Protecting Phoebe Read online

  Relief flashed in his eyes and his grip on her hand tightened.

  “Good.” Giving a small smile, he turned and led them up the rest of the stairs. “You hungry? We’ve barely had anything to eat all day since we forgot to get lunch after getting the restraining order. We could do an early dinner.”

  “Starving, actually.” She grimaced. “I didn’t want to be a burden though and make you stop for food.”

  “Asking to grab something to eat isn’t a burden, Phoebe.”

  “It wasn’t just that. I had a lot on my mind.”

  “I bet.” Craig gave a small nod while unlocking the door to his apartment. “Would you eat a hamburger if I grilled a couple?”

  “Oh, yeah. Got potato chips?”

  “Barbeque flavored.”

  “I’m all over that.” She grinned and followed him into the apartment.

  “I’d rather you be all over me.” He closed the door and locked it. “But we can save that for later.”

  “I suppose I walked right into that one.” She grinned and let her gaze wander around the apartment.

  Bachelor pad for sure. Mismatched furniture, retro movie posters on the wall, and a sink half-full of dishes.

  “You live alone?”

  Strong arms slipped around her waist, while his warm lips moved over the back of her neck.

  “Yeah.” He moved his hand lower on her body so that his fingers almost grazed between her legs.

  Warmth slid from her belly to the juncture of her thighs and she bit her lip.

  “I want you again,” he confessed.

  “So I see. Or should I say feel?” She pushed her bottom back against him, rubbing against his erection.

  He choked on a gasp. “I thought you wanted to eat.”

  “I do.” She turned around in his arms and then sank to her knees in front of him. “And I think I just found the perfect appetizer.”

  His hiss of arousal coincided with the slide of the zipper on his jeans as she tugged it down.

  She kept her gaze locked on his while pulling him from his boxers. Heat burned in his narrowed eyes and his breathing grew heavier.

  A thrill chased through her at the spontaneity of the moment—the eroticism of it all. And most of all, how wonderful it felt to have Craig watch her with such need and barely controlled restraint.

  Heart pounding, she wrapped her fingers around his shaft and then parted her lips, guiding the head into her mouth.

  She flicked her tongue over the satiny-steel flesh and then closed her eyes with a moan at the slightly salty taste of him.

  It was so different giving Craig head than it had been before with her ex. There was no fear or reluctance this time. If anything, the desire to please him turned her on as much as him. It was a heady rush.

  “God, Phoebe, don’t stop, baby.”

  Stop? God, she couldn’t if she tried. It was just as intoxicating to her as it had to be to him.

  She continued pleasing him, until he was at her mercy. Giving every inch of himself as he clutched the back of her head.

  “Amazing,” he whispered brokenly. “You’re so damn amazing.”

  A thrill raced through her and she rose to her feet. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

  “What can I do for you, baby?” He slid his hands to her ass, lifting her off the ground and carrying her to the counter, where he set her on the edge. “Let me return the favor.”

  “Mmm. Tempting.” And, oh God, wasn’t it? Especially when his hand moved to rub over the apex of her jeans. “But I may just have to ask you hold that thought until after dinner.”

  He arched an eyebrow and his lips quirked. “Seriously?”

  She squeezed his shoulders and laughed softly. “Seriously. I want my dinner now.”

  Craig winced and grasped his chest. “Denied for a hamburger.”

  Smothering a giggle, and with a surprising lightness in her heart, Phoebe watched him turn away and move into the kitchen. She slid off the counter and moved onto one of the barstools, watching him pluck ground beef from the fridge and hand-form them.

  “Not even the frozen ones? Wow, I’m getting the good stuff too. I should have you cook for me more often.”

  “Yeah, you should.”

  Her cell phone rang and she glanced at her purse on the counter. Craig stilled and followed her gaze.

  “Check who it is.”

  She nodded and pulled her phone free, her palms suddenly damp. Could Rick have gotten her cell number? He’d gotten her address and home—

  Relief eased the tension from her body. It was Delanie.

