by Jen Talty
“I thought maybe I was the problem and not him, since I’m so pigheaded. You know how I can get.”
“I do,” he said. “But you two had the same problem Mary and I had. You couldn’t communicate. Or didn’t want to. It was always one argument after the other. It’s like no one wanted to make it work, but no one was willing to step up and say it was over.”
“I know that now,” she said. “I called him after the shooting, and he seemed like he cared. He listened to me, and I realized I’d only seen him three or four times in the last year, which wasn’t normal. I thought it would be romantic to surprise him. Maybe see if the spark was still there. Instead, I got burned.”
“He didn’t deserve you.”
“I opened his bedroom door and saw him with whoever, and just looked at them both and said, ‘I came to collect my things,’ and then I left.”
“Without your things?”
“I didn’t have any things there,” she said. “He actually chased me to the elevator of his apartment and told me that one, I’d never be able to leave the clutches of my father, and two, he’d given up because he was tired of competing with you. He figured we were already over when I kept cancelling on coming down to see him. He didn’t think we needed to formally break up.”
“Basically, he didn’t think he was even cheating on you.”
“In a nutshell,” she said. “I got an email from him today.”
“And what did he want?”
“It was an electronic invite to his wedding.”
Doug laughed. “He really is a weasel.”
“I think we should go to the wedding together.”
“As much as I’d love to make the weasel squirm a little, I think I’ll pass on that one, thank you very much.”
Doug heard someone stomp up the stairs.
“Turn your television on,” Jim yelled as he barreled into the room, pacing, looking for something.
“What?” Doug sat up, pulling Stacey with him.
Jim wrestled frantically with the remote for Doug’s TV. “Jillian recorded this. I think she got all of it. They found a body near Black Mountain. A male. Shot twice. They are speculating its Bill.”
Doug leaned back against his headboard, stunned as he listened to the five-minute report that had been saved on DVR. The newscaster mentioned Mary’s case, and even mentioned Doug’s name, not once, but twice. The second time, they flashed a picture of Stacey in her uniform, mentioning her ‘sudden vacation’, then showed Mary, Doug, and Stacey and commented of the love triangle. They then showed a brief interview with Gregory, who indicated an arrest was imminent.
When it was over, Jim shut off the television then tossed the remote on the desk. “Where are they getting this crap?”
“Gregory,” Stacey said, her voice laced with venom. “He’s got to be feeding the press. Only thing that makes sense.”
“How long before Gregory finds out about the gun we just gave up to the Troopers?” her father asked.
“By morning,” Stacey said. She brought her knees to her chest, wrapping both arms around them. “Gregory is botching up this entire investigation. Not only is he leaking information to the press, he’s leading the press and the public.”
Doug placed his hand on her back, rubbing gently, but nothing was going to ease the tension in the room.
“How bad is this, really?” Jim asked. He stood in the doorway, his broad frame nearly filling the space, his face pale.
“I’d say it’s bad,” Stacey said, “but maybe not horrible.” She turned to Doug. “Where are your divorce papers?”
“Mary had them.”
Stacey leapt from the bed then grabbed her phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Texting Reese and Luke,” she said.
“What do my divorce papers have to do with this?”
“Might be nothing,” Stacey said, dropping her phone back on the desk before climbing back onto the bed. “One thing Gregory is really weak on is motive. The D.A. will want a solid motive before making an arrest. You told them in that very first interview… which they totally jumped the gun there, and they know it.”
“Get to the point, baby girl,” her father said.
“Doug told them he was going to meet her to sign the papers. So, where are the papers?”
“Probably in Bill’s house somewhere.”
“Mary was a smart woman. If she and Bill were in danger, or being blackmailed and felt like they couldn’t go to the proper authorities, maybe she’d try to slip a note asking for help in those papers. She did it with her sister. Why not you?”
“You know, the day before I was to meet her, she texted, saying if I wanted to take a day to re-read through the papers, I could,” Doug said. “Which is so not like her. Besides being efficient, she wanted that divorce as bad as I did, so I told her there was no need for me to look at them again. We’d meet and sign them. She told me she’d be up here all weekend, and if I changed my mind, she’d be willing to meet the next day as well.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that?” Stacey glared at him. More like scolded him.
“I just thought of it,” he said. “Besides, I told her I wasn’t going to take the time. Sign and be done.”
Stacey leaned against the headboard next to him, still glaring at him.
“We should all try to get some sleep,” Jim said. “It’s Saturday tomorrow, and normally I’d say ‘Let’s get up and go to work,’ but why don’t we all sleep in? We can get to the site ten or so.”
“I’m good with that,” Doug said.
Jim waggled his finger at Stacey. “I know you’re a cop and all that, but I really don’t want you out there by yourself, doing whatever.”
“I won’t be,” she said. “I’m on vacation.”
“I wish that were really true,” Jim said. “Good night.” He stepped out into the hallway, then paused for a moment as he ran his hand across the top of his head before gently pulling Doug’s door closed.
