by Hanna Noble
He couldn’t seem to get enough air, struggled to control his breathing. Naomi was confident, assured, seductive. She knew exactly what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to take it. She settled herself in front of him, her gaze a mix of hunger and determination that had his own desire flaring in response.
He let her take the lead. Closing his eyes when he felt her lips brush against his neck. It was the barest of touches, but he felt it all the way down to his toes. She straddled him, and he groaned, loving the feel of her softness pressing up against him. The layers of clothes separating them were an affront to his senses, a sentiment Naomi must have shared because her hands slipped under his sweatshirt to caress his chest.
He would use gentle touches and heated looks to erase the sadness he’d seen in her eyes. He wanted her to burn for him, to lose herself completely in pleasure.
She kissed him, wet and deep and with an urgency he couldn’t ignore. His tongue dueled with hers, and he reveled in the feel of her sleek athletic body rubbing against him, driving him insane. She broke the kiss and pulled off her tank top, revealing her bare breasts. His mouth watered at the sight of her rose-colored nipples, stiff peaks, demanding his attention. He wanted to lick and tease and bite them until she writhed in ecstasy.
And yet, when she moved to remove his sweatshirt, he found himself pushing her away, trying to clear his head, to think. He wanted Naomi more than he’d ever wanted another woman, but he couldn’t shake the niggling doubt in the back of his mind that her behavior was a reaction to stress, a moment of weakness she would regret in the morning.
“What’s wrong?” Her voice was breathy, her blue eyes dilated with desire. She moved closer again, frowning when he held her back. “Why are you stopping?”
“It’s been a long night.” He tried to keep his voice calm, hoping his raging body would follow suit when every primal instinct was crying out, demanding he claim what was his. “I’m not sure this is the best idea.” Only a few hours ago, she had insisted that she didn’t want their chemistry to cloud the investigation.
“I want this,” she insisted, moving closer again, frowning when he wouldn’t budge. She was so damn hard to resist that he had to close his eyes and count to ten. He didn’t doubt that she was aroused—hell, the chemistry between them had never been an issue. It was about the fragile trust they were building. He wouldn’t risk compromising the progress they’d made in taking steps toward each other.
“I know.” He rubbed his hands up and down her arms, trying to soothe. “I do, too.” No man had every wanted anything more. “But not like this. Naomi, I would feel better if we waited. If tomorrow you still think this is a good idea then, believe me sweetheart, I’m game.” He wouldn’t ignore the shadows that still lurked in her eyes, the hurt and exhaustion he could feel radiating off her in waves. He handed her back her tank top. “Let me hold you tonight.”
The thought of cradling her warm body close to his without being able to do anything sounded like a terrible punishment, but he knew it would help her. Some things couldn’t be communicated with words, but only through the touch of someone who cared.
“You want to sleep with me, but not sleep with me?” Her voice was uncertain, as though no one had offered her this type of comfort before.
“Yes,” he said, pulling her to her feet and peeling back the covers. “You get in. I’ll be right here with you. Even if you have nightmares.” He gauged her expression, touching her worried brow with his finger. “Everything will be ok.”
She wavered, but slipped under the covers, hesitant. “You don’t have do this,” she said. “I’m fine now.”
“I know.” Cole nudged her over and slid into the bed with her. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” He pulled her into his arms, her head snuggling into his shoulder as though they’d been doing this for years.
Little by little, he felt her body relax, and, as he’d expected, she was asleep within minutes. The combination of exhaustion and adrenaline sent her into a deep slumber. Her hand rested on his chest, as though the steady sound of his heartbeat would anchor her.
He switched off the nightstand lamp, plunging the room into darkness. He stayed awake, wanting to make sure she wouldn’t have any nightmares. He stroked her hair, still damp from her shower, and was rewarded by her soft, sleepy sigh. He felt such a complete sense of peace, he realized there was no denying it to himself any longer.
He was falling for Naomi.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Naomi woke up pressed against a warm, hard, still sleeping Cole. Her back was pressed against him and he’d wrapped an arm around her, keeping her close. She was surprised to feel rested. No nightmares had chased her; instead she’d fallen into a deep sleep, feeling safe and protected. Her demons were no match for a man who seemed to retain his dominating strength even when asleep.
Her face heated as she recalled the events of the previous night. She’d thrown herself at him. Ripped off her shirt and practically begged him to make love to her. She felt a wave of mortification at her behavior.
She didn’t know what to do. She was tired of fighting this attraction, of denying the second chance she’d been given at happiness. She didn’t understand why, but somehow, fate had thrown them back together again. She wanted him, wanted to be with him but was terrified their relationship would impair her judgment, cloud her ability to help Lily and Megan.
“It’s too early in the morning for such serious thoughts,” Cole muttered from behind her, his voice husky with sleep. Naomi jumped at the sound of his voice. He was awake. “I can practically hear those wheels turning inside that head of yours.” He yawned and she felt him stretching behind her. “At least have a cup of coffee before pondering your future and the fate of the free world.”
She smiled, relieved there was no awkwardness between them. “Good morning.” she glanced over her shoulder. “Did you sleep well?”
