Into The Spirit

by Marie Harte

  Trevor sighed and touched her on the shoulder. “Are you going to be okay?”

  “He’s heading the investigation. I don’t see how I can be any other way. Besides, with any luck, the bastard won’t call again, and I can bow out.” She smiled at Trevor’s nervous twitch. “I’m a big girl, Trevor. I’ll be fine.”

  Trevor patted her shoulder as she turned and headed for her Jeep. She walked quickly, hoping her anxiousness was hidden in her stride. It wasn’t until she was seated behind the wheel she released the tight rein she had on her emotions, allowing the stray tears to tumble to her cheek. Six months of putting Gil behind her ruined by one look into his eyes. He was just like she remembered. Thick dark hair, stunning blue eyes and a smile that could make her knees weak. His hands were just as firm as they’d held her close to his chest, his fingers locked around her waist. His muscles were firm and tight, and she thought he’d been spending more time at the gym. His shoulders were slightly broader, his chest more pronounced. But his hips. Damn, they were just as lean, just as tight as when they’d last made love. She’d nearly melted into a puddle at his feet when she’d felt his cock harden against her stomach. Even through two layers of fabric she’d sensed it flaring in response, and she knew, if she’d pulled away the clothing, a shinny bead of seminal essence would have been covering the thin slit on his crown.

  Fallon felt her body heat even further. She’d been in an instant state of arousal the moment their bodies had collided, gushing the silky cream from her body until the slide of juices had dampened her panties. She’d tried to keep her distance, hoping Gil wouldn’t catch her scent, but had cringed when he’d glanced at her and given her body a long, slow sweep. The man was more than dangerous, and if she didn’t watch her step, she’d lose more than her heart this time.

  “Stop it. Just stop it!”

  She shouted the words, hoping the sound of them would bring some sanity back to her head. He was only there on business, nothing more. And it didn’t take a psychic to sense the walls he’d built around himself. The same walls he’d use to hide from her after the shooting.

  “Damn.” She let her breath whisper out in a long sigh as she laid her head against the steering wheel. There was no way she’d be able to spend any amount of time with him without wanting more. He may have left their home, but it was clear he still held her heart.

  Fallon cursed and started the Jeep, slamming the small stick into gear. At least she’d had the good sense to strap her bike on the back before she’d left. A few hours of grinding her frustrations away on a trail was her only hope right now. Gil could wait until she was good and ready to give her back her cell. I know how to find you, Fallon. Damn, he was arrogant. Let him drive around trying to find her for a while and he’d see just how easy it was to track her down. A sly smile touched the corners of her mouth as she pulled into traffic and headed for the hills.

  * * * *

  Gil stood in Trevor’s office, listening to the man escort Fallon down the hall. He tried to ignore how her voice had changed as soon as she’d left the room, the tension easing from her shoulders once she’d brushed by him. He curbed his need to growl, directing his anger inwards.

  “So,” said Wade. “That was interesting. Didn’t realise I’d be the odd man out here.”

  Gil looked over at him, his brow pulled into a distinct vee. “What the hell are you whining about?”

  “Oh nothing. Just because you all seem to be fast friends didn’t bother me any, especially since I’m only your colleague.”

  Gil huffed out his breath, shifting his hand through his hair again. “You knew Trevor and I were friends before we arrived. And technically speaking, the Bureau doesn’t use the term partner.”

  “Maybe they don’t, but every other agent does, so it wouldn’t kill you to use it every once and a while. Besides, I had no idea you knew that lovely creature sleeping on the couch.” Wade raised his eyebrow. “How long were you two lovers?”

  Gil sneered at the man. He’d obviously heard every word Fallon had mumbled. “Nearly two years. But it’s over.”

  Wade laughed, not even bothering to hide the cocky smile Gil immediately wanted to smack off his face. “If you believe for one second there’s nothing between you two, then you’re a worse investigator than I thought. You were here when she practically drooled all over your shoes, weren’t you? And you weren’t much better. I heard you growl… twice.” Wade’s smile widened. “Besides, the girl must be spoken for when she didn’t even give me one ‘baby come here’ smile.”

