Hart To Hart (11 page)

“So that’s all I’m good for? Transportation?”

His brows rose. “What else did you have in mind?”

She glanced over at him. “Do you always have sex on the brain?”

“Who said anything about sex?” He held up a finger. “If you must know, no. Only after you showed up.”

“When did you learn to flirt?” In the last few years of their marriage, he’d grown serious.

“Got lots of practice after the divorce.”

That stung but only for a moment. He was lying. “Will insurance replace your car?”

“I haven’t filed the paperwork.”

She groaned as she pulled into the lot next to the hotel. “Ready?”

“Yup. Oh, one more thing to keep us safe. We shouldn’t remain in one place for too long. It will be harder to target us that way.”

She shivered, not wanting to think about something more happening to any of them. “Meaning what? You want to leave town?”

“No. I was thinking that instead of sitting in front of the tube all night, we could go to the movies, eat out a few times, and maybe even do some outdoor stuff—like horseback riding or something. We won’t keep a schedule.”

Ellie couldn’t decide if he was trying to ask her out on a date or wanted to play bodyguard.
Let it go
. “Sounds good.”

When they informed the front desk that Ellie would be checking out early, Vic requested they text him if anyone asked about her. “Please don’t tell anyone she’s not here. We have reason to believe someone is trying to harm my family.”

The young man’s cheeks sagged. “Of course, Mr. Hart. I’ll make a note in the computer to let the other reservationists know.”

“Appreciate it.”

As they made their way to the elevator, Vic glanced around. That made her more nervous. “You think this person is lying in wait?” she asked.

“I didn’t live this long by being careless.” He looked behind them once more. “Though the car crash never should have happened. Fuck. I was too distracted.”

She placed a hand on his arm and stopped him. “First off, you couldn’t have prevented it. Secondly, stop pretending you’re some impenetrable soldier. I like it better when you admit you’re afraid or that you’re actually human.”

He held her gaze for a moment. “See why I need you?”

Don’t go there
. “Standing here makes me more vulnerable, right? Let’s get to the room.” She pressed the elevator button.

Now he smiled. “I hear ya.”

Ellie hoped she was doing the right thing, but Vic needed the time to find this madman. He’d worry less if she stayed at his place.

Once in the room, she set her suitcase on the table and opened it up. Vic moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “It’s so good to have you back.”

She twisted around in his arms. “Vic, I’m not back.” He leaned closer and her pulse raced.

“I know, but until I find this person, we might as well make the most of the situation, and enjoy life while we have the chance. That’s all I’m asking.” He stroked her cheek with a knuckle, and memories rushed back as waves of familiarity washed over her.

They were both consenting adults. For a moment, it was as if twenty years had disappeared. “I don’t know if it’s smart to get involved.” She didn’t want to admit they already were involved.

“You afraid you won’t be able to walk away? From this?” He placed her hand on his rigid cock.

The man was a master at making love. No one else could take her higher or faster. “Yes, I can.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Damn. She had no answer. He squeezed her hand on top of his dick and a spray of lust hit her. The bed was rumpled from last night. The release might help push what happened to Charlotte out of her mind for a few minutes and provide some peace. God, she was so full of rationalization it was pathetic.

Should she or shouldn’t she? Where was that daisy when she needed it?

Chapter Ten

“I
f I had
my cuffs, I’d arrest you, and demand you do as I wish.” Vic stepped back and pawed through Ellie’s suitcase.

She chuckled. Vic was his old crazy self today—the self that existed only during their first years of marriage. “What are you looking for?”

“Something to tie you up with.” He whipped around and faced her. “You don’t have a flogger in there, do you? I think someone needs to be punished.”

She suspected he was trying to lighten the mood. “You are a piece of work. I don’t need any of that stuff anymore.”

“You like it the old-fashioned, boring way?” He moved closer.

She opened her mouth. “Did you think what we did was
boring
? We didn’t use anything.”

“True, but I was thinking more about you just now. You always appreciated a bit of spice.”

Damn him for baiting her. She hadn’t decided if it would be wise to engage in sex with him again, but Vic knew what he was doing. The downside was that the more intimate they became, the harder it would be to leave—but leave she would. Ellie had her gallery to run.

In the old days, she had liked to change thing up in the bedroom. “That was the old me.”

He tugged her close. “Good to know. So, if you want me to crawl on top of you and do it missionary style, I can oblige. As long as I get to suck on your bountiful breasts and fuck your sweet pussy, I’ll be in heaven.”

Now she actually laughed. “You have a dirty mouth.”

“Oh, yeah? How about you help me wash up first then?”

She wasn’t talking about physical dirt, but showering after rushing to make sure Charlotte was okay had caused her to perspire—and not in a good way. “Sure.”

He grinned. “Since I’m so incapacitated, can you help me with my shirt?”

“You mean your bloodstained shirt? Sure. You should have picked up a clean one when you were home.”

“I was a bit preoccupied.”

As was she. Once she removed his shirt, she pressed on his abs and directed him back to the bed. Being in control was a heady experience. “Boots are next.”

She dropped to her knees and tugged them off.

“You look good down there,” he said.

Ellie gave him the finger. “Watch it.”

He laughed. “If I recall, you used to like getting on your knees and sucking on my cock.”

That was true. “I was young and stupid back then.” Giving him a bigger head wouldn’t help either of them.

