by Renee George
He rolled me onto my back and got between my legs. With one hand, he stroked me through my panties and I arched to meet his fingers. He stopped for a moment and I glanced down my body at him. His face was slack with desire as he kicked out of his jeans then knelt between my legs, one hand reaching up to caress my breasts while the heat of his breath penetrated the cotton barrier between his mouth and my sex.
My nipples hardened to attention as he pinched and rolled them between his fingertips. I groaned even louder when his tongue swiped at the fabric of my panties. Gah! His teasing of my sex was agony—blissful, orgasmic agony.
I fisted my hand in his hair and yanked him harder to me between my legs. He bit down gently and growled. He worked his way up my body, his fingers replacing his mouth at my nether region, as he took my nipple between his lips and sucked.
“Oh, God,” I said, my voice a hoarse whisper. His fingers touched my lips and I sucked the tips. He moaned this time and the vibration against my breast drove me wild. I raised my hips, rubbing my wetness against his stomach.
He made a rumbling noise as his tongue swirled my nipple. He dragged his hands down my sides, his fingers from his right hand finding purchase on my ass, while the fingers from his left hand slipped beneath the fabric of my underwear.
“Off, off,” I said, breathless with anticipation.
He didn’t bother pulling them down my legs. Instead, he tore the panties in half, leaving me exposed. I gasped, my breath catching in my throat. Our first time together had been fun, but I’d had fun before. This, however, was beyond anything I’d ever experienced. Babel was a man possessed and his craving for my body set me on fire. The feeling overwhelmed me. He kissed me all over, inch after joyful inch, his mouth playing me like an instrument. His instrument. And he was definitely hitting all the right notes. I was slick and throbbing. Our bodies slid together as he spread my legs even wider with his knees and kissed my neck and jaw.
He paused, his blue eyes drinking me in. “You mess me up, Sunny. You mess up my world.”
“Is that bad?”
“Hell no.” He growled a low, possessive rumble. “I want to be inside you, Sunny. I want to make love to you.”
“Yes,” I heard myself saying without any real thought. My brain was too numb with passion.
“You’re mine, Sunshine Haddock,” he said, his voice guttural and deep.
“Yes,” I repeated.
“Say it,” he demanded.
I’d been waiting for this, waiting for him, my entire life. I just hadn’t known.
“Say it,” he repeated more insistently, pressing a finger inside me as his thumb played over my swollen nub.
“I’m yours,” I said, then again. “I’m completely yours.”
The tip of his shaft entered me and we both moaned. His mouth captured mine in a tangle of lips and teeth and tongue. He tasted delicious. My body arched and rocked as he stroked his shaft just a few inches inside me and over the sweet spot. I groaned, trying to curve into him, to force him deeper, but he outplayed me and kept up the torturous pace, the ridge of his length tormenting me to the point of rapture.
“Babe,” I pleaded. “Babe, please.”
Without any more encouragement, he thrust inside me, deep and hard, filling me so utterly completely. “Ah!” I cried out. “Yes, yes.”
His paced quickened, and I rocked my hips forward to meet each thrust. Heat pooled to my stomach, groin, and thighs, our sex making me lightheaded and tingly.
“God!” he roared.
“Yes!” I shouted as I exploded in the hardest orgasm of my life. I shuddered and shook and clung to Babel, my hands fisting at the nape of his neck. I wrapped my legs around him, holding him tight inside me until every ounce of the orgasm subsided.
“Oh, Babe,” I whimpered, and that was the trigger he needed. His animalistic roar echoed off the walls of my bedroom as he thrust hard three times, his chest bowing forward as he loosed his climax.
“Shit,” he said, when he’d rolled over onto his back.
“Yeah,” I agreed. We both laughed.
“You called me Babe,” he said. I could hear the smile in his voice.
I rolled onto my side and propped myself up on an elbow. “I did, didn’t I?”
“Yes.” He kissed my left eyelid, then my right. “You did. It sounded wonderful.”
I fought to keep from grinning. “I don’t know what possessed me.”
