Under the Boardwalk

CHAPTER TEN

Quinn watched Ariana sleep in the king-size bed in his hotel room. She’d taken him off guard with that heated kiss in the lobby, even more so by making him promise he’d remain hands on, not off. But no sooner had he begun to massage her temples in an attempt to relax her, than she’d fallen into a deep sleep, leaving her head in his lap and him completely aroused.

He’d moved her head to the pillows and covered her with the blanket, then stripped to his boxers and climbed in on the other side. He lay far from where she was curled into the pillow and far from temptation, because despite her seductive words, she needed sleep. Still, keeping his hands to himself wasn’t easy.

Neither was falling asleep, and as he turned on his side, he couldn’t help but stare. Although technically this wasn’t his bed, something about having Ari here with him felt too damn right. Her black eyelashes covered her paler skin and she slept peacefully. More so than he’d been able to manage since she’d unloaded her feelings on him earlier that night. He’d asked for it but that didn’t make the guilt and sense of responsibility he felt easier to bear.

The distinctive ring of a cell phone broke both his thoughts and the quiet around him. A glance at the nightstand told him his phone lay silent, and he realized the muffled sound came from inside Ari’s large purse. The phone rang again and she stirred. Not wanting her to awaken, he swung his legs over the side of the mattress and looked through her bag for the phone.

By the time he found it, the ringing had stopped and the display showed only MISSED MESSAGE with her mother’s phone number. He wasn’t sure whether or not to wake her, and glanced down at the items he’d removed from her purse. He couldn’t help but notice a crocheted pillow staring up at him with stitching that read Sisters and Best Friends 4 Ever.

Shit.

“Quinn? What are you doing up?” Ari’s voice called to him. “Come back to bed.”

A smile quirked his lips. “Now, that’s an invitation I can’t refuse.”

“I don’t expect you to.” She laughed, a sultry, sensual Come here he couldn’t possibly mistake.

“Your phone was ringing,” he forced himself to tell her.

“Did you check the number?”

“Your mother. Do you want to call back?” He palmed the cool metal in his hand.

“Come here, Quinn. And leave the phone.”

He placed the cell in her bag. “What’s going on?”

“I want to see your eyes,” she said softly.

Curious, he walked to the edge of the bed and met her gaze.

“The only reason I’d call my mother back now was if it was an emergency.” Her compelling, serious gaze stared into his.

“It’s the middle of the night. Doesn’t it stand to reason any call would be important?” he asked.

She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “You know my mother by now. She’d call at this hour just to ask me to say good night to the monkey,” Ari said wryly. “So I’m asking you, is it important?”

In other words, were her parents calling about Zoe? Quinn could all but read her mind. All the while her steady gaze never left his. She obviously trusted his word that much. Trusted him.

He swallowed hard. “It’s not an emergency.”

She smiled, patting the mattress beside her. “Then come back to bed.”

Though her question should have overloaded his sense of responsibility, instead her blind faith freed him to be with her right now. He strode around to his side of the large bed with every intention of making it feel a lot smaller. After all, Ari knew he had secrets that affected her and she accepted him anyway. Maybe a better man would deny himself this opportunity, but hell, when had Quinn ever considered himself a candidate for sainthood?

He lifted the covers and climbed back in beside her only to discover she’d already slipped out of her skirt. Wearing a tight “Damon’s” top and skimpy panties, she curved one finger his way, silently asking him to close the gap between them.

He moved from his now cold side of the bed to her much warmer one. His entire body was on fire, burning with his wanting her for so long. “Be sure,” he warned. “Because once I touch you, there’s no turning back.”

Her green-eyed gaze met his. “How’s this for sure?” Taking him by surprise, she grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head, revealing a black lace bra and creamy mounds of flesh.

He exhaled a sharp breath, taking in her softly rounded cleavage and erect nipples waiting for his hands, his fingertips, his mouth. “You do realize that your quiet-professor image doesn’t suit you?” Maybe because he saw the woman inside. One who was willing to take risks for her twin and slowly grow more emboldened by her actions. He couldn’t put Ariana into the conservative mold in which she painted herself.

“I think it depends on your perspective,” she murmured.

Her answer took him off guard. It damn well figured that when he finally had her just where he wanted her, half dressed in his bed, they were getting to some serious conversation he couldn’t let slide.

He tipped his head to one side. “Are you saying I see a side of you others don’t?”

“Right now you do.” A naughty smile tilted her lips.

Unwilling to end their talk but unable to not touch her, he drew a finger down one side of her face. “I’ve come to know you pretty well.”

“You think so?”

He nodded. “Yeah. And I’d say the professor’s clothes and her uptight demeanor are a cover.”

“I thought I was the psych major,” she reminded him in a teasing tone.

