The Protectors
Her gaze took him in, moving down his too-handsome face to a pair of wide shoulders, a broad, hairy chest, a tight stomach and perfect abs. He had a tattoo of a bald eagle in flight on his chest. However, it was the area below his waist that had her leaning up to get a better view. Nestled between a pair of taut, masculine thighs and surrounded by a thatch of thick, curly hair, his manhood stood as erect as any she’d ever seen. It was gigantic, and she wondered how he’d kept all his junk encased in a pair of briefs and behind a zipper. She was beginning to feel light-headed at the thought that anything of such monumental size could fit into anything...especially a woman.
“Ready for me to undress you, Joy?”
His words made her snatch her gaze up to his face. Undress her? Did he actually think what he was packing could fit inside her? The thought of him even trying should have made her loins ache in pain, instead of the throb of pleasure she was feeling between her legs. For some reason it was anticipation and not panic ruling her mind.
As if he knew her concerns, he said, “I won’t hurt you.”
She frowned. “You don’t know that.”
He chuckled. “I haven’t sent a woman to the hospital yet.”
Was that comment meant to be reassuring? It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him that there was a first time for everything, but instead her gaze lowered to the area between his legs again. Definitely impressive, and she had a feeling he knew it, which was probably why he didn’t appear self-conscious. Not all men owned what he had. She forced her gaze lower, past his genitals and legs to a pair of pretty feet.
“You’ve seen enough of me. Now I’m dying to see all of you.”
Joy suddenly imagined two naked bodies. Theirs. Limbs entwined while going at it beneath the sheets. Just the thought, the very idea, sent a gush of wetness flowing between her legs. Suddenly the thought of being able to handle Stonewall Courson stirred a raw need inside her.
He leaned down, brushed a kiss across her lips and whispered, “There will be no pain tonight, Joy. Just pleasure. I promise.”
She didn’t see how that was possible but decided she would take his word for it. “Alright, if you say so.”
“I do.” He slid his tongue between her lips and proceeded to ply her mouth with intense strokes of his tongue. Joy knew at that moment she would never tire of being kissed by him.
Getting caught up in the kiss, for a minute she thought she only imagined the feel of his hand beneath her dress. But when his fingers eased behind the waistband of her panties and began stroking her wetness, she tore her mouth from his and moaned deeply against his neck as sharp sensations invaded her womanly core.
“Remember. More pleasure than pain.”
She pulled back and looked at him. “Hey, wait a minute. Moments ago you said no pain, just pleasure. Why are you backtracking?”
He licked the side of her face. “Because I felt you down there. You’re pretty damn tight.”
Pretty damn tight? Maybe in his book but not in hers. His statement only raised her anxiety level a notch. He stared deep into her eyes. “Trust me.”
Trust him? Didn’t he know she was a cop and a cop didn’t fully trust anyone? But that throbbing force between her legs all but demanded that she trust him. It had been a long time since any man had given her pleasure, and she wanted it. She needed it. She would even go so far as to say that after six months and four canceled dates, they both deserved it.
“I can handle it,” she said with a lot more confidence than she actually felt. And it didn’t help matters that his fingers were still planted between her legs, inside her, stroking her in a way that would make her agree to just about anything. This was their first date. Were they moving too fast? From the relentless throbbing at her womanly core, one would think they weren’t moving fast enough. And she was woman enough to admit, she wanted to have sex with him. She wasn’t looking for anything permanent, exclusive or otherwise. She needed something to take the edge off, to relieve her stress. She wanted this.
She wanted him.
She eased up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Okay, Mr. Courson. Show me what you can do with all that you’ve got.”
* * *
STONEWALL INTENDED TO do just that. Starting now. He reached behind her to ease down the zipper of her dress before pulling the garment over her head and tossing it in a recliner chair. He looked down at her and couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips when he saw her matching bra and panties. Pink. And not just any shade of pink. It was a soft pink. Damn, the mere thought of the tough, kick-ass Detective Joy Ingram wearing sexy pink lingerie sent his libido into overdrive. And the sensual scent of her perfume was arousing him to enormous heights.
