Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1)(56)

“No. Not even a little.” Ryker sat back, her foot on his thighs. “We discovered on the way that we have a talent for finding lost people, so we’ve stuck with it. Once in a while we’re too late.” His voice sobered.

Ah. The girls murdered by the serial killer. Ryker was a guy who’d be haunted forever by that. “I’m sorry, Ryker. Are there any leads on the serial killer case?” she whispered.

“No. Heath is monitoring the FBI, and we’re trying to figure out a plan, but right now we have a lot going on.” He stopped talking and shoved back to stand up. “I need a shower, and then we’ll grab some shut-eye.” Within a second, he’d disappeared into the master bath.

Zara watched him go and pressed her hands on her knees, looking around her comfortable bedroom. For some reason, the room always seemed different with Ryker in the house. More exciting and richer. She’d chosen the green bedspread with him in mind, although she’d never admit it. White pillows and furniture kept the room feminine, and the red throw rug on the wood floor added a pop of color.

The room smelled like Ryker—wild man and leather. He’d been there only a short time, and the room had taken on his essence.

So had she.

He’d opened up to her more than ever before, and the idea was both intimidating and exciting. How much more did he have hidden away, and what was it? What was so bad in his past that he wouldn’t share it with her? While he had certainly opened up, she knew he hadn’t told her everything.

The shower turned on in the bathroom. At the moment, the lost look in his eyes kept nagging at her.

She pushed from the bed, dropping clothing as she moved across the floor. Nudging open the bathroom door, she stopped as steam blasted against her. Ryker looked up from examining in the mirror a dark bruise across his rib cage, buck ass naked. “Zara?”

“What happened?” she breathed, running a finger along the purple mark. Who had hurt him? Anger mixed with her concern, and her hand shook.

“Jay got in a good punch. One.” Ryker reached over her shoulder to push the door closed. A veil had dropped over his eyes. He was retreating from their conversation. From their closeness. “What are you doing?”

Steam surrounded them. She paused. A smart girl would go back to the other room and shore up her emotional defenses as he did the same.

Turmoil turned his eyes a deep green, turmoil and something else. What was that? Need. It was need, and he was no longer hiding it. She couldn’t turn away. “I thought you might want company in the shower.” Her knees wobbled.

His gaze darkened and ran down her nude form. Hunger rolled, heated and strong, through the misty room. “We’re not making it to the shower.” Hooking her by the waist, he took her down to the plush white rug and rolled until she sat on his hips.

The steam dampened the air, and she ran her hands down his torso. Hard muscle and ripped ridges filled her palms. “I never imagined a man could be so beautiful,” she murmured. Strength could be stunning. “Everything about you is pure male.”

Evidence of that fact jumped against her inner thighs. He was hard and ready to go that quickly.

Pure male possession crossed his rugged face while hunger for her curved his dangerous lips. “I’m taking more than just your body, Zara.” He flattened his palm on her abdomen and dragged his fingertips up her torso to her breasts.

She arched into his rough palms, wetness spilling from her. “Think you can handle that?” she moaned.

“Watch me.”

She could only nod as need coiled inside her. Her nipples ached, and deep between her legs, she throbbed.

“I want to be inside you. Now.” The commanding tone of his voice licked right through her, and she shivered. The man had a definite bossy side in bed, and she’d be totally lying if she said she didn’t like it.

So she lifted up, grasped him at the base, and tried to lower herself onto him. “You’re too big.” She gasped as her body fought her.

“Now, Zara.”

More wetness spilled from her, and he chuckled. Then his hands abandoned her breasts and clamped onto her hips. She stiffened out of instinct.

“Relax your body, baby. Trust me.” The words were coaxing, but the tone was all command.

She relaxed and breathed out, her body obeying instantly even as her mind fought to catch up.

He widened his hips, which widened her thighs. She fell forward, stopping herself with her hands on his broad chest. Sinew and muscle filled her palms. Then he slowly, inexorably lowered her inch by inch without giving quarter.

The feeling of being penetrated, of his slow and sure movements, lit her body on fire. She threw back her head and let him control them both, feeling her internal muscles clench and release. The pressure built to almost too much, and she stiffened again, her gaze catching his. “Wait a sec.”

He lowered his chin and studied her. Then, apparently reaching a conclusion, “No.” He moved her down his length again.

The need to challenge him, to fight his dominance, rose in her along with an impish chuckle, so she found purchase with her knees and tried to lift her butt.

He held her in place but stopped moving. “Zara? You really want me to stop? Or do you wanna play, baby?” His voice was a low rumble that moved through her abdomen with a rush of heat.

If she truly asked him to stop, he would. But what fun would that be? “Oh, I wanna play,” she whispered, desire shooting through her nerves. “You want such control? You’re gonna have to take it.” Yeah, she knew challenging him, especially like this, might be more than she wanted to take on, but as the haunted look completely fled his eyes, it was definitely worth it. “Unless you’re not up to it?”