“I’m glad she can throw a punch,” Darice said. “I’d hate to beat a helpless woman’s ass.”
“You are going to let the police handle this right?” she asked, hope singing through her. “Turn this over to them.”
“Sure. I’ll give them a copy.”
“Baby, I just don’t want you to end up in jail over this,” Chloe said.
“I won’t.” Darice said softly, but there was a storm of retribution in her eyes that made Chloe shiver.
“Do you love me that much? Enough to kill her?”
“Without batting an eye lash.”
Chloe looked away, caught in a tangle of fear at the fierceness in her lover’s eyes.
“Remember that darkness I told you was inside me? That’s part of it, Chloe. It’s who I am. I’m not good or nice when someone comes after someone I love,” she said. “I didn’t kill Marie because she backed off, but I was prepared to put her down like the rabid dog she was acting like.”
Chloe bit her bottom lip. She loved Darice and loved that she loved her that much. On the other hand, Chloe had thought when she agreed to accept all of Darice that darkness would vanish in the healing light of love.
“Did they find the guy?” Chloe asked. She wouldn’t mind him being dead. “He scared me most.”
“Not yet, but chances are, the woman will lead us right to him,” Darice told her. “In the meantime, we’ll keep the guard on you.”
“I don’t understand why anyone would want to attack me,” she said. “This goes beyond a simple stalker problem.”
“He’ll beg to tell me what his goal is,” Darice assured her as she rubbed her fingers together and a spark seemed to form on them.
She blinked, but all she saw was the crust of the pizza Darice was devouring.
Chloe bit her lip. Darice had always been closed-mouth about her past. She’d admitted to killing two people and suffering from abuse and becoming a hit woman. However, she still held back, and Chloe had a feeling she was about to find out exactly what kind of woman Darice really had been—or still was—beneath the surface of her civilized façade.
Chapter Six
Chloe had had a restless night which had prevented Darice from sleeping well. The whimpers had torn at her heart, creating a well of rage inside her she’d barely been able to suppress.
Now, as she stood in the shower, head being rained on by hot water, Darice was determined to pay the woman, who was one half of the attack that left Chloe on edge, a visit.
Hell, who was she kidding?
She was going to kill them both for the terror they’d caused to haunt Chloe. Darice only prayed she could do this in a way that didn’t scare Chloe. Her woman had no idea what kind of monster she could be, and Darice didn’t want her to ever find out.
Cool air whispered over her back, and she smiled.
“Morning.” Chloe moved up behind her and kissed her back before wrapping her arms around her for a light hug. “Mind if I join you?”
“Please do, my love.” She kept her tone soft, couching the hunger for retribution. “Are you feeling okay?”
“A little tired, but otherwise fine,” she said, and Darice turned to hug her, finding her luscious locks piled on top of her head in a knot to keep them dry.
Chloe smiled up at her, and Darice’s heart flipped over.
“I needed that,” Chloe murmured, caressing Darice’s nape.
There was so much love and trust in her eyes, Darice knew she would do anything to keep Chloe safe.
****
Darice kissed her lips softly, and Chloe opened to her, allowing herself to take the consolation her lover offered. Chloe glided her hands over Darice’s back and sighed into the kiss that set her on fire.
Darice traced kisses along the side of her neck as her fingers ghosted over her hips. One hand slipped between them to cup her breast.
Chloe moaned, the sensations coursing through her turning her blood into a river of lava. “God, Darice. You always do this to me.”
Darice pinched her nipple as she skimmed her lips along Chloe’s throat and down to the hollow at the base. She licked a droplet of water away as her fingers glided down to brush the inside of Chloe’s thigh.
“I want you,” Chloe whispered.
“Do you?” Darice asked in a breathy tone and turned Chloe toward the cool tiles with rivulets of water slithering down them. “Let’s see.” She struck Chloe’s ass and Chloe cried out, the sting a resounding pleasure.
