Echoes of Desire: Dance of Deception

~BRIANNA~

*With a shift, I let my dress slip from my shoulders and fall to the floor, revealing the lingerie beneath. Nathan's eyes darkened, as closing the small distance between us, his lips claimed mine in a possessive kiss, his tongue tangling with mine, both hungry and tender. Then, slowly, oh so tantalizingly slowly, he backed me toward the bed, his kisses travelling down my neck, across my collarbone, before they moved lower still, his teeth grazing the sensitive tips of my nipples.*

*Afterward, as he laid us on the bed, my moans joined the sound of fabric tearing as Nathan ripped my panties off.*

*With a gasp, I arched off the bed, my arousal growing, further dampening my already swollen and wet folds. As his mouth found my center, I bit down my lip to keep from screaming out in pleasure.

His tongue, a masterful artist, began stroking and teasing until I was writhing beneath him, begging for more.*

*My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving half-moons on his skin as I felt myself climbing toward my orgasm. My stomach tightened with my need, and just when I thought I couldn't possibly take any more, he pulled away and entered me in a swift, powerful thrust. His hips began rocking into mine with a rhythm as old as time itself-each stroke sent waves of ecstasy throughout my body, building towards my release...*

The sound of shattering glass jerked me awake, and I rolled over, my eyes immediately swinging about the moonlit room and landing on Mr. Friskies, his feline eyes blinking innocently at me, a shattered vase lying before him on the floor.

With a groan, I flopped back on my makeshift bed and closed my eyes, my body still pulsing with arousal from the erotic dream.

~~

Two hours later, Nathan Pierce's velvety voice purred across the phone from my voicemail. "Where *are* you? Why didn't you take my call? Well, anyway, it appears we may have another victim. I'm out headed to the scene now."

As always, my insides melted at the sound of his voice. God, it was the sexiest damn thing on the planet, and pure poison to me. From the moment I'd laid eyes on Nathan again, I knew I was in trouble...deep, deep, trouble. At thirty-four, six-foot-two, two-hundred-thirty pounds, with thick, lustrous, slightly wavy, black hair, plus a sinful smile that could make a nun cream her panties, Nathan was everything wet dreams were made of, and my stepbrother.

We had been lovers once. But three years ago, life had stepped in the way and I'd moved back to Oklahoma after my mom had been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. I'd left under a veil of uncertainty; I didn't know if or when I'd be back. I didn't regret the disruption of my life in my mom's time of need, as it had given me those last few precious years with her, but when I had returned to my old job within the bureau, I found Nathan had married: the fact had broken my heart.

The easy camaraderie we had once shared as step-siblings, partners, and lovers, was gone. Instead, the relationship we had now was...strained.

Earlier, after showering-washing away any remnants of the erotic dream-I'd entered the living room and glanced at my phone, seeing I had a message. As I'd peered at the screen, surprise had jolted through me at seeing Nathan's name. What the hell? I couldn't help thinking. Nathan never called me...at least, not anymore. The thought ricocheted around in my head like a ping-pong ball in a box, and instantly I'd felt a sinking in my gut...knowing if he was calling...it meant bad news-we no longer had the type of relationship that would make his call otherwise.

At one time... Well, anyway-tightening my towel a little more securely, my hair dripping all over my shoulders and arms, I'd listened to his message.

Now, half an hour later, pumping gas in my pickup, my phone vibrated in my pocket. Carrying the phone to my ear, I answered and Nathan immediately started shouting, "Where the hell are you?"

For minutes he paused, then growled, "Never mind, It doesn't matter. I'm headed to the office, and you damn well better be there when I get there, and don't kid yourself that I won't write your ass up for insubordination if you aren't!"

Pinching my eyes shut, I shook my head. "Are you finished?" Was he wanting a fight? Yeah, I could so go there.

Nathan growled something else, but his words were drowned out by a car coming to a stop in the lane before me. Its radio was blaring, and the speakers thumping.

I clenched my teeth at the driver's obvious disregard for others.

"What?" I gritted out. "I didn't hear you."

At the same time as I yelled the words, I shot an aggravated glance at the long line of cars waiting to inch their way forward and through the stoplight. I'd been waiting for my chance to pull out of the gas station, but I was quickly losing patience. It appeared everyone in town had taken the same road at the same time, creating a bottleneck at the traffic light.

"I said-" Nathan started, before snapping instead, "Goddammit, Brianna-what are you still fourteen? Turn that loud-ass shit off, will ya?"

