Superior Collision

by C. A. Szarek

  He squeezed her tight and tried to smile, but his heart plummeted to his gut. “It is goodbye.” He wanted to say so much more. To tell her he was sorry he was such an asshole. Sorry he’d brought danger to her door. Sorry he disappointed her. Sorry he couldn’t stay in Phoenix and make a life. A life where he could see her all the time, and watch his nephew grow up. Even punch her good-for-nothing ex like the bastard deserved.

  “I need to check your wounds, one more time.” She sniffled and straightened her shoulders, finally getting it together like the strong woman she was. Cami didn’t wipe her cheeks dry, but determination settled over her pretty face. She was all doctor now, but perhaps she had to be.

  “I’m fine, because of you. All patched up. I love you, Camille.” Rowdy’s voice caught on the words he didn’t say often, even to his sister.

  She punched his chest again, a move reminiscent of when they were kids. “You’re not supposed to use that as a goodbye, dammit.”

  A chuckle escaped his lips, unbidden. “Well, I won’t say it at all, then.” He rubbed his right pec. “Ow. Damn, girl, you have bony knuckles.”

  His sister flashed a tremulous smile. “Ass.”

  “Totally.”

  Their gazes collided and held. Rowdy’s stomach dipped and he sucked in a breath.

  “Who is this guy?” Cami whispered.

  “Nobody you need to worry about, if I take off.”

  Her lips pursed all over, and she touched her cheek. “I don’t want to hear a report on the news that my brother was killed.” The last part of her statement shook, and she sniffled again.

  “I know how to lay low. I’ll be fine. You’re the only one with the number to my phone. It’s disposable. If—when—I get another, I’ll call you. Promise. I’ll keep in touch as much as I can.”

  She swallowed. Offered a curt nod that made him breathe a tad easier. “I don’t like it.”

  “Cami—”

  “But I understand.”

  “Thank you,” Rowdy whispered. “I’m sorry I put you and Devon in danger.”

  “You didn’t.”

  He prayed she was right, but didn’t dare disagree aloud. “Keep the money. I’m serious. Pay off your school loans. Just be smart about how you spend it. You can’t put it in the bank.”

  “How much?”

  “Two hundred K.”

  Cami gasped. “Eric—”

  “I’m leaving it. I’m serious. Do what you want, what you need to do with it.”

  Tears flowed freely again and Rowdy hugged her one more time, wiped her face then kissed her cheek.

  She didn’t say anything, which was Cami at her scariest.

  “I need to go, Cam. It’s not safe for me to even stay one more night. Tell Devon I love him, and I’ll call you tomorrow when I get somewhere to lay low. First chance I get. Promise.”

  “Now?”

  “Now.”

  Cami crushed her eyes shut, but she nodded.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Shannon had mixed feelings when he got to Taylor’s apartment. He hesitated when he was about to knock on the door, but he shouldn’t have. He’d told her he was on his way when he’d left the hotel, and the line at the bakery had been a mile long. It’d taken forever to get her favorite dessert.

  He clutched the brown paper sack with two pieces of cheesecake inside. He’d gotten caramel sauce this time, and hoped she liked it.

  How could he say goodbye? He wanted—no, needed—to kiss her. At least hold her before he made his trek home.

  Stop being pathetic. Antioch isn’t that far away.

  Shaking his head at himself, he made a fist and raised it.

  The door swung open before he’d made a sound. Shannon cursed and fought the urge to jump back.

  “I was just about to call you. It’s been forever since your last text.” Taylor’s beautiful eyes were wide, concerned.

  He focused on her and forced himself to relax. “Don’t tell me you were worried about me.”

  She arched a fair eyebrow. “Not you. My dessert.”

  Refusing to give in to a laugh, he clutched his leather jacket over his heart. “Ouch. That hurts, Special Agent.”

  “Just get in here.” A smile played at her lips and she tugged his wrist. Her expression was playful, yet unrepentant for her jibe.

  She pulled harder when he didn’t move right away, and the paper bag crinkled.

  Shannon regretted that her hand hadn’t enclosed his bare skin. He wanted to feel her touch anywhere he could get it.

