Grinning, she leaned forward and brushed her lips across his. Her hips gyrated mercilessly. “I did.”
Molten heat flowed through him. Kelsey slid back on his thighs then closed her hand around his cock. He bit back a groan as she leaned across him and grabbed a condom packet.
Her brow knitted as she rolled it over his shaft. He had to force himself not to take over, but he found it incredibly hot to let her lead.
She lifted onto her knees, slid her wet pussy along his cock. He reached for her hips to guide her, but she swatted him away.
“You can’t stand it, can you?” She moved over his erection, angled his shaft into her entrance.
“Sure I can.”
The hot, slick confines of her pussy tightened around him.
She took in all of him, grinding against him. He grasped her breasts, kneaded and massaged. Swinging her hips in a circular motion, she lolled her head to the side. Her hair shook free and he immediately threaded his fingers through it, luxuriating in the silky strands.
She started moving faster, set her hands on his chest, braced herself against him. This time when he reached for her hips, she didn’t push him away. Rather, she let him lift her up and thrust into her.
Throwing her head back, she cried out his name, sank her fingernails into his upper arms. Her body reared and pulsed as she took her pleasure. Hidden muscles contracted around his cock, sending the most amazing sensations through him.
He watched her face slowly relax as her orgasm released its hold. Sliding back the few inches toward the headboard, he sat up with his back to the wall. He moved slowly inside her, savoring each and every stroke. She held on to his shoulders as he gripped her waist, guiding her movement. His need rose, higher and higher with each thrust until his entire body vibrated with pent-up lust. His balls constricted and his control shattered. He burst inside her, stroke after pleasured stroke. His vision blurred. Ecstasy ricocheted through him and stole his breath.
Kelsey crumpled against him and rested her head on his shoulder. Her hair spilled on to his skin, a thousand feathers tickling him. Running his hands along her back, he felt her heart pounding in tandem with his. Perspiration slicked their bodies.
Kelsey eased her head up and gave him a smoky stare and a satisfied grin. “Sergeant, you’re an amazing lover.”
He threaded his fingers through her hair. “You inspire me.”
She raised a blonde eyebrow. “How about a shower?”
He’d have preferred to stay right where they were, but they had things to do, reality to deal with. “I need to let Elvis back inside. Why don’t you go ahead and I’ll join you in a minute.”
She kissed him before climbing out of the bed. “Don’t be long.”
Jason watched her saunter to the bathroom, hips swaying. Plenty of incentive to hurry back. He grabbed a pair of shorts from the dresser then headed down the hall to open the door for the dog. The smell of fresh coffee lured him to the kitchen. He reached into the cabinet for a mug before unlocking the door and sliding it open. “Elvis, here, boy.”
When the dog didn’t respond, he took a step into the yard and called again. “Come on, Elvis.”
Only silence greeted him. He whistled. “Elvis?” The dog always came when he called. Warning bells exploded in his head. Heart hammering, he scanned the area, marched around the side of the house. In a back corner he noticed Elvis on the ground, completely still. He took off running toward the lifeless animal. His chest tightened and he could barely breathe. Crouching beside his dog, he cringed at the sight of the crimson pool on the grass. A jagged red line oozed from Elvis’ chest to his stomach.
Jason’s gut clenched with fear and rage. A primal growl escaped his throat. “Nooooo!”
* * * * *
Kelsey shut off the shower and wondered what was taking Jason so long. She froze at his anguished shout. Panic gripped her as she crossed the tiled floor, yanked the terrycloth robe off the hook and threw it on. Racing out of the bathroom, she wondered if she should grab the gun. If Jason had taught her one thing it was to always be prepared for anything.
Heart thundering in her chest, she found her purse in the living room. She dumped the contents onto the coffee table and grasped the .45 tightly in her hands.
The glass sliders sat wide open but she didn’t see Jason. Her mouth grew dry as she ran toward the door. Her pulse pounded in her ears when she crossed the threshold. She found Jason carrying Elvis toward her, blood dripping from the dog’s still form. Creases etched Jason’s pale face.
