"The Wisconsin Wisconsin is a battleship. This is a destroyer, Burke cla.s.s. It's smaller, but faster, and generally is used for submarine warfare and battleship defense. Come out and get a better look." is a battleship. This is a destroyer, Burke cla.s.s. It's smaller, but faster, and generally is used for submarine warfare and battleship defense. Come out and get a better look."

They got out of the car, and the cool breeze off the water chilled her skin, but she barely noticed, she was so busy studying the ship.

"It's so intimidating. Powerful. I always wondered why everyone refers to ships as feminine when they are so obviously male. I mean, really, look at all the parts poking out-it's almost embarra.s.singly phallic."

EJ laughed, delighted by the observation, and tried to elaborate.

"There are a lot of ideas why ships are referred to as female. Some say it's because they're temperamental and not every man can handle one right," he teased, grinning when she turned her head and gazed at him through narrowed eyes. "Then there is the more logical view that in the Romance languages, the word for ship is always in the feminine. As such, Mediterranean sailors always referred to their ship as she. It just became habit after that. And then there's the idea that early seafarers spoke of their ships in the feminine gender for the close dependence they had on their ships for life and sustenance, like the women who cared for them back home."

Charlotte smiled. "I like the last one."

"I thought so. But I have another idea of my own."

He moved in closer, trapping her body with his, sliding his hands around her middle and she could feel the heat emanating from him.

"What's that?" She shivered, but not from the cold. He moved his fingers lightly along her rib cage, and even though it was through the material of her gown, the touch scorched her.

"I always think of ships and women having beautiful curves. These big ships have been loaded all to h.e.l.l on the outside, but if you see them as they're being built, you can still see the grace in them, the delicate lines-" he lifted one hand and traced his forefingers along her jaw "-the strong spine..." His hand slipped around back and drew a line from her neck to her backside, where he gently cupped a hand over the curve of her hip as he lowered his lips to hers. She sighed against him, sinking into the kiss, completely seduced.

EJ didn't know why he'd brought her here. He'd never had the urge to show any other woman the ships they built, or anything else so personal. When they'd left the restaurant, he'd intended on just bringing her home and wheedling a way to get into her apartment to see what he could see. But in the battle of cop versus man, man was happily winning as he explored her mouth slowly, taking what she offered as she shuffled a little closer and planted her hands on his shoulders to hold on as the kiss intensified. G.o.d, she was sweet.

He was sure he was under some kind of spell, unable to think clearly when she was around, unable to resist being close to her. Working on this case when he was so s.e.xually charged was like going to the grocery store hungry, never a good idea. And he was starving, though food was the furthest thing from his mind. His body quaked, hardening against her. He could barely restrain the urge to take her hard and fast, regardless of where they were, or who might come along.

But he kept the hunger somewhat leashed, and as she moaned against his mouth he slid a hand between them to caress her full breast through the silk, groaning back in appreciation as he felt her nipple harden against his palm. He found the nub through the material and pinched lightly, then again, and Charlotte kissed him more voraciously, begging with her luscious body for more.

He was happy to oblige, touching her everywhere as their mouths refused to part, tongues tangling as they ate each other's kisses and let hands roam everywhere. When she threaded her hands up into his hair and gently pulled his head down a little closer to hers, she leaned in and whispered in his ear, and he felt his c.o.c.k throb with urgency as her naughty words registered in his brain. Her sultry demands muted the objections, the reminders that he should stop. His body was on overload, and she was too much temptation. He wanted her too much, and the consequences be d.a.m.ned.

Slipping his arm around her and casting a look from side to side to make sure they were alone, he walked with her toward the car, backing up against it, capturing her chin in his fingers, tilting her face toward his.

"Tell me again. Tell me what you want."

His demand was harsh, but she just smiled softly, her cheeks flushed, her breathing quick and light as she held his gaze, but her voice was sure and steady. And s.e.xy as h.e.l.l.

"I want to get in the back of this gorgeous car and push this dress up so I can feel your hands on me everywhere...and not just through the material."

EJ's breath hitched and his heart pounded as he buried his face in her neck. "More..."

She cried out in desire when he nipped her, and continued, her voice a mere whisper, but the words roared through him.

"I want to stroke your c.o.c.k and feel it against my skin. I can feel how hard you are, but I want to make you even harder. I want to taste you and bring you to the edge, and then I want to sink down on top of you, taking you inside so deeply you are buried to the hilt, riding you until I come with your tongue in my mouth, so I can scream my pleasure into your soul and feel you come deep inside of me..."

For a woman who said she wasn't very s.e.xually experienced, she sure talked a good game. Growling, EJ pulled her to him roughly, opening the door and thanking the fates he had darkened windows. No sooner were they inside than he was obeying her commands, desperately pushing the silk and lace up as far as he could and letting her pull it the rest of the way over her head.

She was naked except for a small swatch of black silk over her pelvis, and he slipped his hand underneath the material and pulled, glorying in the tearing sound, bending down as well as he could in the confines of the car and trailing kisses up her smooth thighs and over her stomach, touching her everywhere he could reach.