All the emotional pain I'd felt over the last few weeks exploded into a temper-tantrum. "For real? You must be a fucking idiot if you think I'd listen to my music that freaking loud. You have to be the most, deaf, blind and I'm thinking, the dumbest jackass I've ever met Nathan Pierce, and right now-I don't like you much, so write my ass up," I shouted.

Several seconds of silence passed, and I heard the frustrated breath he heaved on the other end. "Where the hell are you?" he finally muttered.

The words had no more slipped past his lips, when I spotted his pickup as he turned the corner. He was heading toward where I sat waiting for my turn to pull out onto the road, and I snarled, "At the goddamn gas station right damn in front of you!" Afterward, I hit the end call button, and tossed the phone in the seat beside me. As Nathan drove past in front of me, I glared at him through the windshield of my pickup, as he glared back at me through the passenger window of his.

~~

As I grumbled to myself about full-of-themselves jerks, I followed Nathan to the bureau. Then, after parking, I fell into step beside him as we made our way toward the bureau. Our anger with each other wrapped around us like an afghan wrapped around a Grandma, and after entering the bullpen, he stalked off toward his office. I followed several steps behind, still grumbling. Man, his mood was black this morning, but mine was darker!

Entering his office, I came to a stop, taking in the papers he was tossing with an uncaring attitude toward his desk from the filing cabinet. As he continued to toss papers, I watched as some hit the desk, while others fell to the floor.

After a few seconds of demonstrating his foul mood, he looked up, barking at me. "Where the hell is the Aikins file?"

"You're acting like a big baby," I snapped back, glowering at him as I crossed my arms over my chest. He wanted to be an ass...let's see who could be the biggest.

Eyes rolling and a snarl curling his upper lip, he snapped, "Get the damn file for me without any lip. Okay?"

I raised an eyebrow and just looked at him without moving an inch. "Can we say, pretty please?" I drawled, my tone that of what one would use with a preschooler.

Nathan's jaw dropped, and his eyes bugged. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

I shook my head, the movement firm and unyielding. "Nope. You want me to help you find the file, say pretty please."

He gave another eye-roll before, snarling out, "Fine. Pretty please, Brianna. Will you find the Aikins file for me?"

Marching over to the cabinet where he stood, I shoved him aside. Then, pulling out the drawer marked with the letters A-D, I reached into the A section and pulled out the file needed. Turning, I stomped over to his desk, and slapped the file down on its surface, further disturbing the mess. "Hmm, imagine that-it was in the A's for Aikins. That is spelled A-i-k-i-n-s!"

Pushing aside all the other papers strewn about the top of his desk, he ignored my sarcasm, however, grunted his thanks. Opening the file, he sank into his chair and dug through the file's contents. After a few minutes, he glanced up to where I was still standing. A dark frown appeared across his features as he eyed me. "Sit, dammit."

Heat infused my whole body, and the hair ruffled on the back of my neck. "I'm not a fucking dog! Don't you dare talk to me like I am!" I snapped.

After my outburst, the only sound heard in the room was the slap of paper as Nathan flipped pages. Finally, letting out a breath, he raised his hands, then using his index fingers, he rubbed at his temples, as if his head hurt. Afterward shoving his chair back, he lurched from the seat and stalked over to stare at the wall of flat-screen TVs.

For seconds, he stood, motionless, gazing at their blank faces, his breathing erratic. Finally, he turned to face me, "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too. Now, you wanna tell me what the hell's eating at you?" I said softly.

Nathan gazed at me for several seconds, then muttered, "No."

Hours later, and using my jeans under my head for a pillow, I was in a restless sleep on the floor when I came to full wakefulness by the splintering of the cabin door. Tucking and rolling, I reached for the gun I always kept near me as I came up on my feet in a crouched position. When my hand had come out empty, I silently cursed myself at the foolhardiness of being so preoccupied I'd left my gun in my purse in the other room.

From across the room, Nathan's voice slurred, "Brianna? Where the hell are you?"

As I peered in his direction, I could see his silhouette standing out in bold contrast to the brightness of the moon at his back. He stepped the rest of the way in through the destroyed door and fumbled for the light switch on the wall.

Suddenly, the room flooded with light, forcing me to narrow my eyes against the glare. "What the hell, Nathan?" I hissed.

Head jerking in my direction, he wove his way over to where I continued to crouch. When he stood before me, peering down at me, he asked, "What you doin' down there?"

