Ghost Hunter Read online

  Trace glanced up from loading the dishwasher. “Do you need me to wash the forks?”

  Cassidy started to nod, but then stopped as an idea occurred to her. She’d been trying to figure out how to put Phase Two of Operation Seduction into action and now she had the perfect way to do it.

  She closed the drawer and turned to give him a smile. “Don’t worry about it. We can share. If that’s okay with you, I mean?”

  He closed the dishwasher. “I’m okay with that if you are.”

  She was definitely okay with it. If her plan worked as she hoped, then she and Trace would be sharing a whole lot more than a slice of cake before the night was over.

  Grabbing a plate from the cabinet, she put a generous slice of chocolate cake on it, then carried it to the table while Trace brought over the mugs of coffee. Once they were both seated, she dragged her chair close to his so they could share the cake more easily. She didn’t need to lean in quite so close to swap the fork back and forth, but he didn’t seem to mind. If anything, he leaned in just as close. Maybe he wouldn’t be so resistant to her advances after all.

  While trading the one utensil back and forth wasn’t awkward, it wasn’t exactly practical. After a few bites, Cassidy decided to remedy that situation when it was her turn. Loading the fork, she held it up, offering the cake to Trace. He met her gaze over the chocolaty dessert, then opened his mouth so she could feed it to him. As his lips closed over the fork, she found herself licking her own. Oh yeah, this was much more fun.

  Refilling the fork, she lifted it to her own mouth and, meeting his gaze, slowly closed her lips over the fork. Desire flared in Trace’s eyes as he watched her and it was all she could do not to say to hell with the cake and nibble on him instead.

  Pulse quickening with excitement, she got to her feet and moved closer to Trace, then sat down on his lap. If he was surprised by the move, he gave no indication of it. From the way he wrapped his arm around her waist and settled his hand her hip, it was obvious he approved.

  “This is much easier, don’t you think?” she asked as she offered him more cake.

  “Much.”

  Cassidy smiled and reached out to refill the fork. Before she could lift it to her mouth, however, Trace took it and offered the cake to her.

  “My turn,” he said in a husky voice.

  She obediently opened her mouth and closed her lips over the cake. She’d heard chocolate was an aphrodisiac, but she hadn’t known what they were talking about until now. Though she had a sneaking suspicion it was probably more likely Trace was responsible for the sudden heat pooling between her thighs rather than any chocolate. The man was sex-on-a-stick yummy.

  He loaded the fork with another piece of cake and held it up to her again. She opened her mouth to take it, then ran her tongue over her lips to make sure she didn’t miss any crumbs.

  “Don’t you want any more?” she asked.

  A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Now that you mention it, I think I do.”

  But instead of going for more cake, he slid his hand in her long hair, then leaned in and kissed her. Seduction by chocolate. She owed Bella big for this.

  Trace’s mouth was firm and yet gentle, his tongue teasing as it persuaded hers to come out and play. She forgot all about the cake and focused all her attention on kissing him back. He tasted of her two favorite things—chocolate and coffee—as well as something else that was uniquely him and just as delicious. Maybe even more delicious.

  Deciding she needed to do some additional research to see if she was right, Cassidy draped her arm over his shoulder and deepened the kiss. She ran her other hand up the front of his T-shirt, sighing at the way the muscles there rippled and flexed beneath her fingers. The man would put a pro athlete to shame. Who would have guessed ghost hunting would keep a guy in such good shape?

  Remembering the glimpse she’d caught of his bare chest yesterday morning, she was about to slide her hand underneath his shirt so she could get more up close and personal with all that maleness, when he groaned and lifted his head.

  “You taste even sweeter than you did last night,” he said hoarsely.

  “It must be the chocolate cake.”

  “I don’t think so.” He pressed his forehead to hers and let out a ragged breath. “God, you have no idea how much I want you right now.”

  If the bulge in his jeans was any indication, then she had a pretty good idea. “What’s stopping you?”

