Sinister Intent

by Karen M. Davis

  Josh finally looked at her but his gaze didn’t connect, it travelled through her.

  A shiver of apprehension shot down her spine. She felt her own heart quicken. Don’t collapse on me again . . . Trying to keep the shrill of panic from her voice, she cried, ‘Josh, Josh? Are you all right?’

  He didn’t answer.

  —

  A time bomb was ticking in Josh’s chest. It was getting consistently louder and seemed ready to explode. He was deeply upset. Lexie had endured so much. She had tragically lost her brother, and he had just now all but accused another cop, a member of their office, of being responsible for his death. She must be in complete shock. He couldn’t begin to imagine what thoughts would be running rampant in her head, yet here she was, composed and in control, comforting him when it should be the other way around.

  How can you be so strong, so resilient, Lexie Rogers?

  Her beautiful face came into focus. She was right in front of him, lines of concern creasing her otherwise perfect forehead. As their eyes locked, the rush of emotion he felt left him with no time to think, to analyse or even consider his actions. It was as though their shared shock and grief had united them in a way nothing else could. He could feel the electric current pass between them, so charged with sexual energy he could almost hear it crackle through the air.

  Slowly he closed the small space between them. Her face tilted upwards to meet his lips as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do. The kiss was tentative at first but deepened quickly. She tasted of wine and smelt like apple shampoo. The combination was delicious, he decided, threading his hands through her hair and pulling her closer into him.

  Lexie responded by circling her arms around his neck, letting her tongue have free rein to explore his mouth. The feeling was intense, heady, overpowering. The kiss was passionate, and was playing havoc with his self-control. The last few nights he’d spent dreaming about her, imagining her in his arms, exactly like this. His emotions were threatening to push him over the edge and Josh didn’t want to appear like an eager teenager unable to control his raging hormones.

  Pulling back, breaking the contact, he gulped in a breath of air, attempting to find relief from the magnetic pull of her body and calm the violent thumping of his heart. Gazing into her eyes, he could see the reflection of his face and the passion he was betraying. She gave him a little smile. It was all the encouragement he needed.

  He moved further forward on the lounge until he was perched on its edge. Lexie was now kneeling upright, intimately placed between his legs. Wrapping his arms around her waist, Josh trailed hot kisses across her cheek, down her throat, and along her shoulder. He noticed goose bumps break out over her skin. She giggled; a sensuous, wanton sound that drove him wild with desire. The room started to spin, pushing everything off balance. The feel of Lexie was intoxicating, addictive, in the way alcohol could never be.

  ‘Tickles,’ she whispered breathlessly, her voice husky and deeper than normal. ‘But don’t stop,’ she pleaded.

  He would find it hard to deny her anything, he thought to himself, as his lips made their way back to her mouth. When she kissed him back with an urgency that surprised them both, his heart went into a gallop.

  Josh slid from the lounge, never losing contact with her lips, and pulled her to the floor on top of him. Melting into his body, Lexie let out a small moan. He growled in response, pushing the coffee table out of the way with one arm, while rolling her onto her back on the rug next to them.

  Bending over her on hands and knees, he slowly, tentatively, advanced downwards towards her, giving her plenty of time to protest.

  ‘Is this going too fast, Lexie?’

  In response she wrapped her hands around the back of his neck and pulled him down to her. Their mouths and bodies fused together in an explosion of passion that went on and on. Pressed intimately together, with every cavity between them filled, and only clothing keeping them apart, their hips rocked in unison. His hardness against the softness between her legs sent skyrockets of desire to every part of his body. If this wasn’t heaven, Josh thought, he didn’t know what was, and he wondered how much longer he could maintain his self-control.

  His breathing was too quick, coming in short gasps, and his heart was pounding too fast as he made his way down her body. Lifting her singlet top, he found her breasts, brought his mouth down around an erect nipple and sucked gently. Lexie arched her back, let out a strangled cry of pleasure and whispered, ‘I want you now, Josh. Don’t make me wait.’

  Oh God. There was no turning back now.

