SINGLE FATHER SEEKS... Page 10

  "Hi."

  His lip quirked. "Hey yourself."

  "You have nothing to say?"

  "Fishing for compliments?"

  Now it was her turn to scoff. He didn't smile, yet continued to stare, his gaze moving over her features. "There is no going back now."

  "Who said I wanted to?"

  He gripped her under her arms and dragged her up his body. "Good, because we're just getting started."

  "Started on what, Bryce? Making love with me again?"

  "Ahh, so you know the difference."

  Her eyes grew suddenly glossy and she pushed his hair off his forehead. "Yeah, I figured it out."

  He rolled to his side, hovering over her. "I want more than this, Ciara."

  "Shh," she said, and put a finger over his lips. He nipped it. "Let's just take it one day at a time."

  Bryce let out a breath. He wasn't expecting a commitment and she was right. One night, one time in bed didn't make it so. But the fact that he wanted one from her still startled him. "Well, this day isn't over."

  She smiled and wondered where her strength had gone. That same strength she'd had in Hong Kong that had enabled her to walk away from Bryce. Her throat burned and she knew that she would have to leave, that she'd destroy this sweet peace, a peace she'd never known, and go back to her real life.

  She was living on borrowed time.

  And she'd give up almost anything if it was hers to keep.

  His arms dug beneath her, scooping her close. His mouth was on her breast, his tongue flicking her nipple before he sucked it deeply into his mouth.

  "You taste so good," he said, turning his attention to the mate.

  "It's the body wash," she said dryly and only his gaze shifted to her, tender humor in his eyes. He blew on her damp nipple and it tightened.

  His hand swept down her spine to her thigh and he drew it over his hip. His hardness pressed against her and between her thighs grew hot and slick.

  He reached between them.

  Suddenly she shimmied lower.

  "Ciara?"

  And lower still.

  "Oh no, woman."

  She pushed his hands away and ducked under the sheet.

  "What do you think you're doing?" But he knew, oh, how he knew.

  "Undercover work, secret agent man." She disappeared beneath the dark sheet and Bryce growled and arched as her mouth closed over him. He felt every touch, every inch of her against him, every stroke of her tongue and his body shuddered violently, until he thought he'd split in half.

  He slammed his eyes shut as she took him deeper and experienced the heady rush of passion coming at him from all sides. He couldn't stand it and he grabbed her, rolling her onto her stomach.

  "Bryce."

  He loved the disappointment in her voice.

  "You little witch," he growled in her ear. "How much more did you think I could take?"

  "More, much more," she said in a soft laugh, the sound cut off when he slid his hand under her belly and between her thighs.

  She shuddered and gasped as a biting hot tingling pelted her skin, simmered in her veins. Her body tightened, muscles flexing and clawing and he chuckled darkly, teasing her more.

  He leaned over her, whispering how beautiful she was, that he adored this untamed side she hid from everyone but him. That he could feel her pulsing around him.

  Her motions grew stronger and Bryce responded to her, pushing, pushing.

  "Bryce, oh please, oh please."

  "Take me with you," he growled and shoved. Their climax was wild, fierce, sensation splitting through them, only to drag them back together. He clutched her, riding the waves of primal passion, their bodies answering each other in savage pleasure.

  She gasped for air, closing her hands over his and holding on as the sensations ebbed and receded.

  "Ci-a-ra," he said drawing out her name.

  "Hold me, hold me," she said and swallowed her tears, no longer wondering how he could affect her so deeply.

  "I will, darlin', I will," he said, wrapping her in the cocoon of his arms.

  Ciara sighed tiredly, swallowing her tears and not willing to admit what they meant. Her gaze moved over the elegant furnishings and opulent décor of the master suite. Above them lay a canopy draped in dark green brocade, the heavy curtains making the large bed an island in a creamy cloud of walls and carpet. Moonlight spilled into the suite from a bank of windows and French doors leading to the private balcony. She didn't want to move to view the rest of the room, too content to remain tucked in the curve of his body. Yet all of it forced her to see that Bryce had centuries of roots, stability and a family name to uphold.

