Wiping her eyes, she met his gaze. “I think I’ve heard enough...wait,” she said, as the almighty decree he’d laid on her after the trance filtered from the cell phone. As she listened, she couldn’t stop the guilt resonating through her mind. She’d remembered that moment, when she’d first woken, disoriented and discombobulated. He’d only wanted to protect her from herself and she’d lashed out at him.
The recording ended. Deafening silence followed.
Yet her head swirled with her voice and his. The rape and murder of the unknown woman mingled with his compassion and his panic. At that moment, the cold fear which had been clutching her tightly diminished, warmth spread throughout her body and straight into her heart and soul. She’d abruptly stumbled into the impossible. A man worth risking her heart, despite the consequences.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes trained on her, his fists clenched as if he was holding back from touching her.
She needed his touch right now, his comfort and strength. “The leads from this,” she said, waving a hand at the cell phone. “God, John, there’s so many.”
He pocketed the phone. “I know.”
“Winston had to be the man with the beard. If he’s in jail that means...” She tossed the pillow to the floor and ran a shaky hand across her forehead. Fear greater than she’d ever experienced rippled through her. “That means the other killer could be anywhere. Even here, in Wissota Falls.”
Now she understood why he didn’t think she should be alone. Why he’d been angry, afraid and determined to protect her. If the killer knew she was involved with the investigation, she could become one of his victims. She shuddered, swiping the tears from her face. “I’m so sorry, John. I didn’t know.”
In an instant he was beside her, cradling her in his arms. “I know, baby. I’m sorry you had to listen to it.”
“My fault. I’m the one who insisted. You tried to stop me, tried to protect me.”
He drew back, then cupped her face with his large, warm palms. “I promise you’ll be protected. Even if it means I have to sleep on your couch every night until we catch him. I swear. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
The vehemence and determination in his voice, along with the prospect of having him at her house every night, made her heart clench. Only...while he’d said he cared about her, she’d rather have him staying the night because he wanted to, not as a watchdog. “Thank you. But you don’t have to do that. I could have Will or Lloyd—”
“No.” He dropped his hands to her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. “I mean, that’s fine if I have to be away for some reason, but I’d rather...” He sighed and rested his forehead against hers.
Slipping one hand into his hair, she asked, “Stay with me?”
“Yeah,” he whispered, his breath fanning across her lips as he nudged his nose against hers. “How do you feel about that?” He brushed his mouth against the corner of hers. “How do you feel about complicated?”
She raised her head and stared into his eyes. The need and passion in their dark depths nearly took her breath away. Yet her stomach tightened with a combination of hopefulness and despair. Complicated could break her heart. But she’d endure the hurt, the pain of losing him once he left Wissota Falls. He’d come to mean so much to her in such a short time. She’d rather give herself to him, take what he offered now, however much he was capable of, and worry about the consequences later. She’d been so lonely, and cared for him too deeply.
She slipped her hand to his cheek. “Complicated? I think I can handle that.”
He sifted his hands through her hair and held her head, her lips inches from his. “You’re sure?”
“Yes,” she whispered, then with their eyes locked she leaned into him.
His firm lips crushed against hers. She met his searing kiss, savored his taste, his hot caress as he moved his hand down her back forcing her chest against his. As he deepened the kiss, thrusting and twining his tongue against hers, she knew what was about to happen went way beyond complicated. The complexity of their relationship, their situation could be dealt with later, though. Right now, she wanted to feel. His passion, his lust, his hands and mouth on every inch of her body.
The clouds shifted, and afternoon sunlight spilled into the living room through the large bay windows. With reluctance, she drew away from his burning kiss afraid her nosy neighbor might pass down the sidewalk and catch her and John on the couch having sex. She hadn’t been with a man in years, and there was no way in hell she’d allow the wicked witch next door, or the afternoon paperboy, or anyone else to interfere with her pleasure.
She caught his frown and smiled. “I like a little kink, but I’m not an exhibitionist,” she said, and nodded to the windows.