  “It’s just a friend. Mind if I take this on your balcony?”

  “Go for it. I’ll be out in a few to barbeque.”

  “Thanks.” She accepted the call and headed for the back door. “Hey, girl, it’s about time I heard from you.”

  * * * *

  Craig finished making the beef patties and then walked out to the balcony where the barbeque was.

  Hoping he’d given her enough privacy for a moment, he noted with relief they seemed to be talking about small things. His body still hummed from the impulsive blowjob she’d given him. Good God, this woman was incredible.

  Phoebe glanced up at him and winked, still cradling the phone against her ear.

  “Well, I’m so glad you called, Delanie. I miss you.” She nodded. “Okay…yeah. I’ll keep that in mind.” She held his gaze. “We’ll see, it’s a possibility. I can’t promise he’ll want to though, it’s a long drive.”

  He raised an eyebrow while sidestepping her to fire up the grill.

  Why did he get the impression she’d been talking about him?

  “Of course I’ll be careful. Hey, you’ve got enough on your plate with the wedding details, stop worrying about me.” She sighed. “I will. I promise… Okay, miss you too, hon. See you soon.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, he watched her hang up the phone.

  “Sorry about that,” she apologized, coming to stand next to him. “That was Delanie, she used to work at Second Chances until a few weeks ago. Tall, blonde chick?”

  “I think I remember her.” He nodded. “I’ve been coming to the shelter since I started working for San Francisco P.D. six months ago.”

  “What were you doing before that?”

  “School. Got a degree in Criminal Justice. It took a while since I was working full time.”

  “You’re young.”

  “Twenty-five.” He turned to set the two beef patties on the grill and shrugged. “Not that young. Does it bother you?”

  “No.” She moved behind him to slip her hands into the back pockets of his jeans. “Not at all.”

  When her lips nuzzled the back of his neck, his cock twitched in response.

  Pressing the spatula down on the beef, he closed his eyes and listened to the sizzle of juices dripping.

  She grazed her teeth over his skin and he jumped slightly, resulting in her soft laugh.

  He cleared his throat, determined to at least get some dinner in them before he carried her back to his bedroom. Or hell, even the couch. The counter. It didn’t matter.

  “Not to pry,” he began, fighting to keep his voice steady, “but when you were talking to your friend, you mentioned something about a long drive? You going somewhere?”

  “Yeah.” She pulled away and he immediately missed the warmth of her body as she went to sit down in one of the chairs on the balcony. “Delanie’s getting married next week, kind of a low-key last-minute thing. It’s up in one of the San Juan Islands in Washington State.”

  “Nice.” He flipped the burgers and tried to recall what he knew about the Islands. “So you’re driving?”

  “Yeah. Gabby, Justin and I.” She paused. “Delanie wants me to bring a date. Well…not really any random date, she wants me to bring you.”

  Craig glanced over his shoulder, his eyebrows high with surprise. “Me?”

  “Yeah.” Her cheeks went pink. “Delanie’s a bit like a dog with
a bone. Once she figured out that I was…um, seeing someone, she decided that it was her duty to meet him. Him being you.”

  Pleasure raced through him, stroking his pride and ego just a bit. “So you told her about me?”

  Her gaze lowered. “No. Gabby did. I mean, I would have. I meant to call her…”

  “Ah.”

  Disappointment slowly replaced the pleasure, and he turned back to the grill. Of course. What had he been expecting? He’d barely gotten her to admit that she might be okay agreeing this was more than just a one-night stand. She’d hardly go off chatting to all her friends about him.

  “You know…if you wanted,” she began and he could hear she was nervous by her tone, “…you could come. To Athena’s Oasis.”

  “To what?”

  “Sorry. It’s the resort where they’re getting married. Her fiancé owns it.”

  “Sounds nice.”

  “It is. At least, I hear it is. I’ve never been… Anyway, I’d love you to come if you want.”

