Games were never Kate’s strong suit. Especially games where the rules weren’t defined or were hidden. Jericho was good at games, mind games, sexual games, word games. She’d seen him in court enough to know that the man could talk circles around anyone and make them think exactly what he wanted them to think. When it came to him, she felt as if she needed to deal with him on a basic level.
She reached out and cupped him in her hand. He was hard and hot. She raised her eyes to his. They were filled with shocked pleasure as if this was the last thing he’d expected her to do. “That’s some hefty evidence there. Maybe I need to examine it.”
She squeezed and stroked up the length of him. Pleasure washed over his expression as his eyes slid closed and he moaned softly in his throat.
It was a difficult thing to want to make this man suffer. The more she teased him, the more she ached. She wanted to feel that hard, hot flesh against her bare hand, run her palm over the silky tip, take him into her mouth and use her tongue on him.
Thoughts came swirling out of the deep recesses of her mind. Decadent thoughts that were alien to her. Something stirred inside her, something dark and needy. It tingled in the tips of her hardened nipples, rippled along her skin, sunk deep into the folds of her groin.
Something that had slumbered unaware until now.
But he’d known all along about her secret desire. It irked her, making the anger slam into her again. She let go of him. “Did it make you feel powerful to know I wanted you?”
He opened his eyes and gave a quick shake of his head.
Her breath caught in her throat. “Yet, you pretended not to notice me at all.”
“Kate. I wanted you. I’ve wanted you for a long time…”
“But you didn’t do anything about it. Did you? Now I feel like a fool.”
She stood up abruptly. “You make me crazy.”
“Kate…”
He got off the couch so quickly that she didn’t have time to step back.
“It wasn’t my intention to make you feel like a fool.”
“What was your intention?”
“To keep our relationship professional. I didn’t think it would be smart to give in to my baser needs. We work together.”
“So, all you’re interested in is sex, too?”
“I think that if we give in, we can get back to normal.”
“Slake our desire?”
“Right.”
“That’s fine.”
Slanting her a look filled with resignation, he inquired, “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you, Kate?”
“As a matter of fact, I am. Very much.”
When he raised his hand to drag it through his hair, the cuff slid down, revealing the strong, bronzed skin of his forearm. The movement also pulled the tailored shirt away from his body and she glimpsed hard, muscled ribs before his hand fell and her view was cut off. Something spiraled inside her tight and warm.
Kate dragged her gaze away from his face. She took a deep breath. “The ME said he’d have his report for you tomorrow afternoon.”
Jericho took a deep breath as well and started to fasten the studs of his shirt.
“Like I said, I’ll start the DNA process tomorrow, since it’s getting pretty late.”
“I feel guilty for sacking out on you,” Jericho said, shrugging into his tuxedo jacket.
“Don’t. I appreciate the ride.”