Authors: Anne Rainey
Gracie didn’t want to think negatively. She wanted this over too badly for that. “Who comes up with this stuff?”
“Unfortunately, there are a lot of people on the Net with something to hide. A company can make quite a profit off them. Now, hackers are a whole different breed. They don’t need the software to hide their IP addresses.”
Gracie placed her hand over Wade’s to stop the caressing. Getting turned on and not being able to do anything about it wasn’t her idea of a good time. “They don’t?”
Jonas looked at her hand and winked, as if he knew what she was feeling. Thankful y he didn’t comment. She wasn’t sure how she would’ve handled it if he had. “Nope. A hacker wil just find an IP address of a trusted host, and then they’l modify the packet headers. It’l look as if it’s coming from a legitimate source.”
Wade cursed. “Tricky bastards.”
She couldn’t agree more. “We can stil bring the e-mails to the police, though, right? I mean, maybe they could track down the right Internet service provider.”
Jonas shook his head. “They’d have to get a court order first in order to get the ISP to hand over their records. And since our boy hasn’t technical y done anything wrong, I highly doubt they’re going to go to those lengths.”
“Nothing wrong? Have you seen her, Jonas?”
Jonas held up a hand. “Don’t get so damn testy. I’m not saying this asshole doesn’t deserve a bul et for the shit he’s put Gracie through, but he’s not exactly a terrorist here. In the grand scheme of things, a stalker is pretty fucking low on the list.”
To diffuse the rising tension she could feel brewing between the two men, Gracie leaned back against Wade’s chest and said, “You both curse way too much.”
Wade wrapped an arm around her waist. “I’ve been told.”
“Then maybe you should clean it up a bit, Mr. Harrison.”
He smiled down at her and her heart did a little flip. “What’s my incentive?”
It wasn’t so much the question as the heated promise behind it. “What do you want?”
“A kiss every time I curb my tongue,” he quickly said.
She liked the idea, way too much. “And if you don’t manage to curb your tongue?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Huh?”
“You should be punished, don’t you think?”
“You can spank me. How’s that sound?”
Jonas cleared his throat. “Uh, does this include me too?”
She laughed. Wade didn’t. “Find your own woman, Phoenix.”
Jonas tsked. “Always a black cloud.”
“So, back to the e-mails,” Gracie said. They could work out the details of their little bargain later. When they were alone.
Jonas sat up and started tapping the keys. “Right.”
Silence descended over them. Gracie could feel the tension in the air. They were al hoping her stalker had made it easy for them.
Several minutes later, Jonas was scowling at the computer screen. “Judging by the first fifty—and for the record this guy must seriously have nothing else to do—it’s pretty obvious he’s masking his IP. The e-mails are a dead end.” He looked over at her, his gaze fil ed with regret.
“Sorry.”
“It’s not over yet.”
Wade’s determination renewed her fast waning strength. “What do you mean?”
“We stil have his words. We can learn a lot just by reading his e-mails. The way he talks to you, the terms he uses. There might be something there that’l give us a clue as to where he’s met you.”
“Do you do anything else online?” Jonas asked. “Any social networking sites you belong to?”
“I blog if that’s what you mean.” Realization dawned. “You think he reads my blog or maybe comments?”
Jonas turned his attention back to her computer. “It’s a possibility. What’s the blog address?”
She bit her lower lip before replying, “Uh, I’d rather not say.”
Both men were suddenly staring at her. Wade spoke first. “Why?”
Like a kid in the principal’s office, Gracie felt like squirming. “It’s personal. Like a diary. I feel . . . exposed.”
Wade cupped her chin, forcing her gaze to his. “Whether it’s personal or not, this guy could be one of your readers. In fact, I’m betting he is.
We need to see it, baby. Trust us.”
“I do, it’s just . . .” She couldn’t put into words how important her blog was to her. She used it to stay sane. Her problems with her dad, the stress of working two jobs. Her love life, for crying out loud! She’d mentioned Wade even. She hadn’t used his name, of course, but she’d certainly expounded on his many attributes. She’d confessed that she’d desperately wanted to take him up on his offer of a date. Most of her readers, women who had come across her blog because of one of the books Gracie had posted a review of, had encouraged her to go for it even. It would be too weird if he read those posts and put two and two together.
