With a cat-like stretch she opened her eyes then started when she saw Phillip sitting next to her on the edge of the tub. He was naked, muscles shifting under taut skin. The heat of the bathroom had already slicked his body with a thin sheen of moisture.
“What—”
“Ian’s in bed fast asleep. You said to come up if it was love.”
“Then I presume you somehow managed to discreetly find a condom?”
“This is love, remember? That would be lust.” He brushed his hand through the sudsy water and caressed the long length of her leg, sliding slowly up the sensitive skin to her inner thigh.
“Don’t get me wrong. I want you so much that I feel as if I’ll explode any minute. But I asked myself, if something happened and for some reason you and I could never make love again, would I still love you and stand by you? The answer was yes. I’d love you no matter what.
“So…” He swung himself into the other end of the garden tub and lowered his body into the swirling water. “I’m going to sit over here and simply be with you, no matter how much it kills me.”
“Oh, Phillip, I…” She slid toward him, gliding her body against his, a silken caress.
Phillip sucked in a breath as her belly brushed against him. He cupped her buttocks and nestled her closer. With a feathery touch of her tongue, she kissed him, inhaling the very essence of his being.
“Over my dead body. I love you no matter what,” she said, “but I’m afraid I can’t be as noble as you right now.” She straddled his hips and rubbed herself along his length.
Phillip shuddered. “If you keep that up…”
She pulled up and stroked him again, smiling when a soft groan left his throat.
“Rowan, we can’t—”
“We can, this way. We have before. Remember? That hot tub in the Poconos?”
“How could I forget? But I’m not going to last very long if you keep doing that.”
Rowan caught his hand and guided it to where their bodies touched. “Neither will I if you do this.”
He dipped his hand between them, parting her with a flick of his fingers before probing deep inside her. She moved against him, urging him on with each caress he gave.
Agony, pleasure, that white-hot rush she loved and tried so hard to forget… It burst upon her with little warning, engulfing her with its power, paralyzing her. She tensed with the spasms, then felt him shudder with the force of his own release.
Chapter Fifteen
Lightning backlit the gathering clouds. It was bad enough to have her family leave after nightfall, but with the storm closing in, it was all Rowan could do to keep her anxiety hidden.
Ian’s unhappiness about the long road trip to Claudia’s house didn’t help matters, either. He fretted over Oscar and worried about leaving her and Phillip. She was at a loss as to how to explain things in terms he would understand. Phillip handled the situation with patience and love.
She didn’t know what he’d said in the hour he and Ian were sequestered in Ian’s bedroom. All she could hear through the doors was the low, rumbling conversation. But when they walked out, Ian was more accepting. Too bad Rowan wasn’t.
Not that she didn’t trust Claudia or Zach with her family. They would protect the people she loved best. She wished she could go with them. Everything was spiraling out of control and all she wanted to do was hide away until the whole mess was over.
Phillip shut the trunk on her mother’s car. “That’s it. Time to hit the road.”
Her mother heaved a sigh and stuck out her hand to Jess. “I want to thank you for all you’ve done, Mr. Alderman.” Her eyes were shining with unshed tears.
He shook her hand while his gaze traveled the curve of her face. “My pleasure, Mrs. McKinley. My services are always available to you.”
Rowan rolled her eyes heavenward. “Mom?”
“Yes, dear?” She forced her gaze away from Jess.
Rowan shook her head. “Just give me a hug.” She wrapped her arms around her and whispered, “Cut the melodramatics, Mom. We know. You really need to keep your doors locked. Now give this poor guy a good-bye kiss. He looks like he can hardly stand to let you go.”
Her mother pulled back, showing a mixture of astonishment and embarrassment. “You understand? I mean…you don’t mind?”
Rowan laughed. “Of course I don’t mind. You’re a beautiful woman. You deserve to be happy, to have a life of your own, the love of a good man.”
Joy covered her mother’s face. In one fluid motion, she turned and flung her arms around Jess’ neck. He hauled her close, plastering a kiss on her that could have steamed rice.