  “Maybe not every girl is lured by your charm, Junior,” countered Gil. “Or maybe she belongs to someone else,” he said, hating the sound of the words the moment they left his lips.

  “Oh, it wasn’t my charm she was preoccupied with, partner. It was your body, or didn’t you notice her physical reaction to you. Man, if my girlfriend had nipples like that, I’d never leave the damn house.”

  Another growl trembled through his body before Gil had the sense to stop it. Wade merely smiled at him. “I burned too many bridges to get her back. Besides, now isn’t the time to get distracted.”

  “Buddy. When a lady looks that fine, anytime is a good time to get…distracted.”

  Gil chuckled. “Just do us both a favour and get up to the communication’s centre. Get Jane to show you which phone she called Fallon on. It must be the key to why she’s getting the phone calls. I’ll go over to the medical examiner’s office and see if there’s anything new on our latest victim. I’ll be back in two hours to get Fallon’s cell back.”

  “I’ll have it ready, not that you’re anxious to see her again, or anything.”

  “Just figure out the connection, Wade. This might be the one lucky break that blows this case apart.”

  “Or at least ends up with Fallon blowing you,” he teased. “Either way, it’s a win-win scenario.”

  Chapter Six

  Fallon ripped down the trail, skipping over logs and dodging trees as if the bike were an extension of her body. She’d never felt so in tune with her surroundings, and almost wished today had been the race. She’d already conquered two sections of the run that normally threw her to the ground, and she was quickly edging up on the third.

  “Son of a bitch. Thinks he can waltz into my life and look at me like some victorious predator…” she skidded across some rocks, spraying a layer of mud across the path. “Well, it’ll be a cold day in hell before I give him so much as a fucking smile.”

  She barrelled forward, cursing Gil with every breath. “Who needs him to fulfil my fantasies? I can get laid any time of the week if I so desire. Who says I haven’t moved on?”

  Fallon felt the bike hit the lip of the jump and pulled up the wheel without even thinking. It shuddered through the air, dropping her several feet down the trail, nearly shaking her against a tree. She veered right, skimming the bark with her arm as she skidded to a halt. “Damn it!” She looked back up the trail. She’d never tried the drop before and was stunned she’d gone over it without even thinking. “See. I’m way out of his league,” she snapped. “He never would’ve taken that jump.”

  She pressed forward, stopping once she’d reached a clearing near the bottom of the ride. It was her favourite spot to regroup and rest before the drive home. The air was thick and cool, the promise of rain gathering in the clouds. She could feel the charge building on her skin and knew they were in for another storm. A familiar shiver danced along her spine. It’d been raining the last two times the bastard had called, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he’d strike again. If the storm didn’t set him off somehow?

  “Doesn’t matter. Gil still has my phone, so I won’t be the one answering it this time.”

  The words sounded promising, but a part of her refused to believe Gil would let her off that easily, not when she was connected to his case. She nodded, knowing he’d do whatever was necessary to solve the case, even if it meant being around her. “A sacrifice I’m sure,” she sneered, tossing h
er helmet on the ground. “As long as I’m not the only one suffering.” She forced a smile and braced her foot against a large boulder just as someone grabbed her from behind and knocked her to the ground.

  * * * *

  Gil pulled into the gravel lot, eyeing the red Jeep parked beside a stand of trees. This hadn’t been his first stop, but it also hadn’t been as hard as he’d hoped to find her. Seems she hadn’t made that many changes in her life since he’d left, which made him wonder if Wade had been right. Was Fallon still in love with him as much as he was with her?

  He shook his head, stepping out into the cool air. He’d hurt her too badly to expect she felt anything other than revulsion for him. He was sure she’d only been polite at the station, not wanting to embarrass him in front of Wade. So did that mean she was seeing someone new? He cursed the thought, trying not to picture another man spreading her thighs wide, watching her pretty pink lips quiver as he drew his finger along her crease, tasting her sweet cream.

