She moved so fast, Asher barely had time to brace himself for her weight. Not that she weighed anything at all. She was soft and sweet and she smelled so incredibly inviting--like a woman aroused. Like feminine heat and excitement.Her brushed-cotton gown tangled around his legs when he turned and pinned her beneath him. He felt her body sigh into his, her slim legs parting, her pelvis arching up. In the next instant, her hands cupped his face and she kissed him. It wasn't a gentle kiss. She ate at his mouth, hungry and anxious and needy.So many feelings swamped him. Lust, of course, since Kimberly always inspired that base craving, even when she wasn't intent on seducing him. And need, a need he didn't like acknowledging, but one that was so powerful, so all-consuming, he couldn't minimize it as anything less than what it was.But first and foremost was tenderness, laced with a touch of relief that he wouldn't have to pull b
Her breasts were still heaving and her heartbeat thundered against his chest. Asher placed one last gentle kiss on her open mouth, then lifted himself away to reach for his pants. He fumbled in the pockets until he found his wallet and located a condom. When he turned back to Kimberly, he saw her watching him, her dark eyes so wide they filled her face. Her bottom lip trembled as she slowly drew in uneven breaths. Damp curls framed her face and her expression was wary.She was probably a bit embarrassed by her unrestrained display. He didn't have time to soothe her, though. He needed to be inside her, right now, feeling her body clasped tight around his erection just as it had clasped his fingers. With the help of the moonlight, he could see her pale belly and still-open thighs.He bent and pressed his mouth to her moist female flesh, breathing in her scent and his need for her overwhelmed him. His tongue flicked out, stroking her, ras
Kimberly woke a little after ten and wasn't surprised to find herself alone. Even if she and Asher hadn't gotten to sleep until almost four in the morning, he wasn't the type to stay in bed past dawn."Big ol' tough guy" she said with a yawn as she got out of bed and prepared to start what was left of her day.As she showered, she stretched her muscles that were mildly sore from the unaccustomed activity. Pain or not, she felt great. Whole, which was odd considering she had never felt anything was missing.Asher was an interesting man. Tender in bed... which she wouldn't have expected, but still tough. Just like the last time they had been together. He had held her through the night. Every time she had awakened, he had been right there, his arms around her.She told herself that it didn't mean anything. That it couldn't mean anything. They hadn't know each other long enough for it to mean anything. Y
Kimberly nodded. "But let's call my father first" she said.Asher agreed. He called her father thrice and got no reply. When he stopped trying, Kimberly was already freaking out and pacing the room."My father can be absent minded sometimes" she said. "There are times when he switches off his phone on purpose and stays away from anything that has to do with the internet. He says they interfer with his work and when he does that it's really hard to get to him, except in person. That might be what's happening right now. I'm just worried because he wouldn't do such a thing right now, when he knows there are people after me.... Unless what Christopher Keane said is true... He's sick... He is sick and there is no way to reach him. Oh my God, Asher. What am I going to do?""Calm down Kim," Asher said. "Let me call my men before we jump into any conclusions"Kimberly nodded. "I want to make sure he didn't g
Kimberly breathed deeply. "It's just so hard to believe." she said. "He is my dad's close friend. They have known each other for a long time. He trusts Christopher. Why would he even do something like this in the first place?"Asher stood and pulled her to her feet, then drew her against him. "Let's not jump into conclusions. The important thing is you and your dad are safe. As far as I am concerned, the job isn't over until I'm sure that you are going to be all right"Kimberly relaxed into him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "So you work for me now?" she asked playfully. "I remember one time you told me that you worked my dad and not me"Asher grinned. "Yeah I work for you" he said."When did that switch happen?" she asked"A couple of days ago" he replied."When are you going to let me start paying you?" she asked.
He nibbled on her earlobe, gently biting down on the flesh before sucking on it. Goose bumps erupted every where. Her nipples hardened. She wanted him, all of him, right this second. The bedroom was too far away.Even as the thought formed, she reached for his belt and began to unfasten it. He chuckled against her neck."Impatient, are we?" he asked."Yes. Very" Kimberly said.He grabbed the hem of her T shirt and pulled it off in one easy movement. Her bra quickly followed, then he turned her attention to her breasts.He cupped them first, caressing every millimeter of sensitized skin. Then he bent down and licked the very tips to of her nipples. Her body clenched in response as she clung to him.It wasn't enough, she thought, barely able to stay conscious. It would never be enough. She raised her arms. She wanted him naked, but right now she could only expe
Kimberly,Please. I'm desperate to get in touch with you. Please call me as soon as you read this. It's your father. He's had a heart attack and he is near death.Kimberly stared at the email for several seconds before panic set in. She scrambled for a piece of paper and a pen, then quickly wrote down the phone number. When she had it, she ran into the control room and picked up the phone."Please enter your authorization code"The computerized voice confused her. She punched in Christopher Keane's number, only to hear the instruction again."What?" she demanded, then remembered this was Asher's safe house. The regular rules didn't apply. She hung up the phone."I have to know" she murmured as she scanned the room for some way to find out the truth. She couldn't find her phone. There were only blinking cursors on various computer screens. How could she —
The shot was quieter than she would have thought. The sedative struck him in the upper left part of his chest, close to his shoulder. Her eyes flickered open then closed. She waited five seconds before shaking him."Asher" she yelled. "Can you hear me?"He didn't budge. She dropped the gun onto the floor and ran for the garage.She was nearly halfway across the cement floor before the computerized voice warned her that she had violated her authorized perimeter. The shrill siren began as she started the car engine. She started to back out before the garage doors had fully opened, and there was an ugly scraping sound, barely audible over the pulsing alarm.Kimberly turned on the lights of the car and drove down the street. Not long now, she told herself over and over again in a litany of prayer. I will be there, daddy. Just hang on for meTears threatened, but she willed them away.