She surprised him by placing her small hands on either side of his head and tugging his face down. The kiss was tentative at first. If she thought he was going to stop her, she had another thing coming.
As the kiss intensified, he drew her closer. God, she felt good. As his body responded, he pulled her up and she locked her legs around his waist. They stayed entangled for a while; he couldn’t get enough of her, but he also knew he couldn’t take things further.
Jilly started fumbling with the buttons on his shirt. He set her back on her feet and grabbed her hands. “Wait. I don’t think this is such a good idea.”
She waltzed their bodies around until he faced the open doorway, and then walked him backward until the back of his legs hit the mattress. She yanked her hands free and her fingers fiddled with the front of his pants.
“Don’t worry, Special Agent, I’m not a virgin.” She got the buckle undone and tugged at the zipper.
“Ha ha, very funny.” He stayed her progress.
She slapped his hands away.
“It’s not like I’m asking for a marriage proposal.”
And down went his pants.
Still crouched, her head level with his groin, she glanced up with a grin. “Your mouth is saying no, but your body is saying something entirely different.”
Cody shook his head. “That’s not the problem, you smartass.”
She busied herself with his shoes.
This was getting out of control fast.
“I’m just saying you’re in a fragile state. You’ve had quite a shock tonight.”
Once the shoes were untied, she jumped to her feet and placed both hands on his chest and pushed. Cody fell back on the bed.
He lifted his head. “Jilly, listen to me. This is just the effect of the adrenaline coursing through your body.”
She removed his shoes and threw them across the room. Then her hands were on the legs of his trousers. A few hard yanks later they landed in a clump, the change and keys jangled in the pockets.
“I just don’t want you to do something you’ll regret,” he added.
She kicked off her own shoes, leapt on the bed and straddled him. “Don’t worry, I’ll respect you in the morning.”
“You said you didn’t respect me.”
“Exactly. And if you don’t screw my brains out right now, I never will.” She rubbed up against him.
Jesus. His head dropped on the pillow. He felt her fingers messing with the buttons on his shirt. Then her hands began exploring his body. His eyes drifted shut.
“Well?” she said.
He sucked in a breath. “If you insist.”
She giggled. “That’s a good boy.” Then her mouth claimed his.
Damn, his body was hard as a rock. He looked even better without clothes. Jilly trailed kisses down his neck. Suddenly she was flipped on her back and he was straddling her. His fingers worked fast while he unbuttoned her blouse.
“Let’s see how you like it.” His voice came out in a growl.
“Bring it on.”
Her blouse flew open and he unhooked the front clasp of her bra in one fluid motion. His weight lifted and sank onto the bed beside her. His hands were busy on her pants until she felt the cool air as he eased them off.
Now completely naked, his eyes roamed her body, but instead of touching her, his hand rested on her cheek and he nibbled her lips. She opened her mouth, and the kiss deepened.
They moaned simultaneously.
When he finally did touch her, she arched and cried out. He brought her close to release, but eased off. He did it a couple more times and she slugged him in the arm.
He laughed.
A deep guttural sound.
He climbed off the bed and she raised herself up on her elbows.
He hooked his thumbs in the waist of his boxer briefs, pulling them down a few inches, then stopped, tilted his head and wiggled his brows.
“Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes and dropped back onto the pillow, refusing to feed his ego.
He snickered.
The sound of tinkling coins made her lift her head. He’d snagged a condom from one of his pockets, and dropped the pants on the floor. When he turned around, her gaze flew to his face.
“You planning on using that thing sometime tonight?”
“You think you could stop busting my balls for thirty minutes?” he asked.
She raised her brows. “Only thirty minutes?”
“It would be a good start.”
Jilly grinned.
When their bodies finally came together, Jilly swore if he stopped now, she just might have to shoot him. The release that followed was all the more sweet in the waiting. She gazed up at him and he sucked in a breath as he stared down at her.
Her heart caught in her throat.
The vulnerability she witnessed at that very moment would not be soon forgotten. Cody leaned down and landed a peck on her lips before he eased onto his back. He situated her head on his chest and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close.
They lay in silence.
His heart beat rapidly. His breath came in shallow pants.
She was about to drift off.
“By the way, I talked to the sheriff before I left the scene.”
“What did he say?”
“He said it was all right if we didn’t show our faces at the station before noon.”
She jerked her head up and glared at him. “You didn’t.”
His brows hiked up. “Didn’t what?”
Her anger started to build. “Tell me you did not ask my boss if we, you and me, as in us together, could come in late?”
He laughed and pressed her head against his chest. “Now, now, calm down.”
Her head popped back up. “Dammit, Cody, I swear to God, if you did–”
“Okay, that may not be exactly how the conversation went, but the outcome is all the same.”
He raised his wrist and looked at his watch. “It’s six o’clock now, so we can still get a good five hours of sleep before we have to get up.”
“So you were just yanking my chain?” She stared at him in disbelief.
Mischief danced in his eyes.
“You bastard.” Her head dropped back. “Just remember, payback’s a bitch.”