“I’m discovering that underneath all of that hard-hitting and rough detective facade is one hell of a sexy woman. I think I’m going to start calling you Sexy Joy,” he said, using his fingertips to gingerly stroke up and down her bare arms, loving the feel of her soft skin.
“Whatever you like.”
Stonewall chuckled, doubting she would be this agreeable often. He unhooked her bra before easing the straps off her arms and then drew in a sharp breath when two gorgeous breasts were freed. His mouth suddenly began tingling and his tongue seemed to thicken. Without any control he reached out and began stroking the turgid nipples, loving how they felt beneath his fingers. But more than anything he wanted to know how they tasted.
Leaning forward, he drew a swollen bud into his mouth and began sucking hard. She grabbed the back of his head and cupped it in her hands, as if determined that he finish what he started. As far as he was concerned, not only would he finish it, but he intended to brand these two delectable twin globes as his. The thought of that gave him pause. When had he ever wanted to mark any woman with his brand? That was just something Stonewall Courson didn’t do. He’d never gotten serious enough about someone to even think to do such a thing.
Lowering his hands, he traveled to the panties he’d invaded earlier. Moments later he lifted his mouth from her breast.
“I think we can dispense with these now,” he said, pulling the pink panties down her gorgeous legs. A shudder passed through Stonewall when he saw that part of her he craved the most and thought her feminine mound was simply beautiful. And then there was her scent, driving him insane, making his nostrils flare in response.
“Joy.”
Her name was a whispered growl on his lips as he began kissing a path down her body, taking little nips in between. When he reached her navel he used his tongue to lave her there. He glanced up, stared into her face. His gaze was fixated on her lips and he was tempted to ease up her body and take possession of her mouth again. But there was another part of her body that he was eager to give equal time.
It was then that he shifted his body to bury his head between her legs. Parting the soft feminine folds of her womanhood, he dived inside and began using his tongue to stir her wetness and massage her clit. She moaned at the intimate infiltration, and he could feel her lifting her hips to give him total and complete access.
That was exactly what he wanted, and he drove his tongue deeper, sucking harder, getting greedier. He loved the taste of her and doubted he would get enough. She was begging him to stop, but then, in the same breath, she was begging him not to stop, get more, take his tongue deeper. She had grabbed the back of his head to press him more intimately to her. He would give her what she wanted and more.
Maneuvering his tongue inside her, he decided to do what he termed the Stonewall Special. He began by twirling his tongue around and around inside her, loving the sounds of the moans she was making. Using his hands, he tilted her hips at an angle to give his tongue even more penetration and depth. And then he bore down on her, as deep as his mouth could go, and began sucking her clit with the intent of making her feel desired, essential and ravished all at the same time. He knew it was working when her moans turned into whimpers. He was sucking her right into a full-blown orgasm of the most delicious kind.
She screamed. His detective actually screamed, and the sound pierced his ears and aroused his erection all at the same time. He refused to pull his mouth back until he was satisfied he’d lapped her up completely. Even then, he used his tongue to put featherlight kisses over her womanhood, trailing over every inch of her folds.
He finally lifted his head to look at her. She was adorable lying on her sofa, naked with her legs spread open and her eyes closed while trying to regain control of her breathing.
As he continued to watch her, she finally opened her eyes and stared at him. She worked her mouth to say something and then, as if she didn’t have the strength, no sound came out. She drew in a deep breath and tried again, and a single word emitted from her lips in a low sound. “Amazing.”
He couldn’t stop the smile that touched his lips. Not too many women had been the recipients of the Stonewall Special, and he’d added an additional move just for her. “I think you’re pretty amazing, as well,” he said. “I could get intoxicated off your taste.”
She closed her eyes again and he knew she was trying to get another wind. He would let her because she would definitely need it for the next round. In the meantime, he pressed his face into the center of her thighs, enjoying her scent and trying to bring his own breathing under control. Oral sex had always been an optional thing with him, depending on the woman. He had a feeling when it came to Joy, going down on her would be something he would definitely look forward to doing. Her intimate scent combined with her taste was enough to drive any man crazy with desire.
