by Kris Norris
“Hey, Gil.”
He had to have her again. Needed to know she’d wanted him as much as he’d wanted, no needed, her. Damn, Wade was right.
“Gil!”
Gil turned and scowled at Wade. Didn’t the man ever give up? “What?” He didn’t bother to hide his irritation. His cock was hard again—still—just thinking about Fallon, and he wasn’t quite sure how he was going to convince the little vixen she was the only one who could give him the relief he sought.
“Aren’t you going to get that?”
Gil’s scowl deepened. He had no idea what Wade was talking about. “Get what?”
Wade’s expression turned slightly serious, like he was suddenly worried about Gil’s mental state. Well good, because Gil was worried too. His unexpected reunion with Fallon had knocked most of his good sense right out the window, and left nothing but the need to claim her behind.
“Your phone. It’s rung three times already.”
As if to prove Wade’s claim, the phone rang again. Gil cursed and stuffed his hand into his pocket, fishing the damn thing out. He couldn’t imagine who’d be calling him. He was already at work for God’s sake. It rang again and he stared at the number, feeling the air leave his lungs.
Fallon.
Even if it hadn’t flashed her name across the screen, he’d have recognised the number. Her number, the one they’d shared. He flipped it open, not sure how to answer the call. “So, darling, are you finally getting tired of playing hide and seek? Or were you calling to give me a hint?” He smiled as the words popped into his head. He didn’t want her to think he’d been sitting around pining for her.
Gil listened, but could only hear her breathing on the other end. He sat up, a tingle of fear prickling down his spine. “Fallon?”
She whispered his name, a low moan following the sad sound.
“Fallon? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
“Gil.” He heard her sob once before she sighed into the phone.
Gil stood up, his jacket grasped in his other hand. Wade scraped his chair back and Gil knew the man was already heading to the door. “Just stay put. We’re on our way.”
“No, Gil. Wait.” She sobbed again, but he couldn’t tell if she was in pain or just sad. “The Priest. Another woman…oh God, my head hurts.”
“Fallon, honey, I need to know if you’re okay. Did someone hurt you?” Fear gripped him as new images sprang to life. “Oh, God. Did he hurt you?”
“No. I’m…I’m fine. The girl…oh Gil, there was so much blood. She was alive, but then…”
Her voice trailed off and Gil fought the urge to stomp his foot on the floor. Fallon was obviously overwhelmed by her last conversation with the creep and he needed to stay calm if he had any chance of helping her. “Just talk slowly, darling. Where is the woman?”
“A church. Southwest side, near the river. Lots of stained glass…He killed her. I…”
Fallon broke into another sob followed by a loud moan. Damn, Gil didn’t know what was going on. She sounded hurt, but she’d said she was fine. “Fallon. Are you okay?”
“My head hurts. Just find her.” Her voice faded again, but she returned. “I’m fine. I have to go.”
Gil cursed as the phone went dead in his ear. “Damn it!” He headed for the door, pulling on his jacket as he went. “The bastard struck again. Some church over by the river. We’ll have to call dispatch and see if they can give us some possible locations.”
“Is Fallon okay? Do you want me to have them send a unit over to her house?”
Gil shook his head, dodging the puddles as he ran for his truck. “She insisted she’s fine. We’ll stop by after we check out the scene.” He heard a chuckle and was surprised to discover it’d come from him. “Fallon doesn’t like people codling her. She has this image that’s she bulletproof. If I send anyone over, there’ll be no reasoning with her later. And I have a feeling we need to have a long chat with her. She’s hiding something from me, and I plan on finding out what the something is.”
Chapter Nine
Fallon woke to a loud pounding in her head. She closed her eyes and willed the damn thing away. She needed to sleep, but the noise kept banging. Her eyes fluttered open again, adjusting to the dark when she realised she was sleeping on the kitchen floor. She sat up, feeling the room sway, as the noise sounded again.
“Damn it, Fallon. Open the damn door!”