  —

  Lexie’s head was spinning. All thoughts of Amitt Vincent, threatening text messages, her brother, or Harry Burgh were instantly discarded when Josh kissed her breasts. The sensation was so incredible, so powerful, that it sent a current of pleasure to every nerve-ending in her body. Her back arched, her fingers dug into his shoulders and she was unable to stop herself from crying out.

  ‘Oh God, Josh,’ she gasped, hardly recognising her raspy voice.

  How long could she stand this erotic torment? His hands were everywhere at once, tracing the outline of her body. His hot lips devoured her, skimming over her skin, his kisses scorching her stomach, her hips. Every inch of her was on fire, aching, tingling with anticipation. Her stomach tightened and her breath came in tiny gasps as waves of passion consumed her.

  Josh moved back up her body, his lips urging her on with delicate, persistent nibbles. The pounding of her heart was deafening in her ears and the inconsistent rhythm of their ragged breathing, the sensual sound of their lips moving in synchronisation, was too much. It was sensory overload.

  Lexie found herself fumbling with his shirt. Josh broke away from her just long enough for them both to discard unwanted clothing. Naked, with his body silhouetted in the dim light, he knelt over her. Lexie’s eyes devoured his perfectly sculpted masculine form and although his face was hidden in shadow, she sensed his smile.

  Unable to see his mouth move, she heard him ask again, ‘Are you sure about this?’

  ‘I’m sure,’ she replied, reaching for him, unable to wait any longer.

  Then he was kissing her again, a deep lustful kiss that went on and on until both of them were left gasping for air but unable to break the contact. His hands were in her hair, on her breasts, between her legs, his expert fingers knowing just how to touch her to make her ache with longing. When she couldn’t take it any longer, she locked her legs around his waist invitingly; he reacted instantly, sensing her need.

  ‘You are so beautiful, Lexie. I want you so much.’

  He hovered over her before slowly lowering himself into her, penetrating her very core, filling every gap between them.

  She cried out as he entered her. Nothing could have prepared her for the ecstasy of that first thrust, and she clung desperately to his shoulders, running her hands down his taut back and tilting her hips skywards.

  Josh moved slowly at first, teasing her, enjoying the thrill of discovery. It seemed they fitted perfectly, like two pieces of a puzzle, Lexie thought, hearing herself moan out loud. Though it wasn’t long before the urgency began to build, and their gentle rocking turned into something more frantic. Ripples of pleasure rushed through her as his movements quickened and he surged into her, thrusting hard and deep, over and over again.

  She matched his rhythm, lost in pure sensation, frenzied kisses and cries of ‘Oh God’. She grabbed the muscles of his back, digging her fingers in, bracing herself against the building tide as a current of pleasure carried her over the edge. At the peak of release, Lexie let out a strangled cry of delight as the room exploded around her.

  A heartbeat later Josh’s face contorted, almost as if he was in pain, and he drove himself into her for the final time. Letting out a primal groan, his entire body trembled and then shuddered, before collapsing into her arms.

  CHAPTER 46

  TUESDAY

  Rex sensed someone beside him. He lifted heavy lids only
to quickly squeeze them shut against the bright sting of fluorescent lights. He groaned in pain and wondered why everything hurt.

  ‘I can’t very well take your vitals in the dark now, can I?’ a brusque female voice told him. ‘Keep your eyes closed. I’ll tell you when to open them.’ A moment went by. ‘Okay, now open your eyes.’

  Rex risked another look. The lights had been dimmed, the room was darker now. He could hear voices talking and wheels rattling somewhere nearby. His nose picked up the scent of antiseptic. Disorientated and aching all over, his eyes followed the woman as she fussed with his chart, smoothed the end of his bed, tucked in the sheets and checked the tube attached to his arm.

  Shit. He was in hospital!

