Chapter 14
“I’D SAY THAT WAS A WASTE of a Sunday afternoon,” Kara said. She snagged her coat out of Shane’s car. “All we found out was that, in one soccer game, a father on Emily’s team was tossed for being abusive toward Gregory.”
“Not abusive,” Shane said, picking up her small portable filing case. “He threatened Gregory bodily harm, and it’s interesting that it was Cleary who escorted that father, Brad Johnson, off the field.”
“And Cleary stated he doesn’t remember the game. Said that lots of times parents were ejected from games for being assholes.” Kara used her key card to get into the back entrance of the Holiday Inn Express, letting Shane go in first.
“Cleary was really drunk this afternoon,” Shane said. “I don’t think he knows what day it is.”
Her room was only five in from the back door. Her hand trembled slightly as she put the plastic key into the slot, pulling it out as soon as the lock clicked. She held the door open for Shane, grateful she’d let the maids clean this morning. Normally she’d go a couple of days without using the service. She didn’t like her things messed with, but she’d been in the room too long. It needed cleaning. “We need him to sober up before going in front of the press.”
“He will.” Shane set her files on the desk.
“Put them on that bed,” Kara said. “Did Mrs. Cleary read the journals?” Kara asked as she kicked her shoes off into the closet, then secured her weapon and hung up her coat. The room was your typical standard two-queen room. She always got two beds. One for her work, one to sleep in. She fluffed the pillow on the bed where Shane had dropped her case, then sat down, opening the files and placing them on the bed.
“She did.” Shane sat in the chair at the desk, putting his feet on the bed while he leaned back and clasped his hands behind his head. “Had quite the talk with her while you were going over the press conference with Cleary.”
“And?”
“She acted stunned,” he said. “But she never looked me in the eye. I think they both knew but didn’t want to know.”
Kara nodded, tossing the files to the side. “Soccer right now is the only thing that connects all the victims.”
“What did Cleary say about giving the press conference?”
“Not much,” she admitted. “I didn’t give him the details, just told him to show up tomorrow at 9am, sober. That we needed his help.”
“I hope this works,” Shane said.
“So do I,” she said. “Anything from the M.E.?”
He shook his head. “I think we need a break. A good night’s sleep and then come back at this fresh in the morning.”
“I suppose you need to go.” Her heart hammered in her chest. The last thing she wanted was for him to leave.
His feet hit the floor as he glanced at his watch. He was going to leave. She sucked in a deep breath. She had to be okay with his decision. Even though things had gotten out of hand last night on his sofa, and later in text messages, he had a son he needed to get home to. He stood, reaching into his coat pocket, and pulled out his keys. Tossing them on the desk, he took his sport coat off and carefully hung it on the back of the chair. He removed his weapon next, carefully checking the chamber, and then set it on the desk.
She swallowed the lump in her throat as he moved between the two beds, pulling what appeared to be his wallet out of his pants pocket, and then his phone out of the back pocket, and set them on the nightstand. “I don’t need to be anywhere for a couple of hours,” he said. His voice was husky and deep and filled with passion.
Her body tingled when he pushed her feet to the floor and lifted her off the bed. He tugged at her ponytail, pulling the hair band out. “I don’t like it when you wear your hair up.”
“I need to for work.”
“We’re done with work.”
His fingers glided through her hair as it fell just past her shoulders. She shuddered as he traced his forefinger from the side of her earlobe, down her neck, to her cleavage. He smiled. “Your body always does that when I do this.” He retraced the path. Her eyelids grew heavy and, once again, her body trembled slightly.
She pressed the back of her hand against his stomach, her fingertips sliding just inside his pants, her thumb wiggling at his belt buckle.
He batted her hand away.
She cocked her head and reached for him again, but this time he took her hand and placed it on his shoulder. “Not yet,” he whispered.
With his eyes on hers, he unbuttoned her blouse. She dug her fingers into his strong shoulder blades while reaching for him with her other hand.
“Nope.” He grabbed her wrist. “I’ve got cuffs if we need to go that route.”
“So do I,” she said.
