Caught in the Act Read online

  Caught in the Act

  Saskia Walker

  Contents

  Caught in the Act

  Loving on the Edge: Book One

  Caught in the Act

  By Saskia Walker

  Once upon a time, there were three brothers—heroes, one and all. But these three men worked so hard they didn’t have the time to pin down the right woman. Until one steamy summer, when each of them met crazy ladies during the course of their duties—crazy ladies out of control….

  Why was it that her scent reached him all the way across the room? Liam O’ Neil glanced over at the pretty blonde software engineer on the far side of the open plan office. Wherever he was, he could smell her perfume. He could also invariably see her, and feel her intense scrutiny.

  Mostly it was because she was stalking him.

  Chrissie Stanfield crossed his path whenever she got the chance. Apparently she had to check out what he was up to, numerous times a day. Even when he was under a desk installing new cables, he’d see her stroll by, and he’d have to pause whatever he was doing to admire her legs.

  He lifted his head and smiled at her when he caught her looking his way. Ruffled, she looked away without acknowledging him.

  Too late, you little minx, I caught you.

  Right from day one, Liam knew she was on to him—or thought she was. His current post was undercover, investigating security and a possible leak from a top-notch banking software design company. Someone was stealing and selling their code. It wasn’t Chrissie, much to his relief. It certainly livened up the job having her to look at, though.

  Right now her annoyance at having been caught showed. Her lower lip projected ever so slightly, giving her the cutest pout, and it made him want to hold her. Preferably in a long, slow, horizontal grind. She was petite and blond, her body physically compact in a way that suggested he could put her on his lap. Naked, ideally. She was also tough as old boots and fiery—hellish fiery. What would she be like in bed, with all that fire and sass on full throttle? It gave him a hard-on just thinking about it. He shook his head. Just as well he was on top of this project already, otherwise she would be a dangerous distraction.

  Despite his preoccupation with her sexual personality, he could also tell she was annoyed there was something between them, the fire in her eyes told him that. So did her annoyance when he tried to chat with her. There was no hiding it. It was the sort of clash that flared up when you wanted someone you didn’t want to want. He bided his time. He had his job to do; but it was fun watching her stake him out. They were two of a kind in that respect. But if she wanted to stalk him around the office, he wasn’t about to argue, because she was closing in, and he was waiting for her to pounce, just so he could turn the tables on her.

  “He’s got a great body, the new IT bloke, hasn’t he?”

  Chrissie looked up when she realized someone was speaking to her. Theresa, her boss, stood over her desk, glancing down at her with an amused expression.

  Theresa nodded her head in the direction Chrissie had been looking. “Or were you admiring his brain power?”

  “I hadn’t noticed,” Chrissie lied. “But there’s something about him that bothers me.” She was annoyed, because she had hoped she was being subtle. Even so, she couldn’t stop herself looking back at Liam again. He was squatting at a PC base unit next to a desk some thirty feet away from hers on the other side of the office. His position gave her a perfect view of his physique under the soft cotton long-sleeved T-shirt and tight black jeans he wore. Some part of her instinctively knew he’d be well worth having, doing the business between her thighs. What on earth was wrong with her? She didn’t normally notice whether a man’s rear end was fit or not, but the rear end she was currently looking at was fit in a way that grabbed her attention. The very shape of it made her hands itch to touch him. She ran a finger beneath the neckline of her top, allowing cool air to circulate underneath the fabric. Where the hell were these thoughts coming from?

  “You got the memo from head office,” she added, “we need to be vigilant.”

  Theresa gave a knowing smile. “He’s too new.”

  Chrissie flashed her eyes at her boss. “Maybe not, I’ve checked out the dates, and I don’t trust him.”

  “You’re very observant.” Theresa winked. “You just go right ahead and keep your eye on him.”

  Chrissie pouted at her boss’s back.