TWENTY
While Thomas showered, Meagan took her cell phone and coffee out to the deck. A heavy mist floated across the top of the lake, and she heard ducks quacking in the distance. She took a deep breath and inhaled the scent of pine.
She really needed to get in touch with Bridget. She’d been trying to reach her since that creep, Samuel, hung up on her, but her calls went straight to voicemail. Worried didn’t begin to describe how she felt.
Meagan punched in her number and waited. “This is Bridget. Please leave a message–” Meagan disconnected.
“Dammit. Why won’t you call me back?”
She phoned her mother. “Hey, Mom, it’s me, Meagan.”
“Hi honey, how are you doing? Are you having fun?”
“Not exactly. Mom, have you heard from Bridget?”
“Not since I talked to you last. Why?”
“Well, that jerk she’s taken up with hung up on me yesterday and now Bridget’s not answering her phone. I’m worried.”
“What did you do to make him so angry?”
“What makes you think I did something wrong?”
“Now, honey, you are a bit outspoken. How many times have your father and I told you to think before you speak?” her mother said.
“Yeah, yeah, but that’s not the problem this time.”
“Are you sure?” her mother asked.
“Mom. This guy’s a real bad dude. Bridget had to be warned.”
“I see. So you took it upon yourself to tell your sister she’s with a dreadful man. Is that what you’re telling me?”
Sometimes her mother could be so infuriating. “Someone had to do it.”
“And how would you feel if Bridget call
ed and told you to break up with your boyfriend?”
“She wouldn’t, Thomas is the greatest guy I’ve ever known.”
“Don’t you think your sister feels the same way about Samuel?”
“Mom, Samuel has a criminal record, he’s still married, he’s a con-man and a p–” Meagan stopped herself from saying pedophile. She didn’t want to freak her mother out. She just needed her to understand that they had to get Bridget away from this guy.
“And how do you know so much about a man you’ve never met?”
“I did a search on the internet and then had Thomas do a background check.”
“Is it possible these things could be explained? I mean, perhaps the man does have a past, but he’s repented and trying to make up for it by turning to God.”
“I. . .uh.” Meagan paused. Her mother did make sense. After all, how many people traded one addiction for another? Many became Jesus freaks trying to convert the world. She ran through the list of Samuel’s indiscretions through her head. That might explain a lot, but not his propensity for little girls.
That doesn’t go away.
“No,” Meagan finally answered. “Not in this case. This guy’s unscrupulous. Do me a favor, if she contacts you, find out exactly where she is and call me immediately. This is extremely important.”
“Okay, dear.” Her mother hesitated. “If you’re certain.”
Meagan hated the defeated sound of her mother’s voice, but it couldn’t be helped. If she knew everything about this guy, she’d never sleep again. “I am. Look, I’m sorry, but I have to go. Please call me the second you hear anything.”
“Yes, dear.”
Meagan hung up and took a few deep breaths in an effort to calm herself. This nightmare with her sister had her stomach tied in knots. Leaning back, she put her feet up. This place was so beautiful, so serene. If she could forget about her troubles anywhere, it would be here.
That was a big if.
She looked out at the lake and tried not to think about Bridget for five whole minutes. Good luck with that. Although she knew the cabin must have neighbors, they couldn’t be seen from where she sat and that suited her just fine. In some places the fog had burned through and sunlight danced along the surface of the water.
She heard a plop and noticed a ripple on the lake. A fish catching its breakfast. She smiled and tilted back her mug. When she finished her coffee, she’d go in and fix breakfast. By then Thomas should be coming down to join her.
A deep throaty growl made her turn her head.
Bridget didn’t like the change she’d seen in Samuel since Meagan’s call. He’d become sullen and distant. He also wouldn’t give her back her phone. She’d insisted countless times she didn’t believe the things her sister had told her.
He’d replied the haters would try to destroy their love. She’d countered that it wasn’t possible, but he didn’t seem to believe her. He’d stopped sharing her bed, which worried her. She didn’t think she could survive without his love.
She watched him drive the RV, his face set in a permanent scowl. He’d shut her out. She didn’t know what she’d done that was so terribly wrong. She’d pleaded with him to tell her, but she might as well have been speaking to the wall.
Tears silently streamed down her cheeks. She wiped them away before he noticed. She stood, making the excuse she needed to use the facilities.
He didn’t acknowledge her.
Bridget locked herself in the tiny bathroom and sank down onto the closed toilet seat. She grabbed a towel and covered her face to stifle the sound of her sobs. She didn’t want to rile him anymore.
When he shouted, it frightened her.
At one point, he’d pulled back his hand as if to strike, but stopped. He’d told her he wasn’t mad at her, but at her family, so it was better she didn’t talk to them anymore.
Bridget missed her daughters. She’d phoned them a couple of times, but had not seen them in over two weeks. Samuel told her that once they were reunited, she’d feel better.
They were on their way back to California. She prayed that once they had the girls, things would return to normal as Samuel promised. Until then, she just had to bide her time.
