With her own mouth poised so close to his, she issued a challenge to get exactly what she desired. "So what's stopping you from doing all that?" Certainly not her.

"At the moment, not a damn thing," he said gruffly, and took her mouth with his own.

Chapter Six

WHEN it came to his kiss, Cameron made good on his promise to go slow and take his time, giving Mia a small sampling of what kind of ecstasy he was capable of giving her with his mouth. And his hands.

At the moment his palms were sliding down her spine in a provocative caress that made her arch toward him like a cat craving more of his petting and attention. He traced the indentation of her waist with his fingers, the curve of her hips, and when he reached her bottom, he cupped her buttocks in his hands and pulled her lower body flush to his. His thick erection pressed against the crux of her thighs, right where he belonged, making her wish they were both naked so she could feel that hard, sleek length sliding along her weeping sex.

The connection of their mouths gradually deepened, but only because he allowed it. Their tongues touched, slid together, and mated in slow, sweeping strokes. He ate at her mouth like a succulent piece of fruit, alternating licking and sucking with mind-blowing precision. He made her weak with wanting. Excited with anticipation. And anxious to feel him pushing deep inside her again.

A woman could die from so much lust and sexual tension surging through her all at once. At least, that's how she felt at the moment.

Moaning deep in her throat, she rolled her hips against his, seeking more pressure. More friction. More everything. She wanted to be taken, right here, right now. On his lap, up on the counter, or even on the floor. Fast or slow, she didn't care, so long as he appeased the growing ache spreading like wildfire through her veins. She was on the brink of going mad, and it was all his doing.

But instead of following through on the rest of the erotic fantasy he'd just shared with her, he ended the kiss and leaned back in his chair, though his hands remained touching her, lingering on her hips. She couldn't read his expression and had no idea what he was thinking or feeling at the moment, though it was obvious by the huge bulge straining against the fly of his jeans that he was still plenty aroused.

Mia's insides clenched with disappointment that he'd brought everything to an abrupt stop, especially when she'd been more than willing to go all the way, but she was hopeful she'd at least managed to sway him to take on her case. "So does this mean you'll help me out?" she asked, striving for a playful, teasing tone.

A half-grin tipped up the corner of his mouth. "Why do I feel totally and completely manipulated into saying yes?"

He was going to make her work for this, she realized, and she was certainly willing to play the game his way to get what she wanted. "You're the one who started all that sex talk, not me." Not that she was complaining, though her body was certainly protesting the way he'd revved her up, only to leave her strung tighter than a bow. But they'd get back to that problem in a few minutes, just as soon as she secured his help.

He crossed his arms over his chest, which only made him look more devastatingly male. More masculine. More sexy. "Yeah, well, talk is cheap."

She laughed. His way of talking had been anything but cheap. "And actions speak louder than words," she quipped right back. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe I want the same thing as you?"

His gaze narrowed, though she could tell he was toying with her. Maybe even testing her. "Why? You got what you wanted from me last Friday night."

And of course he believed she was a woman who only indulged in one-night stands. And she couldn't blame Cameron for his way of thinking, considering that's the impression she'd always given him-that she was carefree and frivolous and only out for a good time, nothing more.

She pushed away the unexpected hurt and focused on seducing Cam instead. "Maybe I want more than one night," she said as she trailed her fingers up his hard, muscular thigh, which tensed beneath her touch. "Maybe I want to see if you're really up to the challenge of making me come with a guy. Specifically, with you."

His eyes flashed with heat and lust. "Okay, you've definitely got my attention."

She couldn't contain her triumphant grin. "You want me. I want you." She shrugged as if the end results were obvious. "The way I see it, this can be a win-win situation the whole way around, for both of us."

"A temporary affair while I help you figure out who sent the pictures, while leaving your brothers and cousins out of the equation?"

"It works for me."

