Page 80 of Exposure of Murder

“Jane.” Ethan stood and reached out to hold her. “Having security cameras is a good idea. We have to find out who’s been doing this.”

She let out a deep sigh and leaned back into his embrace. “I know, but I thought living in the country would mean leaving all the crime of the city behind. That I’d find peace of mind.”

Ethan tightened his arms around her, his chin delicately resting atop her head. He inhaled the sweet scent of lavender from her shampoo. “Sweetheart, crime knows no boundaries. You’re not any safer here than you would be in a city. As for peace of mind, the security cameras will help with that.”

“When is he going to install them?”

“In a couple of days.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“What’s wrong?” Ethan frowned. He thought she’d be happy, but now he wasn’t sure.

“Nothing.” She gave a little shrug.

Right. He knew enough about women that when a woman said nothing, it was something.

“Hmm. There’s something wrong. Tell me,” he insisted.

“It’s going to sound silly,” she murmured.

“Sweetheart, nothing you say is silly.” He turned her around, looked into worried green eyes. “What is it?”

Jane bit her lip, hesitating. “I … I’m a little afraid to stay alone here right now.”

Ethan chuckled softly. Then the bewildered expression on her face stopped him short. “If you thought that I was going to let you stay here by yourself, especially guarding an injured man, you’re crazy.”

“Whaaat?” Her eyes widened in surprise.

“I fully intend to stay here until we find the perpetrator and arrest them.”

Jane slumped against his chest as relief flooded through her. “Thank you. I’m usually a brave person, but having someone sneak around trying to scare me is too much.”

Ethan wrapped his arms around her tightly. “I’ve got you,” he said.

She lifted her face toward his and put her arms around his neck and pulled him down. He looked into forest-green eyes as they darkened with desire.

He leaned in to kiss her. Her lips brushed his. A soft kiss. A tender kiss. He could feel the warmth of her skin, and his cock got hard.

Then he kissed her harder. She pushed back. Ethan could feel the beating of her heart against his chest. His tongue parted her lips. She opened for him, and his tongue caressed hers.

He rubbed his hands down her back and couldn’t remember when a kiss felt so good … so right.

“More,” she murmured as she feverishly kissed him.

Ethan’s palms were sweaty, his breathing erratic. Could he? Would she?

He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her so she had to put her legs around his waist. When he broke the connection with their lips, she groaned.

“Tell me you don’t want this,” he said. “Tell me and I’ll stop.”

He said a quick prayer that she wouldn’t say stop, but it was her decision.

She leaned into his neck, nibbled on his earlobe and whispered, “I don’t want you to stop.”

Thank God. Ethan wasn’t sure his hard-on would ever go down if she’d said no. She softly kissed his neck while he carried her upstairs, then he stopped, unsure of which room.

“My room,” she said.

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