Beneath the Layers Read online

  Kurt sampled his drink, gaze locked on her as he waited for her reply.

  “I know Phillip and Rowan Stuart, too.”

  “I’m presuming you were stationed together elsewhere?” He arched his eyebrow with the question.

  “Yes. We lived together, too.”

  His eyes widened then narrowed. His lips thinned to a taut line. She knew jealousy when she saw it. That it came from Kurt stirred up her lust. She was tempted to lie and tell him they’d had a hot and heavy ménage but decided to give him a pass.

  “It’s not what you think,” she told him.

  “How do you know what I’m thinking?” His gaze drifted to the cushions between him as he drank.

  “The tic in your jaw gives you away.”

  His attention was back on her, but the tight jaw remained. “What was the story? Or do I have to call Zach and Phillip for the information?”

  Midge brushed her thumb over the bowl of her glass. “They’d never tell you. But I’ll save you the trouble of investigating.”

  “I’m listening.” He draped his arm over the back of the couch.

  “You first. Do you even have a sister—or was that part of your cover?”

  “I have two sisters and a brother.”

  “Where does your family live?”

  “Los Angeles. Yours?” His smile did a number on her insides.

  “San Diego. I have a half brother and sister. How did you get the scar on your shoulder?”

  His humor faded. “Line of duty. I was trying to keep Claudia from being killed. I was shot in the shoulder and thigh.”

  In the midst of taking a sip, Midge froze as alarm trickled through her.

  Kurt took a healthy drink. “It still scares me to think about how close we all came to death. I met Claudia and Zach last fall. I can’t believe we’ve only known each other for a little over a year. It feels like forever. I’m not looking forward to the day they get orders.” He slowly shook his head. “Anyway, they’d gone undercover to try to catch a killer. I was assigned to keep Claudia safe. Since she didn’t trust strange men, I met her as Kiki, a crossdresser.”

  “Ah…stilettoes.” His dedication to his job impressed her, though she did admit to wanting to see his skills as Kiki.

  “I’m presuming you caught the killer?”

  He nodded. “We did. Your turn.” He lifted his glass her way. “You were living with Zach and Phillip…?”

  Midge couldn’t look at him. Though she’d done nothing wrong, the incident still haunted her.

  “It was about three years ago. I was a sergeant. Zach and Phillip were captains. The military judge, a colonel… Don’t ask his name because I won’t tell you.”

  He could research it if he wanted to. Knowing Kurt, he probably would, though it wouldn’t surprise her to hear the record had been destroyed.

  “I was constantly fending off his advances. I was scared to death to say anything because of his rank. He said he’d ruin me, that he had the power to do so and that I needed to get with the program. I did everything I could to avoid him. One evening I’d returned to the office because I’d forgotten my phone. He caught me and forced himself on me. Zach and Phillip had also returned to the office to shower after playing basketball before heading out for a drink at the Officers’ Club. They saved me from being raped.”

  Talking about it made her sick inside. It made her feel dirty, too. Her wine suddenly had little appeal. She set the glass on the table behind her and hugged herself. Kurt closed the gap between them, wrapping his arms around her. Midge tensed then eased into the comfort of his embrace. He stretched out, pulling her with him until she was draped along his body. She rested her cheek against his chest.

  “You don’t have to tell me anything more.” He rubbed his hand over her back.

  “No. I want you to understand,” she replied, then continued.

  “They stood by me when I filed a formal complaint and backed me up one-hundred percent. Battle lines had been drawn—the three of us against the might of higher-ups. Friends deserted me to stay out of the fallout. My boyfriend was one of them. Alone, I became a target to take down. Threats against me escalated. I moved in with Zach and Phillip for my own safety. In the end we won, sort of. The colonel wasn’t court-martialed. Instead, he was invited to retire. He threatened to take me down with him, if it took forever. I’ve been somewhat hiding ever since, doing my job and trying to keep as low a profile as possible. I was thrilled to discover Zach was stationed here and that Phillip had resigned his commission. But I’ve also been scared to death someone would find out I’d been to their houses for dinner and that I’d be charged with fraternization. They didn’t like it, but I refused further invites.”

