent his life preparing for a run for Washington. The fact is that his constituency is solid right wing and I’m only looking to protect him.”

Something suspiciously like pride flashed in Spencer’s eyes. “He raised you well.”

Riley inclined his head.

“Then he not only has my gratitude but my promise. I won’t interfere with his campaign in any way.”

In other words, Spencer wouldn’t publicly claim Riley as his son and that’s all he needed from this man.

He glanced at Sophie. “I’ll meet you outside.”

Her eyes were damp as she nodded.

Riley walked out the door, knowing he’d gotten what he came for. Neither his life nor his stepfather’s life would change in any way. But instead of the relief and satisfaction he expected, Riley only felt a bone-deep emptiness.