The Fire Within Read online

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” she said tightly as she realized he’d wanted to teach her a lesson and not please her.

  A muscle in his jaw twitched as he studied her. He truly seemed to care for her but she was a big girl. She could handle Loverboy. He must have recognized that she wasn’t going to be persuaded into his way of thinking, for he swore beneath his breath.

  “Dammit, Sky. Don’t do this.”

  “It’s done.”

  A sucking sound shot through the air as he slid his fingers out of her drenched pussy.

  “I guess I was wrong about you, Sky. I’m glad I finally came to my senses and left you. Good luck. You’re going to need it.”

  He turned and stomped toward the door.

  Son of a bitch! If he opened that door people might see her like this!

  Sky jumped off the table, her shaky legs almost crumbling as her feet landed on the floor.

  Quickly she picked up her clothing and covered herself. She wanted to give in to Jim. Wanted him to fuck her and take her back into the world of sexual need. Now!

  “Jim! Please, don’t go!”

  The door opened and he was gone, slamming the door shut behind his broad back.

  Too late.

  The tiny sliver of hope she’d been harboring about them getting back together walked out the door with him. Wiping away the hot tears streaming down her face, she donned her damp underwear and stepped into her pants.

  Gazing at the door, Sky squared her shoulders in defiance.

  Jim McBride had just given her a lesson she wouldn’t easily forget. She’d be on her guard from here on out.

  *****

  Jim McBride hunched against the cold brick wall of the deserted men’s bathroom where he’d retreated after leaving the conference room and Sky. His heart cracked like a machine gun and his breath escaped in shallow gasps.

  Damn! What the hell did he think he was doing trying to change Sky’s mind? He should know by now she was one stubborn woman. Once she made up her mind about something, there was no stopping her.

  He shouldn’t worry about her. Being sexually inexperienced didn’t mean she wasn’t a good detective. In the line of work she’d always been able to take care of herself. Uneasiness pricked through him. So, why was he apprehensive now? Anything could go wrong, that’s why. She was a virgin. Sexually inexperienced. He would lose her if Loverboy got his hands on her.

  Jim had read the Loverboy file. The man targeted virgins. He wooed them. Seduced them. Fucked them until they were hooked to his intense lovemaking and then they did whatever he asked. Obviously, he was great in bed if he could turn an innocent woman into a willing slave. There was no way in hell Jim was going to let the woman he loved go down that road.

  In desperation, he’d stormed into the room Sky had been using and found her ogling Loverboy’s photo, her cheeks rosy red, her big blue eyes wide with want.

  She’d looked so desirable. He’d wanted her so bad, his cock ached. He’d craved her to be naked. Right there on the desk. Squirming and moaning as he thrust his cock into her. His long fierce strokes plunging into her pussy, making her scream from the pleasure.

  He’d wanted to worship her. To brand her as his own. To remove that expression of interest brewing in her eyes for Loverboy.

  The burning anger and her comment about that stranger teaching her how to make love had overruled his usual control to the point where he’d grabbed her and kissed her. Her sweet scent had drowned him and made him heady from sexual need. He’d managed to thwart his own desires in order to please her and she’d melted under his onslaught.

  He’d been surprised she’d let him touch her pussy at all. He’d grown bold slipping his fingers past her swollen lips into her hot channel. She’d been tight, but wet with want and had accepted his other fingers with relative ease. He’d begun thrusting into her. Over and over. He’d known the exact instant she’d lost control and given into the desire he was offering. She’d spread her legs wider, grabbed a hold of him, digging her nails into his shoulders.

  Jim grinned. He could still feel the sting of where her nails had dug into his skin.

  Ravishing agony had scrunched up her pretty face and her guttural moans had urged him on. He’d pumped harder. Faster. Finally, she’d screamed and climaxed, her pussy muscles contracting and spasming around his thrusting fingers.