  Kurt slowly nodded. “It’s why you downplay your beauty and keep yourself isolated.”

  He really thinks I’m beautiful? Her heart skipped a beat. “It’s what drew the colonel’s attention in the first place. I’ve been afraid ever since.”

  He slid his hand under hers. A lifeline against the world… That was what it felt like. Midge looped her thumb around his.

  “That’s no way to live, baby.”

  “I’ve recently come to that conclusion as well,” she admitted. “Maybe it was the birthday. Maybe it was Susan and Jeremy forcing themselves into my life. Maybe it’s my busybody landlady. Maybe it’s because I was too fearful to go out last night without a disguise. Maybe the loneliness and isolation took its toll.”

  “Or maybe it was all of the above.”

  He was right. It was everything all piled up at once.

  “I’m fed up with the person I’ve become. I’m so damn tired of hiding. I hit the wall last night. The disguise, allowing myself to be dragged to the club…”

  It still shocked her at how far she’d fallen from the person she’d once been. In hiding from the world, she’d let herself become a doormat, taking what people dished out because she’d been too afraid of confrontation.

  “I’m glad you let yourself be dragged to the club last night.” He brushed his thumb over hers. Heat crawled up her arm. “I meant what I said. I’ve wanted you from the first day I met you.”

  Frowning, she turned her gaze his way. “When did you flirt with me?” Surely, she would have noticed.

  He scrunched his nose. “I’m embarrassed to admit it was pretty lame, now that I think about it. During the Duran murder trial, I spent a week offering you gum, mints and hard candy. I couldn’t even get a smile out of you.”

  Midge tried not to laugh. “You’d rendered me speechless. I couldn’t believe a man like you was interested. Then I realized I couldn’t act on it because my rules forbid office relationships.”

  “I expect a written statement from you, notarized, to the effect that I don’t suck at flirting.”

  “For Zach?”

  “You bet.”

  Smiling, he twisted a length of her hair around his finger. “Despite the sting of what I presumed was your rejection, I couldn’t get you out of my head. How else would I know how you liked your coffee and your go-to treat? Or that you read at lunch every day? Then today you hit me hard when you came at me and Yost—deservedly so. The fire in your eyes… I love strong women. Women with a little mystery to them waiting to be revealed, layer by layer.”

  He released her hair and slid his hand down her arm. Her nipples tightened and her breath quickened. His cock swelled against her stomach. Images of pulling up her skirt and riding him filled her head.

  “I didn’t lie. It was you I fantasized about last night. In the dark I could pretend it was you. I’ve been conflicted and torn between duty and want all day. I’m beyond relieved to discover the Midges on my mind are the same person. Because the sex? It was damn good, even more so now that I know it was you.”

  Midge wanted to lie and tell him it had meant nothing. Her heart and her hopes refused to let her. Here was her chance to have the relationship she’d longed for—one built on honesty and truth, even if it hadn’t started out that
way. She slid her fingers down his abs, loving how the muscle quivered under her touch, wanting his body on hers…in hers.

  “I wanted you badly,” she admitted. “I wasn’t about to let you leave last night without having a taste of you. The only regret was the disguise. Because the sex? It was damn good. Granted, it’s been some time since I’ve had sex, but it’s never been that fine.”

  “It’s been a bit for me as well.” He traced his finger down her spine. “When I’m inside you, I felt as if I’d put my dick in a dragon.”

  Midge tugged his shirt from his jeans and slipped her hand under it. “How could you have possibly wanted me all this time? I did everything I could to be unappealing.”

  “Maybe to other men.” A grin split his face and lit up his eyes. “I love discovering what’s beneath all the layers.”

  Which was probably one of the reasons he was a good investigator. He’d be determined to get the answer.

  “I’ve been known to drive my family insane with how long it takes me to open a present. And I do recall telling you last night that I like to take my time, to undress a woman nice and slow.”