  Taylor already had plates and two steaming mugs arranged on her coffee table, and he could smell the delicious tease of java, but her now-familiar scent was there too, just as delectable as his favorite drink.

  He watched her unfold two paper napkins and set them by each small dish. God, he’d missed her over the last four days. It felt like weeks.

  She stilled, and her eyes lifted from her task, meeting his. “I… I…missed you, too.”

  Shit. I said that out loud?

  His heart skipped and Shannon forced a breath. Commanded himself to calm and went for a nonchalant approach as he closed the distance between them. He set down the bag and slipped out of his jacket before draping it on a chair.

  Without a word, he drew her into his arms. He had to touch her.

  She shocked him by sighing against his chest instead of pulling away. She didn’t speak either, and she didn’t wrap her arms around him, but somehow Taylor letting him hold her was enough for the moment.

  He closed his eyes and inhaled the floral perfume of her hair. It was still up, instead of down around her shoulders how he liked it, but that didn’t matter right now either.

  “My trial’s over,” Shannon whispered. “I’m leaving in the morning.” He was supposed to have gone that night, but he’d called Nikki and told her he needed one more night in the hotel, and if he had to come out of pocket, that was okay, too. His boss’s assistant had said not to worry about it. She’d said as long as she got the receipt, she was good.

  He’d report for work tomorrow evening, like normal. He was currently leading the seven p.m. to seven a.m. shift—but he only had a few weeks left, then he’d be back on the eight-hour rotation—afternoons, three to eleven. They switched shifts every three months. Chief liked a well-rounded crew, but it was killer on one’s sleep schedule.

  Right now, work didn’t matter. Only Taylor did. Shannon couldn’t have left Dallas without seeing her.

  “Did you win?” She lifted her head from his pec and met his gaze.

  “What?”

  “The trial.”

  Oh. Right. He cleared his throat. “Yes. The scumbag got twenty years.”

  “Good.”

  “Won’t bring the victim back.”

  “No, but her family has closure now.” Taylor’s words were soft and even, and she didn’t look at him this time.

  Shannon’s gut clenched. She didn’t have closure, because the guy who’d killed her fiancé was still out there. He didn’t have a chance with her—a real chance—until John Murray’s killer was behind bars. And maybe not even then.

  He felt bad that she’d lost the guy, of course. Always had. But the selfish part of him, the part that wanted her more than he wanted his next breath, was pissed. Jealous. Helpless.

  Shannon should just go. Before he ticked her off, or pushed her. Or did something stupid, because she’d all but come out and said she couldn’t handle what he wanted from her.

  “Shannon?” Taylor’s voice was full of concern.

  He jolted, cursing the fact she’d no doubt felt his body jerk, since she was still tight against him. “Yeah, they have closure now, but it doesn’t fix the hole in their hearts.”

  She nodded. “I know. You’re thinking about your sister, aren’t you?”

  No, but it’s a nice cover. “I always do in these cases. Can’t help it.” It came out smooth, but turned his stomach even more. It wasn’t exactly a lie—he did think of Sabrina when he arre
sted a drunk driver—but half-truths were just as bad as deceit. Shannon wasn’t a liar, even if he couldn’t admit he was grieving Taylor. Get a grip. You haven’t even said goodbye yet.

  She slipped her arms around his middle and squeezed.

  He wanted to crush the emotion that hit him square in the chest. Taylor was comforting him because she thought he was mourning his sister, when in truth, he’d moved on from that pain years ago.

  Shannon was still pissed when other families suffered the same type of loss, which was why he focused on taking drunken sleazes off the streets, but the agony of eleven years ago had faded to a dull ache. Seeing Cailey all the time, helping raise her had been healing—for him and his mom.

  Guilt swirled when he looked down at his FBI agent’s strawberry-blonde locks, but his voice had taken a long drive. He couldn’t tell her he was upset at the prospect of walking away from her. Or that he was jealous because he couldn’t compete with a ghost, and he wanted to spend the night in her bed instead of going back to his hotel room.

  “Will cheesecake make you feel better?” She wore her signature smirk.