He was so unsteady on his feet, he swayed back and forth before me. "Jesus Christ, Nathan, you're drunk!" I hissed, as jerking to my feet, I grasped his arm to help steady him before he fell.

Shaking loose one of my hands, he raised an arm, running his fingers through his hair, and with a sarcastic laugh, he slurred with a thick tongue, "That what you call this? I call it anee...anethe-ah fuck, you're right, I'm fuck-faced!"

Nathan didn't get drunk often. So, the fact he was now, was alarming.

"How'd you even get out here, anyway?" I breathed, only to find myself aghast when peering damn near cross-eyed at me, he hiccupped out, "My bike-"

"You rode your goddamn bike?" The tone of my voice betrayed how horrified I was.

Reaching up, he placed his hands in my hair, as running it through his fingers, he slurred, "Um...hmm." Within seconds though, a puzzled look crossed his features. "I think I did. Wait, no-yeah-maybe?"

Then with a shake of his head and as if he couldn't be bothered thinking about it any longer, he gazed at me for several seconds, then placed his finger on the tip of my nose. "Such a cute little nose," he breathed.

I grasped his hand and pulled it back down. "I'm going to call Tami so she can come get you. You are not driving anywhere else tonight."

"At work," he slurred.

"Oh," I breathed as I tried to decide what to do. FInally, heaving a breath, I tugged Nathan with me as I picked my jeans up off the floor, and awkwardly slid into them, at the same time trying to stop him from falling flat on his ass.

Afterward, pulling him to the kitchen with me, I jerked my purse off the counter, and slung it over my shoulder. Then, reversing our steps, I led him back into the living room and toward the gaping hole that had been my front door.

Glancing at his pickup parked askew in my yard as we crossed the porch, I shook my head.

~~

Patience gained a whole new meaning, as with every faltering step, he'd pause, laughing, before we'd start again. Though our steps were slow, and I had to use a great deal of perseverance, I finally got him into my pickup, and by the time I got him to his house, he'd passed out in the seat, emitting little snores. Reaching out, I caressed his cheek, causing him to stir a little.

But when he didn't rouse fully, I ran my fingers across his cheek again. "Come on, wake up Nathan, I need you to help me get you inside."

After a bunch of tugging, pulling, and outright cursing, I finally got him into the house. Now, as he sat on his bed, snoring again, I held him in a sitting position, struggling to get his shirt unbuttoned.

When I finally freed the last button, he slit one eye open, peering at me blurrely, as he muttered, "I didn't think you were ever coming back...I would have waited for you."

Within seconds of the words leaving his mouth, he flopped backward on the bed, and started snoring again.

With moisture in my eyes, I heaved a shaky breath, then began pulling off his boots and socks, setting the boots beside the bed, I stuffed the socks in the tops. From there, I let him be. Removing his jeans in his state would be damn near impossible.

Finally, reaching down, I folded the side of the blanket he wasn't lying on, across his length. Then, gazing down at him, I pushed aside the hair that was half-covering his face. Afterward, bending forward, I kissed his forehead.

With one final glance at his prone body, I left the room, leaving the door slightly ajar behind me, as the sound of his snores blended with my sniffles.

For the next hour, I lay restless on the couch; wishing things could be different between us. I hadn't wanted to leave him and go back to Oklahoma, but my mama had needed me more than he had.

~~

It was still dark outside when I sensed someone was watching me. The feeling skittered up my back and shot straight to my brain, jolting my eyes open wide. They collided with a set of dark brown ones surrounded by soft, white fur.

Emitting a soft giggle, I reached out and scratched Otis on the head, at the same time hearing a groan come from the other side of the room. Sitting up on the couch, I turned my head until I was gazing at the owner of another set of eyes, ones that were squinting against the sunlight coming in through the windows.

"Jesus," Nathan breathed, his voice hushed as if fearing anything louder slipping past his lips would make his head fall off his shoulders. Raising his hand, he rubbed at his forehead. "God, my head hurts," he groaned.

Rising, I walked in his direction, all the while peering at him as I noted the dark stubble on his chin and jaw. His hair was still sleep-tangled, as though he'd climbed from bed and came straight to the living room.

Eyes roaming over him, my heart began to trip in my chest, and the love nest between my legs came alive. However, I pushed aside the sensation, muttering, "Coffee, and aspirins."

When I came back out of the kitchen and into the living room, Nathan had disappeared. Thinking he might have gone back to bed, I made my way down the hall toward his room. Lightly pushing at the door, I hesitated to enter, in case he was sleeping.