“Guess, you aren’t interested in a lick then.”

She hadn’t meant that, but she wisely kept quiet as she took off his socks. She stood then leaned over to undo the button on his jeans. A moment later, she was on her back on the bed with Vic on top of her.

“Your arm. Don’t hurt it.” He was leaning on his elbow.

“It’s fine.” He dipped his head and placed feathery kisses on her lips.

The soft touch surprised and delighted her, making her want more. Ellie cupped the back of his head and begged for entrance. He obliged. Boy, did he. With a passion she hadn’t experienced in a while, Vic plundered and demanded her submission, and Ellie gave herself willingly.

As much as she wanted to get naked and make love with him, she needed the shower. “I thought I was going to wash you.”

“Hmm. We do have all day to spend in bed, I guess.”

No, they had a potential killer to catch, but she wouldn’t argue semantics. Her pussy was in too much need.

Vic pushed up off the bed and held out his hand. “I’m ready.”

So was she. “Get the water warm, while I undress.”

“Let me help you,” Vic said. “It’ll be faster.”

If he couldn’t manage to take off his own clothes, how could he take off hers? Sometimes, she suspected Vic acted contrary just to make her feistier. “Fine.”

She sat on the bed and held her legs out straight. After two quick tugs, her boots landed on the floor. He slipped off her socks then pulled her to her feet using his uninjured arm.

“Now for the good part.” He grinned. “Don’t move.”

Oh God. She remembered all too well when he used to ask her to remain like a statue. The less she was able to move, the more she wanted to. “Just wait until it’s your turn.”

The image of her sucking on his cock in the shower came to mind. He’d fold quicker than Kenny Rogers with a busted hand. This ought to be fun.

Vic remained silent as he slipped off her shirt. Instead of letting it fall to the floor, the neat freak folded it and placed it on top of her suitcase. Why he left the shoes in the middle of the room was anyone’s guess.

“I love your choice of lingerie.” He licked his lips and her damned nipples puckered.

“No tasting until after I’ve washed.”

“Did I say I was going to pounce on them or tug and tease them until your pussy dripped?”

She glanced at the ceiling. “You are so going down.”

“I can’t wait.” He slipped off her bra, set it on the bed, and then undid her jeans. “You can help me with the right side.”

Together they lowered her pants. She stepped out of them, and as expected, he folded them, and then placed the bra and jeans with the shirt.

“The panty removal is my favorite,” Vic said, his forefinger tracing a line across the top of the waistband. “I love to see what’s hidden underneath, even if I’ve just tasted it.”

“Better hurry. The offer to wash you expires in three minutes.”

“That so?”

He stepped behind her, slipped his palm down her belly, and dipped two fingers into her very wet pussy. The man could make her come with a look. “You’re not being fair. You have your jeans on.”

Which meant she couldn’t grab his cock. She didn’t care about his rule not to move and turned around to face him.

“Fine.” By twisting his hips, he was able to get out of both his jeans and briefs using one hand.

“You know, despite your advanced age, you still look good.” A hell of a lot better than she did.

“Advanced age, huh? You’ll pay for that. Panties. Drop ’em.”

He wanted her to do it? Fine. She turned her back, hooked her fingers in the waistband, and slowly lowered them. While she wasn’t proud of her rear, Brian always claimed it was her best feature. One more reason why she’d been smart to drop him. Once she stepped out of the bikini bottoms, she faced him again.

Vic sucked in his bottom lip. “We need to shower fast because I’m not sure I can wait much longer.”

He sure was good for her ego. Ellie held out her hand. “Then let me escort you to the cleansing chamber.”

While the water warmed, he removed the bandage from his forehead while she pulled off the pad from his back. The area wasn’t as red as before and looked like it was healing nicely.

They stepped into the tub, and while it was too small for sex, it would do for washing.

“I can’t help with washing your hair, but I can do your pussy,” he offered.

She cracked up. “It’s too tight in here to be doing stuff like that. Let me wash you first then you can do me.”

“I like the sound of that.”

They slipped by each other until Vic was under the showerhead. He dipped his head to wet it then poured some shampoo on his hair. He’d kept it short, so lathering it with his good hand wasn’t difficult. Once his hair foamed, he rinsed quickly.

“You want to do my back?” he asked over his shoulder.

“Yes.”

She lathered her palms and washed his shoulders, remembering very well that they used to do this every night. Vic’s muscles were more pronounced now. He was leaner and fitter. When her fingers edged close to his burn, she hesitated. “Will it hurt if I touch it?”

“Can’t feel a thing.”

She didn’t want him to be self-conscious, so she scrubbed that area the same as the other shoulder. When she cleaned his back, his muscles flexed. Oh my, how she loved his powerful body.

His ass was next, and what a fine ass it was—two perfect round orbs that were hard as steel when he tightened his cheeks. She dragged the bar from hip to hip then dipped the bar in between his butt cheeks.

“Tickles.”

She did it to see him clench. “You are such a girl.”

He whipped around. “Your turn and we’ll see who’s a girl.”

“I haven’t done your chest yet.”
Or your cock.

He let out an exasperated huff, but she could tell he was putting on a show. “Be quick.”

She dragged her hands down his pecs and stopped to cop a squeeze. His body was pure heaven. She lowered her gaze to his rippled abs—abs that belonged in a magazine. “Don’t you eat bad stuff?”