Darice smoothed her hand over the wet flesh that had heated quickly. She dropped her hand on her ass again and Chloe arched into the wall. Her body was on fire now, her skin a living flame.
“How do you do that?” she asked helplessly. All it ever took to turn up the hunger and make her soaking wet was a couple hard slaps to her butt.
“You tell me,” Darice whispered in her ear as she cupped Chloe’s breasts, fingers plucking at the nipples.
She was sensitive, the bite of the caress sensitizing her even more.
“How do I make you feel?” Darice caught the lobe of Chloe’s ear between her teeth and Chloe shivered.
“Beautiful and desired.” She managed to get the words out between pants. Darice was pinching her nipples hard and making her juices ease from her to mingle with the water on her thighs.
Darice scraped her teeth along Chloe’s nape before biting her lightly and kissing over the tender flesh. Then, she kissed her shoulder while her fingers caressed the gentle swell of Chloe’s stomach.
“You are so beautiful, Coe,” she murmured as her fingers slid over the lips of her pussy, parted them, and teased her clitoris. “So desirable I think about fucking you, touching you, and just being with you when I’m not. You’re everything to me.”
Her fingers slipped into the tight heat and Chloe caught her breath. Darice drew her fingers out and thrust them back in to stroke deep, setting up an easy rhythm while behind her, Darice moved against her.
“You feel so good,” Darice told her softly. “So fucking good I can barely restrain myself.”
She pushed her hips back, her ass pressing even tighter against Darice. Chloe wasn’t sure if that was the dampness of Darice’s pussy or the water on her ass, but she wanted Darice to come with her, to feel as good as she felt.
“Oh, yes,” Darice moaned and her strokes increased as she took Chloe with expert precision, hitting her sweet spot before pressing her thumb to her clit and adding a third finger.
Chloe put her hand on Darice’s as Darice took her with abandon. Her body sizzled, and her eyes virtually crossed as a deft thumb worked her clit while three fingers drove into her, claiming her.
“Oh. God. Oh, fuck!” she screamed as she came, her body bucking in release so hard she had to brace her other hand on the wall.
Behind her, Darice ground against her and came with a hard gasp as she held her tight.
“I love you, Coe. So much.”
She rested the side of her head against Darice’s. “I love you, too.”
Chloe didn’t want to leave the warmth and strength of Darice’s arms, but she had to go to work. Her boss had advised her to work from home. However, Chloe couldn’t. She felt as if she was allowing them to know they’d gotten to her.
So, she finished dressing and headed into the kitchen for her coffee.
“We have time for a little breakfast,” Darice said from the breakfast nook.
Chloe walked over to the table, positioned before the window, the curtains pulled back to invite the sun in. Two small plates were on the table with linen napkins with a tea cup of flowers, fresh fruit, and chocolate croissants.
She laughed. “Darice, how did you manage to do all this?”
“With a little help from Slate. She got the pastries.”
Chloe laughed and kissed her. “This is fantastic,” she said and sat down.
“I thought it was time I slowed down a little. Business is booming, and I hired a couple of people to help with some of the load.”
“You needed to. You’re overworked,” Chloe said. “When do I meet these new staff members?”
Darice took a sip of her coffee. “Chloe, don’t, okay?”
“You hired men?”
“One,” she admitted. “But the other one was a woman. She’s attractive and straight. She’s not into women at all.”
Chloe swallowed tightly and reached for her fork to sample the fruit salad. “You’re a beautiful woman, Darice. Women and men are always checking you out.”
“Yeah, and I look back, but you’re the one, Coe,” she said softly. “Just you. I could never want anyone else. Haven’t you realized that by now?”
“I just—it’s hard. Marie made me realize there was a chance someone else could—”
“Marie was a spoiled bitch,” Darice said, reaching across the table to take Chloe’s hand. She braided her fingers through Chloe’s. “You’re that special someone I’ve been looking for my whole life.” She lifted Chloe’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “Okay? Trust that.”
