by Aliyah Burke
“Looking for you.”
“You didn’t want to see me again.”
He walked toward her with a limp on his right side. He obviously knew she had noticed it when he pulled up. “Does it bother you? My limp?”
“What happened?”
“Shot. Pins.”
Her gaze widened. “Because of me?” I ruined his career.
“No. A young officer ran into the line of fire. I pushed her out of the way.”
“But at the house I set on fire.”
His stare remained fixated on her face. “Yes. I’m so glad you did.”
“You were shot.”
His gaze darkened. “So were you. I watched you bleeding out.” He stepped closer and nearly reached out to touch her but dropped his hand back to his side.
“You saved me. I remembered seeing you there.”
A tortured expression filled his features. “I almost drove away. Had you not set the fire…” He shook his head. “I don’t want to think about what would have happened to you.”
“My being shot wasn’t your fault, Declan. I told you that in the note. And I said thank you because I knew it was you who rescued me. You have nothing to feel guilty over.”
Another step. “That’s where you’re wrong, Carolyn Trufant. There’s so much I have to make amends for.”
She swallowed. “Is that why you’re here? To clear your conscience?”
“Is that why you tried to find me in the mountains?”
Caro shook her head. “You don’t get to counter my question with one of your own.”
Was it her imagination or did she see sparks of amusement in his blue-green eyes?
“I don’t?”
“No.”
He put them toe to toe and she had to tip her head back to maintain visual contact. Her body trembled as she filled her nose with his masculine scent. It had been so long since she’d smelled it. She wanted to rub in it until it seeped into her pores and she carried his scent with her. On her. Around her.
“Very well. No, that’s not why I came.”
“Why did you come?”
“Don’t I get a question now?”
Her fingers burned to touch him. If he’s restraining, I can as well. I’m not a whore. Right? Right. I can control my needs. “Fine, ask it.”
“Why did you come looking for me in the mountains?”
“I wanted to thank you in person. The note I’d sent seemed a bit impersonal given all you’d done for me.”
Flames licked his eyes. “Was that the only reason?”
“I answered you, now you answer me. Why did you come?” Lord help her she wasn’t sure she could tell him the other reason she’d gone after him.
“I needed to see for myself that you were okay. I needed to make sure and I needed to talk to you.” He closed his eyes briefly as if he was pausing to find some strength from somewhere. “I needed to tell you something important.”
It lingered on the tip of her tongue to ask what it was. She stared at his bow-shaped lips and dug her toes into her socks. What she wouldn’t give to feel them on her once more.
“Now, was that the only reason?”
“No.” She dragged her tongue along her lower lip. His eyes tracked the motion and she posed her question. “Will you kiss me?”
His mouth had settled over hers before the words had even faded from the air. She sighed into him and leaned in, trusting he would hold her up. Declan slid his hands along the sides of her face before sinking them into her hair and holding her close. She whimpered as his taste flooded her again, at long last. Digging her fingers into his upper arms she pressed herself as near to him as she could manage.
“Caro,” he whispered along her lips.
She opened her eyes to find him staring at her. “I know, I’m not what you want. I lied to you.”
She stepped back only to find it wasn’t possible. He wouldn’t let her get away.
“Don’t put words in my mouth.”
“You’re the one who said them. I was merely restating.”
“I was an idiot and an ass. There’s no other woman I want than you, Caro. You. Not your twin. You. I fell in love with you during that time out at the cabin. At first I thought you were just trying to play and get me to drop my guard so you could run off again. The more I watched you—and I did a lot of that—the more I realized the goodness you had. At the time, it didn’t make sense how you could have been so different than the person I remember Jasmine being. It does now. You’re not her.”
“How can you be in love with me? You didn’t even know it was me.”
The corners of his mouth turned up. “The thing is, I fell for the woman you were. And again, that was you. Not Jasmine. I saw your eyes light up at things I never thought you would like. Snow. Seclusion. Playing games in front of the fire.” He touched their foreheads. “Making cranes.”
“Wasn’t too fond of the spider.”
She received a full grin from him for that. His white teeth flashed against his tanned skin.
“I’m grateful for the view you gave me.”
She ducked her head and put it against his chest. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply when he wrapped his arms around her. Contentment and peace flowed through her.
Declan didn’t want to move from this spot but his hip was screaming at him. He ignored it as best he could. Hell, she was back in his arms, he could withstand anything. He didn’t ignore the fact she’d not said she loved him back.
“I have to get the food out.” Her words were muffled from going into his shirt.
“Okay.” He let her go and followed her into her kitchen. While he’d been waiting for her to return, he’d taken himself on a tour of her place. Her cranes were everywhere. All colors and all types of paper.
Her bookcase was full of chemistry books and things that made his eyes cross to attempt to read. He saw her degrees framed on her bedroom wall and realized she’d not lied to him that day. In fact she hadn’t lied to him once. She had told him she wasn’t Jasmine—he was the one who had opted not to believe her.
