Page 42 of In the Arms of a Hero

He bent to kiss her again but managed to keep it light as her breaths came in pants. Alternating between fast and slow thrusts, he knew he was close to coming and wanted her pleasure to join his. Reaching between them, he fingered her swollen, tender nub.

Her nails dug in as her head pressed back against the comforter, and she cried his name again. As her inner muscles squeezed his cock, he followed her in his own release.

Slowly continuing to pump until he was drained, he gathered her in his arms, rolling slightly until they rested side by side, heartbeat to heartbeat.

21

Aaron noted the long line as he stepped into Bess’s Bakery, but seeing Belinda would be worth it. She looked up and caught his eye, then waved him forward. Uncertain, he moved past the line and stepped to the counter. He’d left her apartment early in the morning to shower and change at his place. Now, he wished he could carry Belinda upstairs and make the world disappear again as they had last night.

“Here you go, Aaron. And I have one for Sam, too.”

Belinda placed two cups of coffee on the counter in a cardboard carrier. “I knew you’d have little time but hoped you would stop by.”

Touched, he said, “Damn, Belinda. This’ll hit the spot.” He held her gaze and then sighed. “Things may be tight for a while until we make more headway?—”

She waved her hand dismissively. “You don’t have to explain. Just take care of yourself.”

“You’re taking photos this weekend for the wedding, right?”

“Yes. You’ll be there?”

He nodded. “Weddings aren’t really my thing, but I worked with the deputy when he was a rookie.”

The sound of someone clearing their throat behind him sent the reminder that he was holding up the line. He picked up the two cups and stepped back. “Thanks.” With her smile warm upon him, he headed back to his SUV.

The sound of rapidly approaching footsteps caused him to turn around. Seeing Belinda jogging toward him sent a smile over his face. “Hey, did I forget something?”

She slowed as she approached, her smile tentative. “Yeah.” She nodded. “I forgot to wish you a good day. Well, I know it might not be agoodday with what you are working on, but I wanted you to know I was thinking of you.”

He turned and set the coffee cups on the hood of his SUV before turning back. Opening his arms, she hurried into his embrace, and for a moment, the two stayed entwined. Her head was tucked under his chin, the delicate scent of the tropics tickling his senses. Her soft curves fit perfectly against his chest. The feel of her hands on his back as her arms encircled him made the day fade away until it was just the two of them.

Finally, she pulled back and looked up, holding his gaze. “Have a good day, Aaron.”

“Having it start with you in my arms will make it the best day, sweetheart.”

Her smile widened, and their lips met. Keeping the kiss light, they separated. She continued to walk backward with him in her sights until it was no longer safe for her to do so in the parking lot. She tossed him a wave, turned, and then jogged back to the coffee shop.

He stood for a moment and breathed deeply, taking in all that was Belinda. Her giving him a second chance was an act of faith on her part and one he wouldn’t take for granted. Picking up the coffee containers, he settled into his SUV, ready to face the day.

“Missing person report may be a match,” Sam called out as Aaron walked into the room. Aaron placed Bess’s coffee on Sam’s desk and grinned at the groan of delight that left his partner’s lips.

“Thanks, man. This is so needed. I got here early… couldn’t fucking sleep last night. But take a look at this.” He handed the paper to Aaron, who scanned the information, reading off the most pertinent.

“William Lionel Gaston. Goes by Bill. Forty-three years old. A financial broker from Richmond. Wife called police last evening when he didn’t come home from his trip and didn’t answer his phone.” He pulled out the photo the wife had provided to the Richmond Police Department, which was now attached to the statewide missing person report. Nodding, he said, “It looks like him. If you want to call them to get with Cora, I’ll let her know what we’re looking at.”

Two hours later, the Richmond Police lead detective for the missing man called and confirmed that the dental records matched.

“Detective Williams, did his wife say why he was in the area?” Aaron asked.

“All she said was that he was visiting some clients,” Detective Williams replied. “She reported he had clients all over the country and, of course, numerous ones in Virginia. I’m requesting a list of clients in Virginia and Maryland from his brokerage company. I’ve already spoken to his assistant, who said he was on his way to Maryland and then was coming back through the Virginia Beach area, but she didn’t know ofany specific clients he was scheduled to meet other than one in Maryland. I’ll fax it to you as soon as I get it.”

“Any chance he was here on pleasure and not business?”

The detective sighed. “I asked her that and thought she was going to bite my head off. Claims he’s one of the great family men who would never step out on her.”

“But you have doubts?”

“Can’t say I have doubts, but I’ve been in this job too long to take things at face value. So he may have been in the area just to see clients, or he may have had another reason. We pulled his phone records, and I have to admit that I didn’t see anything suspicious.”

---