As I peered in his direction where he sat on his bed, I noted he was sitting on its edge, his head clasped in his hands.

A small breath easing from between my lips, I took another step forward. "I've got your coffee and aspirins."

Head lifting at the sound of my voice, he gazed at me, his face confused. "It seems I'm missing a few things. Like, uh, what happened last night, and what you're doing here?" His words emerged still in that hushed tone of earlier.

I shrugged. "I don't know what went down before you kicked my door in-" I began, but Nathan interrupted me.

"I did what!?" he exclaimed. As his voice boomed around us, he winced before it seemed a light went on, illuminating a previously dark area within his memory. Moving fast for a man who only a few seconds earlier had been suffering from a horrendous headache, he was suddenly standing before me. Breath harsh, he gazed down at me. "Shit, I'm sorry."

Words barely passed his lips, his phone began ringing, and grabbing it off the dresser, he gave the screen a swipe, carrying the phone to his ear. "Yeah?"

Silence reigned on his end for several seconds, before he quizzed, "No, it's okay. I'll take care of it, Tami."

If Tami's calling wasn't a big, fat neon flashing sign, I didn't know what was. Turning, I ran from the room, grabbed my purse on the way through the living room, and continued out the front door.

As I reached my pickup, I wrenched the driver's door open and climbed in. For two-seconds, I rested my forehead on my steering wheel, then, raising my head, I grabbed the driver's door and slammed it shut. It would have been so easy to push Nathan back on the bed and give into what I know I wanted.

Shaking my head, I started the engine and jerked the transmission in reverse. Afterward, tossing my arm across the back of the seat, I pushed down on the gas as I tossed a glance over my shoulder.

Immediately slamming on the brakes I felt the pickup shudder to a jarring stop, as I shouted, "You, stupid-ass-motherfucker, I almost ran over your ass."

Nathan stood several feet behind the bed of my pickup, barefoot and shirtless. Stepping around the bed, he began making his way toward the driver's door, and hit the gas again.

As I roared out of the drive, Nathan shouted my name, but ignoring him I kept barrelling backward. After my bumper scraped loudly in the dip at the end of the drive, I cranked the wheel, and pointed my pickup in the direction that would take me away from destroying both our lives.

That evening, as the sun began dipping toward the horizon, I sat huddled in the middle of the floor of my living room, memories filling my mind...

~December 24th 2009-six years earlier~

When I'd finally managed to fall asleep, it had been late. My head, it seemed, had only just hit the pillow, before a pounding on the front door startled me awake. Rolling off the bed, I hit the floor on my knees with a yelp before I managed to scramble to my feet. Using an arm to swipe at the hank of hair hanging in my face, I glanced through blurry eyes at the clock on my bedside table. WTF! It wasn't even quite six in the morning yet, and some jackass was trying to beat the damn door down.

Stumbling my way out of my bedroom and down the stairwell, I grumbled none too quietly that whoever the motherfucker was, they had better have a damn good reason for waking me up at the ass-crack of dawn.

Finally, having woven my way across the floor of the entrance hall like a drunk, I came to a stop before the front door, snarling, "Someone had damn well better be dying on the other side of this freaking door!"

Peering through the peephole, I got a close-up view of a Dunkin Donuts bag. A bag that was being held up for my inspection, at the same time concealing its bearer's face. However, it revealed the broad breadth of a sexy as hell shoulder and arm-one that bore Nathan's full sleeve tattoo down its length.

O-kaay; so it was possible I could overlook that the sun hadn't even come up yet for donuts and for...him. Cracking the door open enough to fit my arm through, I reached out and with an impish grin, snatched the bag from the hand of the unsuspecting God who stood on my stoop.

Slamming the door back shut, my face transformed into something similar to the creature from J. R. R. Tolkien's book The Lord Of The Rings* as I whispered the hobbit's well-known catchphrase, and gazed in rapt adoration at the bag in my hand.

However, my lusting after the contents of the bag was put on hold when from the other side of the door, I heard Nathan state, "Uh...yeah. So, I take it you don't want your coffee then?"

Hmm... I guess I was a bit hasty in slamming the door in his face. I did so love the chain store's coffee, almost as much as their donuts!

I stood debating reopening the door, but smelling the rich yeasty aroma of the donuts as their scent wafted upward, I knew the only thing which could make the moment of biting into one of the sweetened goodies any better, would be to have the coffee Nathan claimed he possessed.

