by K. L. Kreig
Dev nuzzled her neck and lightly bit her earlobe, letting it slip gently through his teeth. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” She looked over her shoulder to see him staring hungrily into her eyes. It was a look he had often, but she could hardly get used to the fact it was for her.
“How did you sleep after your dream?”
“Good, actually. Dreamless.”
“I’m glad.” His eyes flicked back and forth between her eyes and her lips. He closed the short distance between them to kiss her and she quickly threw her hand over her mouth to stop him. He frowned at her.
“Morning breath,” she mumbled.
He reached up and removed her hand. “I don’t give a shit about morning breath, love. I want to kiss you. Now.”
He didn’t wait for a response. He held her head in place and took her lips in a hot, heated kiss, invading her mouth with his tongue, exploring every inch of it. She moaned and turned to face him fully, bodies glued together from chest to thigh. She wound her arms around his neck and tilted her head for a better angle to attack his lips. His hard length was pressing into her stomach and she reveled in her feminine power to bring a man like Dev to such an aroused state.
He growled and ran his hands down her sides to the bottom of her tank top. He slipped a hand inside and slowly ran it up her torso, over her ribs to the curve of her breast. He cupped her breast, kneading it but avoiding her nipple. She broke the kiss. She moaned and her head fell back as he traced her puffy areola lightly with his long finger. “Oh, God.”
He continued to avoid her nipple as he kissed, nipped and sucked his way along her jaw, down her neck. “Don’t tease, Dev.”
She felt like that’s all he’d been doing for almost a week now. Teasing, tempting her with the pleasures he could lavish on her.
“Tell me what you want, love.” He scraped his sharp teeth along her neck. She could hardly breathe.
“You know what I want.”
“No, I don’t. Do you want me to touch your nipple? Do you want me to suck it into my mouth?” He licked a hot, wet path back up to her mouth. “Tell me to suck your nipple, Kate,” he whispered against her mouth. Oh God.
“Dev—please.”
He kissed her with dominating force. “Tell me.”
Kiss.
“Say the words, Kate.”
Kiss.
“I need to hear you say it.”
She’d never had any man say such erotic things to her. She couldn’t deny him. “Yes. Please suck my nipple. Please.”
She hadn’t even gotten the words all the way out before his fingers began plucking her, elongating the hardened nub. He pinched and rolled it between his fingers, while he ravaged her mouth. She’d read of women coming from nipple play, but never really believed it was possible. Until now. She was seconds away from an orgasm and he’d only touched her breasts.
___________
Dev
“Dev, Olivia will be here within the hour.”
Fuuuuuck. Of all the shitty timing. All he wanted to do was devour the woman held tightly in his arms. He was ready to snap. “We’ll be down shortly.”
But he couldn’t let her go without honoring her request first. That wouldn’t be very gentlemanly of him, now would it? And he was nothing if not a gentleman with a woman. His woman.
He swiftly lifted her tank and took her ripe, dark pink nipple into his mouth. Kate gasped and her hands flew up to cradle his head, holding him to the finest thing he’d ever tasted. She moaned his name. Sweet Jesus, he did not want to stop. He wanted to lick and suck every inch of her delectable body. He wanted to keep her in bed, naked, for a month straight and even that wouldn’t be enough. He knew he would never get enough of this woman. Mine.
He reluctantly tore himself away from her sweet, tight nubbin and cupped her cheeks in his hands, kissing her hard and quick on the lips. He put his forehead to hers and groaned. “As much as I really do not want to stop, we have to.”
She blinked. “What? No, we don’t.” Her eyes were dilated and glazed with lust. She tried pulling him back down to her kiss-swollen lips.
He groaned. “I’m sorry, love. There’s someone coming to the house within the hour that we need to see.”