“That’s not going to happen.” He draped her other hand on his shoulder while he pulled her blouse out of her pants, then rolled the shirt over her shoulders, but she wasn’t about to move her arms now. “This is coming off,” he said.
She batted her eyes. “But you put my hands here.” She squeezed his shoulders. “And here they will stay.”
He reached out and unsnapped her bra.
“Whoa.” She jumped as her hands dropped to her sides, then they were yanked backwards as Shane pulled her blouse all the way to her wrists. Her bra straps fell off her shoulders. He held her arms behind her back with one hand and smiled triumphantly. She thought about squirming, but then opted to enjoy watching him look her up and down. His free hand cupped her breast. His thumb gently traced a tiny circle over her hard nipple. She leaned into him, wanting more and more, but he continued to keep his touch feather-light.
“Let my arms go.” She wiggled. Her breasts burned for his touch, her panties wet with anticipation.
He leaned over and sucked her nipple into his mouth, rolling it with his tongue, increasing the pressure on the other one with his fingers. Even when they’d been new lovers, they knew how to instinctively please the other. He had always liked to tease her. Make her desperate to have him.
She was already desperate, and he’d barely begun.
He released her hands, but the buttons on her sleeves made it impossible to shed her shirt. “Get this thing off me.”
He ran his tongue across her nipple, up her chest, kissing her neck. “Having difficulties?” he murmured, rubbing his thumb across her lips.
She’d freed one of her wrists by popping the button with a swift yank, and was close to freeing the other one. “There,” she said as the button flew across the room. She dropped the shirt and her bra to the floor. “Two can play at this game.” She shoved him, a little too hard, and he tumbled back onto the bed. She straddled him before he had a chance to move. She started unbuttoning his shirt. His hands kept coming up, toying with her nipples, making it impossible for her to concentrate on the buttons. She adjusted herself slightly, positioning herself in the perfect spot, grinding her hips ever so gently.
His eyes rolled back and he dropped his hands. “Fine. But hurry up.”
She didn’t waste any time removing his shirt. As he rose and lifted his undershirt over his head, she bent down and took one of his nipples in her mouth, toying with the other one.
He hissed, grabbing her hand. “My turn.”
“Nope.” She slid down to the floor, on her knees, and began undoing his belt.
He sat up. “You do that, and it just might end there.”
“I doubt it.” She pried the belt open, then the clasp on his trousers, before slowly and carefully tugging at the zipper, all the while looking up at him. His chest heaved up and down with labored breath.
“I wasn’t kidding when I said it’s been two years.”
“I’m sure you’ve done something to release the pressure.” She slid his slacks to his ankles then lifted the elastic on his boxers, releasing all of him.
“Not… the… same…” he let out a guttural groan.
Her body shivered at the sound. She took him in her hand, stroking softly, then licking the length of him.
He fisted her hair and pulled her away as he gasped. “You can’t do that unless that’s all you want.” He looked at her with intent in his eyes. “It’s my turn now.”
She stood. “Only if you do that one thing that I—”
“That and more.” He yanked her to the bed, rolling her to her back. His mouth moved from one breast to the other, his hands working on her belt. He paused, raising his head, and caught her gaze. He held it for a long moment before kissing her tenderly. His lips barely brushed hers. His tongue soft and slow against hers. “You’re ready,” he whispered.
All she could do was pant.
He smiled, then planted kisses on her neck, down her breasts and stomach. His hands pulling her slacks and thong off at the same time. Part of her wanted to just have him inside her. Forget the foreplay. The other part remembered just how good that foreplay was.
“That’s different.”
She lifted her head and looked down. Shane had one hand on her stomach. The other on her thigh. “What?”
“Last time I was down here you had a landing strip.” He traced his fingers down her stomach to just above the point that throbbed with intense heat. “Now, nothing.”
“I don’t think you need the strip to find your way around.” She raised her one leg, resting it on his back. His breath hot on her body. He was worried about lasting? She figured the moment he touched her, her body would be quivering with delight.
