No, he didn’t and it was only his anxiety making him short with Kade. He swallowed past the tightness in his throat. “Be safe out there. I’m concerned about the state of mind of this murdering shifter. His actions don’t make sense.”
“Don’t they? I think they make perfect sense. Kill the human guardian, take the child and run.”
“But he left evidence of his kill inside the home for humans to find.”
“According to the talkative little desk clerk at the police station, they found cans of gasoline inside the house and the backdoor was left open. The humans still maintain it was armed robbery but we know better. The shifter was interrupted and the witness who reported the crime was lucky the male ran.”
Fear struck. If what Kade said was true, this human was in danger, yet another innocent they had to protect. “Did you get the witness’s name?”
Kade’s sigh was loud over the line. “No. We were interrupted before I could persuade the female to share all her knowledge.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t a chore getting the information. Was she pretty?”
Kade chuckled. “Pretty enough. Tasted good too.”
Rafe knew another female with a delicious flavor. His mouth watered. He wanted more and that worried him. Felines rarely sought out women they’d already enjoyed. The conquest was often the lure to getting them naked. Once they did that, they moved on. He’d already gotten to enjoy Jasmine. He should not still crave her.
“I’ve already texted Zach. He’s getting in touch with Shifter Affairs,” Kade announced, the leader back in charge. “They’ll handle covering up the death and supplying us with the info we need.”
“Good. Let me know when you get to Jasmine’s house,” Rafe said and hung up.
After he texted Jasmine’s number, he settled back to wait for her. The eagerness he felt as he watched the door worried him too. Desiring her body was one thing. He could justify his hunger since he hadn’t fucked her yet, but he shouldn’t be so anxious to look into her gray eyes or hear her voice. That kind of fascination could be dangerous. Just because royal males could take human mates didn’t mean many did. It wasn’t a choice made lightly. Their mating bites killed.
Chapter Four
Jazz ended the call and dropped the phone back onto Josh’s desk. She breathed a sigh. Everything was quiet on the home front. The boys were watching the black-and-white western movies Mr. Wilkins always had playing at his house. They hadn’t even noticed she was late picking them up. As a mother, she was both glad they felt comfortable away from home and sad too. It meant they were growing up.
After chatting with her kids, she explained to Mr. Wilkins her concern about the murderer. He thought she was worrying over nothing, that crime happened even in a rural area but he assured her he’d left his dogs out—Rottweilers that loved her boys—and had a loaded gun next to him. Just in case. Although he was older, he was still a good shot. Seth and Levi were as safe as they’d be with her. Probably more so. She didn’t have dogs that would bark and alert her to danger.
She glanced at the couch. Her body tingled with the memory of what she and Rafe had done there. She ran a shaky hand through her hair. No man had ever made her lose control the way he had tonight. Not only did she allow herself to be seduced, she took what Rafe offered and demanded more. She’d actually rubbed herself against his face, fucked herself on his tongue and when she’d come—god, she didn’t know she was capable of making the sounds she had. But damn, it had felt good and so had the way Rafe had looked at her afterward.
Desire, awe and satisfaction. If she didn’t know better, she’d say he got nearly as much pleasure from making her orgasm as she’d gotten from the actual release. And that was what fantasies were made of—a hot guy who enjoyed making a woman scream his name.
While she’d used the bathroom, she’d even convinced herself that maybe Rafe was worth juggling her responsibility to her kids. Would it be so bad if she left the kids with Mr. Wilkins a few nights a month? Or even with Josh? Once she talked to him, he’d be her best resource for support. Seth and Levi were older now and didn’t need her as much as they had when they were younger. Tonight proved it.
As long as she kept the sex casual, no strings attached, dating Rafe would give her the best of both worlds. He didn’t have to know her secret. She could meet him places, get hotel rooms. An affair. That’s all.
It had seemed so clear. She’d had a plan and walked out of the bathroom with a smile on her face—and found an empty room. He’d left. And that hurt a lot more than she liked admitting. She’d fallen for his tender words and the sincere look in his eyes, but when faced with the truth—the woman he’d pleasured came with baggage—he ran.
