Page 64 of Parting Shot

It was taking too long, and whatever he was feeling, I didn’t want him to shore himself up. A wall had come down; I didn’t want it rebuilt. Grabbing him, I rolled him to his back and pinned him to the bed under me.

The tears were there, leaking from his eyes.

“It’s okay,” I promised.

“I almost lost … so stupid …”

“We’re good. I feel good.”

His eyes were stormy, so I did the only thing I could think of. I slammed my mouth over his and kissed him with everything I had, letting him know my heart was right there for the taking. After several minutes, I felt him surrender, and only then did I lift my lips from his.

“No,” he whispered, arms wrapping around my neck, hand buried in my hair as he pulled me back down.

The scorching, hungry touch of lips and teeth and tongues went on until one of us had to break for air. The only sounds in the room were sucking and grunting and groans and whimpers.

I finally broke the brutal, building rhythm and took hold of his head and held him still. “What do you want?”

“I want to see you whenever I want, and I don’t want you to see anyone else.”

“Done.”

One dark gold eyebrow arched for me. “Just like that?”

“Yeah.”

A shiver ran through him, and then I wrapped him in my arms and held tight. It took long minutes for the trembling to stop, and I nuzzled against his ear and whispered all the filthy things I wanted to do to him.

“Oh yes, please,” he husked after several minutes, chuckling and squirming in my embrace.

I let go and propped my chin on my hand as I stared down at him.

“Something you want to know, Detective?” he sighed, the hooded gaze so very sexy.

“Yeah,” I broached gently. “What else did you say to Nick?”

“Nothing.”

I tried not to smile. “Nothing?”

He coughed. “I told him not to call again.”

“Oh.”

“You sound sad.” He was studying me.

“No, I just feel bad for the guy. I think he needs a keeper.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not your job,” he said frankly. “And leading him on is a shitty thing to do.”

“I didn’t lead him on.” I got defensive.

“You let him hold your hand.”

“You saw that?”

“Yes, Detective. You have a lovely view of the street from your front room.”

I had done that, and it was a mistake.