  She had no ties, no bonds.

  She'd cut them years ago and though she didn't regret anything she'd done for her job, hovering over her head was that carefully worded sentence that would cost her a child she loved and the man who held her heart. She snuggled deeper into his embrace, hoping she was wrong, hoping he would safeguard her heart, and protect a woman whose job was to protect the world.

  * * *

  Chapter 9

  « ^ »

  A little kernel of panic filled Bryce when he stepped out of his bathroom and found no trace of Ciara in his bedroom—except for her clothes strewn with his across the floor. Tying his robe, he went to find her. His daughter's crib was empty and he went downstairs. At the foot of the steps, he instantly caught the sound of Ciara's voice and the scent of frying bacon. He came around the corner to the kitchen and stopped.

  She was at the stove, cooking eggs, and wearing sneakers, a tight pair of navy blue bike shorts, and a gray stretch tank top. Not a curve was concealed. Lucky him.

  She glanced at the time. "As soon as your daddy comes down we'll be off," Ciara said to Carolina.

  "Off where?"

  She spun around, the spatula raised as if she were going to use it as a weapon. "Sweet heaven don't creep up on me like that!"

  "I didn't creep. Did I, princess?" he said to Carolina.

  The baby cooed, her mouth full of scrambled eggs. Ciara moved the pan off the burner. "Oh, you're her father, she'll side with you," she said defensively.

  Chuckling, he walked over to the baby and bent to give her a quick kiss, then looked at Ciara. "You aren't going out like that, are you?"

  Ciara looked down at her clothes. "What's wrong with this?"

  "It's revealing as hell."

  "Prude."

  His lips curved in one of those heart-stopping smiles. "That's not what you said last night."

  "That was last night," she said and he tensed, waiting for the doors to slam close. For her to go cool as ice and shut him out.

  She didn't, his heart picking up pace as she walked over to him, and tugged open his robe before sliding her arms inside.

  Bryce felt something give in him. Like the floor beneath his feet, and he closed his arms around her and kissed her.

  And kissed her.

  "Good morning, darlin'," he said against her mouth.

  "Mmm," was all she could manage when she could feel him growing hard against her. Her insides shifted, burned as he familiarized himself with the curves of her body. But before she blocked out anymore of her life and hid away in that bedroom with him, she drew back. He wasn't finished and kissed her twice more, quick and deep.

  "God, I want you again."

  "I can tell." She rubbed her hips against him and loved his pained look. "But I'm going for a jog and taking Carolina with me in the stroller."

  "Didn't get enough exercise already?"

  "I'm ready for another workout with you, though."

  He grinned, and when she rode her hands down over his bare buttocks, Bryce thought the counter was a good spot to make love to her again.

  Then Carolina squealed, swiping at her tray and sending bits of egg to the floor.

  "I think she's ready to go," Ciara said, giving the child a no-no look. When she looked back at Bryce, he wore the oddest smile. Stepping out of his arms, she pick
ed up a cloth and started cleaning up the mess. Belting his robe, Bryce watched her for a second, then stopped her.

  "Go on, I'll take care of it."

  Her brows rose.

  "I was doing this before you arrived, you know."

  "Yeah," she said softly. "I know." And you will again, she thought and looked away before be could see her feelings on her face. She'd been so lousy at hiding them lately.

  "How about a boat ride when you come back?"

  "No little shrimpies waiting to leap to their death into your fleet of nets?"

  "I'm the president. I can take a day off."

  "Stand in the Oval Office and say that."

  He grinned. "His days off were a Secret Service nightmare."

  "Yours won't be." She smiled at the prospect of fun in the sun with him. "I'll run fast." She gathered the baby out of the high chair and walked out, saying, "Don't forget fishing poles."

  Fishing? Ciara? Bryce dropped into a chair and snatched up a piece of bacon, thinking that in the past month, his life went from lonely, angry and guilt-ridden, to downright perfect.

  Now if he could just get Ciara to trust him enough to tell him exactly what she'd been hiding since she got here.