Her heart skipped a beat at the warmth in Darice’s eyes. “Okay.”
Marie had made it hard not to doubt and with the mysterious attempt on her life, she wondered―what if…
“Do you think Marie is behind the attack?” Chloe asked, brows knit in a frown. “Maybe she wants to get revenge on you. I saw a story in the paper about the trouble she’s been having with one of her factories.”
Darice withdrew her hand, lips pulling into a grimace. “I thought about that myself last night,” Darice admitted. “I’m not sure, but Ace is looking into it.”
Chloe nodded. “I’m worried she’ll do something even worse than before that will get one of us killed.”
“I don’t know if she has that much imagination, but we’ll see,” Darice replied. “I won’t make it easy for her to get to you.”
Chloe gave her a smile. “I know. Cattail and Ace seem quite efficient.”
Darice snorted. “I was thinking maybe we should go to the country Saturday,” Darice said. “I’m shooting a fundraiser Friday, so we’ll have to leave early. We can spend all day there and come back Sunday evening.”
“That’s a great,” Chloe exclaimed. “We can start talking about the wedding. I haven’t even begun to plan it. Simone says she knows a wedding planner who’s really good.”
Darice shrugged. “Whatever you want is fine. Have you found a minister willing to perform the ceremony?”
“Not yet, but I have a few on my list to check,” Chloe said. “I know it might be hard finding anyone other than a Unitarian minister. Are you okay with that?”
“I will be,” Darice assured her. “Where do you want to honeymoon?”
“I don’t know, but can’t we wait until late fall? It’s going to still be so hot in June.”
Darice chuckled. “That’ll work, but I’m going to insist on taking you someplace for a few days. I’ll choose.”
“Fine by me.” Chloe finished off her fruit as she shared her ideas for their wedding.
She’d always wanted something akin to a fairy tale with the white dress and tons of flowers. She wasn’t sure how that would go over with Darice, but she didn’t seem to object.
“I told my parents that we were engaged, and my father was a little upset. They both said they were going to come here to meet you.”
“When is this happening?” Darice asked tightly.
“Next week,” Chloe said. “My mom said she’d call me when they’d made plane reservations. “I didn’t ask them to stay with us, but I want to.”
“This is your home,” Darice said. “There’s plenty of room.”
“I don’t know how they’re going to react,” Chloe told her. “They know I’m gay, but I think my mother always thought I was going through a phase.”
“Let’s just hope their love for you keeps them from acting like asses.”
Chapter Seven
Chloe was still smarting from Darice’s comment when Darice pulled up to the magazine. Darice had never met her parents, and Chloe had just told them about Darice four months ago.
She knew both her parents were looking forward to the son-in-law and grandchildren. However, her parents loved her, and Chloe was certain they’d ultimately accept Darice once they’d gotten to know her.
“You’ll be okay,” Darice said as she cut the engine and released her seatbelt so she could face Chloe. “Slate will be with you all day, and Sabrina is around. Call her if you need her. She can kick ass with the best of them.”
Her lips tilted in a smile. “She’s certainly a slave driver at times.”
Darice smiled and climbed out of the Mustang and rounded to Chloe’s side. She pulled open the door for her and gave her a hand out. Darice pulled her into her, and Chloe met her gaze as Darice wrapped an arm around her.
“Call me if you need to,” Darice told her. “No one is more important to me than you.”
Chloe stroked Darice’s nape, her heart filling with emotion that made her throat ache. “Okay.”
Darice kissed her softly. “Don’t go anywhere without Slate. I mean it. She’s your first line of defense.”
“I know, Darice,” she said patiently.
“Good.”
Chloe’s phone rang, and she fished it from her purse. She glanced at the display, but didn’t recognize the number. She hit “Ignore”.
“I better go in,” Chloe said. “I have plenty to do.”
Her phone rang again, and she frowned. Same number. She answered.
“Hello?”
