Rude Awakening Read online

  With a groan she turned onto her side and hugged a pillow tightly against her breasts, trying desperately to push the erotic scene from her mind. What would have happened had she gone to dinner with him? And why had he asked her in the first place? Almost on cue, her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she never did get around to eating dinner. And yes, she was hungry for much more than food could satiate. It was a wrenching hunger, a clawing beast, gripping her soul, demanding gratification.

  The longer she acknowledged her need the more painful it would become and the harder it would be to accept reality. She knew that all too well. Fantasy only led to disappointment, and self-pity was counterproductive. With a sigh of resignation, Jaimee closed her eyes and willed her body to go numb and relax as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter Three

  Uneventful and tranquil were not words that would describe a day spent with a bunch of hormone-laden, puberty-driven eighth graders. Jaimee took her time walking to the mailbox to retrieve the mail. Several of her students were going to make this year tough, to say the least. Of course she’d do the obligatory calls home but there was a pretty good chance the parents would just placate her and do nothing to encourage their trouble-making children to improve their behavior.

  Then there were the reoccurring dreams keeping her nights restless and frustrating. Disturbing erotic dreams of Lucas deep inside her, taking her, making her scream and driving her mad with pleasure. They’d all been so real and when she woke up, her body on the edge of orgasm, in order to go back to sleep she’d touched herself, moaning into her pillow as the unsatisfactory climax washed over her. Even so, when sleep returned so would the dreams.

  Tired and frustrated, Jaimee had just opened the mailbox when a black SUV pulled up right behind her. She knew who it was before the tinted window slid down.

  “Hi, Jaimee.” His sexy voice seemed to flow over her. It was as if she had psychically beckoned him somehow. She couldn’t stop the groan that came from deep inside her.

  How in the hell did he get so close so fast without running over her? His spicy scent mingled with leather interior teased her. Jaimee could definitely appreciate a nice car, especially with rich leather interior. The fact that this one had an extremely hot guy behind the wheel with wonderful lips that had done amazing, unspeakable things to her in her dreams only made it worse. Those sexy lips curved into a knowing smile and made her weak in the knees. Damn. Jaimee squared her shoulders and met the onslaught of erotic heat she found in his eyes with defiance.

  “Hi, Lucas.”

  He smiled. “This is for you.”

  She looked at the blue gift bag then met his gaze. “For what?”

  “I owe you a new shirt, remember?”

  Oh yeah, she’d forgotten. She shrugged, feeling oddly self-conscious. “I didn’t actually expect…”

  His smile faltered. “You should have, I told you I’d replace the one I threw in the trash. Go on, take it.”

  “Fine.” She sighed and took the bag from him. “Thank you.”

  “My pleasure. I’m looking forward to seeing you in it.” He watched her so closely it made her want to run away—or take a step closer.

  In an attempt to change the subject, she tilted her head to the side and tried for cold indifference. “Nice wheels. I’m surprised it’s not a Hummer, but it’s nice.”

  His smile slowly spread into a toothy grin. “Yes, I have to agree. Hummers are very, very nice.” His voice had dropped even lower, lids lowering slightly as he captured her gaze, eyes lit with mischief.

  Jaimee blinked in confusion. Obviously he had something entirely different from big, overpriced automobiles on his mind. When understanding dawned that his thoughts obviously went straight to his groin she blushed furiously. She could feel her cheeks practically glowing. The idea of taking his cock into her mouth only increased her embarrassment. And worse, the image of his mouth on her, humming against her throbbing sex had need drumming a slow cadence through her. Her body instantly responded to him, just as it had Friday at the health club, just as it had every night this week. Clenching her teeth, she resisted the urge to squeeze her thighs together.

  She wanted to grab his ears and kiss him madly while dragging him into her house to rape him. Instead, she crossed her arms over her aching breasts as she feigned ignorance, as if he couldn’t see that she knew exactly what was on his mind.

