“Why would she do that? As far as I know, she’s broke.”
“Which is maybe why Nico wanted to get rid of her. Your mother’s tastes are extravagant, as you and I both know. Maybe Nico got tired of footing the bill. Maybe he got tired of her.”
“My God, have you called the cops?”
“Yes, I have. They’re coming over to talk to me and to your mother. I’d like you to be here if you can.”
“Absolutely. I’m at the ranch right now. I’ll shower quickly and be on my way.”
“Great. I’ll see you soon.”
I ended the call.
Could Nico be a killer? I shuddered. Why in God’s name had I wanted that tattoo so badly? And it had upset Talon so much. I had already decided not to get that particular image because it upset Talon. Now I wasn’t sure I could get any phoenix image. All it would do is remind me of the person who might’ve tried to kill my mother. Why hadn’t I thought of it sooner? Nico’s airbag had functioned just fine. He had escaped with hardly a scratch. But for my mother’s not to deploy? Here she was suffering broken bones, multiple lacerations all over her face and body, and a severe concussion.
That motherfucker.
I stripped off my pullover and underwear and got into the shower. The heat of the water soothed my aching muscles but did nothing to calm the images flowing through my mind like a theatrical trailer. I let out a sigh and leaned my head back into the water to wet my hair. Then I squeezed some shampoo into my palm, rubbed my hands together, and began to wash my hair.
“Want some help with that?”
I nearly jumped out of my skin. Talon stood in the bathroom, his image a blur through the glass shower door awash with rivulets of water.
“You startled me,” I said.
“I’m sorry.”
I smiled. A little Talon therapy might help me right now. “What are you waiting for? You offered to help.”
His feet were bare, but he was still wearing his jeans and shirt. He stripped them off quickly and came into the shower with me.
“Have you been up all night?” I asked.
He nodded, taking over my hair washing. His strong hands were heaven on my scalp, kneading away the tension in knots.
“That feels good,” I said. “Did you find out anything? About Larry?”
“A little. I managed to confirm that the bastard is my half uncle. Son of a bitch.”
“Well, just because he’s your half uncle doesn’t mean anything really,” I said.
“Shh. The last thing I want to think about is that asshole Wade when I’ve got a naked, beautiful, and wet woman sliding against me.”
I let out a soft moan. I couldn’t agree more. He continued to massage my scalp, his able hands relaxing me, taking me away from the place I was stuck in. Yes, in a few minutes I’d be leaving for Grand Junction to talk to the cops about my mother’s possible attempted murder. But right now, Talon was my world.
“Lean back, baby, and let me rinse you.”
I did, and his strong hands pulled the lather through to my ends. I imagined it twirling in soapy bubbles down the drain. My eyes closed, I inhaled the comforting steam, the sweet scent of the coconut shampoo. I sighed again and then jumped as his lips clamped onto one of my nipples.
I opened my eyes. He was leaning down, sucking my hard nub. I smoothed his tousled hair, now half-wet. “Let’s switch places, baby,” I said. “You can nibble on me while I wash your hair.”
He groaned his agreement as we moved so the shower was pelting him, and his head was right at the level where I could shampoo him.
“Are you sure you’re comfy?” I asked.
He nodded against my breast. I shampooed his beautiful hair and then urged him upward so he could rinse it off, though I whimpered at the loss of his mouth on my nipple. We soaked each other and rubbed together to wash our bodies, and then he picked me up in his arms and set me down upon his beautiful hard cock.
Our bodies slid together, wet and soapy. I leaned down and took his lips with mine. We devoured each other, kissing hungrily, softly moaning, as he lifted my ass slightly and then set me down upon his cock once again.