It seemed like everyone was rooting for her and Nick. All except Nick. The man could be frustrating, to say the least.
What was she going to do? She was used to being in control. Now she was fumbling about, unsure. Maybe she should do as Aimee suggested. Throw caution to the wind and seduce him? After all, it was only her pride and ego on the line—and her heart. She chewed on her lower lip in agitation. She hated feeling out of control, not at all the high-powered executive she usually was.
The door to the apartment opened and Nick called her name. She took a deep breath, willing herself not to be a silly crying female when she saw him. Nor would she ask for forgiveness, since she didn’t believe she had done anything wrong. Riley had lived alone for nine years. That was nine years of unclogging drains, changing broken washes on taps, removing rodents, and the occasional huntsman spider—all things that had made her independent. Now she didn’t even think twice about doing a job whatever that might be. As far as Riley was concerned, if she didn’t do it nobody would, and that kind of thinking didn’t just go away. She moved to the open bedroom door. By the time she reached the doorway, Nick was striding towards her.
“I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
Nick raised an eyebrow. “Megan?”
“Yes.” She locked the screen of her mobile and tucked it into the back pocket of her jeans.
Nick leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. “Talking about me?”
“Yes.”
Nick watched her face closely and Riley held her breath, her heart rate racing. Time seemed to stand still for them.
“I don’t want to find you in another situation like that.” The warning was clear as a cloudless day. “You scared the shit out of me. When I saw Vanessa there, a gun nearby the situation could have gone either way.”
She didn’t bother to tell him she was well-trained in both self-defence and firing a weapon. He had been worried; she could understand that.
Which made some of her tension leave.
“I’m sorry about the way I acted—overreacted.” He revised his words. “Am I forgiven?”
Riley nodded, accepting his apology but not offering one of her own. Instead, she said, “Well that all depends. Do you have another stalker girlfriend out there?”
Nick grinned. “Not that I know of.”
They fell into silence once again, the only sounds were the tick-tock of the clock in the kitchen, the constant drone of the ducted-gas heating, the hum of the refrigerator, and their combined breathing.
“Would you like me to order a pizza?” Nick asked when it became clear she had nothing more to say.
“Sure. As much as Vanessa’s cooking smells delicious, I’m not real keen on sampling.”
He glanced towards the kitchen, his forehead crumpled into a frown. He grimaced.
“Meatlovers?”
“Sure.”
Nick pushed off the wall and took the phone out of the cradle mounted to the wall in the kitchen. “Vanessa’s been booked.”
Riley wished that was all it took for her to be happy. Joining Nick in the kitchen, she poured herself another glass of wine.
“Uh-huh.”
“Why don’t you sit down and relax, finish up that book you were reading when I got home while I’m on the phone and change out of my suit?”
She allowed him to direct her toward his sofa before pushing her gently onto the cushion. He squeezed her shoulders lightly, smiled. Then disappeared back to the kitchen.
Picking up Runaway Desperado, Riley found the page she was up to. Tucking her feet beneath her body, she settled in and took a sip of wine, allowing the taste to swirl around her mouth before swallowing. In the background, she could hear Nick’s masculine voice speaking into the phone and heard his movements as he went to his bedroom. Soon everything else slipped away until it was just her and the book.
Nick shook her shoulder gently. “Riley, hon—Ri? Wake up. Pizza’s here.”
Riley blinked and looked up into Nick’s handsome face. The heat from his palm on her shoulder soaked through her shirt and she shivered. Her nose twitched as she breathed in the delicious aroma of hot pizza emanating from the square box on the coffee table in front of her. “Did I fall asleep?”
“Yeah, you were out like a light.”
“It’s been a long day.” Wasn’t that the truth. First with Michelle, and then dealing with Vanessa. Taking the slice of pizza Nick offered, Riley took a bite as he studied him. He’d changed his clothes, and now wore a pair of faded jeans and a pale blue shirt, both fitting him well, outlining the bulges beneath the fabric.