  She couldn’t deny it he was an attractive man, though. What did that prove? He was up to no good, she was sure of it. Something about him was suspicious, and more annoyingly, something about him was vaguely familiar. If he was the software thief—and she was pretty sure he was—then maybe she’d seen him somewhere else, maybe at a convention. He’d want to see the people who worked here before he infiltrated the workplace.

  They’d been asked to be vigilant. A rival company had put out code suspiciously like theirs, only days before theirs went on the market. The board couldn’t be sure, but someone on the inside might have stolen the software in production—it had to be Liam. First she’d had her eye on Ted Warburton as the possible thief. He’d always been a quiet, secretive type. Liam had quickly replaced Ted on her list of possible suspects. She glared at him, her annoyance multiplying when he smiled over at her, casual as anything. Damn cheek. She looked away, both suspicious and hating the effect he had on her. It was hot in the office today, that’s what it was. It always made her horny. She uncrossed and recrossed her legs, squeezing her thighs together. Liam just happened to be there, that’s all.

  It was the fact he was out of place that magnetized her attention, had to be. The man looked as if he pumped iron for a living. In their business park office on the outskirts of London, where the other employees tended to be geeky types, that was unusual. He was a distraction that was beginning to get under her skin. Her panties were damp, her pussy on fire. Bastard. Not for the first time this week she was going to have to sneak off to the ladies toilet to masturbate. It wasn’t something that had ever happened to her in the workplace before.

  “Can I get you something?” It was Liam.

  Her back stiffened.

  “I’m doing a deli run,” he added.

  “No. Thank you.”

  He put both his hands on her desk, leaning over in the most provocative way, looking her up and down as if it was her he was about to devour, not the mega-stuffed baguettes he seemed to favor. “Are you sure I can’t tempt you?”

  She felt herself blushing, her pale skin making her far too easy to read. “No.”

  He lifted one eyebrow. “Shame. I’d like to see you giving in to temptation, I bet it would be quite something, all that restrained fire…unleashed.”

  She hated her body for the way it responded. Between her thighs, her pussy ached for some of what he seemed to be offering, a vigorous session between the sheets. But he was the wrong sort of bloke to get mixed up with, she was convinced of it. Unable to sit still, she rearranged herself in her seat, gripping onto the hem of her mini skirt to steady herself. “Don’t hold your breath, it’s not going to happen.”

  “Don’t be so sure.” He grinned.

  Frowning, she gave him a stern look.

  “That pout of yours is hellish sexy,” he added, then shook his head, still smiling, and walked away.

  Pout? She’d meant to look disapproving. Apparently she couldn’t even trust her own facial expressions when he was around. Feeling slightly demented, she glared at his back. He was so sure of himself, his hips rolling as he walked with a steady, easy gait, broad muscular shoulders shifting beneath his shirt. Power, he oozed subtle, intoxicating power. The man was pure machismo. That, and the way he looked back at her over his shoulder—dark eyes insinuating and filled with sensual
humor—made her dangerously aroused.

  It was no good, she decided, the midsummer heat had got to her.

  Standing up, she headed off to the ladies, pretending not to hear what was said to her as she passed Darren’s desk. She wasn’t in the mood for chitchat. Luckily there was no one else in the ladies cloakroom. Darting into a cubicle, she shut the door and put her back up against it. Wedging one sandaled foot against the toilet seat she cursed men in general—and Liam in particular—and moved her hand between her thighs, the hem of her skirt edging up as she reached under it and her palm closed over her pussy. She squeezed tight for relief, her hips rocking backward and forward, the pulse in her core beating out erratically. Staring at the wall with unseeing eyes, she chafed her clit through her lacy undies, her mind filling with images of Liam, over her, inside her, possessing her, telling her how bad she needed it and how he was going to see to it she got it.

  He’d left the building, and still he got to her. Cursing low under her breath, she shoved her hand inside her undies where the groove of her pussy was slick, and rubbed her clit. She could almost hear his voice, that insinuating tone, and she imagined him looking at her while she did the dirty deed in the loo. Latching a finger inside her sex, she pressed the palm of her hand on her clit, pushing her self closer to climax. He’d enjoy it, of course he would, he was just the sort of man who’d want to watch a woman masturbating. Her sex clenched, her standing leg faltering. Heat built inside her, a wall she had to break through for release, and when it came it spiraled through her groin then raced over her entire skin while she cursed low under her breath, hating the man who made her want him so.