“You dare ignore my calls, you simpering little rat?” the masculine voice demanded. “Just wait until we’re together again. Not even your girlfriend will be able to save you from the punishment.” She let out a little cry, and he laughed in her ear.
Darice took the phone. “Who is this?” she demanded in a low hard tone.
“Does it matter? Your little bitch is going to be my bitch soon,” he sneered.
“Show yourself, asshole,” she said softly. “We can settle this right now and if you can make me stay down you can have her.”
Chloe’s eyes widened, and Darice curled an arm around her waist. Her other hand tightened on the sleek device and Chloe swore she saw a spark on the back of Darice’s hand.
“That’s what I thought. You’re a pussy who picks on women who can’t defend themselves. I’m going to find you and when I do, I’m going to beat you senseless, prick.”
“Bring it on, butch.” He ended the call.
“Darice—”
“Go inside,” she said cutting her off coolly. Her eyes were scanning the parking lot.
“I—”
A bullet smashed into the concrete at their feet, and Darice swung Chloe to one side.
“Slate!” Darice screamed.
Slate, who’d been leaning against her own car two slots down, ran over and urged Chloe down alongside Darice’s car. Then, she slid her weapon to Darice who picked it up.
“D—” Slate’s hand on her mouth cut her off.
A bird’s cry lit the air and then a black bird soared toward them. It dipped as it headed for Chloe, and Darice sprinted toward them. She swung out hitting the bird, knocking it into the side of the car.
It hit with a sickening thunk and fell to the ground.
Chloe stared at the crow, mesmerized. Another bird call, and she jerked her gaze away to see Darice taking off as if the bird were the real danger.
“Move, Slate.” Slate stood and jerked Chloe to her feet and took off for the building.
Shots hit the brick and seconds later glass shattered. Chloe was shoved inside the building and tugged away from the entrance.
Heart thudding, she stood with her back to a wall, an acrid taste in her mouth.
****
Darice listened hard for the shooter as well as more birds. She’d heard crows and ravens were quite the tricksters.
She put them out of her mind and squeezed the trigger as she watched him from the bush in
the brick planter in the lot. The trees gave her cover as she searched for him from near his car. She followed up the first bullet with a second which sliced through his shoulder.
He let out a grunt and took a few steps away from his car.
“Put on your big girl panties and come out and play.”
Darice threw a discarded bottle from the bush out, and he jerked around and shot at it. That’s when Darice shot him in the hand and his gun clattered to the ground.
“Fuck,” he snarled and quickly bent to pick it up. Darice rushed him, knocking him into the back of his car.
Darice drove her fist into his jaw, and he let out a grunt of pain before shoving her back. Then, he delivered a blow of his own. Pain to her jaw made her want to scream, but she’d learned to deal in silence.
With determination, Darice jump kicked, and he blocked it, knocking her off balance. Her gun slipped from her fingers, crashing to the ground. However, she quickly regained her footing, staring him down.
“Who paid you to do this?” she demanded. “I know you’re not just some hot-to-have-her idiot who decided to make a move.”
He swung and missed. Darice punched him in the side, the kidney shot drawing a grimace from him.
“I’m never going to tell you a fucking thing,” he growled and feinted left. She jumped back, and he struck out.
“Tell me, and I’ll let you live.” That would be a risk she wasn’t sure she could take.
“You can’t kill me, bitch,” he muttered and swung at her again.
She took the punch, stifling the pain as she swept his leg sending him toppling to the ground. Darice bent and slammed her hand down on his thigh, and he screamed as a bolt of electricity shot through it.
He twitched as if his entire body had been electrified, eyes black as night.
“What the fuck?” His question was uttered in slurred words as his body lay limp.
She’d never gotten that response from sending a low voltage of electricity into a human’s body.
“Answer my question, or I swear I’ll fry you.” This was a secret she’d kept so closely guarded from youth. She was a freak and it had freaked her mother the hell out despite the fact her mother had been a telepath.
Blood for Her Page 4