Nick spread a white serviette over her lap, shifting position on the coffee table as he did so and their legs touched. He then retrieved the fallen manuscript from the floor and read a few lines before laughing.
Riley smiled. She’d laughed at that line also.
“This is pretty good.”
“The pizza, or the book?”
“Both.”
“Genevieve Hennessy is very talented.” She stopped suddenly, as a thought took hold in her mind.
“What?”
“I was just thinking. Do you remember how I told you I could tell you who the writer of a piece was, just by reading something they wrote?”
His brow furrowed. “Yeah. Something about their voice?”
She nodded. “Well, I just had a sudden recollection, and I’m sure his style is familiar—the Novel Killer’s. I’m certain I’ve read his work before.”
Nick sat forward, resting his arms on his thighs. “Besides the first kill book?”
Excitement zinged through her blood. “Yes. I don’t know why I didn’t see it before. We have to get to my apartment and find that book.”
She stood, the napkin falling to the ground. Before she could even make one step Nick caught hold of her hips. “Hold on. There’s no need to go rushing off at night looking for something that might not even be there. Or do you forget that your apartment is the scene where he plans to murder you?”
Riley caught hold of his hands and tried to forcibly remove them from her hips. Nick turned his hands around and took hold of hers, linking their fingers together.
“How could I forget? Every time I close my eyes I picture that scene in my head.” She shivered, once again reliving the vivid detail of how a man she didn’t know planned on killing her, slowly, horribly, and more than just a little painfully. “Which is why the sooner we get there, have a look around and leave again—with the manuscript—the better.”
Nick seemed to contemplate their options. “Are you sure it’s still there, that you didn’t take it back to B&G, or throw it out?”
“Absolutely. I haven’t returned any manuscript I’ve received in months. I’ve been a little pressed for time.”
“Okay, we’ll go—but after we’ve finished dinner. The manuscript will still be there in an hour.”
Riley accepted Nick’s terms. It was that or try to go alone which she knew he wouldn’t allow and now knowing his handcuffs had been around Vanessa’s wrists had ruined her fantasy of Nick ever handcuffing her.
She sat down, grabbed another slice, and devoured it slowly.
Chapter 29
Riley didn’t like the vulnerable feeling creeping down her spine as she stood out in the hallway. Even with Nick beside her, she felt slightly unnerved. Although cautious as a rule, she had never feared her apartment. Even her neighbours had been pleasant enough, especially her two closest ones, Mr. Lennox, her neighbour directly across from her apartment who was elderly and the couple next door, Emily and Jace Wallace who would be busy trying to get their three rambunctious kids to bed. Now she was uneasy, knowing someone had been in her apartment, her sense of security gone and she was beginning to regret her rash decision to race over and find the manuscript she had no way of knowing was still there.
She glanced at Nick and noted his cornflower blue eyes were restless as he scanned the hallway for potential danger as the
y made their way towards her apartment. Her breathing was a little ragged but that was his fault, his one stipulation—after their first inevitable argument—was taking the stairs and not the elevator and getting in and out as quickly as possible.
Through the closed doors of her neighbours, she could hear various TV’s on, each one louder than the last as if competing. A few raised voices wafted down the hall and a child squealed in delight. Nick reached out, grabbing Riley’s wrist as she went to unlock the door. He shook his head and handed her a lone key from his pocket.
She stared dumbfounded at the key in his hand. “I had the locks changed remember?”
“Oh, right.” Taking the key from him, she quickly unlocked the door.
Nick closed the door behind them and flipped the lock, grunting with approval when the distinct click echoed loudly through the silent apartment. Switching on her lamp that sat directly behind her favourite chair, the apartment was immediately washed in a pale-yellow glow.
Moving to the matter at hand, she began sifting through the various stacks of manuscripts around her apartment. Unfortunately, she couldn’t recall which stack contained the book she was after, nor did she recall what it was about, though she was confident it would only take a few paragraphs to find the one she wanted.