  He’d stayed behind, after hours. Chrissie saw him duck into Theresa’s office after Theresa had gone, and he hadn’t emerged. Her pulse rate picked up speed. Liam had the run of the place in his role as IT man, but he shouldn’t be in there, not now. She took her time tidying her desk and watched as the last of her coworkers left the building. Where was the security guard? He usually came around about now, checked everyone had left the building before sealing it up for the night. He’d be here soon, which would be perfect timing.

  After the last stragglers had gone and all was quiet, she stood up, picked up her phone and flicked it to camera mode. If she could just catch him…Her heart raced. If she could prove Liam was the thief, then…then he’d be gone. She paused, hesitant. She both wanted to find him out, and didn’t. It was screwy, she knew it was, but something about the idea of confronting him was intoxicating, and she couldn’t help herself. As she approached the door to her supervisor’s office, she saw him moving behind the desk. Someone who wasn’t in the know would just think he was switching off a PC, or checking it. But she was riddled with suspicion and curiosity. She stood just outside the open office door and snapped a photograph of him, then put her phone down on the table outside Theresa’s office, making sure it was hidden out of sight.

  Folding her arms across her chest, she stared at him. “Caught in the act,” she said. She couldn’t help being pleased with herself.

  Liam glanced up, and then smiled, long and slow. He didn’t seem surprised to see her, his posture both nonchalant and self-assured while he looked at her.

  Even if he made a break for it she had proof he was the thief. Strangely enough, he didn’t look as if he was going anywhere. In fact he glanced at his watch, as if he was checking how much free time he had to chat with her. He had the cheek of the devil himself.

  “Caught?” A self-assured smile played around is attractive mouth and it made her want to slap him. “I wasn’t doing anything. Not yet, at any rate.”

  Why did he always look as if he was thinking about sex? And, more to the point why am I thinking about sex? “You aren’t supposed to be in here, none of us are. Company rules. No overtime unless it’s agreed in advance.”

  “And that’s why you followed me in here?” His expression was filled with insinuation, and he looked her up and down in a way that left her in no doubt he was making some sort of intimate reference. “You’re sure there wasn’t some other reason why you wanted to be in here with me, alone?”

  Her stomach flipped. He’s bluffing.

  She forced a dry laugh. “Get real. You are the thief, that’s why we’re both here. I’ve been on to you for days.” He didn’t seem surprised, in fact he seemed to be enjoying it. He was sitting back in Theresa’s chair with a lazy, confident posture that suggested he wasn’t in the least concerned she’d caught him in there. Maybe he wanted her to follow him in here. The thought made her want to walk away, but for some reason she couldn’t.

  “I knew you were on to me, Chrissie. In fact, I was enjoying your attention.”

  “The security man will be here in a minute to lock up,” she snapped. Her heartbeat grew erratic. Was this some sort of trap? Just as the thought struck her, the overhead strip lighting throughout the offices went off one by one in a succession of resounding clicking statements. They were alone. A dim security light was all that lit the room they occupied, the distant streetlights from the business park sending an eerie glow through the slats of the blinds.

  He stood up and stepped out from behind the desk. “Am I indeed? Well now, in that case why would I find you a whole lot more interesting than swiping the lot and heading out of here?” He gestured at the PC.

  “The PC should be password locked.” Panic was rising. What was she doing here alone with this man?

  “Theresa has been naughty, she’s left her files accessible. This place is slack.” He stepped closer. “I’d much rather look at you than a bunch of code. I like the idea of us having some quiet time, just the two of us, alone here.” He lifted his eyebrows and in the half-light his eyes glittered.

