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  “See, McKade?” She threw the covers off her head. “I told you he’d be like this.”

  “Calm down, Campini. Brett’s just trying to torture me. He’s getting even for all the times I acted like an overbearing asshole when we were younger.”

  “Fine. Brett, be a dear and set me free. I’ll even help you reattach him to the bed if you like. After all, I never did anything to you.”

  Brett couldn’t control his laughter as he lounged on the windowsill. “You were right, Shane. This is worth getting up for. It’s better than I could ever have imagined. I can’t wait to tell Jordan…”

  “No!” the pair said simultaneously.

  “You can’t! Kiley will start making plans for us and that’s not what this is about.” Alyssa was frantic.

  “What is this about?” Brett wondered.

  “Sex,” Alyssa answered before Shane could. “Incredibly hot, out of control, without a thought to the ramifications, sex.”

  “Please, Brett. You know they’ll make more out of this than it is. Campini and I are having some fun. Call it insanity inspired by the setting or the way she looked in that dress you’re holding or whatever else you want. We were getting along since she was being soft and agreeable instead her normally bristly self.” Shane grunted as Alyssa’s fist landed in his stomach. “See? The moment’s already passed. There’s no need to get them stirred up over something that clearly isn’t going to happen.”

  “Shut up, McKade,” Alyssa snarled at him.

  “Sounds like you both woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning,” Brett said, earning scowls from both. “You know you’ll both owe me if I keep this to myself. I guess, at this point, I can just about name my price.”

  “Come on, Brett,” Shane pleaded. “You’re going to set off Campini’s perpetual bad mood and I was kind of hoping to convince her to stay a little while longer.” He grinned at Alyssa and winked.

  “Oh for Pete’s sake, knock it off.” She rested her hand on his chest without realizing it.

  Brett noticed and gave Shane a meaningful look. “Fine.” He stood to hand Shane the key.

  “Grab me some sweats from the bottom drawer too please.” Shane returned his look with a slight shrug. “Thanks.” He had them free and in one motion, stood, pulling on his pants. “Can we impose on you for one more thing? If it’s not asking too much, will you drop Campini’s dress off at the cleaner’s near your house? That was one of her excuses for why she had to leave as soon as you got us out of this.”

  “McKade,” Alyssa warned.

  “Sure, no problem,” Brett replied, wondering what he was up to. “By the way, would either one of you care to explain the handcuffs?”

  “I, uh, was distracted and screwed up. I thought I had the key in the nightstand.” Shane pushed him out of the room in front of him. “Thanks for coming.” At the door, he added, “Seriously, will you keep quiet about this? I’m not sure how we ended up here but I don’t want her hurt because we did. You can tease me as much as you want just not in front of the newlyweds.”

  “I guarantee I’ll never let you live this one down but give me some credit. I have enough sense not to run my mouth, no matter how priceless it is.” Brett shook his head and chuckled again. “You really will have to tell me about it sometime, after you figure it out.” He raised his voice, “Have fun, Alyssa. I’ll hang on to the key in case you need to call me again.”

  Shane could hear her grumbling as Brett’s laughter followed him down the hall. He was torn. Did he make coffee and talk to Alyssa as he knew he should or did he take the easy way out and rejoin her in bed, postponing the inevitable? Or should he be a complete coward and take her home, avoiding the whole issue for now? Then again, maybe he’d have a stroke of luck and Alyssa didn’t see their ending up in bed together as an issue. Shane immediately dismissed his last thought. Knowing her, Campini would find innumerable ways to complicate whatever was happening between them.

  “Uh-oh, you’re scowling and I wasn’t even in the room,” Alyssa startled him out of his thoughts. “Does that mean Brett’s calling Kiley and Jordan as we speak?”

  “No, despite what you think, Brett’s cool. He’ll keep his mouth shut unless he catches us alone,” Shane sighed. “I was just thinking.”

