by Wood, Lorena
“Nick, Nick…”
“He kissed her throat and placed his throbbing member against her wetness.
“Whitney,” he whispered. “You’re so beautiful.”
As he pushed against the tightness he felt her stiffen. He kissed her gently and whispered her name. She was moaning louder and digging her nails into his skin. He felt her arch and tremble as she peaked for the first time. His mouth trailed down her breasts and then back to her lips. He pushed himself harder against her and moved his hand back and forth over her tender bud. She was moving in rhythm with him when he finally pushed inside. She gasped in surprise and opened her eyes. His eyes were locked on hers as he began to move slowly inside her.
They moved together and Nick began moaning. He held out as long as he could, but the feeling of her warmth wrapped around him pushed Nick over the edge. They both cried out as his body emptied into hers. Nick felt a flash of heat and his whole body lit on fire. He screamed and thrust one last time before he collapsed onto her.
Whitney was still as they both lay there panting.
“Are you alright?” Nick rolled off her and looked into her face. She nodded and turned to face him. She just stared into his eyes with a look of amazement.
“Are you sure you’re Okay. Did I hurt you?”
She smiled and shook her head no. “I just didn’t understand. It’s not like what I imagined. I’ve felt how people feel about sex and been exposed to their memories, but it never seemed like this.”
“Well, it’s never been like this for me either. Something happened…at the end. Something I’ve never felt before. All of sudden it was like my whole body was…connected. My body was on fire and my mind was…suddenly more aware and…”
“Connected…to me.”
“Yes. Did you feel it?”
“Yes, I felt it. But I have nothing to compare it with. I think maybe it happened when I…you know. I felt myself kind of melt into you.”
“That was weird.”
Whitney’s eyes flashed down in embarrassment.
“No, it’s not bad. It’s weird in an amazingly awesome way. If you could bottle that and sell it you’d be the richest person in history.”
“Well, there is that rumor that psychics have unusual experiences during sex.” She had heard the stories too but had never met anyone that could validate the experience.
Nick watched the thoughts flickering across her face.
“Hey, let me in. What’s going on in that head of yours?”
She looked down at his chest and laughed. “I’m still trying to take it all in.” She traced her finger along a scar that ran from his lower rib to his hip. “What happened here?”
Nick looked down and grinned. “I wasn’t fast enough to get out of the way. I got cut with a knife. But you should see the other guy.”
Whitney could see a few other scars on his arms and chest. “Pretty dangerous job, huh?”
Nick nodded and a twinge of guilt hit him. That was the reason he never did this. He didn’t want to cause anyone else pain if he got hurt. He especially didn’t want to leave someone he loved behind in grief. He could see her following his thoughts.
“Nick, I understand about not wanting to involve someone in your life when it’s not normal. Look at me.” She cast her eyes away but not before Nick could see the tears forming.
“Does that mean you’re not willing to consider a serious relationship in your life?”
She smiled and fluttered her lashes at him. “If I ever find the right man I might consider it.” She wasn’t sure if she was willing, but now wasn’t the time for that conversation. She resorted to humor as usual.
He grabbed her and pinned her underneath him. “If you find the right man? If?” He nibbled her earlobes and growled into her neck. “You must need a little more convincing.” With that he began to show Whitney more of what they could share together.
Whitney woke in her bed and felt the pressure of Nick’s arm around her waist. He was snuggling up to her back and his breath felt warm against her neck. She could tell he was still in a deep sleep so she slid out from under his arm as quietly as possible. His arm shot back around her and held her tight.
“I have to go pee.” She whispered.
“Go ahead,” Nick mumbled.
“You have to let go of me.” Nick held on for another minute and finally moved his arm. Whitney glanced at the clock and realized it was already late.
“Nick, we have to get up. You’re supposed to be at work in two hours.”
His breathing changed so she knew he had heard her.
“Nick…”
“I quit. Let’s just stay here forever.”
“Okay. I’ll just go make us some coffee and something quick to eat. We’ll talk it about it over breakfast.” Whitney walked to the bird room and let them out for some exercise. She had some egg sandwiches ready to go by the time Nick stumbled into the kitchen after his shower.
“If I’m going to drive back to Phoenix I’d better have a gallon of coffee. Someone kept me up all night.”
“I think you had some part in that. You didn’t seem to mind being ‘up’ when it was happening.” She chided and handed him a large travel mug.
Nick laughed and pinned Whitney to the counter with his body. Well, since I’m ‘up’ now I’d suggest we head back to the bedroom.” His kiss suggested they might not even make it that far.
Suddenly they heard a key in the front door and it swung open. Tina yelled, “Hey, thought you’d be gone already.” As soon as she stepped through the kitchen entrance she stopped in her tracks and her jaw literally dropped open. “Sorry…I didn’t mean to…I didn’t know that anyone else was here.”
Whitney felt a bit flustered but she couldn’t help laughing. This just wasn’t something that could happen to her. “Sorry, it’s my fault. I thought we were leaving last night. Tina, this is Nick. Nick, my bird sitter Tina.”
