by Donna Grant
She braced her hands on the wall in front of her as he stood behind her, the water cascading over them from both sides. His arousal pressed against her, and her sex throbbed to have him inside once more. It didn’t seem to matter that she had been pleasured twice the night before. Her body responded as if it might wither without his touch.
He pulled her in to press her back against his chest. She tipped her head to the side as he kissed her temple and then across her cheek, his fingers rolling her nipples. He hadn’t even reached her sex yet, but she was sure that if he continued on his present course, he could make her orgasm.
“You’re so damn beautiful,” he whispered.
Marlee wanted to let him continue touching her, but she turned in his arms and met his gaze instead. “You had last night. This morning is mine.”
If it was possible, his green eyes darkened even more as his nostrils flared. “Given how I want you, it won’t take me long.”
Instead of answering, she smiled at him and rubbed her soapy breasts against his chest. Cooper let out a low moan. Marlee took her time as the water rinsed the last of the suds away and used that time to smooth her hands over his broad shoulders and arms thick with sinew. He had calluses on his hands, proving that he worked hard, which made her want him even more.
She tilted her head up to him as her hands moved around to his back and down to his trim waist before splaying over his tight ass. His gaze narrowed as he did the same to her, grinding his cock into her stomach.
“Woman,” he said.
She loved how he said it as an endearment. Her blood heated even more. She began kissing his chest, following the water’s path as it ran over him down to his nipples. He sucked in a quick breath when she swirled her finger around one of his tight buds. She bit back her smile when she felt his arousal jump in response.
Her kissing path took her down his tight abs until she was on her knees with his beautiful rod waiting. She wrapped her fingers around it and gently stroked up and down his length. Cooper moaned again and leaned forward to press his hands against the tile just as she had done.
He was thick and oh, so hard. Marlee brought her mouth to him and ran her tongue over the head of his arousal several times. Then, she parted her lips and wrapped them around him. He whispered her name, his voice thick with desire. Marlee slid her mouth up and down his length. His hand grabbed a fistful of her hair and held her as he moaned in pleasure. She couldn’t remember a man ever responding to her so blatantly before, and it drove her to give him even more.
It turned her on, and she moved a hand between her legs to begin rubbing her clit. Suddenly, Cooper had her on her feet and facing the wall again. In one thrust he was buried inside her.
“Damn, woman, you drive me to the brink of need like no one ever has before,” he murmured in her ear.
She leaned her head back and nodded. “I burn for you.”
“Then let me ease us both.”
Cooper began moving with deep, hard thrusts. He held her hips tightly as he propelled them toward ecstasy. Marlee steadied herself with her hands on the cool tile as she found herself careening toward orgasm. It came over her quickly, tossing her into an abyss of bliss.
“Marlee,” Cooper said against her ear in a rough voice. “Ah, baby.”
She reached back and touched him just as he climaxed. He pulled out of her again, but this time, she spun around and took him in hand, moving up and down his hard length to finish him. He pressed his forehead against hers as they stood there in the spray of water.
A long while later, he lifted his head and cupped her face with his hands. “We really need to get some condoms. It’s getting harder and harder not to come inside you.”
“I know one place we’re going today then,” she said with a smile.
He wrapped an arm around her and kissed her deeply. It wasn’t the fiery kisses from the night before, but something deeper, something even stronger. She felt his emotions in the kiss, even though she didn’t understand them all. But that didn’t matter. He showed her how he felt in ways no one ever had. And she did the same in return.
There was no reason to hide anything. Cooper had been open about everything, which gave her the same freedom. They had this day and maybe the next. Who knew after that? Marlee didn’t want to think that far ahead. All she wanted was to take this time that had been given to her and enjoy every last millisecond of it.
The kiss ended, and she pressed her face against his chest as they held each other tightly. If she had to make a decision in that instant, she knew she’d never leave Cooper. Yes, everything was new, but the feelings between them, the way he made her feel, it was all exhilarating. She knew with unwavering certainty that she could be happy with him.
Then she thought of Macey. She’d made a promise to her sister and their parents. Marlee couldn’t stop now.
“Don’t pull away,” Cooper said.
She shook her head. “I’m not. I’m holding on to you.”
“Your body might be, but your mind is drifting.”
She didn’t know how he knew. Marlee looked up at him and smiled. “I’m not used to taking much time for myself. I feel guilty.”
“Because people are in need?”
“And I’ve still not found my sister’s daughter.”
“Marlee … you know you may never find her,” he said gently.
Marlee glanced to the side. “I know, but I have to keep looking.”
“Even if it means harming yourself?”
“I’m not harming myself.”
“Really?” he asked, brows raised. “I feel the stiffness in your shoulders from lack of rest. I can’t imagine you eat very healthy on the road.”
“I do the best I can. More places offer better food now.” She didn’t know why she felt defensive. Cooper was only pointing out the very things she’d already told herself.
“You just admitted not taking time for yourself, whether that’s sleep or just resting. And what about your parents? What you do is beyond admirable, but they need you.”
She looked down at his chest and nodded. “I know.”