  “Fuck!” He’d always been a possessive lover, never wanting her to so much as hug another man, and it seemed surreal to him that their last time together had been shared with Charlie. But then Charlie had been special. He’d owed the man his life, and it’d seemed the only action fitting of the sacrifice Charlie had made for him.

  Gil sighed as he wove his way up the trail, watching for signs of Fallon’s bike. He wouldn’t put it past her to run him down if he gave her the chance, and was relieved when he made it to a large clearing without having to dodge into the bushes. He looked around, wondering where she was, when he saw a flash of her through the trees on the ridge off to his left. He’d been on that trail before, and remembered how close to the edge it came as it rounded the bend, allowing anyone in the clearing a clear view. His blood pressure soared as he watched her race down the path, veering right and left as if the bike were part of her body. She’d always been good, but this display was nothing less than stunning.

  “Okay, baby, you did good. Now stop and walk it down the drop.” He smiled at her skill, expecting her to pull the bike up, but felt his heart stop dead when she took the jump at full speed, flying through the air until she landed several feet down the trail. He saw the bike wobble and shift, brushing her against a large tree before she swerved and skidded to a halt.

  “Jesus Christ, Fallon! You could’ve killed yourself!” He was yelling at no one, but he didn’t care. He watched as she surveyed her accomplishment before heading back into the trees. He shook his head, trying to calm the shaky rhythm of his heart. “You’ll pay for that, sweetheart,” he promised, imagining a proper punishment for taking ten years off his life. Then a smile found his lips and he darted into the brush before Fallon barrelled into the clearing.

  Gil pressed his back against a tree, watching Fallon as she tossed her gear on the ground, stretching her arms up. Damn, he loved when she did that. The way the motion jiggled her breasts, making her nipples arch higher on her chest. He could almost taste the sweet fruity perfection of her skin, mixed with a hint of salty sweat. Even that turned him on. It reminded him of all the times she’d collapsed on top of him after fucking him for over an hour. Her body would be hot and slick, the smell of sex and sweat lingering on her skin. God, it’d been paradise.

  “A sacrifice I’m sure.”

  Her voice drifted along the breeze as she threw her helmet on the ground and shrugged her CamelBak off her shoulders. He smiled. She was pissed, and that made his plan even easier. He snuck out, keeping his body low as he moved towards her. She was huffing out her breath and running her fingers through her hair. She never once looked over her back as he straightened up behind her.

  “As long as I’m not the only one who suffers,” she began, but her voice shuddered into a gasp as Gil grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her to the ground. He did his best to cushion her fall, rolling his body on top of hers. But he hadn’t even caught her gaze before she bucked her hips underneath him and threw him over her shoulder. His back hit the hard dirt a moment before she pounced on top of him, holding a small Swiss army knife to his throat. He watched as her eyes went wide, and her grip weakened.

  “Gil?” was all she got out before he broke her hold and rolled her over, pinning her beneath his heavy body. She cursed as her shoulders hit the ground, knocking her breath out in a loud huff. She growled at him and immediately raised her hips again, but Gil was ready this time, and shifted his weight, locking her in place. She fought against his hold for a few minutes, trying every technique he’d taught her before finally stilling beneath him, her chest rising sharply against his.

  “Fine, Gil. You win. Now get off of me.”

  Gil smiled at the reluctant tone of her voice. She hated admitting defeat and had injected just enough anger into her voice to make him think she was serious.

  “Are you conceding I’m the more skilled warrior?” he asked, knowing the question would boil her blood.

  Fallon grunted, giving one more attempt to best him, before snorting out her breath. “You only won because I let my guard down when I realised it was you. Don’t think for a moment I would’ve done that with anyone else.”

  “A true warrior knows how to take advantage of any mistake,” he noted.

  Another irritated sigh rumbled through her chest as she stared up at him. “Fine. You’re the better warrior. Now can you get off me?”

  Gil shook his head, lowering his body closer to hers. His smile widened when he felt her breathing hitch and her nipples harden against his chest. “Not yet, sweetheart. First I want to know what in the hell made you try a stunt like that?”