  * * *

  Ciara opened one eye and spied Carolina. She was in the playpen on the deck of the cabin cruiser, the boat's blue tarp shielding her from the sun. Her father was at the stem of the boat, aft as he so clearly pointed out, setting the poles. She, of course, was sunning on the bow. The heat beat down on her and she exhaled, her mind drifting into a place of peace and relaxation.

  The boat rocked gently on the water, the sensation lulling her into a balmy dream without thoughts of leaving. Enjoy this, her mind cried out like a lonely child. She exhaled, barely hearing Bryce talk to his daughter. A gull shrieked overhead and the breeze cooled her skin. Heaven, she thought.

  "You look good enough to eat," he whispered in her ear.

  She smiled, refusing to open her eyes. "There's lunch in the cooler."

  He chuckled. "Rats."

  Her shoulders shook with silent laughter. "Is Carolina okay?" she asked. "Do you think it's too hot for her?"

  "She's going to live here the rest of her life. She best get used to the heat and humidity."

  Ciara opened her eyes and rolled on her side to look at Bryce. He was inches from her face. "Oh, for pity's sake, Bryce. She's a baby. A gator would get overheated in this weather."

  He chuckled. "I gave her some cold water to drink. She's having the time of her life with all those toys and playing with the water bucket."

  Ciara shifted to look past him to Carolina, watching her make a valiant effort to pour water from one container to another and squealing with pride when she did it. "Good girl!" Ciara said and the baby looked up and gave her a toothy grin, her nose wrinkling adorably. "Mud pies are next, sweetie," she said as if Carolina understood her.

  Ciara waved, and blew the baby a kiss.

  The baby kissed her dirty palm and waved back with every muscle she had.

  Bryce glanced between the two females, not for the first time seeing the bond they shared. His heart overflowed with pleasure over it. "She loves you, you know."

  "I got that feeling," Ciara said warmly, then brought her gaze to his. She smiled. "I marvel every time she discovers something new. It's like seeing the world all over again. She changes every day."

  "I don't want her to grow up so fast."

  "Yeah, then you'll be beating off the boys with a stick."

  He groaned. "Boys. Thank God that's far away."

  "Only about sixteen years."

  "She can't date 'til she's twenty at least. Maybe thirty."

  She laughed. "Hah, she's going to be a beauty. Just try and stop the boys from knocking on your door."

  "When did you first date?" Lord, he knew next to nothing about her past.

  Her features softened. "Sixteen, I think. My dad was like a hound after a squirrel when the boys came into the house. I recall him saying something like, 'I have a gun and shovel. No one would ever find you.'"

  Bryce chuckled, sympathizing with the man. "So where is he now?"

  He caught the flash of pain in her eyes and she hesitated before answering. "He's dead. He and my mother were killed several years ago in a jet crash."

  "Oh, God, Ciara, I'm sorry."

  "Thank you. The worst of it was it was their first vacation alone in years." Ciara rolled to her back and closed her eyes, realizing she'd told him more than she'd intended. Her parents' passing was years ago, leaving her with her brothers for guidance and mostly, leaving her in charge of her younger sister, Cassie for a while. Mostly, forcing her to leave the company for a while to fill her mother's shoes. The last image she had of her family flooded her mind and her eyes burned. Oh, I miss them, she thought and knew it was because she was here, with Bryce and his daughter. In a normal life that wasn't really hers at all. It was like she was living 'what might have been' had she not gone into the CIA.

  "Darlin', you okay?" Bryce settled in the corridor leading to the bow, close to where she was lying against the windshield. He touched her cheek, and she turned her face into his palm, kissing it, then lifting her gaze to his. The agony in her eyes was enough to slay him where he stood. "Ahh baby, I'm sorry." He gathered her in his arms. "I didn't mean to bring up old pain."

  "It's okay," she whispered, clinging to him, loving that she had someone to share it with, someone who understood. She swallowed repeatedly, trying to keep back the grief she'd never had the chance to shed, for her parents, for the family she'd abandoned for the sake of her career. It was for their own safety, she told herself again. Their safety. Yet her heart wasn't listening and the dam broke.