Meagan turned her head toward the feral sound. Down the left side of the beach, two coyotes faced off. They barked and growled, then tore into each other. She ran in the house, grabbed a skillet and a big metal spoon, then raced toward the fracas banging as loud as she could.
They ignored her.
On their hind legs, they tried to sink their teeth into each other’s neck. She noticed they’d been fighting over the carcass of some poor animal. Finally, the noise alerted them and they plopped back down on all fours.
Like a crazy woman, Meagan rushed them, continuing the racket. They turned tail and ran back into the woods. She stopped ten feet from the remains to catch her breath. She looked at what she’d assumed was a dead deer. It took a few seconds for her to realize it was not.
Meagan dropped the skillet and spoon.
“T-Thomas,” her voice barely a whisper.
Her eyes remained glued to the lump as she stepped backward until her feet got tangled. She landed on her butt. She scrambled back up and raced toward the house.
“Thomas!”
As she neared the cabin, she heard two men yell in unison.
“What?”
Cody Thomas stood on the upstairs balcony wearing just a pair of jeans. Jesse Thomas sprinted out the sliding glass doors toward her. She couldn’t speak. She stared at Cody, then back at Thomas and pointed down the beach.
“Stay here,” Thomas told her before he took off.
Jesse stopped short, his feet digging into the sand.
“Holy shit.”
Cody raced up behind him and skidded to a stop. “Fuck me.” He ran his hands through his wet hair.
Jesse pointed to the headless body. “Does that belong to you?”
“Afraid so.” Cody pulled out his phone. He heard four rings and assumed the call would go to voicemail, then Jilly’s voice came on the line. “Deputy Reid.”
“We found Jane Wheaton’s body,” Cody said.
“Where are you?” she asked.
“Out by the lake,” he answered.
“Shit.”
“Exactly.”
“Let me put on some clothes. I’ll be right there.”
Cody put the phone away and slid his hands into his back pockets. The men continued to stare at the body. Not the sort of thing one wished to see first thing in the morning.
Especially on your home turf.
“So now this guy’s leaving you presents?”
“Aren’t I lucky?” Cody said sarcastically.
Jesse chuckled. “Better you than me, bro.”
“Thanks a lot. Your empathy overwhelms me.”
Cody heard the sound of thundering feet and turned. Jilly dashed toward him in her uniform; she hadn’t bothered to tuck in the shirt. Once she came alongside him, she stared down at the victim. “Well, crap. I haven’t even had my coffee yet.”
“At least you have nothing to throw up,” Cody said.
“Very funny.” She gave him a dirty look.
“She’s pretty torn up, like an animal’s been at her. Where’s the head?” Jesse searched the beach.
“Jilly had the pleasure of finding that last night.”
Jesse turned to Jilly. “Wow, the gift that keeps on giving.”
Jilly nodded. “Yeah.”
“I guess we’re even now,” Cody said.
Jilly jerked her head toward him. “Not even close.”
“You’re right. Mine is bigger. I win.” He grinned.
“Typical man. Always thinking about your dick. I hate to break it to you, but in this case, size does not matter.”
Cody chuckled. “So you say now.”
Her eyes turned to slits.
“What. You think you won this contest?” Cody said.
Jilly crossed her arms over her chest. �
��Her head was left not only in my house, but in my bed.”
“Shit.” Jesse shook his head.
The look they gave him was fleeting.
Cody pointed down at the bloody remains. “Come on. She’s been ripped to shreds, her arms pulled from the body. One thigh has been munched on. You can see she’s been dragged down the beach from the front of our house. She’s a mess.”
“Did you sleep with her?” Jilly asked.
Cody glared. “You know damn well I didn’t sleep with her.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Well I did.”
“What?” Jesse said.
Cody turned to his brother. “Her head, she slept with her head.”
“Oh, well that explains it,” Jesse said sarcastically.
Cody followed the path the body had made on the beach and stopped. “Here are two fingers. The head was in one piece.”
“My foot was covered in blood.” Jilly wouldn’t even glance at the discarded digits in the sand. “He also left me a real pissed off rattlesnake. Thank you very much.” She marched past him. “Check. Mate.” She enunciated each word as if to make her point.
“Women,” Cody grumbled.
Jesse came up and slapped him on the shoulder. “Well, bro, I think you’ve met your match.”
TWENTY-ONE
Worried about how Meagan was holding up after finding the mutilated corpse, Thomas made his way into the house. It didn’t take him long to find her curled up on the living room couch, her cheeks wet from crying.
“Hey, babe, how ya doing?” He sat beside her and pulled her into his arms.
She sniffled. “Great, just great.”
He stroked her hair. “Sorry you had to see that.” Poor thing, she’d had enough gruesome discoveries to last a lifetime.
She hiccupped a sob. “Me too.”
Thomas handed her a tissue from the box on the coffee table. “Not much of a vacation, huh?”
Her laugh held no mirth. “Nope.”
“I think it’s time we go home. I don’t want you near any of this.”
She blew her nose. “Not home. We have to find Bridget.”
NightScream Page 14