Nick, unable to do anything to help but stand there, watched her as she quickly scanned a page out of each thick manuscript—each of which the authors had poured their blood and sweat. Each who had motives to want Riley dead when she’d denied them their one dream and reason to live.
Finishing up with one stack, Riley left it in a slightly messier position than she had found it in and moved onto the next precariously stacked bundle.
“These are all B&G novels?”
Riley didn’t slow down as she answered Nick’s question. “Are you kidding? This is just my share.”
Taking the first novel, Riley skimmed the page quickly before placing it next to the stack and picked up the next one, repeating the action. Nick took a seat on her sofa and stretched out his long legs, settling in for what was bound to be a long night. His gaze followed her as she moved from tower to tower, instantly coming alive when he heard her sharp intake of breath and was across the room standing beside her in a matter of seconds.
“Here it is.” Her hand tightened around the manuscript. “It was written in the first person, the usual crime-fighting novel but I found the lead to be cruel and creepy and the love scene—” She stopped and shivered. Nick rubbed his hands up and down her arms in an effort to warm her even though her shiver had nothing to do with the cool temperature of the unheated apartment and more to do with the fear and loathing she had towards the man that had penned the book in her hands.
“Men don’t usually write those type of scenes, do they?”
Riley shook her head. “Not unless that’s the intent, as in erotic novels but for most, they just skim the surface. Men, as you’re probably aware, are visual creatures.”
Closing the book, she glanced at the title: Only One Man by Richard Dyson. Reading the name too, Nick dialled James’ number who had the unfortunate luck to be on the graveyard shift. When James answered Nick immediately requested him to pull out the cyber sniffer dogs and find a man by the name of Richard Dyson and to see if there was a connection between him and their three victims.
She didn’t bother to mention it could be a pen name. It didn’t seem like the right time and Nick was probably aware of it.
When he hung up he asked Riley if she had an envelope to put the manuscript in to preserve any fingerprints they might find.
“If we’re lucky maybe Dyson wasn’t as careful with his beloved ‘baby’ as he was at the crime scene.”
At her desk in the far corner of the room, Riley opened a drawer, pulling out a large A4 sized white envelope and slipped the manuscript inside. “I’ll need you to come with me to the station to take a set of prints so we can exclude them from the evidence.”
“I can’t believe this might all be over in a couple of hours.”
Relief flooded her body and gave her a new release of energy. She was euphoric, her body humming. She could probably run up several flights of stairs the way she was feeling.
***
Riley turned to him with sparkling eyes. Tenderness washed over him. His heart squeezed painfully in his chest. How was he supposed to resist her when she looked at him like that? So full of vibrant energy and enthusiasm. He couldn’t help but get caught up too. She bounced over to him. Electricity zinged off her body as she drew near, almost burning him.
What was he going to do without Riley? He’d become so used to her presence in his life—in his apartment. He’d never had such anticipation to come home until he knew Riley would be there waiting for him. He couldn’t believe how much he loved this woman.
“You’re an amazing woman, you know that?” He ran his fingers through the loose curls that framed her face, unable to stop himself from touching her.
“But?” she prompted, her brow furrowed.
Letting out a deep breath, he traced her lips with his index finger. He found them to be soft and ripe. She swallowed hard.
“I’m scared of the man I’ve become. What I’ve allowed her to do to me. I’m not the man you deserve.”
“You don’t know what I deserve or what I want.”
“I know it’s not half a man. One who’s terrified of taking a chance, knowing how it can all go wrong.”
“You think I don’t have reservations, Nick? You’re a cop. I know how consuming that is. On your time and your soul. Not just that, but how dangerous it is. I worry all the time. Not just for you and Declan but Dean and Darryl and James and Matt too.”