He gently kissed her. He needed to reassure her of his desire. “Kate, Jesus, I don’t want to stop, but there is too much I want to do with you—to you—to rush this.” He rolled his hips, pushing his erection into her mound, eliciting a groan from them both. “I want you more than I want my next breath, but if I don’t stop now, we won’t be leaving this bedroom all day.”
She gazed into his eyes. “You really want me?”
He laughed. Taking her hand, he settled it over his erection. Squeezing, he moved their hands together up and down his impressive length. They both groaned and her eyes closed.
“Look at me, Kate.” She opened her eyes, which were still half-mast. “This is just for you, love. Only you. My dick has been granite hard for days now—for you.”
He stopped while he still could and reluctantly got off the bed. It was difficult to walk away when his cock was like a boomerang…drawn back toward her. “I’ll be back in forty-five minutes or so. Is that enough time for you to get ready?”
She looked dazed. “Ah, yes. Yes, that’s fine. Thanks.” She’d pulled herself into a seated position on the bed.
Dev walked back over to her, leaning over. Cupping her cheeks in his hands, he brushed his thumb over her lower lip. “I want to finish this later. Please say yes.”
She didn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”
“Right answer. See you shortly.” He leaned in and kissed her gently at first, deepening the kiss quickly. They both moaned again. Leaning toward her ear, he whispered, “I can’t wait to feel your tight pussy milking my cock when I make you come, Kate.”
___________
Kate
With those parting words, he left her staring after him; leaving so fast she didn’t even realize he was gone.
Oh. My. Sweet. Lord.
She flopped back down and lay there for a few minutes wondering what in the hell was happening. She thought she’d been in love with John and was ready to spend her life with him, but the feelings she had for John versus the feelings she was quickly developing for Dev were like night and day. Every look, every touch heated her body more thoroughly than she’d ever known was possible. Dev was like forbidden fruit, once eaten she wanted it all the more. She understood Adam and Eve so much better now.
She threw her arms over her face. She would have to—hell she wanted to—surrender to her physical desires for him. No doubt about it. After this hot little episode, she’d be the queen of fools not to sleep with him. The question was, while she may surrender her body, how on earth was she was going to keep from surrendering her heart, getting it broken to smithereens in the process?
Of that, she had no damn clue.
Chapter 22
Dev
They stepped into his office. On the credenza, Leo had set an assortment of pastries, bagels, and fruit as well as some hot choices, like eggs and pancakes. He also had juices and coffee. He wanted her full and sated—in more ways than nutritional sustenance allowed. Goddamn the luck.
His want for her was burning out of control. He could hardly think of anything else but getting his cock inside of her body. He was getting desperate. His animal instinct to bond with her, marking her as his, was fiercely powerful. His sanity was hanging on by the thinnest of threads. If he didn’t have her soon, he was worried his animal nature would take the man in him out of the driver’s seat, and he could not let that happen. This morning was the second time in the last twenty-four hours that he’d held his sausage hostage and while he’d found release, it was empty and lonely.
“Another big spread?” Kate asked, as she eyed the big feast spread on the credenza. The pink sweater she wore draped her curves perfectly and she wore a different, but equally faded, pair of curve-hugging jeans.
“Only
the best for you, love.”
She laughed. “Thank you.”
As she filled her plate, Dev came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He kissed her neck. “It’s purely selfish, I can assure you. I wanted to be sure you had plenty of energy for the hours upon hours of pleasure I have in store for you later. Did you know that giving oral sex burns about a hundred calories per half hour?”
Kate began choking on the piece of watermelon she’d put in her mouth. Dev slapped her back repeatedly. “Are you okay?”
“Y-yes.”
Cough.
“I’m good.”
Cough.
After her coughing was under control, she turned, wrapping her arms around his neck, smiling flirtatiously at him. He wiped away a stray tear. Leaning up, she kissed his lips, whispering against them, “Make sure you eat up, then.” She kissed him quick and turned back around to continue filling her plate.
It took a second for his brain to register her double entendre. He laughed as she looked playfully over her shoulder, a mischievous smile lighting her face.