  He scooped the burgers off the grill and deposited them onto a plate, glad his back was to her. So she couldn’t see the look of pure dismay on his face. Did she really want him to go? Or was it more of an I need a date situation. Of course, a road trip through three states was one helluva date.

  But as he thought about it, he didn’t care. He liked the idea of going with her, of having the time to convince her that he wanted more than just a short-term relationship.

  “It’s a little last minute, but I’ll see what I can do. I’d like to. Just let me know the dates.”

  “Really?” She stood up and followed him back into the apartment. “Are you sure?”

  He glanced at her and shook his head. “You second guess things too much. Do me a favor and grab some condiments out of the fridge?”

  “Sure.” She winked and hurried past him and his gaze immediately honed in on that cute ass of hers.

  Damn. He’d better be able to convince her, because letting her go wasn’t even about to be an option.

  Chapter 8

  Phoebe’s gaze stroked the corners of Craig’s bedroom. Taking in the queen-sized bed covered with a black comforter. There were more movie posters on the wall—Scarface and Pulp Fiction this time. She made a quiet harrumph. Maybe he was actually some kind of movie buff.

  She sat down on the edge of the bed, barely paying attention to the television show Craig had turned on before leaving.

  He’d left her with the softest, most arousing kiss and then the firm instructions to be ready for bed when he returned. And she had no doubt as to what he meant by ready for bed.

  She reclined against the pillow, letting her hand drift over her bare stomach as warmth stirred in her lower belly. She’d stripped down to nothing, challenged by his instructions and feeling bold.

  Her gaze drifted to the doorway. How much longer would he be?

  He hadn’t gone far—really just outside on the balcony to make a few personal phone calls. Or, at least, that’s what he’d told her, though she had no reason not to trust him.

  Footsteps sounded outside the bedroom and then a moment later Craig loomed in the doorway.

  He went rigid, gripping the doorframe. “Damn, woman.”

  “Hey.” She rolled onto her side to look at him. “Everything taken care of?”

  “Not everything,” he muttered and crossed the room toward her.

  Before he even reached the bed, his shirt was off and on the floor. His jeans came next, followed by his boxers.

  He sat down on the edge of the bed and trailed a finger over her collarbone. The breath hitched in her throat when he moved it over the slope of her breast to swirl around her nipple.

  “I could get used to this.”

  “What?” Her voice came out husky.

  “Having you in my bed.”

  Heat gathered between her legs and she bit her lip, watching him watch her. He kept making little remarks about long-term, and with each one it became not nearly as intimidating hearing them. In fact the idea of being in his bed on a more permanent basis sounded all too tempting.

  His gaze moved over her body lingering between her legs. “Were you thinking about me while I was gone?”

  “You and that Scarface poster on your wall.”

  “Love that movie.” He gave a soft laugh. “Al Pacino is the man.”

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  His mouth twitched and then he grabbed his cock and waved it at her. “Say hello to my little friend.”

  Phoebe couldn’t bite back a laugh. She snorted and rolled her eyes.

  “There is nothing little about that guy.”

  His grin widened as he slid his hand over the dip between her ribcage and hip, before skimming up over the rise of her belly.

  “I love your body. I could stare at it…touch it…kiss it all day.”

  Phoebe tried to suck in her stomach a bit and her chest tightened. “You flatter me.”

  His gaze jerked to hers as if he sensed her insecurity. “I don’t feed women bullshit, Phoebe. You’re a sexy woman. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t think it.”

  “Thank you.” Her cheeks warmed further and she lowered her gaze, hating the moment of uncertainty she’d had.

  And the strange thing was she didn’t have body issues. She was comfortable in her skin. Maybe it was because Craig was the first man she’d taken into her bed since…don’t even go there.

  The wave of anger almost diminished her arousal, but she shoved it violently into an emotional closet.

  Grabbing Craig’s hand, she slid it over her hip and between her legs.

  “Touch me,” she whispered. “Please.”