He lifted his head and their eyes connected. The renewed desire he saw in the darkness of her pupils made his heart pound and his erection harden. “You’re still down there?” she asked, muttering the words in a voice that was low and purring and sent sensuous shivers rippling throughout his body.
“Not for long,” he said. Moments later he eased up her body.
CHAPTER SEVEN
JOY STUDIED THE masculine face looming over hers. The aroma of his aftershave was driving her insane, making her heart beat faster and reigniting that relentless throb between her legs. You would think after what Stonewall had just finished doing down there, sensuous pulsation would be the last thing she would feel in that particular spot.
In fact, just having him staring down at her with those gorgeous brown eyes was making the throb that much more intense. His face was so close to hers, all she had to do was to stick out her tongue to lick his lips, if that’s what she desired to do. Hell, why not? And before she could change her mind, she used the tip of her tongue to trace his lips from corner to corner, paying special attention to that cute little curve in between. And then, deciding that wasn’t enough, she licked his ear and chin. The hairs on his jaw tickled her tongue.
“Joy.”
There was just something about the way he said her name while he was under the influence of sex. “Yes? Is there something you want, Stonewall?” she asked in a sultry tone.
The color of his eyes changed to a darker hue and heat began transmitting from his body to hers. “Yes, there’s plenty I want. And before I get it, I’m going to make sure you want it just as much.”
He leaned in and kissed her deeply, reminding her he’d done the same thing between her legs earlier and making intense frissons of desire consume her all over. How could a man bring a woman to such an aroused state with a kiss?
Stonewall used his tongue in a way that should have been outlawed. It had been obvious to her from the first that when it came to kissing, he had his own unique style. And it was tailored to drive a woman mad. It definitely had her on the brink of insanity right now.
When he finally released her mouth, she was too weak to do anything but lie there with her eyes closed while trying to regain her senses. Her body and mind were experiencing blissful aftershocks.
She knew the moment his body eased off hers, and she could hear him moving around but was still too weak to open her eyes. When she heard the ripping of a package, she knew he was putting on a condom. They came in different sizes, which was good because she couldn’t imagine a regular size fitting him. An extra-large? Umm, maybe a colossal.
A short while later he returned, and she could feel him straddling her body once again. “Take a deep breath for me,” he whispered close to her ear.
He’d made the husky request for her benefit. At the same time she felt her legs being spread farther apart with his knees and her hips being lifted with his hands. Joy was fully aware of what he was about to do when she felt the engorged head of him pressing against her center.
She opened her eyes to find him staring down at her as he began slowly sliding inside her. She was amazed how her body automatically started stretching to accommodate his size. “Just a few more inches now, baby,” he whispered, and the sound of his voice sent vibrations through her.
She felt tightness, not pain. And she felt something else. Sensations that began overtaking her where their bodies were joined. They were so intense she couldn’t stop the moans that slipped from her lips. She was driven to do something, like tighten her inner muscles around the massive invader. Clamp down on him. Hold him. She began dispensing her own method of torture by milking him and establishing a sensuous rhythm while doing so.
“Blazes, Joy.”
She knew from his tormented groan that what she was doing was getting to him, working him the way she wanted it to. He broke eye contact with her and threw his head back, releasing a deep, guttural growl before thrusting harder, going deeper while gripping her hips.
The sharp intake of his breath propelled her on, and she wasn’t sure how long she would be able to keep it up with the way he was thrusting in and out of her with such keen precision. She could feel every incredible inch of him, and there was a lot to feel. It was mind-boggling to think all that was inside her, pounding hard and giving her pleasure, not causing her pain.
“Joy!”
He called out her name the same time his body jerked hard. His thrusts became more rapid and harder, pushing her over the edge, making her scream his name while violent shudders racked her body.
“Stonewall!”