  He’d wanted her to get an idea of what she was missing. Of what she’d been denying him. He’d done the job of pleasuring her quite well. He’d changed her attitude toward sex. Had recognized the magical sparkles of satisfaction in her big blue eyes and the lovely blush of embarrassment on her face when she realized she’d lost control and given him her trust.

  Jim closed his eyes at the sweet memory and leaned his head against the cold brick wall behind him. His cock continued to throb with the need for release.

  He could still taste her sweet mouth on his lips when he’d kissed her. Could still remember the warmth of her flesh burning into his palm and her warm, wet cream slick on his fingers.

  He’d wanted more than anything to remove his fingers and slip his aching shaft into her. He’d been close to doing it. So damn close, but it would have been a mistake.

  From the start of their relationship, she’d made it perfectly clear she wouldn’t give herself to a man until she was sure she loved him. Then when she’d finally told him she loved him, he’d been ready for sex. But last week she’d said she wanted to wait to have sex until their wedding.

  Christ! He’d waited so long to be with her and then she wanted an extension until they got married? She was frustrating.

  He craved to make her his wife. Wanted to see her flushed face and to hear those sexy little moans deep in her throat every morning and every night as he made love to her.

  He wanted to father her children. If he got his way they’d have lots of kids. There was no way he should let this Loverboy assignment stop him from achieving his dreams. Jim swallowed as an idea hit him. Suddenly, he knew exactly what he needed to do.

  Chapter Two

  Saturno...one week later

  Awareness coursed through Sky the instant Loverboy entered the smoky bar room. He reminded her of a sleek panther hunting for a mate as he strode confidentially to the polished mahogany bar and sat down several barstools away from her. The bartender grinned a friendly welcome to Loverboy and slapped a foamy beer onto the counter in front of him.

  Sky didn’t miss the appetizing way his skintight jeans hugged his cute buns as he sat on the barstool. She also noticed those extra-large shoes kiss the floor beneath the stool.

  You know what they say about a man’s feet. Big feet. Big cock.

  A spark of excitement shot through her at that thought and her gaze moved up to his frosty beer mug and to his fingers clasped around the glass handle.

  Long, thick fingers. Just like Jim’s.

  Would Loverboy’s fingers elicit the same exciting sensations as Jim’s? She didn’t think so. Jim McBride was the man for her. She knew it deep in her heart, even with the way things stood between them.

  Sky swallowed and pressed her cool glass of tequila against her hot forehead. Damn that Jim McBride for pushing her! Ever since he’d finger fucked her, she hadn’t been able to think of anything else but sex. Sex. Sex. Sex.

  Yeah, sure, she masturbated, but Jim’s pleasure had been different. It had been deeper and more soulful and with more meaning. It was as if he’d unleashed her carnal side. Ripped away her confidence and made her addicted to…well, sex.

  A friend of hers had once told her, “The minute you get properly fucked by a man, you’re hooked. Addicted to the high of sex.”

  Ain’t that the truth.

  Over the past week, she’d fantasized way too much about Jim. She dreamed of how it would be for him to make love to her. Having him plunging his hard dick into her vagina or into her eager mouth, or maybe her ass? She closed her eyes and tried to keep the dark fantasies from crowding into her brain. She
needed to concentrate on her job and ignore the lust screaming through her system.

  Sky rolled her cool glass over her hot cheek, opened her eyes and watched Loverboy.

  He appeared different from his photo and from the several other nights she’d followed him since arriving here on Saturno. Tonight, he seemed bigger. More powerful. Damn sexy.

  Muscles bulged in his strong arms as he hoisted his mug to his lips. Full lips. Kissable lips.

  Down girl.

  The next time she saw Jim she’d give him a piece of her mind for introducing her to sex. Up until his impromptu performance, she’d been quite content masturbating on her own and now she had doubts that she could truly handle Loverboy. Earlier, she’d cyber-texted Sex Squad Headquarters to tell the Chief she was making her move on Loverboy tonight and she wanted to know who the male backup would be. He’d reassured her the backup was already in place and she would know him when she saw him.

