by Mayer, Dale
Kali's tears finally slowed. Easing her head back, she looked up at him. Heat spread throughout her lower body as she studied his beloved features. She realized she wanted - no, needed - his touch. Energy warmed between, making her realize that their auras had nestled together as they had.
With a last sniffle, she opened her mouth to speak, only to find his finger up against her lips.
"Shhh."
A slumberous warmth slid through her. Maybe it was due to having finally found Julie - alive. Or maybe the physical limits she'd taken her body to, or the fact she was held lovingly in the arms of a man she cared for...and maybe the reason didn't matter.
Energy spiked. Small flashes dancing between them.
What mattered was she wanted him and had since she'd first seen him. With her eyes smiling into his, she licked the finger held against her lips, caressing the skin upward to the tip. His eyes darkened, deepened, then he shuddered. Kali loved it. Lifting her head, she slid his finger slowly inside her mouth and sucked gently.
"Jesus, Kali," he whispered. Or was that a prayer? "You're playing with danger."
"No, I'm encouraging it." A wicked grin flashed before she closed her eyes and sucked his finger rhythmically.
"Fuck," he whispered, closing his eyes briefly. Opening them again, he placed a hand on either side of her head and stared into her eyes, searching.
She reached up, whispering against his lips, "Yes, please."
Energy blossomed. Heat whispered between them, through them.
His hands tightened, cupping her head and holding her fast as their mouths joined. The kiss started out light, tentative, then ignited into something deep, intense. Kali felt the answering pulse deep in her belly. A moan slid free. She shifted her position, wincing as her back muscles tightened, pulling her stitches. Sliding her hands over his chest, Kali realized Grant was fully dressed. Searching out the buttons of his shirt and moving with delicious pleasure, she slid the button through the hole, one finger sliding against the smooth skin of his chest until she reached the next.
"Christ, Kali, you're driving me nuts." His lips slid across her neck to feast on the delicate shell of her ear. His hands touched her spine and froze. Her stitches. Kali sensed his withdrawal immediately, as he pulled back, a protest forming on his lips.
She beat him to it. "It's okay, Grant. We'll be careful."
"You're hurt. You need rest, time to heal."
This time her finger stopped his words. "And I will. I need this. To believe in life again, to believe in love again. I need this. You need this. I need you."
Grant closed his eyes and shuddered. "And I need you and have for a long time."
She smiled, and reached for his lips. "Good. Let's not waste any more."
When he took her mouth this time, there was nothing tentative about it. He devoured her, free for the first time to taste her, to enjoy her, knowing they had hours of pleasure ahead. Sitting up, Grant stripped off his shirt, going to work on his belt buckle next.
But her hands pushed his away and tugged the snap open. The zipper parted as her fingers delved inside.
"Christ." Grant sucked in his breath, trying to back away from her marauding fingers and stand up. Within seconds he'd stripped and stood nude before her.
Kali kneeled on the bed struck by the male glory in front of her. She feasted on the sight of him, slowly studying her way up his strong muscled body until she reached his hooded eyes. Their gazes locked. His breath caught. "You're something, you know that?"
Shaking her head, she whispered, "No, you are."
Tearing his gaze away, he looked at the bed, then at her.
She narrowed her eyes, wondering what he was up to.
Walking to the far side, Grant stretched out fully. "I guess you'll have to have your way with me, after all."
Kali watched him in confusion.
He opened his arms.
Of course - her back. Kali grinned and went into his arms gladly; her kiss joyous and hot. A veritable buffet of manhood lay stretched out before her. She couldn't resist. Her hands stoked and caressed, dropping greedy kisses down the heavily muscled chest as she explored everything in reach. Grant twisted beneath her, his hands caressing her curves.
He reached out to cup the weight of one slight breast. Kali shuddered and stopped so he could stroke her hardened nipple. But her need was too great - she couldn't wait. Straddling his body, she bent over and gave him a kiss that raised the temperature of the room. As his arms came up to hold her fast, she slid down his body. She dropped kisses over his heated flesh down to his navel and the triangle of hair. Kali speared her fingers through the curls and inched downward.
His erection cuddled between her breasts.
Grant's breath caught and held.
"Do I stop?" she whispered, her tongue teasing his belly button.
"Never," he answered in a whispered prayer.
She slid lower to place kisses on the long length of him.
"Shit."
Kali found herself dragged upward, her lips seared by his kiss. He maneuvered her back to straddle his body. His hands on her waist, he pushed her downward.
The head of his penis rested at the heart of her. Kali sat back. Her gaze locked on his face, she lowered herself ever so slightly. With the tip nestled just inside, she stopped. His eyes, darkened with need.
"Witch."
His fingers tightened on her hips, digging into the soft flesh. He tugged downward. "Please."
Kali gave him a smoky, languid look. "Is this what you want?" Inch by slow inch, she lowered her body, watching in joy as his eyes closed. His body twisted upward and his face flushed with pleasure.
"Yes. Christ. Yes."