  The woman he was staring at was a nurse, he realised. She was now standing by his bed, staring down her nose at him. Her face was surly, her manner no-nonsense. He guessed she’d be in her early sixties. Her grey hair was pulled back severely in a tight bun. A mole sat like a black jellybean on the side of her bulbous nose and the white uniform that buttoned down the front did little to hide the bulges that lay underneath. Her face was devoid of make-up except for dark crimson lipstick that covered a thin mouth. Rex found it hard to drag his eyes away from her coloured lips as they moved with each word. She was definitely not the kind of nurse a man would fantasise about. Why couldn’t he have a pretty young thing in a short uniform flittering around attending to his every need? Then, considering Kate’s reaction to that scenario, Rex decided he was better off with the old bat. Less drama!

  ‘What happened?’ he asked, attempting to sit up, but an instant dizzy spell forced him back down onto the pillows.

  ‘Don’t try to move,’ she scolded him like a naughty schoolboy.

  Patting his arm in a familiar manner, she said, ‘You’ve had a nasty motorcycle accident. You’re left arm is broken and you’ve got bruised ribs and abrasions all over the place. There are six stitches in your head and you have concussion, although overall, I’d say that you are one lucky boy.’

  Rex raised his eyebrows at her choice of words. He was certainly way past being a boy and the last thing he felt right now was lucky. A moment of alarm sent his pulse racing. This was not right, he was not supposed to be here. Kate would be furious. Rex stared at the nurse as though she held all the answers. She stared back blankly. His mind struggled to remember what had happened. How did he get here?

  ‘Are you in pain?’ she asked, her deep masculine voice sounding like she didn’t really care either way.

  ‘Are you kidding?’ he croaked. ‘I feel like I’ve been hit by a semi-trailer.’

  Without saying a word, her eyes exclaimed, Oh for God’s sake! ‘Well you weren’t. From what I’ve been told you were going too fast. You just missed a telegraph pole,’ she informed him, curtly.

  Something clicked in his head and his memory began to function. A series of images flashed through his mind in quick succession. Waiting outside the Grub’s house, the car pulling up beside him, the gun pointing at him, taking off on his bike. The car had chased him. Another car pulled out in front of him, he’d lost control . . . shit.

  His heart pounded heavily against his chest and he took a deep breath which in turn caused a stabbing pain to shoot through his ribs, its intensity bringing tears to his eyes. He groaned, his face contorting and twisting as his mouth filled with the bitter taste of hatred. His body broke out in a feverish sweat. It felt like he was in a tunnel, it was dark, there was deafening noise and confusion all around him. Grabbing at the bedsheets, he clenched his good fist into a tight ball. Then, as rapidly as these feelings surfaced, they began to clear. The cloud shifted and he could see. The shadows began to fade and in their place emerged blue sky, clarity and an all-encompassing burning rage.

  ‘You’re just lucky the accident happened outside a doctor’s house,’ the nurse told him.

  So that explained why the Grub hadn’t finished him off. The doctor must have heard the accident and come out of his house to help him. Whoever he was, he had probably saved Rex’s life.

  ‘Are you all right?’ the nurse asked, suddenly concerned. ‘I might get the doctor. You look like you may be going into shock.’

  Rex shook his head too forcefully and paid for his sudden movement with a sensation of sharp needles punching through his brain.

  ‘No, I’m fine,’ he reassured her through clenched teeth. ‘Can I have some painkillers?’

  The nurse nodded and hurried out of the room.

  Kate entered seconds later in a tide of tears and hysterics. Rowdy, looking like a train wreck, trailed sluggishly behind her.

  ‘Oh my God, oh my God, I thought I’d lost you,’ she wailed, rushing to the side of the bed and throwing herself across his body. Then, without warning, she smacked him across the face, and screamed, ‘What were you thinking, you fucking idiot? You could have been killed.’

  Rex recoiled, grabbing her arm with his good hand before she could hit him again.

  ‘Fuck, Kate. I’m in enough pain as it is, you stupid bitch.’

  She started sobbing again. ‘I’m sorry, I’m just relieved. Sorry, baby,’ she whispered, spraying kisses along the top of his head.

  ‘You just scared me. Can you imagine what I thought when the hospital rang me? After Bluey, I couldn’t bear to think of losing . . .’

  She let the words die on her lips, unable to finish.

  ‘I’m fine, Kate,’ he assured her, ‘I’ll be out of here by the end of the day.’ If not sooner!