But despite her grand plan, Mia was well aware that she'd have to protect her heart in the process, because she was beginning to fear that this man had the ability to affect her on a much deeper level than any guy she'd dated before. And a broken heart at the end of their affair wasn't something she wanted, or needed, because there was no doubt in her mind they would go their separate ways. No matter how good the sex between them might be, she could never be what Cameron wanted in his life-someone demure and sweet and accommodating. Everything about what he wanted in a woman went against who she was, and she wasn't about to change for any man. And especially not that drastically.

"So what do you say, sugar?" she asked in a cajoling tone of voice. "Do we have a deal?"

He stared at her for a long moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons of accepting her deal. "I'd say you drive a hard bargain."

"Hard being the operative word?" She grinned shamelessly at him.

He chuckled and shook his head. "You're something else, you know that?" Then he grew serious once more. "I'll agree to help you out, with a few conditions."

She should have known he'd set down rales. The man was a straight shooter and did everything by the book. "Which are?"

"When it comes to the case, you do as I say and don't do any kind of investigating on your own or without me knowing about it," he said succinctly.

She didn't care for his terms, which were too restrictive for her tastes, but she had no choice but to comply. "Fine."

"And if you do anything stupid that jeopardizes your safety, you can guarantee Steve is going to find out what's going on."

That wasn't a condition to their deal or even an idle threat, but a firm, unnegotiable statement she knew Cameron would back up in a heartbeat if she went against his wishes.

He lifted a brow when she remained uncharacteristically quiet. "Agreed?" he prompted.

"Agreed," she said begrudgingly.

He did a poor job of smothering the smile trying to make an appearance. "With that settled, I'm thinking the two of us should hit The Electric Blue on Friday night."

"Together? As a couple?" she asked with feigned shock that he'd be seen with her out in public.

"Together, but separate. I'm certainly not letting you go there by yourself when someone could be stalking you," he replied, not committing to anything in terms of their relationship. "I'll be there watching everyone and how they interact with you, but I think it would be best if it looks like you're single and on your own."

"So you want me to do what I normally do when I go to The Electric Blue? Mingle. Dance. That sort of thing?"

"Yeah, except no entering the wet T-shirt contest," he said, with a frown.

She caressed her hand along his cheek and ran her thumb along the groove turning down the corner of his mouth. "That was all for you, sugar. That was my first time entering a contest like that."

"And your last," he muttered beneath his breath.

She lifted a brow, surprised to hear the possessive tone to his voice. To think he might be even a tad bit jealous sent a tiny thrill racing through her. "Be careful, or else I'll start to think I matter to you."

She was teasing him, but her traitorous heart skipped a beat when she realized he wasn't the least bit amused. His serious, piercing, protective look said more than words ever could-mat maybe, possibly, she was beginning to matter too much. And she wasn't quite sure what to make of that.

Then he glanced away, severing the profound moment. "I figure with you and I arriving separately, this will be the best way for me to keep an eye on Carrie and Ray, and maybe even your neighbor, Will, too," he said, back to business. "Because we're essentially trying to set up the culprit into doing something to draw attention to himself, you might want to mention to your friend Carrie and your roommate Gina that you'll be at The Electric Blue on Friday. We'll see who shows up and what happens."

She nodded. "That's easy enough to do."

"Great." He picked up the photos of her that were still on the counter and tucked them back into the envelope. "I'll keep these for now, and any others you might happen to get."

She shuddered to think there might be more. "I really hope this is a one-time joke, even as sick and deranged as it is."

"Me, too," he said, though he didn't sound at all convinced this was the end to her predicament. "Come on, I'll walk you out to your car."

He stood, and she quickly placed her hand on his chest to bring him to an abrupt halt. She couldn't believe he'd arouse her to the point of unraveling with his carnally whispered words and bone-melting kiss and was then just going to send her on her way instead of following through on his seduction.

"You can't leave me like this," she blurted out.

He looked genuinely confused. "Like what?"

How could he be so dense when she was still so incredibly turned on from his detailed outline of what he'd like to do to her. "Like I'm right on the verge of… something." Something that felt so very close to an explosive, breathless orgasm.