Once Bitten, Twice Dead Read online

  She preferred to work with the guys who could put that aside and see her only as a fellow officer. Because they mostly patrolled alone, it usually wasn’t an issue. Only once in a while, when they had to work a special detail, did they have to team up. When that happened, the chief knew her preferences and understood her reasoning. He was a great boss, willing to play to his officers’ strengths.

  Xavier didn’t crowd her, but she definitely felt his company in her tiny house. He filled it almost to overflowing as she showed him the guest room. He dropped his bag inside and followed her back out into the hallway.

  “This is the kitchen.” She felt him close behind as she gave him the nickel tour. “Help yourself to anything in the fridge or cabinets. If there’s something special you want, add it to the shopping list on the freezer. I usually go grocery shopping on Saturday morning…” She trailed off uncertainly. Her whole life was upside down for the time being.

  “We can still go shopping on Saturday morning,” Xavier said softly from behind her.

  She turned to face him, touched by the understanding concern in his expression.

  “Or we can go sooner, if you like. Maybe tomorrow, on our way home.”

  His words struck her as odd. It was weird to hear him talk about her little house—her haven—as home. Weird in a forbidden-fruit kind of way. She’d almost given up hope of ever finding that one special man she could share her life with, and her home. Having Xavier here was like playacting. A fiendish dress rehearsal for something she wasn’t certain would ever really happen.

  She was convinced Xavier wasn’t the settling-down type. Sure, he was probably willing to shack up with her for as long as his mission lasted, but he wasn’t the staying kind. No, he had “love ’em and leave ’em” written all over his bad-boy persona.

  “The bathroom’s down the hall from the guest room and my room is on the other side.” She refused to give in to the gentle magic that flowed between them whenever their eyes met. Sarah moved away, toward the short hallway. “Living room is on the other side of the kitchen. I’ve got a big-screen TV in there with surround sound. Make yourself at home. I’m going to shower and change before dinner.”

  “I’ll cook something,” he volunteered, leaning one hip against the counter in an unconsciously provocative way. Every move the man made was sexy, whether he was trying or not.

  “You don’t have to.” She backed toward the hallway—and escape—even as she protested.

  “It would be my pleasure. Don’t worry. I know my way around a kitchen. Dinner will be ready by the time you’re out of the shower.”

  She paused to give him a thankful smile. She hadn’t been home in over a week and realized only now, surrounded by her belongings, that she’d missed her little nest. She needed a moment alone to reacquaint herself with the secure home she had built for herself over the years. Xavier’s expression was filled with understanding and a gentle sort of compassion that was nearly her undoing. She nodded once at him before fleeing for the comparative safety of her bedroom.

  Sarah took a long, hot shower, her skin turning prunish before she was willing to give up the luxury of the hot water beating down on her. All the stress of the day melted away under its influence and she began to feel a lot more confident. She was relaxed, too, though still unsure about facing the giant Green Beret who was clanging pot lids in her kitchen.

  Whatever he was cooking in there smelled wonderful. As her stomach growled, Sarah threw on her fluffy terrycloth robe. The wound on her leg was pretty much gone, so she left it uncovered. It was just a little red, but judging by how rapidly she’d been healing, even that would be gone shortly. She didn’t want to take the time to dither over clothes. She hadn’t eaten much of her lunch and was feeling ravenous. The terrycloth robe was thick and full-length. It covered her from neck to ankles. It was more than decent.

  Feeling a little wicked, she entered her kitchen a bit uncertainly. Xavier was at the stove, just turning off the heat and lifting the last pot off the burner. His bulky utility belt was nowhere to be seen and he’d stripped off his long-sleeved camo shirt. Only a soft-looking, army-green T-shirt hugged the rippling muscles of his upper body. He still wore the camo pants, but the combat boots had been exchanged for flip-flops, of all things. She hid a smile as she took in the incongruous footwear.

