Wild Holiday Nights. Samantha Hunter

lot weaker than the type they used on the force, which could burn your skin and even irritate your lungs. This was bad enough.

      He looked at Calla, who hadn’t taken her coat off yet. She was pale, with deep shadows under her eyes. Her obvious concern only accentuated them. As his vision cleared, he also noticed a scrape on her hand as she lifted it to remove the bowl from the counter, and there was a light bruise forming on her cheek.

      His fury at the idea of someone hurting her far outweighed the lingering sting of the pepper spray.

      “Was it the same guy? Did you see him?”

      She shook her head. “I don’t know. He stayed behind me, though his voice sounded the same, but I was so frightened and it all happened so fast.”

      “Let me see,” he said, stepping forward and taking her hand in his, looking at the scrape and then putting his hand under her jaw. He touched the bruise gently and was relieved to find it rubbed away, only a smudge of grime.

      It didn’t make him any less angry.

      He started to pull his hand away, but hers rose to cover it. “Thank you for being there. I’m so sorry I got you with the spray.”

      Her voice shook, and a tear slipped down her cheek. Gideon groaned, pulling her in close and holding her until she stopped shaking.

      “He’s probably regretting grabbing you tenfold right now. Good for you for thinking fast and being able to use the spray. I only wish I’d seen him sooner.” He lowered his lips to kiss her soft dark hair. “Do you want me to look at that scrape?”

      She shook her head. “It’s no big deal. I need to clean up, though. I’ll be fine.”

      Tough, smart, strong. Calla could take care of herself, but it didn’t stop Gideon from wanting to help.

      “It was possibly your attacker from the store—unlike a lot of criminals, this one has a history of coming back for more. The NYPD should have told you that. We have to report this.”

      “I will, in the morning. He’s probably long gone now, and it might not even have been him. I can’t be sure. I’m so tired. I really need to clean up and sleep.”

      Gideon believed it. She looked ready to fall asleep on her feet.

      “Okay. You do that. Lock the doors. I’ll be outside if you need me. Hand me your cell phone so I can give you my number.” Gideon planned on talking to Howser as soon as he left. If the attacker was suffering from being sprayed, he’d be slowed down and blinded, perhaps seeking help—the perfect time to catch him.

      She blinked up at him, frowning. “Outside? Why would you be outside?”

      “I know you don’t want me around, but I’m not leaving, or letting you out of my sight, until we know this guy is caught.”

      Realization dawned in her expression. “You were watching me.”

      “I talked to the detective on your case, and he filled me in on some disturbing details about this guy. I couldn’t leave without knowing you were okay. It’s no big deal. It’s my job.”

      She looked up at him, a little less blurry. “It’s a big deal to me. Thank you.”

      Gideon didn’t expect that—he expected her to be ticked off—so he was surprised at her thanks.

      “Um, sure. Listen, why don’t you take that shower, and I’m going to call this in.”

      There was a breath of silence between them, and she looked up at him. “Why don’t you call it in and then join me in the shower?”

      Gideon’s heart tripped over itself, his body hardening almost instantaneously. Before he could object, she cut in again.

      “I seem to be making a habit of throwing myself at you,” she said with a slight smile. “But I really don’t want to be alone right now, Gideon. Please don’t leave again.”

      Damn it. Of all the appeals she might have made, that one socked him in the gut.

      “Please,” she whispered, lifting up and pressing a kiss to his mouth.

      She continued kissing him until he gave in, unable to resist a deeper taste. Gideon knew he wouldn’t be walking away from Calla again that night.

      * * *

      CALLA’S FEARS WERE forgotten as soon as she felt Gideon relent, his body relaxing as he pulled her in closer, his mouth finding hers again. They took their time now, getting to know each other, understanding that there was no need to rush.

      “I guess I could use a shower, too,” he said against her mouth, making her smile. “After I make this call.”

      “Okay. Don’t be long.”

      She waited for him to report the attack, watching the way his expression changed, and his voice, as he talked to the other detective. It made him look dangerous. And even sexier. Calla waited until he was done—she didn’t want to give him a chance to change his mind.

      When he hung up, she took him by the hand, leading him back to her bedroom. She stopped by the bed, removed her coat, and started taking everything else off, as well. He watched with rapt attention.

      Guilt assailed her as she took in the puffy redness still apparent around his eyes and on his cheeks. Down to her bra and panties, she stepped forward, framing his face with her hands.

      “Does it still hurt?”

      “Are you kidding? My eyes are the happiest they’ve ever been right now,” he said with a lopsided smile that warmed her heart.

      His fingers slid around to the back of her bra, unclasping it and letting it fall loose. Calla shrugged it to the floor, inviting his gaze. She wasn’t self-conscious about her body, and she could tell from the heat in his eyes that he liked what he saw.

      “You’re way overdressed for the shower,” she said, reaching to push his sweater up over his head, and then the T-shirt under it.

      She wasn’t disappointed, but she’d known she wouldn’t be. Leaning in, she darted her tongue out to follow along the smooth edge of one sculptured muscle and smiled when he groaned.

      “Calla...”

      The way he said her name was a caution and a promise.

      She reached for his belt buckle, but he backed away, quickly shucking his pants himself.

      Calla caught her breath as she took him in. No, she wasn’t disappointed in any way whatsoever.

      “You keep looking at me like that and we’re never making it into the shower.”

      “That would be a shame. I can think of all kinds of fun we’ll have in there.”

      Sliding her panties to the floor, she walked ahead and let him watch her, putting a little extra swing in her step as she went into the en suite and turned on the light. Her heart was racing as she stepped in under the steamy spray and waited for him to join her.

      Was this finally really happening? Did she actually have Gideon Stone naked in a shower with her? He tugged her under the water with him, his mouth landing on hers in a hard, hot kiss.

      Definitely real.

      Calla closed her fingers over his erection jutting against her hip and stroked. He broke the kiss on a heavy groan, burying his face in her neck. She enjoyed how he pushed into her hand in a needy rhythm.

      Then his hands were on her, too, dipping in between her thighs as he moved his lips down her shoulder to her breast, sucking a nipple into his mouth as his fingers did devilish things between her legs.

      “Oh, Gideon,” She sighed, wanting more than his fingers.

      Luckily, he wanted the same thing, and hiked her leg up by his hip, backing her against the tile wall under the spray.

      “Protection?” he managed as