He stared down the length of his body, then down mine. “Oh, I know exactly what possessed you.”
I playfully smacked him, then kissed him as a reward. “We were pretty damned awesome.”
His expression grew serious. “You can’t be a fling for me, Sunny. I hope you know you mean more to me than that. I’m in love with you.”
“I know.” I caressed his face. My heart thrilled at his words, and I wanted to shout out my own declaration, but I knew he’d never be happy staying in Peculiar, so I didn’t know how we’d make this work. We’d cross that bridge (the only one in and out of town) when we came to it. Instead, I wrapped my arms around him and snuggled in close.
When we woke up the next morning, Babel was curled up behind me. “Morning,” he murmured, kissing my ear. I smiled. I really loved the warm emotions swarming in my chest.
We cuddled in silence for a few minutes more, then Babel tilted my chin with his fingertips. “Ruth told me you had a run-in with Brady Corman.”
When had he talked to Ruth?
Reading my mind (no, not psychically), he said, “I saw her yesterday evening at the cafe. It’s why I couldn’t stay away last night. It drives me nuts not being next to you, protecting you. I want to keep you safe, Sunny. Don’t you understand? I can’t lose you too.” He let his grief for Judah and his fear for Chavvah fill his expression.
“I’m not going anywhere.” I tried to be reassuring. “I don’t think Brady wants to hurt me. Not really. He’s just got a lot of demons on him.” And after what I witnessed about Rose Ann, I could understand why.
“Real demons? Do they exist?”
“No.” I snickered. Then stopped. Hell, up until last week, I didn’t think ghosts and were-creatures existed. “Not that I’ve seen anyways. I just mean, the man has problems. I feel sorry for Jo Jo. And his wife…Babel, I have to tell you something.”
And I confessed everything to him—Rose Ann, my visions of the hunters, the necklace, the diner check, the dream about the ledger—everything. After I finished, I felt unburdened.
However, Babel looked really angry. “I’ll kill those bastards.”
Oh man, the way they’d caged Rose Ann, I hadn’t thought. They must have done the same to Judah. Kept him locked up like an animal until it was time to hunt.
“Oh, Babe.” I stroked his cheek.
He turned to me, the hard lines around his eyes softening. “I like it when you call me Babe.”
“Why?” I liked that he liked it, but everyone called him Babe.
He blinked, measured, as if in slow motion. “Because when you say it, you mean it.”
I was having one of those hands-clenched-to-chest moments. The emotion overwhelmed me. Avoider that I am, I changed the subject. “You going to Ruth’s tonight?”
“Do you want me there?”
He was playing with me. “Silly man. Of course, I want you there. I need a date, after all.”
“Cool.” He rubbed his thumb over the curve of my thigh. “You think Judah figured out what happened to Corman’s wife and that’s why he was taken?”
“I’m not a hundred percent sure, but yes, that’s what I think. And I think Chavvah figured out who is behind all this. Babe, I think she might’ve been taken.”
“Damn it. You can’t even know how frustrating this is for me.”
“I know.” I smoothed my hand through his hair. “Me too.”
“No, you don’t understand. I gave up. After one year, I just gave up on Judah. Ready to just throw a
way my brother because I was done.” His eyes brimmed with unshed tears. “And now Chavvah…”
I finally understood. Babel was ashamed and angry at himself. He felt like he’d failed Judah. “Don’t say that. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
“I went back to Kansas City and left Chavvie to deal with all this. I’m worse than a coward. I couldn’t face the not knowing and I ran away.” He sat up on the edge of the bed and put his head in his hands.
I understood the desire to run. I’d been doing it my whole life. “I’m not a big believer in fate, Babe. But I’m here for a reason. We’ll find these bastards and we’ll make them pay.”
I got up walked around the bed to him and tilted his chin up. I looked him straight in his baby blues. “I promise you, I won’t give up until I know exactly who is responsible for what happened to Judah and Chavvah is safely back home.” I hoped I wasn’t lying about Chav, but after looking at those numbers again, I was pretty sure the “07” had been July. It was possible they only hunted in July, and July was a few weeks away, and still, it would have to be a night of a full moon. If I was right, Chav was alive.
