Chirp(78)

“But I do know you.”

For a moment he didn’t speak, but confession was supposed to be good for the soul, and his was in trouble. With the secret tightened around his throat, he felt like a man about to be hanged. Other than Hector, no one knew the truth. “No, you don’t. I—I—I murdered a man, Chirp. And it wasn’t self-defense. I thought about it. Planned it. Watched him die. And even now, after all this time, the only regret I have is that I can’t kill him again. I’m glad he’s dead.”

Her gaze didn’t waver, and there wasn’t a hint of judgment in her eyes. “Is that what your nightmares are about?”

“Yes.”

“Was he the one who gave you the scar?”

The memory flashed through his mind as vivid as if it happened yesterday. Donald Wayne Pittman. Inmate #05192106. Rance had been tormented by Pittman. Almost killed by him. Lived in fear of him, until he couldn’t take it anymore. Rance had memorized everything about the guy. Every tattoo, scar, blemish. He’d never hated anyone the way he’d hated him. Not even Jack for putting him in that hellhole to begin with. Rance swallowed hard. “Yeah.”

She slid her arms around him and rested her cheek on his chest. “Then I’m glad he’s dead, too.”

He’d opened up to her, and she hadn’t batted an eye. She was the one person who’d seen him at his worst and now knew his darkest secret, yet she loved him in spite of it. How could she overlook everything he’d done and still find good in him? The part that wanted to take care of her. Protect her. Love her. He pulled away and took her hands in his. “Marry me.”

She stumbled backward. “What?”

“Marry me.”

She shook her head. “I heard the investigator. You’re trying to save me, but I only have a few more weeks. I’ll be fine.”

Everything he’d denied for so long crashed down on him with an unbearable force, bringing the truth with it. “I’m not trying to save you. I need you to save me.”

“From who?”

“Myself.”

There. He’d gotten it all out. Almost. “I’m a selfish prick, and you’d be better off with someone else. But without you that old house has been more of a prison than Huntsville ever was. I’m suffocating, Chirp. I don’t want to wake up another day knowing I can’t see you. Touch you. But being with me won’t be easy. Everyone will use me against you. Claim I only want you for your money. You’ll be hurt, and it’ll be my fault. But I love you so damn much. I . . .”

She pressed her hand to his lips. “Stop talking.” Then she kissed him. Hard. Hot. Wet. Lust ripped through him with as much force as the jagged knife Pittman had used. Rance had been without her too long. She was still Chirp. Soft, warm, giving, and his. Desperate to be inside her, own her, he grasped the button on her skirt, undid it, and opened the zipper. “Get rid of this.”

She stepped back enough to let the garment fall and pool at her ankles. Then she kicked out of it, grabbed the hem of her blouse, and stripped it off. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and the sight of those perfect little tits caused his cock to jump. God, it felt like years since he’d touched her, tasted her, held her; he wanted to do everything at once.

He gripped her waist, then nudged her back until she bumped the counter. “Keep the shoes.”

She shivered, and he spun her around, pulled her backside tight against him, and whispered in her ear, “Ease your panties down.” Damn, watching lace slide off her sweet ass tore him up inside. His balls drew so high and tight, he thought they might pop out the top of his head.

Once she was naked, he turned her, dropped to his knees, and flicked the belly button ring with his tongue. “I’m glad you still have this.” His hot breath teased one inner thigh, then the other, until he palmed her hips with both hands, brought her to his mouth, and licked into her.





Blaze


Blaze struggled to pull air into her lungs, but only managed to half fill them. She tried to pinpoint when things changed between them, but couldn’t concentrate on anything but the sound of his moans as he tasted her. And when he brought her leg over his shoulder to go deeper, her mind went blank. God help her. A second later he hit the right spot, and she gripped the edge of the bar for support because her legs turned to rubber.

Low in her stomach, it began to build. She braced for impact and came hard. As the orgasm claimed her, he didn’t stop the torture. He gave her only a few seconds to recover, then sucked her into his mouth again, and a second wave of pleasure attacked. Every muscle stiffened while her bones turned to liquid.

He rested his forehead against her belly. “Don’t ever leave me again. I’ll die if you do.”

He rose and took her in his arms. Neither of them spoke, but he was hard, and she needed to take care of that. Pulling away, she slipped her hand in his and led him down the short hallway. No need to turn on a lamp; the light streaming through the windows from the courtyard provided enough.

When they reached the bed, she unbuttoned his pants, pulled down the zipper, and let him take over. She removed her shoes while he got rid of his clothes. He lay back on the mattress. Now it was her turn to drop to her knees. She’d never done this before, but she’d thought about it.

He looked down at her and raised his brows. “Chirp?”