  He held her gaze, his palm cupping her while he toyed with the slick folds.

  “You don’t need to beg, baby. I can’t keep my hands off you.”

  He slid a finger deep inside her and her body clenched around him.

  “Yeah, you were thinking of me.” His smile widened. “Did you think of my mouth on you?”

  She closed her eyes on a sigh. “Well, you were really good at that part.”

  “I can’t get enough of you.” He gently pushed on her hip and rolled her onto her back. “And on that note, why don’t you just get yourself comfortable.”

  Her pulse kicked up as he grabbed a pillow and nestled it under her ass.

  With her lower body raised again, she was completely exposed and vulnerable to him.

  She watched him lie on the bed between her legs, sliding his big hands over her thighs as he studied her body.

  “So sweet.” His breath feathered across her mound. “So soft.”

  His lips brushed her inner thigh and a tremble racked through her body.

  “Relax, baby. You’re so tense.”

  “Because you’re being an awful tease, Officer Redmond,” she muttered.

  Her hips lifted on a gasp as he placed a kiss at the apex of her thighs. “How’s that for teasing?”

  The only response she could manage was a strangled groan, her fingers tangled into the bedspread.

  He parted her swollen lips with steady fingers and found her sweet spot. He kissed it again, flicking his tongue over the sensitive nub.

  “Craig…” Her eyelids fluttered shut and she surrendered to the exquisite torment of his mouth.

  He continued to kiss and lick at her flesh, teasing her until she rode his mouth like he was the damn roller coaster at the fair.

  And he was relentless, bringing her closer and closer to that bright orgasmic peak. Until she finally tumbled over the edge, her body clenching and shaking against him.

  It took a moment to regain her senses and when she did Craig was sheathing his cock with a condom.

  “I need you now.” He moved up next to her and began to lift her on top of him.

  “Wait—” She pressed her palms against his chest and licked her lips. “This time I want you…to be on top of me.”

  His gaze flickered to hers. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.�
� She nodded. There was no fear now. No hesitation even. She just wanted—no needed—the weight of his body on top of hers. To feel his hips spreading her thighs wide. There was complete trust and the knowledge that this was Craig and he’d never hurt her.

  He watched her for another moment, before giving a slow nod. Easing her back against the mattress, he positioned himself between her spread legs.

  The tip of him nudged her swollen folds.

  She held her breath, digging her nails into his shoulders and giving a slow nod.

  He lowered himself onto her, inch by inch. His cock sank deeper into her body while the weight of him pinned her against the mattress.

  “Damn, you feel so good.” His face pinched tight as he obviously tried to go slowly.

  “So do you,” she admitted on a choked laugh. “Please, just take me, Craig. You won’t hurt me, I promise.”

  With a groan of helpless regret, he plunged deep and she answered with a hiss of pleasure.

  He stayed buried for a moment, locking them together, before he pulled out of her slightly and then slid back in again.

  She followed his rhythm, each thrust he made into her body sending a warm ache of tenderness and desire through her. She kissed his shoulder, crazy thoughts running through her head.

  Thoughts like I don’t ever want another man besides Craig in my body again. It was as if he was meant for her. His body designed for her, to please her, because they sure fit well together.

  Their sweat mingled, making it easier for their bodies to slide together as their movements grew quicker—more harried.

  Phoebe lifted her legs to wrap around his waist, clasping her ankles together and letting him hit even deeper into her.

  “Baby,” he choked out. “I’m going to come.”

  “Yes.”

  And she wanted him to fly over that same edge he’d pushed her over earlier.

  The pleasure already coursing through her spiked suddenly. His finger had found her clit and rubbed it steadily as his thrusts became harder.

  One of them groaned. She didn’t know if it was her or him, she was so gone with the intoxicating sensation.

  He screamed her name, pushing deep again and staying there.

  She could feel him swelling inside her as he came—and then she was there with him. Hurling over that cliff of pleasure.