“See?” Stacey said. “He does not have a problem with this.”
“Yeah, because he knows tomorrow I’ll probably be arrested.”
She punched him in the shoulder. “Don’t even kid about something like that.”
He rubbed his arm. Girl packed a powerful punch. “I’m not kidding.” He undressed to his underwear, then pulled back the comforter, scooting them both under the sheets. “We turned in a gun that was found in our house on the day Bill’s body was found.”
“But we turned it in,” Stacey said. “It would have been one thing if the cops had found it during a search… Oh.” Stacey bolted upright, looking down at him. “There is going to be evidence on Bill’s body somehow that the killer is going to hope will be enough for a search warrant. Why they planted the gun.” She jumped out of the bed again. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Bill’s body were staged.”
“Where are you going?”
“Texting the Troopers on duty tonight. I’m sure Jared already has someone checking this out, but just in case.”
He dropped his head back onto his pillow. Just when he thought things couldn’t get worse, they got worse.
* * *
Stacey scrolled through her texts. Nothing from Taylor. If they had the name of the other office romance, they might be able to find out what was going on. At the very least, a new direction.
Doug still lay on his back, covers at his waist, staring out the window. She hoped they didn’t have enough to arrest him, but they’d sure as shit be taking him down to the station for more questioning.
“I don’t want to be hauled off in front of the crew,” Doug said.
“We’ll get a heads-up from Jared if they plan on an arrest, and then we can make arrangements for you to go to the station.” She leaned against the desk, studying him as he stared out the window. He’d always had a fascination for the stars. He could find every constellation. When they were younger, she’d often find him out on the sundeck, lying on his back, staring up at the
sky.
“Most times, I like you being blunt. But now? Not so much.”
“I can’t even imagine what they think they have on you,” she said, “but we do need to prepare ourselves for a much more intense round of questioning tomorrow.”
“They can question me all they want, I don’t know anything,” he said, still looking out the window. “If Gregory keeps coming after you, no one is going to be able to stop me from throwing a few punches.” Doug’s tone was even, but the timbre of his voice told her he was dead serious. Doug wasn’t normally a confrontational man. She’d rarely seen him go off half-cocked about anything.
“Not going to help.”
“It will make me feel better.”
“It would make things worse.” She hoped whatever had rattled Gregory at the bank earlier was a rattle for their side.
She stood at the foot of the bed. She should be talking to him about what to expect tomorrow. Her perspective from the other side could help him, but she couldn’t bring herself to discuss it. She had no idea what true love was until this week, and she never imagined it could be so empowering and yet so humbling. She loved this man with every fiber of her being. He was the air she breathed. The water she drank. With him, she could survive anything. Without him…?
She wouldn’t let that happen. She slipped off her clothing, leaving it at the foot of the bed before padding across the room, switching off the light, then locking the door. The moon cast its glow through the windowpane. Doug turned his head. He smiled, rolling to his side.
She stood there for a long moment as he stared at her, saying nothing. His gaze followed the length of her body, then came back up to meet her eyes. She’d never been shy. Barely modest. The few men she’d been with only appreciated that for the sex.
Doug seemed to appreciate everything about her. She gave him a piece of her heart and soul, not just her body.
“Come here,” he said. His voice was deep and husky, his eyes drenched with passion so intense it sent a shiver up her spine.
Slowly, she closed the gap between them. Her body trembled. As she climbed into bed, he got to his knees, resting his ass on his heels. The glimmer of the night sky framed his long, lean muscles. He was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. She knelt as he cupped her face, pulling her closer. Her lips parted in anticipation. Her breath labored. Eyes still locked on his. “No matter what—”
He hushed her with a tender kiss, his lips barely touching hers. His tongue danced over her lips, slowly. Teasing her. He was good at that. Intuitively, he knew what she wanted. What she liked. How to make her body ache for more.
He ran his hands down her shoulders, then to her back as he turned her body, pressing her back into the mattress, his torso pressing against hers. He raised his head, and it was if he looked right in her soul. “You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever known,” he whispered. “You’re smart, beautiful, and you deserve the world.”
She wanted a world with him. A world where she went to bed every night with him by her side and woke every morning knowing he’d be back. He’d never drive away and leave her alone. “No matter what ha—”
He silenced her this time with his finger, but she had something to say, and she was going to say it. “Listen to me,” she pleaded.
“I am,” he said. “I hear you breathing. I hear your heart beating. I hear and feel everything you say and do.” His mouth came down hard on hers, she matched his passion, squirming, trying to get him to put the full weight of his body on top of her, but he turned her slightly away, her back against his chest, and she had to crane her neck to look into his eyes.
He brushed her hair out of the way, then wrapped his arms around her, her shoulder now firmly against his chest. “Don’t say it until we can enjoy what it means.”
“But I—”
“No,” he said as he lifted her leg, resting it over the top of his. He entered her with brute force. His arms wrapped around her body, holding tight as he took her in a way she never imagined. It was urgent.