Grabbing her plate, he set it down on the credenza. He picked her up in his arms and carried her over to the large leather sofa. He laid her down, draping his big frame over her smaller one, careful to keep one knee on the floor, so his heavy weight wasn’t crushing her.
“Why, Mr. Fallinsworth, whatever are you doing?”
“You told me to eat up. I plan on doing that. Right now.” He crushed his lips to hers before she could challenge him. His hand snaked underneath her jeans, palming and kneading her rounded ass. She moaned softly into his mouth.
Just then the office door flew open and in walked Ren with a woman in tow. Dev simply turned his head. “Fucking knock next time.” Kate was trying frantically to push him off of her.
“Move,” she grunted.
Sighing, he lifted himself off and helped her up, but placed a possessive arm around her waist. She struggled against him, trying to gain her own space, but he would have none of it. She was his and she would stay by his side. He’d watched her face turn about five shades of red since Ren and Olivia stepped through the door. It was…endearing.
“Sorry for the interruption, boss.” Ren had a wry smirk on his face. Fucker wasn’t sorry at all.
Kate was staring at the floor, her face a nice shade of crimson. He loved blushing. It brought the blood closer to the surface of the skin. He gave her a reassuring squeeze while he inhaled deeply, relishing in her intoxicating scent. “Knock next time. Asshole.” Ren’s smirk got wider.
“Kate, this is Olivia Morton. Olivia, Kate Martin. Why don’t we sit?”
Kate extended her hand, which Olivia graciously took. “Nice to meet you Olivia.”
“Likewise.”
___________
Kate
Kate was absolutely mortified, her entire face burned. Every time Dev touched her, it was like every brain cell flashed a neon sign that said DO ME. She knew someone was coming, yet she let Dev feel her up anyway. Classy, Kate. Real classy.
She was taken back to the time her mom walked in on her and Alex, her first boyfriend. They had gone to her bedroom to “study,” of course making out instead. Her mom opened the door and caught Alex with his hand on her breast, over the shirt, but needless to say, finding your sixteen-year-old daughter getting felt up didn’t sit well with her mom. She freaked, lectured, and grounded her for a month. Poor Alex was terrified to come around again and they broke up a short time later.
Strange things were happening to her now, had been since she’d arrived here yesterday. She’d actually sensed someone was coming into the room right before Ren and Olivia had entered. How could she sense someone was coming? And why did she keep hearing words whispering through her head? Like in the bedroom earlier, she swore she heard Dev say mine, but since his mouth was wrapped completely around her nipple, that wasn’t possible. Add this to the irrationally extreme attraction she felt for Dev and she was feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Dev brought over her untouched plate and handed it to her with a wink. Jackass. She watched him walk to his desk chair. Hmmm…make that sweet ass.
“So, Kate. Olivia’s here because she has a similar…talent as you.”
Her eyebrows drew together and she looked at him questioningly. “Talent? What talent?”
“She also has dreams.” Kate sat up straight, looking back and forth between Olivia and Dev.
“What are you talking about? What dreams?” She could hardly catch her breath. She was angry, scared and hopeful, all at the same time.
Olivia, who sat on the couch next to Kate, spoke up, gently grabbing Kate’s hands in hers. “I have dreams about real events, too, Kate. I’ve had them my entire life, just like you have. I know what you’re going through and I want to help you.”
Olivia put Kate at ease and she instantly liked her. She was a petite blonde, with a body that obviously was honed by many hours in the gym. Her piercing blue eyes were framed with long, dark lashes and she looked to be about her age.
“How can you help? The only way you can help is to make them go away. And I haven’t been able to find anyone yet that can do that.” God, if someone could help her get rid of these horrific dreams, she would be free. Free at last. Was that even possible?