She sighed and grabbed the car keys from the desk. At least he’d left them before he’d hightailed it out of here. But really, could she blame him? They’d just met. Unless he only wanted a one-night stand, getting involved with her meant the possibility of an instant family, not something many guys wanted. And she hadn’t exactly made it clear that giving him her number was a possible invitation for sex, not a relationship.
She rolled her keys in her hand and looked at Josh’s desk. If she was going to entertain the idea of a having a man in her life, why look for love from a stranger when Josh had made no secret of wanting to renew their previous relationship. The only reason she’d avoided him was her kids. The secret. Now it wasn’t an obstacle. First thing in the morning, she’d call him, break the news about Megan and see where things led with them.
She gave the couch one last glance, walked to the door and flung it open. Her eyes widened at the sight that met her. Rafe leaned against the wall on the opposite side of the hallway, ankles crossed and thumbs in his front pockets.
“Hey, beautiful. I was starting to get worried.”
She closed the door behind her and leaned against it. “You waited?”
A chuckle shook his chest. He pushed away from the wall and closed the distance between them. With one hand pressed against door over her head and the other by her hip, he surrounded her. Although short, she was curvy. Petite wasn’t a description she’d used for herself, but next to Rafe she felt small.
He slid his hand across her belly and up to lightly skim over her nipples. The points pebbled with the slight contact. Her breath quickened but he didn’t linger there. He swept those calloused fingers over her chest, up the length of her neck and finally tipped up her chin. He met her eyes. “Is that why you took so long? Hoping I’d get bored and take off?”
Captured by his intense stare, she couldn’t form words. He watched her with unblinking eyes for a long, heart-stopping moment before he bent his head and covered her mouth with his. With a swipe of his tongue, he gently prodded at the seam. She opened to him on a moan, inviting him in. Instead of thrusting inside, he ran the tip along the inside of her upper lip, then the lower as if savoring her flavor. And the low appreciative sound that rumbled in his chest suggested he liked her taste. Tamed by the rawness of it, she arched into him, silently asking for more.
His tongue finally met hers and the slow, drugging kiss he delivered rekindled her passion. It was a gentle urging she couldn’t resist. She linked her arms around his neck and clung to him while he led her in an erotic dance that felt as intimate as actual sex. They moved together, adjusting the depth and angle of their strokes as if they’d been lovers their entire lives and this was foreplay, a lead up to the real thing, not a simple kiss.
He slid his fingers from her chin into her hair and fisted a section. A slight tug to those captured strands and he bent her head farther back, forcing her to accept his deepening thrusts and the quicker pace. He skimmed his other hand along the length of her side, a tentative touch that left her skin tingling. Another slow pass from the edge of her breast to her hip and she was arching into him, pressing her belly against the ridge of his erection.
He was seducing her. And dear god, she wanted everything he could give her. Consequences be damned.
&
nbsp; Another hungry noise spilled into her mouth, one she enjoyed pulling from him. She rubbed along the bulge that seemed to grow the longer they kissed. His response excited her. She wanted to tear down his control, make him as wild as he’d done for her.
His sweeping caresses quickened, moved to her bottom. He molded each rounded cheek before lifting her. And the easy show of strength appealed to her as much as the way he touched her body. The man was literally built for sex. She had no doubt he could hold her up all night long. The thought fed the burning lust consuming her. Her core clenched, reminding her of what she hungered for.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and ground her hips against his. More. She needed more than just the pressure on her clit. She ached, the feeling of emptiness growing with the fevered way he ate at her mouth.
“Jasmine,” he groaned against her lips.
She heard the unspoken question, but the music drifting to her ears reminded her this wasn’t the place for it. “Not here, Rafe.”
He twisted the handle and shoved the door at her back open with a push of their bodies. They stumbled back inside the office. Without breaking their kiss, he lowered her to the couch.
