Page 31 of Rescuing Carolyn

“Not a chance.” I admitted to her what I’d refrained from saying in front of her family. “Which is why you have to promise me you’ll be safe and take a step back. I’ll put together a team tomorrow and get an investigation in motion.” I had my family and I was pretty sure Chance had other buddies we could rely on. “The police will probably take it seriously now, too. You can leave it to us from here.”

She huffed at that. “I’m not going to sit around while you swoop in and play hero.”

At that, I rolled us both over, pinning her beneath me. I framed her face with my hands, gently rubbing my thumbs over her cheekbones. I wanted her desperately, but before I could give in, we needed to come to an understanding.

“This situation is far too dangerous, sweetheart. It probably was before, but arson shows that the perp has escalated his attempts. I know what the business means to you, but your life means a lot more to your family and to me and Austin than the store. Promise me that you’ll let the rest of us handle it.”

Her eyes were dark and sorrowful. I wanted to kiss away the pain I saw there, but not until she promised to take a step back from her investigation.

“If you put it that way, I promise,” she whispered. “You’ll get him, won’t you?” I nodded, making a silent promise of my own. “Good. Make love to me, Zach. I need you tonight.”

I kissed her then, slow and deep until her body relaxed and her arms wrapped around me. Taking my time, I trailed kisses down her neck and shoulder, working my way to her breasts. She sighed when I flicked my tongue over a nipple and gasped when I took it in my mouth.

“That’s so good.” Her voice was a soft purr. “More.”

I moved to her other breast, giving it attention until she moaned my name. Still kissing her soft skin, I made my way to the apex of her thighs and teased them open. I knew her body so well, her scent, the feel of her, what made her come. With that knowledge, I feathered my tongue over her clit, garnering more moans as the tension built in her.

I could always read her body, and I adjusted the pressure as her pleasure grew. She writhed beneath me, and I lifted her legs, placing them over my shoulders as I pinned her in place. I wanted to go slowly, to savor every moment as I watched her come undone, but the more she moved, the more desperately I needed to thrust deep inside her and take my own pleasure along with hers.

Licking the full length of her slit, I pulsed my tongue as she moaned and clutched at the sheets. I slid two fingers inside her, twisting my hand to find the special spot that would drive her wild as I continued to lick and suck. Carolyn’s moans soon turned to pants, and I pressed harder, wanting to bring her over at least once before I took my own pleasure.

With a cry, she shifted her head from side to side, her body trembling beneath me as her climax rocked through her. A few moments later, I felt her fingers on my head, tugging at my hair.

“Inside me,” she murmured. “I want to feel you, all of you.”

After pausing for just a second to get a condom, I did as commanded, rising up and entering her heat, which was still pulsing. Resting on my elbows, I moved inside her, setting an erratic pace that I couldn’t seem to control. When her muscles tightened around me and she sobbed my name, I kissed her, pouring my love for her into every movement of my body, every bit of pleasure I could bring her until my own orgasm ripped through me.

I rested my head against her shoulder to catch my breath. Then, rolling onto my back, I pulled her close to me and stroked her back until her body softened with sleep. I didn’t know how long she’d rest, but I’d be there for her when she woke.

16

CAROLYN

Ipicked my way around the wreckage in All That Sparkles the morning following the fire. Ceiling tiles lay on the floor along with the remains of display cases. All the money I’d spent on the remodel had gone up in smoke.

“Any evidence about the cause?” I asked the fire inspector after he’d spent two hours poking through the rubble.

“It’ll be in my report, Ms. Evert.”

“Give me a hint, please.” I’d watched the man record notes and photograph the store. He must have had an idea of what had happened. “My sister said she heard a crash and an explosion. That doesn’t seem accidental to me.”

The inspector pointed to the right front window. “Something came through that window, hit the floor here,” he said, indicating an area near his boots, “and sprayed an accelerant, which I’m currently trying to identify. This was no accident.”

I’d known in my heart the fire had been intentional, but hearing it confirmed in such crisp, no-nonsense language sent the message home. This was meant to damage the business beyond repair—and might have taken a life if there’d been anyone in the showroom.

“What happens next, then?”

“I turn over my findings to the fire chief and copy the police and prosecutor’s office on all of it. An official criminal investigation will be opened, because this has now become a criminal case. Arson is a felony offense, punishable by several years in prison.”

“What’s the conviction rate?” Charging my saboteur with arson was one way of getting him.

The inspector clicked his pen and put it in his shirt pocket before answering. “About one percent.”

“One percent?” I was shocked. “So most arsonists get away with it?”

“Afraid so. You have cameras in here.” He gestured to one. “We’ll pull the footage from them, and it might help.”

I shook my head. “I spoke with my security company already. There’s nothing.”

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