by ML Guida
Lara grabbed her arm. “No, Cora. He’ll kill you.”
“Lara.” She twisted. “Let go of me. He’s my mate.”
Griff snarled and gnashed his teeth. Drool splashed onto Seth’s ashen face.
Seth’s eyes were huge. “Griff, get off me.”
“I suggest you get off him, or I’ll change into something that will shed those stripes off you, tiger.” Gerri’s voice was amazingly calm, but her eyes said something different all together.
Griff put his ears back and hissed, but he got off Seth.
Seth scrambled off the ground and ran his shaking hand through his hair. “Griff, what the hell is wrong with you?”
Cora broke loose of Lara’s hold and ran over to him. She ran her hands over him. “Seth, are you all right? Are you hurt?”
He wrapped his arms around her waist. “No, I’m fine. I’m okay.”
But sweat shone on his forehead.
She put her hands on her cheeks. “Honey, you’re sweating. What’s the matter with him?”
Griff paced back and forth in front of Lara, preventing anyone from getting near her or allowing her to escape.
Gerri gestured toward Lara. “Isn’t it obvious? He’s protecting his mate.”
Lara’s heart squeezed tight and she pressed her back against the wall, trying to gasp for breath. “What?”
Griff growled, his roar stilling her breath. He quickly transformed back into a man, a man with a deadly scowl on his face. “She’s not my mate, match-maker.”
“Really?” Gerri walked toward Lara. “Then, I’ll fix her up with another mate.”
He stepped in front of Lara, blocking her view.
“No.” His menacing voice was hard.
“Yes.” Gerri drawled. “I thought so. Come along, or dinner will get cold.”
Footsteps edged away, echoing the clomp-clomp-clomp of Lara’s heartbeat.
“Griff?” Lara’s timid voice was more of a shaky gasp.
He stiffened and squared his shoulders back. “What?”
“Is…what….Gerri said true?”
He looked over his shoulders. “And what would you do if I told you it was?” His soft voice was filled with pain and hesitation as if he were waiting for her to reject him.
She forced her shaking legs to move, then clasped his arm. “What do you want me to say?”
“I want you to say no.”
She pushed back his hair and kissed his frowning lips. “Is that what you really want?”
He moved her hand off his arm and stepped away. “Yes. I can’t have a woman in my life right now.”
His angry words cut into her heart. Not what she wanted to hear. She held her head up high. “Gerri has someone…”
He growled and lifted her into his steel arms.
She pushed on his chest. “Griff, what are you doing? Put me down.”
“No.” He flung open the glass door and carried her out of the condominium.
She opened her mouth, but closed it. His hard scowl kept her words stuck in her throat.
He headed down a stone path toward a white gazebo with lattice walls that she hadn’t noticed when she was running like a scared rabbit. Pine trees shrouded the gazebo. A string of soft, glowing, white lights dangled across one end of the gazebo like an umbrella.
“What are you doing?”
When he reached the gazebo, he sat her feet on the floor. White benches were against the wall. He clasped her neck and pulled her toward him. His lips latched onto hers, his tongue pushing into her mouth. His tongue filled her and her legs were whisked up from underneath her. Her lungs locked up, and she latched onto his massive shoulders.
He laid her gently on the floor. She turned her head, breaking off his determined kiss.
Panting, she stared at his golden eyes that glistened with defiance, determination, and desperation. “What…what are you doing?”
“What do you think? It’s been four years since I’ve been with a woman.”
Her eyes widened. “Here?”
He lowered his head. “If you want to leave…” His husky voice hinted he was about ready to lose control. He pointed. “You’d better leave now.”
Escape was only a few steps away. She should leave. She should leave now.
But she didn’t.
This was insane. With the soft glowing lights dangling from the white gazebo, someone could see, but she couldn’t leave.
She wanted this. She wanted him.
He lifted his head. “Once I start, I won’t be able to stop.” His piercing gaze left little doubt he was serious.