“We’re not out to embarrass you. Whatever you talk about on your blog, it’s your business. We just want to help, that’s al .”
She didn’t believe that for a second. Oh, he definitely wanted to help. He’d made no bones about the fact that he intended to find the guy harassing her and put a stop to it. But he was also curious. “You and I both know you’d read al the posts. Don’t lie.”
“Fine, I’m interested in you. It’s not a crime, Gracie. Stil , you can trust me with your private thoughts. I won’t hold them against you, sweetheart.”
Trust—there it was again. Clearly she sucked at trusting men. Worse, she sucked at relationships with men. Her experiences with past lovers had al been surface relationships. She’d never felt deeply about any of them. Wade would have nothing less. “I’l agree to show you the blog, but only you.” She turned to Jonas and said, “It’s nothing personal, but some of the things I discuss on there are very private. And, wel , I just—”
“It’s none of my business; I get it.” He reached over and patted her thigh. “Don’t worry, you aren’t hurting my feelings.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks for understanding.”
He shoved his chair back and stood. “But I am hungry. If this is going to take a while, I’m thinking I should order some pizza.”
Wade kissed the top of her head. “Sounds good to me. Pepperoni and green peppers again?”
Her stomach growled. There was nothing quite like a hand-tossed. “No, how about just pepperoni, extra.”
Wade smiled. “Ah, going without the green this time, good choice. Do you like mushrooms?”
Gracie stuck her tongue out. “Ew. I hate those slimy things.”
“You’re kil ing me here.” Wade looked up at Jonas. “Order a medium with extra pep and a large with pep and mushroom.”
Jonas nodded. “Wil do. I’l pick it up; give you time to look at the blog.” He headed toward the front door. With his hand on the knob, he shot Wade a look over his shoulder. “Do I need to do the whole knocking thing again?”
Wade laughed. “No, it’s okay.”
“Good.”
Jonas strode out the door, and she could hear the lock slide into place. She stared at the laptop sitting on the table, knowing she was going to have to show Wade her blog. Her deepest, darkest secrets would be there for him to read. Thinking about it had her wishing she could disappear.
“Now, about that blog.”
Gracie groaned. “You aren’t going to let up, are you?”
“Have I yet?”
True, he hadn’t once given up on her. Not when she’d denied his request of a date and not when she’d told him about her stalker. Some men would have taken it al in then run the other way, not wil ing to get involved with a woman with so much baggage. Wade wasn’t intimidated so easily, though.
“It’s cal ed Gracie’s Ramblings.” She pul ed the laptop close and typed in the address. When her header popped up, she wanted to slink under the table.
“Interesting image you’ve got there, Gracie.”
“Shut up.” Her cheeks heated as she stared at the hot, shirtless cowboy covering the top of the screen. “It was an impulse, that’s al .”
He chuckled. “I’l bet.” The hand he had wrapped around her middle started a slow path down her body. “Maybe I should buy myself a cowboy hat.”
She slapped his forearm. “Concentrate.”
His hand didn’t stop moving until it was covering her pussy. Nuzzling her neck, Wade whispered, “How can I with you sitting on my lap?”
Gracie relaxed against him, the blog forgotten. “What about Jonas?”
He slipped his hand beneath the waistband of the shorts he’d loaned her. Warm, cal oused fingers touched her clit, and she moaned. “We’ve got time. Spread your legs for me, baby.”
“W-Why?”
“I want to play with my pretty pussy.”
Gracie moved her legs apart, giving him better access to her body. “Oh, God, this is so crazy.”
A finger glided between her pussy lips. “No, this is necessary.”
“Necessary?” Her voice sounded as if she’d run a marathon. His effect on her was potent.
Slowly, as if savoring every inch of her, Wade pushed his finger deep. “Yeah. If I don’t touch you, I’l die. And that would real y suck.”
She didn’t laugh as he no doubt intended. Hel , it was al she could do to hold on as he teased and played with her; already he knew exactly how to touch her, how much pressure to use to elicit a moan, or several moans. The man was a very fast learner.
When a second finger joined the first, she cried out, al sense of modesty gone. Al she wanted, al she craved was Wade and the things he could do with his hands, mouth, cock. He pressed his lower body upward, showing her just how much he wanted her.