“Hey,” he said and smoothed her hair back from her face. “You’re doing great things. I’m simply saying you should take a break sometimes and take care of yourself.”
“I’m doing that now.”
His smile was slow. “I plan on continuing like this for as long as you let me.”
The problem was, she feared she would never want him to stop.
“You can trust me,” he told her. “I’m a good guy. I won’t hurt you.”
“I wouldn’t be here with you now if I thought you would.”
“Then let me help you. Or, if you don’t want my help, then let me help you find someone you will allow to help you out. This thing you’re doing is huge. It takes more than one person.”
She blew out a frustrated breath. “I’ll gladly take your help while I’m in town, but I’ve already told you, I tried having people on payroll before. It doesn’t work.”
“You had the wrong people. Imagine how much easier life could be with the right ones.”
“It would be incredible,” she admitted. “I could do more than one case at a time, and I wouldn’t have to travel constantly.”
Cooper’s smile was blinding. “Exactly. I think you just need to find people as passionate about what you’re doing as you are.”
For so long, Marlee had rejected the notion of hiring anyone after the failed attempts she’d tried. But now, she thought it might not be a bad idea to give it another go. She’d had years to learn where she needed the help and what she could do on her own.
“An assistant,” she said. “I’d love an assistant who could field the calls and know which cases were for me or for someone else.”
Cooper kissed the tip of her nose. “Keep thinking along those lines.”
Now that her mind was there, Marlee couldn’t stop it. And she didn’t want to.
Chapter 21
He’
d had the chance to kill Marlee, but Chuck hadn’t done it. Regardless of what Stella thought, the Frampton woman was a nuisance that needed to be removed. He should’ve done it a few years ago, but he’d listened to Stella. Now, look at what that had gotten them.
Marlee had the uncanny ability to figure out where they were located and find her way there. The fact that she kept sticking her nose in their business and getting closer and closer to them proved his point. If Marlee wasn’t taken out of the picture, he and Stella would find themselves behind bars—and that wasn’t something he would allow.
Chuck sat in his truck and glared in the direction of the house. He hadn’t expected the dog. Damn thing had nearly bitten him. He’d left his handgun in the truck, deciding on a knife as his weapon of choice. If he’d had the gun, he would’ve killed the dog the moment it first spotted him.
Frankly, Chuck was surprised that Marlee and Cooper hadn’t come running out of the house. Then again, they’d been all over each other the night before when they put the bull back in the pasture. More than likely, they had still been having sex. That would’ve allowed him to kill them easily since their attention was on anything but him.
Too bad the dog had brought attention to him.
Chuck wasn’t giving up on ridding the world of the nosey Marlee Frampton once and for all. He didn’t care if she was alone or with someone. She was going to die. He hadn’t clawed himself out of the gutter, only to have his cushy life taken away from him.
Age slowed him. Stella didn’t realize it yet, but she would soon. He had maybe another three years before he would be replaced. In that time, he planned to gather as much money as he could, and nothing sold as well as a child. People did anything for babies, which was ridiculous, considering there were so many in the foster system. But for reasons he didn’t understand, those kids were tainted to some.
He’d grown up in the system, and he’d turned out all right. He didn’t see the issue. Then again, if someone wanted to pay him for a baby, he’d get them a baby. It was as simple as that. And with Stella lining up the clients, all he had to do was find the pregnant women. That was the easy part. Those women were everywhere.
He didn’t discriminate either. If he found a woman and the situation allowed him to get her alone and the baby out alive, he did it. Everyone had a job. That was his. He didn’t like it or dislike it. What he did like was the money. For the last ten years, he’d lived comfortably. He had things he never thought he’d be able to get.
Marlee Frampton threatened all of that. She had to go. The government had taught him how to kill in the military. He was using those skills, and he would continue doing so until his bank account showed the number he wanted. Then he’d retire, though he’d still have some kind of hand in Stella’s business. After all, finding good people to work with was hard.
Chuck glanced at his phone when it buzzed. He spotted Stella’s name and answered it. “Yeah?”
“How soon do you think you can get me another baby?”
He shrugged. “Give me until tomorrow.”
“Can you do it sooner? I’ve got someone willing to pay a hefty sum.”
Chuck let out a whistle. “Why the rush?”
“Why do any of them come to us instead of a legit adoption agency?”
“True. Give me twelve hours.”
“You’ve got eight. These people have a flight leaving the country tonight.”
Chuck sat up straighter in his seat. “I’m on it.”
He ended the call and tossed the phone onto the seat beside him as he started the engine. His gaze went to Cooper Owens’ house.
“Looks like the two of you get a reprieve. Enjoy your day, because I’ll be back.”
Chapter 22
While Cooper made breakfast, the handle on the door twisted. Marlee stiffened on the stool at the island, her gaze jerking to the source of the noise. Before Cooper could make a move, he heard the number being punched in and then the door unlocked. Suddenly, Jace stood there, his gaze moving from Cooper to Marlee.
“Ah … I think I’m interrupting,” Jace said.
Marlee instantly eased and shook her head. “You’re fine.”
