Page 32 of Shadow Touched

“There’s not a lot of personal belongings.”She knelt down to look through the duffle bag. “More condoms. I’mgetting the vibe he was a man whore.”

“Focus.”

She sighed, stood, and threw up her hands.“There’s nothing here, Brim, except the dregs of a dead man.”

“Sh,” he said. “The only people who knowthat are you and me.”

“They can’t hear me,” she said, waving herhand toward the door. “The music’s so loud I’m surprised you don’thave deaf members.”

He closed the last drawer on the dresser andturned toward her. “What’s wrong with you?”

She paced back and forth for a moment,trying to figure out how to articulate what she was concernedabout. “What if it’s not someone in your club. What if it’syour entire club? What if they all want you dead?”

“Hey,” he admonished gently, pulling herinto his arms. “It’s going to be okay. I’ll keep you safe.”

“This isn’t about me. I’m supposed to keepyou safe. How can I accomplish that if they’re all plottingagainst you?”

“Just stay by my side.”

They stared into one another’s eyes, andsuddenly, the world faded away. The moment stretched infinitelybetween them as the words took on a deeper meaning. That it wasn’tjust sexual. Her heart sped up. Her breathing became shallow.Electricity danced in the air between them.

“You feel that?” he asked, his voice huskywith desire.

She nodded, unable to speak.

He bent his head and she stood on tiptoe toreach his lips faster. Fire exploded between them, causing an acheto spring deep inside. Her entire being compressed as she put allof her passion, all of her wanting, into the kiss. His handswandered down, gripping her ass to pull her closer. His own needevident as he pressed her against his body. When they came up forair, he leaned his forehead against hers.

“Good lord, woman. I burn for you. But …this isn’t the place.”

“No,” she murmured.

He sighed and pulled away. It took all hismental energy to get his mind out of the gutter and focus on thetask at hand. “I appreciate you want to keep me safe, but it has tobe more than my club wanting me gone. A president can be overthrownby a major vote. There’s no need to stoop to assassination.”

“Then … it’s personal.”

“Yeah. Which is why we’re looking throughKnuckles’s stuff.”

“Who has a grudge against you and knowsabout your cabin?”

“That is the million-dollar question. Comeon, the bed is giving me all sorts of wicked thoughts. Let’s getback to the party before I toss you on it and have my way withyou.”

Chapter Twelve

They stayed until just after midnight,although Brim knew the party would continue on into the wee hoursof the morning. Once upon a time, he’d been the one to keep thedrinking and fucking going, but he’d reached the point where hedidn’t like hangovers and the meaningless sex was empty.

When they were back in his house, Leia bidhim a demur goodnight then disappeared into the guest bedroom. Hewished she was going to sleep next to him, but he promised her thenight to herself. Part of him understood. They’d just met. He’dkidnapped her. Yada, yada, yada. Yeah, there were issues betweenthem. Didn’t make his longing for her any less. He took a quickshower and headed to bed. The sheets were slightly musty fromdisuse, and he made a mental note to wash everything tomorrow.

He didn’t sleep much because every time heclosed his eyes he thought about Leia. About how he had pleasuredher against the tree. How her kiss drove him crazy. Finallyreaching a breaking point, he grabbed his dick and began strokingit, needing some type of relief. He closed his eyes and picturedLeia, laying in his bed, naked, as he worshiped her body. His handpumped faster, squeezing from the base of his cock to the tip andback down again. He could practically hear her moans. He’d lap ather cream, make her scream with pleasure until he couldn’t stand itanymore. He had to have her, have to sink into her heat, herwetness, riding her until he came, pouring himself endlessly insideher tight channel. The image was so real, so potent, that he criedout as his jizz shot out of his cock to coat his hand. Euphoriaglazed over his brain, relaxing him enough to fall asleep.

The next morning, they woke up and caught aquick breakfast at a diner before heading to the clubhouse. Mensnoozed all over the place, some even naked with women draped overthem. Leia kept her gaze averted as she followed him.

“Thorn wants to talk to me,” he announced asshe took up residence on the leather sofa in his office. Thecushions had permanent indentions where people had sat over theyears, and some of the leather was flaking off at the corners.

“I’m staying.”

“This is club business.”

“And your life is my business. I’mstaying by your side. You told me to, remember?”

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