  “Just in time.” He turned to face her, stirring what looked like homemade spaghetti sauce.

  A big serving dish of pasta was already waiting, steaming, on the table. Two place settings had been laid out, complete with tall glasses of ice water. They had stopped for lunch earlier in the day at a neighborhood deli. He’d probably seen then that she preferred water with her meals, and he’d remembered. His thoughtfulness, even over such a small thing, touched her deeply. It had been far too long since anyone had given thought to her preferences.

  “I hope you like Italian cuisine.” He poured the sauce into a serving bowl and set it on the table.

  “Love it.” She shot him a suspicious look. “As long as you’re not one of those guys who puts hot peppers in everything they eat.”

  He pulled out her chair and seated her with courtly manners before sitting next to her at the small round kitchen table. “Hot peppers have their place”—he stated emphatically—“but they don’t belong in every dish. Certainly not in Italian-style marinara sauce.”

  “Thank goodness we agree on that.” She laughed as she spread a napkin on her lap. It seemed strange to sit at a formal place setting in her robe and nothing else, but Xavier had a way of making the strangest situations seem commonplace. She’d already followed him into battle against a zombie. By contrast, being half-dressed at dinner was nothing at all to blink at.

  “I bet you’re hungry.” Xavier served her a generous portion of pasta before serving himself. “I remember how it was when I woke up after the bite. I was sort of sick to my stomach at first, then my metabolism kicked into high gear. I noticed you didn’t eat much of your sandwich at lunch.” One eyebrow rose in question as she spooned just the right amount of sauce over her pasta.

  “You’re right. I wasn’t very hungry. Everything tasted kind of bland and made me nauseous. Now, though, I’m starved.” She grabbed the shaker of Parmesan cheese and went to town. The sharp bite of the grated cheese was a flavor she couldn’t get enough of at the best of times. With hunger riding her, she doubled her usual allotment of the salty cheese.

  “I figured as much. That’s why I made carbs. Fill up on pasta and your body will have enough energy to satisfy the craving. Then you’ll crash and sleep solid for the rest of the night. By tomorrow, you’ll be almost back to normal. That’s how it worked for me, at least.”

  She rolled a wad of spaghetti on her fork, eyeing it hungrily. “Let’s hope you’re right.”

  They ate in silence for a while. Sarah couldn’t get the food shoveled in fast enough and Xavier seemed not to mind her display of gluttony. After the initial rush to quell her hunger, she began thinking of the day’s events. She winced as she remembered her reaction when faced with that horrific creature in the basement.

  She’d acted like a fool. An untrained idiot. And Xavier hadn’t said a word to correct her. Lord knows, her fellow cops wouldn’t have wasted a beat in correcting her behavior. Xavier, however, was letting her come to her own conclusions about her performance, and those conclusions were troubling, indeed.

  She looked at him, stunned by the patient compassion in his expression. This man was one in a million and, no doubt, a gifted leader of men.

  “I owe you an apology.” It wasn’t easy for her to say the words. She couldn’t look him in the eye after that initial contact, focusing instead on her plate. “I was no help at all in that basement. In fact, you would have been better off without me, much to my embarrassment. I’ll do better next time.”

  “I know you will.”

  His softly spoken words made her look up. The confidence in his tone was reflected in his eyes. His faith in her made her feel
a lot better, though she still didn’t think it was deserved.

  Before she could speak, he covered her left hand where it rested on the tabletop. His gaze sought and held hers as he leaned closer.

  “You did really well, despite what you perceive as your failures, Sarah. In fact, you did a lot better than I did the first time I saw one of those creatures.”

  “It wasn’t my first time. I should have been better prepared to face them again.”

  “That may be,” he conceded, tilting his head consideringly. “But even knowing what to expect, it’s hard to come face-to-face with something like that. I’ve done it enough now that I can still function, but the first few times it really threw me.”

  “You’re just being nice.” She seriously doubted anything could throw this Special Forces soldier off his game for long.