Grinning, he took her hand, and he helped her from the couch. “I’m intrigued. Define a little kink for me.”
Rising to her tiptoes, she leaned in then gave his lower lip a playful tug with her teeth. “Would you really rather stand here and talk the afternoon away?”
His eyes grew impossibly darker and swirled with heat. “No way,” he said against her lips before he kissed her. His tongue, teeth and lips seduced hers as they made their way from the living room. When they reached the foyer, anxious to have his hands on her, she jerked her t-shirt over her head and dropped it on the floor.
He cupped her breasts as they moved toward the steps leading to the second floor, to her bedroom. Teasing her nipples through the lace of her bra with his fingers, he dragged his lips and tongue along her neck. When the first step hit the back of her calf, she clung to his broad shoulders for support. With a rough chuckle, he lifted her in his arms.
“What are you doing?” She hadn’t been carried like this since she’d been a child.
He kissed the tip of her nose. “Getting us to your bedroom before we wind up making love on the steps.”
Making love.
That wasn’t what they were about to do, but it did have a nice ring to it.
Sex.
That’s all this afternoon would amount to. Hot, raw, passionate sex.
And she’d take what she could, even if she knew deep down, to the darkest depths of her soul, that she wanted more. That she wanted to take things beyond complicated.
When he finally reached her bedroom, his lips still locked on hers, he set her down on the bed. Breathing hard, he broke away, then kissed a path from her neck to her stomach. “You have too many clothes on.” He unfastened her jeans, then dragged them down her legs.
Heat flooded between her thighs. “Same goes for you.” Prepared to try to play the part of a seductress, loosen his belt, unbutton his shirt, she moved toward him. Her hands shook, along with her entire body. The need to have him over her, under her, inside her was too overwhelming. The heat and lust in his eyes made it difficult to navigate the buttons on his shirt.
He brushed her hands away. “Let me.”
With amazing speed, he unbuttoned his shirt. As soon as he’d stripped down to his boxer briefs, he covered her with his hard body. She wished he would have waited a second or two. Unsure if this was a one time thing, she wanted to memorize each and every detail of the contours of his body. The moment his lips met hers he twisted and positioned her on top of him. She lost all sense of thought.
Releasing her lips, he peppered the column of her throat with firm, open-mouthed kisses, then followed the trail with his velvety tongue. Nibbling and nipping at her sensitive skin, he skimmed his hands along her spine.
He sighed into her ear before giving her lobe a gentle nip. “Take your bra off for me. Let me see you.”
The wannabe seductress inside her took advantage. She straddled his erection, wishing he would have removed his boxers when he’d stripped. She wanted him naked and inside of her. But they had time for that.
With her hands balanced on his chest, she stared down at him. His eyes gleamed with passion. His heart drummed under her palms. With a shamelessness she’d never experienced before,
she teased her fingers through the hair lining the slabs of muscle across his chest. She loved the feel of his hardness under her hands and moved lower to explore, trailing her fingertips to where the hair disappeared beneath his boxers.
She scooted down a bit, then rubbed her hand along the length of him, and lifted her lips in a small smile when he caught his breath. When he dropped his head against the mattress, she stroked him. Rubbing, gripping...
John sucked in a deep breath and covered her hand with his. “Stop.” Christ, he hadn’t had sex in two years, if she kept touching him, he’d come in a matter of seconds. And he wasn’t ready for that yet. He wanted to enjoy her body, make her his in every way possible. “The bra,” he reminded her.
She cocked her head to the side as if she were considering, then flashed him a seductive smile. Damn, she was something else. Her head fell back, blond curls brushed her shoulders as she reached her arms behind her. He held his breath while he watched her take her sweet time, toying and teasing, tormenting and inflaming his lust.
Finally, she slipped her lacy bra down her toned arms. Her breasts danced with the movement and his mouth watered for a taste of her nipples.
