Free Hold Me Down Hard by Cathryn Fox Page B

said she wanted a real relationship with Jay, wanted him to like her for who she was? Five minutes ago, she swore she would never share her secret fantasies with anyone, but wasn’t this the perfect way to show him the real Eden—to let him see the naughty beneath the nice—and show him how they could be together? Plus, she also wanted Jay, a guy who risked his life every day to serve others, to really open up to her and share all aspects of his life.
    Feeling restless, needy, and oh-so-edgy, she took a moment to give the wicked scheme further consideration. Less than a heartbeat later, as she warmed to the idea of seducing the bad-ass cop next door, ribbons of desire pulsed in her blood and she fought the urge to squirm in her seat. But then worry hit like a sucker punch when she thought more about their friendship.
    What if her seduction and secret fetishes ruined their relationship?
    What if they didn’t?

Chapter Two
    Jay stopped at the top of the landing and turned toward Eden’s door. He was about to knock, but when he heard voices coming from inside he remembered it was Thursday night, which meant it was girls’ night out, or in this case, girls’ night in. Disappointment settled in his gut as he shoved his hands into his pockets. Turning on the balls of his feet, he made his way to his own condo across the hall.
    The officer in him liked to check in on his neighbor on a nightly basis. After all, Eden might think she was a seasoned New Yorker, but he knew she was just a sweet and innocent Iowa farm girl deep inside, one who was a bit naïve when it came to the dangers of the big city. The man in him, however, liked to check in on the girl next door for entirely different reasons. Selfish reasons.
    Eden… Like the name, she was pure paradise. But as tempting as she was, he knew if he took one small bite, nothing good would come from it. He definitely wasn’t the guy for her because at the end of the night, she deserved to crawl between the sheets with a lover who was slow and gentle. Not with a guy who wanted to ravish her with dark hunger over and over again. And he was pretty sure if he ever got her naked, there was no other way he could give it to her.
    Even though he knew he was all wrong for her, it still didn’t stop him from wanting to hang out with her every weekend. During the week, before hitting the sack, he loved to see her pretty face, her soft curvy body, and that sexy mouth that dreams were made of. In fact, he looked forward to their exchanges in the hallway. There was something so arousing and alluring in the way her big, honey-flecked eyes lit up when he checked in on her. It gave him something to think about other than the corrupt world in which they lived—a world he had every intention of protecting Eden from.
    Moments before he reached his condo door, her voice drifted into the hallway and seeped under his skin. Jesus, his cock thickened just from the sound of her sweet laughter. But it wasn’t like sex between them was going to happen, because when it came to Eden, there was a line he wasn’t going to cross.
    They were good friends, which meant he wasn’t going to let his lust get the better of him, no matter how much he wanted her.
    No, he intended to keep her safe and alive and out of his dangerous world, something he hadn’t been able to do for his kid sister, Jess, when they were both teens. His hand went to the tattoo of her name and he thought about the reason behind his career choice. Even if he wanted a deeper relationship with Eden, he knew he couldn’t have it. Eventually, she’d want him to quit the streets. He’d seen it happen to dozens of guys at the precinct, and if he took a desk job he’d be betraying the memory of his sister. After he’d lost her, he vowed to become a cop and crack down on gang fighting in the downtown core. Her death would not be in vain.
    Jay shoved the key into his lock and pushed open his door. He stepped inside his small condo and when he