She flinched and glanced at the clock. It was just past twelve. Three hours since she’d called Gil and sent him in search of the woman she’d watched die. But she felt as if she’d only been resting a few moments. The intensity of the visions was getting stronger, and she seemed to need more time to recover after each one.
“Fallon!”
She sighed and forced herself up, hoping she didn’t face plant onto the floor, and slowly made her way to the door. Gil was still pounding on it when she released the lock and swung it open, using its strength to hold herself up.
“What the hell took you so long?” Gil’s voice was dark and deep, and Fallon recognised the tone. He was angry, and maybe a bit scared.
She sighed and stepped back, knowing he’d push past her if she didn’t make any space. “I was sleeping.”
Gil and Wade walked through the doorway, stopping several feet inside. “You were always a light sleeper, Fallon. It’s not like you to sleep through the noise.”
She shrugged, ignoring the heavy weight of his stare. He looked hungry, but not for food. “Things change.” She swayed a bit as the room flip-flopped once and then settled. Gil grabbed her arm, but released it when she tensed in his hold. “It’s pretty late. Shouldn’t you guys be trying to get some sleep?”
“You sounded hurt on the phone. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Fallon hid her surprise. Why should he care how she was when he hadn’t for the past six months? “I just have a bad headache.” It wasn’t a lie. Her head felt like someone had used it as a chopping block. “Did you find the church?”
Gil’s face paled slightly, and Fallon felt the room sway again. She knew what he’d had to face when he’d walked inside that place. She’d already been there. “Yeah. We found it.” Gil stepped back and leaned against a small table. “We need to ask you about the call. It might help the investigation if we knew exactly what this guy says to you.”
Her stomach dropped as she closed the door, once again leaning against it in the hopes of staying on her feet. While she didn’t feel the vision trying to pull her under anymore, the memory of seeing the girl die was still vivid in her mind. She didn’t want to remember that. “I’m really tired. And my head still hurts. Couldn’t we wait until morning?”
Gil’s eyes narrowed as he gave her a long, slow sweep. If it’d been anyone else, she would’ve sworn he was merely assuring himself she was okay. But the way Gil did it—with half-lidded eyes and a small tilt to his lips—she felt as if he were assessing her stamina. Trying to determine if she was up to a hard night of fucking. “If we wait until morning, you might forget some of the details. And right now, we need all the help we can get.” He moved a step towards her, his eyes once again lingering on the length of her body. She watched him pause at the vee of her thighs and again at her breasts, dampening the inside of his lips as he finally looked up and met her gaze. The fire she saw in his eyes purged whatever breath was left in her chest. “It won’t take that long.”
Fallon stared into his eyes. He’d spoken again, but she was too caught up in the way his mouth moved when he talked to really hear his words. His lips were perfect. Full and pink and she remembered how they’d felt on breasts and between her legs. God, what she wouldn’t give to feel them there again. Have them wrapped around her nipples, sucking with just the right amount of pressure she’d feel every motion mirrored in her pussy, making it weep with joy. Then he’d move lower and kiss each plump lip of her sex in worship before driving his tongue inside her and lapping away her cream.
She shifted, vaguely aware o
f the slick slide of her lips against her pants. She’d thrown on a pair of sweats after her shower, and the lack of panties was brushing the soft fabric against her engorged cunt, sending sparks of pleasure into her core. She still had on Gil’s T-shirt, having grabbed it instead of the ripped tank, and could feel her nipples pushing against the thin lace of her bra. They were hard and thick and she knew the men could see them pressed against the thin cotton.
Fallon took a deep breath, startled by the way Gil watched her chest rise and fall. His breathing seemed laboured and she couldn’t help but notice the way his hands were fisted at his side. She chanced a glance at his groin, but his shirt was loose around his jeans, hiding any evidence he was as aroused as she was. But just the thought of his cock hard and thick beneath the denim made her mouth water. He hadn’t allowed her to taste him, or hell, even touch him, and she wanted nothing more than to slip her lips around his shaft, feeling it pulse and thicken in her mouth. It’d seemed like an eternity since she’d savoured the sweet salty musk of his cum, and had the sudden urge to drop to her knees and take what she’d been denied. He’d always loved the way she’d sucked him, and she was confident she’d have his instant attention once her mouth was wrapped around his flesh.