Babel’s hands fisted my hair. “God, you’re beautiful.”
Judah picked that time to show up. I waved him away with my hand as I took Babe’s mouth hostage with a kiss that quickly grew passionate. I’d never had a man want me so goddamn bad before, and the feeling was completely mutual.
Chapter 20
After the full Babel treatment for most of the afternoon, hubba hubba, he went home to change for the potluck. Tonight, I planned on doing it up right—curl my mop of brown hair, put on some evening makeup, and wear a dress with heels. I’d show Babel how hot the Sunshine could get. Also, I wanted to look sparkling for the townies. The potluck was an honor. Peculiar, with all its flaws and secrets, would embrace me, even if I had to twist their arms behind their backs to get it done.
It had been really nice of Ruth to put this together on short notice. I liked her so much. I hated that I suspected Tyler, her son, of attacking me. I could still feel that monster’s hot breath on my skin when I thought about it too much.
You need a lesson in minding your own business. That’s what the attacker had said to me. It nearly paralleled Tyler’s request that I “Let sleeping dogs lie.”
But how could he have been involved with Rose Ann’s disappearance? Tyler would have been eleven years old at the time. If my theory was right, the person responsible for Rose was responsible for Judah. What if there was more than one person involved?
Between the gossip and the random vision or two, maybe something more than good eating would come out of the event. I would do anything to find Chavvah. I couldn’t let what happened to Judah and Rose Ann happen to her.
Babel arrived promptly at six in the evening to pick me up. He looked handsome in a button-down black shirt with silver corduroys and a black pair of boots. The boots gave an extra lift to his butt that made it even more delicious—a feast for the eyes. He’d combed his hair back out of his eyes, and he’d even shaved.
Wow, I wasn’t the only one sparkling.
I smoothed my black silk dress, just shy of my knees and sleeveless, and it had a slightly daring plunge in the neckline. The black pantyhose I wore were the kind that looked great from the thigh down, but had the total control panel around the hips and waist.
This kind of dress needed the extra control.
I wore my grandmother’s diamond earrings and a plain gold choker. I had a giraffe neck, and the choker helped the illusion that it was a little shorter.
Babel took a step back and gave me the once over. “You look stunning,” he finally said.
“Ditto.” I smiled, really pleased.
“You always say the nicest things.” He laughed then finally kissed me hello. Arms were moving, hands were groping, and when I pulled back from his embrace, his neatly combed hair was back to its normal loose mess.
Oh, boy. Much more of this and the potluck would be shit out of luck, because I didn’t think we’d make it out.
“I hope the night doesn’t last too long,” I told him, my voice full of dark promise.
“From your lips…”
I grabbed my shawl from the stair rail. Babel took it and put it over my shoulders. So gallant.
Outside, it was a beautiful night with a large quarter moon dipping out of the clouds. “Wanna walk?”
I’d only worn a two-inch heel, which made walking totally feasible. “Sure.”
Babel held my hand as we strolled down the sidewalk toward Ruth’s. Every block he’d stop and draw me into a kiss before moving on to the next. I felt giddy like a teenager. He made me feel young, vibrant, and vital.
Nearly twenty minutes later we arrived at the party. My hair was a little mussed, and I’d had to adjust my dress several times, but I didn’t care. Ruth’s yard was decorated with dozens of Chinese lanterns in blue, gold, and red, hanging from string lights that draped from one end of the drive to the other. I was shocked by the turnout. I think nearly all 1,027 residents of Peculiar had shown up!
Okay, that was an exaggeration, but there had to be at least fifty or more people milling around white-cloth-covered buffet tables set on the lawn. There were patio chairs and picnic tables gathered on the right side of the yard. “Holy wow. This is for me?” Suddenly, I felt nervous. What if they didn’t like me?
Babel smiled and shook his head. “Come on.” He dragged me to the buffet line.
While we waited our turn, I saw Connelly and waved. Crazy squirrel.
