“We’re in public,” she finally gasped, and he stopped, his lips turning down in a frown.
“Forget where we are,” he said, and he leaned down and took her lips again.
She was tense for only a few seconds and then the sensations washing through her made her forget where they were. When he moved his hand down to the hem of her skirt and began raising it, Jewell found herself in the throes of a desperate internal struggle. Should she allow him to break every rule of proper behavior and public decency she’d ever been brought up with? Did she have any choice but to let him do just that? No. Not according to the agency.
“Excuse me, but the two of you are in a public place. You’ll need to stop right away.”
It took a few moments for the words to get past the fog in her brain, but when they did, Jewell was horrified to realize that someone — a stranger — was speaking to them.
Blake instantly stiffened and pulled away from her after quickly tugging her clothing back into place. She was afraid to open her eyes, but when she did, she felt the color wash from her face.
A police officer, who was looking anything but happy with them, was standing five feet away and pulling out his ticket book. If this incident went on record, she would forever lose her chances of getting her brother back. She was doing everything she could for Justin, and she might have blown it already.
“I’m going to have to cite you both for indecent behavior,” the man said as he looked at Jewell with a trace of disgust.
“What indecent behavior?” she said before she was able to stop herself.
“The streets are not the place to have sex,” he replied coldly.
“We weren’t having sex,” she argued before Blake sent her a searing look that told her to stop talking.
“Your clothing was out of place. I’m not arguing with you.” The officer continued to write on the pad.
“I don’t think so,” Blake said, and that made the officer’s eyes narrow.
“Excuse me?” the officer said, as if not sure how to react to having these two randy people challenging him. Blake then moved away from Jewell and the officer took a single step back, and his hand came up to rest on the butt of his holstered gun. Was the cop frightened, or did he just want to remind Blake that he had a weapon? Jewell didn’t know.
“Get into the car.”
It took a moment for Jewell to realize that Blake was speaking to her. She looked from him to the officer and decided she was more afraid of Blake at that moment than the law, and so, without another word, she moved to the passenger’s side and climbed into the sports car.
She was surprised when she saw the officer’s lips moving but heard no sound. Maybe the car was soundproof. If Blake riled up the officer too much, she certainly hoped it was also bulletproof. Too nervous to look away, she kept watching as the officer and Blake spoke. Then her jaw dropped. The officer put away his ticket book, turned around, and started walking to his police car.
Then the cop got in and drove off. She hadn’t had to give her name, hadn’t received a ticket. Who in the hell was Blake Knight? If he could get an outraged police officer to go away, what couldn’t he do?
Blake entered his car a moment later, switched on the ignition, and the engine came to life. Without speaking, he pulled from the parking place, then jumped onto the freeway.
His masculine scent surrounded her, making her stomach clench as her desire immediately revved back up. When she noticed his fingers wrapping around the stick shift, she ground her thighs together and wondered what was wrong with her. This was a job, only a job, a job she despised. Being attracted to her client in any way made her pathetic.
“We’ll finish this later,” he said, making her jump in her seat.
“What did you say to him to make him leave?” She’d been dying to ask, but had waited until he spoke first.
“It doesn’t matter; I know people” was his only answer.
Jewell decided not to say anything further. She had no idea what was coming next, but whatever it was, she was sure she would need her strength. Blake Knight frightened her — and, sadly enough, excited her as well.
It would be in her best interest to remember who he was, and also to remember herself. They weren’t a couple; they weren’t even friends. She was his toy to play with for a short time, and she was sure he’d make the most of it, take every advantage.
And then she’d be another man’s toy. She needed to keep this sad fact constantly in the front of her mind.
Chapter Seven
“Take off your clothes.”
Jewell looked at Blake as if he’d lost his mind. “What?”
His eyes narrowed. “Take off your clothes. Do not make me repeat myself again.” He stood back and looked at her through silver eyes that seemed to see right into her soul.
“I c…can’t. We’re in a parking garage,” she stammered. She looked desperately around at the full lot.
Sure, this corner happened to be dark, but what if someone drove in? What if a police car cruised by again? There was no way she could do what he was ordering her to.
Blake just waited in silence, leaning against the front of his car and watching her pace nervously in front of him.
“Please?” Sheesh. She was reduced to begging now.
“I guess our agreement is finished, then.” He shrugged as if he didn’t care.
Was he bluffing? Could she take the chance? Her stomach knotted painfully as she weighed her options.
Wanting more than anything to walk away, she closed her eyes and saw her brother’s sweet, impish face. What was she willing to do for him?
Anything.
If that meant she had to strip down in a public place and humiliate herself, that’s exactly what she would do. But what if she was cited this time? Nausea churned in her stomach as she realized that Blake Knight wasn’t going to make her time with him easy. She’d constantly be facing painful decisions about what to do, and about how far she could go without risking losing her brother.
Still, she had her pride. With a haunted look at Blake, she began undoing the buttons on the front of her blouse. The air was warm, almost too warm, at least to her, with only a slight breeze brushing against her skin. She’d soon be standing there in nothing but her panties and bra, the summer air dancing around her body, enticing her.
No. She refused to become turned on. He’d already proved he had the power to make her lose her thoughts, but she was just as determined to harden herself against this man, a man who was so remote, so cold.