by Cynthia Eden
“Let’s just see what happens. Me and you.” Her gaze searched his. “No strings. No promises. Just a kiss.”
His hand slid under her hair. He leaned over her. She was small, barely over five feet two inches, and he towered over six feet. He’d always known he’d have to be careful with her. Use extra care.
Treat her with all the tenderness he possessed…a hard feat, considering how savagely he wanted her.
“We don’t tell Ben about this,” she whispered. “Not yet, I mean. It’s just a kiss.”
His lips pressed to hers. Softly. Carefully. And…
Her mouth opened for him. Her tongue touched his.
Desire erupted.
Just a kiss.
He tasted her, he savored her, and he went wild for her. Her hands curled around his shoulders as she pulled him closer. He could feel her breasts pressing against him. The soft curves. The tight nipples. He could feel all of her—
Eric scooped her into his arms as he kept kissing her. Taking her. Claiming her with his mouth and wanting so much more.
Her legs wrapped around him. His hands gripped her hips and his cock shoved against her—long and hard and thick. Her shirt—his shirt—had ridden up, and his eager dick pushed right against the juncture of her thighs. He should slow down. Slow way the hell down.
But Eric felt like they were going one hundred miles an hour. He kept kissing her. Stroking her with his mouth and tongue.
She’d been great when they kissed before. Now, she was absolutely amazing, and he truly wanted to kick the asses of all the guys she’d kissed since him.
Wasted time. So much wasted time. I should have been with her.
He carried her to the table. Sat her down. Tore his hands from her hips and slammed them against the table, placing them on either side of her body even as he kept kissing her. He’d been deprived of her taste for too long. Never again. There would be no more holding back. No more trying to do what was right. She was right. They were right. Together, they were going to be—
A phone was ringing. Somewhere in the damn house, a phone was ringing.
He ignored it.
But Piper’s hands flew up. She shoved against him. “I…think that’s my phone.” Her breath panted out.
“Let it ring.” He kissed her neck. She shivered against him. Arched. He sucked her skin, right over her racing pulse.
“But…oh, jeez, that feels good.”
He didn’t hear the ringing any longer. Good. Whoever it was could just call back at a way better time.
“It’s…after midnight. Why would someone call me at—”
Another peal of sound filled the air. Only this time, the peal came through on his phone. The one that he still had in his back pocket. He’d forgotten about the thing.
“Answer it,” Piper urged.
He looked at her. Red lips. Gorgeous eyes. Flushed cheeks.
He’d done that. He’d turned her on. She felt the same savage need that he did.
Just a kiss. No, not just a kiss. A start.
The phone rang again, and, dammit, he knew that irritating ring tone. Ben. Eric backed away, breathing hard, and he yanked the phone from his pocket. “This had better be really fucking urgent,” Eric began, snarling.
“It’s Piper!” Ben threw right back. “I tried to get her on her phone, but she didn’t answer. She’s there, with you, right? She’s safe?”
She was on his kitchen table looking like the best sin he’d ever seen. “She’s safe. I have her.” I have her.
“Look, I just got a call from the PD. They said they’d tried to reach her, but couldn’t get through, and since I’m the contact person she has listed, they called me.”
Tension swept through Eric. “What happened?”
“Her place, man—dammit!” Ben’s voice was shaking. “It got torched! The uniform who was patrolling the neighborhood called it in. Some bastard set Piper’s house on fire!”
Chapter Five
It could have been worse.
Piper stood on the edge of her yard, her gaze directed at her home. The sun was just starting to rise, and the sky seemed oddly red. Angry.
It could have been worse.
Yellow tape blocked the entrance, dipping across her porch. She’d expected to come back and find ashes. To have the whole place gutted.
But the uniform who’d been patrolling had called the fire department. The fire truck had rushed to the scene. Her walls were still in place. Mostly. One window was broken and a trail of black ash and soot stained the side of her home. The front door had been smashed and—
“Are you okay, Piper?”