But he didn’t miss the fact that her voice quivered beneath the lighthearted banter. Yet another signal he’d struck home and she was afraid. Afraid of him getting too close. “You might be the smarty-pants psych professor, but I’m the-”

Quinn bit the inside of his cheek, catching himself in time. “I’m the people-watcher around here. I can recognize a con and a cover in no time.” He’d been about to say that he was the cop, good at reading people with something to hide. He couldn’t allow himself to slip again.

It looked like they both had good reason to fear each other. Being with Ari allowed him to let his guard down in a way he never had before. This was dangerous stuff and they were both walking a fine line here. He sensed the precipice they were on, their abilities to reach inside each other-and that was something he couldn’t allow. Not while he was still undercover.

Instead of trying to figure her out, he ought to just take what she offered and be satisfied. Since when wasn’t a woman’s offer of her body enough for him?

Since the woman was Ari.

“Don’t you think we’ve done enough analyzing for one night?” she asked.

“Not nearly,” he said, easing her shoulders down onto the pillow. “I could spend the entire night researching you.” The time for talk had ended.

He reached for the front hook of her bra and he released the clasp and slowly lowered the straps down past her shoulders to her forearms, then peeled the cups away and revealed her bare breasts. Against the cooler air, her nipples puckered into rigid peaks, and against his boxers, his groin grew thick and hard with wanting her.

He leaned forward and brushed a lingering kiss over her lips, letting his tongue dart inside her moist mouth and taste all of her, before trailing equally wet kisses down her neck and throat, her chest and cleavage. He ended exactly where he wanted to be, inhaling the fragrant scent of her skin, his mouth on one breast. With his tongue, he traced the slope of one mound of her flesh, encircling her nipple in teasing strokes.

She sucked in a deep breath, then let out an electric moan of satisfaction when he pulled her into his mouth and began an insistent suckling that had her writhing with obvious burning need. She threaded her fingers through his hair, urging him closer, silently begging him to continue. And he did, grazing on first one breast, and then, when the sensation obviously became too great for her, he switched to the other, laving and giving it equal attention. It seemed he’d been waiting forever to have her come apart for him. Feeling her quiver with need and shake with desire beneath his hands gave him more pleasure than he’d ever imagined.

So much that when she reached for him, obviously intent on reciprocating, he shook his head. “I’m not finished with you yet.”

She forced heavy eyelids open and a sassy smile curved her lips. “But you can’t deny me equal time after.”

His body tensed at the mere thought. “Honey, I wouldn’t dream of it.” But first he had other objectives to complete.

With her arms safely at her sides-because he wouldn’t last a second if she touched him-he eased one finger into each side of her panties and, with her help, brought them down over her legs. He tossed them onto the floor, glanced at Ari lying naked but for a flimsy bra securing her arms, and thought he’d died and gone to heaven. But heaven couldn’t possibly look this good or offer so much, Quinn thought as he came over her, easing her legs apart.

She looked at him, wide-eyed and shockingly trusting. It was the trust that wreaked havoc with his heart, and that same trust he tucked away to think about later.

“You’re playing so unfairly,” she said while her body quivered with expectation and anticipation.

“I don’t think you’re really all that upset.” He chuckled, then rested his hands on her thighs and dipped his head, his intent clear.

She let out an exaggerated sigh. “I suppose not,” she said, too languidly for his liking, so he dipped his head and tasted her for the first time.

At the first touch of his silken tongue, Ariana’s back arched off the bed and tremors shot through her body. “Oooh, definitely not,” she said, a low ragged moan rumbling from her throat. She swallowed hard, barely able to think at all.

His warm breath combined with his slick tongue and just the right pressure of his teeth on her most sensitive spot had her trembling, on the verge of climax. She closed her eyes and he reached for one hand, wrapping his fingers through hers. That small act was so intimate, a surge of emotion enveloped her, bringing her higher still.

His tongue dipped inside her and another wave of tremors began. As if sensing the moment, he pressed against her with the palm of his hand, coaxing her closer still. Without warning, the feelings converged. The slide of his tongue, the delicious rolling of his palm over her mound and the delicate rasping of his teeth, all exploded into one long spiraling climax that seemed to go on and on. Just as he went on and on, wringing every last drop of sensation out of her.

The tremors continued even after Quinn released her hand and began to ease himself upward. She realized he’d managed to pull off his boxers, because his lean, hard, naked body touched every inch of hers as he moved. All muscle and defined male, he came over her. He bracketed her head with his hands and aligned their bodies so they came into intimate contact, his straining erection nestled in the vee of her legs.

That easily she came alive again. The desire she thought he’d sated returned, letting her know the previous orgasm, though incredible, had been but a prelude. Her body pulsed with need as an aching emptiness begged to be filled.