  He cupped her breast and thumbed her nipple through the material. A furrow formed between his eyebrows. “I’m beyond furious over what you went through. I’m sad you’ve lived in fear all this time. I want to track his bastard down and make sure he never hurts anyone ever again. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve helped take down a colonel.”

  Kurt in hero-mode was a powerful aphrodisiac. Her body thrummed with want, keeping time with her racing heart.

  “Right now, all I want is you,” she told him.

  “With the lights on this time, yes?” He cupped her bottom and rolled them forward until she was flat on the couch and he was on top.

  Hot damn, that killer smile of his.

  “Oh yes.” She rubbed her foot down his calf. “I want to see every part of you that I could only feel last night.”

  “Aw, baby, I loved how you touched me last night. Your hands set me on fire.”

  “I hated having the lights off.” She skimmed her palms over his abs, loving the catch in his breath.

  “I hated not being able to do everything I wanted with you.”

  “For example?”

  His grin deepened the devilish glint in his eyes. “I’m so glad you asked. Allow me to demonstrate.”

  Before he could do so, Hades meowed from his new perch on the back of the couch.

  “Not tonight, tuna breath.” Kurt hopped to his feet, then helped Midge to hers, pulling her flush against his hard body. “I’ll grab the wine, you get the lights down here and we’ll take this upstairs.”

  “Excellent plan.”

  Smiling, she teased her fingers over his taut nipples. He reciprocated by grabbing her ass and grinding his pelvis over her stomach. Midge traced her tongue up his Adam’s apple and over his chin, pausing at his lips. He fisted her skirt and dragged it to her waist. Cool air raised goosebumps on her bottom—or maybe that was a result of his determination to undress her. Clutching the skirt in one hand, he eased her panties down her legs nice and slow. His smoldering gaze never left her face.

  “Allow me to assist?” she asked.

  Fire lit his eyes. “By all means. I love audience participation.”

  Midge pulled free, kicking the panties aside. Kurt unzipped her skirt, pushed it past her hips, then lifted her from it and into his arms. Want beamed from his eyes. His intent was clear. He was going to carry her up the stairs. She wanted to tell him that she was much too heavy, that he’d trip and they’d fall. The truth came out instead.

  “You make me feel treasured.”

  “You are. I’ve waited months for this moment. Kiss me, Midge.”

  She ran her fingers up his neck into his hair and kissed him—hard, slow, deep. His arms trembled and she prayed it was from the force of her kiss, not her weight. The bullet wound to his thigh came to mind. Had he recovered enough to do this? Midge wouldn’t ask, wouldn’t take this moment from him. She eased her lips from his and brushed her thumb over his hard nipple.

  “I’m still waiting to see what you were going to do to me now that you couldn’t do last night. Or is this it? While it is impressive, I’m not as wowed as I anticipated.”

  “Impatient, aren’t you?”

  She raked her fingers into his hair. “Especially when I know the pleasure that’s coming. Or should I say the pleasure in coming.”

  “You’re making it very hard for me to take my time.”

  “I look forward to being ravished.”

  “In that case…”

  He set her down and braced her against the couch. Midge tried to hook her legs around his waist. He dodged the effort by kneeling at her feet. He wedged his shoulders between her legs, then brushed his hands up her thighs, pausing right below her pussy. Kurt glanced up. She quivered from the intensity in his gaze, unable to determine if he was waiting for permission or drawing out the pleasure. She dropped one hand to his head, deciding to play this her way.

  “Permission granted.”

  A growl rumbled from his throat, setting off tremors deep inside her. His smoldering gaze shifted to her pussy. He stroked his fingers through the hair.

  “Damn, see how wet you are for me,” he whispered.

  She wanted to reply, ‘ only for you.’ “You say the sweetest things.”

  “I have my moments.”

  Still staring up at her, he licked around her clit. Midge closed her eyes on a hard moan, fighting the urge to clamp his head in place. She snapped her hands over the back of the couch and rocked with every sweep of his tongue. He took his time, as if he were savoring the taste of her. Up and around. Over and down. In and out. Pleasure banked, waiting for release, and still he played. Her groans turned to pleas that he make her come, but Kurt took his own sweet time.