He took the other leg and dropped it over his shoulder, then fanned his thumb against her. Wetness poured out of her, ready to take all of him. She watched him gently part her as his tongue gently lapped at her. He inserted his fingers and pressed his tongue harder and faster. She arched her back, pulling his one hand to her breast. “Please,” she begged.
But he continued to tease her. Stroking her insides slowly. His tongue intimately rolling over her throbbing nub. His fingers barely touching her nipple. Then he’d pick up the pace a little, bringing her so close, but not over the edge. “Yes,” she whispered as he stroked faster again. Sucked harder. His thumb and forefinger twisting and plucking at her nipple.
Her body bucked and shivered. She clutched his head, squeezing her legs tight, trying to make him stop, but he continued. Her body convulsed in sheer ecstasy. “Shane.” She let her legs fall to the side. “I’m begging.”
He slid his fingers out slowly, then kissed her intimately, making her throb again. He stood, reaching for his wallet. She watched him wrap himself with the condom. “Turn over,” he demanded.
She smiled, rolling over to all fours, pressing herself against him. He leaned over, slamming himself into her, over and over. She arched her back, pushing against him as he reached around and rubbed his thumb against her again. “Oh, God,” she moaned as her body quivered, convulsing in a million spams as he continued to pound her. It wasn’t rough. But it was raw. Desperate.
He groaned as he clutched her hips, holding himself deep inside for a long moment before he moved in and out, but this time slowly, until he collapsed on the bed, drawing her back to his chest and holding her tight while kissing her neck. Part of her was home. The other part was stuck in a place where the past didn’t exist and there was no future.
They lay there for a long time, catching their breath. His knees tucked in behind hers. His arms completely wrapped around her body. She held his forearms with both hands, not wanting to ever let go again.
“Are you cold?”
“A little.”
He adjusted himself, holding her with one arm, pulling the comforter over their bodies. His lips pressed against her earlobe. “I wish I could stay here all night with you.”
“But you can’t,” she said. It was going to be hard to watch him walk out of this hotel room. To sleep in this bed alone after what they’d just shared.
“I could if I let Theresa know.”
“No.” She twisted her body, rolling to face him. “I wouldn’t feel right about taking time away from Kevin.”
Something buzzed on the nightstand.
“My phone,” he said. “Mind handing it to me? Just want to make sure it’s nothing important.”
“You don’t have to stay here now.”
“I want to stay,” he said. “Hoping I can regroup and act like a horny teenager who can do it more than once in an afternoon.”
She laughed as she reached for his phone. “As I recall, you never had a problem with that.” When she handed him the cell, the screen lit up with a picture of Janet and their son.
“Shit,” he said. “I’m sorry. I’ll change it.” He took the phone from her hands, quickly tapping at the screen.
“You don’t have to change it.” She snuggled into the crook of his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his strong body. “She was your wife. Kevin’s mother. You loved her…still love her.” Closing her eyes, she kissed his chest. “I’d think there was something wrong with you if you didn’t have pictures of her on your phone.”
“It doesn’t bother you?” He ran a finger up and down her arm.
“I’m not jealous of her or her memory,” she said. “I respect it.”
“You used to be jealous.”
She laughed. “No. You wanted me to be jealous. But I never had any reason to be. And I still don’t. I’m glad you were able to find someone like her to give you such a wonderful life and family. I know if she were still alive, we wouldn’t be in this bed.”
He reached down, tucking his thumb under her chin and tilting her head. “You know what’s really weird?”
“What?”
“As odd as this conversation is,” he said, smiling, “I’m really glad I stopped this morning to buy condoms,” he said. “And not just one. I have more in my wallet.”
She laughed. “Look in the nightstand drawer.”
He reached over her and pulled the drawer open, looking inside. “Well, what do you know? A box of condoms.”
“Last night on the way home.”
“Great minds think alike,” he said, caressing her thigh as he kissed her shoulder. “I was so hoping when you invited me in that this is how we’d end up.”
“I needed help carrying my portable file cabinet.”
“Right.” He laughed. “So, that thing I stopped you from doing. I think I can handle it now.”
Her heart fluttered. The ease she felt was like they’d never stopped loving each other.
But he had. And it didn’t bother her.