  Her thoughts returned to Jim. Too bad she hadn’t seen him since after that episode. She would have loved to flaunt her new style in his face and make him jealous, but she’d been busy getting ready for the assignment. Her last day on Earth had included a complete transformation, which included new clothes and a cut, style and hair color. She’d gone from butt-length mousy brown hair to a stunning mid-back black hair.

  For tonight, she’d picked a tight black leather skirt that showed off her wide hips along with a matching pair of pumps, a plain white very see through blouse and a black string bow tie. She’d opted for no bra and no underwear. The latter two were the things she was self-conscious about. The thought of possibly showing Loverboy her pussy in order to get him interested and the fact that her blouse left little to anyone’s imagination had her nervous. In the way the male customers eyes had stalked her tonight when she’d entered the bar, she knew she’d done something right.

  During her research phase, she’d staked out Loverboy and quickly discovered he was a creature of routine. Every night he visited the same ten bars. He acted like a regular customer and ordered a beer. He chatted pleasantly with a bartender. Ten minutes later, he’d leave. Without drinking his beer.

  She’d checked the financial situations of all ten bars and a pattern had emerged. All the bars were owned by the prospective bartenders. All the businesses were in financial trouble.

  The way Sky figured it; Loverboy targeted these bars because of their financial distress. The owners kept their eyes open for potential victims and Loverboy paid them generously for their information.

  Tonight, she’d picked bar number seven in the string to make her move. It was the smallest business with the largest debt. She’d already given the bartender her sob story over a couple of potent tequilas. Now she waited anxiously for the barkeep to hopefully mention her to Loverboy. It didn’t take long.

  Unexpectedly Loverboy turned his head and they made eye contact. His look was intense and intoxicating. Her pulse skittered and she forgot to breathe. His gaze slid from her face to skim along the length of her neck, over her chest. She swore she could feel his eyes softly caress her breasts. Her nipples peaked. Hardened. They ached to be touched.

  God!

  Jim had been right. There was something about this man or maybe the bartender had slipped something into her drink to make her more aware of him. Nonetheless, she needed to be very careful.

  Suddenly he lifted his beer mug and toasted her. He followed up the toast with a couple of long sips. Okay, this was different. Something was up. She tensed as he placed the mug back onto the bar, nodded to the bartender and then slid off his stool. A moment later and he was heading straight for her!

  “You’re a beautiful woman obviously in need of a man,” he whispered into her ear as he sat down on the barstool beside her.

  His breath smelled delicately of beer and it mixed with his own unique scent that went straight to her head like a shot of whiskey. A tinge of dizziness swept through her and she held tight to the edge of the bar.

  Easy girl. You’re here for a reason.

  Sky swallowed. Hard. She looked up at him under her lashes and smiled seductively.

  “What makes you think I’m in need of a man?”

  “The way your nipples are practically popping out of your blouse. Aching to be caressed. Suckled. Worshipped.

  Mercy! He had a way with words.

  He continued, his breath a whisper, “Your eyes are shining brightly with a hunger for sex. I’m sure if I touched your vagina, you’d be wet for me.”

  “And if I reached over…” Sky swallowed back her fear and forced herself to keep her eyes on his sexy mouth as she boldly cupped his giant bulge pressing against his pants.

  The man was huge! Almost as big as Jim. She squeezed his hard erection and Loverboy’s lips twitched slightly.

  Amazing. A tough man like himself, aroused by her touch.

  Feminine power surged through Sky and it gave her back some of that confidence she’d lost to Jim when he’d finger fucked her last week.

  Sky’s smile grew.

  “Your place or mine?” she asked as she released her grip from the intoxicating bulge.

  Loverboy returned her smile.

  Gosh, he looked cuddly when he smiled like that, but she noticed his smile didn’t reach his cool blue eyes.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t do virgins,” he suddenly said.

  Sky blinked in surprise. Was he testing her? Suddenly she could feel the Loverboy case begin to slip through her fingers.