  “Oh no, huh uh. You can’t call a Hummer nice. That’s like calling a lion a cute little kitty. A Hummer is a badass vehicle. At least the military-issued vehicle is. It’s big, rugged, tough, a force to be reckoned with. It’s not nice.” She sounded so snippy she almost grimaced. But she didn’t, it was his fault anyway.

  One brow lifted and without saying a word, the intent was clear in his eyes and she couldn’t look away. “Big, tough and forceful appeal to you? More so than nice, I mean.”

  Oh yeah, big, hard, fast… As he watched her, desire bloomed brighter and hotter, sending her heart into overdrive, her blood searing through her until she found it hard to breathe. Finally, she cleared her throat, narrowed her eyes at him and took a step back, jerking a thumb toward the door. “I have to go,” she mumbled and turned to go.

  “Jaimee.” It wasn’t a plea, or a shout. It was a low rumble that held confidence, power and authority. Though it grated against her, she stopped in her tracks and turned slightly, giving him the meanest look she could. An arrogant smile slowly curved his lips, much to her distress. “You appeal to me.”

  Oh wow. More than the actual words it was the look in his eyes that made her heart leap. Damn if she didn’t feel like a giddy teenager ready to melt at his feet. Instead, she stiffened her spine, refusing to give in to the butterflies.

  “I hate that for you,” she said with as much of a smirk as she could muster under the circumstances. Somehow she doubted her attempt at cool disinterest was convincing. His chuckle confirmed it for her.

  She narrowed her eyes and spun around, walked across the lawn, desperate for escape. The sound of the SUV’s smooth idle tempted her to turn around to see if he was watching her, but she refused to give in as she stepped into the house and slammed the door.

  She took a detour through the kitchen to grab a bottle of water from the fridge to try and cool down. Unbelievable. She leaned back against the counter and gulped the cold water. Her heart was pounding, her body shaking as she fought to make sense of the all-consuming arousal flooding her system. Had she ever desired anyone this strongly before? Surely she had, she had to have, but not Brent. No, her relationship with Brent had been based on stronger stuff. That was reality, love, and far more meaningful than butterflies and heart palpitations. Lust had never been a part of what she and Brent had. For that reason, her marriage, her life with the man she loved, was more stable and rock solid than any sexually charged involvement based on nothing more than lust.

  Which was why it irked her to no end that she could be so shallow that the first incredibly sexy man who showed any carnal interest reduced her to a quivering mass of wanton lust. Maybe it wasn’t just that he was sex walking, she reasoned with herself. There was an immediate attraction that went beyond his body. In his eyes there was strength, wisdom, and she liked that he looked her in the eye. Even though it was annoying as hell, she had to admit she liked that he kept her on her toes and didn’t back down when she got a bit snippy with him. It might be nice to spend time with him, get to know the man, have a conversation. If she weren’t so afraid she’d end up begging him to fuck her brains out. She rolled her eyes; surely she wasn’t that stupid or weak.

  With a deep sigh she opened the gift bag and looked inside. She wasn’t sure what she expected to find. Underneath all the tissue paper she found a very nice navy, light blue and white Nike tank top with a built-in bra and racer back for support. She didn’t even know they made Nike sportswear in plus sizes. The best part was that it would cover her tummy and it looked like it might fit loose enough that she wouldn’t look like a sausag
e. There were also yoga pants that matched the top. Both were size eighteen. The prices had been cut off the tags but she knew the outfit wasn’t cheap, and he’d gotten it in her size. Yikes, he knew her size. How did he know her size? She blinked, trying to process the revelation as it hit her. This man, this very sexy man, who could have any woman he wanted, was completely aware of her size and found her appealing.

  The modestly decorated little house was situated a block down the street from Jaimee’s home. It was a far cry from the upscale apartment in California Lucas had lived in on his last assignment. Not that he really paid much attention to things like décor. It was all just part of the job and at the heart of it Lucas was, for the most part, just an actor playing a very dangerous role. But in this play, breaking character would cost lives. With his growing attraction to Jaimee it would do him good to keep that in mind.