  Xavier laughed out loud. “There’s that word again.” He shook his head.

  “What word?”

  He’d captured her attention, as he’d hoped. “Nice. You called me nice again. Jeez, woman, you’re going to ruin my rep at this rate.”

  She shared his grin. “Well, you are being nice. At the very least, you’re making allowances for me, either because I’m a woman or because I’m a cop, not a soldier. Either way, I should probably be insulted, but I can’t fault you. I did drop the ball today. For whatever reason.”

  “How about being human?” His low voice was kind. “While I admit to being as chauvinistic as my granddaddy in certain ways, I don’t think less of your abilities either because of your sex or the fact that you’re a cop. We both serve justice in our way. You’re just used to playing by more civilized rules than I am.” He sat back, releasing her hand, though his eyes followed her every movement.

  “Maybe, but I still feel I need to do better next time.” She conceded the point as she finished the last bite of pasta.

  “Seeking to improve with every day is something I think we both have in common.”

  His gracious words were spoken in a low, respectful voice that struck a chord deep within her. There were depths to this man she hadn’t expected. He wasn’t just the laid-back Cajun bad boy she’d expected. No, he had more than a little of the philosopher in him.

  It was a tantalizing combination. An all-too-attractive combination for her peace of mind.

  Sarah stood and collected the plates, heading for the sink to rinse them before placing them in the dishwasher. She shooed Xavier away when he tried to help.

  “You cooked. The least I can do is load the dishwasher,” she protested.

  “Fair enough.”

  He appeared to give in but continued to bustle around her, putting the unused cheese back in the refrigerator and tidying up everything but the dishes she had claimed. He even opened the dishwasher door for her, much to her amusement, and loaded the detergent dispenser—as if it was his house, not hers.

  He was all around her, his masculine presence crowding her even though her kitchen wasn’t tiny by any means. It was cozy but not snug. Normally, she had plenty of room, even when she had guests over.

  Xavier changed all that. His tall, broad body took up all the space. After a while she got the idea he was doing it on purpose. All the little brushes of his body against hers as he passed her on his way to the fridge, all the innocent, teasing touches of his hands as he moved in and out of her personal space. He didn’t give her a chance to object. He was on the sneak attack and winning every minute skirmish until she was totally disarmed and quivering, waiting for his next foray.

  Then the innocent game turned not so innocent. Xavier took her by the waist and turned her to face him squarely, backing her into the kitchen counter. She read intent in his gaze just before his mouth dropped to hers and his lips claimed hers with a passion she’d only glimpsed before.

  He wasn’t kidding around this time and she doubted he’d be the one to call a halt. If she wanted to stop this delicious madness, she’d have to do it herself this time.

  And she would…in a minute. Or two.

  Xavier loved the feel of soft, willing woman in his arms. Especially when the woman in question was the lovely Sarah Petit, hellcat in the field, pussycat in bed—or so he hoped to discover. He wanted her like he’d never wanted another woman. And he would have her. He had no doubt about that.

  Whether it was today or some other time, he had made up his mind almost from the first moment he’d met her. She’d impressed him with her determination, humor, quick wit and grit, but she’d wowed him with her courage, compassion and beauty. She was a force to be reckoned with, both as a police officer and as a woman. He wanted to get to know her better, in the most intimate sense.

  Beyond that, he wasn’t sure where the road they were on would lead them. For now, they rode together. After this mission was over, he wasn’t sure what would happen, but he couldn’t see himself wanting to give her up once he’d had her. Not for the foreseeable future. If she was willing, he’d even give a long-distance relationship a try, if he had to.

  That would work itself out when the time came, though. For now, he wanted to enjoy every sigh, every little catch of her breath as he touched her. His hands ached to get to know the soft curves of her naked body and his cock wanted to find its home between her lithe thighs.