She turned at Ben’s quiet question and forced a smile. “It’s not as bad as I thought.” Then she finally voiced the mantra that she’d been repeating in her head. “It could have been worse.”
Eric stalked up behind Ben. “Yeah, you could have been inside. That would have been one hell of a lot worse.”
Piper flinched.
“Jesus, man!” Ben grabbed Piper and pulled her into his arms. “Have some tact. You don’t just say shit like that.” His arms surrounded her. “You’ve got insurance. The house will be fixed. Everything will be fine.”
He felt good. Reassuring. Normal. His touch didn’t make her pulse sky rocket or make her whole body become jittery. He was Ben. Her safety net.
“I’m not giving Piper lies.” Eric’s voice was flat and hard. “Everything isn’t fine. She’s got some nut-job out there who torched her house. If she’d been home, he could have killed her.”
It was hard to pull in a deep breath.
“Her car was here,” Eric added darkly. “The bastard could have gone in there, thinking Piper was inside. And when she wasn’t, he torched the place.”
Even though Ben was hugging her, she felt ice cold.
“Okay, jeez, enough. Stop grabbing on her already.” Eric tugged her out of Ben’s arms. “We can’t stay out here forever. I just talked to the arson investigator.” He pointed to a guy wearing white gloves who stood near a pick-up truck. “He told me the fire originated in your bedroom. An accelerant was definitely used, he could see the burn patterns so he knows that the perp poured the accelerant all around the room.”
She shivered.
Ben immediately stepped toward her.
But before Ben could touch her again, Eric pulled her against him, wrapping his arm around her. “I’ve got her, okay?” Eric frowned down at her. “It’s only a house. It’s just things inside. What matters most is you. You’re okay, and I’m going to keep you that way.”
She was shivering, and, yes, the tremors were due to the cold. It was helluva cold in Atlanta that morning. Forecasters were even saying snow might come next week. But her shivers were also due to fear. Bone-deep fear. “He set my house on fire.”
Eric pulled her closer. “I know, baby.”
“Did you just call her ‘baby’?” Ben demanded, voice rising a bit. “What the hell—”
“She’s having a fucking tough day. Back off.” Eric didn’t even glance his way. His focus stayed on Piper. “There isn’t anything you can do here now. The arson investigator has to check the entire scene. All of the hot spots inside have been put out. The fire won’t start again. But you’re not going to be heading in there anytime soon.”
Her home. She’d bought it herself. Been so excited when she’d signed the mortgage papers. “Ben helped me paint the kitchen.” They’d laughed and ordered pizza. “And we knocked down the wall between the den and the dining room because I wanted an, um, open concept.” Just like she’d seen on TV.
“Nearly killed ourselves doing it,” Ben added dryly.
“It was my home.” The fear was there, but anger was growing inside of her. “He torched my home.” A stranger that she didn’t know. Some kind of menace in the dark.
“The uniform who saw the fire didn’t get a look at the arsonist.” Eric’s face was tense. “The cops are going to canvass the neighborhood, but I’ll have my team talk
to folks, too. I also want to pull footage from the local traffic cams. The fire was set close to midnight, and there shouldn’t have been many people out then. If we can find the guy on the footage, if we can get a tag number or a vehicle, we’ll take him down.”
She frowned at him. “You can get access to traffic cams?”
Ben sidled closer. “Legally, no, he can’t.” His voice was low. “But you know my big bro and his tech.” A rough laugh. “Besides, Eric has always thought most rules don’t apply to him.”
Eric didn’t look at his brother. He did give Piper a slow smile. “I’d break all of the rules if it meant keeping you safe.”
That was…not nice or sweet. It probably should have been alarming. And maybe he was bullshitting, but he looked so sincere. And the way he was staring at her—
She had a flash of their kiss. Of the way she’d lost control and just wanted him.
“Why are you staring at her that way?” Ben’s voice turned suspicious. “I mean, you’re always intense, but you seem a little…extra today, bro.”
