Strip Tease (18 page)

But they weren’t. Ignoring the problems
didn’t make them go away. Shoving them into a corner made them grow
until they overshadowed everything else.

Why did her life always feel like an
overacted soap opera?

It had been Nate’s unexpected offer to order
takeout that warmed her heart. As if he wanted to please her, help
her forget their troubles for at least one night. When he suggested
the pay per view movie, she was absurdly thrilled. Even when she
realized the movie was terrible, she couldn’t complain while
watching it in Nathan’s arms.

“This movie sucks,” he whispered in her ear,
tickling her with his too close lips.

She nodded, tilting away from him which only
seemed to make him move closer. “It’s awful.”

“Then why are we still watching it?” His
hands roamed over her body, one large hand settling over her
breast.

“Because you wanted to please me?” She
batted her eyelashes.

“I’d like to please you in other, more
exciting ways.” His hand squeezed, thumb flicking up to brush
across her nipple and it pebbled beneath his touch. “Or is that not
allowed?”

She shouldn’t have sex with him. To prove
her point there was more between them than just fucking.

But the fucking was so damn good...

“We shouldn’t.” Her voice was weak and when
he flashed that sexy smile, she knew she’d cave.

“Why not? If you want me to be the attentive
boyfriend, I can be the attentive boyfriend. But that involves all
kinds of things. Nights out, long dinners, even longer nights in
bed. Naked.”

He dipped his head, kissing her ear, then
the sensitive skin just behind it and she shuddered. She tried to
push him away, her hands resting on his broad shoulders, but then
she curled her fingers around them and clung to him instead.

“Nate, I thought we had a deal.”

Lifting his head, he looked at her, his dark
eyes smoldering with lusty heat. Ooh, when he looked at her like
that all rational thought flew from her brain. “We had a deal I
wouldn’t treat you like a sex toy. I have no intention of doing
that tonight.”

His words, the intense expression on his
face heated her from the inside out, made her think of all the
naughty things he was capable of.

Fine, so she was weak. She wanted to indulge
in each and every one of those things. Right here, right now.

“A sex toy is an inanimate object,” he
continued with a wicked smile on his face. “Something a person
stashes away, until he or she is ready to use it again. Like a
vibrator or maybe even a blow up doll.”

His fingers stroked her back. Up and down in
a soothing motion and she practically purred with pleasure. “Are
you confessing you have a blow up doll?”

Nate arched a brow. “Are you inferring you
have a vibrator?”

Janelle’s cheeks heated. Of course, she had
a vibrator. What twenty-first century woman didn’t have one?

She went for nonchalance and shrugged. “I
have one. Who doesn’t?”

“Well, I don’t.” He kissed her, his lips
warm and damp, his breath hot as it breezed across her skin.

“You should try one,” she joked as he leaned
into her, causing her to lie back on the couch. “You might like
it.”

“I’d rather use it on you.” He sprawled on
top of her, supporting most of his weight on his arms, which he
propped on either side of her head. His expression turned serious
as he studied her. “I’m sorry for what happened between us earlier,
Janelle.”

She sobered, touched and surprised by his
apology. “It’s okay. At least we talked it out.”

“Yeah.” He blew out a harsh breath. “Like
rational adults.”

“Right.” Janelle lifted her chin, reaching
out to cup his jaw. “I’ve never been in a relationship where I was
a rational adult before.”

“Me either,” Nate admitted.

Shock coursed through her, but before she
could ask him any more questions, he kissed her, their tongues
meeting, tangling. The kiss quickly turned wild, their hands
searching each other’s bodies, tugging at their clothing. Janelle
was desperate to touch him, moving her hands to the front of his
shirt, fingers fumbling over every button.

He swatted her hands away and stood,
unbuttoning his shirt. Shrugging out of it, he tossed it on the
floor and made quick haste of the rest of his clothing. Janelle
undressed hurriedly, her skin heating with anticipation.

Nate joined her on the couch and slid down
her body, his hair brushing against her sensitive skin. He palmed
her breasts, rained kisses across them, teasing her and she arched
into him. His cock probed insistently against her belly and she
whimpered.

“So impatient,” he murmured, his lips
tickling her hardened nipple.

