She didn’t realize how small the kitchen was until she was in there with Deegan. He took up so much room with his brawny frame. Kiersten was trying to concentrate on making lunch and not the hunky man standing two feet from her slicing strawberries. He was trying his best to cut them evenly, but it wasn’t happening. She bit back a smile as she stirred the eggs, stealing another quick glance of him. What was he thinking by hanging out beside her shirtless and jeans that settled so low on his hips that she thought she could see a trail of dark crisp hair? Was he trying to work her into knots? Cause her to moisten another pair of panties? When he looked at her, she quickly turned her attention back to whipping the eggs and pouring them into a skillet. The liquid sizzled, much like the reaction going on inside of her body.
He popped one strawberry into his mouth. “Wow. Those are sweet. Here, try.” He brought one to her lips and she hesitated only a second before taking the offering.
“Yes, very sweet.” Made sweeter by the sugar of his fingers. Damn. What was happening to her? She wasn’t much of a romantic, more of a get naked and get down to business kind of girl, but he opened a door within her to new emotions and sexy thoughts, like cuddling and having deep conversation.
She wanted to explore him, have him explore her…
Pushing around the eggs with a spatula, she watched him slice a few more strawberries and admired how his long wide fingers worked with the knife. She knew those hands were lethal weapons, but when he’d touched her, they’d been as gentle as satin. There was no denying that she wanted him, and she guessed that he wanted her too. After she’d come out of the shower, she’d noticed a change in him but couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was and he hadn’t said anything to solve that mystery. Maybe he was caught up in the case. Or maybe he decided to drive her sinfully mad with his broad shoulders, toned pecs, and six pack abs. He certainly seemed to be on a mission and it had nothing to do with the killer they were searching for.
The coffee gurgled, signaling the last drop made it into the carafe. She turned to open the fridge, bent to reach for the creamer and her hip bumped his bottom. “Oops. It’s a bit crowded in here.” Her internal temperature rose by several degrees. She could easily blame it on the heat from sizzling eggs, but there was something else cooking between them that compared to scorching lava. “I’ll grab the cups.” She shut the fridge door and stepped over to the cabinet, reaching for the mugs at the very top of the high shelf. This had been Cull’s place before he and Sally moved into the main house, mostly to help with their parents. Cull being six foot two had always put things more at his eye level and out of her reach.
“Excuse me,” she heard Deegan say, and then his hands were on her hips before he gently touched her wrist. “Here, let me grab that.” He whispered next to her ear which made the hair on her nape lift and goosebumps scatter all over her skin.
He took down two cups, but he didn’t make a move to step aside. He stood there, bodies close, breathing on her neck. Kiersten couldn’t take the electrical charges in her body anymore. She slowly turned, looking up at him, nibbling her bottom lip. “What’s going on between us?”
Deegan tightened his fingers on her hips and one corner of his mouth lifted into a mighty grin. Her nipples tingled and her inner thighs warmed. “I’m only helping,” he said innocently. There was nothing innocent about him.
“Maybe you should go check to see if you have any news on the case.” He needed to leave the kitchen before they did something very stupid…or rather she did something very stupid like sink to her knees and kiss him into oblivion. Once a woman did that, there was no going back…and didn’t she know that firsthand.
“I could do that,” he leaned in and nuzzled his nose in her hair “but I’d rather stay right here and enjoy how good you smell.”
She gulped air. “It’s probably the eggs. Or the strawberries,” she mumbled. “Or the coffee.”
“No, it’s you.” He reached up to grab a tendril of her hair, wrapping it around his knuckle and breathed in deeply. If it was possible, her nipples tightened even more and became sensitive buds. “It’s a scent unlike any other I’ve ever smelled. Like a mixture of cotton candy and fresh cut grass.” He let the hair bounce back into place, then lifted her hand and bent his nose to the inside of her wrist. “Yes. It’s a perfect smell that I haven’t forgotten and never will. It entices me in my sleep. In the shower. While I’m breathing.”
His warm breath swept across her cheek and she wanted to melt into him, wanted to forget all the hurdles between them and allow mother nature to do her work. What would be the harm? They’d been there and done that before and then she spent too much time trying to forget him. But this time would be different. If she stepped into that bliss again, she’d never be satisfied with just once, twice, ten or more times. She’d barely gotten out of it by the skin of her teeth the last time. When he was not looking, she’d watch him, his smile with deep dimples and how his thick hair settled in waves and one dark strand covered his forehead making him look younger. He wasn’t young though, at least not kid young. She knew he was thirty-five and mature. Established. Her body trembled at the thought of having his hands on her naked skin, kissing and exploring.
He pressed his lips to her skin, right where her pulse beat rapidly. He didn’t stop there. She whimpered as he pressed more kisses upward on her arm. When he reached the inside of her elbow, he darted his tongue out to lick and she trembled. Would he stop there?
His breath was warm as he continued his heated trail higher until he reached the sleeve of the shirt. He gave her a mischievous smile and continued his blissful mayhem on her neck, kissing and nibbling. A moan slipped from her parted lips and she no longer had control. No longer cared. She brought her hands up and pressed them against his bare chest, feeling satin smooth iron. His skin was so warm and sinewy. She wasn’t pushing him away, but rather clinging to him like she would a raft in the middle of the ocean. Kiersten could only manage to comprehend bits and pieces of what he was doing to her—to her body. His mouth was now in the dip of her throat, his tongue tasting the skin. Then lower until he was at the neckline of her shirt where her heart beat at record speed. She wanted to rip the shirt from her body to give him better access, but she clenched her fingers against his chest and sighed. If heaven was a place on earth, it would be right here, close to him.