Eric finally glanced at his brother. “Someone is after Piper. Hell, yes, I’m extra.”
Sheepishly, Ben nodded. “Right.” His fingers slid down Piper’s arm, and he gave her a squeeze. “You’re family. No one messes with our family.”
But… “I’m not.” She bit her lower lip. “That’s what Eric reminded me last night. I’m not family.”
Ben’s jaw—very similar to Eric’s—tightened. “The hell you aren’t.” He glared at Eric. “Why would you say that shit to her? You know I’ve never been closer to anyone than I am to her—”
“Piper isn’t my family.” Eric’s words were growled. “But you can bet I’ll protect her as if she is.” He inclined his head toward his waiting Benz. “I want to take you to my office, Piper. Get you started talking with my team. Attacks like this…they aren’t random. He didn’t just see you on the street and decide to ruin your life.”
Her stomach clenched.
“It’s possible you know him.” Eric shook his head. “No, not possible. You do know him. There are two options for that. One, he’s in your life, maybe a primary player like an ex-lover or co-worker, someone who was set off when you rejected him.”
That was a terrible option.
“Or, two, he’s on the periphery of your world—someone who wants more attention. Either way, in most cases like this, he’s connected to you, and we have to find that connection.”
She needed to do something. Not just stand in the street and stare at the blackened side of her house. “I-I need to call my insurance agent—”
“We’ll take care it,” Eric assured her. His gaze slid around the street. A few of her neighbors were out, watching. “Let’s go.”
Ben moved into her path. “I’ve got a court hearing with a client at nine.” He glanced at his watch, then back up at Piper. “But I’ll be free the rest of the day. I’ll come to you as soon as I’m done. We can get you settled for tonight. With your home like this, you’re definitely going to need a longer-term housing situation.”
Yes, she would. Because the repairs wouldn’t magically be finished in a day or two.
“She’s staying at my place. It’s already taken care of.” Eric’s gaze was still raking the scene. “I’m having clothes and essentials brought in for her today. By the time we’re done with my team, everything will be waiting for her at home.”
Her brows rose. “You’re getting me clothes?” Since when? “No, thanks, I can take care of my own stuff.” Arrogant much.
“Piper,” Eric sighed her name. “I told you last night that I was going to take care of things for you. Most of your clothes were slashed. Those that weren’t slashed, I’m sorry but they’re probably covered in ash, if they weren’t burned.”
He had mentioned taking care of things last night, but she hadn’t been fully processing things, and she hadn’t realized the guy meant he was going on a shopping spree for her. “I’ll talk to your team, and then I’ll go pick up supplies that I need.” Luckily, her car hadn’t been caught in the fire. There was some ash on the side, but otherwise, the vehicle appeared fine. She pulled away from Ben, dug into her purse, and closed her fingers around the keys. “I’ll meet you at your office.” She gave both Ben and Eric brisk nods before she turned and headed for her car.
Eric’s crew had taken the car away on a tow truck during the night—after the fire-fighters had put out the blaze. They’d checked the vehicle and given it the all clear before bringing it back to the scene.
The little red convertible waited in her driveway, black marking its side.
At least she still had her car. It was good to go. She had her car. She had her life. She had her business.
The bastard out there—he wasn’t going to destroy her. She wouldn’t let him.
***
“Want to tell me what in the hell is going on?” Ben demanded as Piper climbed into her convertible. The top was up, so Piper was concealed when she slid inside.
Eric spared his brother a fast glance. “I’m going to hunt the man who did this.” He wouldn’t sugar coat with Ben. “This is bad, Ben. Fucking worse than I can say. I’ve worked cases—shit, this level of fury doesn’t usually manifest so quickly.”
Ben’s fierce expression wavered.
“He torched her home. He came to this place with the accelerant. If she’d been there…” Eric didn’t want to think of it. “I’m putting a guard on her. I don’t want her going anywhere without someone watching her.”
Ben retreated a step. “That’s why you want her at your house? To watch her?” But he nodded before Eric could reply. “Makes sense. God, I didn’t…” He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “How can I help? What can I do?”