"EJ, I'm so wet already...so hot for you...it's been so long...I need you to make me come."

Her frank talk drove him on in a frenzy and he slid his fingers between her legs, finding out she told the truth. She was hot and slick, so much so he groaned, feeling a little light-headed as he pushed her legs apart and dipped in for a taste.

She writhed beneath him, and he didn't really think about it, sacrificing technique to desperation, tonguing her relentlessly until she bucked beneath him, her hands digging into his hair. Her desperation fueled his, and he couldn't wait anymore, loosening his belt and shoving his pants down, releasing himself, lifting over her, staring down into her pa.s.sion-soaked eyes. She was still gasping from her o.r.g.a.s.m, but managed to remember what he'd forgotten entirely for the first time ever in his life.

"EJ...protection?"

d.a.m.n-how could he have forgotten that? Lunging forward over the seat, he opened the glove compartment and felt around in the dark for the small packages he knew he had stashed there. Not that he made a habit of having s.e.x in his car-in fact, it had been near fifteen years since he'd been in this particular situation-but he wasn't worrying about it now. Not when he had this amazing woman hot, ready and naked, sprawled over his backseat.

As he ripped the package, she sat up, taking it from his slightly trembling fingers. He almost objected, but she planted a hand on his chest, and pushed him back into the deep, soft seat.

"Let me."

She obviously wasn't an expert, which he was glad to see as she placed the condom over him carefully with two hands-but not before she dipped her head down and sucked the head of his erection softly until he ground out a plea for her to stop. He was riding on a fine edge of wanting her. One more of her kisses would end it for both of them.

Understanding, she sheathed him a little clumsily and then rose up and over, sinking down over him slowly, accommodating his length in stages, causing him to clench his fists to control himself; she was so tight he almost burst. But even though he was hungry for release, he was more hungry for her, watching her pleasure, and he didn't want it to end too soon.

"Oh, Charlotte, you are incredible. You are so hot...so d.a.m.ned tight..."

She chuckled softly and leaned forward to suck his lower lip as he filled his hands with her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, moaning as she started to glide over him, taking him fully in one long stroke, then withdrawing again until he wanted to scream for her to return.

She buried her face in his neck, making the softest, s.e.xiest noises he'd ever heard a woman make, and he moved his hands down to sink his fingers into the generous flesh of her a.s.s, moving her faster over him, controlling the action until his release couldn't be held back and he yelled out his pleasure, lifting up and burying himself deeper as he let go and rode it out, barely aware of her own cries of pleasure, the clenching of her inner muscles milking him until he was limp all over, unable to talk, just letting the pleasure reverberate through his body.

They clung together, melded by sweat and sticky s.e.x, unable to separate as they rested. EJ broke the silence.

"That was incredible. You are incredible. But I do wish I'd gotten you home first-I feel like a h.o.r.n.y teenager doing it in the backseat."

Charlotte pulled back, the ribbon gone from her hair, which flowed wildly around her flushed face, her chocolate-brown eyes shining, pink lips bruised to fuchsia from his kisses.

"I've never been made love to by a handsome man in the backseat of a beautiful car, so I'm not complaining."

He pulled her head down, kissed her, feeling doubts starting to crowd forward and pushed them back away.

"You said it had been a long time for you-do you mind if I ask how long?"

Her brow furrowed, but he realized she was just thinking about his question.

"Seven years."

EJ froze. Seven years? Charlotte had been without s.e.x for seven years?

"Why so long?" He managed the question just before his silence turned awkward. She fell back on her calves, still straddled over him, obviously not in the least bit self-conscious.

"The last time was back in New Hampshire. There was a guy who was helping me with my search. I was depressed one night, he was there. It wasn't a good decision. I was never cut out for meaningless s.e.x."

EJ quirked an eyebrow, taking in the lushness of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, the softness of her skin. As far as he could tell, she was built entirely for all kinds of s.e.x. But then her eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I...oh, shoot. I mean, I know this was just s.e.x, and I'm not crazy, you know, like going to go all Fatal Attraction Fatal Attraction on you if this doesn't turn into more, but this wasn't meaningless. Not really. This has been one of the best nights of my life, and I wanted to share this with you even if...you know, we don't see each other anymore." on you if this doesn't turn into more, but this wasn't meaningless. Not really. This has been one of the best nights of my life, and I wanted to share this with you even if...you know, we don't see each other anymore."

EJ watched the rush of emotions race across her face and smiled.

"It wasn't meaningless, Charlotte. I don't know what it will mean, but for the moment, it means a lot to me. You're...different."

As he said the words, he realized it was true. His d.i.c.k was already ready for another go, semihard and nudging at her thigh. He was wondering how this was going to play out-all of the possibilities not very good-when she reached down to remove the rubber and started stroking him again until he was fully erect and breathing hard.

The notion of consequences faded into the darkness as he lifted his hand, tweaking her nipple and watching it bud as she continued to stroke him. He reached down between her legs to return the favor.

