Ripper (Hunter #1)(36)

I sat up straight and was surprised to find I was very steady. Any weakness was gone. “Back off, Jamie. He isn’t using me. He tried to protect me. He tried to get me to run and leave him alone with a pack of hungry wolves. He was ready to do whatever it took so I got out of there. I don’t know exactly what happened in that alley, but I know it was about me and I trust Gray to watch my back. I’m going home with him and you have to deal with it.”

Gray’s satisfaction was practically tactile as he put a protective arm around my shoulders. “I’ll take care of her, Jamie. I promised you that. I mean to keep that promise.”

“You know what he is?” Jamie asked shortly. He obviously didn’t want to go into it. I could tell it was a hard subject for him but he needed to make sure I was up to date.

“He told me,” I replied.

Jamie shook his head and smoothed back his fashionably shaggy hair. “All right. You’re an adult. If you know what you’re getting into, I’ll back off.” He walked over and kissed me on the forehead. “I love you, little sister. You call me if he steps out of line.” He strode to the door. “And Kels, I’m neglecting to mention this incident to Nate since it involved actual drugs. I don’t want to know where his paranoid brain would go. See that you keep your mouth shut.”

I nodded because I didn’t want to think about Nathan riding herd on me. That would be embarrassing. The door closed and I was alone with Gray and wearing nothing but a thin hospital nightgown and a pair of zebra striped cotton underwear.

Gray sat down on the bed beside me. “Are you really feeling all right? You can stay here tonight if you feel the slightest bit weak. I’ll stay with you.”

“No way.” I got to my feet. I wanted to be ready when the nurse had the paperwork done. “I’m sure this place charges by the hour and I don’t have insurance. I need to run before they figure that out.”

I had my clothes in my hands when Gray pulled me back. “I already took care of the bill, Kelsey. You don’t have to worry about it.”

His eyes registered surprise so I was pretty sure my face was a decent reflection of the rage I felt at that statement. “I can handle my own bills.”

“Okay,” he allowed, calmly proving he wanted to live. “I know you can but…” His brain was working a mile a minute and I watched as he selected and discarded several scenarios in which I would reasonably accept his financial assistance. I waited patiently and a pleased smile finally came over his face. “It’s a work related expense. You’ve been on the clock since I picked you up earlier tonight. Don’t you normally bill your clients for stuff like this?”

Smooth bastard. I had to give it to him. He was smart. “Fine. But if we’re partners, I need to know everything.” My smile was sweet since it felt a little like victory.

Gray was intelligent enough to know when he’d lost. “I’ll go over everything with you in the morning. Now, let me help you get dressed.”

I laughed as I opened the bathroom door. “Not on your life, mister.”

His blue eyes were hot as he looked at me and he had the confidence of a man who was sure of the woman he was with. “I’ll just see it later, sweetheart. I mean to have you naked soon.”

“Good luck with that.” Even after everything that had happened, I could feel the heat building between us. It scared me more than the magician.

He invaded my space, his big hands on my waist, and he hauled me close. His lips hovered above mine. “Luck has nothing to do with it.”

He lowered his head and there was nothing of the previous gentleness in his kiss. He plundered. His tongue mated with mine, showing me exactly what he wanted our private parts to be doing later on tonight. He was rapacious. He was sultry. He was very persuasive.

When he finally let me go, I was ready to do him on the hospital bed and damn any nurse who walked in for the show. No man I’d ever met could get me as hot as fast as Grayson Sloane could. My knees were weak and it had nothing to do with my previous tangle with horse sedatives.

“Go get dressed, sweetheart,” Gray said, amused at the look on my face. “I’ve decide to wait until I can do something about your nudity. Otherwise, it’s too damn tempting.”

I let out a deep breath and cleared my head. I walked into the bathroom and started to untie the gown. I needed to get this relationship back to somewhere safe.

“So, Sloane,” I said through the door. I hooked my bra and went to work on the jeans. “Why have you been so scared to bring me into this case? Are you afraid I’ll screw it up?”

“I’m not afraid of you. I believe Jamie when he says you’re good.”

“I’m damn good.” I smoothed the T-shirt down. I wished I’d brought in my bag so I could gloss up. I settled for finger combing my hair. “So what’s the trouble?”

“It isn’t you.” His face was grim as I opened the door between us, and I knew I was finally getting somewhere with him. “I don’t know many men who would want the woman they love involved in a case with Jack the Ripper.”





Chapter Seven





I woke up alone in the middle of Gray’s enormous four-poster bed, the light of day forcing its way through cracks in the curtains and sending filmy light through the room.