Wicked Obsessions

by Marilyn Campbell

* * *

  Teri opened one eye and squinted at the illuminated clock on her nightstand. It was only four o'clock, but she felt well rested... except for the headache. The dull pounding reminded her of why she should be so well rested. She had gone to bed at an hour when other people were just sitting down to dinner. No, that wasn't entirely right. She had been put to bed. By Drew.

  Embarrassment rushed through her as she recalled how foolish she'd been. She wasn't sure which was worse—having been too drunk to walk or begging him to kiss her goodnight. She hadn't drunk enough wine to forget either his gently tucking her in or his passionate kiss.

  The house was quiet. Had Drew stayed as she'd requested? Of course he had. A gentleman never breaks a promise to a lady. And Drew was a perfect gentleman, from head to toe. The fact that she was still in her robe could attest to that. Thoughts of what he might have done were he not such a gentleman drove her from her cozy nest. Bathroom, clothes, aspirin and coffee were in order.

  One glance into the vacant guest bedroom had her tiptoeing into the living room, where she found Drew sprawled on and off the couch. Guilt that she had caused him a difficult night added to her embarrassment. As quietly as possible, she went to the kitchen and started the coffee. It had barely begun to drip when Drew joined her.

  "Mornin'," he said in a hoarse voice, raking his mussed hair off his forehead. "Smells good."

  In that moment Teri decided he looked just as good rumpled as when he was perfectly neat and pressed. It made her wonder if he ironed all those cotton shirts he wore. "Good morning. Would an apology be acceptable, or should I throw myself off a cliff as penance?"

  The bleariness had not quite left his eyes, but he managed to wink at her anyway. "A cup or two of that coffee is all I ask, ma'am."

  "I apologize anyway. I don't usually... behave so badly." She turned away from him to get two mugs from the cupboard. Drew's hand on her shoulder brought her around again.

  "Teri, you don't usually have to go through what you have in the last week. Apologies are for strangers, not friends. At any rate, it was my pleasure to be of service." When he saw her flush, he brushed her lips with his thumb. "All of it."

  She restrained herself from throwing her arms around him to show him just how much of a pleasure it had been for her. Instead, she ignored the fluttering in her stomach and fixed their coffee. As she carried the hot mugs to the table, she said, "I'm glad you find being in my service so pleasurable, because I have another favor to ask."

  "Sure. Whatever," he said, in a way that told her she didn't have to explain if she didn't want to.

  "I have to go to the police station to look at the mug shots. And then there's, um, the arrangements for Rico. I'd like to get it all over with today—after the sun comes up, of course."

  In answer to her unspoken request for company, he toasted her with his cup. "Before we get started, though, I'd best make a trip to my apartment. I don't think this shirt has another twelve hours' wear in it."

  * * *

  "This should keep you busy for a few hours," the young police officer said with a laugh as he set the fourth voluminous binder on the table in front of Teri and Drew. "Just let me know if you see anyone who looks familiar. When you're done with these, I have plenty more." They each chose a book and began their search.

  Teri thought the task wouldn't have been half as bad if the suspects weren't such a motley crew. In her secure middle-class life, she had never had to come in contact with the dregs of humanity. After studying hundreds upon hundreds of faces, she knew how fortunate she was to have been sheltered from animals like these.

  Four hours later, Drew hit the jackpot. "Teri, look at this one."

  She leaned toward his book and gasped. "I think that's him. Of course, he had those wraparound sunglasses on, so it's hard to tell about the eyes, but it's the same mangy black hair and moustache. And the nose. I remember you noticed how it looked like it had been broken a few times. And that looks like the same silver skull earring he wore the day we saw him."

  A few minutes later, Drew had told the officer of their success, and that man passed the news on to a superior.

  A big, gray-haired man came into the room and shook hands with Teri and Drew. "Hello. I'm Captain Hart. Detective Kidder told me you'd be coming in. I realize this is a terrible imposition at a time like this, but we can't afford to drag our feet, now that we know we're dealing with an obvious mob hit. The trail goes cold awfully fast."