  ‘No, you won’t. I don’t want you getting out too early and dying on me. What happened?’

  Rex looked past Kate at Rowdy, who stood near the door. He appeared to be in some kind of trance.

  ‘I took a corner too fast, a car pulled out at the last second and I lost it.’

  He looked back at Kate, met her eyes.

  She seemed to read the silent message there. Nodding her head, she said, ‘Well, all that matters is that you’re okay.’

  ‘I think we should be more worried about him.’

  Rex darted his eyes again towards Rowdy. ‘What’s going on with Rowdy?’

  ‘Sandy is still missing,’ she said quietly. ‘He’s not dealing with it very well.’

  Rex blinked his eyes, not daring to move his head.

  ‘Now listen to me, Kate. What’s the time?’

  Kate glanced at her watch. ‘Three a.m.’

  ‘Has anyone come by Rowdy’s tonight? Has anything out of the ordinary happened?’

  Kate’s eyes widened as she shook her head. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I don’t want you going back there. I want you to check into a motel until I’m out of here, okay?’

  Rowdy, who Rex had thought was lost in his own little world and wasn’t listening, piped in curiously.

  ‘Why? What’s wrong with my house? I’ll look after Kate until you get back. I can’t leave my house. That’s where Sandy will come back to.’

  Rex stared at Kate, willing her to read his mind. She did.

  ‘Hey Rowdy, can you go outside and find a drink machine and get me a coke? I’m really thirsty.’

  Rowdy nodded automatically and, without saying a word, disappeared through the door.

  ‘He’s lost the plot,’ Kate grumbled.

  Rex grabbed her arm urgently.

  ‘Listen to me. The Grub wants me dead. I was near his house. I was going to burn the fucking place down and it was as if he knew I was there. He drove straight past and pointed a gun at me. That’s why I took off. The arsehole may have got to Sandy just because of her association with us. Don’t mention that to Rowdy though.’

  Kate gasped. ‘Did you tell anyone what you were doing? How would he know?’

  ‘I told nobody. Look, I don’t know how he knew I was there. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. You won’t be safe until I’ve taken care of business.’

  Rex watched Kate’s eyes fill with tears.

  ‘No,’ he said firmly. ‘You have to be strong. Look out for R
owdy. Get him away from his house. Stay with him. Tell him anything but the truth, okay?’

  Kate nodded and looked down at her feet as she sank awkwardly into the chair next to the bed. Rex knew her too well, could read her like a book and sensed there was something she was not telling him.

  ‘What?’ He narrowed his eyes on her.

  Rex knew she was hopeless at keeping information from him but she still appeared apprehensive as she spoke in a low voice.

  ‘I was so worried when you didn’t come home last night that I hardly slept. I gave Rowdy a sleeping tablet so he was out to it. That’s why he’s still a bit dazed, I think. I was checking the window all the time, waiting to hear your bike or see its headlight come down the street. That’s when I noticed a car going past the house, slowly, lots of times. I turned every light on in the house and turned the TV up full blast so anyone would think the house was full of people. I was so scared, Rex, I almost called the cops.’

  ‘Don’t. There’s no doubt the cops will be here to talk to me at some time today. If you get asked any questions you just stick to what I said. If the cops think you’re frightened, Kate, they’ll home in on you. They’ll think you’re the weak link and badger you for information. Promise me you’ll tell them nothing.’

  Rex could see she was holding back tears as she answered. ‘I won’t.’

  ‘Now listen to me. I want you to drive back to Rowdy’s. He has a stash under the house. Get him to give you a gun.’

  Her face crumpled.

  ‘You won’t need to use it but have it for your own protection. Then check into a motel and get some rest. If you stay at the house you’ll be terrified. Come back and see me later today. I’m not going anywhere in a hurry. Make sure you park your car somewhere not easily seen. When you book into the motel, use a different name. Get money out on the cash card and pay by cash. Take Rowdy with you but if he won’t go, if he insists on going home to wait for Sandy, you go alone. You have to look after yourself and our baby.’

  Rex patted her stomach tenderly.

  Kate leant over and kissed him on the lips.