Bait & Switch (Alphas Undone #1)(23)

“Did everything go okay?” she asked.

I shrugged. “Yeah, just some drug ring from Oklahoma City. The police are zeroing in on them, and they needed some extra support.”

She looked frightened for a moment, and I smoothed a thumb along the worry crease on her brow. “Hey, it’s okay. We’ll get the bad guys. We always do.”

She nodded, and her features slowly relaxed as she took a steady breath. I wasn’t sure if her extreme reaction was because this particular job hit close to home, or maybe just because it originated in her hometown. Either way, something prickled in the back of my head.

“I’m glad you’re back home safe,” she said finally.

I nodded. “How are you? How was work? Feeling better about Charlie?” Lacey didn’t really need me to check up on her, but it gave me an excuse to visit.

She nodded, looking only a little sad. “Yeah. Putting him down was the right decision. I just needed some time to accept it.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re doing okay. You want to get some dinner later?”

“I just ate, so I won’t be hungry for a while. But . . .” Her hands flattened against my back, fingers rubbing gently. “Wow, you’re hard as a rock.”

“Thanks.” I chuckled.

She flushed a little. “Not hard like that. I meant you’re tense.” A hint of mischief lingered in her smile. “Can I give you a massage?”

I bent my head for a chaste, but lingering kiss. “Is this an excuse to get me shirtless on your bed?”

“Of course,” she murmured against my lips. Then she took my hand, lacing our fingers together, and led me through the apartment to her bedroom.

I leisurely unbuttoned my shirt, watching Lacey watch me. She was so beautiful when she looked at me softly like that. Her eyes told me all the things she didn’t say. That she viewed me as a protector. That she trusted me. Wanted to believe in me. Even though I’d all but admitted my wicked ways to her, she saw past my sinful nature—and she still wanted me. It was a good feeling. Being accepted for who I was, not forced into some mold of who she wanted me to be.

It was different from the way Daniella looked at me. Of course she trusted me; you didn’t let a man tie you up and f*ck you unless there was a hell of a lot of trust there. But Lacey was looking for something on a whole other scale. I could feel it. A man to care for her, guide her . . . and I’d be damned if I didn’t want to be that man.

Once I was free of my shirt, Lacey’s eyes darkened and lit up with lustful fire at the same time. I lay facedown on her bed, head on my arms. She straddled my lower back and started rubbing my shoulders, digging her fingers into the stiff muscles with surprising strength. I groaned aloud at the mix of pleasure and relief.

Hazily, I tried to remember the last time I’d gotten a massage, and came up blank. But I found that I liked the intimacy—lying half-naked, pinned down, just letting a beautiful woman tend to me. I could get used to this.

It was strange how such innocent touches could be so erotic. She gradually worked her way down my back, unknotting my tension inch by inch. Her thighs squeezed my hips for balance as she leaned forward. Her round ass fit perfectly into the dip of my lower back, and I could feel the growing heat between her legs.

My cock responded accordingly. I shifted my hips, trying to get more comfortable, but my erection was trapped under my belly, and squirming on the bed just made it worse.

Lacey might have taught me to enjoy taking sex slowly, but there was only so much temptation a man could resist. I wanted her, and I knew she wanted me. Deciding to move things along, I twisted and took her down with me, rolling us both onto our sides.

“What are you—” she started. Right before my mouth met hers in a firm, hungry kiss.

Pressing herself closer, she hooked one leg over mine, and I rocked my hips into her pelvis to let her feel what she’d done to me.

Lacey groaned. “I take it you liked the massage.”

“What gave me away?” I asked, breathing hard against her neck.

“A certain wayward southern appendage.” She ground into me again, her hips moving against mine.

I almost chuckled. Almost called her out for being too prissy to say the word cock . . . until her hand slid down to my jeans to unbutton me.

“Maybe he needs some attention too,” she rasped against my throat.

I hadn’t come here for this and wouldn’t have pressed her, but I also wasn’t going to turn her away. We would take things at whatever pace she wanted.

Tugging down the zipper to her shorts, I was desperate to touch her and bring her pleasure. It was as if every time we were together was a completely new experience. Fingers and mouths and heartbeats thumping together. And hormones raging at an all-time high.

I pushed my hand inside her shorts, fumbling when she reached down to grip my denim-covered erection. Christ.

My fingers soon found what they were looking for. She gasped as I rubbed in slow circles through her panties. Even with the cotton barrier, I could feel the firm bud of her swollen clit. I sucked in a breath when she tightened her fist, kneading my hard cock.

“Together,” was all she said. But I understood.

Only a little impatiently, I waited until she had unzipped my jeans before slipping my fingers under her panties. I gave a soft groan at the feel of her hot, slick folds.