  "It's no imposition, Captain, truly. I only wish I had reported the threat at the time. It may have—"

  "Tut-tut," the captain interrupted. "Mustn't blame yourself. Had you done something sooner, you may have ended up being a target as well. As it is, now I want you to report any slightly suspicious activity around you. I'm not trying to alarm you, but until we check out your man, you should stay on your toes."

  Teri sagged in her chair. Why hadn't she thought about the fact that she might still be in danger? That this creep could now come after her for pointing him out? That was exactly what she'd been afraid of to begin with, but after they'd found Rico's body, she'd somehow lost sight of the danger to herself. Why hadn't Detective Kidder mentioned that?

  The captain told her the medical examiner would let her claim the body by Friday and promised that Detective Kidder or another officer would keep in touch. They thanked him then left to attend to the second item on Teri's agenda.

  It did not take too long to make arrangements for a private graveside service and burial on Saturday. Drew stayed by her side during those sensitive decisions and remained with her while she went through her list of calls to relatives, Rico's employer, and some acquaintances she thought would want to be notified. She was glad she had pushed herself so hard to get started on her new project last week. There didn't seem to be one ounce of creative juice or anything else left in her body. She felt totally empty.

  In the midst of her calls, Selena rang in. Teri thanked her again for her help the day before, but guessing that Selena would feel left out again, she omitted the news that she and Drew had identified the thug to the police.

  "I've made the burial arrangements for Saturday. Under the circumstances, I want to keep it private, but I'd like you to come, Selena." Teri hadn't meant to make it sound like she was inviting her to a party, but Selena's response made her uncomfortably aware that a party was how Selena interpreted it.

  "I wouldn't miss it for the world. Do you need anything today? Company? Groceries?"

  Teri shook off her concern. Selena was just trying to be the best friend she knew how. "No, hon, but thanks for asking. I promise I'll call you if I do."

  "Well, okay, then," Selena whined, obviously displeased about not being given anything helpful to do.

  "On second thought, I do need a favor." Teri sensed Selena brightening immediately. "I don't own a plain black dress, and the last thing I feel like doing is shopping. Do you think you could pick me out something suitable in a size 7?"

  "Of course. I'll go look right now and bring by whatever I find later tonight."

  Teri glanced at Drew and knew that dinner for three was not what she wanted that night. "Tomorrow or Tuesday would be great. I have to drive over to Jersey and have dinner with my grandmother tonight. I don't know when I'll be back."

  After a few more assurances, Selena sounded quite satisfied as they said goodbye.

  "Well," Drew said, rising from his place on the couch, "if you're goin' visitin', I guess I'd better mosey on home."

  "I'm not." She walked over and sat down on the couch.

  "What?" he asked, sitting back down beside her.

  "I'm not going anywhere. I lied to Selena."

  Drew's eyebrows rose as he laughingly scolded her. "Why, shame on you, Miz Carmichael. An' here I thought you were such a good girl."

  Teri lowered her lashes. "I always have been, but lately..."

  He touched her chin to get her to look at him. "Remember, I understand about feelin' smothered."

  Sh
e shook her head. "It's not that. Although my breathing is definitely being affected." She took a deep breath, as if to prove her claim. "I didn't lie to Selena just to keep her from crowding me. I did it because I wanted to be alone... with you." His narrowed brows made her explain. "I know. It's awful and wicked. My husband of twelve years was just brutally murdered. I spent the whole day looking for his killer and making arrangements to bury him. I should be distraught, overcome by grief, anything but what I'm feeling."

  His fingers combed through the hair at the side of her head. "And what is it you're feelin' that's so awful and wicked?"

  Could she tell him more than she already had? Would he be shocked to learn that she felt as relieved to have Rico out of her life as she was saddened by his death? She looked into his eyes and saw the same fire that was burning within her soul, and she dared to tell him what she was really feeling. "Need."