  A decade of tears shattered the stillness.

  Bryce groaned and shifted to the bow, pulling her deeper into his embrace. Her shoulders shook as old heartache spilled in tortured sobs that cut him in half. He never really imagined her crying like this. She was so independent and strong, almost invincible. It was a long time before her sobs quieted. A lot of hidden sorrow, he thought and wondered if this was why she shut her emotions off so frequently.

  When she was silent and still, he squeezed her, then nudged her head back, staring into her soulful eyes. Then he covered her mouth with his.

  Their kiss was slow and tender, her heartache soothed under the balm of his attention.

  "Thank you," she muttered after a long moment.

  "I hate to see you hurting."

  She sniffled. "I'm okay now." With the end of her towel, she blotted her eyes.

  Bryce tipped her chin up, and could almost see her turning the pain away, marshaling her emotions and stuffing them into a compartment he knew he couldn't open. "Talk to me, darlin'."

  "Nothing to say about it."

  He drew on his patience and said, "You can trust me with anything, Ciara. Even your pain. You know that, don't you?"

  She nodded and kissed him again, knowing she couldn't. Not with her secret. And right now, she needed him more than she needed to tell him. Not breaking the kiss she shifted closer, and let him work his magic. Their skin meshed, sun-scented and warm.

  His hand rode down her back and enfolded her buttock.

  Suddenly a horn sounded. They broke apart and looked to see a passing boat filled with people. They hooted and waved and someone shouted.

  Ciara buried her face in his chest. "Good grief, I feel like a teenager caught necking by the school principal."

  Just then Carolina cried. "Oh dear, the noise startled her," Ciara said and Bryce found his arms empty as she shifted off the bow and went to the baby.

  She scooped Carolina up, soothing her tears and reaching for the little life vest the baby had to wear when she was out of the playpen. When Carolina felt sufficiently loved, Ciara slipped on the vest and sat down on the padded bench, reaching for the cooler. She pulled out a snack for Carolina and offered it to her. His daughter stuffed the crustless sandwich in her mouth in a very unl
adylike fashion.

  Smiling, he folded his arms over his chest and studied the woman who turned his world inside out. She was resilient. He'd give her that. She was nothing like Diana or any other woman he'd met before. Last night in his bed, she'd felt what he did. He was sure of it. It was more than just changing things. More than needing each other and wanting that intimate connection. It was a mating of souls, he thought. As if he'd been searching for her, yet not knowing he was searching, and when he found her, it was a pleasure enough to kill him.

  It was a little unnerving. And he wondered if he was up to this. To be strong enough for her, to be her match.

  "Hey, want a soda?"

  He focused on her. "A beer."

  "Hell no, you're driving this thing," she said and tossed him a soda.

  He caught it. "You could."

  "I know I could, but I get hot seeing you standing at the wheel like a sea captain."

  He grinned. "Let's get underway then." He popped the soda top.

  She laughed and gave him a seductive smile. "Foreplay is everything, Bryce. Have some lunch with us girls and then take the long way home."

  Home, he thought. She'd made his house that way. Before he and Carolina had been just living there, secluded. Now there was something better. Much better.

  He sat down beside her, sharing sandwiches and munching on chips, the baby between them and making more mess than any child had a right to make. Neither of them cared. They talked for what felt like hours, about Carolina, his business, the low country he loved so much.

  "So," Ciara said, finishing off her sandwich and dusting her fingertips. "I never did ask, what's the name of your boat?" It was already in high tide water when she got in.

  He hesitated and Ciara wondered if that was a blush she saw, or just too much sun. "The ships for the company are called the Lady Carolina and the—"

  "Stop stalling, Ashland. I mean this one." And he knew it.

  He didn't answer, smirking to himself. Frowning suspiciously, she set down her soda and went aft, sitting on the edge and hanging on to the ladder to lean down and look at the back.

  She popped up, blinking. Stunned.

  His smile was slow and almost lecherous.

  "Hong Kong Knight. You named your boat after a night of sex!"