“You’re absolutely beautiful.” He leaned forward, then grabbed her rear. Grinding her against his cock, he latched onto one of those rosy peaks. She tasted as sweet as she smelled. Sugar and spice. He feasted, sucked and tugged on one stiff peak before moving to the other. Heaven. Pure bliss. He wanted...needed more.
He moved her beneath him, gave one wet nipple a final kiss, then stood between her outstretched legs. She was an erotic picture. Creamy skin flushed and heated. Loose blond curls spilling across the bed, pink nipples begging for attention.
He leaned over her, ran his hand along the column of her throat. Caressed her full breasts then trailed his fingers across her flat stomach. When he reached her panties, he grabbed the waistband and practically tore them from her body.
No more teasing. Not now. He’d lusted after her since the moment they’d met, that initial erotic, sensual touch never far from his mind. But what he’d felt for her had become more than that. He cared. Deeper than he’d ever cared about a woman before. He’d joked about making love on the stairs, but in reality, it wasn’t a joke. He wasn’t about to make that leap between lust and love, or caring and love, or sex and love.
Fuck. Talk about complicated.
He pushed his thoughts aside and focused on her, on now. Skimming his fingers up her legs, he spread her thighs, then bent his head and took her the way he’d hungered and craved.
She jerked as he covered her with his lips. Moaning, she rocked her pelvis to meet each and every stroke of his tongue. Her taste filled his senses and flared his hunger. He nipped and licked, lashed his tongue.
Her little pants and gasps drove him crazy, spurred him. Catching her clit between his lips he sucked, long and hard, then plunged two fingers between her thighs. She came. Her orgasm shook her body, clenched around his fingers, and the taste of it on his tongue had him harder than he’d ever been in his life.
Needing to bury himself inside her, feel every erotic, sensual sensation, he stood and stripped off his boxers. She’d pushed herself onto her elbows and stared at his stiff cock. Her eyes grew adorably wide. He nearly came on the spot when she licked her lips and gave him a seductive, sexy grin.
“Is it my turn?”
He stroked his cock. “Not today, baby, I need you now.”
“Next time?”
The uncertainty in her tone made him pause. Not a plea. Not a need of promise. A simple question that he couldn’t believe she’d even ask. He hadn’t been with a woman in two years. Before that, his relationships had been casual.
How would she know?
She wouldn’t, and now wasn’t the time to explain his past.
He didn’t want casual with Celeste, and knew once he was inside her, he’d never want to be anywhere else. She’d become important to him on so many levels he couldn’t comprehend, not with the taste of her still lingering on his tongue and her gorgeous thighs spread wide for him.
“I asked you if you liked complicated.” He kissed the entrance of her wet, swollen sex with his cock, and locked his eyes on hers. “And I want complicated. Next time can’t come too soon.”
He thrust inside her.
They both groaned.
The feel of her gripping his cock magnified the untried emotions ripping through his body. Straight to the darkest parts of his soul. Buried between her thighs, her sex convulsing around him magnified the emotions he’d tried to deny, emotions he now welcomed. Blatant trust, true devotion, from him, from her...
“John,” she moaned. “I swear...I’ve never felt anything like this...” The rest of her words were lost on another husky moan when he pumped deeper.
“I know, baby, I feel it too.” Making love to Celeste had become the most intimate moment of his life. He’d never felt this connected to someone. And he never wanted the connection to end.
But he wanted to feel her release wrapped around his cock. To feel every emotion she wouldn’t share with words race through his body. She’d tried to hide so much from him, but couldn’t now. Not when they were joined, skin to skin, flesh to flesh.
He quickened his rhythm. Like a piston, he worked his slick cock between her outstretched legs. Needing to make her come, needing to feel the ripples of her release, he drove deeper.
She wrapped her legs around his rear and arched her back. She surged her body, met each hard thrust. As he pressed his body into hers, her hot breath caressed his throat. She reached around and hung onto his ass, stroked and massaged, pushed him deeper. Possessed him as he possessed her.
He released a low groan and raised himself above her. Cool air seeped between their damp bodies and he already missed the feel of her breasts against his chest.
