by Clarissa Yip
He frowned. “We’ll catch him, don’t worry.”
Overwhelmed, she turned around and stared at the bubbling liquid. A tear fell straight into the steam.
“Lauren.” She felt him behind her. His hands settled on her shoulders, and he slowly spun her around.
Through wet lashes, she looked up at him. “I just want this all to be over.”
“I know, honey.” He wrapped his arms around her. She stiffened for the barest second before burying her face in his chest. His hand rubbed her spine in a soothing motion, and her own arms circled his waist. “It’ll all be over before we know it.”
“Promise?” She leaned her head back to stare up at him.
His jaw hardened and he gave her a firm nod.
His response sent relief soaring through her. She studied his taut features. Concern shone brightly through his eyes. Her heart pounded. The cold fear deeply rooted in her chest wouldn’t go away. Lifting up, she kissed him.
She didn’t want to be alone tonight.
…
Break it off; walk away. Kane pushed the warning away as the soft press of her mouth against his sent a jolt straight through him. He groaned when her tongue slipped past his lips. Her sweetness enveloped him. The quiet distress he’d seen in her eyes had torn him apart, and he’d give her anything at that moment.
Reaching behind her, he turned the stove off, then broke away long enough to lift her up into his arms. Lauren nuzzled his jaw, nibbling his skin. She needed him even though she didn’t say the words out loud.
Carefully carrying her up the stairs, he made it to his bedroom and gently placed her on the bed. When he started to draw away, Lauren whimpered and latched onto him.
“It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere. Let me undress you.”
She stared at him for the barest second before kneeling before him on the bed. The trust in her expression made his chest tighten. He slowly eased her sweatshirt off. The pink camisole hugging her breasts took his breath away. Her nipples poked at the soft satin, calling his attention, and he bent down, needing to taste her. She let out a moan the moment his mouth made contact. His tongue swirled over the tight bud as he drew her sweatshirt off. Her hands dug into his hair, pulling him closer. He gathered her close, maneuvering her body until she lay on the burgundy comforter. Moving to the other breast, he did the same, teasing the tautness until a wet circle showed on the material.
“Kane.”
His name came out a soft whisper. He lifted his head and met her eyes, searching for any sign that she wanted him to stop, but she sat up and reached for his shirt. Lauren pressed her lips against his throat, then trailed lower as each button became undone, leaving a line of fire wherever she touched. He groaned.
He needed her as much as she needed him.
Nothing mattered. Only him as a man and Lauren as his woman. For now.
His shirt fell to the bed. He reached for the hem of her camisole and tugged it over her head. His breath caught at her beauty. His hand lifted and cupped the softness in his palm. She pressed up against him, taking hold of his mouth again. He groaned at the contact. Flesh against flesh. It was almost too much. And it’d been so long. His body threatened to combust at the feel of her—almost as if he was alive once again.
He drew her pajama bottoms off in one swipe and leaned her back onto the bed. She circled her arms around his neck, her fingers running through the hair at his nape. He kissed her passionately. Each flicker of her tongue against his sent a surge of heat to his groin. He trailed his fingers over her shoulders down to her breast, teasing the nipple before sliding over her stomach to her lace-covered sex. He pushed aside the fabric and found her wet and hot. His groin jutted against her hip, hardening even more at the contact.
He brushed along her cleft and teased the swollen bud, throbbing for his attention. Lauren cried out. He moved away and nibbled along her jawline to her chest. He slid a finger into her heat. Her hips lifted as if needing more, and he gave her another finger, gently thrusting against her tight inner muscles. He imagined her around his shaft as his mouth closed over her nipple, needing more of her. But first, he wanted to see pleasure break her apart, to take over her body so he’d never have to put up with her emotional walls ever again.
He wanted his old Lauren back.