Zach coughed into his hand. “It’s getting late. We’ve got a long drive ahead of us.”
Rowan hugged and kissed Ian. He was so sleepy that she doubted he’d even remember. After fastening his seat belt, he toppled to one side and nestled his head into a pile of travel pillows.
Zach started the car. “Should take about ten hours. I’ll call the minute we get into San Francisco.”
The rain started with their departure. A perfect backdrop to the mood surrounding Rowan—Jess, too, judging from his hang-dog look.
“Sorry, Jess.” Phillip clapped him on the back. “Zach was the only one of us not directly involved with this case. There wasn’t much choice.”
“I know.” He glanced toward Rowan. “I want to thank you for what you just did. Your mother and I have been seeing each other for about six months. When you were arrested…” Suddenly looking weary, he closed his eyes. “I didn’t know what to do. It’s hell to be torn between the woman you love and your job. You don’t know how grateful I was to discover you were innocent. I love your mother, Rowan. I want to marry her. She’s always been afraid of how you would take it. You were so close to your father.”
On impulse, Rowan gave the man a bear hug. “Marry her. Make each other happy. Don’t let anyone or anything stand in your way.”
Not like I did. She wagged a finger at him and smiled. “In fact, I expect you to make an honest woman of her.”
He tossed back a laugh. “You have my—”
A thunderous boom drowned out the rest of his words. The house went dark.
“And when do I get to make an honest woman of you?” Phillip whispered against her ear. He slipped his strong hands around her waist. “Let’s watch the storm from your room. Zach left us a little present—a box of little presents.”
Rowan glanced around to see if Mike and Jess had overheard, but the storm had already driven them inside. She knew that the two would be staying downstairs in Ian’s room and the spare bedroom. Blessed privacy for her and Phillip.
“Are you asking for a commitment from me, Phillip?”
He dusted his fingers along her neck. “I’m giving you one from me.”
“Phillip, don’t—”
Her protest was swallowed by his kiss. With lips still sealed, he scooped her into his arms and carried her upstairs.
So much for discretion.
Rowan didn’t care. Phillip could haul her to hell and back right now as long as it meant being with him. Mike and Jess would have to be trusted to keep their mouths shut.
Phillip kicked the bedroom door closed the instant they crossed the threshold. He broke off their kiss long enough to place her in the center of her bed and kick off his shoes, then he stretched out beside her and found her mouth once more.
With shaking hands, Rowan caught the edges of his shirt and tugged it up. He stripped the garment over his head, then did the same to hers. Her bra was quickly added to the pile, exposing her aching breasts to his questing fingers. A flash of lightning highlighted the passion in his eyes, turning them to liquid silver. Still shaking, Rowan furrowed her fingers through his short hair and pulled his head to her breast, gasping when he sucked her nipple deep into his mouth.
With a flick of his wrist, he released the snap on her shorts. Phillip swooped his hand inside, cupping her buttocks before sliding the material down and
off her legs, then he brushed his hand back up, coaxing her to open for him.
Rowan bit back a cry as he stroked his fingers against her heat. He traced his thumb over those places only he knew how to bring to life, igniting a fire only he could quench. Time was endless, frozen, as he tantalized her with his long fingers. She rode the waves of pleasure, her low cries punctuated by the flashing of the desert storm.
She tensed as the pleasure engulfed her, quivered in his arms as it overcame her, then held him close in that final fulfillment as it subsided.
With lazy satisfaction, she beckoned him close, stripped his shorts away and reached out to cup him in her hands. The vein on the underside of his cock pulsed as she stroked his erection with one hand and kneaded his balls with the other. Phillip moaned softly, head tilted back, eyes half closed with ecstasy. Flicking her tongue over her lips, she bent and took him into her mouth—deep.
“My God, Rowan,” he gasped and cupped her head. The flex of his fingers and the subtle thrust of his hips begged for more.