  Time to take charge.

  “Are you as hard as me?” she asked.

  Kurt laughed as he pulled away. “What do you think? Nice try, by the way. It won’t work.”

  “Won’t it?”

  She tried to slip down next to him. He wedged his shoulders behind her legs, keeping her in place, and dived back in. There was nothing subtle about his caresses this time. He kneaded her labia between his lips, then lashed his tongue over her clit. Each time Midge neared the peak, he moved away then started all over again. She writhed into his face, so desperate to come she wanted to weep, yet loving every single second. No man had ever been so meticulous.

  “You just wait. Your turn’s coming,” she managed to say.

  Kurt responded with a deep groan and sucked her clit. Orgasm quaked through her. The aftermath left her spent and gasping for breath. He scooped her into his arms and carried her up the stairs, eyes locked with hers the whole way. When he reached her bedroom, he draped her in the center of her bed then stepped away. One by one he turned on all the lights. Midge shoved the bedcovers down and removed her sweater and bra.

  Now standing at the foot of the bed, he passed a slow gaze down her body, licking his lips as he undressed. She soaked in the sight of him—lean muscle marred with those awful scars that tugged her heart again. Here was a man devoted to his job—and most especially his friends. A man who was all hers…for now.

  She set her glasses on the nightstand and reached for him after he’d donned the condom and knelt on the bed. Kurt cupped her breasts and thumbed her nipples, seemingly mesmerized by what he held in his hands. She expected him to suck one. He kissed her instead, pulling at one lip then the other before slipping his tongue around hers. His dick was hot and hard between them. She locked her ankles around his waist and rolled her pelvis until his erection rested against her pussy.

  Kurt moaned and slid one hand under her ass. He squeezed her breast and butt cheek at the same time and sank in deep. Midge broke the kiss and rocked with his slow thrusts. He wedged his hand between them and pressed her clit against his cock. She stole another kiss from him. He deepened it and move
d faster. She clutched his shoulders, never wanting to let go, never wanting this moment to end, yet needing the release as much as she had mere moments ago.

  He broke the kiss. “Come with me, baby. Come with me now.”

  Midge didn’t think it was possible. She never had before. Yet there she was, reaching for the top with him, coming with him. And her heart. Oh damn, her heart.

  Chapter Six

  “What the hell happened to your face?”

  Kurt slipped into the booth across from Jess. A steaming mug of coffee awaited him.

  “I was out of spirit gum remover and had to pull off the beard.”

  No way in hell was he telling Jess that he’d yanked it off in a desperate attempt to lose a hard-on. It hadn’t helped. Relief only came when he fucked Midge, and even then, it was temporary. He was beyond addicted to her. Leaving her warm body curled against him this morning hadn’t been easy. It’d been a night filled with the hottest sex of his life. He couldn’t wait to get back to her and do it all over again.

  “I ordered your usual for you,” Jess told him.

  Kurt muttered his thanks and stirred cream into his coffee. Real cream. After adding ice from his water glass, he drained the mug. Wanda was there with a refill before it hit the table. Her teenaged grandson trailed her with the best damn breakfast in the world. The mom-and-pop operation was Jess’ go-to place for meetings. He always chose early morning to avoid the crowd. Although, judging from the dark circles under his reddened eyes, Kurt wondered if he’d pulled an all-nighter and was regretting the hour.

  Wanda filled their cups with a smile, leaving the carafe for them. Jess dug into his ham and cheese omelet while Kurt attacked the pile of steaming hash browns. Emma would have a fit if she knew about the cholesterol-laden treats Jess pumped into his body whenever she was gone. Kurt wasn’t about to enlighten her.

  “Midge isn’t the woman we’re looking for.”

  Jess peered at him from under his eyebrows. “Ya think?”

  “You could have said something when I told you the woman’s name and address.” He stirred cream into his fresh cup.

  “And spoil the fun?” Jess grinned.