She turned to Nick and realized that he was still only wearing a towel. He was smiling at Tina and drinking his coffee as if it was perfectly normal for him to be there. Whitney whisked Tina to the bird room to check on her babies and give Nick some time to get dressed. Tina giggled and pestered her for details the whole time they were together.
When they finally got on the road Nick called Teddy to let them know he’d be a little late. The long night had caught up with Whitney and she slept almost all the way back. She opened her eyes as they were pulling up to her motel.
“Thanks for letting me drop off my stuff first. Sorry I wasn’t much company.”
“I’m glad you could nap and we’re not dropping off your stuff. We’re picking up stuff and checking you out of here.” Whitney’s eyes widened and Nick wasn’t sure if it was surprise or anger. “You don’t need to stay alone here when you can stay at my house. You’ve already slept there and I won’t take no for an answer.”
Whitney looked at the motel and then back at Nick. Her face finally relaxed and she leaned over and kissed him. “You’re very sweet. Thank you. But you know just because you’ve had your way with me doesn’t mean I’m moving in. Once this case is tied up I have to get back to my house, and probably a new case.”
“We’ll deal with that when we need to. For now, let’s get your things and head downtown. We’ll drop your stuff at my house later.”
When Whitney and Nick arrived at the station Teddy was already gone. He’d left a message for Nick to give him a call and they’d meet up somewhere. Hollerman and the other agents were busy filing reports and making phone calls. Agent Hollerman was in the command center typing on his laptop.
“Welcome back Whitney. Did you enjoy your day off?” The agent moved his things so Whitney could sit next to him.
“Yes I did Roger. Thanks.” She was afraid he could tell just how wonderful her time off had been.
Nick sat across from them and shuffled through the papers. “So what’s the latest on the case? Are you still convinced it was Ann Marie?”
“The evidence is pretty damning. She has refused to explain where the blood came from and she will only talk with her lawyer present. She’s insisting she is innocent, but she’s not helping her case any.”
“I’d like to talk with her if that’s alright.” Whitney said.
“I’m sorry Whitney. Her lawyer insists that you stay away from her. Any proof you get from her won’t hold up in court, unless she confesses on paper. The lawyer is afraid you’ll bring the media circus down on her worse than it is.”
“Is that how Ann Marie feels too?”
“I wouldn’t know about that. Could be she’s afraid you’ll identify her as the killer. If you’d like you can get a ride to the hospital and check on Kevin Hunter. They thought he was getting better, but he’s had a setback. They were afraid his kidneys were shutting down, but he seems to have pulled through for now.”
Whitney felt bad that she couldn’t speak with Ann Marie. They wouldn’t be able to use her findings in court to prove the case, but she may be able to find out something that would help. She just wanted to re-assure herself by giving it a try. She hadn’t sensed anything sinister when she had talked with her before, but that didn’t prove her innocence. If she was guilty, or protecting someone, then she had committed some terrible acts and was probably suffering from some kind of mental condition. Sociopathic killers didn’t feel guilt over their conduct so they didn’t send out strong signals of guilt or fear. Other people could just block her out without knowing they could do it.
She hitched a ride with one of the rookie officers and spent the morning sitting with Kevin. He was still unstable and she didn’t want to stress him by asking any questions. She caught glimpses of memories he was experiencing. Most of them were from his life before the abduction. When he drifted toward the memories from that day his mind would rebel and the memories would shut down.
Whitney spent the afternoon writing her final report and helping the agents compile their data. Nick called at four to let her know he had a few more stops and he would pick her up at about five thirty. Whitney tried to keep herself busy while she waited. It was a little embarrassing to be able to hear all the thoughts about her and Nick coming from the other detectives. Word had spread quickly that Nick seemed interested in her and everyone noticed this morning when they drove in late together from Sedona. Whitney was sure the guilty smile on her face wasn’t helping the issue.
She was relieved when he showed up a few minutes early. When he walked into the station, all eyes followed him. Whitney couldn’t wait to escape the jokes and gossip that had followed her around all day. Whitney scooped up her laptop and hurried toward the door as he came through.
“Hey beautiful,” he whispered as he took her bag off her shoulder. “Did ya miss me?”
“Yes, let’s just get out of here.”
Nick stopped and looked into Whitney’s eyes. “Is something wrong?”
“I’m fine. I’m just nervous having all your friends watching me all day and wondering just what’s been happening between us.”
Nick looked from Whitney to the squad room. Everyone was trying to look busy, but failing. He turned to Whitney and whispered, “Let’s give them something to talk about.” His hand moved to the small of her back and he pulled her up tight to his body. The kiss that followed gave Whitney a jolt of energy and made her legs so weak she had to hold on to his shoulders. She looked up and saw him staring down at her with fire in his eyes.
He had meant to cause a stir with his buddies, but he hadn’t planned on whipping himself into such a frenzy. He turned slowly and smiled at his friends before he escorted Whitney out the door.
“Did you see Sammy? His jaw was almost touching the floor. Now they won’t have to wonder about my relationship with the beautiful and sexy psychic.” His grin looked like it would leave permanent marks on his face.