She swirled her tongue from base to tip, delving into the slit for a moment before starting back down again. Phillip splayed his legs wider, opening himself as far as his stance at the edge of the bed allowed. Rowan squeezed his sac and sucked him hard. Tension shuddered through his body. She matched his groan with one of her own—her way of telling him to come.
He froze, no doubt weighing his choices in his lust-fogged brain—come or pull free and fuck her? She decided for him, drawing away by slow degrees until she could look up at him. His body glistened with sweat. Hard breaths trembled his shoulders. Rowan raised to her knees and nestled his cock between her breasts.
“Fuck me,” she whispered, then crawled backward on the bed.
His gaze tracked the glide of her fingers up her inner thighs. His breath caught when she spread her labia for him. She writhed into a caress over her clit. Phillip groaned and fumbled to seat a condom. She reached for him the second his knee hit the bed, pulling him close as he covered her body with his.
Their tongue met on ragged gasps as she wrapped her legs around his waist and he slid home.
Oh, God. She had forgotten how deliciously overwhelming he could be. They deepened their kiss, writhing their bodies in time with the dance of their tongues.
He pulled back, then pressed forward, harder. Rowan dug her heels into his buttocks, demanding more.
Phillip smothered a groan into her neck. He grabbed her bottom in one hand and tilted her hips up.
Together they moved, clinging tighter with every rock of their bodies. His heat bathed her from head to toe. Her climax built—her clit rigid against his hard cock. She craved the relief orgasm would bring but fought the mounting wave, wanting them to come at the same time.
Phillip broke the kiss. “Come with me, baby.”
“Now?” she asked.
“Oh yeah.”
She took his mouth in a frenzied kiss, hoping it would be enough to muffle their groans. Mother Nature blessed them with a flash of lightning. Thunder rumbled over the house, masking all sound right when they needed it most. As they slid down the other side of bliss, she wished the storm would stay with them a little while longer so they could do it all over again.
* * * *
Phillip fumbled for the bedside phone. A glance at the clock showed it was eleven-thirty. They’d just drifted off to sleep. No good-news calls happened at this time of night.
“Hello?”
“Is this the McKinley residence?” a man asked.
“Who wants to know?” Phillip barked. If this was another threat…
“California Highway Patrol.”
Adrenaline raced through his heart. He snapped upright. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
Rowan pushed herself to one elbow and swung toward him. He didn’t want to look at her face, didn’t want to see the panic there that mirrored his. He swung from the bed.
“There’s been an accident,” the officer said. “A car driven by Captain Zachary Taylor was run off the road east of Joshua Tree.”
Phillip grabbed his clothes. “Joshua Tree? Why did it take so long to call us?”
Rowan jumped to her knees. “What? What is it?”
He waved her down.
“The storm kept us from reaching him. The road was flooded. The vehicle rolled. They missed the wash, but—”
“Are they hurt? Where are they?” Was he shouting? It seemed so.
Rowan leaped from bed and scrambled for her clothes.
“All three occupants were unconscious when we reached them. Weather conditions and flooded roads wouldn’t allow any other option. The Naval Hospital is handling emergencies for now.”
“How are they? What’s wrong? Are they all right?” Phillip told himself to shut up so the man could answer.
“I can’t say. I also can’t be sure how long they’ll remain here. Soon as things clear, patients will most likely be moved to area hospitals.”
“We’re on our way.” Phillip slammed the receiver down and hauled on his jeans while he told Rowan. He didn’t need light to know she was terrified. He was scared to death.
She wrenched open the bedroom door and shouted downstairs for Mike and Jess. Panic made her voice shrill. While she hurried to dress, he raced downstairs to break the news to the other two men. Only afterward did he realize how abruptly he’d presented the information, considering Jess’ intimate involvement with Emma.
But there was no taking it back. He’d make up for it later—if any of them had a later.