  “Judging by your expression, I assume it had something to do with me. You don’t have to worry, McKade. I’m not going to go all Fatal Attraction on you.”

  Shane opted for the easy answer. “Phew, am I glad to hear that.” He grinned, ignoring the way his heart skipped a beat. “Want some coffee?”

  “Now? I was kind of hoping you would demonstrate some of those combined sensations you were blustering about. Or did you only mention that to distract me because you thought I’d lose it being chained to you with no way out?”

  He finally noticed she was wearing one of his shirts, unbuttoned. Raking her from head to toe, he leered. “Campini, if I didn’t know better, I’d think I was starting to grow on you.”

  She stared at his groin. “Well, part of you definitely is. Follow me, McKade.” She turned, sliding out of his shirt and strolled back to the bedroom.

  Chapter Three

  “I can’t believe that a big, tough badass like you uses bubble bath.” Alyssa giggled as Shane poured something into the tub.

  “It’s not bubble bath. It’s an essential oil used to promote peace and tranquility. It’s also good for your skin.” His swirled the water to test the temperature.

  “Well, excuse me.” She giggled harder. “Essential oil, that’s a hoot. As if you would know about that sort of thing.”

  Shane plainly heard the sarcasm. “Actually, I know quite a lot about aromatherapy. Herbal teas and holistic spices too.”

  “Sure you do.” Alyssa rolled her eyes. “Next you’ll tell me you used feng shui to arrange your furniture and pick the colors of the walls and rugs.”

  “Not entirely. Want me to take a look at your apartment? With the constant hostility you radiate, I can tell it’s not the right environment for you.”

  “Wait a second, you’re serious here.”

  “Don’t sound so amazed, Campini. Not all things are as they appear at first glance.”

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were gay.”

  “Why, you think only a gay man would admit to knowing these things? That’s incredibly shallow of you. Surprising too, with the way you delve into the lives of the people you photograph.”

  “So how do you know this stuff?”

  “I learned from a woman I dated a few years ago. Before you ask, yes, we did spend more than a few hours together.”

  Alyssa stared, open-mouthed, unable to think of a quick comeback. “You don’t have to get so touchy. I just had no idea you aren’t really the narrow-minded brute you came across as when I met you.” When he didn’t respond, she continued, feeling oddly nervous that she’d offended him, “I’m sorry, okay? You’re right. I shouldn’t make snap judgments about your personality even though you always go out of your way to bully me.”

  “When have I ever bullied you?” Shane turned off the water and stepped into the tub, indicating she should sit in front of him.

  Alyssa joined him, relaxing between his thighs with her back against his chest. “Only every time you talked to me before my birthday.”

  “You’re kidding, right? You think I was bullying you?”

  “It sure as hell seemed like it to me. And if you weren’t, then what were you doing, coming on like a Neanderthal the way you did?”

  “I was trying to make you to see how dangerous what you were doing was. It was irresponsible…”

  “Hey hang on here! What the hell do you mean irresponsible? I didn’t ask you to get involved. If you remember, I’m the one who told you to stop interfering.”

  “You still don’t get it, do you?”

  “Get what? I was fine before you started showing up all over the place. Thank goodness I was wrapping up or I would have lost everything
.”

  “Campini, are you naïve or just plain stupid? You could have been raped. Beaten. Both repeatedly before they got bored and killed you. You don’t just walk up to the nearest gang member and insist on speaking with the guy in charge.”

  “Well I did it and it worked out great. I explained what I intended and they accepted that I wasn’t there to betray anyone. They understood that I was looking to show the human side of kids like themselves who ended up in their situation. They trusted me.”

  “I doubt that. It’s much more likely they were waiting for you to finish so they could take your pictures before they did whatever they’d decided to do with you.” Shane took a deep breath. “Look, I don’t want to argue about this. I’ll never believe that you weren’t in serious danger and you’ll never understand that you were so let’s just drop it. All we’re doing is creating tension and the whole purpose of this bath is to relax us before we go to lunch with our parents.”