She sucked in a frightened breath. “Is he…”
“Barely. Grab me a shirt and pair of flip-flops from my closet.”
The tremor in his voice stirred her into action. She set the gun on the table, raced to the bedroom and yanked open dresser drawers until she found what he needed. Snatching her clothes from the floor, she gave the room a quick glance, hoping she had everything they’d need, then hurried back to the living room.
Jason stood at the door, still holding Elvis. “Keys are on the breakfast bar.” His voice sounded firmer, yet she still detected a slight tremble in it. “I need you to drive.”
Arms loaded down with their things, she ran to the counter for his keys, snatched up her purse on the way and met him at the door. She opened the truck door for him. He climbed inside and laid the dog across his lap. It took him only an instant to pull his shirt on and slip his feet into the shoes.
Elvis’ chest rose slowly then fell. He shuddered before falling still. Kelsey prayed he’d make it. Jason would never get over it if the dog died.
She drove as carefully as she could, occasionally glancing across the seat at Jason. He told her where to go in a monotone voice, but the tick of the muscles around his jaw and the deep lines in his forehead belied his anguish.
She didn’t care that she’d come out in public wearing only a bathrobe. All that mattered was getting Elvis help and supporting Jason in case the dog didn’t make it. She pulled up in front of the animal hospital and Jason carefully lifted his pet out as if the eighty-pound animal weighed nothing.
“I’ll park and come right in.” Kelsey squeezed the steering wheel, fighting back tears.
Jason nodded, but said nothing. He kicked the car door shut and headed inside.
After she parked the truck, Kelsey pulled on her shorts and managed to slip her shirt on without giving anyone a free show. When she went inside, the receptionist led her to the exam room.
The young veterinarian wore a grim expression when she glanced at Kelsey. Jason remained eerily calm, but she felt the anguish he radiated as he gently smoothed the dog’s coat.
“If you want to wait outside, we’ll stitch him up,” the doctor told them. “He’s lost a lot of blood already.” She hit a button on the wall and a technician entered the room dressed all in green.
“I’m staying with him.” Jason folded his arms over his blood-stained shirt and stood taller.
The doctor’s brow furrowed and fine lines deepened around her mouth. “Okay.”
Glancing at Jason, Kelsey thought about trying to coax him to the waiting room, but if the dog didn’t make it, he’d regret not being by Elvis’ side.
After the doctor cleaned and stitched the wound, Jason finally agreed to leave.
“We’ll call you with updates,” the tech promised.
Jason reluctantly let Kelsey lead him out to the truck. He insisted on driving. As they turned out of the parking lot, he pounded his fists on the steering wheel. “I’m gonna kill that bitch.”
Kelsey remained quiet, but reached over and gave his knee a comforting squeeze. When they arrived back at his house she headed for the kitchen and fixed them each a cup of coffee.
She handed Jason his mug and studied his face, a mask of control. Yet underneath that veneer, she felt the rage, like a placid landscape over a simmering volcano.
He jumped when his cell rang. “Jones.” He stared at Kelsey a few seconds then his face went ashen. Moving off the bars
tool, he let out a loud growl. “How dare you set foot on my property? I can’t believe you’d hurt an innocent animal. What kind of sicko are you?” He paced the floor. “I don’t believe you. Who else would do that?”
Kelsey leaned against a barstool, afraid her legs would give out if she didn’t. The deranged woman had really been here. She hadn’t allowed herself to think about that until now. Again, Lilith had been close enough to kill her. She sank from the weight of the realization.
Not only at my apartment, but here, where I’m supposed to be safe. She couldn’t delude herself that it might not be real anymore.
“Look, we can work this out.” Jason’s tone had changed but his eyebrows were still drawn together and his mouth bore an angry scowl. “Will you meet me? Talk face-to-face?”
Kelsey’s blood ran cold. It almost sounded as if he spoke to a former lover, someone he wanted to mend a fence with. This new tactic sounded dangerous. What if Lilith brought a gun along? Unease churned in her gut.