  Her small hands went around his shoulders as he pressed her back against the kitchen counter. She was so petite, he was almost afraid of hurting her with his ardor. She gave as good as she got, though, making her own demands in that ultrafeminine way of hers. Little moans and tugs at his clothing drove him wild while the scent, taste and feel of her drugged his every sense.

  She was as sublime in her passion, as he’d dreamed. And he had dreamed—since first meeting her, he’d thought often about how she would respond to him. Their first tempestuous kiss earlier had only whetted his appetite for more. More of her. More of their combined passion.

  It was like setting spark to tinder. He was hard and wanting with her slightest touch.

  “Baby,” he whispered against her cheek, drawing back slightly to breathe. They were both gasping for air. “You’re sweet to kiss, Officer Petit.”

  She looked at him, her eyes dilated with pleasure and not quite coherent. He loved that he’d put that look on her face. He’d kissed her silly…and he’d only just begun.

  He dove for the soft skin of her throat, nudging aside the damp terrycloth of her robe with his chin and teeth as he worked his way downward. She didn’t object when he bared her breasts. In fact, she encouraged him, dropping her head back and pulling her shoulders back, offering herself up to him like a pagan goddess of bounty.

  Her breasts were perfect. Round and heavy with pointed nipples that begged for his attention. Frustrated by the differences in their height, he bent, placing his hands under her lovely round ass, and lifted her onto the kitchen counter. Her thighs spread to admit him between as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

  And it was. For them. It was as if they’d been made to fit together like two puzzle pieces.

  He pressed his advantage, leaning in to kiss her once more, rubbing his T-shirt-covered chest over her luscious tits. He felt her nipples stabbing into him, exciting them both as he dragged against her in a sensuous circle.

  He had to taste her. Ending the kiss, he leaned back, forcing his hips into the cradle of her thighs while his gaze roamed down her body, visible in the open V of her robe. The belt still held on for dear life while the upper parts of the robe had come away to reveal her breasts. The lower halves had parted when she spread her legs for him. He had a clear view—and feel—of her pussy.

  She was neatly trimmed, with shaved edges that made his mouth water. He’d like to do the honors next time. Such an intimate act required the utmost in trust. He’d like to earn that kind of trust from her. But that was for later. For now, he wanted—no, needed—to taste her.

  Xavier lowered his head, one goal in mind. Well, two, actually—they were soft and round and begging for his touch. His hands fr
amed her breasts, cupping them, stroking with his thumbs just beneath the pointed nipples as her breathing hitched. He licked his way down her throat, following the beating pulse at the side of her neck, then lower, to the soft skin that had tantalized him even under the stiff cotton of her uniform shirt.

  She’d been braless of necessity in the hospital, and he’d gotten a good long look at the shape of her under that thin hospital gown. The form revealed by her uniform hadn’t disappointed at all. She was fit and firm, soft and feminine in all the right places.

  But he hadn’t really expected the bounty before him now. She filled his palms and then some, the pinkish tan of her nipples calling out to him. He couldn’t resist any longer.

  Teasing one excited nipple with his fingers, he dipped his head to capture the other one in his mouth.

  Good Lord in heaven, what that man could do with his mouth. Sarah gasped as Xavier made her body dance to his tune. She’d never had so much pleasure from such a simple act.

  She’d also never been so decadent as to allow a comparative stranger to feel her up on her kitchen counter before. She’d never look at this room the same way again. She just knew it.

  Then again, Xavier and she were closer than they would normally have been on such short acquaintance. Facing danger—and a zombie—together had that effect. He knew just how to touch her, just the right pressure to apply, to make her want to whimper with pleasure. To make her want more.

  Her robe was wide-open up top and gaping around her legs. The studly Captain Beauvoir had wasted no time in claiming a place between her thighs. It was all she could do not to rub her aching core against the hard ridge in his pants. In fact, she resisted the urge with everything that was in her, even as she begged for his tongue to continue working its magic on her breast.