Kali's heart swelled. To tease him and to prolong his pleasure, she paused in her descent. Then slowly slid up.
"No," he moaned, his fingers digging into her hips. "No, don't leave."
"Look at me," she whispered.
Grant opened his eyes, under half-closed lids. Kali lowered her hips again, taking all of him until he was seated deep inside. Grant pushed his hips firmly against her, sealing their flesh together. A long shudder rippled through them both. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she raised her pelvis and lowered it, settling into a slow smooth ride.
His hands lifted to cup her breasts, his fingers teasing the hard nipples.
With her head tilted back, her hair flowing around her shoulders, Kali lost herself in her own pleasure as her blood heated and boiled. Her breath shortened; her movements faster and faster.
Grant's hands clenched spasmodically on her hips as he tried to stop her from rising too high. He moaned, twisting beneath her.
His control broke.
Gripping her hips to hold her in place, he took control of the rhythm, driving his hips upwards, driving them both to the edge of the cliff. One. Two. Three hard thrusts and Kali flew, crying out as raw nerve endings exploded with pleasure, leaving her reeling in the intense aftermath.
Energy ballooned, then the boundaries broke, edges dissipated and their auras joined.
With a long groan, Grant followed her.
Kali collapsed against his chest, her breathing coming in ragged gasps. But her heart and soul flew in joy. While she was still connected with his body, her breathing eased, becoming slow and even.
She dropped off to sleep, barely registering the beautiful deep purple surrounding the two of them.
Hours later, Kali surfaced to find she was lying on her side, wrapped in Grant's arms. Snuggling deeper into his embrace, she fell asleep again.
***
"Crap." The softly spoken whisper barely made itself heard in his hidden perch. What a long night. His neck ached, his back had kinked, and he didn't think his legs would extend fully again. Taking his time, he stretched one limb at a time, careful to not dislodge the branches. The assholes continued to work below, walking, talking. He could hardly leave, but damn he needed to take a piss. Damn his back hurt. Man wasn't meant to sleep in tre
es.
Voices floated up to him. The murmurs rose and fell but remained indistinguishable. He still had trouble believing they'd found Julie. Just a little longer and she'd have been lost to them. Then again, he should have killed Kali earlier, too. She'd been in his grasp. His hands on her neck. And he'd lost her. That failed attempt didn't bear thinking about.
He pondered on his system. He'd have preferred for Julie to suffer longer. Maybe his design needed adjusting. Being adaptable was a strength of his. The pipe provided a great communication link, her suffering a source of joy... maybe it was too big? Allowed in too much air? Then again, he'd planned on her living longer. Kali's success had caught him sideways. She'd been fast. Too fast. He wouldn't hand her over a victory again. He had to stay on top. Prove to God that he was worthy.
Shifting again, he winced. His stomach growled, reminding him he hadn't planned for hours of hiding. At least not here. The hunting blind at Kali's place had been set up for the long term with snacks and water bottles, along with a change of clothes. A couple of sandwiches were there as well. Plus he slept like a baby there.
Close to her.
The FBI were always around, but they watched the road entrance, while he always entered by the beach. With a fat grin, he contemplated the FBI sitting out all night every night - for naught. He hoped they were as uncomfortable as he. Thank heavens for this heavy jacket and work boots.
His jeans had stiffened overnight, but they would loosen as he walked - when he could walk. Sitting in a tree over-night hadn't been in the plan.
Still, life was good. Stuck in a tree he might be, only he was alive and not under arrest. He was free to pursue his next goal. And the cops had no idea who or when. That's the way he liked it.
Pursing his lips, he hunkered lower and considered his next move.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Kali woke to an empty bed.
Rolling onto her belly, she yawned and stretched, wincing at the pain in her back and shoulder. Memories flooded her mind. Julie. Grant. She couldn't stop a fat smile from forming. They'd found Julie. Injured and unconscious - alive. Satisfaction wove through her heart. Monday had ended better than it had started. Julie would come through this like a trooper. Obviously she needed to heal, both mentally and physically. Julie was tough. It would take time but Julie would put this behind her and move on.
Grant was another matter. Kali had no intention of putting that behind her. She looked around her room. No sign of her clothes or his. Hmmm. A knock sounded on her open door. Shifting position, she watched as Grant entered, carrying a large mug. She smiled at the way his soft gentle energy brightened at the sight of her. Being this connected, they'd never be able to hide from each other. Their energy would always show the truth of how each felt toward the other.
"Good morning. I just spoke with the hospital."
"How's Julie?" Kali shifted, tugging the duvet over her chest and struggled into an upright sitting position. Grant passed her the mug.
Kali inhaled the rich coffee aroma, letting the steam float up to bathe her face in its warmth. With her free hand, she tucked the duvet tighter. Even after a good night's sleep, her exhausted body felt chilled. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Grant grinned at her as he took a seat toward the end of the bed. "Julie's in critical condition, and has yet to wake up. However the doctors are being cautiously optimistic of her making a full recovery."