When the tremors and spasms finally passed, he sucked in a deep breath and slowly slid his body off her. Leaning down, he kissed the side of her neck and throat while panting for breath. “I’ll be right back, baby,” he whispered moments later while shifting his body to sit up at the end of the sofa. “I need to take care of the condom.”
“There’s a half bath over there,” she said, not having the strength to point in which direction.
“I’ll find it.”
He stood, and she opened one eye to watch his naked body cross her living room. Just seeing it sent a tingling sensation through her. She closed her eyes and hadn’t known he’d returned until she was lifted off the sofa into strong arms.
“Now for your bed,” he said.
* * *
STONEWALL’S EYELIDS FELT HEAVY, but he forced them open anyway. He slowly glanced around the room and saw nothing familiar. Definitely not the deep shade of blue that Mellie had painted his bedroom last year. This room was a soft shade of yellow. It was then that he remembered where he was and with whom.
He shifted his body and found his legs entwined with Joy’s. Her scent was all over the room. All over him. He had no problem with that. They’d made love again in here. Several times. He was glad he’d had enough condoms in his wallet.
Sex with her had been off the charts. Definitely mind-blowing. He would even go so far as to say it was the best he’d ever had. Although he didn’t have the womanizing reputation Quasar possessed before he’d hooked up with Randi, Stonewall had held his own with the ladies and had had a pretty good stream of them in and out of his bed. But none had stimulated him the way Joy had last night. She had delivered satisfaction on a silver platter with all kinds of trimmings to go along with it. And the way she’d used her body to try to pull everything out of him still had his erection throbbing.
He regretted that he would be leaving Charlottesville later today. As far as he was concerned, he could stay with Joy spooned beside him in bed forever. He frowned at the thought, thinking maybe that was getting a little carried away. Great sex was great sex, but there was no need to think about something as far-reaching as forever. He’d found out years ago that nothing was forever. At least, for him it wasn’t. He learned to take life one day at a time.
He drifted back to sleep and wasn’t sure for how long. All he knew was that when he woke again, it was to the scents of bacon and coffee. A great combination, in his book. Had he died and gone to heaven? He noticed the pictures on the wall, no doubt of various family members. Probably her siblings and parents since each individual favored her.
Stonewall studied the framed photograph of the man he figured to be her father. He was standing on a fishing dock next to a boat and holding up what had evidently been a good catch for that day. The older man was tall, robust-looking and muscular. He looked like a person who wielded authority even when he was in a relaxed mode. There was just something about a cop. You could recognize one even without the uniform.
With the exception of Joy...
The two times he’d seen her all dolled up, he would not have figured her for a cop. There was definitely nothing rough and tough-looking about her in a pair of stilettos. She was pure woman. Hell, she was pure woman even without the stilettos. But with the heels she was sex on the most gorgeous pair of legs he’d ever seen.
And he didn’t want to think about her without any clothes. That would only make his body hard, which would tempt him to go drag her out of her kitchen and back to bed. He chuckled. Drag her out of the kitchen? He was smart enough not try it or else he might find a Glock to the side of his head. He had a feeling not anyone—man or woman—would be stupid enough to make any attempt to drag Joy Ingram anywhere. You couldn’t let her size fool you.
He shifted on his back and stared up at the ceiling. Yellow ceilings? Who did that? Weren’t all ceilings supposed to be white? Who painted their ceilings to match their walls?
“Good morning. I see you’re awake.”
He jerked his head around and found the giver of so much pleasure from last night standing in the doorway. Immediately that verse about enduring something for a night but finding joy in the morning popped into his mind. Well, he’d lucked out and found it. Joy in the morning. She was definitely his joy. He was experiencing such contentment after spending a night in her bed and waking up beside her.
She wore a short, cutesy floral print sundress that looked sexy on her. His gaze roamed all over her, appreciating everything he saw and a few things he didn’t see but knew were there beneath the dress.
“Good morning to you, and yes, I’m awake. I didn’t hear you leave the bed,” he said, trying not to stare at her legs.