As his fingers thrust into her heat, his thumb pressed against her clit. Lauren stiffened for the barest second before the waves consumed her body. He continued to draw each shudder from her until she lay limp against the sheets. Kissing his way down her stomach, he stopped to stare at the pink scrap of lace and slowly drew it down her long legs. Lauren made a sound of protest when he leaned in, but he wouldn’t be denied. He wanted this for her—needed this for her. Her arousal teased his nose, heightening his own pleasure. She was wet just for him.
And he’d do anything to make her forget other men.
His tongue flicked out to taste her. Her hips canted closer as her fingers gripped his hair.
“Don’t…” Her word ended with a moan as his teeth scraped against her sensitized skin. Her sweetness and dewy softness pleased him. His own need pulsed through him. His mouth latched onto the tight bud. Her whimpers sang out, and he was proud of her passion. He didn’t ever want her to hide herself again.
It wasn’t long before she came again, her release seizing her entire body. He moved over her, his one hand undoing his belt and freeing his shaft. Relief surged through him the moment the tip of his member touched her wetness. He stared into her eyes, clouded with desire, and his chest tightened. Her open beauty stunned him, as it did each time he looked at her. She reached for him, urging him to enter her. His control made him take his time. He wanted to savor each slide, each shiver of her body, each pulse of her muscles hugging him. He wrapped his hand around her bottom to tilt her upward as her legs rose to wrap around his waist.
His cell phone rang and pants pocket vibrated.
They both stilled. With a frustrated groan, Kane moved aside. Just what he needed. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was a quarter past three. He drew in deep breaths to calm his frazzled nerves, willing his erection to stop throbbing, and sat down on the side of the bed as he dug his cell out, instantly frowning at his partner’s ugly mug on the screen.
Lauren moved behind him, pressing her breasts against his back, and he stifled a groan at the feel of her lips on his neck. She brushed against his earlobe and her teeth teased him, forcing him to let out another groan.
He pressed the talk button and held the phone to his ear. “Hollister.”
“Yo, Kane.”
Turning toward her, he cupped her cheek. A knot formed in his throat at the openness displayed on her face. Her amethyst eyes were clear, and he waited for Lauren’s regret or indifference to kick in, but saw nothing. Leaning in, he gave her a soft kiss on the mouth.
“Yeah,” he finally answered. He almost died when Lauren wrapped her hand around his shaft.
“You there?”
Kane cleared his throat. “I’m here. What’s up?”
Ryan let out a ragged sigh. “We have another murder.”
Chapter Eleven
Kane stared at the body before him. Nina Marshall. Age twenty-eight. Single Caucasian female. Radio station advertising manager. Scratches over the face, knife wounds drawn over the breasts, and arms and legs laid out as if arranged for a burial. The yellow nylon rope weaved around the chest and ended in a bow that sat below the cleavage. A pearl necklace circled the victim’s neck just below the thin rope burn.
The Pearl Killer had struck again.
Voices buzzed around him as he watched the lab team look for whatever evidence they could find, but he knew they wouldn’t find anything, just like the scenes where the other two victims were killed in the same fashion. A shudder ran through him. The killer probably planned the same fate for Lauren. If she hadn’t called him that night, he may have found her…just like this.
He wanted to rush home and pull Lauren into his arms¸ to make
sure she was fine, but duty called. He had to contend with this ordeal before he could return. She’d promised she’d wait up for him after he called in to have a patrolman stay at the house with her.
His eyes closed as he recalled what they had been doing before Ryan interrupted them. It was a good thing his partner called. He shouldn’t have caved in, but she had needed him tonight. Almost as much as he needed her.
“Hey, Hollister. See anything interesting?”
Kane looked up to see Detective Beckett. The man and his partner had originally taken the Pearl Killer case, but now that Lauren’s threats tied in with their homicides, their captain had ordered them to work together…and not let another casualty happen. Obviously, that didn’t work out too well. “No. Where’s Ryan?”