  She regretted the question as soon as she asked it, afraid Trace would use it as an excuse to give her a laundry list of reasons why they shouldn’t sleep together. But he murmured something indistinct under his breath and covered her mouth with his again.

  His hand glided up her bare thigh and over the shorts she was wearing to come to a stop at the hem of her tank top. Lifting it over her head, he tossed it on the other chair. The satin bra she wore not only gave her great curves but nice cleavage, too, and from the hungry look in Trace’s eye, he clearly appreciated the little added bonus.

  Gently cupping a breast in one hand, he found her nipple with his thumb and made slow teasing circles around the tip through the bra. It hardened at his touch, straining at the material. She was about to reach around to unclasp her bra, but he beat her to it. The garment fell away at his touch, leaving her breasts bare, and she saw the look in his eye go from hungry to ravenous. Her heart skipped a beat. She’d never had a man look at her like that before.

  He palmed her breast again, taking her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. Her nipples were always sensitive, but tonight they seemed even more receptive to touch and she caught her breath as he gave the rosy-red peak a squeeze. Cooing, she arched against him.

  Giving her nipple another firm pinch, Trace bent his head and pressed his lips to the curve of her neck, then kissed his way down her breast so he could take the firm nub in his mouth. It felt so wonderful that Cassidy didn’t even realize he’d moved his hand down to the curve of her waist until she felt him slide it between her legs. She moaned as he fingered her pussy through her cotton shorts. God, the man knew how to get her hot and bothered. She wouldn’t be surprised if he could make her come like this.

  She never got to find out if he could or not because Trace stopped what he was doing to hook his fingers in the waistband of her shorts. Clearly, he wanted her completely naked. That was fine with her. Getting undressed while sitting on his lap wasn’t going to work, though. As much as she loved having him suckle on her nipples, she was going to have to make him stop long enough for her to take off her shorts. Gently pushing his hand away, she urged his head up.

  “Why don’t you let me do that?”

  She didn’t wait for an answer, but got to her feet and slowly wiggled her shorts down over her hips before doing the same with her panties. Being naked in front of him made her even more aware of her body and she squeezed her thighs together to ease the sudden ache between them. Resisting the urge to slide her hand down to touch herself, she lifted her head and found Trace regarding her with an expression on his face that could almost be called awe.

  “You’re beautiful,” he breathed. “No, wait. I take that back. You’re absolutely perfect.”

  The compliment made Cassidy blush all the way to the tips of her toes. He definitely knew what to say to a woman, that was for sure. She was about to thank him, but before she could get the words out, he stood and swung her up in his arms.

  Cassidy didn’t have to ask to know he was taking her to the bedroom. She had to admit there was something damn hot about her being naked and him being fully clothed as he carried her there. Once in the room, however, she was suddenly impatient to see him naked, too. The moment he set her down on the bed, she scrambled to her knees and slid her hands underneath his T-shirt. The muscles of his stomach were hard and solid beneath her fingers and she eagerly shoved up his shirt.

  “You’re wearing way too many clothes,” she told him.

  Trace chuckled and reached over his head with one
hand to pull off his T-shirt. As the broad expanse of his muscular chest and six-pack abs came into view, Cassidy could only stare. She’d thought she had gotten a good look the other day when she’d walked into the bedroom while he’d been getting dressed, but she realized now that had only been a teaser. Up close, she could fully appreciate all those hard muscles in glorious detail.

  Unable to resist touching him any longer, she ran her hands up his washboard stomach and over his well-defined chest to his wide shoulders. Leaning forward, she pressed her lips to one side of his smooth chest, then the other, before slowly kissing her way down his abs. When she reached the waistband of his jeans, she sat back on her heels and reached for his belt. She gave it a tug and would have started on the buttons on his jeans next, but he got there before she did.