  She wasn’t making it easy on him. The sound of his name escaping her lips on an urgent moan was torture. When she awoke only to give herself some semblance of release it was all he could do to keep from going to her aid. The night she’d cried herself back to sleep though, that had been hell. She hadn’t just softly cried into her pillow. It had been a gut-wrenching, soul-deep sob that nearly drove him to break his cover and go to her. Not good. Not good at all.

  He took off his jacket, hung it on the hook by the door and walked into the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee. While waiting for it to brew he leaned back against the counter. Jaimee was sexy, smart, strong; she had a lot of admirable traits going for her. She deserved to be desired and loved. That he had to deceive her nagged at him. That was new. Lucas Grayson was known for his ability to coldly bed a woman only long enough to get her compliance and the information he needed to bust her criminal ass.

  It was his job to find out all that Jaimee knew, as well as what those around her knew, and of course, keep her safe in the process. It wasn’t like he’d never had a case like this before. He had. However, when it was all over other agents moved in and he moved on. No muss no fuss. The women he fucked never cared any more for him than he did them. Frowning, he sighed, poured a cup of coffee and crossed the short hallway to the tiny bedroom he’d converted into an office. He sat down at the L-shaped desk filled with computer and surveillance equipment and leaned back in his chair.

  Sex wasn’t the plan in this case. Mrs. Jaimee Turner had only been intimate with her late husband. She had a strong moral code and wouldn’t be easily seduced. The course of action had been to woo her, flatter her, make her feel special until they could retrieve pertinent intel, and keep an eye on her. Simple. Yeah right. He genuinely liked Jaimee; she was lovely, intelligent, adorably spunky. But she heated his blood, made him want something he couldn’t even name. He cared what happened to her, hated deceiving her, even if it was his job and ultimately, for her own good.

  The scanner picked up a call and was recording. Lucas mentally shook his troubling thoughts before pulling his hair back and putting on the blasted headphones.

  “Oh my God, no you didn’t!” Maxine said with incredulity.

  “Yep, I did. Then he soundly put me in my place and yanked my shirt off. Thankfully, I had a leotard on underneath.”

  “No, he didn’t!”

  “Yes, he did. He said something about me being too hot and hiding.”

  “Damn!” Max said in awe. “What did you do?”

  “Nothing, he walked away then. But he was waiting for me when I left.” Jaimee kicked off her shoes and curled her legs under her in the big overstuffed leather chair. “He asked me to have dinner with him but I told him no.”

  “What? Why not?”

  “Well, I don’t know who he is. He could have been a serial killer for all I knew. He could have been eyeing me thinking I would make a nice jacket.” Ah, that was bull. He didn’t fit the profile for a serial killer, if there really was a specific profile. It was true that she was afraid of him. A man could do worse; he could take something more valuable and painful to lose than your life. He could destroy your heart and soul.

  “He probably just wanted to get to know you.”

  “Yeah right.” Jaimee snorted. “That’s what he said. That man is not my type. Oh he’s pretty to look at and all, but he’s not real. Max, he can’t be real.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “And worse, he lives on my street. He just about scared me to death a while ago. He pulled up behind me while I was getting the mail. And…he replaced the shirt he threw away…with interest.” She fingered the soft material.

  “For real?”

  “Yeah. A very cool Nike outfit.”

  “Wow! That rocks. What color?”

  “Navy, light blue and white.”

  “To match your eyes. He’s good.”

  Jaimee snorted sarcastically. “He’s male. Don’t all males like blue?”

  “No, not all. Man you really don’t know guys, do you?”

  “That’s an understatement.” Jaimee chuckled. She’d only dated a couple of guys before Brent and she had never gotten very close to them. “Brent liked blue.”

  “I choose to believe he picked blue to match your eyes.”

  “Anyway, get this…it fits! Can you believe that? I can’t believe they actually had them in my size. Well, my new size. Who would have guessed Nike makes plus sizes? Still, I can’t believe I can wear this. I guess I really have lost some weight.”

  “I told you!”