Poor Farraday had followed us in—God knows he got an eyeful—and had to show up to the party in his uniform since he was on Sunny-watch again.
I saw Tyler Thompson talking to a man I didn’t recognize, while he held two identical twin girls on his hips. Ruth’s grandchildren. They had on the cutest yellow dresses.
Please don’t be the bad guy.
His wife—I recognized her from the wedding photos—went over to him and took one of the girls. They all chatted, perfectly normal. Like there wasn’t a serial killer in the bunch.
Jean Taylor stood in line next to me. “Mmm, mmm. It all looks so good,” she said.
“It really does.” I was surprised to see the sheriff wasn’t with her. Should I take his absence as a rejection? “Is your husband coming?”
Jean bit into a slice of cucumber. “Uh-hum. He had to finish up some work, he said. But he’ll be here after a bit.”
Ruth came out and went to stand between Tyler and his wife. She kissed both her grandbabies on the cheek and gave them a tickle. Turning toward her guests, Ruth saw me. She grinned and nearly bounced her way through the throng of people to get to Babel and I.
“I’m so glad you’re here!” She looked around. “It’s great isn’t it?”
“Great doesn’t even come close.” I hugged her. “More like spectacular.” My anxiousness had a side-effect. I had to pee. “Can I use your bathroom?”
“Honey, you don’t ask that a party. You just go.”
With a parting look at Babel, who just shook his head at me, I followed Ruth out of the food line and up the steps to the house. A tawny-colored fawn with white spots on his hindquarters ran past me out the door. I jumped out of the way.
“Linus!” Ruth yelled. “What did I tell you about changing in the house?” She patted my arm. “I’ve got to go take care of this, Sunny. Hope you don’t mind. The boy will change back buck naked in front of everyone if I don’t stop him. The bathroom’s the third door on the right.”
“By all means. I can find my way.”
The house was full of people as well. Neville stopped me inside the hall. “Sunny, you look splendid this evening.”
I curtsied. “Why, thank you, Mayor Lutjen.”
“Have you tried any of the food?” He took a bite of a little barbequed meatball on a toothpick. “It’s really good stuff.” The whole house was as packed as the yard, but running into the m
ayor on the way to the toilet was unexpected.
“Not yet. Had to take a nature break, if you catch what I’m saying.” Of course, the pee-pee dance I was doing should have illuminated for him.
“Oh, then, by no means let me hold you up, young lady.”
I grabbed the door handle to the bathroom. It was locked.
“Occupied,” a voice said from inside.
Fantastic. I wondered how bad it would look if I had to hold myself.
I leaned against the wall, squeezing my thighs tightly together.
“I want to talk to you.”
I looked at Tyler Thompson’s furrowed brow and nearly peed myself right there.
“I don’t know why you don’t like me. But it’s not my problem.”
“I want you to stop filling everyone’s heads with nonsense.”
“What nonsense? People have died and you’re acting like it’s a personal attack on you. I don’t get it.”
“Whatever happened to Judah, he probably deserved it.”
The vision of Tyler punching Judah in the nose flashed in my head again. Along with the vision of the bullet smashing into Judah’s skull. “Don’t you say that. Don’t you ever say that again. I don’t know what happened between you and Judah, but no one deserves to be hunted and killed like an animal.”
“What?” His surprise shocked me.
“You are a police officer, Tyler. I can’t believe the sheriff hasn’t shared that little revelation with you.” Of course, if the sheriff didn’t believe me, he might not have. “Judah was caged until the full moon then hunted like some exotic beast to be slaughtered. Is that what you think he deserved? What could he have done that could possibly make you think such terrible things?”
Tyler cheeks reddened, his eyes wide in disbelief. “No. That didn’t happen.” He backed me against the wall. “Liar.”
“Tyler Edward Thompson!” Ruth to the rescue. Where had she come from? And how long had she been listening? Ruth grabbed her son by the arm and yanked him away from me. She slapped him hard across the face. “You will not talk that way to a guest in my home. And you will not talk to Sunny like that ever. Do you get me, boy?”