Needing to touch him, she pulled her arms free of the restricting bra straps and wrapped her arms around his waist so she cupped his behind in both hands.

Quinn let out a low groan. “What you do to me…” He shook his head. “It defies description.”

His groin pulsed low and hard against her feminine mound and she couldn’t help but smile. “That’s good to know, because I’m pretty swept away myself.”

He rolled to one side, opening the night table drawer and pulling out a sealed box of condoms. Ariana couldn’t believe how ridiculously happy she was to see that he hadn’t used them before. With no discussion, he opened them and sheathed himself, then he returned to pick up where they’d left off.

But Ariana wasn’t content to let him have his way this time. She hooked her leg around his and maneuvered him onto his back.

“Looking to be in charge?” he asked wryly.

“You don’t seem like you’re complaining, either.” She lowered herself over him, slowly, deliberately taking him inside. As she felt him full, hard, and completely in her body, the mix of emotions was almost too much for her to handle and she closed her eyes.

“Ari. Look at me.”

She did as he asked and Quinn used that precise moment to thrust upward, impaling himself deep inside her. Their gazes connected as tightly as their bodies, forcing her to acknowledge her own feelings, even if she didn’t voice them aloud.

No matter his intent, looking into his darkened gaze made her come face-to-face with the wealth of emotion he pulled from her. And then he shifted beneath her and she couldn’t think at all. Her body began another rapid climb toward fulfillment, this time more satisfying with Quinn joining her for the ride.

Her hands grasped his and she gyrated her hips in a circular motion until her most sensitive spot ground tight against him. Clenching her internal muscles, she gripped him in warm, wet heat and again her body reached higher until together they found a matching rhythm all their own.

His hips pumped upward, hers downward, faster and faster, the intensity spiraling beyond reason. Unable to maintain any semblance of control, she stretched herself over him and ground her hips into his, her climax beginning and peaking almost at the exact same time.

Waves and waves of rapture washed over her and she rode the crest, rode him, prolonging the exquisite sensations and feelings until she was wrung dry.

• • •

Ariana woke up to the most pleasurable feeling of being wrapped in complete warmth and safety. She couldn’t ever remember such utter bliss and she inhaled deep. Musky scents assailed her, scents of passion and Quinn. Unwilling to let herself think and possibly spoil the moment, she eased back into him. He was spooned around her, holding her tight.

“You’re up?” he asked in a low, morning-roughened voice.

“Mmm-hmm.”

He nuzzled her neck in reply. “You smell delicious in the morning.”

“That’s ridiculous,” she said and laughed, but she’d thought the same thing about him. “You don’t snore.” The words popped out without thought.

“Did you expect me to?”

“No. It was just an observation.” She wasn’t about to explain her mother’s views on men, love, and snoring, since they couldn’t possibly mean anything to herself and Quinn. Not at all, she reassured herself. But her heart was pounding hard in her chest while her panicked brain reminded her this was temporary and her life was hours away in a small college town in Vermont.

A knock sounded from the other room, louder with each successive rapping noise. “Did you hear that?” she asked.

“Unfortunately, yeah.” Quinn got out of bed, but not before rolling her onto her back and treating her to a morning-after kiss that rocked her world and aroused her all over again. “Wait here.”

As if she had anywhere else to go, at least for the moment. “I’ll just call my parents back while you get the door,” she said.

He has risen naked, then pulled on a pair of jeans he’d tossed over a chair, zipped them but ignored the button. The result was disheveled and sexy, and would convey a message to whoever was at the door that they’d interrupted and were unwelcome.

She bit the inside of her cheek as he walked out of the room, pulling the door shut behind him. Left alone in his bed, she had to admit she liked being the bad girl who’d spent the night in Quinn’s bed, then had to sneak her way home in the morning wearing last night’s wrinkled clothes. Maybe she was making up for lost time, because Lord knew she’d never been a bad girl before. That had been Zoe’s job.

Zoe. She’d trusted Quinn’s word that Zoe was safe and her parents’ phone call had nothing to do with her missing twin. Trusted him in favor of a night of blissful lovemaking in his bed. Blissful sex, she corrected herself, but her rapid pulse and full heart didn’t back up her claim.

She scooted to the bottom of the bed and reached to the floor for her bag. She dialed home but nobody answered, meaning they were either ignoring call-waiting or Spank had pulled the answering machine cords out of the wall. Then again, it could be the workmen. Either way, if her mother had needed her that badly, all she’d have to do was call the hotel and ask for Quinn’s room. Certain everything at home was fine, she rose and found a large T-shirt of Quinn’s that she pulled over her head, and then started for the bathroom.