  “But I haven’t been trying.”

  “Yep, because you let yourself have a life again. You’re no longer trying to be Brent’s little woman.”

  Maxine was never one to keep her opinion to herself and though often correct, it still hurt. No, not so much hurt as it made her feel guilty that it was true. Brent was a passive man and being that she wanted so desperately to make him happy and at the same time encourage him to assert himself, she had tried to be softer, more passive, about everything, something she wasn’t inherently born to be.

  “You should have invited the hunky stud in.”

  “For cryin’ out loud, Max. I said I don’t really know him.”

  “Well hell, get to know him! Invite him over for dinner or something.”

  For a moment she considered it. She could march right over to his house and invite him to dinner. But it was the “or something” she was interested in. If he really wanted her she might give in and have sex with him. She needed it, wanted it more than anything else right now. But what if her body turned him off? Could she handle that rejection? She’d always believed sex outside of marriage wasn’t right, would only hurt her in the long run. Besides, she didn’t know the man! There was too much at stake, too dangerous.

  “You’re not listening,” Jaimee sighed. “I said he’s not my type. He said he just moved here from California.”

  “What’s that mean…not your type? He has a cock and he seems interested in putting it to use.”

  “Max.” Shaking her head, Jaimee folded her new clothes and put them away. The outrageous things Max said didn’t shock her anymore. Her disapproving school marm voice came naturally. “He’s not the relationship type and even if he is, I’m not ready for a relationship, it’s only been…”

  “He’s dead, Jaimee, dead. You’re alive. So live already.”

  Can’t argue with that. She pushed away the guilt for not grieving like she ought to be. She did miss him, and at times that made her sad. Shouldn’t she be broken-hearted, devastated, really truly grieving? She shifted on the sofa, stretched her legs out and lay back, closing her eyes.

  “How artfully put.” Maxine sugarcoated nothing.

  “Besides, who said anything about a relationship?”

  “I did. I don’t think I want to be a ‘just for kicks’ kinda girl, Max, even if I could be. You know that…”

  “Hey! I got an idea,” Maxine interrupted, ignoring Jaimee’s argument altogether. “I’ll come over and we’ll go for a walk around the block and see if we can get a peek at him. Then you can flirt
with him. I’ll be right there to save you if he tries anything.”

  “No!” Laughing in spite of herself, Jaimee rubbed at the headache budding behind her forehead.

  “Seriously, James, give him a chance. What are you gonna lose by getting to know him. He may be a really great guy.”

  “I don’t know. He looks like he just walked off a glossy fashion mag. Oh! You know what? He could be one of those impossibly sexy romance cover models. You know one of those hunky bodice rippers with his hair flowing in the breeze, a busty redhead swooning in his arms. Hell, he could be a Playgirl model.”

  “Damn, now that’s an issue I’d buy.”

  Jaimee snorted, “Me too.” She stared at the ceiling, trying to imagine Lucas naked.

  “See you think he’s sexy. You want him, just admit it.”

  Hell yeah, she wanted him. She wanted him so bad it hurt. But she had learned long ago that she didn’t have to have what she wanted. “You act like you have a vested interest in my going out with some guy I don’t even know just ’cause he’s hot.”

  Jaimee could almost hear the grin in Maxine’s voice. “And he is hot, too, isn’t he?”

  “God, you are so shallow.” Jaimee couldn’t suppress the feral smile that curved her lips. “Yeah, he is. You know, you would really like him. He has nipple rings, of all things.”

  “Mmm, nipple rings…yeah that’s hot. You sure you don’t want him? ’Cause maybe he’s got a thing for chocolate.” Jaimee couldn’t help but chuckle at that. Maxine was an exotic beauty; her skin was like warm milk chocolate, smooth and creamy. Mischievous humor lit her feline eyes. They tilted slightly and were so dark they were almost black. At five feet nine inches tall with an hourglass figure she looked like an Amazonian goddess. With her sharp wit and no nonsense attitude, Maxine Pruitt was a force to be reckoned with.