Free Playin’ Cop (Heroes of Henderson ~ Prequel) by Liz Kelly

around Duncan’s legs. She pulled at her gown, gathering it high so her legs could straddle his, bringing them face to face. She eased her body down to his lap and bit her bottom lip when the throbbing aching need of her met the rock-solid heat of him.
    Duncan rolled his pelvis in response. His hands slid down to grip her hips. “Jesus Christ,” he cursed as he rocked himself against her again. His hands slid under her gown and up her parted thighs, feeling their way to the soft curve of her behind, moving her forward at the same time as he ground himself against her. His mouth sought hers and she feasted on his lips, tilting her pelvis to help create more friction.  
    The deliciousness of her body moving against his, of his arms tightening around her, of the way their lips played, the way their tongues tangled, the joy of being alive and having found the One bubbled up inside Annabelle and it all came out in a yummy, humming sort of groaning approval that vibrated against his lips.
    “I know,” he breathed, a hand coming up and sweeping the hair back from her face. “This feels really….” He kissed her again. “Really….” He got lost in her lips, and his hands groped around for purchase between the sides of her thighs, her lower back, sometimes skimming her aching breasts but not settling anywhere for long. Finally, he set both hands on either side of her face and put some distance between their lips. He looked at her, then closed his eyes, panting.
    “This….” he started, opening his eyes and staring at her seriously. “We…” His chest heaved with a large intake of breath as he managed to continue, “are not making this a one-night stand.”
    Annabelle leaned back a little. “Are you asking me out on a second date?”
    He nodded, still holding his hands to her head. “Are you accepting?”  
    She nodded back.
    “I’m serious,” he told her.
    “I believe you,” she said.
    His hands fell from her face in exasperation. “And I probably am going to have to turn in my Man Card for this, but I have no intention of making love to you for the first time in this car. It just would…” his voice began to trail off, “set the wrong tone for a relationship.” He turned his head and looked out into the darkness.
    The silence pounded heavy and long, matching Annabelle’s heartbeat. She wanted to respond with a gift of words equal to what he’d just bestowed upon her. But her mind could find nothing worthy. Emotion swelled within her and before she could lean into him, he turned his face back and barked, “Don’t you debutantes have a five date rule or something?”
    She nodded briskly and saw his features soften. Inches apart, he had to have noticed the tears in her eyes. “We should,” she sniffed, nodding again. “We really should.” She eased herself down against him, pressing her cheek against his shoulder.
    His arms closed snugly around her as he said, “So let’s count this up. We have tonight, date number one. Your daddy asked me over tomorrow for the Rose Bowl, so maybe we can count that as date number two.” Annabelle simply snuggled down lower. “Tomorrow night we both will be back in Raleigh and I’m thinking I’d like to take you to dinner, if that’s all right.” She nodded her head against his chest. “That’s date number three.”
    He rubbed his cheek. “Friday night is always a good movie date night,” he said. “You free this Friday?” He tucked his chin to look down at her and she nodded against him again. “Okay, good. Date number four.”
    A comfortable silence settled around them, the heater still pouring out warmth, the headlights still shining on the road back down the hill. When Duncan started to talk, it was as if he were constructing a poetic invitation. “For date number five,” he breathed, tilting his head and kissing the soft spot behind her ear, “I will discover, through my own devices, your favorite flower and present you with a bouquet when I