* * * *
Rowan sat statue-like on the drive to the hospital. She would not give in to hysterics. Nothing could be accomplished by it. Strength was needed—for Ian, her mother, Phillip, even Jess. She had to hang in there. Yet it took every ounce of willpower to adhere to that decree, especially when they walked into the hospital.
The mud-splattered highway patrolman stopped in mid-pace when they rushed in. His partner stood nearby, head bent in deep conversation with the Navy emergency room doctor.
Noticing their arrival, the doctor cut him off. “You’re the family?”
“Yes,” they answered in unison.
“How is Ian? Where is our son?” Phillip’s tone was strained, but at least it had come out with some semblance of calm. If Rowan had been the one doing the talking, she would have shrieked.
“We’re getting him settled in intensive care,” the doctor replied.
Rowan bit her knuckle to keep from sobbing aloud. Phillip didn’t do as well. She watched him blanch, saw panic racing over his face and she wrapped her arms firmly around his waist. He hugged her as if she were a lifeline, his arms shaking.
“He took quite a whack on the head,” the doctor told them. “He’s been out cold since they were found.”
“You mean he’s in a coma?” Phillip choked out.
The doctor shook his head. “No. He’s got one heck of a concussion and is unconscious. The next twenty-four hours are going to be critical. Once the weather clears, we’ll determine if he needs to be taken to Loma Linda or Desert Regional. By then he might be well enough to go home.”
With a choking gasp, Jess pushed forward. “Emma? How’s my Emma?” His deep voice was painfully tight.
“Resting comfortably and awake. She’s got a broken arm, scrapes and plenty of bruises, but otherwise she’s going to be fine. Because she also suffered a concussion and was unconscious when she was brought in, I’d like her to stay overnight. You can go see her.”
Jess rushed off to the hospital ward upstairs.
“Zach Taylor?” Mike asked.
For the first time, the doctor refused to meet anyone’s eyes. “As I was telling the patrolman, the surgeon pulled a nine-millimeter bullet out of his shoulder.”
Rowan gasped. “He was shot?”
The doctor nodded. “His health and age are in his favor, but we can’t give you a prognosis yet. Last report is that his blood pressure is low, he has a severe concussion and his le
g was badly fractured in two places. As I said before, if he hadn’t been in such good health, he’d be dead by now. You might want to notify his relatives.”
Rowan’s stomach knotted and she hugged Phillip tighter.
“When can we see our son? And Zach?” he asked.
“We will let you know as soon as your son is settled in his room. Captain Taylor is still in recovery, but I understand he’ll be moved to a room soon.”
“Dear God.” Phillip pinched the bridge of his nose, closed his eyes and tightened the grip he held around her shoulders. She gave in to the need to wrap him to her and swung fully against him. He put his other arm around her. Anyone who didn’t like it could go to hell.
The doctor’s pager beeped. He unclipped it with a motion born of years of practice then checked the readout.
“I’m sorry I can’t tell you more at the moment, but as soon as there is any news about your son or Captain Taylor, someone will let you know.”
A Navy corpsman handed the doctor a clipboard, whispered another patient’s name and returned to his corner desk station.
The doctor, looking harried and tired, murmured, “Excuse me. I’m needed in the emergency room,” and left Phillip and Rowan to make their way upstairs.
“Go see your mom,” he said when they reached the ward waiting room. “I’ll wait here and come get you the second we’re able to see Ian.”
Rowan nodded and walked to her mother’s room. The sight of her lying in the bed stopped Rowan short. Her skin was barely a shade darker than the stark white of the sheets. Blue veins showed clearly at her temples and throat. Both eyes were darkened with bruises and her arm lay in a rigid cast suspended across her chest.
Jess held her free hand, slowly rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. Her mom’s eyes were closed. Jess’ sniffle indicated tears. She’d done this, risked her entire family on some crazy quest for answers. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She took a step back, not wanting to intrude.
Jess lifted his head and turned her way. His blue eyes shone with unshed tears. “I know what you’re thinking. It’s not your fault.”
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