She passed the door to the outer suite on the way, and since Quinn hadn’t shut the door completely, she clearly heard the sound of raised voices traveling toward her. And though she told herself she shouldn’t eavesdrop, she couldn’t help but listen anyway. Especially once she realized the man in the other room was Damon and Quinn was obviously not happy with the man’s interruption.

• • •

Quinn didn’t appreciate being woken in the morning anymore than he liked Damon’s obvious attempt to find out who he’d brought up to his room. Quinn leaned against the wall beside the bedroom door and contemptuously eyed the man who’d barged in.

Where Damon was concerned, the stronger Quinn came on, the more the boss respected him and the more responsibility he gave. “I work for you but my private life is my own,” Quinn said.

“Have a cup of coffee and chill.” Damon held a hand up in front of him. “I just heard rumblings downstairs that you were hot and heavy with some broad in the lobby, and I came upstairs to give you my congratulations. You’ve been like a goddamn monk since coming to work here, and I figured it’s about time you got some action.”

Quinn rolled his shoulders to relieve the building tension. “Let’s say this has been long overdue.” In ways this man couldn’t begin to understand. Being with Ari had been destined from the moment he’d saved her ass on the beach, only now he was in deeper than ever before.

“It’s her, isn’t it?” Damon stepped closer, lowering his voice.

Quinn wanted Damon gone, and playing along was the only way to accomplish his goal. He nodded. “You said to keep an eye on her, didn’t you?”

“And you’re ever the loyal employee.” Damon belted out a laugh and slapped Quinn on his forearm. “Just make sure she doesn’t find out you offed her twin or you’ll be back to being a monk in no time.”

Still laughing, Damon strode toward the door, turning before he walked out. “My trip’s still on, so make sure you’re not distracted over the weekend,” he said with a nod toward the bedroom.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be one hundred percent business,” Quinn said. If for no other reason than he was dying to wrap up this case and return to his real life.

No sooner had Damon shut the door and it locked behind him, than Ari stepped into the suite, wearing his shirt and an extremely wary expression on her face. She’d obviously heard what Damon said, leaving Quinn to wonder where the hell he stood with her now.

Ariana tried to swallow but since hearing Damon so callously discussing how Quinn had supposedly “offed” her twin, she felt like she had paste in her mouth and a huge lump in the back of her throat.

“I don’t suppose you’d care to explain?” she asked Quinn. But since he’d been less than forthcoming until now, she really didn’t expect any answers.

But she refused to stick around on the basis of pure trust. Not anymore. She’d given him her faith and her body. It was time he offered something in return. But since being on the receiving end of Jeffrey’s ultimatum, Ariana didn’t believe in giving her own. Folding her arms over her chest, she stared at Quinn. And waited.

“You can’t believe everything you hear.”

She laughed, but the sound was as bitter as she felt. “Try another one.”

He spread his hands open wide. “Things aren’t always as they seem?”

A reluctant smile pulled at her mouth. “Better.” But not enough.

She turned and headed back into the bedroom to get dressed. Back into the room where they’d made love. And because they’d been so close, so intimate, because she’d seen him with Sam, in her heart Ariana knew Quinn hadn’t had her sister offed. No way in hell.

But she needed to hear the truth from him or she was through. He still wasn’t talking. She began the embarrassing morning-after process of retrieving her clothes that were scattered around the room. She bent down for her T-shirt when Quinn laid a hand on her shoulder. Her heart beat triple-time in her chest and her skin tingled, memories of last night overwhelming in their intensity.

He knelt down beside her, his breath warm against her neck, and whispered softly in her ear. “I’m an undercover cop and your sister’s safe. There’s nothing else I can tell you.”

She sucked in a startled breath. “You’re a-”

He placed a hand over her mouth. “Do not repeat that word out loud. Especially not here. Understand?”

She nodded and he released her.

Her cheeks tingled from his touch as surprise and something so much deeper coursed through her veins. His last slip of the tongue had been real. Quinn was a cop, not one of Damon’s goons. Unless he’d turned, but she knew that wasn’t even a remote possibility. She’d always known he was a good man. She wouldn’t have slept with him otherwise. And she’d sensed his nobleness even when he refused to give her the answers she needed. Which was why her feelings and emotions regarding this enigmatic man were bizarre, conflicting, and now that she’d slept with him, even more complicated.

He turned her toward him. “I’ve swept this place for bugs but I’m not about to risk a lengthy discussion here.” He still spoke at barely a whisper.

Ariana remained silent, the enormity of what he’d revealed just now settling over her. Not his occupation, which was enough of a shock, but the fact that he’d trusted her with the information. She understood what that must have cost him.

The most she could do in return was accept his request to remain silent. Reaching out, she cupped his cheek in her hand. “You didn’t sleep with me because Damon said you should stick close to me.”

“Did it feel like that’s why I slept with you?”

She sealed her lips over his in reply.