“I’m afraid, Riley. That I’ll mess up and you’ll hate me. I don’t think I could bear that. I don’t want to hurt you nor do I want to ruin our friendship. Things like this can get messy and not just for the people involved but the people around them. Dean and Megan for instance.”
There was nothing he wanted more than to cherish and love her. She was his match in every way. The other half of him. The better half. He’d been waiting for her for years without even knowing it.
“Well, call me selfish but I’m not thinking about anyone else but you.” Her gaze never left his. “And how much I want you. You’re on my mind always. I ache without you in my life.”
Nick stared at her for a few beats, his breathing slow. Her pulse hammered in her throat. Time stilled, knowing whatever came next would define their future.
His body hardened in a rush as his blood headed south. Riley’s words echoed inside his head even as he tried to forget them. He was lost and he knew it. Had been from the day they’d met. She made him feel alive. There would never be a dull moment with Riley O’Neill around and God help him he was looking forward to it. He loved her fire and the temper that went along with it, her huge heart that gave unconditionally and the love that would wrap him so completely. All he needed was the courage to reach out. To not be afraid. To trust in them to make it work. To believe in their love.
“You shouldn’t have said that.” Groaning, he pulled her close, his lips descending on hers with crushing force. Her mouth opened and their tongues clashed, the passion brewing between them rising to a fevered pitch.
“I won’t be able to let you go.” His lips moved from her mouth to trail down her cheek and throat. His arms tightened around her waist and drew her near.
“That’s fine by me.”
Her husky voice urged him on. His insides quivered. She would be his undoing.
He knew he shouldn’t but it didn’t stop him. They were way past that.
Riley threw her head back with ecstasy as Nick devoured her skin, nibbling, kissing her as his hands explored her body.
She moaned his name.
This was so wrong. But with each passing second all his reservations melted away.
Lifting Riley into his arms, Nick started down the hallway he knew led to the bedroom. She kissed his che
ek, nibbled on his earlobe and ran her fingers through his hair, tugging his head back roughly when she wanted to kiss his lips again.
He followed Riley onto the bed, pressing her into the mattress. His lips found her soft skin as he kissed her throat, his hands caressing her until she was whimpering with need, each moan shooting straight to his dick.
Nick pulled back and stared into Riley’s eyes. The hunger he had felt for this woman which he had allowed to burn for so long was igniting hotter and burning faster than he could ever have imagined.
He wanted to slow down. Savour. Consume.
He couldn’t stop.
Catching the hem of her shirt, he removed it from her body, her bra quickly following. He stared at her breasts, high and perky, the pink buttons standing at attention, begging for his mouth, his touch and everything in between. He trailed his fingertips down the valley between her breasts and her whole body shuddered, her eyes darkening.
He gave in to his desire and sucked one pert nipple into his mouth. Riley screamed, her hips rising from the bed. Her breathing came in short bursts as she squirmed beneath him. He liked knowing here, in this bed, they were evenly matched. She controlled him just as easily as he did her. More even.
He released one nipple with a wet plop and kissed his way to the next, lavishing it with the same care he’d given to the other. Her cries spurned him on, rocking his erection against her hot core. Fuck, she tasted divine. It was crazy to think he’d been missing out on this. Feasting on Riley’s delectable body surpassed all his imaginings and he’d only just started.
Already he found it difficult to maintain control, his own body tight with pleasure, pressing against the zipper of his jeans which seemed to have shrunken three sizes since the beginning of the night.
Another whimper escaped Riley’s mouth as he gently nipped at the distended bead with his teeth. With a final soothing lap, he kissed a blazing trail down to her naval then further, stripping her of her own jeans in one brutal tug. His heart, already thumping hard stopped in his chest as his gaze fastened on her lacy briefs. His mouth watered, already imagining his tongue there, tasting her. He leaned down and pressed a kiss against her moist centre. The keen wail torn from Riley’s throat told him she liked what he was doing to her. Slowly, he unveiled her and his mouth went dry.
Fatal Fiction (Harbour Bay Book 5) Page 18