“I am,” she admitted, sinking her hands into
the silky softness of his hair, holding him to her.

He drew her nipple into his mouth, lips
sucking, licking her with his tongue. The tug of his mouth was like
a direct tug to her womb, making her belly tighten, her sex clench
with want.

As if he knew her needs, he slipped his hand
between their bodies, his fingers brushing against the damp curls
of her sex. She gasped, her legs spreading, and he took advantage.
His fingers teased between her legs, his mouth moving to her other
nipple to lick and suck.

A phone rang, somewhere in the distance, and
she knew it didn’t belong to her. They both ignored it, Nate too
busy licking her to oblivion and the ringing eventually
stopped.

Only to start up once again.

“Damn it,” he muttered against the inside of
her thigh, tickling her skin. He looked at her. “I should get
that.”

“Get it,” she choked out. Who could be
calling him?

Withdrawing from her, he went to the kitchen
counter where he set his wallet and cell. He answered with a curt
“Banks,” but she didn’t hear anything else, his voice lowering to a
murmur.

She lay flat on the couch and stared at the
ceiling, coming down from the froth he’d worked her into. Who was
he talking to? He was so quiet. Did he not want her to
overhear?

Throwing her arm over her eyes, she sighed.
Weariness settled over her and she knew her mood was ruined for the
night. It was late and she had to be at work early.

Secretly, Janelle hoped Nate would stay the
night.

She finally heard him say goodbye and he set
the phone on the counter, releasing a harsh breath. Letting her arm
drop, she turned to look at him. He stood naked by the kitchen
counter, his hands on his hips, his expression grim.

“That was Greg.”

His partner. “What did he want?”

“A major bust went down at Billy D’s—by the
DEA. Guess they’ve been working a giant sting for over six months
and told no one. Billy’s going down, once they find him.” Nate
strode into the living room and grabbed his pants, yanking them
on.

Janelle’s mouth dropped open. “He wasn’t
there?”

“Nope.” Nate shook his head, letting out a
growl of frustration as he tugged on his shirt, leaving it open. “I
swear this is the case that’ll never end.”

She scrambled up from the couch and went to
him, slipped her arms around his waist. Pressing her head against
his bare chest, she felt the steady beat of his heart. It reassured
her and she dropped the lightest kiss between his pecs. “It’ll be
okay. They’ll find him. He’s not your problem anymore.”

“They want Ginger too, Janelle. Greg told me
they’ve put out a warrant for her arrest.” Their gazes met and
held. “She could go to prison for this.”

Janelle squeezed her eyes shut, forcing the
tears that threatened to flee. She would not cry. She needed to be
strong. “Oh, no,” she whispered.

He hauled her close, his fingers tangling in
her hair. “We’ll try not to let that happen. Greg’s already set a
plan in motion.”

“I’m scared,” she murmured, her voice
muffled. “I’m afraid for Ginger.”

“That’s why it’s more important than ever we
find her.” His hand felt heavy against her hair and she welcomed
the weight. It meant he was real, holding her, offering her
comfort. “Don’t worry, babe. I’ll take care of everything.”

And when his lips met hers in a sweetly hot
kiss, she believed him.

An incessant ringing wound itself through
Janelle’s brain and she groaned, her already closed eyes scrunching
tighter. It was Sunday, her last day off and she had nothing
planned but lazing around. The Passion for Fashion charity event
was ten days away. She needed as much sleep as she could get.

Between the long days at work planning, and
the long nights in bed with Nate, she should be beyond exhausted.
Yet she’d never felt better in her life.

“Janelle.” His husky, sleep-filled voice
washed over her and he nudged her on the shoulder with warm, firm
fingers. “It’s your cell phone.”

They’d stayed the night at his condo last
night after spending the entire day together. She was enjoying
this, spending more time with him. They kept talk of the
investigation minimal. She knew he worked hard behind the scenes
trying to find both Billy and Ginger. But his work stayed where it
belonged—at work. It was better that way.

The whereabouts of her sister was like a
firm smack of reality in her face. She worried about Ginger, was
sick over her disappearance and hoped like hell Billy didn’t find
her first. But for once, she was too busy with her own life and
problems to be concerned about her sister’s.

