Make Me Melt(56)

“Okay?” he asked, husky with desire.

She gave a shaky laugh and drew him down. “I don’t know,” she confessed. “Am I still alive?”

“Oh, yeah,” he said and covered himself. “Let me show you.”

* * *

IT SEEMED LIKE hours later when Caroline lay sprawled over Jason’s chest, her breasts flattened against his skin as she gazed at him and ran one finger along the seam of his lips.

“How do you do it?” she marveled.

He lay back against the pillows, one arm bent behind his head as he leisurely stroked her hair. “Do what?”

“Make each time with you even better than the last.”

He grinned. “I thought that was you.”

Caroline rested her cheek against his chest and let her fingers trace lazy patterns around the flat nub of his nipple.

“So what happens now?” she asked.

He dragged in a deep sigh. “Well, we caught the shooter, so you and your father are safe. We’ve pulled his protection detail off the assignment. He no longer needs the services of the U.S. Marshals.”

She didn’t look at him. “So I guess the same goes for me, too. I expect you’re ready to get back to San Diego and pick up the reins again.”

“I expect so.”

She raised her head and stared at him in the dim light. “Really?”

He shrugged. “There’s no reason for me to stay here any longer, Caroline. I came to protect you, and now you no longer need that protection. What would you have me do? My job here is done.”

“Is it?” she mused.

“Why don’t you tell me?” he suggested.

Caroline inched herself up his body, until she could straddle his hips and frame his face in both of her hands. Jason swallowed convulsively, and she didn’t miss how his eyes dropped to her breasts, or how he shifted restlessly beneath her.

“Jason Cooper,” she began, “I’ve wanted you for as long as I can remember. From the time you were nothing more than a skinny boy with a bad attitude.” She leaned down to kiss him. “I wanted you when I was sixteen and just learning what it was like to be a woman. And now that you’ve shown me how wonderful that is, I don’t want to be with anyone else.”

“Caroline—”

“I trusted you with my body. I trusted you with my life.” She smiled down at him. “And you’re the only man I’ll ever trust with my heart.”


He made a sound of protest, and Caroline laid two fingers over his mouth. “So you see, I’m going to need you around for a very long time, because all three of those are now yours to keep and to protect.”

Reaching up, Jason caught her fingers in his hand and turned his mouth into her palm, kissing her reverently. When he looked at her, the emotion reflected in his eyes was enough to stop her breath.

“Caroline Banks,” he said, his voice low and a little rough. “It looks like you’ve got yourself a deal. But I have to warn you that I take my job seriously. I’m going to be around for a very long time.”

With a sigh of relief, Caroline lowered her mouth to his. “I definitely like the sound of that, Marshal Cooper.”

And then no more words were spoken, and the only sound was that of the distant surf as it pounded the beach.

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from WILD WEEKEND by Susanna Carr.






1


NEON LIGHTS FLICKERED inside the dark casino. The cold air was thick with cigarette smoke and the scent of sugary cocktails. Frank Sinatra blared from the loudspeakers.

So this is what hell looks like. Travis Cain automatically surveyed the room, although any sudden movement from the patrons was unlikely. Most of them were slumped in front of tables and slot machines, their expressions glazed over as they waited for something—anything—to happen. “There are other things I could be doing right now,” he muttered.

“True.” His friend Aaron nodded as he drank a fruity cocktail. “But how often do you get a chance to make money just by sitting around?”

Aaron made it sound so easy, but Travis was never good at sitting still. “Do you know what I could be doing right now? Wingsuit-flying over the Eiger.”

“As if you had enough cash to fly to Switzerland,” Aaron said as he motioned the blackjack dealer to hit him with another card.

“Surfing the big waves in Tasmania.” Travis smiled as he thought about the crystal-blue water.

“You’ve already done that.” Aaron sighed when he lost the hand. “You never repeat yourself.”

“I saw something about bungee jumping.” He’d jumped before, so it wasn’t that much of a challenge, but it was better than staying in the casino.

“Dude, this is Las Vegas. Why would you want to do that when everything you need comes directly to you? Entertainment,” he said as he placed another bet. “Cheap drinks. Spa services.”

The spa? Was he serious? Travis cast a glance at his friend’s hand and belatedly noticed the manicured fingers. He looked at Aaron with horror, noticing everything from his long blond hair and groomed beard. Aaron’s hands used to be caked in mud from digging up treasures. Now he was getting manicures? “What happened to you? Don’t you crave adventure?”