Why would he have Hank’s file in his bag? The case had been closed for two years, and the guy had gotten a life sentence—so no parole hearings to worry about. She drummed her fingers along the outside of the folder. She knew she shouldn’t look. Didn’t even know if she wanted to look. What if it contained copies of crime scene photos?
She’d seen the horrible scene in person and had done her best to block the images from her mind—though they still showed up in her nightmares from time to time. Her mother’s lifeless body, the gunshot wound to the chest, all the blood. So much blood. And the feeling of complete despair that had overtaken her when she’d realized her mother was gone. Taken—right when she’d finally started to work toward a better life.r: Roni Loren
He gathered her closer to him, turning her, and tucked her head under his chin. Her body continued to quiver with aftershocks as he rubbed a gentle hand up and down her back. When she finally stilled, he slipped an arm under her knees. “Let’s get you out of here and into bed. It’s been a long night.”
He set her on the closed lid of the toilet and toweled her off with patient attention. Her muscles felt like wet rubber bands, but the buzzing afterglow of her orgasm and the view of the sexy man before her had entertaining other ideas than sleep. Her eyes traveled over Reid’s luscious backside as he bent to grab a T-shirt from his bag. He had slipped on a pair of boxer briefs, but before he had turned, she hadn’t missed the ramrod erection he was sporting.
When he spun to face her again, he smirked. “LeBreck, are you checking me out?”
“Can’t a girl look?
He laughed as he slipped the shirt over her head. “Sure, I give you permission to objectify me at any time.”
She poked his side. “You’re an arrogant bastard, you know that?”
He bent and laid a quick kiss on her lips. “You love it. Now come on, off to bed with you.”
Reid carried Brynn into the bedroom and settled her beneath the covers. She closed her eyes and for the brief moment, he let himself drink in the view. The polished, put-together professional was nowhere to be found. Her makeup had long since worn off and her blond hair was starting to curl where it’d gotten wet. He loved seeing her like this—her only adornment the flushed hue of a woman well satisfied. If she were his, he’d make sure that she went to bed every night with that look.
He groaned inwardly. There he went again—thinking stupid shit about staking some claim on her. He’d already stuck a toe in dangerous waters, offering to take her on as a sub if she ever wanted to join him at a club. As if she’d ever be open to that after she found out why he was really here.
Didn’t matter. She’d recoiled at the idea anyway. And how could he blame her? Brynn didn’t want a guy who could offer her a weekend collar; she wanted one that would offer her a lifetime ring. Deserved it.
She shifted onto her elbow and peered up at him from under her lashes. “I think it’s time you get a little TLC, too.”
Her voice was as innocent as a spring morning, but the suggestion in those moss-colored eyes shot straight to his groin. “Sugar, it’s almost three in the morning.”
She nodded toward the now aching bulge in his shorts. “Doesn’t look like your friend knows that.”
He gave her a rueful smile. There’d be nothing he’d like more than to slide in bed next to her and keep her awake until the sun came up, but he knew better. Besides the fact that they needed to be rested for tomorrow, one-on-one sex with Brynn was not an option. “Don’t worry about that. He can’t help standing at attention anytime you’re around. You’ve already given me more than enough tonight.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Since when have you gotten enough?”
He laughed and kissed the crown of her head. “Since I discovered years ago that you are absolutely insufferable without sleep. I refuse to subject myself or the rest of the resort to that tomorrow.”
She pushed her lip out in a mock pout and shifted into a sitting position, bringing her thin T-shirt and the hard points of her nipples into clear view. “I’m not that bad.”
“Uh-huh.” He turned away from her and headed toward the closet, trying to think of anything besides how much he wanted to tear the shirt off her, seize those tight little buds with clamps, and test out that spanking bench taunting him at the end of the bed.
He’d lock her down on all fours, spread her wide so he could enjoy every detail of that smooth pussy, her sweet ass. He’d tease and pinch and nibble until her honey dripped down her thighs—until he knew she was aching just for him. Then he’d take her—utterly and completely—until she was so exhausted that all she’d be able to do when he was done with her would be to curl in his arms and let him hold her while she slept.
His erection hardened to the point of pain, and he had to stifle a groan. Fuck. He needed space. Air. Something. Before he broke every rule he’d set for himself coming into this thing. He yanked a pillow and extra blanket off the top shelf of the closet and spun to face her.
“Get some rest, LeBreck,” he said, forcing a casual tone. “We have another full day ahead of us tomorrow.”
Her attention zeroed in on the items in his hand. “You’re not sleeping in here?”
“I’m a rough sleeper. It’ll be best for both of us if I use the sofa bed out front.” He knew the excuse was lame, knew she would see through it. But at the moment, he didn’t care. He needed out of the room. Now.
A cool mask stole over her features, and he could almost see the mental retreat from the openness they’d shared a few minutes earlier. She leaned over and clicked off the bedside lamp, plunging them into shadows. “Don’t forget to shut the door on your way out.”
He cringed at the icy tone. He’d hurt her. He’d known it would, but if he stayed, he’d hurt her much worse. So without another word, he stepped out of the bedroom and put a solid wooden door between them—hoping it was strong enough to protect them both.
EIGHTEEN
now
Brynn sat on the side of the bed with her knees to her chest, staring out the window as the last glimmers of the setting sun peeked through the trees bordering the back of their cabin. She and Reid had wandered to every possible place on the grounds today—smiling, touching, acting like a couple. Convincing everyone within shouting distance that they were for real.