After a few seconds of torturing myself with the delicious aroma in the surrounding air, I reopened the door and stretched out my arm, holding my palm up for the coffee.

Nathan pushed the door further open. Stepping past me into the entrance hall, he shook his head murmuring, "Uh-uh. You don't get the coffee until I get a doughnut,"

Seconds later, I sat a saucer down in front of him before making my way to the opposite side of the table. Taking a seat myself, I grabbed the bag I'd set in the middle of the table earlier and dug into its contents.

Mouth, watering, I sunk my teeth into the glazed confection and closed my eyes. A long, low, heartfelt groan of pure ecstasy slipped out of my mouth, as with slow sensuous swipes, I licked the glazed icing off my lips in sheer rapture.

The strained clearing of a throat and a hissed, "Fuuuck!" had my eyes popping open. A flush of heat consumed me when my gaze landed on the superb outline of Nathan's erection, as having shoved his chair back; he now stood before me, the unobstructed view of the swelling beneath his zipper on full display.

Grabbing his doughnut and coffee, he turned on his heel and stomped from the room. Within seconds, I heard the front door slam shut behind him.

~~

Striding through what had been at one time been a pasture before it was transformed into part of the yard, I could feel the cold ground seeping into the soles of my bare feet, but didn't let it slow me down as I followed Nathan.

Entering the barn's interior, the smell of many years worth of automotive oil changes and mechanical repairs hit me in the face. As well, the aroma of hay and the odor of horses.

I gave a small jump when Nathan snarled, "Why the fuck didn't you stay in the house, Marlowe?" as he stepped out of the shadows.

Startled, I took a step back and soon a sort of harmonized dance began between us. With each step he took forward, I countered it with one step back.

Finally, I stuttered out in confusion, "Um...I'm not quite sure of what you're asking?" Embarrassment flushing through me that I'd chased him out to the barn like a horny teenager.

Continuing to advance toward me, Nathan husked, "Yeah, I'm pretty certain you do. In fact, I'm pretty certain you know exactly what I'm asking!"

On the heels of that statement came, "As much as I would enjoy the hell out of having my dick buried in you, it would be in both our best interests to keep that delicious morsel between your legs away from me!"

My cheeks almost neon pink, the words, "Excuse me?" erupted from between my lips.

With a snort, Nathan backed me up against the wall of the barn husking, "Tell me I'm wrong! Tell me you're not wet for me. Right-the-fuck-now!"

Shaking my head, I opened my mouth to deny his words; instead, I found myself whispering, "I can't."

Lowering his face to my neck, Nathan inhaled, and I found myself breathing, "Did you just smell me?"

Voice a deep, gravelly rasp, he husked, "Jesus, I want to fuck you so bad right now, I can't stand it!"

Slowly, he turned his face toward mine, his lips whispering across my own as he breathed, "It's killing me knowing that pussy of yours is dripping wet for me!"

After a few seconds, he pulled away, murmuring, "Yet, even with knowing that, it's not gonna happen. So, you can stop looking at me like you wanna screw my brains out."

Shaking my head, I stepped back into him and breathed, "Why should I, if it's the truth?"

Sucking in a breath and roughly pushing me away again, Nathan raked agitated fingers through the natural messy tangle of his hair, making it even messier. He gave a low growl, before hissing, "Because I'm bad news baby and because you have no idea what the fuck is good for you. No idea of the fucking things I've done...things I'm going to continue doing. No idea of the fucking things I've been through, or have fucking chosen to do. You have no fucking idea of who the hell I really am...and moreover, YOU DON'T FUCKING WANT TO!

"Who are you trying to make believe that bullshit Nathan...you or me? I've seen your good side and your dark side, so, I'd say I know you pretty damn well!" I hissed.

Nathan snorted, before sneering, "No, you don't! And as for you seeing my dark side-hardly-you don't know a fucking thing about my dark side...the secrets I hold, and furthermore, you don't want to, I can assure you of that! Believe me, baby, when I say, you have no clue who I am. Truth to tell, I'm pretty goddamn sure it would scare the shit plum out of you if you did. In fact, I got a fucking whopper of a secret that would make you see me as the monster I am! Let me lay it out on the line here-I'm not, nor have I ever been who, or what you think I am."

A few seconds of silence passed, before, voice abnormally calm, he murmured, "Actually, it'd be best if you stayed the fuck away from me altogether!" Afterward, stepping back, he turned and stomped out of the barn.