Intent(86)

“You’re crazy,” I hedge.

“No, I don’t think so. Being observant is how I make a living. Plus, I have a four-year-old who tries to pull the same shit on me every time we have squash for dinner. So, I’m going to ask you a yes or no question, and I want a yes or no answer.”

He cages me in by putting his hands on the counter on either side of me. He bends at the waist to put us at eye level. Without saying a word, his eyes dare me to try to get out of answering him truthfully. I’m not sure what my “punishment” would be, but I really don’t want to fight with him anyway.

“Are you still sick?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s Friday night. If you’re not better by Monday, you’re going to the doctor.”

“You’re very demanding.”

His smug smile matches the challenge issued in his piercing eyes. “Right now, I’m being extremely reasonable. But if you’d like to see my demanding side, I’ll be glad to show you that instead.”

Now probably isn’t the best time to feel the flutters of a hundred hummingbird wings in my lower abdomen from his deep voice and commanding presence. However, my very wet panties disagree with the timing argument.

“Reasonable is good,” I reply barely above a whisper.





Chapter Twenty-Seven





ACE



I steal up behind Layne as she adjusts the hot water for her shower. She’s already undressed, and her body is begging for my touch. I’m all too eager to oblige. The feel of her silky smooth skin under my fingertips only makes me want more. My hands glide over her, caressing every curve, every dip, every bump. My thick erection rubs against her ass.

After my hands glide over her breasts, I stop in place to knead and massage them. The swell of her breasts fits in the palms of my hands perfectly, as if she were made just for me. Her head leans back against my chest, her breasts rise and fall with her heavy breaths, and she hums in pleasure when I lightly squeeze her nipples between my thumb and finger.

Moving down to continue my exploration, I lovingly caress every bump and dip of her ribs and down the soft contours of her stomach. My fingers know every inch of her body intimately. She’s perfect in every way. I continue moving straight down her torso, over her lower abdomen, and I possessively cover her mound with my hand. While lightly tapping over her clit, I lower my voice and ask, “If I feel you right now, would you already be wet and ready for me?”

“Yes.” She draws out the single syllable word into the sexiest moan.

“Let me feel.”

Her right leg takes a step to the side, giving me full access. I don’t need another invitation. My finger plunges into her and I can’t hold back my own growl. Her knees buckle, pushing my finger farther inside her before she straightens them again.

“That felt good, didn’t it, baby?”

She does it again, intentionally this time, until we’re moving in sync with perfect rhythm. When I add another finger, she comes undone before my eyes and her soft moans fill my ears. “I will never get tired of hearing you make that sound.”

When she turns to face me, I stick my fingers in my mouth and lick the remnants of her pleasure off them. The heat in her eyes intensifies as she watches. As soon as I pull my fingers away, her lips and tongue take their place. When we end the kiss, she’s ready for more but I’ve been selfish enough already.

Since Zoe came back, Layne has eaten slightly better and seems to have a little more energy, but it’s a show. Even though she won’t easily admit it, I know she doesn’t feel too much better today than she did Friday. During one of our late-night talks, she told me her mother died of ovarian cancer. It was hard for her to watch her mother’s weight loss, reduced energy, and nonexistent appetite replace the once active and vibrant woman she loved.

It’s time for answers.

She looks at me with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. “Are you getting in the shower with me fully dressed?”

“No, baby. Actually, I came in here to tell you I’m going to the store, but you’re naked and you distracted me. There’s a deputy outside watching the house. Because I’m overly cautious. Because my ex jumped on the batshit-crazy-train and took over as the conductor.”

Her response is to look at me like I’m the crazy one. “Um, okay. What if she goes after you?”

“Let her. I’d actually prefer that over anything else she could plan.” With a chaste kiss, I turn to leave. “I’ll be back in a few.”

Margot obviously figured out Zoe wasn’t coming back and changed her tactics. Friday night while Layne and Zoe were talking, I was busy listening for any scrap of information on Margot’s whereabouts so Matt could arrest her. As soon as Zoe named the places Margot was using as hideouts, I sent a text to Matt, who then immediately put men watching those locations.

It’s now Sunday and she hasn’t shown up at any of them all weekend long. I don’t trust her to not show up at my house since she no doubt knows that Layne and Zoe are both here. Lily has been chomping at the bit to get involved and coax Margot out of her new hiding place, but so far Mom and I have been successful in keeping her out of it. Not that I doubt Lily’s ability to hold her own, but I don’t need my attention divided. There’s too much going on as it is.