Was she cold hearted for thinking that way?
She didn’t mean to be. Ginger would come around again. She always
did.

The ringing stopped for a moment, going to
voice mail and she breathed a sigh of relief. Nate nudged her
again.

“It’s going to start ringing again soon.
It’s done it three times already. Whoever it is really wants to
talk to you.”

His quiet, grave voice made her eyes snap
open to find him propped up on one arm, watching her. She gazed at
him, immediately figuring out who he thought was calling.

Ginger.

The phone started to ring and she snatched
it from her purse on the floor, checking the caller ID. Dread and
excitement filled her when she saw the name flashing.

“It’s Ginger,” she whispered to a waiting
Nate before she answered. “Hi, how are you?”

“Not good.” Ginger’s voice was tiny, as if
she were far, far away and concern filled Janelle.

“What’s wrong?”

Ginger released a shuddering breath. “I’m
sick. I thought by leaving this crappy town I could get better but
it didn’t work. I need you, J.”

Janelle closed her eyes for the briefest
moment, hating the sound of her sister’s tortured voice. “Why are
you sick?”

“I need help, okay? I’m sick, I can’t get
off this shit and it’s screwing with my brain, my body. I went
looking for her but I can’t find Mom and I refuse to go back to my
boyfriend. He’s the one who got me on this stuff in the first
place. I don’t have anyone else, Janelle.”

“What do you want me to do?” She glanced up,
caught Nate watching her intently.

“Ask her where she’s at. Tell her you’ll
meet her somewhere,” he whispered, his expression fierce, his eyes
anxious.

Janelle shushed him and waved him away, not
wanting Ginger to hear.

“I need medical help. I want to go into
rehab or something. I can’t do this anymore, I feel like I’m gonna
die.” A soft sob escaped Ginger and Janelle’s heart lurched.

“What are you on? You sound awful.”

Ginger sighed. “I don’t know. Everything?
Nothing? All of it? I can’t do this on my own. I need you.”

“I can’t afford to put you through rehab. I
can barely survive on my paycheck as it is.” It was true. She’d
been living hand to mouth for far too long and rehabilitation
centers, though worth it, were expensive.

Nate gestured excitedly at her and she
couldn’t ignore it. She turned to him, tilting her head. “Don’t
turn her away. Tell her you’ll take care of it. We’ll figure that
part out later,” he murmured.

Dread filled her. He wanted to lure Ginger
in so he could question her. Once he had her, he had a better
chance of finding Billy Diaz. This was his golden opportunity.
Janelle couldn’t help but feel like she was being used. That she’d
been used all along.

She didn’t like it.

“Fine, go ahead and ignore me like usual.
When they find my body in a gutter I hope you feel guilty because
it’ll be all your fault.” Ginger’s tone took on a sulky
quality.

“Wait! Listen, uh, I’m sure we can figure
out something. I’ll make it work. You’re my sister. I promised I’d
always be there for you, but you need to give me a little time.
Tell me where you’re at.”

“I don’t know.” Ginger sniffed, sounding sad
and lost and completely strung out. “Some crappy hotel in downtown
Los Angeles. It’s cheap and besides, I couldn’t find Billy. I just
got back from Vegas.”

Janelle shook her head. Her sister had never
been known for making smart decisions. Las Vegas was, after all,
Sin City. “I thought you didn’t want to find your boyfriend.” She
bit her lip the moment the words left her. She wasn’t supposed to
know Ginger and Billy were involved.

Thank goodness, Ginger was oblivious. “J,
you can’t tell anyone I called you. That we’re going to meet.
People are, uh, looking for me and I don’t want them to find out
I’m here,” Ginger continued, her voice dropping to a husky
whisper.

“Who’s looking for you?” Janelle asked,
keeping her voice neutral.

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to freak
you out.” Ginger breathed deep, exhaling loudly over the phone. “I
need...I need money. Can we meet for breakfast? There’s a little
restaurant down the street from here.”

“Okay, where?” Janelle gestured at Nate and
he handed her a notepad and pen. She scribbled the restaurant’s
address on a piece of paper as Ginger recited it. “You want to meet
say, in an hour? Ten o’clock?”