Jace looked to Cooper, who motioned him inside with his head. “It’s pretty common for Jace to show up anytime he thinks there might be food.”
“That’s not true,” Jace said with a roll of his eyes as he stepped into the house and closed the door behind him. Then he paused and smiled. “Actually, it is.”
Marlee chuckled and leaned on the island. “Do you not have food at your place?”
“Oh, yeah. I keep everything stocked, but I’m a growing boy and must eat,” Jace replied.
Cooper made a sound in the back of his throat. “You do realize your mother quit saying that to you when you were sixteen and you were eating her out of house and home, right?”
“I like to eat,” Jace said with a shrug.
Cooper went back to cooking with a shake of his head. Some things about Jace never changed. But a great many things had. Those things, the bad ones, Jace had shared about only once. It had been one of the lowest times of Jace’s life, but Cooper, as well as Brice and Caleb, had been there for him. For a while, they all thought that Jace was getting better.
But Cooper knew differently. Jace pretended. He smiled and put on a show that things were fine, but they weren’t. Far from it, actually. Cooper kept a close eye on his friend in case Jace fell down that rabbit hole and couldn’t get out of it. He would always look out for Jace.
Cooper’s gaze briefly landed on Marlee to find her watching him. She gave him a soft smile, and he realized that she knew about Jace’s past. He kept forgetting that she had done a deep-dive on all of them—something he would have done, as well.
“So,” Jace said to Marlee as he took one of the stools at the bar and poured copious amounts of sugar into his coffee. “What do you think of Cooper’s fixer-upper?”
She sat up and looked around at the crown molding that had gone up about a month ago and was waiting on paint. “I think Cooper pays attention to details. He’s taken this farmhouse into a new century, yet somehow managed to keep most of the charm. Like the real wood floors in the thin slats and the crown molding. It harkens back to a time when people took a lot of time and care with woodworking.”
Cooper smiled. He’d known that Marlee had an eye for details, but he hadn’t realized how much she saw.
Jace took a drink of his coffee and set down the mug. “The fact that he’s had this house for seven years and still hasn’t finished with the renovations tells you the time he takes. You sound like you know a lot about woodworking.”
“My dad did some small things as a hobby. He always pointed things out to me growing up,” Marlee said.
Cooper slid the omelet onto a plate and handed it to Marlee, along with some sausage and toast. “I have no skill with woodworking, but I know what I want.”
“And he makes sure he gets it,” Jace said with a smile as he rose and grabbed a piece of sausage to eat.
Marlee shrugged, her lips twisting. “I’m the same way. If I pay for something, then I’m going to make sure I get what I paid for.”
“I just love talking about remodeling,” Jace said with an exaggerated sigh. “But there’s something else I’d like to talk about.”
“Not now.” Cooper knew Jace wanted to discuss the missing child that Marlee was searching for, but Cooper wanted to give her a little more time to relax.
Marlee smiled at Cooper before she tucked an auburn curl behind her ear and looked at Jace. “Your friend is trying to give me some downtime, but what Cooper doesn’t know is that I’ve not stopped thinking about any of it. So, please. Tell me whatever it is you have.”
Cooper turned back to the stove and the omelet he was making for himself. At least Marlee looked more relaxed than she had the day before. She was smiling easier, as well. Maybe the time with him had done her some good.
Arms came around him as Marlee pressed agains
t his back. “Thank you for breakfast. The omelet is delicious. And thank you for taking care of me. It’s not something I’m used to.”
He put his arm over hers and turned his head to look at her. “It’s been my pleasure.”
“I think I might gag,” Jace mumbled sarcastically. “Yep. I gagged. You two need to just get a room.”
Marlee released Cooper and said, “We had a room. We actually had an entire house, then you showed up.”
Jace busted out laughing. “Damn, Marlee. You fit in well.”
“She certainly does,” Cooper said with a smile as he looked at her.
She shot him a wink and returned to the stool to dig into her breakfast. By the time Cooper had finished cooking his omelet and turned to the island, Jace had a map of the United States laid out. Marlee held her plate to give him room.
“Holy hell,” Cooper mumbled when he saw all the marks Jace had made.
Jace made a face. “I’ve been busy.” His hazel eyes swung to Marlee. “Yesterday, Cooper and I began marking the locations around Texas where the infants were kidnapped, and the women were murdered. Turns out, they’re all around us.”
“Us, meaning Clearview?” Marlee asked as she looked between them.
Cooper nodded as he swallowed his food. “Yeah. It was very curious to me. At first, I didn’t think much of it since we’re pretty central to all the major cities in Texas, then I thought about you coming to our little town.”
“That’s right. Your evidence led you here. You just had the wrong people,” Jace added.
Marlee set her fork on the plate and crossed one leg over the other. “I always follow the evidence.”
“Then you came to the right place,” Jace told her.
Cooper nodded as he finished off his omelet. “What evidence led you to Brice and Naomi, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“It was the adoption agency, really. Let’s just say they aren’t totally on the up and up, but there hasn’t been anything definitive that I could bring to the authorities. The age of the infant your friends were looking to adopt got my attention initially since I was sure that Nate was the baby I was searching for.”