  He wanted to kiss it off her lips. “Sure.” Shannon made his mouth curve up in a smile, but he ached from the loss of Taylor against him when she took a step back.

  “I made coffee, too, but it might be cold now.”

  “Doesn’t matter.” He mumbled nonsense as he watched her take a seat and dig into the brown bag.

  She was wearing a plain dark green tee with long sleeves, and those tight jeans he loved so much. Taylor didn’t wear much makeup, and no jewelry, but the simple elegance she always carried herself with was present even in the way she served cheesecake.

  “You gonna stand there all night, or come over here? I will eat both pieces.” Her hazel gaze dared him, and a smile rippled her mouth, which of course made Shannon remember what she tasted like.

  He jumped into gear, trying to shake off the way she enchanted him. He nodded, slipping onto the couch next to her. Shannon thanked her when she handed him the small plate, but he had to suck back a groan when she licked her lips.

  Don’t watch her put it in her mouth.

  Swallowing hard, he distracted himself by grabbing the mug of coffee and taking a sip. Hot liquid made his tongue smart, but maybe that was for the best. He tried not to startle when the roof of his mouth burned.

  Taylor threw him a sideways glance, as if she was reluctant to even look away from her dessert. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, coffee’s hot after all. Burned my tongue.”

  “Oh, bummer. I hate that. Hope the cool cheesecake helps. Love the caramel sauce, by the way.”

  Shannon smiled. “I’m glad.”

  She closed her eyes as she took a big bite. “God, this is good.”

  Her little moan shot heat to his cock and he made his eyes dart to the treat he had yet to tuck into. He just wanted to watch her.

  Taylor met his gaze and grinned. “This is awesome. I always forget just how good Mario’s is until I have sweets from there.”

  He couldn’t stop staring, especially when she looked at him like that. “You have some…” He gestured to a fragment of cheesecake on the corner of her mouth.

  She put her plate on the table and reached for the napkin, but he stopped her.

  “I’ll get it.” Shannon set his cheesecake down. He slid his hand around to the back of her neck and tugged her to him.

  Shannon couldn’t stop his lips from closing over hers. He tasted the dessert debris, licking the spot before running his tongue along the seam of her mouth.

  She whimpered and leaned into him, opening for him. Her tongue tentatively met his.

  He drew her to him, trying to keep things gentle.

  Taylor threw that out the window by climbing on his lap, kissing him with more pressure. Her thighs split on either side of his, and her bottom landed hard on his lap.

  It didn’t matter that they had layers of denim between them, his cock went granite-hard at the contact and Shannon groaned into her mouth.

  He held her tighter, grappling for her shirt, tugging it out of her jeans and shooting his hands up her back. Her skin burned him. Hot, smooth. Flawless.

  His seeking fingers came into contact with her bra, and he wanted it gone. Wanted her breasts in his waiting hands with no encumbering fabric. Against his better judgment, he forwent the clasp and dragged his hands around to the front, still under the cotton material of Taylor’s T-shirt. He brushed her abs and ran his touch over her ribcage, inching up.

  Shannon cupped her on the outside of her bra, fumbling his thumbs until he found the outline of her nipples and started to rub. It wasn’t enough, so he pulled the bra away from her skin, flipping it out of his way.

  The first touch of her tender flesh against his shot a bolt of lightning straight to his groin and made his balls ache. Her hard nipples brushed his palms. He kneaded her high, tight breasts. They weren’t large, but they were perfect, filling his hands and making him crave more.

  Taylor leaned back and broke their kiss.

  Shannon expected her to yell at him, but he gasped when she whipped her shirt and bra off. She didn’t look as she flung the garments over her shoulder to the carpet of her living room floor.

  He didn’t get a chance to take in her half-naked form, because she sealed her lips over his, pushing her tongue back into his mouth. There was a moan or two, and the heat of her body against his chest, the fabric of his button-down, was too much. Exquisite torture. They weren’t skin-to-skin.

  Shannon pulled her to him, sliding his hands along her spine before teasing her nipples and eliciting the most enthralling sounds from her, which vibrated against his lips.