  Her pulse fluttered as he shoved down his jeans to reveal long, muscular legs. His hands then went to the waistband of the snug-fitting boxer briefs he wore and she held her breath as she waited for him to take them off. When he finally pushed them down and his hard cock sprang free, she had to bite her lip to stifle a moan.

  She looked up at him from beneath lowered lashes. “You’re pretty damn perfect yourself, did you know that?”

  He tossed the boxer briefs on the floor to join the jeans. “I don’t know about that, but I’m glad you think so.”

  Her lips curved into a smile. “Oh, I definitely think so.”

  Reaching out, she wrapped her hand around the base of his beautiful shaft and leaned forward to run her tongue over the glistening bead of pre-cum on the head. He tasted sweet and musky and she let out a soft sound of appreciation. The urge to wrap her lips around him was almost irresistible, but she forced herself to slowly run her tongue up and down his entire length a few times before taking him completely in her mouth.

  Trace let out a husky groan and slid his hand in her hair, gently guiding her movements. As she moved her mouth up and down on him, she felt his erection get even harder. She had him on the verge of coming already. While she loved the idea of him coming in her mouth, she had other plans for that big cock of his right now.

  Swirling her tongue around the head of his penis one more time, Cassidy lifted her head to look up at him. He was gazing down at her through half-closed eyes.

  “Damn, you’re good at that,” he said.

  Smiling at the compliment, she rose on her knees and put her arms around his neck, pulling him close for a kiss. This time she was the aggressor, her tongue desperately seeking his. He reached around to cup her ass in both hands, giving her cheeks a firm squeeze. She murmured her approval against his mouth.

  Still kissing her, Trace urged her back onto the soft bed. When she was lying comfortably on the pillows, he lifted his head to gaze down at her for a long moment before capturing her lips in another soul-searing kiss. She reached up to bury her fingers in his silky hair, but he was already trailing featherlight kisses along the curve of her jaw. She turned her head on the pillow, giving him access to her neck and letting out a sigh when he pressed his lips to the curve of her shoulder. Finding his way up to her ear, he dipped his tongue inside, making goose bumps shiver up her body.

  Before they even disappeared, he was slowly kissing his way down her neck again. Cupping her breasts tenderly in his hands, he took a nipple in his mouth and greedily suckled on it. She let out a breathy moan, arching off the bed as he swirled his tongue around the sensitive tip. All the while, he massaged her other breast, his fingers playing with the nipple until she thought she would go crazy. Then just when she was certain she would, he switched things up, taking the nipple he had been suckling on and twirling it between his fingers while he drew the other into his mouth.

  She didn’t care if she did go insane from how good it felt. She could have him make love to her breasts all night.

  Trace obviously had other things in mind, though, because after one more swirl of his tongue, he released her nipple to kiss his way down her outstretched body again.

  Oh yeah. She definitely liked where this was going.

  Her heart started to beat faster the closer he got to her pussy. And the closer he got, the more she ached there.

  But he didn’t put his mouth on her right away. Instead, he cupped her ass cheeks in his hands and pressed a kiss to the inside of one trembling thigh, then the other. She held her breath, waiting for him to lick her clit, but he lifted his head to gaze up at her. Then staring hotly into her eyes, he bent to run his tongue along her slick folds.

  “God, you taste good,” he breathed.

  He swiped his tongue over her pussy lips again and again before finally focusing on her throbbing clit and making slow, little circles around the sensitive nub. Pleasure surged through Cassidy. She clutched at his hair, letting out an endless stream of unintelligible sounds as his tongue found the perfect spot.

  “Just like that,” she moaned. “Don’t stop.”

  Trace tightened his hold on her ass and moved his tongue more deliberately on her clit. Cassidy writhed on the bed, moaning and tossing her head from side to side on the pillow as she felt her orgasm build. He must have sensed she was getting close because he moved his tongue faster and faster. He pushed her closer and closer to the edge until she was practically dizzy from how good it felt. When she finally came, the sensations that surged through her were so intense she thought she might actually pass out from the pleasure. She threw her head back, crying out so loudly it echoed off the walls.