“There is no setup, I swear,” he continued. “I only want to talk.” As he listened, he scrubbed a hand over his forehead. “Of course not. No cops. Just you and me.” Nodding, he shut his eyes a moment. “How about—”
Kelsey tried to hear what the woman was saying—shouting, really—but she couldn’t make it out.
“Okay, fine. You tell me when and where.” He spun around and snatched a pen from the counter.
Kelsey spied a small tablet nearby and shoved it at him.
He wrote furiously. “Fine.” He flipped the phone shut then stood very still for more than a minute. Finally, he drew a sharp breath. A distant clap of thunder shattered the heavy silence. “She agreed to meet me. Tomorrow, Moore Park at noon.”
The thought of him being alone with a dangerous woman sent panic shooting through her body. “We have to let the police know. Don’t you think Captain Callahan will help?”
The quiver of his jaw betrayed his tightly controlled demeanor. “No telling. He’s acted like a real jackass through this investigation.”
When he met her stare she noticed the deep furrow on his forehead above his nose. She wanted to comfort him somehow, let him know everything would be okay. But she couldn’t be sure this would come out well any more than he could. “Do you think Lilith is her real name?”
A smirk lifted one side of his mouth. “Doubtful. In certain ancient cultures, Lilith was a demon, a prostitute or a bearer of disease. And she usually led men astray.” He shook his head. “I did some research on the internet too.”
Watching him wear a hole in the carpet with his pacing, she formed an idea that would hopefully keep his mind off Elvis. “Do you think I need more practice at the gun range?”
“That’s not a bad idea.”
After he’d showered, they spent several hours at the range, then came back to the house where she convinced him to teach her more self-defense moves.
When he’d thoroughly exhausted her, she climbed onto a barstool and sucked down enough water to deplete the aquifer. Her stomach growled loudly enough that Jason’s eyes widened. She glanced at the clock on the wall and realized they hadn’t eaten anything but the granola bars she’d bought from a vending machine at the gun range.
“I know, it’s late and you’re probably as famished as I am. I’ll throw something together for dinner.” He scratched his head. “Will you consider closing your store tomorrow? I can’t be there while I’m meeting with Lilith.”
She refused to let Lilith frighten her into a corner. “No way.” She’d already resigned herself to losing today’s sales, but she wouldn’t be able to make the bills if she had to forgo much more business.
He fixed her with a dark stare that said his patience was wearing thin. “I’ll ask Callahan to have an officer watch your place then.”
“What if I close up for lunch tomorrow and go with you to Moore Park.” She knew he’d say no even before he started shaking his head. “Hear me out. I can stay hidden in your truck.”
“I said no.” The firm unyielding edge in his voice convinced her to keep quiet, for now. “Hopefully Callahan can spare a few men tomorrow. One or two to keep an eye on you and another to stake out the park. If we’re really lucky, maybe we can wrap up this whole thing tomorrow. And I can throw that bitch in the darkest hole in my jail.”
“Let’s hope so.” What if Lilith planned to harm Jason tomorrow? Maybe that was why she’d agreed to meet him. Fear clawed at her insides. A bright flash of lightning illuminated the room and another crack of thunder made her jump.
Jason crossed to the window and stared toward the sky. “Bad stuff coming this way. Really bad.”
Chapter Ten
Lilith turned off the cell phone and tossed it out of her car window as she passed a drainage ditch on her way to the jail. She’d already purchased another to replace it.
Lord, she hated these award ceremonies. Her stomach roiled at the prospect of spending time with her husband at such a public event, but she had a plan for this banquet that would make this the last one she’d ever have to endure.
She parked in the VIP section of the massive lot and checked her lipstick in the mirror. Her husband’s dress uniform that she’d pared down to fit herself lay on the seat in a plastic grocery bag. Sucking in a calming breath, she stashed the package deep inside her satchel purse then headed to the security checkpoint in the main jail building.
