Protecting What's His (Line of Duty #1)(21)

“Sweet f*cking hell,” he gritted. The thin panties she wore provided almost no barrier between them. He could reach down, rip them off, and be inside her within seconds. He allowed himself one hard thrust against her, startling a cry from her lips, before stepping away. The physical pain he experienced looking at Ginger, half-naked and willing, while in his aroused state nearly broke him.

“Derek, don’t do this to me again.”

Placing his hands on either side of her waist, his head dropped forward. She was right. He couldn’t leave her like this. Not a second time. Even if it might kill him.

Derek roughly pulled Ginger off the counter and turned her around to face the mirror. He yanked her back against his body so she could feel his need for her, then brought her hands up around the back of his neck. The position stretched her body, leaving her completely vulnerable to him.

Derek’s hands dropped to the hem of her T-shirt, skimming up and over her rib cage before taking her naked breasts in his hands. His fingers pulled lightly on her nipples before soothing them in circles with his palms. She seemed to love that. Her head turned toward him, seeking his mouth for a kiss, and Derek obliged. He kissed her the way he sensed she wanted it—thorough and dirty. He licked at her until she protested, then punished her mouth for daring to ask for more.

“Derek, please. Please.” She reached down with one hand and tried to pull off her T-shirt.

“No, no. The shirt stays on.”

“Why?”

“Because if I see your naked breasts, I’m going to want to suck your pretty little nipples. And if I suck your nipples, I’m going to need to bury my cock inside you.”

She moaned against his neck, her sexy ass writhing against his rampant hard-on. In that moment, he swore he’d never wanted anything more in his life than to bend Ginger forward and take what he already considered his.

Knowing he couldn’t last much longer and still walk away, his hand slid down her stomach and slipped inside the red, silky panties she wore. Encountering her slick wetness, Derek came very close to losing his tenuous resolve. He slid his middle finger through her heat, found her swollen nub, and began his relentless assault, circling the spot in teasing strokes, driving her crazy, then rubbing and pinching where she needed it most.

Adding a second finger to increase the pressure on her clit, his eyes met hers in the mirror. They were beginning to glaze with her upcoming orgasm. His gaze dropped to where her hard nipples pressed tightly against the soaked cotton, and lower, to where his hand moved rhythmically inside her panties. It was the most arousing sight he’d ever seen. “Ginger, someday soon, I’m going to put you here in this exact position and f*ck you over and over again to make up for this.”

Ginger went over the edge, throwing back her head and swiveling her hips. He felt her * clenching and trembling against his hand, so he slid two fingers deep inside to help her ride it out. He kept his fingers moving until the spasms left her and she slumped backward against him.

Now that he’d watched Ginger come, Derek decided he could die a happy man. And if he didn’t need to remove himself from her presence immediately, he would do it all over again just to re-witness her pleasure. Reluctantly, he tore his eyes away from her image in the steamed-up mirror, resting his forehead on her shoulder.

“Is this service included in the rent?” she panted.

Derek laughed into her neck, pleased as hell. Goddamn, he loved the fact that unlike most women of his experience, Ginger didn’t clam up after a sexual encounter, making excuses for her behavior or questioning what it meant.

“You’re not paying rent.”

She sighed. “Derek.”

He couldn’t stop himself from running a hand over her hip, biting gently into her supple flesh with his fingers. “We’ll work something else out, Ginger.”

“I don’t like the sound of that.”

“I’m not talking about sex.”

“Oh.”

Derek grinned at the poorly hidden disappointment in her voice, but it quickly faded when his need ratcheted up another level. He needed to get out of there. Fast. But first, “I have a way to un-blur those lines you’re so concerned about.”

Involuntarily, he was sure, Ginger’s eyes dropped to his mouth and he swelled larger inside his pants. “Well, let’s hear it, Lieutenant.”

“I need a favor.”

She smirked, trying to skirt past him. “I had a feeling…”

“Not that kind of favor.” He pressed a hand to her waist to keep her still and laughed under his breath. “I’ve been roped into attending a charity dinner tomorrow night and I need you to come with me. As my date.”

Ginger didn’t respond, just pinned him with a searching look.

“I told you I wouldn’t accept money from you and I won’t, but since you’re determined to keep us on equal footing, I’d consider it payment in full for the use of the room.”

“And there it is.” Ginger shivered. “A date, huh? You know it’s not going to be easy to find someone to cover my shift on this short of notice.”

“Can you be ready by seven?”

She sighed. “Fine.”

“I’ll leave you to your shower while I still can.”

Stifling a groan, Derek backed away from her and walked out of the bathroom.