Cold & Deadly (Cold Justice: Crossfire #1)(86)

Bernie stood back and took a long gulp of air, knowing cops were on the way. The tire iron went into the pool, and Bernie backed away from the devastation.

It wasn’t Sheridan’s blood, but it was a message. They weren’t done yet. It wasn’t over. He wasn’t fucking safe.

The shadows in the woods cloaked the line of retreat. By the time the cops arrived, Bernie would be long gone.





Chapter Twenty-Six





Dominic was heading east of Hagerstown when his eyes started to drift shut. It was enough to jolt him out of his complacency, and he pulled over in the next town and found a small hotel near the airport.

Ava was fast asleep, her face less sharp angles, her expression unguarded. Her shields were down—something she did with him occasionally now, but less so with other people.

It made him feel smug and like an ass all at the same time. After this was over, they’d have no excuse to be close to one another.

He didn’t like the idea of her going back to her “Ava Kanas alone against the world” mentality, and yet there was no room in his life for a real relationship. Losing his mother at an early age had fucked him up.

Van had always told him he was missing out, but he’d never really believed him until now…

Ava said she didn’t want any ties either, he reminded himself. He didn’t want to be the loser hanging around in the hopes of receiving a few breadcrumbs of affection. He did not want to turn into that guy for this woman. He respected and valued her opinion too much.

A valet approached the car, and he touched her arm to gently nudge her awake.

“I need some sleep,” he said when she forced one eyelid up.

“I can drive for a couple of hours if I have coffee.” Ava stretched out her body in the cramped confines of the car.

Dominic tried to keep his gaze professional even as desire stirred. This might be the last night they got to be together. The idea made him feel sick with loss which was crazy. Maybe it was a side-effect to someone trying to kill them today. Something that would wear off as things returned to normal.

“We both need some rest and some food. A few hours’ sleep won’t kill anyone.” At least, he hoped not. The task force was on the case now, tracking probable suspects.

They grabbed their go-bags and went inside. He sat her on an ottoman near reception while he organized the rooms.

“Come on.” He led the way with a hand on the small of her back. A hand that didn’t want to let go but did anyway. “Here you go. This is your room.”

He opened a door for her and watched her brows hike in surprise and her mouth drop open in what he hoped was disappointment.

She went inside and locked the door with a decisive click.

He headed to the next room along the hallway and dumped his gear on the bed, turning his phone off and plugging it into a charger before knocking on the connecting door.

She threw it open, and he swore he saw tears misting her eyes, but that must have been his imagination.

“I didn’t want anyone questioning your reputation should someone check the hotel records,” he said quietly.

She dragged him inside by the lapels, and he slid his hands around her waist and pulled her close. He was exhausted, but not so exhausted he wouldn’t take advantage of being with Ava while he could.

Her fingers worked on his tie and buttons as he dragged her shirt out of her pants and filled his hands with sleek, warm skin.

She ran her palms over his abs and across his chest, humming as she did so.

She bit her lip, and the action made him as hard as rock, something she didn’t miss. Her hands found him and cupped him through his suit pants, and he was literally at her mercy. He dropped to his knees, undoing the buttons on her shirt first, revealing the edge of red lace, then he undid the button of her pants and slowly slid the zipper down.

He looked up, and she was watching him with a look of wonder on her face. The scent of her killed him, but he made himself go slowly, treating her like she was the most precious and delicate thing he would ever touch.

She might just be.

Her pants slid down her thighs, and he tugged off her ankle boots and backup weapon when they stalled there. When she was standing in only her little, red panties and unbuttoned shirt, he urged her back until she hit the mattress. Her knees buckled, and he pressed forward until his mouth was against the warm silk.

“Lie still,” he instructed.

She did as she was told. Very un-Ava-like.

He pushed her legs wider apart and ran his nose over the center of her, breathing her in, light touches that teased them both. He ran his tongue down the edge of the lace enjoying the way she moaned. The touch of her thigh against his cheek was so soft he shivered.

He remembered what she’d said last night about liking the feel of his beard between her legs. He hadn’t shaved. He tugged the panties down impossibly long legs and put his mouth on her clit, scraping his scruff over the sensitive skin of her vulva, and she damn near shot off the bed.

He reached up to tweak her nipples against the lace that encased them, working her with his mouth and his hands until she was panting and sobbing and grabbing his hair while opening her thighs as wide as they could go and pressing against his mouth.

He was still fully dressed and so hard he hurt. He kept working his tongue over her, unable to satiate himself. Unable to get enough until she cried out and shuddered over him.