  Beyond him, she could see the cars moving on the motorway in the distance. The business park was quiet. Apart from the security guard, who was now late, there wasn’t another soul around. She hadn’t thought beyond the accusation, she hadn’t thought beyond getting him alone. But now they were here, and he was coming on to her.

  Despite her suspicions, her body responded wildly to the knowledge that he wanted her, her skin racing, a fluttering sensation in her core making sensible responses seem much harder to muster. “Flattery won’t get you anywhere, you’re just trying to distract me.”

  “How can you be sure?” The insinuating look in his eyes made him look even more attractive. How was that possible?

  He’s aroused, she realized. Not for the first time she found herself involuntarily wondering what he looked like naked. Oh god.

  “I can think of much better things to do than stealing computer software code, believe me. Besides, for all I know, you could be the thief, you could be the one who is siphoning off the code at night.”

  She faked a laugh. “I’ve been with this company for five years. I take pride in my loyalty.”

  He shrugged. “You might be dissatisfied with your pay, for all I know.” He moved closer still, stepping behind her, circling her. It unnerved her, but she felt rooted to the spot.

  “You might have a secret vice, something that needs funding.” He touched her lightly on the shoulder and her head jerked back. His eyes were narrowed in the gloom; he was focused on a reaction. The scent of his cologne was enticing, something woodland but sharp and earthy all at the same time. Underneath it man, sheer, absolute man.

  “If that was the case,” she mustered, “why would I be here, now, while you are in here?”

  “I don’t know, Chrissie, why are you here, now?” He smiled to himself. It was all one big joke to him. That would be his undoing, she was sure of it. What she wasn’t sure of was why she’d let him get so close. Why hadn’t she backed off?

  She swallowed. I do want him.

  The expression in his eyes grew serious. She could hear her heart pounding, the blood rushing in her ears as if the world were moving faster by the moment, while she was frozen to the spot. Then the reasons why they were here faded away as he closed on her and put one hand behin
d her head, his fingers moving into her hair as he tipped her head back. “I know the perfect way to prove to you I’m not in here after the code.”

  Part of her guessed what he was about to do, the part of her that identified with it, wanted it. She met his stare directly, stripped of all facade.

  “I’m going to kiss you now.”

  “I know.” She couldn’t have stopped him even if she wanted to, and she didn’t want to. When his lips whispered over hers and his breath mingled with hers, she moaned softly, the last shred of resistance she’d held on to slipping away as he invited her to enjoy. Something pent up broke free inside her and she clutched at him with needy hands, the ability to think logically gone.

  His mouth was warm and firm, sensuous in its exploration of her lips as he kissed her, softly at first, inquisitively. When she responded, he squeezed her against him with one large, warm hand at the small of her back, his mouth opening her up, his tongue teasing the edge of her lips until a shiver ran through her entire body. She responded without thought, reaching to press her mouth fully to his, her lips parting to take his tongue. He kissed her deeply, mastering her in an instant, claiming her. Beneath her hands, his body felt strong, warm and vital. She molded against him. While his tongue thrust in and out of her mouth, mirroring the rocking together of their hips, he held her tight and she could feel every inch of him, including the hard bulge at his groin.

  Locked together and wavering, they moved in unison towards the desk. She felt the hard surface against the back of her thighs and grappled for the edge of the desk with one hand.

  “On the desk,” he instructed. He sat her down, his hand stroking her shoulders. His face was cast in shadow but she could feel his lust swamping her.

  “Liam,” she whispered, unsure.

  He brushed his thumb over her lips, silencing her. He reached for her cardigan and pulled it down around her elbows, hooding it tight there, locking her arms in against her sides. He leaned into her, breathing her in. The nerve endings under her skin went wild, her breasts tightening in response to his proximity. He nudged the spaghetti strap on her top to one side with his mouth and kissed beneath it, his breath hot against her skin. With one hand, he held on to her as if he was afraid she would run, and with the other he cleared the desk, pushing papers discs and equipment onto the floor. Easing her back until she was flat on the desk, he stood between her thighs.