After she’d passed through the metal detector, the guard simply ushered her toward the administration wing without checking her bag. She’d counted on that, although she could have easily explained that she brought the uniform for her husband. But the less she had to interact with the staff, the better.
She made it to the banquet room just as they dimmed the lights. Scanning the round tables, she glimpsed her husband among the sea of uniformed personnel. His arm hung casually over the back of an empty chair beside him—her chair.
A headache instantly stabbed at her temples. Squaring her shoulders, she crossed the room to the very front table and took her seat.
“About time you got here.” Her husband’s sweet smile didn’t match his angry tone. “Best behavior. Or else.”
As if I’m a child who will throw a temper tantrum in front of all your employees. Asshole.
She gritted her teeth and sat, smiling at the other guests at the table. “Nice to see you too, dear.”
He glanced down at her feet. “Boots? In this heat?”
She shrugged and crossed her legs. “They matched the outfit.”
And will blend in with my uniform unlike sandals or pumps.
The first speaker approached the podium and fiddled with her note cards.
Her husband leaned toward her and snaked his arm around her shoulder. Disgust and hate swirled in her gut. His fingers dug into her skin painfully as he whispered in her ear. “I don’t give a shit that you don’t want to be here. Neither do I. But you’d better wipe that pissy look off your ugly face or I’ll make it even uglier when we get home tonight.”
Swallowing back her fear, she concentrated on relaxing her expression. When a server set a salad in front of her, nausea threatened. She forced herself to eat a few bites, then slid it away.
Thankfully, most people were looking at the speaker and not at her. Officer after officer made their way to the stage to accept various awards in an endless procession of boredom.
After she’d suffered through the bland dinner, she tapped her husband’s arm. “I have a headache. I’m going to the Ladies Room. I may be a while.”
He squinted at her a long moment. She feared he might insist she stay, but finally, he merely nodded.
Judging by the long list of recipients on the program, she knew the speeches and presentations would go on for a long time. But she didn’t have a minute to spare. The second she heard the heavy auditorium doors close behind her, she raced toward the bathroom. She changed into the uniform then stashed her purse in the trashcan under a few wads of paper towels.
&nb
sp; Checking her watch, she headed through the deserted administration hallway toward Sergeant Jones’ office. Using the ID card she’d swiped from her husband, she let herself into the darkened room.
Heart racing, she shut the door, but left the lights off. No sense inviting trouble. Pulling in a breath, she detected something in the air, like a pine forest. Must be the man’s cologne lingering.
Where would he hide that damn book? This seemed the most logical place, so chances were good he’d left it here. Using her flashlight, she searched his drawers in vain. Crossing the small room to the credenza, she aimed her tiny flashlight on a framed photo of several officers—including her husband—with the governor. She read the caption underneath, then studied the man listed as Jones. Her only glimpse of him had been from a distance a few days ago.
He stood taller than the others and was way more handsome. Neither her husband nor her lover could hold a candle to him. With broad shoulders and a commanding presence, he looked like the sort of man who would protect her from an animal like her husband.
No time to dwell on fantasies.
She tried the cabinet door, but found it locked. She searched his desk for something to pry it open—a letter opener or a knife—but he had nothing.
Of course not. Such items were strictly forbidden in a jail since they could potentially fall into the hands of inmates and become weapons.
She shined the flashlight on her watch and frowned. No time to keep trying. Tension knotted her brow. She’d gone to so much trouble to get here and for what?
Head pounding, she returned to the bathroom and changed back into her skirt and blouse. When she entered the banquet room, the awards ceremony was still underway.
Her husband leaned close, dug his fingers into her arm painfully and whispered into her ear. “What the hell took you so long?”
His putrid breath on her neck turned her stomach. She shrugged off his hand. “I told you, I have a headache. I took some aspirin and got some air.”
The dangerous fire in his eyes sent a shiver slithering up her spine. Would he punish her when he got her alone later? Her chest tightened.
Tropic of Trouble Page 14