“I can’t complain. Waking up next to a beautiful woman is a nice change in routine.” His eyes were examining her face with a focused intent. “How are you feeling?”
“Good,” she answered, feeling another sliver of surprise to realize that she meant it. She tried to ignore how sexy he looked all rumpled and disheveled from sleep. “Thanks for last night.” He’d comforted her, had stayed by her side. He’d seen her completely vulnerable. She sat up and eased out of bed, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. She felt exposed, as though all the shields she’d had to protect herself had fallen overnight, leaving her naked.
He sat up and leaned against the headboard. “Don’t.”
She looked up from where she had pulled on a sweatshirt. “Don’t what?”
“Don’t be embarrassed,” he said, his eyes level. “Don’t back away.”
How did he know? She must have looked startled because he laughed. “Your face was turning all red,” he explained, his lips quirking. “It was easy to guess what you were thinking.”
“Why are you so cheery in the morning?” she groused, glancing at the clock. It was 7:30. “Shouldn’t you be going to work?”
“I’ll be heading in shortly.” He got out of bed. “We’re meeting with Keith Amaturo and his lawyer today. I wonder what Tech Forensics recovered from his computer.”
“Keith Amaturo?”
“The asshole harassing Lily at work. He’d been stalking her and taking her picture.” Cole looked disgusted. “He’s a total creep. Luckily, he’s cooling his heels in a holding cell, waiting for his lawyer to arrive.”
Naomi could see the restrained eagerness in Cole’s movements, his anticipation at finally generating a solid lead. He could be the guy they were looking for. Catching him would mean she could have her life back again.
“I need to see his file.” She would see if she could sense anything that could help them. “You have it, right?”
“Are you ok to try again?” He sounded reluctant. “Maybe you should take it easy.”
“Last night was”—she paused, searching for the righ
t words—“a job hazard. I’m not fragile, I can handle it.” She made sure to keep her voice firm and her expression calm. If Cole sensed even a hint of weakness he would try to shield her from the investigation, hindering her ability to complete the task she’d come back for. “You asked me to help you,” she reminded him. “Are you going to let me do that?”
He held her gaze for another few seconds before walking over to stand in front of her. “You argue like a lawyer,” he said, smiling. He kissed her nose. “I’ll get the coffee going and start breakfast. Come down whenever you’re ready, counselor.”
Naomi touched her nose, bewildered but charmed as she watched him stroll out of the room. She wasn’t used to this affectionate side of Cole. It was something she had no defense against, each sweet gesture embedding itself inside her heart, tying them closer together.
She shook her head, pushing that thought away, and crossed the hallway to brush her teeth. She splashed water on her face, eyeing her reflection in the mirror. She looked normal, she decided, composed even. There was no hint of the fear she still felt. Satisfied, she headed downstairs and found Cole in the dining room, reading the paper. A mug of coffee had been placed in front of her usual seat, along with toast and a plate of fruit.
He looked up when she walked in and gestured to the table. “Eat. Everything else can wait until after breakfast.” He checked his watch. “I still have some time.”
“Thanks.” She sat and took an appreciative sip of caffeine. Cole resumed his reading, pushing the travel section over to her. She couldn’t help but feel happy that he’d noticed her penchant for reading about faraway places. She could almost pretend she was a normal person, drinking coffee and sharing the paper before starting her normal day. A regular routine. With Cole. She was surprised at how much she liked that thought. You’re leaving, she reminded herself.
Still, she couldn’t help sneaking glances at him over the top of her newspaper, taking in his tousled appearance as he leaned back in his chair, one hand rubbing the stubble on his jaw. He was so sexy. Forcing her eyes away before he noticed her leering, she focused her attention on an article about sailing the Greek Islands. She imagined what it would be like to go away with Cole. No case, no danger, just the two of them enjoying the crystal clear Mediterranean waters as—the Knowing slammed into her without any warning, jolting her so hard that coffee sloshed over the rim of her mug.
He was delighted to be sitting here again. He’d been right to come back, retracing his steps had enabled him to relive the pure joy of his last visit. He needed to feel that ecstasy again, nothing had been able to match it since then. The last time he’d been here, the stupid bitch had walked right by him, too stupid to scent the danger that stalked her. She’d been too distracted by whoring herself out to some loser from the gym to realize how close she was to death. He felt the echoes of the thrill of having her pass by him unaware. He hungered for the feeling, was determined to have it once again. It was time to start hunting.
The sound of a crash snapped her back to reality. She looked down and saw the shattered pieces of her mug on the floor, black coffee oozing along the floor like blood. It was an omen, she thought, a sign of what was yet to come. The killer was looking for his next victim.
“What is it?” Cole was beside her in an instant, his hand on her shoulder, his expression concerned. “Are you ok?” He grabbed a few napkins from the table, mopped up the spill.
“He was sitting on the bench outside Lily’s building,” she said, her voice flat. “She walked right by him.”
His eyes narrowed. “You saw something.” He reached for a pen and paper and handed them to her. “Write it down.”
She jotted down what she remembered. It had been so quick, so brief that there wasn’t much to write before she passed the paper to Cole. She watched him tense as he read it.