“I… Oh…” She had to close her eyes as the room began to spin. With each stroke, he took away her ability to speak. She had desperately wanted to tell him how much he mattered to her. What all this meant to her. How her life was just better because he was in it. “Doug… I…”
His mouth hovered over her ear, his tongue licking her earlobe, then down the side of her neck. He thrust into her hard, over and over again. She reached around with one arm and fisted his hand in his hair. Her other hand dug into the sheets and mattress. “Oh, God, Doug… I… You have to know—”
“I know,” he whispered. His hot breath ticked her skin.
“I lo—”
He put his hand over her mouth. “Shhh,” he whispered.
His body slammed into hers. His hands were all over her body. She wanted to give him everything she had. She wanted to match his desperation. She wanted to hold him. Caress him. Make him feel only her. But he held her so tightly she couldn’t turn to wrap her arms around him. It wasn’t rough. It was wicked and wild, but she wanted to please him first. “Stop,” she whispered.
He immediately pulled out. “Did I hurt you?”
“God, no,” she said. He released his tight grip and she rolled toward him. “I—”
“Don’t. I can’t bear to hear you say it. Not now.”
“I’m not going to.” She kissed his forehead. Then his check. Her hands slid across his chiseled chest, fingers grazing his nipples. “I just wanted to enjoy you more.”
He hissed.
“Do you like that?” She leaned over and took his nipple in her mouth.
“Yes… but not long, too sensitive.”
“That’s kind of the point.” She pinched the other on between her fingers, before kissing her way to his navel, his tip pressing against her cheek. “Something else I haven’t done.” She cupped him with one hand, the other holding tightly at the base as she devoured as much of him as she could.
He gathered up her hair, holding to the side. When she looked up, she shivered as he watched her. Admired her. She raised her head slowly, her hand following. She licked the tip, then glided her tongue all the way down.
“You’ve done that before,” he said between pants.
“Not after someone’s been inside me.” She took him all in again. Her hand going up and down with her mouth until he yanked her off.
“Why’d you keep stopping me?”
He held her head between his hands as he sat up. “Because.” He kissed her lips. “This mouth of yours could make me come in less than sixty seconds.” He flipped her to her side and nestled in behind her, ramming himself into her as far as he could. “And I’ve never done it like this.” He lifted her leg over hers, then wrapped both his arms around her. One toying with her nipple. The other…
“Oh, God,” she whispered. She reached her hands behind her head, bracing herself against the headboard. He pulled nearly all the way out in one slow stroke, then pounded himself inside her, stopping for a brief moment, then started again.
The way he rubbed her with his feather light touch made her throb and ache. Her nipples tightened into gloriously painful buds. She pushed against the headboard, making sure she got as much of him as she could. His face was buried in her neck. His guttural moans echoed in her ears.
She arched her back. Her body jolted, and then jerked. And then another jolt, sending her into a violent quake of pleasure. She curled forward, grabbing his hand as she clutched her legs together as much as she could considering he was still inside her
Doug groaned, slamming into her, but he didn’t retreat this time. His release spilled out into her, and her body started to shake again.
He continued to stroke her slowly. She held her stomach as it tightened and twitched again. And again. Then his finger moved across her.
“Stop,” she said.
“Why?” He rubbed a little harder and she convulsed again, though not as violently. “Hmmm…wonder how long I can make you
r orgasm last.”
“Oh, my, God,” she said. “I don’t want it to stop, but I need it to.”
He laughed. His hot breath trickled her ear.
It was a long time before her heart rate slowed and her body relaxed. Doug had wrapped the comforter around their bodies, his arms holding her close, his face still buried in her neck.
“If the worst happens,” he said. “I don’t want you wait—”
“I don’t want to hear that, so don’t say it.”
“All right,” he whispered.
She lay there for a long moment, listening to his rhythmic breathing, understanding now why he wouldn’t let her say those three little words.
And since she loved him, she’d let him do this his way. For whatever reason, it was important.
She closed her eyes, relaxed, and drifted off to sleep wondering what it would be like when she heard his voice say those words.
Chapter 13
DOUG TOOK A SIP of his coffee as he sat out on the sundeck, facing southwest, looking at the house where he’d first met Jim. He hadn’t been able to sleep, so he opted for watching the sunrise, but ignored the sunrise as he kept his gaze on that house. What were the odds he’d wander down this point? There were four houses on the private drive near the end of the point. Jim’s house was at the very end. Because they weren’t close together, and thick, lush trees lined the property, the only way to see that house was by sitting on the sundeck. It still surprised Doug that he’d been able to live in that house as long as he had without anyone knowing.
He hadn’t brought his phone, but he guessed it was close to seven. The steps to the sundeck rattled. By the harsh-sounding footsteps, he figured it was Jim. And he was right.
“How long have you been up?” Jim asked.
“Five, I think.”
“I couldn’t sleep, either.” Jim pulled up a chair facing in the same direction. He was quiet for a moment. “Have we heard anything?”
Doug shook his head. “I haven’t talked with anyone this morning. Not sure I want to.”