Whitney had recovered enough to giggle over the scene they had caused. What a great way to handle a bunch of nosy detectives. She didn’t want to think about what that meant for the future. It seemed so complicated right now considering they were both attached to their homes and communities. She couldn’t rush into anything, and she knew the odds were stacked against them.
Once they reached the house, Nick saw that Whitney seemed distracted or worried. He wasn’t sure what was on her mind, but considering what they had been through, he had plenty of ideas. He pulled her close to him on the couch and started massaging her back. He could feel her beginning to relax as he leaned her back for a kiss. He managed to keep her mind off whatever had been bothering her for the rest of the evening.
Chapter 8
The next morning Whitney decided not to go in to the station since there was nothing for her to do there. Nick promised to call if anything new came up. Just before noon the phone rang and Whitney picked it up.
“Whitney Bentley?”
“Yes, this is Whitney.”
“Hi. This is Ann Marie Kensington. I hope it’s alright for me to be calling you there. I got the number from a friend.”
“Ann Marie! Yes, it’s fine. I’m glad you called.”
There was a slight pause before Ann Marie started to speak. “I’m sorry that you haven’t been able to come see me. My lawyer is worried that it would cause problems.”
“I know you must be going through a tough time right now. Is there something I can do to help?”
“I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your help with this. I didn’t do it you know. I figured you might know that much about me even though we didn’t talk much. Can you really do all those things they say?”
“Well, it depends on what you’ve heard. I am able to pick up certain vibrations. Some are feelings and others are thoughts or memories.”
“Well, I know the police are convinced I did it so they might not be working hard to find another suspect. I was hoping that you would stick around and keep helping for a while in case you could find out anything. I really didn’t wear those shoes anywhere recently. I don’t know if someone is trying to frame me, or I’m just going crazy. Please tell me you won’t give up on the case. Other boys could still get hurt.”
“I’ll do everything I can. I can only do what they let me do. If they decide the case is closed I won’t have permission to talk with anyone, but I promise I’ll do everything in my power to get to the truth.” Whitney would keep her promise because of the children, not because of any debt to Anne Marie.
“Thank you. I just knew you would understand. I know you don’t have children but you’re a woman. I can’t believe anyone could think that I would do anything like this. I…I couldn’t…” Ann Marie’s voice started breaking and Whitney could hear her sobbing.
“I have to go now. My time is up.”
“Take care. I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you.”
Whitney spent the rest of the afternoon going through her notes and reviewing the conversation with Ann Marie. Talking on the phone didn’t allow her to get a sense of what she had been feeling. She could have been trying to gain sympathy, or she could truly be innocent. What would make her do this? Why would anyone be doing this? The victims were young, promising boys who all happened to love to play sports. They also had parents who cared enough to get them involved in the Winners Circle. Whitney was still trying to piece it together when Nick called and said he would be late. She decided a she’d take a walk to kill time and help clear her mind.
She was only a few feet down the road when the neighbor’s dog came running up to meet her. She gave him a scratch and he followed her down the road. The sun was going down on the horizon and the clouds were glowing. She loved the pink and reds of an Arizona sunset. You could see for miles and miles over the flat landscape. It was still pretty hot for walking, so she kept her pace slow and leisurely.
At the end of the road there was a small shop that sold Native American items. She stepped inside to take a peek and get out of the heat. It wasn’t much better inside. An older woman waved hell
o from the back as she wandered through the store. Whitney owned a few of the Kachina dolls that were on the shelves. The Hopi and Navajo had used the dolls to bring good luck in many areas of their life, and now they were a popular tourist item. Her favorite was the White Buffalo Dancer. He looked so strong and beautiful in his white leather outfit. She kept it on the mantle in her living room. When she saw the beautiful dream catcher hanging on the wall, she almost considered buying it. After checking the price, she decided she could live without it.
The woman watched her as she walked through store and she waved goodbye when she left. Whitney always felt guilty for not buying something in small stores like this one. She laughed at herself for worrying about everyone else’s problems. The dog was still waiting outside and followed her home.
She was feeling quite thirsty on the way back. She should have known better than to take a walk without a water bottle. Good thing the sun was going down. Every year hikers were found dehydrated or overheated on the trails throughout the valley. Even the local news stations took time each week to remind everyone of the need to drink water during the summer.
She played with the dog for a few minutes before going back in the house. She was so hot she stood in front of the freezer with the door open. She drank down some water and waited for her body to cool down. The dust had been blowing a little and her face felt gritty. Wiping her face with a wet paper towel she went looking for a mirror. She walked through Nick’s bedroom to the master bathroom. She was getting more comfortable in his house, but her stuff was still in the suitcase on the floor. She found her brush and some towels and rinsed off her face and neck. She took out the scrunchy holding her ponytail and worked on brushing out all the knots.
Whitney heard a noise and finished up quickly because she couldn’t wait to see Nick. She didn’t even replace the ponytail as she rushed toward the hall. Just as she stepped out of the bedroom something hit her head from behind. She saw the floor coming up at her before she blacked out.