Somebody clearing their throat froze them both.
“I’m sorry, but you’re not allowed back here.”
Jazz peeked past Rafe’s shoulders and saw Sara, the head waitress, standing at the doorway, her eyes downcast and a blush staining her cheeks. Rafe chuckled and Jazz glanced back at him.
“I was hoping she’d walk by and leave us alone.”
How had he heard her approach? Her face must’ve shown her confusion because he cleared his throat and mumbled, “Her shoes squeak.”
Okay. That answered her question but how had he heard it? She’d been too focused on Rafe to notice anything. Maybe he hadn’t been as fixated on her as she’d been with him. The idea didn’t sit well. She dropped her gaze and tugged on her shirt.
“Jazz, please, I really don’t want to call security but I will.”
Jazz pushed against Rafe’s shoulders. He stood and pulled her against him. The simple move eased her insecurity and so did the huge erection pressing into her.
Rafe dipped his head. “No need, ma’am. We’ll take our leave on our own.”
He led her out the door and toward the employee exit. Once outside, the humid summer air hit them. She shivered with the change in temperature. Rafe tucked her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. He pressed his cheek to the top of her head.
“I’m sorry, Jasmine. I really thought she’d walk by. I should’ve closed the door behind us.”
“It’s probably a good thing she interrupted us.” Rafe tensed and she hurriedly added, “I really do have to get home. There was an armed robbery earlier today and I’m a little edgy about leaving my kids alone so long.”
The muscles under her hands tightened even more. “I thought you said your children were safe and with a neighbor.”
The bite of accusation in his tone bothered her. Was he implying she’d neglect her boys?
“I did. And they are. But I won’t feel at ease until I’m with them.”
He rubbed the length of her spine. With each slow stroke of his hands, the stiffness in his body eased. “I understand. My brother’s ma—” he cleared his throat. “My brother’s wife felt the same way when her little ones were young.”
She smiled at the thought of Rafe playing ball or maybe dolls with a little niece or nephew. “So you’re an uncle?”
The hand caressing her stilled for a moment before he continued with the lazy strokes along the curve of her spine. “No. Not exactly.”
When he didn’t explain, she asked, “What do you mean?” A horrible thought struck her. “My god, did they die?”
Rafe separated their bodies and took her hand. He raised it to his lips, placed a kiss to her palm, then pressed it to his chest, over his heart. “Maybe, maybe not. My nieces disappeared along with my sister many years ago. We searched for years for them. The police gave up, private detectives ran into dead end after dead end.” His thumb rubbed over her knuckles but she got the impression the move soothed him, not her. “We still keep our eyes out, hope one day we’ll find them.”
The pain in his eyes was sharp. She reached up and caressed his jaw. He leaned into her touch. Warmth spread in her heart from that simple reaction. She was glad she could give him some small comfort. “I’m sorry, Rafe.”
He held their joined hands between them and looked into her eyes. “Thank you, my Jasmine. Your words comfort me more than I can express.”
The butterflies in her belly took flight. The man was a romantic. “You know, I’m starting to enjoy the odd way you talk. It makes me feel as if I walked into a world where princesses wait to be swept away by their knights in shining armor.”
He grinned, the sad look replaced by amusement. Releasing her hands, he slid his around her waist. “You would make a beautiful princess.”
“Would I?”
“One to be fought for.” He twirled a lock of her hair around a finger. “What about me? Would I fill the role of your knight in shining armor?”
She smiled, completely charmed by this man. She ran her hands over his chest, luxuriated in the layers of muscle under her palms. “I don’t know if any horse would be able to carry you for long. I see you more as a warrior, a conqueror.”
“One who demands the bonny ladies as his reward after a battle?” He swept her into his arms. She gasped and grabbed his shoulders. Lust heated his eyes as he mapped her face. “Oh yes, I like this fantasy and in it I get to choose you as my booty.” He bent his head closer so his golden eyes filled her vision. “I think I might keep you, Jasmine.”