  He withdrew his hand and leaned his head against the back of the sofa. "I was afraid you were goin' to say that."

  Teri felt a rush of embarrassed panic over being so bold. "You don't... want me?"

  "Oh, darlin'," he said with a dry laugh, then sat up and took her hands in his. "If I didn't think I'd explode, I'd have you run these talented little hands of yours all over my body to let you find out for yourself just how much I want you. And I'm not only talkin' 'bout the obvious. You can probably see that with your eyes. I'm talkin' 'bout the fact that I'm practically vibratin' with needing you. Problem is, I don't think your need and mine are in synch."

  "You're confusing me."

  He lifted one of her hands and kissed the fingertips, then her palm. "I want more from you than today. I want more than to be someone you turned to for a quick fix, then felt too guilty about it to go on from there. I can't afford to make the same mistake twice. And you can't afford the guilt right now."

  She let his words sink in, she completely understood his concern. How could he be sure of her when she wasn't sure of herself? Barely two weeks ago she had thought she'd never let another man into her life. "You're right. I know in my head you're right. But understanding doesn't make the ache go away. Please, Drew." She raised her hands to his cheeks. "Just a little more than nothing."

  He closed the distance between them, but stopped an inch short to say, "I never should have let you know how little willpower I have."

  His lips slanted over hers in a mating that spoke of much more than two mouths touching. This time there were no exploring caresses or tentative tastes. They each knew what pleasure the other held and anxiously reached for it. As if their bodies had practiced together for a lifetime, they moved in harmony, without the need for conscious thought, until they were stretched out on the sofa, fitted one to another, as they were meant to be... until each felt the other's arousal as powerfully as each felt his own.

  Her hands discovered the resilient strength of his muscled shoulders and back, the ungiving hardness between them, and the vibrating need he had spoken of.

  His hands discovered the softness that concealed her strengths, the sensitive places that made her purr, and the damp heat she had so honestly confessed to.

  And they both knew they had to stop.

  As if they had both heard the same warning sound, their hands stilled and moved to less responsive areas. A moment later the endless eating kiss gentled to one final caress.

  Drew grinned at her. "Just a little, huh, darlin'? A little more and I'da been visitin' St. Peter at the gate."

  She hid her face in his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get so carried away."

  "We," he corrected, making her meet his gaze. "We got carried away. But just think what we have to look forward to next month."

  She blinked at him. "Next month?"

  "Well, maybe three weeks."

  "You're crazy, you know that?" She gave him a peck on the cheek. "But it's a good crazy."

  "It's goin' to be a bad crazy if we don't put some air space between us soon. What do you have to do around here that falls into the stimulatin' category?"

  They managed to occupy themselves with a board game, a movie and dinner, but the fire between them smoldered and sparked through it all in spite of their pretending it was safely banked.

  As they kissed goodnight and fought to keep their desire confined to their lips, Drew voiced the words Teri was thinking.

  "I think two weeks will be plenty."

  Chapter 11

  Drew had work to do the next day, but Teri still had company in the afternoon. Selena had found three dresses and brought them by for Teri to choose, along with an array of accessories.

  "You didn't need to bring so much. Whatever you picked would have been fine with me," Teri told her, unable to work up the enthusiasm to match Selena's mood.

  "Is that the thanks I get for spending half a day searching for the perfect outfit for today's grieving widow?" she giggled, completely ignoring Teri's disapproving frown, and breezed on by, her arms filled with bags. She glanced back once to make sure Teri was following her to the bedroom. "Well, let's go. The fun doesn't start till you try everything on."

  "Do I need to remind you that this is a funeral we're going to, and not a social event?" The harshness in Teri's voice made it clear she wasn't amused.

  "No," Selena snapped back as she tossed the bags on the bed. "But maybe I need to remind you who you're talking to. I've done my very best to help you through this, but I refuse to pretend we feel something we don't when we're alone."