Beckett pointed his thumb over his shoulder. “Talking to the nosy neighbors across the street. You think it’s another one of Burke’s clients?”
He crouched next to the medical examiner and studied the victim’s chest. “What do you think, Ted?”
The medical examiner pointed to swell of the victim’s breast. “Can’t you tell? They’re too perfect.”
A couple of the guys laughed as Kane stood up. Part of him dreaded the victim’s involvement with Burke’s firm; the other knew the killer’s pattern hadn’t changed. But where did that leave Lauren? How did she tie in?
He shifted uncomfortably at the thought of her silky skin—her response to his touch, the soft moans that slipped past her lips as she’d fallen apart in front of him, and most of all, the quiet trust and openness she’d displayed when Ryan had rudely interrupted their lovemaking. He stilled. Lovemaking.
Shit. What the hell was he doing? He shouldn’t be getting involved with Lauren again, but every time she came near him, he’d forget the vows he made so long ago. He had to leave her alone. He shouldn’t have taken advantage of her vulnerabilities. Thoughts of Peters loving her flashed through his mind, and his hands clenched by his sides. She didn’t deserve to be hurt by the likes of him, but no way in hell was she getting near another man.
Ignoring the knot in his throat, he returned his attention to the case at hand. If they were lucky, this victim could have been one of Peters’s patients; then he could haul the guy back in for more questioning. But until he found out, he had nothing to go by. Earlier when he’d been sitting in his office, he’d done some research on Burke and Peters’s practice. One of two plastic surgery establishments, their prices were not cheap and their services were sought out by higher-class women around town.
Could the killer be after women specifically who had plastic surgery done or had something to do with Burke? Maybe the killer was part of the rival firm with the mission to destroy Burke and Peters’s practice. But then how would they have gotten such information? He shook his head and crossed his arms, letting out a frustrated sigh.
They were getting nowhere.
His eyes narrowed at the meticulous way the bow formed below the breasts. The way the rope was tied made him think of the ribbons on a gift box. Was the killer idolizing the specific area? Or did he hold the surgeon in high regard for his work? But then why would he knife the victim in the area surgery was done, ruining it? He crouched down again to study the lines. “What do you think could have made these cuts?”
Ted pursed his lips as if deep in thought. “I’d say a small knife. Maybe a scalpel.”
Kane froze and moved closer to look at the incisions. “Like a medical scalpel, one plastic surgeons use in surgery?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Yo, Kane.”
Glancing up, he spotted Ryan making his way into the living room past the uniformed officers who were worked around the house. “What’d you find?”
“You guys won’t believe this. The old lady across the street told me who the victim’s boyfriend is.”
Kane waited for Ryan to reveal the answer. The idiot just stood there staring at them as if waiting for them to guess. He wanted to deck his partner one. “Who is it?”
Ryan’s grin widened. “Daniel Burke.”
“Okay, so we knew he had a lot of girlfriends.”
“Yes, but the victim’s neighbor said she saw him last night.”
“Who?”
“Burke.”
Kane froze. “Impossible.”
…
Lauren waited up all night. After she’d showered and changed into jeans and blouse, she sat in the kitchen watching the coffee drip from the pot. Normally, she’d find a good distraction in poring over paperwork, but she had none with her.
The jangle of keys and creaking of the door drew her attention and she raced to the foyer. “You’re back.”
Kane gave her a small smile. Exhaustion rimmed his eyes, and he shut the door. Lauren just stared at him, unsure of what to do. She shoved her hands into her pockets and rocked on the balls of her feet, biting her lower lip. He ran his fingers through his already-ruffled hair, still silent. Awkward tension filled the space between them. Kane let out a sigh and drew her into his arms.
She breathed out her relief. “What happened?”
“Another murder.”
“The same?”
“Yup.” He drew away. “I need to go take a shower and change, then go back to the station. Captain wants a meeting.”