Olivia gazed at her with empathy. The hope that had quickly developed was crushed just as fast. “Kate, I know it seems like a burden and honestly, sometimes it is, but you have a gift. A gift, which, once you learn to hone and perfect it, makes it extremely powerful. And puts you in control versus feeling helpless. I can help you do that. I can help you control your gift instead of letting it control you.”
Kate shook her head. “No. Nope. There’s no controlling my dreams. They control me. You have no idea what kinds of dreams plague me, Olivia. If I could control them, I’d make them go away. I’m sorry that you wasted your time, but there’s no way you can help me.” Tears sprung into her eyes. She could barely speak. “I wish you could.”
Olivia grabbed Kate into a tight hug. Over her shoulder, Kate’s eyes locked onto Dev’s and his were full of sympathy, pain and…caring?
“I can help you, Kate. I know you don’t know me and have no reason to trust me, but please do. I can’t make them go away, but I can help you view your dreams in an entirely different way. I’ve done it myself. I’ve helped others do it. I can help you.”
She pulled away, holding Kate’s gaze. “I can help you, Kate. Trust me.”
Kate shook her head. “I don’t think so, Olivia. I’m sorry you’ve come all this way, but I just don’t think I can.”
Dev came over, crouching in front of where she sat. He held her hands in his. “Kate, love, I know this is difficult. Sometimes the easier solution is to bury your head in the sand. But most often the easier decision isn’t the right one. Just give it a try. One day, that’s all I’m asking. If you don’t feel this is useful, I won’t ask her to come back. You have my word.”
She’d buried her head in the sand for too many years. Hell, she’d been trying to figure out this dream thing for half her life. Maybe she was going about it all wrong. Maybe trying to stop the dreams wasn’t the right answer. It hadn’t worked so far. If she was cursed with this problem, at least she should learn how to properly deal with it.
“Okay. I’ll try.”
Chapter 23
Mike
It was a good day for a road trip. Mike and his partner, Jake, had driven to the Northwestern campus, stopping for lunch along the way. His stomach was revolting against the bacon double cheeseburger and biggie-size fries. He’d been popping Zantac and Pepto for the last hour. He needed to lay off that shit. The combo of grease, pills and alcohol was eating a hole in his stomach. Or was it the job? He was headed for an early grave and he couldn’t afford to fill it until he’d accomplished his objective. Maybe he should pull a Jared and eat two meals a day at Subway.
Northwestern’s main Evanston, Illinois, campus was really quite picturesque.
Along Lake Michigan’s shoreline, the vast campus boasted large oak and pine trees, colorful vine-covered buildings and several unique churches. Once parked, Jake and Mike headed to Swift Hall where the Psychology Department was housed. They were going to pay a surprise visit to Professor Duncan Bailey, the last person to see Sarah alive.
As they walked through the snowy campus, Mike’s thoughts turned back to Kate. Fallinsworth looked like he wanted to devour Kate on the spot and knowing that he’d followed her, Mike was genuinely worried for her safety. He never should have let that vamp go after her. Fuck!
“What, man?”
“Huh?”
“You said ‘fuck.’ What’s up?”
Did he say that out loud? “Nothin’. S’all good.” Jake shrugged his shoulders. Mike knew he’d been acting moody lately, but he couldn’t help the nagging feeling that something big was about to go down.
They arrived at Professor Bailey’s office and he wasn’t there. His assistant told them he’d be back in forty-five minutes, so they sat and waited, making small talk with the pretty, young brunette.
Forty minutes later, Professor Bailey walked down the hall toward them studying a piece of paper in his hand. As he spotted them, his steps faltered. He went pale and looked like he was about to be sick. Mike thought for a second the guy was gonna beat feet.
Mike and Jake stood and headed toward the professor. “Professor Bailey, we’ve been waiting for you. I’m Detective Thatcher and this is my partner, Detective Keller. We’re from the Milwaukee PD and we have some questions for you regarding the disappearance of Sarah Hill.” They flipped their credentials to the professor. “Do you mind if we take a seat in your office?”