Her Dangerous Promise - Part 4: (Romantic Suspense Serial) by Ashley Stryker

Chapter One

    “Why do I have to wear a wire?” Mary asked, as she examined the tiny device Thom handed her. “If he shows up, you will arrest him before he even gets in the house.”
    “I want to be able to know you are all right at all times.” Thom held out his hand and Mary returned it to him. “You’ll also feel better, I think, knowing you are not really alone.”
    “That’s true.”
    Thom considered the outfit Mary had selected to wear. He’d suggested she pick out a dress in the style they knew Adam preferred. They’d swung by a department store on the way home to buy a white cotton sweater that resembled the one Adam had kept. Dressing Mary up like a fishing lure, knowing that some nasty critter was going to swim up on her and try to snatch her away again, knotted his stomach.
    Thom stepped back and appraised the outfit. She looked innocent enough in her long summer dress. The line of buttons from the collar to the waist tempted him to wonder what would be revealed as each one was undone. The fabric wasn’t form fitting but he’d had glimpses of her shape before. How could she expect him to be so close to her and keep his hands, or his mouth, to himself? The heat he felt rising in him deepened his voice as he said, “I need to unbutton your dress so I can tape on the microphone.”
    Mary raised her eyebrows, “My, my, the things you must do in the line of duty.”
    “Yeah, it’s brutal.” Thom hooked his finger in the front of her dress and drew her closer to him. “Especially with buttons.” He unhooked the first one. “I know I am not supposed to damage this dress.” He undid another one. “But, what I really want to do is tear this thing off you.”
    Mary licked her lips nervously. “You certainly know how to make a lady blush.”
    He finished unfastening the buttons to her navel and opened the dress to reveal her torso. The creamy, smooth flesh of Mary’s stomach trembled under his touch. Thom ran his palms up her bare waist to her ribs. When Mary gasped, he glanced up and smiled. “Brad won’t be back for at least an hour.”
    Mary grabbed the front of his sweatshirt, her smoldering eyes never breaking from his and backed toward the bad. As she sat on the edge, he knelt before her. “Mary,” he murmured. “I’ve wanted you so much.”
    The kiss she gave him was all the encouragement he needed. A firestorm of desire swept through him like a tornado, igniting his senses as he drank of her sweet mouth. His hands found the hem of the dress, then traced up the length of her bare thighs as he slipped between them. He circled her hips and jerked her forward so she pressed against his stomach.
    Mary gasped in response, and then kissed him deeper, more urgently. Her hands slid under his sweatshirt and she disengaged the kiss just long enough to yank it off and toss it aside.
    Thom stripped away her sweater, and then slipped her dress up over her head. He leaned back and marveled in the sight of her. There was nothing innocent or demure about her in her lacy peach underwear. Her curves were made for sin and he couldn’t resist the temptation.
    With his hands on her waist, he lifted her. Thom slipped onto the bed and settled her down so she straddled his lap. He knew she felt his need for her straining against his jeans and she worked herself over him encouragingly.
    Thom wanted to see more of her, all of her. He unclasped her bra and tore it away. Her back arched, making her wiggle even more enticingly on his lap and bringing her full, lovely breasts to his mouth. He latched on to the right one and swirled the tip of her nipple with his tongue. She hugged his head to her and cried, “Thom! Yes!”
    Easing her to the side, Thom laid Mary on the bed. Her hands fumbled with his zipper, so he brushed them aside and removed his clothes himself. Only her thin panties separated them now and she raised her hips to help him remove that remaining obstacle. As much as he wanted her in that moment,