He looked down at her and caught his breath. She had to be the most beautiful woman he’d ever known. Her cheeks glowed. Her eyes were heavy lidded. Her swollen lips parted. Golden hair spread across the pillow.
He wrapped her ankles around his shoulders and moved his hips.
Once. So hot. Twice. So tight.
“Oh, John...that’s it, right...there,” she gasped and with her elbows propped under her, she thrust her hips to meet him. “Yes. Harder. Please...harder.”
Her muscles tightened around his cock. Her nipples jutted forward. Unable to resist them, he bent his head for another taste. She gasped and his balls tightened in response. He popped the nipple from his mouth and drove deep. Hard, fast, he pressed himself into her, felt her release nearing and knew he wouldn’t be far behind.
“That’s it, baby, let me hear you.”
He plunged himself over and over, as if he were a battering ram knocking down the doors of sexual ecstasy. She arched her body, then dropped her head against the mattress. Tiny gasps escaped her parted lips. “John, I...” she said, then cried out.
As her orgasm shot through her body, somewhere, in the deep recesses of his brain, he realized he wasn’t wearing a condom. He had to pull out, but not just yet. Her muscles stimulated him, sucked him deep into her womb. He didn’t want to miss a minute, yet couldn’t take the chance. So close, so...
He quickly pulled out and released himself across her flat stomach. His breath came in harsh pants as he emitted a deep growl.
It took him a moment to gather his wits. Celeste’s sexy legs were still propped over his shoulders and she wore a naughty, little smile which made his spent cock pulse and his blood hum.
“I...uh.” He tucked his head toward his shoulder and kissed her ankle before drawing her feet back to the mattress.
She reached up, ran a hand through his hair, then arched her body to give him a slow sensual kiss. “Shhh, thank God one of us had sense enough. I’m not on the pill and the thought of condoms never entered my mind.” She nipped at his lower lip. “Next time,” she whispered, her smile curving against his mouth.
He brushed his lips aga
inst hers. “I can’t wait for next time.” Kissing her forehead, he rose from the bed, then returned with a towel from the master bathroom. “I’m sorry,” he said as he wiped away his passion. “I should have been better prepared.”
She placed her hand on his cheek. “If you were, then I might wonder if this is how you usually operate.”
Gripping her hand, he kissed her palm. “Celeste, I haven’t...”
Her eyes widened. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply...God, I really need to think before I speak,” she finished with an adorably rueful smile.
“No, you’re fine. It’s just...I’ve never—”
His cell phone’s muffled ring stopped him midsentence. Damn it. He wanted to talk. Tell her this wasn’t his MO. That he’d never been involved with a woman during a case, and for some reason, tell her all about Renee.
As he rose from the bed, searching for his pants and ringing phone, that last thought stunned him. With the exception of the grueling queries from his FBI supervisors and psychologists, he’d never talked about Renee. Yet, he’d wanted to spill every detail. He wanted to make her understand. Why she was special to him. Why he was a bastard.
Jerking his ringing cell from his pant pocket, he immediately recognized the number. “Sorry, it’s Roy,” he said to her.
She stretched, arching her back as she stifled a yawn. “Take your time,” she said, her voice drowsy, as she curled to her side.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her nipples, or the curve of her hips. If the sheriff hadn’t called...
“Kain,” he answered, terse, pissed. He wanted to snuggle with Celeste, sleep the afternoon away, then make love to her all over again.
“We’ve got a problem,” the sheriff said, his tone filled with dread.
He gripped the phone. “What is it?”
“John,” he said with a heavy sigh. “We found another body.”
Chapter 14
AFTER DROPPING CELESTE off at The Sugar Shack, John plugged the address Roy had given him into the portable GPS, then hit the gas. As he drove, he contemplated calling Ian, then decided against it. Rather than piss himself off again when he’d likely end up with Ian’s voice mail, he called Rachel Davis instead. He needed her help more than Ian’s.
Dark Secrets: A Paranormal Romance Anthology Page 81