He was more relaxed this time, watching her accept his touch, her eyes glued to his, her bottom lip caught in her teeth as she increased the speed of her movements and started to rock against his hand, sighing.

"Don't close your eyes when you come, Charlotte. I want to see."

She nodded, her breath coming faster. "You, too..."

He reached forward, sliding a finger inside of her, then two, and moving them in conjunction with his knuckles against her c.l.i.t and her hand moved faster on him, in time with her own excitement. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were close to his face, swaying softly, and he captured one in his mouth, sending her over the edge. He followed almost directly after, sucking her hard as he came, pumping his fingers into her until they collapsed again.

She laughed breathlessly against his chest, and he didn't know why, but he joined her. As they pulled apart and searched for their clothes, his mind was a scramble. What the h.e.l.l had he done? What was he going to do now? And most of all, how thankful he was for this night, regardless of what might be on the horizon.

CHARLOTTE WAS QUIET in the pa.s.senger seat as EJ sped back along the highway, quieter now due to the late hour, each of them wrapped in their own thoughts after the pa.s.sionate interlude in the backseat. in the pa.s.senger seat as EJ sped back along the highway, quieter now due to the late hour, each of them wrapped in their own thoughts after the pa.s.sionate interlude in the backseat.

What happened now? What would he think when he took her home and found she wasn't really a designer lace and fancy restaurant kind of girl-would she still be as s.e.xy to him?

There was a squeezing sensation in her chest so she took a deep breath, and tried to relax. What had just happened between them had been meaningful, but she feared it may have been more meaningful for her than it was for him. While she hadn't met anyone she could fall for in years, she knew she'd fallen for EJ almost before she met him.

She didn't want to be unreasonable. They'd just met, had one date, made love one time. Well, okay, two times. That was surprising enough; never had she been so carried away with a man, and regardless of what happened she was glad to have experienced that kind of pa.s.sion at least this once. When she was old and gray, she would still remember.

They took the left onto the long avenue where her apartment was. The moment of truth.

"It's up there, on the right, beach side."

He turned into the parking lot she indicated, and she watched him furtively, checking his reaction, but he simply parked the car, smiled at her and got out. She reached for the handle, only to find he was already opening her door.

She leaned up to kiss him, smiling. "Thanks for a magical night." She turned away, not expecting anything more. Unsure what to expect.

"Charlotte."

She stopped, turned. "Hmmm?"

"Let me see you inside. It's late."

"My apartment is right up there. I'm fine, thanks."

But then he was at her side, his hand on her elbow and she sighed. Time to face the facts; EJ was not about to leave her at the driveway, so she just had to bite it and let him walk her to her door.

"I want to see you again."

If he hadn't held her elbow, she would have tripped.

"You do?"

He stopped, turning her to face him for a moment in the pa.s.sageway. "Yes, I do. I'm not just going to drop you at your door and walk away."

"Oh. Okay."

"Did you really expect that?"

She shrugged, wrapping her arms around. "I didn't really expect anything. Tonight was wonderful. If nothing else ever came of it, I would always treasure it."

Though her pulse leapt at the thought that he wanted more. Oh, so did she. So much more. She was just afraid to hope.

"You're chilled. Let's get inside."

"My apartment is the last one at the end."

"You have a beach view?"

"Yes, it's one of my very favorite things about living here."

"I used to come down here all the time as a kid. It's a great stretch. A miracle it's remained relatively undeveloped."

"Well, I hope it stays that way."

Charlotte sought her keys in her bag, relaxed by the more normal conversation-EJ didn't seem in the least concerned about where she lived, which went to show that all wealthy people were not necessarily shallow and materialistic.

She stuck her key in the door, but made a soft "oh" sound of surprise when the door pushed open before she even had the key all the way in the lock.

She stopped. Had she left the door open? Had Ronny stopped by and forgotten to lock it? Unlikely; he was always telling her to remember to keep things locked.

"Charlotte. Wait here."

"I'm sure it's just..."

EJ pushed her gently back and gave her a stern look that was all business.

"You just stay put. I mean it."

He pushed the door open a bit more and hugged the wall, entering her apartment. She watched how he moved-stealthily and slowly, like a cat-like someone who was used to moving that way. Curiosity almost trumped her fear, though she jumped a few seconds later when he appeared in the doorway again, his expression tense and concerned.

"EJ?"

"You had better stay out until we can call the police. We don't want to disturb anything."

"What do you mean? What happened?" Panic made her voice high and sharp, and she pushed past him, unwilling to stay out of her own home. She wanted to know-oh my goodness.

She stood in the doorway, a lump heavy in her throat as her eyes drifted over her cozy little apartment where everything had its place. No more.

Everything had been trashed. Pictures were even pulled from the walls, carpets lifted, drawers emptied. Even her refrigerator had been raided; emptied containers and broken eggs dirtied the kitchen. She started to shake, and sagged against EJ when she felt his solid presence behind her.

"Who would do such a thing? I don't have anything to steal. Oh, no!" She wrenched away from EJ, running to her bedroom. EJ followed closely behind.