  She continued to kiss him until it stole his breath, and when he squeezed her breasts gently, Taylor moaned and rocked in his lap, taking his mind to places it didn’t need to go, at least not just yet. He wanted to get her in bed first.

  He reluctantly released her, caressing the bare skin of her sides, then gripped her waist. “If you keep that up, I’m gonna come in my jeans.” Shannon pressed the words into her mouth, half amused, half serious.

  His cock was throbbing and his balls were heavy, compressed against his crotch. His zipper had already taken a bite or two with Taylor’s movements. He couldn’t get more uncomfortable.

  She pulled back and blinked. Her face was flushed a gorgeous pink up to her ears, making her freckles dance. Her lips were swollen and her eyes were hazy, lids at half-mast. The trail of her freckles didn’t stop on her cheeks—they were strewn across her collarbone and shoulders, too.

  He wanted to kiss and caress every one.

  She was so gorgeous, it took what little remained of his ability to breathe. His chest was tight.

  “Sorry,” she whispered, but her mouth quirked.

  “I’m not complainin’, just would rather be naked before that happens.” He smiled and leaned forward, nibbling on her chin before pressing another kiss to her lips.

  Taylor froze on his lap. Crossed her arms and covered her bare breasts.

  “What is it?” Shannon whispered, but he already knew. He should’ve shut his mouth and taken her to bed, so she wouldn’t think. “Taylor, I want you. I burn for you.” The truth tumbled out, and her eyes got wider with every word he spoke.

  Passion dissipated from the beautiful hazel orbs. “Shan—”

  “Stop thinking,” he begged. “Just be with me.”

  She swallowed and he wanted to kiss her throat. Taylor shook her head and her shoulders caved as she clutched herself, closing off her body despite her seat on his lap.

  Shannon reached for her, caressed her shoulder, but let his hand drop when she winced. That bit, but he tried to blink the hurt away.

  This is my fault. He’d known where she was at.

  “You want me, I can feel it,” he whispered, then cursed his mouth running away without his brain.

  Her eyes flashed and Taylor backed away, awkwardly sliding off his lap witho
ut uncovering herself. “And you said you wouldn’t push me. That we didn’t have to label it.”

  Remorse hit his chest and spread out. “You’re right. Taylor, I’m—” He reached for her but she leaned away.

  “You should probably go.” This was hard, almost a bark. She made it to her feet, turned her back to him and pulled her shirt on.

  Shannon’s gut burned. He threw his head back into her plush couch for a moment, chiding himself. When he had the balls to look at his lovely FBI agent, her face screamed harshness, the thin line she’d made of her lips leaving no clues that they were kiss-swollen. “I don’t want to leave like this. I’m going home. Antioch.”

  “No worries.” Her demeanor belied the light phrase. Her shoulders held a slight tremor, but otherwise she was composed.

  He wasn’t foolish enough to touch her again. She’d probably shoot him in the ass—or the balls. He’d ruined everything.

  Dammit.

  “Thanks for dessert,” Taylor said. Her voice was that same normal, even tone. No betrayal of emotion, like she hadn’t just kissed his brains out and left him with blue balls the size of Texas.

  Like his kisses and touches hadn’t affected her physically. Like she didn’t give a shit he was leaving town. Like he meant nothing to her.

  Hell, I guess I don’t.

  Too bad Shannon didn’t feel the same way.

  Idiot.

  “Welcome,” he managed to croak. Stupid manners were automatic. Besides, if Taylor wouldn’t betray her emotions, he didn’t want to either.

  She crossed the room and grabbed his brown leather jacket from the recliner. Held it out to him. “Have a safe drive back.”

  Shannon clenched his jaw. How could she be so smooth? He was torn up inside, regret, desire and sorrow chewing him up. It was only a matter of time before all the mixed emotions would spit him out. Or, worse, come back for round two.

  He sucked in a breath and stood taller. Shrugged his jacket on and met her gaze. “We’re not done, Taylor Carrigan.” He narrowed his eyes. Daring her.

  Taylor fidgeted, but it was only a half-second before she schooled her expression. “I believe we are.”