Her heart was thundering, sending blood to pool between her thighs.
She motioned her lips. “I know.”
He didn’t move and cast a haunted look down her body. He bent his head and his lips captured hers. All her senses were focused on the boldness of his tongue and the warmth gushing through her body. She wrapped her fingers around his neck, his hair brushing over her fingers. Her chest tightened, tingling with tremors as his beard chaffed her skin.
Sluggishly, she thought she heard a growl, but it wasn’t from her. It was from him.
He kissed her eyelids, her temples, and the tip of her nose. “Damn it, I need you,” he murmured.
His breath was warm against her throat. He slipped his hand up her shirt and she shivered. He pushed down her bra and his fingers pinched and pulled her nipple. He left her lips, planting kisses down her face and her neck. She made a soft, sigh in her throat and threaded her fingers through his silky hair.
He bunched up her shirt and rolled it over her breasts. Cool air brushed over her and she shivered. He shoved up her bra and his mouth was on one nipple, licking and sucking. Hotness whisked over her and she held him to her, gasping and panting.
Flames, fire, and fury lit up inside her, burning passion steamed through her veins. She raked her hands through his hair. “God, I want you.”
“I can’t wait any longer.”
He unbuttoned her jeans and shoved them down. Something silky pulled and stretched against her. She gasped at the long tear. Her red panties went flying over the gazebo’s white lattice wall.
“Griff!” But her words were cut off.
His hot mouth was on her pussy, sucking hard, stealing her breath. He inserted his tongue in between her folds that set off a flurry of sensations. Her heart beat hard, turning the volume of heat inside her. Tingles swept over her flesh like wildfire. An orgasm was building, bigger and stronger, and steamier than she’d ever had before.
She clutched her fists together and arched her back. The sound of a zipper being ripped down made her gasp.
Griff flung off her boots and tore off her jeans. His were down below his hips and his cock was erect. The biggest, rigged, damn one she’d ever seen.
“Shit.”
He frowned. “What?”
“I mean…” Heat swam over her cheeks. “You’re so big.”
He grinned. “Better to please you, my dear.” He spread her trembling thighs wide.
She shook with anticipation and nodded. “You’re not kidding.”
“No, I’m not.” He wedged his hips between her inner thighs, his cock edging inside her. “Are you ready?”
She clung to his massive forearms and nodded wordlessly.
He lifted his hips and surged his cock deep inside her, stuffing her with his flesh. Her breath strangled shut, and her heart stopped.
His mouth was on hers and he kissed her. He moved his hips, sliding his cock inside and out, friction rubbing against friction. She matched his rhythm, first slow, then fast and faster. It was coming. Lara’s every nerve, every fiber, every muscle quivered with anticipation.
She stared into his golden eyes and dug her nails into his shoulders. Her breath was caught in her throat.
His eyes darkening, he tilted his head back. “God, it’s…coming.”
He slammed his cock deeper inside Lara. A rush of energy raced through her, a reeling orgasm like none she’d ever
experienced before, rocking her to her very core.
Breathe, just breathe.
Griff arched his back and growled, flooding her with his hot seed. He collapsed on top of her, trembling.
Lara caressed his back. “I’ve…I’ve never experienced that before. Have…have you?”
“No.”
She had to strain to hear his voice, because she was panting so hard. Or was it him?
“Lara?”
Someone called.
Lara stilled. “Shit, it’s Cora.”
Griff only answered her with gruff gulps.
Her shirt and bra were shoved up over her breasts. Lara scanned the gazebo. Crap, where were her jeans and boots? Griff’s cock was crammed inside her. Her panties were ripped and thrown out of the gazebo onto the grass. God, what if Cora found them?
Cora was getting closer. “Lara, where are you? We’re worried about you.” Her voice was louder and more urgent.
Lara gripped Griff’s shoulders. “Griff.” Her voice was low and hesitant, but urgent.
“I hear her.”