“He waited for her on that bench,” he clenched his fist. “That bastard went back to relive his glory.” He looked at Naomi, angry. “Was it Keith Amurato?”
“I don’t know.” She was frustrated, unable to see anything else. She could feel Cole’s mounting fury at the brazenness of revisiting a murder scene and feeling joy. “I was about to look at his file.” She held up a hand before he could say anything. “But I’m not sure. I’m nowhere near sure.”
“It’s a hell of a coincidence.” Cole ran a hand through his hair. “Another piece of the puzzle.”
“She walked right by him and didn’t notice.” She shivered at the thought. “That’s horrifying.”
“Think of how many people you pass by every day without noticing,” Cole countered. “It’s a fact of life.”
She didn’t want to think about that. “Where’s his file?”
“This is what Owen and I gathered about Keith yesterday,” Cole said, handing her the file. “There are no formal charges, only the complaints that had been filed against him at work.”
Keith Amaturo was a short, stocky man with curly brown hair and dark eyes. She studied his face, wondering if he was the person they were looking for. She reached out a hand to touch the picture attached in the file, wondering if it would trigger another vision. Opening herself up she waited, but nothing happened. “I’m not getting anything.” She shrugged, surprised to see Cole staring at her with an odd expression on his face.
“What?” She resisted the urge to fidget and met his gaze head-on. The admiring smile that graced his lips took her by surprise.
“You’re amazing,” he said, leaning close enough that she could feel his heat, breathe his scent into her lungs. “You don’t give up. Even after everything you saw last night, you still reached for that file without hesitating.”
“It needs to be done.” She was embarrassed at his praise. “There’s a lot riding on this. On me.”
“Not just you. All of us,” Cole reminded her. His hand cupped her neck, gently massaging tension she hadn’t even known she was carrying. His thumb feathered across her pulse and she almost closed her eyes in delight, amazed at how hyperaware she’d become of that small, light touch. “You don’t need to carry this by yourself. Lean on me a little.”
“I know,” she said, feeling soothed. He possessed an uncanny ability to ease her anxiety with his touch. “I’m glad you’re here.”
His lips curved, and this time, when he drew her closer to him she was ready, twining her arms around his neck. She felt his lips against her neck, biting at that sensitive spot below her ear, and a wave of desire engulfed her. She was desperate for him, the hunger that had abated last night returning in full force. She moaned when his tongue slipped into her mouth, teasing her, making her ache for more. She pushed at his shoulders and he moved back, his grey eyes glowing with need.
“You said if I still wanted to do this this morning, you’d be game.” She eyed the proof of his arousal in his lap but needed a verbal confirmation. “Are you still up for it?”
He surged to his feet, his mouth claiming hers with another scorching kiss. He pulled her to her feet, his hands running down her back to her ass. She gasped when he lifted her up, wrapping her legs around his waist and bringing her into solid contact with his erection. It felt so good, she couldn’t help but move against him.
She nipped his earlobe and he growled, moving quickly to lay her down on the living room couch. He loomed over her, a perfect male specimen, and she nearly licked her lips in anticipation of having him so close to touch and taste.
“Are you sure?” His voice was strained as he fought for control. “Be sure.” His stare was direct and forceful, demanding absolute honesty. She wanted this moment with him. Despite the uncertainty of what tomorrow would bring, being with Cole in this moment meant more to her than the possibility of later regret ever could.
“Yes.” She reached up, wanting to pull him to her. “I’m very sure.”
He groaned, his face relieved. “I’ve been wanting you for days.” He removed her sweatshirt and tank top, making a sound of approval when she was bared to his gaze. H
is lips touched her shoulder.
He leaned back and removed his sweatshirt. She wet her lips, fascinated by the expanse of golden tanned skin, couldn’t stop her hands from reaching out, tracing the well-defined muscles of his arms and chest, stroking his chiseled abs. He was built with sleek strength—it made her feel safe.
His hands were doing their own explorations, and Naomi gasped when his fingers squeezed her nipples, making them hard. A moan escaped her throat when his mouth replaced his hands, suckling and licking. When he gave one nipple a gentle bite, a tremor wracked her body, and heat pooled between her legs.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered, easing her leggings and panties down, leaving her naked to his hungry eyes. He guided her to the edge of the couch, leaning her back against the cushions. He spread her knees apart, trailing kisses down her abdomen to her inner thigh. He placed her legs over his shoulders.
“Cole,” she gasped, her hands gripping the cushions beside her, her back arching at his touch. His fingers were gentle as they stroked and teased, his tongue licking her parted folds, unerringly finding the small bundle of nerves that sent shock waves of pleasure running through her body. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything other than surrender to his ministrations, losing herself in sensation.
His stubble raked against her sensitive flesh and his big hands held her legs still, allowing him to completely unravel her with his mouth. He devoured her with such single-minded focus that she was wholly unprepared for the onslaught, an exquisite tension building within her. Her release took her by surprise and she cried out as a powerful burst of pleasure ripped through her entire body, lost to wave after wave of indescribable bliss.
