Page 31 of Burning Truth

Severn’s mouth tightened, and she wanted to reach up to ease the tension she saw there. “I think the new boyfriend angle is working,” he admitted.

Addie grinned, lifting a dark brow at him. “It really is. Are you comfortable enough to continue it?”

“Doesn’t matter if I am or not, we’re going to stick with it. It’s obviously triggering to him. And I can’t blame him.”

Addie frowned, wondering if he meant what she thought he did. She lifted her brows in question, but he shook his head, as if he didn’t want to acknowledge what he was feeling.

And she got it. They were searching for a murderer before he struck again. It felt wrong to let anything else take their focus. But, they were human, with human emotions. And being in close proximity with such a devastating man was bound to be a little difficult.

Addie didn’t think he saw himself in the same light that she and a lot of her followers did, but maybe she could change that.

Something occurred to her and she cocked her head at him. “Why do you think he goes after cop places? I mean, every place that’s been burned has been law enforcement or law related. Do you think it’s just a guy who’s been wronged by the system? Or a lifelong criminal.” She quirked her lips. “You know, it could be a former cop or lawyer. Or maybe someone who applied but didn’t make the cut...”

Severn gave her a critical look, frowning slightly. “None of those are bad ideas. I’ll see what Gabbie can dig up on that.I’m wondering about a discontented government worker. That would jive with the government Wi-Fi tag.”

She nodded, shrugging. “Maybe he’s destroying places he thought he’d be hanging out.”

Severn reached for his phone and typed off a couple of texts.

Addie was pretty happy with herself. Yes, she was a part of the investigation, but maybe she could be more than a victim.

“So, maybe we need to look at doing something the cops like. Or something that supports law enforcement.”

She frowned. “No. I don’t want to pick anything that will be targeted. I’d rather do random things around town. If he hurts anyone, it will be on his head, not mine.”

He nodded in agreement, and reached out to stroke a finger down her cheek. “I know this is a hard situation, but you’re doing really fucking well.”

She laughed, and she was surprised when tears started in her eyes. What the hell. It had to be because she valued his opinion. Even more, she valued his opinion of her. “Thanks, Severn. I really appreciate that from you.”

“I’ll always tell you the truth, Addie. And you always tell me the truth, okay? We’ll keep each other grounded,” he said, and it seemed like the air thickened between them.

“Grounded,” Addie echoed, a slight smile breaking through her anxiety as she squeezed his hand.

He leaned down and brushed a kiss across her lips. This was the second time in less than an hour he’d done that, and this was definitely not for public consumption. Addie opened her mouth to him, letting him know she was down for whatever he wanted to do. Her body was strung so tight, maybe a good orgasm was exactly what she needed.

Severn leaned into her, bracing his hips against her own, and she could feel exactly how into it he was. One of his hard handsreached down to cup her ass, and Addie sighed into him. “You really have an ass a man can hold onto,” he told her.

Addie laughed. “Well, that’s the nicest way I’ve ever been told I’m chunky.”

Severn drew back and gave her a hard look. “You are not chunky. Truth, remember? You have curves in all the right places.”

His hand skimmed up her thigh and burrowed beneath the hem of her t-shirt to brush beneath her breast. Addie’s breath stalled in her throat as she waited for him to touch her, but he seemed more interested in teasing.

Wanting to touch, she did the same thing, sending her hand up beneath his tee. Her fingers had just brushed his scars when he drew back.

He gave her another hard look, but she waited expectantly. “I don’t know why you’re drawing away. I’ve seen your body already. Remember?”

Severn blinked and gave her a lopsided smile that melted her heart. “Habit, I guess. Are you sure they don’t bother you?”

Addie shook her head, closing the distance between them. “I’m not pretending. I see you, Severn. All of you. And I think you’re amazing.” She paused, letting her eyes roam appreciatively over his chest as if she could see beneath the tee, before meeting his gaze again. “And if you want to know the truth, I find scars kind of sexy. They mean you’ve lived, you’ve survived. There’s nothing more attractive than that.”

Severn’s lips quirked into a small smile. “Sexy, huh?”

She shrugged lightly, reaching up to lightly trace one of the scars on his chest. “Definitely sexy. But don’t let it go to your head.”

He caught her hand, bringing it to his lips in a gesture that was both tender and intimate. “I’ll try not to.”

Addie’s heart fluttered at the contact, her smile softening. “Good. Because I kind of like having you around.”

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