Lauren frowned. He wasn’t saying anything else. She followed closely on his heels as he went up the stairs, straight to the master bedroom. He went into the bathroom and shut the door. She moved to the bed and sat down.
Memories of the night played in her mind. Something had shattered in her last night. The emotions he’d drawn from her had finally broken free of their barriers and surged to the surface. She wasn’t ready to analyze them.
Patiently, she waited for him to shower and come out of the bathroom. The smell of his masculine soap drifted into the room, teasing her nose. She loved his scent. Puttering around his house, she’d found little things that made her smile and remember more of him. He still bought the same laundry detergent, the same brand of shampoo, and even his suits were neatly arranged in the same order. She used to love going through his closet when she wanted to steal one of his sweatshirts. She’d almost done so after he’d left, just to feel closer to him, but she’d stopped herself from acting like a lovesick fool.
Last night didn’t change anything. There was still a killer after her.
Left alone, she couldn’t help but wonder about his dead sister and what had caused the discord between him and his mother. Before, she’d believed that he’d somewhat resented his mother’s remarriage, but from what she’d witnessed, there had to be more.
The shower went off in the bathroom and Lauren stood up. Kane came out with a towel wrapped around his waist. Her mouth dried at the sight. The smooth expanse of bronze skin took her breath away. His broad chest tapered into a vee; his arm muscles flexed as he moved across the room. His wet, dark hair was swept back off his face.
Kane looked up in surprise as he made his way to the closet. “I just need to get dressed.”
She swallowed hard and nodded. The walk-in closet door slammed shut. Her eyes closed for the briefest second at the memory of him posed over her. His fingers and mouth torturing her, his shaft brushing against her heat—her body flushed.
What would he do if she opened that door, stepped in and pressed herself against his naked form? His behavior suddenly bothered her. Unlike the lover she’d known last night. Crossing her arms, she tapped her foot, waiting for him to emerge.
The door opened and Kane gave her a startled look, then quickly composed himself. His blank expression irked her even more. He was dressed in a dark gray suit with a blue-and-green-striped tie. Whether naked or not, the man could seriously fulfill any woman’s fantasy. “Did you eat breakfast?”
“No, I was waiting for you.”
He frowned and avoided her gaze. “I told you to get some rest. One of the patrol officers was watching the house all night.”
She eyed him waril
y. Something was wrong. “What is it?”
He looked impatiently at his watch. “I have to go to the station, but I’ll stop at the grocery store on the way back.”
That was it? He wasn’t going to talk about last night? About what happened between them? She took a step toward him and paused when he drew back. “You regret what happened last night, don’t you?”
His jaw hardened. “I don’t want to complicate things between us, Lauren.”
Her heart tightened. “Then why did you?”
“You were…” With a frustrated growl, he whirled around to face the window and set his hands on his hips. “I have a case to solve, and any personal involvement between us would only make things hard when everything is over.”
Her throat constricted. The urge to fly across the distance and pummel his back rushed at her. Why was she always so stupid when it came to this man? Of course last night meant nothing to him. He’d coldly left her before, and there was no guarantee he wouldn’t do it again. How did she allow herself into such situations?
Anger gripped her the more she thought about it. She wasn’t innocent and naive like she used to be. It wasn’t as if she had made any demands on him or expected him to pick up where they had left off—or did she? But how could he not feel anything for her after all the trouble he’d gone to to protect her?
Her hands clenched at her sides as she studied the tense lines of his shoulders. “You know what, Kane?”
He continued to stare at the window. “What?”
“You’re a coward.”
Kane whipped around and glared. “Why do you say that?”
She closed the distance between them and jabbed her finger into his shoulder. “Because that’s what you are.”
His eyes narrowed. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, I don’t?” She jabbed again, and he caught her finger before she could poke him. “You ran four years ago, and you want to do it again. What is it that scares you? I know you care for me.” Or she hoped he did.
His mouth opened as if to argue, but he clamped it shut. “Last night only makes things harder between us.”