"That's wonderful news," Kali exclaimed, joy surging through her. "I was so worried when the medics couldn't revive her. Afraid we were too late to save her."
"She's got a long road to recovery, however the doctors are being quietly optimistic." He shifted further back on the bed, crossing his legs at the ankle. "There's more good news. Stan is awake. We can go see him in an hour."
"Wow. So coffee, a shower, food, and then the hospital. Sounds great."
"Good, but you'll have to speed it up. Breakfast is almost ready. Shiloh looks hungry, but I figured you'd want to feed her."
"Thanks. I do prefer to feed her myself." She appreciated his consideration.
"Thought so." Grant stood and walked toward the door. "You've got fifteen minutes until breakfast. I have a confession to make and I need breakfast to fortify me beforehand. Okay?"
One eyebrow raised, Kali nodded. Interesting. "I'll make it quick."
Kali crawled out of bed and headed for the bathroom. Butterflies took flight in her belly. She didn't want anything to mar this morning. What did he want to tell her?
Outside of an initial bout of shyness, Kali couldn't help but be pleased at the naturalness of their relationship. It gave her hope for their future. That he wanted to unburden himself could be another positive - depending on what he had to say. Grant hadn't made mention of a future together, but she'd do her damnedest to see they gave it a chance.
Fifteen minutes later, she followed the appetizing aromas into the kitchen, where she found sausages, hash browns, and eggs ready for the table.
With a look of disbelief at Grant, she said, "This looks great."
"I dug around in the freezer." Grant brought two laden plates over. "If you pour the orange juice, we can start eating."
Kali obliged, delivering two glasses to the table. "This smells wonderful. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I walked in here." Grant had heaped her plate. Picking up her fork, she took a bite and closed her eyes in bliss.
"Eat up. You're downright skinny. The doctor ordered bed rest for the next couple of days."
She sniffed. "It's hard to keep the weight on when I'm working all the time. Rest will help me regain a pound or two."
"And rest is what you'll be doing. One trip to the hospital and then straight back home again where you'll spend the next couple of days resting, eating, and doing some serious sleeping."
Kali knew his vision was ludicrous. Not while a killer stalked her. Still, he could play the caregiver role happily for an hour or so. She forked more food into her mouth, concentrating on the flavors. The man could cook. She polished off her plate. Standing, she refilled their coffee cups and turned to face him. "So what do you need to tell me?"
***
Grant reached for his mug of coffee, studying the pattern of steam as it rose from the hot brew. He grimaced, wishing he'd never initiated this conversation. "Six, closer to seven years ago, you gave a talk in Portland on SARs. I attended that talk."
Kali gave him a wry, lopsided smile. "How did I do?"
He studied the beauty of her face. "You made such an impression I haven't been able to get you out of my mind since."
Kali leaned forward to stare at him. "Really?"
"Yes, really." Should he show her? Why the hell not. Grant reached into his back pocket for his wallet. Flipping it open, he showed her his driver's license on one side and a picture of a woman on the other.
Kali studied the photo. "Is that me?"
Turning the wallet, Grant grinned. "Yeah. I cut it from one of the seminar brochures. How sad is that?"
Amazement lined Kali's face. "That's where I saw you. You looked familiar but I couldn't place you."
"Not surprised. We spoke briefly. You gave your talk, answered questions, then left." He didn't add that she'd left with a partner. A boyfriend.
"Seven years ago." Deep sadness filtered into her eyes. "I'd just lost my parents a few months before. And I'd just realized my fiancé had more than a passing interest in my new-found wealth." With one long finger, she traced her features on the old photo. With the odd quirk to her lips, she handed it back. "How sweet."
"Sweet?" He carefully replaced the picture before putting his wallet away. Sweet? Was that good or bad? He wasn't sure. It certainly wasn't what he'd expected to hear.
"I like the idea of leaving an impact profound enough that you thought about me over the years." Kali gazed into his eyes. "A couple of weeks ago, that might have sounded a little creepy because I didn't know you then. But now, well I think it's sweet."
The relief rushing thr
ough him made him sit back, his shoulders sagging as it sloughed off a heavy weight. Her next words make him stop in shock.
"It's a little unnerving though. What if you'd found me wanting after all these years. You didn't know me back then and after getting to know me, what if I hadn't matched your memory?" Kali paused. Grant searched her face. She was nervous, afraid even - that the real woman hadn't matched the one in his mind. She couldn't be more wrong.
Confident, caring, compassionate Kali, always concerned about others, lacked the assurance she needed from him. Gentleness whispered through his heart. He could take care of that right now. "You're right. Back then I did have an idealistic view of you. How could I not? I didn't know who you were as a person. When I saw you this time, you were quieter, more withdrawn than I remembered. As if life had dished out some hard years in-between." He studied her face, noting the flash of pain. "Your parents, your fiancé and yes, Stan told me about little Inez, lost in Mexico." He reached across the table to gently cover her hand.