“Fallon?”
She gave herself a mental shake. He’d asked to talk and was waiting for her answer. But she knew she had to put off his questions until tomorrow. If he stayed any longer, she’d just as soon push him to the floor and ride him into oblivion as give him the answers he sought. Even the thought of Wade watching her didn’t stem the need building inside.
She sighed and walked past the two men, stopping near the kitchen door. She really was tired, and her head still throbbed from her vision. Surely Gil wouldn’t insist on staying if she made him understand how bad she felt. “I’d love to help you guys out, and I promise I won’t forget a single detail, but I really am tired and I think I’ll be able to give you a better account of the conversation once my head clears. So if you don’t mind…”
She waved at the door, hoping they’d get the hint. Wade glanced over at Gil, and then back at her. “I understand how disturbing this must have been for you, but…” Wade didn’t get to finish as Gil stepped forward, his arms crossed over his chest.
“All right, Fallon. What’s going on?”
Fallon flashed him her best innocent smile. “What do mean? Nothing’s going on. I’m just tired and would like to get rid of this headache before we talk.”
Gil shook his head taking another step closer. “Nice try, darling, but I’m not buying it. You’re way too stubborn to use an excuse as lame as being tired. And pain’s never stopped you before. So why don’t you cut the act and just tell us what’s going on?” He narrowed his eyes on her. “I know you’re hiding something.”
Fallon felt her face flush, but ignored it. Why the hell he’d chosen now to be so damn observant she had no idea, but two could play the game. “I’m not hiding anything. What gives you the right to question my motives?” She crossed her arms beneath her breasts and straightened her shoulders. She was several inches shorter than both men, but she wasn’t about to let them intimidate her. “Now if you don’t mind…” She turned to go.
“Running away again?” taunted Gil.
Fallon stopped and spun around. “Running away? You actually have the audacity to stand there and accuse me of running away? This from a man who left his keys on the table and took all his stuff while I was at work all because you didn’t want to have to talk to me!” Her voice had risen into a yell, but she didn’t care. If Gil wanted to fight, she was more than up for it. “At least I answered the damn door, which is more than I can say for you!”
Gil clenched his jaw and stuffed his hands in his pockets. She could tell he was holding himself back, but it didn’t matter. She’d crossed the line and there was no turning back. He took one step towards her. “Okay. I get your point. You’re angry. But do you really want to talk about this now? It’s not exactly the best time.” He nodded towards Wade, making the man shuffle his feet.
Fallon ignored Wade and faced Gil head-on. “That’s the problem, Gil. It was never a good time to discuss anything with you. Every time I tried all you ever did was pull back and hide behind your job.” She took a deep breath, and said what she’d been thinking for six months. “Charlie died, Gil. But it might as well have been you, because you’ve been dead to the world ever since.”
Gil stared at her, the vein in his temple pulsing with each beat of his heart. She thought for a moment he was going to turn and leave, but then he sighed and raked a shaky hand through his hair. “So you do want to talk about this now.” He crossed his arms and pushed his shoulders back. “All right, Fallon. Let’s talk.”
Fallon snorted and threw her hands up in the air. He just didn’t get it. “You know what? There’s really nothing left to talk about. I got your message loud and clear when you left without a word and refused to even pick up your cell. Not to mention the couple of times I went to your apartment only to discover, you weren’t home.” Oh he’d been home, he just hadn’t answered the door. “You wanted a life without complications. Where your job was the only thing you gave a damn about. Well, it looks like you got it. But sue me for not sharing in your devotion.”
Oh, and the next time you want to fuck, go fuck yourself!
The words filled her head and she had to snap her back teeth together to keep from blurting them out. While a part of her wanted to hurt him with them, she knew they’d be a lie. She’d been more than willing.