Her breath hitched. “I think you have a wild imagination.”
“Or a hopeful one.” He eased back but watched her with that focused gaze she was starting to associate with him. “I want you.”
The lust-hazed glint to his eyes told her exactly what he wanted. For once in her life, she did too—but it couldn’t happen. She had responsibilities. Spontaneity and motherhood did not mesh. The little episode in Josh’s office proved that. She would’ve been mortified if Sara walked in while they were having sex. Everyone in town would’ve known within the hour. The other playgroup moms would find out, maybe shun her or at least look at her negatively. No. Any liaisons she had would have to be planned and kept hidden.
She licked her upper lip. “I haven’t had sex in a really long time, Rafe.” She dropped her gaze and stared at his chin. “What we did tonight wasn’t like me either. I’m not like that. Easy.”
He brushed his lips over her forehead. “I know.” He set her on her feet and took her hand. “Come, let’s get you home.”
She walked with him around the side of the building to the parking lot. He led her right in the direction of her car, not even pausing by the other ones or asking where she’d parked. A feeling of unease slithered over her. She stopped and tugged on his arm. He looked at her with scrunched brows.
She jerked her chin toward her car. “Why do you think I parked there?”
He ran a hand through his hair, glanced toward the cluster of vehicles then back to her. “Your keys. You drive a Ford and I figured you’d be parked by a light.”
Intuitive or something more? Doubt crept into her mind and fed the apprehension. She pointed across the lot to the cars near the front door. “Why not think I parked there?”
A sheltered mask slid over the warm and open expression he’d worn since she’d met him. The first trickling of fear snaked into her consciousness and her earlier suspicion came back.
He shook his head and the hard look disappeared. Using the hand he held, he tucked her against his side. “I am sorry, Jasmine. I just assumed that since you arrived so late you would’ve been forced to park as far away as I did.”
He gave her another reassuring squeeze and led her toward the other side of the lot.
She stopped him after a few feet. Embarrassment rose
. Just because she was worried about Tony’s murder and whether the killer had been looking for money or a kid he could sell didn’t mean she had to think everyone she met was a criminal or a rogue shifter. She couldn’t believe she was reading so much into his actions, but paranoia had become a part of her personality. She questioned everybody’s motives. She had to.
“No, you were right. I was just curious, I guess. You’re a very observant man.”
He looked at her, the careful mask back on. “It’s second nature, I suppose. A consequence of my…job.”
“Really? What do you do?”
“Security,” he grumbled and led her forward.
She considered that. It fit. She could easily see him working as a bodyguard for some important official or maybe a rock star. She grinned at the possibilities.
Before she knew it, they were at her car. She unlocked the door but Rafe planted his hands on either side of her body and caged her in. He leaned against her back and the evidence of his arousal pressed into her. With his mouth near her ear, he whispered, “I don’t want to let you go.”
The desire in his voice stirred hers back to life. She turned in his arms. Her reaction to Rafe wasn’t normal for her but she couldn’t deny it. Instant lust. She knew that’s all it was, even if he claimed it was more, but she’d been without a man for so long. This feeling was one she’d forgotten about. The crazy “nothing else matters” one that made her want to roll around naked and sweaty with him until she sated the lust.
He nudged against her neck, urging her to accept him. Unable to resist, she bent her head and relished the nipping bites along her jaw. He fisted her hair and tugged, tearing a moan from her throat. He swallowed the sound with his mouth over hers. She opened for him, drew him in and their tongues twined and rolled. Slow at first, then with a growing hunger that left her breathless. She squirmed in his arms, desperate for the relief he could give.
He released the firm grip on her hair, swept his hands down her back and over her sides. With his fingers digging into her hips, he pulled her closer. The hard length of his erection pressed into her belly but he made no move to touch her more intimately. Didn’t slip his fingers into her panties. Didn’t counter the thumping in her clit. Didn’t ease the unbearable ache. He simply wrapped her in his arms and continued to kiss her.
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