  Teri gritted her teeth against another biting comment and reminded herself one more time that Selena was very young and just trying to help lift her spirits. "You're right, of course. I'm sorry." That put the smile back on Selena's face.

  "By the way," Selena added in her sweetest voice, "you look a hundred times better today. You must have had some good rest since Saturday."

  Teri felt her face flush and quickly picked up one of the dresses to examine. For a moment she wished she could share the secret of why she had rested so well, but thoughts of their last confidential conversation warned her against it. Feeling bad for not showing Selena sufficient appreciation, when it was really her own conscience bothering her, prompted her to say, "I have you to thank for that, hon. After you left, I poured myself a quart of wine and took a long soak in a sweet-smelling bubble bath. It worked wonders." For this half-truth Selena awarded her with a smile that lit up the room.

  "You see? You should listen to me more often. And this is my next bit of advice—try everything on and forget about the real reason you're doing it. Have some fun." She giggled. "Hey, I just realized the first three letters of funeral spell fun. How cool is that!"

  Teri grimaced and made an effort to do as she was told, if only to keep Selena content. Personally, she thought she owed Rico's memory a little respect after her behavior last night. The problem was, she didn't feel guilty enough to pay her late husband that tribute. It was fretting over that lack of guilt that had sharpened her tongue today, and she determined not to take it out on her young friend again.

  Selena eventually made all the choices for Teri. "Now try on the hat."

  Teri lifted the smart little hat with its fine black net veil and set it on her head.

  "No, no, no," Selena said, taking it from her. "Your hair's all wrong for this hat. Sit down. I'll need your brush and lots of hairpins."

  "Really, you don't have to do my hair. I'll figure it out."

  Selena laughed. "Right. That's why you wear a ponytail half the time and leave it hanging straight the other half. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I used to do my mother's hair for her all the time."

  Teri gave in and got her what she needed before sitting down at her vanity. She wasn't used to all this pampering. First Drew, now Selena. Visits to beauty salons were few and far between since all she ever needed was an occasional trim, and she usually did that herself. But as Selena applied the hairbrush with slow, smooth strokes that massaged her scalp, Teri decided this was something she could easily become acc
ustomed to.

  She watched with fascination as Selena brushed and pinned every hair into a severe twist at the back of her head. "Did your mother have long hair?" she asked.

  Selena answered through teeth clamped around several hairpins. "About the same as yours. It was almost the same shade of brown too. Someday I'll have to bring the picture of her when she was about your age. I remember thinking how you reminded me of her the first time we met. Though you might guess that she was much taller and heavier than you are. Both my parents were big people, but I got my coloring, or I should say lack of coloring, from my father."

  Teri caught the wistful tone and her caring heart again felt sympathy for the girl who had lost her parents at such an early age. When Teri's mother died after many years of suffering with cancer, Teri and her father easily consoled each other. But remembering the tremendous loss she'd felt when her father had died the year before, she asked, "Do you still miss them?"

  Selena inserted one last pin and met Teri's gaze in the mirror. The haunted look Teri had often tried to capture on canvas seemed more pronounced than ever before.

  "Miss them? Not him. He was an abusive, drunken bastard. It was a relief to both my mother and me when he died. You see, that's why I understand how you're feeling about Rico. But her? I didn't think I'd ever get over losing her." Selena's hands absently began massaging Teri's shoulders and neck. "She had a heart attack, you know. So young! She was only a year older than you are now. But I don't miss her as much as I did at first. After all, I have you to care for now, don't I?"

  Teri was not nearly as disturbed by the strange statement as she was by the image she saw reflected in her mirror. Selena's eyes gleamed in a way she'd never seen before and, while her thumbs were massaging the base of Teri's neck, Selena's fingers had laced themselves around her throat. Before actual fear set in, however, Selena moved away to fetch the hat.

  A moment later Teri told herself that her mind had been playing tricks on her. Selena was smiling and cheerful as she adjusted the headpiece and veil. And a few seconds after that, a new reflection shelved thoughts of the other.