Without kissing her, Griff slowly pulled out of her and rolled to the side. He immediately zipped up his pants and in a split second, he was fully clothed. The light shone on his glistening skin, but he looked perfectly in control.
Lara, on the other hand, was a mess. Her thighs were sleek from their love-making and her nipples were budded from the cold. She pulled down her bra and her shirt with shaking fingers. Crap, her shirt only went to her belly button.
“Griff, what are you doing out here? Where’s Lara? We need to talk to her.” Cora’s voice was louder and less than pleasant, but there was a hint of something else. “Gerri…Gerri got a phone call.”
Lara closed her eyes.
Don’t let her see me. Please, don’t let her see me.
“From who?” Griff moved in front of her as if protecting her from any prying eyes just like he’d done before.
“I don’t know, but Gerri’s pretty shaken up. Is she with you?”
Lara shook her head and mouthed the word no. She crawled across the floor and peeked around the gazebo wall. Her gut was in a super knot and sweat swelled over every inch of her skin. The dim lights outlined Cora’s curly black hair, but she wasn’t looking in Lara’s direction.
Or at least she hoped she wouldn’t.
Damn it. Her boot was just within arm’s length. If she could just reach it…She stretched out her fingers.
“Tell Gerri, we’ll be right there.” Griff walked past Lara and picked up her boot. “Here.” His voice was impatient.
“Lara?” Cora’s voice sounded puzzled.
Lara hung her head. “Yes.”
Griff handed Lara her pair of jeans.
Her face flamed. Not being able to look at him, she yanked the jeans out of his hand and wiggled inside them, scrapping her butt across the gazebo’s cold planks.
“What were… Oh… Oh, I see. I’ll be…”
Lara cringed at Cora’s stumbling voice.
“Here’s your other boot. Hurry and get dressed.” Griff’s tone killed what just happened.
Lara’s throat closed up. She put on both her boots, her tears blurring her vision. How could she have just slept with him? She was his attorney.
Gee, no conflict of ethics there.
Griff put his hands underneath her arm pits and lifted her to her feet. “Come on.” He headed toward the condominium without even glancing in her direction.
She crossed her arms over chest and followed Griff’s broad back. She shivered and her teeth chattered. He was at least ten steps ahead of her. She should immediately go to her car and never see Griff again, but she couldn’t abandon Gerri.
Cora and Griff were waiting for her in the entry way.
She refused to let Griff know how much he hurt her. She raised her head and walked inside like she did when she strutted into a court room.
Cora hurried over. “Lara, are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Now, tell me about what happened.”
“Someone called Gerri and told her that if she didn’t keep her mouth shut, then she’d end up like Sandy Mason.”
Lara could feel the blood drain from her face and her heart skidded to halt. She frowned. “I thought Gerri said Sandy died in a car crash.”
“She did.”
Lara hurried to the elevator. “I need to talk with Gerri.”
Within minutes, Lara, Griff, Cora, and Seth were all seated in Gerri’s apartment. Lara’s stomach growled at the aroma of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and baked bread that were laid out on an oak dining room table.
Her face pale, Gerri was curled up on an elegant wingback chair and held a big glass of wine between her hands. “I can’t believe Sandy was murdered.” Her voice was tiny, and tears glistened in her eyes.
Lara could barely hear her. She sat on the opposite side of Gerri in a stuffed beige chair built for one. “Tell me exactly what happened. Was it a man or a woman’s voice?”
“A man.”
Griff folded his hands and was perched on the edge of the couch as if he couldn’t decide whether he would stay or leave. “Did you recognize it?”
“No.” She took a sip. “But I can bet you from dollars to donuts that whoever the bastard was, he works for your boss.”
“Maybe.”
Griff cast her a deep scowl, but didn’t say anything.
She ignored Griff and her pounding heart and focused on doing her job. “What exactly did he say?”
“He said I’d better keep my mouth shut or I’d end up like Sandy.”