  “Excuse me?”

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’ve offended you.”

  “No. No. I’m the one who’s sorry. I came on too strong. I’ve never done this sort of thing before. Temporary insanity. A momentary lapse of judgment.”

  Heck, she’d never expected he would turn her down. She fingered the condensation on her tequila glass and wondered what she should do next.

  “That’s quite understandable,” he replied. “You want to get back at your ex-fiancé. Show him you’ve decided you’d rather get fucked by someone else because he couldn’t wait for you.”

  He was using the information she’d given to the bartender. She smiled as sweetly as she could under the circumstances.

  “That’s very perceptive,”

  “Actually, the bartender mentioned you had some trouble with your boyfriend. It’s very admirable you wanted to remain a virgin until your wedding. He should have been very proud to wait for you and to be given the privilege to experience where no other man has gone before.”

  Despite trying to appear sophisticated, she couldn’t stop the hot flush flooding her face. When she’d sobbed her story to the bartender about getting dumped because she wanted to wait until she was married, she hadn’t been the least bit embarrassed. What she’d told him was part of her strategy in getting noticed by Loverboy. She’d stuck to the truth as much as possible, lessening her chances of saying the wrong thing and tipping off Loverboy she was a Sex Squad cop.

  “Ah. A virgin blush. The most beautiful thing for a man to see.”

  “I intend on rectifying that problem soon.” Sky stated.

  “So the bartender told me.”

  “And since you don’t “do” virgins…” Sky studied the smoky room. “I’m sure there will be another candidate along soon enough.”

  “I think maybe I can help you…in some other way.”

  She narrowed her eyes and tried to appear curious.

  “How?”

  “The bartender mentioned you got laid off last week. I may be able to find you employment.”

  She faked excitement. “Are you serious? I am so desperate for work. I’m weeks behind on my rent and my land lady says I have until tomorrow night to pay up in full or I am out on the streets. And you know as well as I do that Saturna is not a place to be homeless.”

  “I run a school in the area.”

  Bingo. Sky ran a finger leisurely along the edge of her glass and tried hard not to show her excitement.

  “What ki
nd of school?”

  “How to “please” men and women.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I plan on training sex slaves for Saturna. I’m searching for recruits. Are you interested?”

  Her heart picked up speed. “I’ve heard they make great pay.”

  “They do.”

  “I might be interested.”

  “What’s your name, hon?”

  “Sky. Sky Blue.” It was the cover name the department had come up with for her.

  “How about you come to my farm and meet the class? You can participate in some lessons and if you don’t like it, you’re free to leave”.

  “How do I know you’re not just going to take me out somewhere, fuck me, kill me and get rid of my body?”

  Loverboy grinned and shook his head slowly.

  “That would be bad for my business. Everyone here sees me talking to you and if you leave with me, they’ll see that too. If you go missing, there are plenty of witnesses that saw us together. The last thing I need is to have the cops asking a lot of questions and scaring off potential clients, right?”

  Sky nodded. “I suppose.”

  “So, do want to try out the school?”

  “On one condition.”

  “Anything.”

  “You buy me one more Tequila for the road.”

  Heaven knew she was going to need it.

  *****

  Although Sky felt flushed, she didn’t think it had as much to do with the drinks she’d had as it did with this virile man sitting on the truck bench seat beside her. There was something about his scent that made her heart gallop at full speed with both excitement and fear.

  Her ploy had worked. She’d been invited to Loverboy’s farmhouse. But what if he decided he did “do” virgins and wanted her?

  Although she knew self-defense, she didn’t know if she could fight this big guy off her if he decided he did want her.

  “Where are you from, Sky?”

  “New Hampshire, Earth,” she lied.

  He frowned. “That’s not far from where I grew up. Just across the state line, actually.” He became quiet for several moments before speaking again. “How long have you been here? What kind of work were you doing here? I gather from our conversation you don’t work in the pleasure business as that’s what this planet is all about.”