Get out of my way, Ben. I need to follow her, now. “Call me when you’re done at court. You know Piper better than anyone else.” A truth that annoyed him.
And gutted him.
Ben just nodded. “Yes.”
“You can tell me about her other friends. Her lovers.” Assholes I might need to take down. “Anyone who might have a personal grudge against her.”
His brother seemed confused. “She can tell you all of that stuff.”
“It helps to get another perspective. In cases like this, sometimes, the victims can’t see what’s right in front of them. They don’t realize the danger because it’s hidden behind a friendly face.” A friendly face could be the most dangerous one in the entire world.
Ben’s lips pressed together. Then, as if considering, he said, “Everyone always loves Piper. At least, that’s the way it seems.”
Someone might love her too much.
She was backing out of the drive. “I’m going behind her. Call me when you’re done with court.” He turned for his vehicle.
“It’s…nice of you to help her out this way. I appreciate it. I owe you.”
Nice? Eric’s shoulders stiffened. “You don’t owe me anything.” He fired a fast glance back at his brother. “I’m not doing this for you. It’s for Piper.”
A half-smile curved Ben’s lips. “Finally gave in to her charm, huh? Like I said…everyone always loves Piper.”
***
She’d been to Wilde Securities before. More than a dozen times. The tall, dominating building sat in the heart of downtown Atlanta. And Eric’s office—the big corner office on the top floor—offered a killer view of the city.
“Do you want something to drink?” Eric’s assistant gave her a quick, nervous smile before he pushed up the frame of his glasses. Dennis had a friendly, open face. Just out of college last spring, Dennis was a newer hire, one who seemed very eager to make his way at Wilde Securities.
“I’m good, thanks.” She slid onto the nearby couch. Eric wasn’t in the office. He’d escorted her in, then done a quick disappearing act. But he’d asked her to wait there for him.
Her hands twisted in her lap. She wasn’t particularly good at waiting, especially when she kept thinking about her house.
The fire. And whoever the hell had set it.
“I’ll be right outside.” Dennis nodded. “If you need me, just call.”
“Thank you, I—”
The door opened behind Dennis. “Piper!” Simon Forrest’s booming voice filled the room as he rushed toward her. “Eric told me about the fire!”
She jumped to her feet, right before Simon hauled her in for a bone-crushing hug. He was as big as Eric, just as tall and as broad in the shoulders. The first time she’d met Simon, he’d asked her out.
Considering that the guy looked like some sort of Viking God…uh, specifically, her favorite, Thor, she’d been way inclined to say yes to him. A dark-haired Thor was pretty awesome.
But then Eric had destroyed those plans. He’d told her that Simon was too dangerous, that the guy lived for adrenaline. An ex-SEAL, Simon wasn’t exactly a safe guy.
Since she hadn’t ever been particularly attracted to safe, Piper had still been ready to give Simon and his date a try, but then Eric had spoken privately with his new VP. And Simon had suddenly gone very, very cold on her.
He didn’t feel cold right then.
He gave her another squeeze. “You’ll be taken care of.” His breath blew over her ear. “Wilde Securities is on the job.”
“Get your hands off her!” Eric’s snarling—and pissed—voice.
Simon pulled back. His hands lingered on her shoulders. “You okay?”
Piper nodded.
“Still touching her. Stop that shit.” Eric had stalked inside the office. Again, the man must have used his sneaky ninja skills because she hadn’t heard him enter the room, yet he now stood behind his massive desk, glowering at them.
Simon stopped ‘that shit.’ He let her go. Moved back.
“Dennis, hold my calls, will you?” Eric growled at his assistant.
She’d forgotten Dennis was still there.
Dennis nodded as he hurriedly exited the room. The door shut behind him with a soft click.
And Piper twisted her hands again.
Eric’s glower got a little worse. “You’re safe.”
“Absolutely,” Simon added with his big, tiger smile.