Now that he knew the difference it was more of a shock to him that he hadn’t picked up on the fact they were two separate people. Jasmine was a bottle of pent-up energy. Caro was calmness personified.
He’d stared at the pictures of the people who had adopted and raised her. The love in that family was so blatant even through the image. She had pictures of Terri up as well. And a man Terri had told him was her boyfriend. They were a close-knit group. He understood that now and also got how hard it must have been for Caro to do what she had done for Jasmine.
There weren’t a lot of knick-knacks around her place and he got the feeling that was intentional. Other than the cranes, of course. She was an amazing woman.
“Did you eat or are you joining me?”
“Joining.”
“Grab a seat.”
Over the meal he kept the talk to questions about what she did. He wanted to be able to hold her when he discussed their future. Declan assisted with the clean-up then after she had shut the door to the dishwasher, he grabbed her hand and took her to the couch. Before them, the fire burned strong, and to his left snow fell outside the window.
He gathered her close and pressed his lips to her temple. “I love you, Carolyn Trufant. I don’t want to live without you any longer.”
She maneuvered so that she straddled him and rested her arms on his shoulders, fingers teasing the nape of his neck. His cock became rigid as he grunted slightly when she shifted over it.
“What does that mean? You want me to move to Atlanta?”
“We could live there if you wanted. Madison seems like a nice city. You’re settled here, family and friends.”
“You are in Atlanta.”
“Nope. I’m not a cop anymore. I didn’t want to ride a desk and with this limp and pins in my hip I can’t be on the streets anymore.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “No. This isn’
t your fault.” A dry chuckle left him. “Look at us. Both shot multiple times. Both recovering and learning to live again. I want to learn it with you. I’ll find something else to do, Caro. All I know right now is it’s you I need in my life.”
“You don’t see Jasmine when you look at me?”
“Not a chance. I barely saw Jasmine when I saw her. I had no use for her. You, Caro, I see. Do you understand what I’m saying? I see you.”
She closed her eyes and he didn’t know what to do with the tears that leaked over the corners. Caro touched his lips. “I love you too, Declan.”
Those five words freed the rest of his heart and soul. The remaining weight on him lifted away.
He slid his hands up under her blouse. She moaned against his lips. “I need a shower. Care to join me?”
“I don’t have any other clothes with me.”
“You should probably take these off then.” She climbed off his lap and unbuttoned her top. He became mesmerized by the dark skin she exposed, her breasts covered by the lacy bra. With a roll of her shoulders the silk pooled at her feet.
He rumbled low in his chest. She stepped farther back and beckoned with her fingers, even as she unfastened her pants. He lurched off the sofa and followed her down the hall to her bathroom. As she walked through the door, her slacks hit the floor and she walked on, her white—also lacy—boy shorts barely covering the globes of her ass.
Declan ripped off his Henley and dropped it. He made short work of untying his boots and taking them off. Fingers on the button of his jeans he paused as her bra sailed back to hit his bare toes. He stared at her, bending over slightly to adjust the water in her shower stall. Her ass tempted him so much and when she stood upright, he watched as she hooked her thumbs in the material and slowly lowered it to the ground before stepping free.
She peered over her shoulder at him, smiled then entered the shower. He watched her through the glass as she stood under the water.
“Coming?”
Just about. He finally removed his pants and boxers. Touching his scars, he hoped they wouldn’t bother her and went to join her in the shower. She stood there, facing him, head tipped back as she wetted her hair. His cock jerked as he roved over her body with his gaze.
He lingered on her own scars then focused back on her face in time to see her open her eyes. The siren’s smile curving up her lips stiffened his shaft even more.
“Just going to look or do you plan on touching?” She dragged her fingers over her breasts and down to her pussy.
“Touching,” he rasped. “Definitely touching.”
“Get to it then.”
He did. He closed the distance between them and kissed her as he palmed her breasts. She moaned as he manipulated the tips between his fingers, tugging, rolling and pinching.
Her hands dug into his shoulders as she moved beneath his touch. She nipped at his tongue and he drew back. “I don’t have any condoms.”
“Me either.” She fisted his cock and worked her hand up and down. “Not a single one in this place. I could go ask Terri for some.”
He took one nipple in his mouth, drawing hard on it. Her cry was music to his ears.
“I don’t think we need to bring her into this,” he said around her tip. A light nip and he released her. “Although I am curious to know about all those toys in your drawer.”
“Get me out of here and we can go see.”
He reached around her and shut off the water. Declan lifted her into his arms and she wrapped her legs about his waist. Her slickness rubbed against him with each step he took. In her room, he dropped her on the bed and was over her instantly. She guided him to her.
“Protection?” he croaked.
“Please,” she begged, eyes dark with need and desire. “Declan, I need you.”
He surged forward with one thrust and filled her. His groan was matched by one from her. She was so snug around him. So perfect.
Reclaiming one of her breasts, he thrust his hips. In and out. She writhed beneath him, undulating in time to his movements.