  He lapped at her clit until he’d coaxed every last bit of pleasure from her body and by the time he was done, all she could do was lie there in complete and utter exhaustion. She’d never been with a guy who was so damn good at oral sex.

  She was still trying to catch her breath when Trace crawled up her body to settle himself between her thighs. He bent his head and closed his mouth over hers. With a sigh, she wrapped her arms around him and started to kiss him back, but he pulled away with a groan.

  “Shit,” he muttered.

  She frowned up at him in confusion. “What is it?”

  “I don’t have any condoms. I completely forgot.”

  She’d forgotten about them, too. She was always so careful about using protection. That went to show how much she wanted Trace. She smiled up at him. “No worries. I have some.”

  He raised a brow, clearly surprised. “You do?”

  She nodded. “I had Bella pick some up when she went to the store. They’re in the nightstand.”

  He frowned, but made no move to get them. “You had Bella get you condoms?”

  “Yes, but can we talk about that later? I need you inside me. Now.”

  He shook his head as if to clear it, then murmured something under his breath and reached over to open the drawer of the nightstand. Grabbing the box, he took out one of the foil packets, then sat back to roll the condom onto his rock-hard cock. When he was done, he settled himself on top of her again. A moment later, she felt the head of his penis against the opening of her pussy and that part of her body immediately began to throb with anticipation. He didn’t enter her right away, but instead rubbed himself against her wetness.

  Cassidy moaned in frustration. “Stop teasing me.”

  The corner of Trace’s mouth twitched at her words and for a moment. she thought she might have to resort to begging, but then he stopped tormenting her and slowly eased himself inside her.

  She gasped as he entered her. Dear God. No man had ever filled her so completely before. It was as if Trace had been made just for her.

  “You’re so tight,” he rasped.

  She smiled and wrapped her legs around him, pulling him in as deeply as he would go. “That’s a good thing, right?”

  He let out a ragged breath and bent his head to kiss her. “That’s a very good thing.”

  Trace made love to her slowly, sliding his cock all the way out before plunging back into her pussy again. He buried himself deep with each thrust, touching her in places she knew for a certainty no other man had ever touched.


  While she loved slow and steady lovemaking as much as the next girl, right then she needed more. She lifted her hips to meet his, urging him to go faster.

  “Harder,” she begged. “Fuck me harder!”

  He growled something unintelligible and began to pump into her so fast and hard that the bed vibrated against the wall.

  “God, yes,” she breathed. “That’s it. Don’t stop. Please don’t stop!”

  He didn’t, and when her orgasm finally exploded inside her, it was so powerful Cassidy could only hang on for dear life and let it carry her away. She was so caught up in how amazing it felt that she barely realized when Trace buried his face in her neck and let out a hoarse groan as he found his release.

  It was a long time before either of them were able to catch their breath and when they finally did, Trace rolled onto his back and pulled her into his arms. Cassidy snuggled against his chest and let out a sigh.

  “That was incredible,” she said.

  He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, his arm tightening around her. “You’re the one who’s incredible.”

  She felt a blush color her cheeks. Even though she’d hoped the night would turn out like it had, she was a little astounded at how good they were together in bed. She’d never experienced that kind of passion with any other man.

  “I can’t believe you asked Bella to buy condoms,” he said out of the blue.

  She lifted her head from his chest to look at him. “How else was I supposed to get them? I couldn’t leave and the pizza delivery guy wasn’t going to bring them. What did you want me to do, ask Robert?”

  Trace groaned. “Good point. Let’s forget about who bought the condoms.”

  “I agree.” Cassidy leaned close to kiss him. “Let’s be glad we have them and try out another one.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Trace woke up before Cassidy the next morning. She was curled up against him, her head on his chest, her silky hair draped over her shoulder and spilling onto the sheets. He didn’t wake her, but instead watched her sleep as he replayed in his mind what had happened between them the night before.