Becoming Rain (Burying Water #2)(72)

I snap the case shut and slide it back into the drawer quickly, knowing that I probably wasn’t supposed to see that.

But I’m positive that the necklace is for me, and it’s real. When did he buy that? And why? I don’t have to ask with what money because I know. I also know that when he does give it to me, I’ll have to smile and gush over it. But that won’t be hard. What’ll suck is handing it in to evidence after the case is over, because I can’t keep it.

I should be disgusted with him for giving me gifts bought with dirty money.

But, if I’m completely honest, all I can think about right now is how beautiful that piece of jewelry is and how thoughtful he is and how I can’t wait to feel him slipping it around my neck.

This is exactly what Luke meant when he said that he’s been blinded by wads of cash and a Porsche.

My stomach begins churning with self-loathing.

After searching his bedroom closet and finding nothing but a well-hung, neat wardrobe of dress clothes and more shoes than any man should own, I make a quick stop in Luke’s bathroom, stepping over the towel he left on the floor. I don’t pick it up, not wanting him to know I was in here, too. Scanning his medicine cabinet, closet, and vanity drawers, I find only cold medication and basic hygiene supplies, albeit a lot more of the latter than I’d expect the normal guy to use. Luke is meticulous with his appearance, though, so I’m not surprised.

There are no prescriptions of any kind, no embarrassing rash creams, nothing that tells me I should be heading to the doctor for tests. That’s a relief.

As is the fact that I’ve uncovered nothing to use against him in our case.

So, I grab Stanley and head out.

Chapter 37

LUKE

“I can’t believe you’re making me watch this,” I hiss into the dark theater.

She gives me a look of shock. “You’re kidding me, right? There’s blood, carnage. And aliens. What kind of guy doesn’t like aliens?” Her tone is almost accusatory.

I hold my hand up. “I’ve never dated a girl who likes this stuff.”

A sly smile forms on her face. “Are you afraid of scary movies?”

I throw my best “seriously?” game face on. “Me? Come on.” I slept with my light on until I was ten because monsters lived under my bed, waiting for a chance to kill me. The hell if I’m admitting that to Rain, though.

The way she throws buttery popcorn into her wide-grinning mouth tells me she sees right through my lie.

“Shut up.” I lean in to steal the piece from her fingertips about to go into her mouth, licking the salt and butter off her lips on my way. We’re sitting in the back row of a half-empty theater because I insisted and she didn’t complain, and dammit, she’s wearing a short skirt. When I saw which movie she chose, I decided I’d rather be touching her for the next ninety minutes than watching the screen. It’s been four days since the overnight cruise, since I felt the inside of her.

Just thinking about it now—about the feel and smell and taste of her—I’m getting hard.

While a red-eyed alien gnaws on some guy’s face on the giant screen in front of us.

I don’t really care. I’m just happy to be out with her. Turns out that running the garage on my own is exhausting. Miller’s been doing a heck of a lot of work that I don’t know about, while I make my own hours and f*ck off at odd hours of the day. I haven’t left the place before nine any night this week. No wonder the guy hates me so much.

Couple that with the added anxiety of relaying orders to fences for the next shipment, and I can barely get a workout in every night, I’m so tired.

I throw my arm over her shoulder and rest my other hand on the inside of her bare thigh, letting my fingers run along silky soft skin. She smiles, plants a kiss on my lips, and mouths, “Watch the movie.” Then her hand drops to hold mine in place, like she knows exactly what I’m intending on doing.

Great.

Forty-five minutes of gore over a deafening sound system later—when I’ve jumped out of my seat at least five times, earning laughs from Rain each time—I finally lean in to admit, “Fine, I’m terrified of aliens. I’m probably going to have nightmares tonight. Are you really going to make me watch the rest of this?”

She rolls her eyes but then smiles. “Alright . . . let’s go.” She reaches over to collect her jacket and purse. I use the opportunity to slide my hand farther up.

It’s so loud in here that I can’t hear her small gasp as my fingers weave under her damp panties, as one finger slips into her, but by the sudden tension in her body and hard swallow in her neck, she wasn’t expecting that.

Though it sure as hell feels like she wants it.

She hasn’t pushed me away yet. She’s too busy scanning the other rows, the corners, and the ceilings for cameras. There are none on us. It’s all safe. Only when she seems to accept that does she ease back into her seat. Her eyes land on mine. Thanks to random flashes from the screen, I can just make out the fire in them.

Finally, she gives me a tiny smile as her thighs fall apart. She lifts her hips up just slightly. I take the access greedily, yanking her panties all the way down until they hit the dirty theater floor. I push her thighs farther apart as I begin working her with more fingers and my thumb, her skirt riding up higher. Fuck, I wish it weren’t so dark in here.