He fitted her. She was made for him. Back and forth he moved, withdrawing until just the head of his cock sat in her then filling her as full as he could with his next drive forwards.
Her cries, a euphonious sound, neared a crescendo and her internal walls rippled around his turgid length. She dug her nails into his shoulders, back bowing, and screamed his name to her room as she came around him. Forcefully.
His balls had drawn tight and he drove deep one more time as his seed burst free. She trembled again and her moisture coated him as she rode out yet another climax.
He sagged onto her, covering her with his larger body. His heart pounded. He kissed her neck before moving onto her lips. Full, lush, his. He couldn’t imagine not having this woman in his life. Not anymore. She was his. He was hers.
Taking his time, he enjoyed and explored her mouth. Saying without words that which his heart needed to convey to her. And not just his heart but also his soul. Both of which belonged to her. He licked the sides and roof, danced with her tongue and touched all he could reach.
Her purr rumbled up from deep in her chest to his mouth. His cock began to harden inside her pussy once more.
“Love you,” she whispered as she braced her feet on the mattress.
“Love you, too.” Declan moved, ready to begin this journey with her all over again. He couldn’t get enough of her.
And I never will.
Chapter Seventeen
Caro sighed and took another lick of her chocolate ice cream. The day was perfect, the blue sky nearly cloudless aside from a few fluffy ones that lingered here and there. A gentle breeze blew off the lake and offered some respite to those gathered.
Tonight was the large Fourth of July celebration. She checked her watch again and shrugged. Wonder what’s keeping him.
“Waiting for someone?” A decadent male voice wound around her with the question.
She smiled and took another leisurely lick of her ice cream. “I am.”
“Who would that be?”
“My boyfriend. He’s late, though.”
“Foolish man. I hope he makes it up to you.” Lips teased her neck and she closed her eyes in bliss.
“I’m sure he will.”
“As am I.” He nipped her skin before planting another kiss there.
When she opened her eyes she found herself staring at a large bouquet of red roses, white daisy poms and blue delphiniums. All surrounded by a yellow ribbon and a bear with a red, white and blue scarf around its neck.
She turned to face Declan. His blue-green eyes sparkled in the sun and she leaned forward to kiss him on the lips. “Thank you for the flowers, they’re beautiful. What’s the occasion?”
“None other than it’s the Fourth. I saw these and thought you could use some.”
She took them from him and dipped her head to partake in the fragrance wafting from them. He used the tip of his finger to bring her gaze back up to his.
“Are you okay?”
She drew him down to the seat next to her and willingly handed over her ice cream when he reached for it. For a few moments she lost herself in watching his sure tongue swipes as he indulged in the treat.
“Caro?”
She smiled and blushed. “I’m fine. Just got a lot on my mind right now. How are you?”
“Nice try, baby, you don’t get to get a pass that easily. Something’s bothering you. What is it? Can I help?”
“Jasmine called.”
His expression sobered. “I thought she was in witness protection and not supposed to have contact with any of those from her past.”
“She is and she’s not, yet she did.”
He shook his head. “Of course she did. Woman doesn’t know how to follow the rules.” They stared out over the lake. “How is she doing?”
“She wanted to make sure we were doing fine.”
“That’s nice of her.”
“Yeah. I don’t know, Dec
lan. I honestly expect her to show up one day.”
“Your sister is a force all to her own. She may someday. Do you not want to see her again?”
“No, that’s not it at all. It’s just hard. I mean, I didn’t have her for nearly thirty-four years, found her then lost her again. I’m not sure how to feel.”
“Look, I know she isn’t the easiest woman to deal with. But despite all her crazy psycho ideas, she loves you. You are the one thing which will have the capabilities of encouraging her to become a decent person in society.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “You always know just what to say.”
“Not hardly but I can see things clearly from the outside.” He brushed a kiss on her forehead. “Don’t worry. All will work out.”
“So what’s bothering you?”
“Meaning?”
“I heard you this morning arguing with someone on the phone about bringing me to visit.”
He stiffened and she tipped her head back to watch him.
“Members of my family want to meet you.”
“You don’t want to introduce me to them?”
“Not particularly, no.”
“Oh.” She’d not been expecting such pain to pierce her at his response.
“No, you don’t understand, Caro. This part of my family is in prison.”
“And I would judge because my twin is a drug addict and from all accounts a whore?”
“This is more than drugs and prostitution.”
She tugged him down so she could reach his ear. Dragging her tongue along the edge of it she smiled softly. “I know. They’re the ones who took care of things in the prison so you could come find me. I want to meet them.”
He met her gaze. “You knew?”
“Had a hunch when I heard what happened in the prison. My daddy mentioned it and I looked deeper into it.”
“You don’t mind I have ties to organized crime?”
“You, Declan McBride, are you. I love you. It’s that simple. You were an honorable cop for over twenty years. That’s all I need to know.”
“You’re a pretty amazing woman, Carolyn Trufant.”
“I know. But I’ve got one hell of a man who helps that be reality.”