I glare at Marty as I carry Grace to her couch. The shock of learning she’s lost her only parent shouldn’t have been delivered in such a careless manner. I’ll be having a word with my partner on the way back to the precinct tonight.
“Grace?” I settle her into the soft cushions and hold her small hands in my own. “Did you hear Marty?”
Her glossy eyes, filled with so much emotion and tears, look up to me. “Yes. Robyn is gone.” Her swallow is audible in the quiet room. It only takes a moment before confusion enters her eyes. “How?”
Marty snorts his amusement as I explain. “It looks like she tripped down a flight of stairs. The momentum contorted her body, and the medical examiner suspects she broke her neck on the landing.” Her ridiculously high heels and drunk state likely didn’t help, but I won’t tell Gracie that.
“Stairs?” Her brows furrow as she closes her eyes, bringing a hand up to rub her temple. “She fell down a flight of stairs?” Her question is rhetorical.
“Unless you can think of a reason we should look at this as a suspicious death?” We have to consider every angle before making a ruling and wrapping up our investigation.
Her head shakes before she answers. “No, I don’t think so. I mean, she wasn’t the nicest woman, but I don’t think there’s anything suspicious going on? I haven’t been in her life since my eighteenth birthday unless it involved the court.”
“Court?” Marty asks from his stance near the window.
“What?” Grace’s head whips around to him, her blonde locks swishing past my face, and the scent of cherries invades my senses.
“You said you haven’t been in her life unless it involves the court. Why?” Suspicion fills his tone.
“My father died when I was young, and Robyn felt forced to care for me. She didn’t like it or me, and the feeling was mutual.” Her gaze slides between us, begging for understanding. “When I turned eighteen, she kicked me out. I lived on the streets until a private investigator found me and handed me a large check, explaining that my father had left me a trust to be given to me when I was of age. I never knew about it and judging from her outrage when she tried to contest the will, neither did Robyn.
“The trust was iron-clad, though. Daddy had a video and affidavits signed and ready for when the time came for me to receive the money. We went to court twice before she was told to leave me alone. The judge even offered me a restraining order against her because of her rage.”
“Sounds like a real peach.” Marty’s droll response earns a small smile from Grace. One I want. One I’m insanely jealous of.
“What about lovers? Would she have a scorned ex in hiding somewhere?” I ask her.
Grace shrugs with a thoughtful look. “Not that I’m aware of, but I don’t have access to her life either. Maybe one of the house staff would know?”
Jesus. How lonely she must be. My heart aches for her.
“Well, I think that’s all the questions we have for now. Unless something comes up, we’ll be marking Mrs. Hawthorne’s death as an accident.” Marty stands to leave, shooting me a questioning look.
“I’ll meet you at the car,” I tell him, unable to take my eyes off Gracie’s face. I don’t know what it is that draws me in but leaving doesn’t hold any appeal right now.
As soon as the door closes behind my partner, I cup Grace’s cheeks in my hands, holding her still as I draw closer. I give her just enough time to pull away should she not want my advances. Instead, she closes her eyes and holds her breath, anticipating my move. The touch of her lips. My first taste is electric. There’s a jolt of pressure that runs rampant through my body as her hands reach up to hold onto my shoulders. Our tongues touch in a light caress, and I’m lost. I’m gone for Grace Hawthorne, the girl in the tower. The girl in need of a knight.
When her body shivers with pleasure, I slide my hands down her arms and around her waist, bringing her to sit across my lap. I’m still bigger than she is. Her petite size is an attraction I never knew I would have had. She has curves in all the right places, just enough to fill my hands, but she’s small enough to remind me of a fairy.
A light moan breaks the silent air, and I deepen the kiss, plundering her mouth with my tongue. She holds nothing back from me either.
When I pull back for a breath of air, her eyes are closed, savoring our kiss. “Onyx,” she murmurs as they slowly open. Her pupils are large, hiding her bright blue irises with desire.
Leaning my head against hers, I mumble, “Gracie,” while licking my lips, getting a second taste of her. “I have paperwork, but I’m coming back tonight.”
“Okay.” She huffs a burst of air against my cheek.
“I’m going to make you mine, Gracie.”
“Okay.”
“Be ready for me.” I kiss her one last time before laying her on the couch and, regretfully, leave. The entire ride back to the station is wrought with Marty teasing me about my obvious obsession and the heavy desire pulsing in my pants for a woman I barely know.
One thing is for sure, though. After tonight, Grace Hawthorne is going to get a taste of passion she’s likely only ever dreamed of.
I’m going to make her mine.