Laura frowned. She had read the casefile backward and forward and hadn’t drawn this unsubstantiated conclusion. “He didn’t actually say that Sandy was murdered.”
Seth glared. “Are you dense? Of course, that’s what it means.”
Griff growled and his tiger eyes glowed. He raised his upper lip.
Seth held out his palms. “Easy dude, I didn’t mean to insult her.” His voice was uneasy.
Griff was obvious the dominant one between them.
“I have to have physical evidence that Sandy was murdered before I can present it in court. Unforunately, Seth, we don’t have enough evidence.” Lara was able to remain calm despite wanting to slap his insolent face.
Cora pulled out her cellular phone. “We should call the police.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Griff rubbed his beard.
Cora looked at all of them. “Why not?”
“Because of how my trial went.” Griff leaned back on the sofa. “I believe the cops are in on it.”
Cora lifted her eyebrow “The whole department?”
Lara shook her head. “No. I agree with Griff. Someone in the department might be involved. Someone with power. We need to find out more.”
“That might be a problem.” Gerri put her drink down on the table and then took both of Lara’s hands in hers. “Because the threat wasn’t just for me.”
Lara’s chest tightened. “Meaning?”
“He said for you to stop snooping, or you’ll end up at the bottom of a ravine.” Gerri’s low voice was like a bomb going off in Lara’s head.
Everything was quiet except for Lara’s gasps for breath and the thud of her heart. Her life was on the line. She could die, really die. They knew she’d been spying at Buckley and Hartley. And now they thought she knew too much. Was her life already forfeit?
Griff put a strong hand on Lara’s shoulder.
Lara jumped, trying to gasp for breath.
He stood in front of her and clasped her cheeks. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”
His tone and his gaze were intense, but she wasn’t sure he meant it. She wasn’t sure they shouldn’t go to the police, but what if Cora, Seth, and Gerri were right? She could end up with her throat slit. She needed allies and unfortunately, the only one who wanted the job had just crushed her.
Chapter 7
Gerri’s spacious apar
tment seemed to grow smaller and Griff struggled to breathe like when he was locked up in his dingy cell. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, warning him of danger. There was more to this than arson. He could feel it in his bones.
He looked at all their stricken faces. Cora and Seth were huddled next to each other on the sofa, holding hands. Her face pale, Gerri was curled up in a chair with a blanket draped over her legs, holding a glass of wine. They were each lost in thought, so he broke the silence.
“I think whoever called is scared.”
Lara leaned back in her stuffed chair and drummed her fingers on the armrest. Her brows were knotted as if she were trying to figure something out. “But why would they be frightened?”
Her lips were bruised where he’d been kissing her and skin chaffed from his beard. His heart was still beating wildly from their lovemaking and the protectiveness and dominance had been released in his tiger.
“Because Gerri must have seen something that she wasn’t supposed to see or know.”
“I testified to everything I knew at your hearing.”
Griff rubbed his chin. “Maybe.”
She glared. “I didn’t lie.”
Lara flashed him a look that made him want to crawl underneath his recliner and hide. “I know you didn’t, Gerri.”
He groaned inside. Not making any points with her. “That’s not what I meant. But what if you’ve forgotten something. Something that you thought was insignificant, but to them was significant.”
Gerri’s hard look softened. She pressed her lips together and her eyes grew distant.
Lara stopped drumming her fingers. “Maybe that’s why Grant was there. He was there to see if Gerri remembered something, something that could bring them down.”
Gerri put her wine glass down on a coaster. “But what? I don’t know anything else.”
“Maybe it wasn’t what you saw, but what Sandy saw.”
Gerri’s eyes grew wider. “You’re saying what Sandy told me?”
Lara’s eyes shone as if she’d just discovered Eureka. “Exactly. They were worried that you’ll remember.”
Cora interrupted. “But it’s also your investigating, Lara. They must be worried about what you’ve found.”
Griff’s gut tightened. Lara was walking a tight-rope. “Where’s the information you’ve found?”