Fallon glared back at him, channelling her anger into her stare, a triumphant smile touching her lips when she saw him flinch. “And for the record, you owe me a new cycling shirt.” She turned, but stopped before she’d taken a step, glancing back at both men over her shoulder. “On second thought, forget it. I’ve learnt to live through disappointment.”
Gil watched Fallon storm into the kitchen, grabbing a handful of bottles out of the fridge before slamming it shut and stomping her way out to the porch. The air was cold and damp, but he had a feeling she wouldn’t even notice it.
“Feisty little vixen, isn’t she?” said Wade, his voice tinted with humour. “Damn, Gil. You sure pissed her off. Wouldn’t want to be in your shoes tonight.”
Gil could only shake his head. He didn’t really want to be in his shoes either. “I’d be real careful with what I said right now, if I were you, Junior. Fallon won’t hesitate to launch any handy object at anyone who ventures through that door, so don’t think she’ll pull any punches just for you.”
Wade sauntered up beside him, still staring at the door Fallon had nearly slammed off its hinges. “Couldn’t help but notice she’s wearing a shirt exactly like the one you had on earlier.” He looked Gil in the eyes. “Don’t tell me you went straight for the nasty before grovelling at her feet and begging for forgiveness?” Wade moaned when Gil raised his eyebrow in challenge. “Gee whiz, Gil. Haven’t you learnt anything hanging around a chick magnet like me?” Wade shook his head. “At least tell me you made it good for her.”
“I don’t see how that is any of your business, partner. But I’ll have you know, she screamed my name so loud the fucking earth shook.”
Wade smiled and it was all Gil could do not to smack the grin off his partner’s face. He wasn’t one to brag, but Wade’s taunting was getting to him. Maybe because the man understood Fallon better than he did. And that thought alone was enough to ignite a blaze in his chest. He didn’t know how to handle Fallon, or this…thing…they had between them. Great sex was one thing, but he knew she needed more. And he didn’t know if he was capable of giving that to her. She was right. He’d been dead ever since Charlie had died.
Gil sighed and leant back against the table. He hadn’t expected Fallon to get so emotional, and he wasn’t quite sure how to proceed. It hadn’t helped that she’d been wearing his shirt. Just watching her breasts press against the cotton had made his mouth water. He’d suckled those breasts just a
few hours ago, and his cock had only gotten harder at the sight of her perky little nipples poking out at him. Thank God he’d had the good sense to leave his shirt hanging loose to hide his growing erection. The last thing he needed was Wade teasing him about having a hard-on.
“So what do we do now?” asked Wade. “She may be small. But I wouldn’t want to face her in a showdown.”
Gil smiled. He’d always loved Fallon’s passion, even when he was on the wrong end of it. “We go and talk to her. Just try not to say anything else to piss her off. I meant what I said before. She’s a wildcat.”
“Don’t worry about me. I plan on keeping my mouth shut until you’ve taken the brunt of her anger. I may be younger than you, but I’m not stupid.”
Gil glared at him as he walked through the kitchen. “Just look sincere and be ready to make a hasty retreat if she grabs one of those bottles.”
Chapter Ten
Fallon was curled up on a patio chair, chugging a cooler, when the sliding door opened. She sneered into the bottle, wondering if she should just throw the damn thing across the porch, before deciding against it. Knowing Gil, he’d sent Wade out first in the hopes the man might soothe some of her temper. But there was little chance in that. Arguing with Gil had brought back all the months she’d spent agonising over what had gone wrong. Why Gil had refused to talk to her, to share his pain. Why she’d promised herself she’d never get involved with him again.
So I guess fucking him doesn’t count as getting ‘involved’.
She cursed the voice, and knocked back another gulp. Maybe she could get drunk and forget the whole thing?
“Fallon? We need to talk.”
Damn. Gil hadn’t sent his partner in ahead. He’d chosen to face her, and she wasn’t quite sure what he was up to. She glanced at him over the edge of her drink, but said nothing.
