Chapter 7

Frank watched as Caitlin cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher. How much of his situation should he tell her? He rubbed his fingers over his bottom lip and his brow puckered. He didn't want to tell her anything that could get her hurt.

"I'm waiting, sir," Caitlin joked.

"I know, be patient," he said, sighing softly. "I run an undercover operation out of Chicago. My unit just wrapped a case where we discovered one of our own had turned. It was a tough case and my team needed a break, so there I was, on vacation." He went to Caitlin's side to help her. When she smiled at him, he felt his heart pound. He continued, "Only, I receive a call from a friend and former FBI agent who is now the chief of police in Bangor. He has a problem, you see, dirty cops and drug smuggling into Canada."

Caitlin's eyes grew big and she placed a hand on his arm. "Calais is so close to the border, you don't think..."

"No, I don't think they are here. This was a remote area, a perfect place to kill someone. Who would hear the gunshots? How long would it take to find the body?" He shook his head. He still found it hard when cops turned bad. "Anyway, Tom, the Police Chief, asked for my help. I didn't have anything going on in Chicago, so here I am."

"Here you "am" in Bangor or here you "am" almost dead on my doorstep?" Caitlin tried to be flippant, but failed miserably.

"Okay, okay. It didn't take long to figure out who the dirty cops were. I managed to follow them to where they were making their drop. Unfortunately, there was one bad guy too many, and I was hit from behind." He placed his hands gently on Caitlin's shoulders and turned her to face him. "The next thing I know, I'm throwing myself off a cliff to avoid being shot, but they still managed to hit me. That's where you came in."

Caitlin stared into his deep, dark eyes. She wondered how often he came this close to death. The thought was terrifying. "You could have died," she whispered.

His hands moved to her neck, and his thumb caressed her check. "But I didn't," he replied huskily.

"You were lucky," Caitlin sighed as her arms wound around his waist.

"I was lucky," he repeated, lowering his head. "There was this Angel," he kissed her on the forehead, "she saved my life."

Caitlin nodded, her head still held in his hands. "I'm afraid for you. When you leave me, you'll be in danger again."

He pulled her close, crushing her to his chest, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Don't fear for me. It's part of the job, part of who I am."

Caitlin nodded against his chest. When he held her this close, she didn't fear anything. Anything except her strong response to him. Her hands slid up his back as she looked up at him. "Frank," she began, but his mouth took hers, stopping any further conversation.

His hands roamed down her back, stopping at the base of her spine. He pulled her closer, until her hips were molded against his. With one hand firmly cupped around her bottom, the other traveled lazily up her side and around to find a round, firm breast. He delighted at her response. She moaned softly as he teased the small nipple with his thumb.

Caitlin returned Donovan's kisses with abandon. "This is heaven," she thought as she licked and sucked his bottom lip. Her hands were exploring the taut muscles of his arms, his back and traveled down to feel the firmness of his buttocks. She remembered how they looked, when he stood naked in the master bath. She moaned with delight and her head was spinning, the touch of his hand on her breast was awakening desires she never knew she possessed.

Donovan trailed kisses down her cheek, her neck, until he found the soft hollow of her throat. His tongue weaved erotic patterns on her throat while he pulled the tank top loose from her shorts. He eased the shirt upward; freeing the breast he deliciously tormented just a moment before.

Caitlin gasped with pleasure when Frank's lips closed around the hardened nub of her breast and she felt herself arch her back to give him better access. As his tongue flicked the sensitive point, desire and hunger for this man consumed her in a molten wave that washed over her and settled low within her.

Donovan gathered her back into his arms, crushing her lips with his. He moved her to the doorway, his lips never leaving hers. He couldn't get enough of the taste of her as he continued the kiss while trying to climb the stairs.

Lowering her to the mattress of the canopied bed, Donovan leaned down and tenderly removed her top. A loud breath escaped his lips as he took in the beauty of her ample, bare breasts. He reached for the waistband of her shorts, and when he looked to her for approval, he read in her eyes a mixture of desire and fear. He stayed his hand; as much as he needed her, he never wanted her to fear him.

When he moved away from the bed, Caitlin was both hurt and relieved. After a moment of staring at his back, she put her top back on. "Frank?" she asked. It was all she could say.

He could barely think, the ache in his groin was fierce, but he turned to Caitlin and kneeled before her. "It's not right, is it, Caitlin? You're still frightened of me."

She nodded. "Not for the reasons you think."

"No? I can't imagine it could be anything other than what I think." He touched her cheek softly. "I know you don't know me very well, but I promise I would never do anything to hurt you." He was glad to see the fear had left her eyes, although it had been replaced with confusion.

"That, I know," she sighed. He would never understand why she was still a virgin. That she wished to remain one until she found that one person she could not live without. And, although she was beginning to think he might be that man, she wasn't sure.

"You know, and yet you are still afraid," he observed. He lowered his head into her lap and released a long breath when she wound her fingers into his hair.

"Trust me when I tell you that I want you," she attempted to explain. "I may even need you, but I just have to be sure it's the one thing I can't live without." Lame, she knew, but how do you explain a 26-year-old virgin? He would laugh her right out of her own house.

Donovan lifted his head to look at her. She looked every bit the beauty with her flushed skin and tousled hair. He should be angry at the way her body teased his into thinking he would find fulfillment within her. But, he wasn't. He hurt, by God, he really did, but more than that, he was amazed at the fact that he wanted to comfort her. He knew then, he had fallen in love with her and he cursed that fact. His life was not a life meant for love.

Caitlin was amazed at his restraint. He stood, holding a hand out to her and she took it without hesitating. He kissed her tenderly, whispered a goodnight, and then quietly left her alone in her room.

To be continued...