  Alyssa shot up to face him. “What the hell do you mean, lunch with our parents!”

  “Weren’t you paying attention? Last night my parents invited yours to join them so they could get better acquainted. I mentioned I had planned on spending some time with mine and I assumed that you’d want to see yours too since Jordan told me you don’t visit them very often. Didn’t they suggest you come along too?”

  “No. Just what, exactly, do you expect me to wear to this little get-together, McKade?”

  “My tuxedo jacket, of course. Wasn’t that the bargain?”

  “Not in this lifetime! You said twenty-four in twenty-four and I had to wear your jacket for a drink. You did not include anything about lunch or our parents! And you haven’t fulfilled your part of this yet.”

  “Not yet but you know I will. I have until ten, remember.”

  “Yeah and lunch is way before ten so don’t go counting any chickens.”

  “Don’t look so fierce, Campini. Can’t you take a joke? I thought you could wear my sweats back to your place to change before we go to lunch. You don’t have to wear my coat until we have that drink.”

  “McKade,” she growled.

  “Sh, come back here.” He pulled her against his chest. “We’re supposed to be relaxing, not arguing. If you don’t want to go to lunch, I’ll drop you off and pick you up later. I just thought it was a good idea since we both promised to make an attempt at being nice to each other. I figured it would make Jordan and Kiley happy if they heard how civilized we were in public without them refereeing.” While he was speaking, Shane started a lazy massage.

  “I guess we could manage that.” When his hands finally found her breasts, she moaned. “Mm, that’s good. Maybe I need to rethink this whole essential oil bit.”

  “The oil helps, Campini but the sensation is all me.”

  “Don’t get cocky on me, McKade. I’m enjoying this too much and I’d hate for you to ruin it.”

  “I’m already cocky, Pixie Queen,” he whispered huskily, letting one hand roam lower as he nuzzled his erection against her back.

  “Shut up, asshole,” she whimpered when his hand found her nub. “God, you have me so sensitive.”

  “Want me to stop?” he asked, sliding two fingers into her pussy while he kissed her neck.

  “Are you insane? Why the hell would I want you to stop now?”

  “I don’t want to make you sore.” He made sure his thumb grazed her clit as he probed deeper. When he rolled her nipple between his fingers and caressed her ear with his tongue, he felt her telltale tremble begin.

  “You’re not… I’m… Oh…” She gasped as yet another climax swept through her. Before she knew it, Shane lifted her enough to impale her with his shaft.

  “God,” he groaned as she engulfed him. “I can’t believe how hard you still make me after all the times I already came.”

  “And I can’t believe how wet you make me,” she moaned as he started to move within her. “Too bad we don’t like each other. We certainly have incredible chemistry between us.”

  “Yeah too bad,” Shane echoed.

  Alyssa thought she heard something different in his tone but quickly dismissed it as rising passion. God, he was amazing! Never had anyone turned her on the way he did. And it wasn’t just that she was feeling bare skin inside her for the first time in her life. Or that he was too, although knowing that was a bigger turn on than she ever imagined. No it was him, not that. She hadn’t expected to have this reaction to him when he made the ridiculous claim that he could guarantee her twenty-four orgasms in twenty-four hours. Well, he still had eleven hours to go and she was about to have number fourteen.

  What was even more unexpected was the way she was enjoying being with him. Even arguing had become fun. Unfortunately, Shane had made it clear from the start that he was only doing it to fulfill the challenge she threw back at him with while they were dancing. He’d been so sure of himself he hadn’t even let her determine the consequences if he failed. The way he insisted that she not bother unless the unthinkable happened and he didn’t deliver what he boasted had made her furious. The nerve of him to claim that there was no need for her to waste time thinking about a suitable penance for him! And now that it was obvious that he would succeed, she was annoyed and strangely off balance. She’d assumed he was just an overbearing, egotistical cop. Instead, she’d discovered he was a good conversationalist, knowledgeable and interesting. He was attentive and considered her responses thoroughly before he commented. He was a more generous lover than she’d ever experienced, even in her dreams.