“You were sleeping soundly, and I didn’t want to wake you.”
He frowned. He never slept soundly. It was part of his profession never to sleep soundly. Even off duty while in his own bed, he never slept so deeply that he wouldn’t awaken at the faintest sound. He must have been more exhausted than he’d thought. But when had sex with a woman ever tired him out?
“I’m cooking breakfast if you’d like to join me. I figure you worked up an appetite last night. We both did.”
He lifted up in bed, thinking he would definitely agree with that. “And how do you feel this morning?” He was asking for a reason and they both knew why.
She shrugged. “I’m still somewhat sore even after soaking in the Jacuzzi tub for nearly an hour.”
Soaking in a tub? For nearly an hour? He’d slept through her doing that, as well? He rubbed a hand down his face. Damn.
“Are you okay, Stonewall?”
Was he? Hell, he wasn’t sure. One night in her bed and he was off his A-game. Sleeping like a damn baby. “Yes, but I feel like an inconsiderate bastard.”
“Why?”
“I should have run your bathwater for you. That’s the least I could have done.”
“Why? It’s not like I crawled to the tub, Stonewall. I was sore, not disabled.”
Still, something about her doing that without his help bothered him. Just like knowing he’d slept through her getting out of bed. “You wouldn’t happen to have an extra toothbrush around here, would you?” he asked, swinging his legs off the bed to get up. He glanced around for his clothes and then remembered where he’d left them.
“Yes, I have an extra toothbrush. I placed it along with a washcloth and towel on the vanity. I also hung your shirt and pants up on the back of the bathroom door. I figured the steam from my bathwater would get rid of any wrinkles.”
And he’d slept through it all. “Sounds like you’ve been busy.” He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He appreciated a person who was on top of things, but Joy was too much. It sounded like she needed to learn how to slow down and relax some.
She chuckled. “Yes, that’s me. Busy beaver Joy. Breakfast will be ready in ten minutes. I’ll be in the kitchen finishing up.” And then she turned and left.
He rubbed a hand over his face. Hell, regardless of how off-kilter he felt, he still liked seeing Joy in the morning.
* * *
JOY KNEW THE moment Stonewall entered her kitchen, but when she turned around, the air was suddenly sucked from her lungs. In the bright morning sunlight that flowed through the kitchen window, he looked as yummy as the eggs, bacon and pancakes she’d been busy cooking. He’d put on his slacks and shirt, and on him they looked freshly pressed. It was as if the creases in his slacks had automatically fallen in place. She always thought she had a pretty nice-sized kitchen, but once he walked in, it seemed rather tiny.
“I didn’t properly greet you yet,” he said, crossing the room to her and pulling her into his arms. “Good morning, Joy.”
He kissed her, reacquainting her tongue with his. Not that it needed to be done. She was certain there was no part of her body that could forget him. He had such a lasting effect. He’d showered, and the manly scent of him delighted her. He deepened the kiss and she knew if she didn’t pull back now, they would be making out on her kitchen table.
She broke off the kiss, but he still kept her wrapped in his warm embrace while nibbling on her neck. She in turn took advantage and rubbed her nose against the side of his face, loving the feel of the manly texture of his beard. “I wish I could make love to you again before I leave,” he murmured softly.
A part of her wished the same thing. “Any reason you can’t?” she asked.
“Yes. You’re still sore and you’ve taken enough of me in one day.”
That was definitely being straightforward, she thought. “Shouldn’t I be the judge of that?”
“Not this time. I know your body’s limitations.”
He really thought so? “And how is that possible?”
A smile touched his lips. “I was inside you last night. Remember?”
How could she forget? It felt strange standing in the middle of her kitchen, holding a conversation about whether or not she could handle him again today.
He leaned closer. “But you can get as much of this as you want,” he said, kissing her more deeply this time. She felt her knees weaken and wrapped her arms around his neck at the same time he wrapped his around her waist.
He finally released her mouth but kept his arms around her. “I could get used to this,” he murmured softly against her moist lips.