  Fallon fought for breath as she stared up at him, her eyes already darkening. He knew she could feel his cock hardening even further against her stomach, and he didn’t try to hide his amusement at her reaction. “What are you talking about? What stunt?”

  He rubbed her cock across her stomach, revelling in the breathy whimper that escaped her lips before she could pull them into a tight line. “That jump back there. What in the hell made you think it was a good idea to try it?” He lowered even further, keeping her arms pinned above her head. “You scared ten years off my life, darling.”

  Fallon watched him for several moments, her tongue moistening her lips in a slow sweep across her mouth. He groaned, wishing she’d do that to his lips. “I’ve been practicing. And in case you didn’t notice, I landed it perfectly.”

  Gil growled and shifted both her hands into one of his before pulling down on the neckline of her shirt until the upper part of her right shoulder was exposed. Even in the dull light the cuts made on her skin by the bark of the tree she’d nearly collided with were visible. “And what to you call those?” he asked, raising his eyebrow in challenge.

  Fallon smiled at him, a wicked gleam in her eyes. “Love bites,” she whispered, grinding her hips against his erection. He couldn’t stop a groan from tearing from his chest. Her smile widened. “Are we finished now, Gil?”

  Gil stared down at her, unable to look away. Her eyes were almost black now, just a hint of the blue rimming the edges. He could feel her body warming against his and he knew the sweet scent starting to mingle with the breeze was the proof of her arousal. She wanted him. He just needed to show her how much.

  He bent down, brushing his lips across hers, catching the startled gasp that purged from her lips. “Finished?” He looked down between their bodies, noting how closely she pressed herself against him, before catching her gaze once again. “Darling, we haven’t even started yet.”

  With that he took her lips, slanting his over top, taking advantage of her surprised yelp to slip his tongue inside her mouth. It was soft and warm, and he had to hold himself back from ripping her clothes off and slamming inside her before her tongue even played with his. She was hesitant at first, just brushing the tip across his, allowing him to explore her mouth without really returning his passion. Then her willpower seemed to vanish, and she latched on to his tongue and suckled it, dipping into his mouth wh
en he finally retreated. She tasted fruity and sweet, and he dipped his head for another kiss once they’d both grabbed a quick breath.

  “God, you taste good,” he moaned, moving his lips to her neck, nipping at the delicious hollow near her shoulder. Fallon arched into the bite, her moan joining his. “Does that feel good, baby?”

  “Yes,” she whispered, her voice so soft he wasn’t sure she’d even answered him.

  Gil glanced up at her, his body tensing. Did she really want him to make love to her, or was she just humouring him to the breaking point before dismissing his actions? He lowered his chest, rubbing it against hers. He could feel her nipples through her shirt, so hard he could almost see the small holes in the tips. She was panting, her eyes dark, her skin flushed. He held her gaze, his lips suspended above hers, every inch of their bodies touching, looking for any hint of regret in her expression. He didn’t want to stop, but if she gave so much as a dart of her eyes that suggested this wasn’t what she wanted, he would, even if it killed him. She watched him, tugging against his hold, waiting on his move until her patience must have waned and she arched her pussy against his cock, rubbing it along the full length of his erection.

  “Gil.”

  God, he nearly creamed his pants at the soft plea of her voice. All thoughts of stopping vanished with that one word, and he smiled down at her, victoriously. “Yeah, baby. I feel it, too. But I don’t want to rush through this. I want to savour you.”

  Fallon moaned again as he brought his lips back to her neck, nipping and licking at the soft skin. He loved the way she whimpered with each new sensation, whispering his name out with her breath. He moved down to where he’d left his mark, soothing the mild hurt with a series of soft licks. Fallon moaned even louder.

  “Gil.”

  Gil glanced up at her, smiling at the pout gracing her lips. “Yes, darling?” he replied, grazing his free hand across one hard nipple.

  Fallon arched against his hand. “Let go of my hands. I can’t touch you like this.”