  Yes, Shane McKade was proving himself to be fantasy material. Good thing she was leaving for her next assignment soon. That way he wouldn’t have time to wreck her new impressions and go back to being just another asshole, out to see if he could get what he wanted before she got sick of him.

  “Hey, Campini, where are you?” Shane interrupted her musings.

  “Just recuperating, stud. A girl needs time to collect herself after something like that.”

  Shane tipped her head to kiss her. “So that means my pixie queen is pleased?”

  “Why are you calling me that?”

  “Because you’re, what’s the politically correct term these days, petite? But, in spite of your physical size, you have the commanding presence of royalty.”

  “You are so full of it. I’m already willing, McKade. False flattery won’t get you anything more.”

  “You mean this isn’t going to earn me the continued pleasure of your company after lunch?” He teased her with another kiss.

  “I figured that was already a given, seeing as how you haven’t lived up to your challenge yet.”

  “You know, I wasn’t really serious about keeping a running total for you but, if you’re up for it, so am I.”

  “No way am I letting you back out of this now that I’ve discovered all your hidden and unexpected talents. I’m curious to see what else you have in your sexual repertoire.”

  “It pleases me that you noticed, Pixie Queen. I am, after all, merely your humble servant, at your disposal. I’m honored that you have such faith in my abilities, especially after the way you scoffed at me last night.”

  “Humble servant, my ass!” She laughed with him. “Besides, that was before I had a sample of your expertise.” She grew serious. “I really don’t make a habit of casual sex, McKade.”

  “I never really thought you did and so you know, neither do I.” They stared at each other for an extended moment. “We’d better shower. I want to wash your hair and we don’t have all that much time before lunch.”

  “We have an hour and a half. It’ll only take me five minutes to change. What’s the rush?”

  “I didn’t say anything about rushing. I said I wanted to wash your hair. I think you’ll find it an enjoyable experience.” His gaze echoed the heat he implied.

  “Oh, I see. So this is going to be like those shampoo commercials?”

  He stood, tugging her up with him and pulled the drain plug. Positioning her
so she was out of the spray until he had the water temperature adjusted, he said, “No, this is going to be much better.”

  Chapter Four

  Shane was lounging at the bar, trying to shut down his mind so he could relax. It had been a very unsettling week, personally as well as professionally. Ever since he dropped Alyssa off at her apartment Monday morning she kept popping up in his thoughts, no matter how hard he tried to banish her from them. She had truly surprised him at his brother’s wedding reception. He never expected them to end up in his bed, even while he was teasing her. Then, after lunch with their parents, when she went back to his apartment with him and stripped as soon as they were in the door, he was even more astounded by her. Hard to imagine, the woman who plagued his work life for the previous year by continually putting herself in unreasonable danger, first with the gang and then with the homeless, becoming his nemesis in his personal life too.

  All week, Shane had found himself watching for her on the street even though he knew her quest to humanize the homeless through her photographic skills was complete. He knew she was in her studio, safe for the moment. Too bad she wouldn’t stay that way. In just a little over a week she’d be off to join a team of storm chasers. They wanted her to unromanticize their activities. Apparently too many amateurs thought only of the thrill of a tornado and nothing of the danger. Alyssa was going to attempt to show the raw power and resulting devastation through her stark photography. The fact that she needed to place herself virtually in the path of the storm in order to show the area before and after it hit didn’t seem to bother her at all. She wasn’t even sticking around until her cousin got home from her honeymoon with his brother. Not that Shane could blame her for that. Kiley had made it perfectly clear that she was frightened and didn’t want Alyssa to go on this assignment. If Alyssa stayed until Kiley was back, she’d be subjected to another round of pleading and cajoling.