His palms covered her breasts and, although those parts were covered by cotton and lace, the material suddenly became nonexistent. He made a low growling sound and gently squeezed the mounds, flicking the tips of his thumbs over her sensitive nipples. She whimpered and bit her bottom lip to keep from screaming, demanding that he take her fast and hard right there next to the eggs and toaster.
Her eyes were closed and her hands were open again as she pressed them against his flesh. Something interrupted her ecstasy…a strong smell of…what? She opened her eyes, looking into the most magnificent eyes she’d ever seen. “Do you smell that?”
Deegan stood straight and blinked, then looked over his shoulder. The pan of eggs was smoking. “Shit!” He grabbed the handle of the pan and gave it a toss into the sink. Turning on the faucet, the water splashed into the blackened mess and steam rolled up, but it didn’t compare to the steam in her body. She was about to explode.
As much as she wanted him, the intrusion of burnt eggs reminded her of the mess they’d be sinking into. The logical part of her reared its head. This couldn’t happen between them. It was a mindless trap where she’d lose herself. Lose the goals she’d placed for herself.
Straightening her shirt and turning, she caught a glimpse of herself in the window of the microwave. A distorted, awkward image. Her hair was in disarray and her eyes were wildly lit. This was exactly how she felt when Deegan was around. Distorted and awkward. On fire all the way into her bones.
“Kiersten…” He sank both of his hands into his hair and dragged his fingers through it, making those waves come alive. He looked like he’d been turned inside out.
“It’s…well…no explanation is needed,” she said softly.
“I wasn’t going to explain, because you’re right. It’s not needed.” He dropped his hands and some of the tension left his expression. “I want nothing more than to take you into my arms and make you mine again. In time…”
Her throat constricted and she realized she was a goner when it came to him. Her body responded with such an urgency that it left her intoxicated. She couldn’t accuse him of taking advantage of her, not when she wanted him to drag her clothes from her quivering body and simply take her. All these little touches, mishap caresses had built up to this…a volcano ready to erupt. She wanted him. Needed him. But there was a blaring hurdle between them. She didn’t care though. Kiersten felt herself falling into an abyss where the only thing she wanted, cared about, was satisfying the need buried within. She’d come alive under the touch of Deegan.
She opened her mouth wanting to tell him the truth, but the buzzing of his phone interrupted her chance to reveal herself.
“Damn,” he seethed.
“You should get that.”
He nodded, grabbing his phone.
While he talked, she tried absorbing his words, but nothing registered. She turned and braced her hands on the edge of the counter, trying to get her breaths even and shallow, hoping her heart would return to normal before she passed out.
When he hung up, she turned back. His jaw was tight and his gaze narrowed. “What is it?”’
“We got the tip we’ve been waiting on. Everest Gilbert has been found. We got a hit from his cell.”
*
The target was sitting at a table in the five-star Italian restaurant when Deegan strolled across the maze of tables and took a seat across from the wide-eyed man. “Can I help you?” he asked.
“I’ll cut to the chase. Yes, you can help me enormously.” Deegan reached into his pocket and pulled out a photo and slapped it down on the table. “You can tell me all you know about the death of Annie Steele.”
The man dropped his gaze to the picture of him and the victim, arm in arm, at a nightclub. Several expressions flickered across his face before settling on a pinched brow and pale pallor. “Where did you get this picture?” He picked it up and Deegan thought he saw a sliver of sadness on the man’s face before he expertly drew his emotions back in.
“A gift from Annie’s roommate.”
Everest smirked, dropped the picture back onto the table and eased into the chair. All signs of sorrow were gone from his demeanor as he picked invisible lint from his designer jacket. “Who are you and what the hell do you want?”
Deegan flashed his badge and Everest glanced around the restaurant, looking for eavesdroppers maybe. He leaned in and said in a lowered voice, “I haven’t done anything wrong. You’re interrupting my lunch.”
“Then you should have no problem answering a few of my questions.” The man was as nervous as a cornered squirrel. Deegan always believed you could learn a lot by looking at a person’s hands. Everest had clean, polished nails, and probably hadn’t seen a hard day’s labor in his life. That meant Deegan would have to tiptoe on eggshells.
Several tense seconds passed. “Not in here.” He planted a plastic smile on his face when the waitress stepped up to take his order.
Although Deegan didn’t trust the man farther than he could throw him, he realized he couldn’t lay on too much pressure. Everest was right, he hadn’t done anything wrong, and if he decided to hire a lawyer, this would all go downhill and fast. “Finish your lunch and meet me outside.” Waiting for his nod, Deegan stood, but before he left he said, “Don’t bother running.”
“And ruin my Vuittons? No,” he said smugly.
“Enjoy the snails.” Deegan winked and stepped outside and met Kiersten on the sidewalk. “Just as I suspected he would. He wanted a moment to prepare himself before he talked.”
“Is he coming?” she asked.
“He’ll be out after he realizes he has no other choice. I asked the cook to make sure he didn’t get out the back door. Best fifty I’ve ever spent.” He stepped over to the side, next to the corner of the building. “The guy is hiding something, and smug. He’ll cave.”