“Wade, I need you,” she admitted, too eager to feel his cock stretching and fil ing her.
“Later for that, sweetheart,” he murmured against her ear. “Right now just feel.”
His fingers continued their gentle torment. Sliding in and out, fucking her with a maddening tempo designed to drive her to the very brink, but never beyond. “Please, Wade!”
His other hand cupped her breast and squeezed. “Soon, little angel.”
Wade stroked the curls of her mound. It seemed so wicked to make out in his kitchen. Jonas could walk in at any moment. She didn’t care.
Al her concentration was on Wade, his powerful body beneath her, surrounding her. His hot breath against her neck sent a shiver down her spine. She could smel the potent mixture of his aftershave and his desire.
Wade cupped her chin and brought her head back until he was staring directly into her half-closed eyes. “Is this my pussy, Gracie?” He skimmed his thumb over her clitoris. “I want to own it. I want to hear you say it belongs to me, only me.”
She wanted to speak, needed to answer him, but his touch was electric. Only Wade had the power to make her burn so completely.
Three fingers thrust between the swol en folds of her pussy, and she lost control. She pushed into his hand, seeking more, needing everything.
“Mmm, you’re so pretty like this, baby. Excited and hungry to be fucked. Later, I’m going to show you what it’s like to have this little ass fil ed with my cock. For now, I want you coming for me. I want your cream soaking my fingers.”
Gracie clutched onto his arm, her fingers digging into his flesh. “Please, faster, Wade.” The carnal images his words evoked ripped through her mind like some forbidden film. She ached for everything he had to give.
“Like this?” His strokes increased, driving al rational thought from her mind.
“Yes!”
His smile fluttered against her cheek. She felt his male triumph. He knew she was helpless with him. It grated on her, but she couldn’t think why. Al she real y cared about was the feel of Wade’s long, thick fingers fil ing her. His thumb flicking her clit, and the hand tugging at the ring in her nipple. He was everywhere at once, driving out everything except the way he made her body hum with pleasure. Intense, hot, eager. It’d never been that way for her before. Not with any other man. With Wade, a mere touch sent her blood pressure into the danger zone.
A few more pumping strokes and she was there, soaring into the air. Wade covered her mouth with his and drank in her moans of pleasure.
Only after the last little quiver died away did Wade release her mouth and pul his fingers free. He brought the wet digits to his lips and licked Only after the last little quiver died away did Wade release her mouth and pul his fingers free. He brought the wet digits to his lips and licked each one clean. His dark smile promised things. Wild, taboo things.
“You taste like warm, sweet cream.”
She blushed. “Um, thanks, I guess.”
“Hmm.” He dipped his head and kissed her, a tender peck, nothing more. When he lifted his head the intensity in his gaze had changed. The smoldering passion was stil there, as was the hard-on prodding her butt cheeks, but there seemed to be satisfaction there as wel . Strange, considering he hadn’t gotten to come. “I could take the edge off for you, too. If you want.”
He shook his head and started rubbing her lower back. The soothing motion had Gracie cuddling closer. “Jonas wil be here any minute.
Besides, when I get naked I’m going to want more than a few quick minutes in the kitchen.”
“Oh.” She didn’t know what else to say, so she didn’t say anything.
“Anyway, I want to read your blog.”
Where had that come from? She could barely breathe, her body was stil vibrating, and he wanted to read her rambling posts? “How can you even think of that right now?”
“I’m always thinking of your stalker, Gracie. I won’t stop until we catch the bastard.”
His conviction made her feel protected. “You cursed.”
“You can spank me later.”
“I—” She didn’t get to finish what she was going to say because her cel phone started tinkling. She sat up and reached for her purse. She pul ed the phone out of a side pocket and checked cal er ID. “Crap.”
Wade stiffened, his arm tightening around her middle. “Who is it?”
“My father.” The satisfying aftereffects of her orgasm vanished.
“What does he want?”
“God only knows.”
Gracie flipped her phone open. “Hi, Dad.” She tried to sound chipper, but the instant she heard the slurring words on the other end her heart sank. Her father was drunk. “Slow down; I can’t understand you.” His next words were crystal clear. Gracie froze.