Page 6 of Criminology of a Character

“Oh my god, sit down,” she laughed.

“You don’t believe me?” He grabbed her hand as he sat and shoved it against his thundering chest. “Good lord, Detective, I am suffering.”

“You bought me these suits, so it’s your own fault.”

“And I’ll die happy.” He laid back in his chair and drank half his pina colada in one go, hand still clutching hers across the divide. “I’m going to need another drink if you keep this up.”

“It’s funny watching you slip between personalities,” she said as her thumb rubbed his knuckles.

“What do you mean?”

“You scare everyone, me included at first. You’re reserved and confident and dangerous, but you change your skin when you’re alone with me. You become this whole different person.”

“It’s because I don’t have to hide around you.”

“I like comfortable Eamon. He’s fun.” She gave him a once over. “He’s also illegally hot in those short shorts.”

“Well, illegal behavior is your specialty, Detective.” He winked, and Bel squeezed his hand as she sipped the frozen drink. A group of familiar women sauntered onto the pool deck, and she instantly tensed when she noticed Anne among them. Eamon sensed the shift in her mood through their connection, and he followed her line of sight.

“My gosh, would you look at her.” Bel’s eyes widened as Anne removed her cover-up and reclined on a chair. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman that perfect.”

“Her husband is a plastic surgeon,” Eamon said. “I’m sure she gets whatever her heart desires for free.”

“I know, but wow.” Bel shook her head. “She almost doesn’t look real, but she’s stunning.”

“You’re stunning,” Eamon grunted. “Far more beautiful than she’ll ever be, so I wouldn’t worry.”

“I’m not. This isn’t me being insecure,” Bel laughed, releasing his hand to smooth his concerned face. “I don’t want to look likeher. I’ve become pretty confident in my appearance, even if last night was rough.”

“It wasn’t me they were looking at, and I still felt uncomfortable, so I can’t blame you,” Eamon agreed.

“It’s hard not to feel weird with such intense scrutiny, but it’s to be expected when you’re a homicide detective with scar tissue on a private island filled with millionaire surgeons. I like myself, though, and you’ve helped me like my scars. You’re always kissing them, so they’ve become a positive because instead of associating them with pain, I think of you. Is that why you’re always touching them? To change my association?”

“No, but I’m glad that’s what happened. I mostly touch them because I put them there, and in a way, loving them atones for my sins. Every time I touch you, I’m reminding myself to protect you and to never drink your blood again.”

“I like that,” Bel said. “But instead of feeling guilty, remember that through positive association, you’ve taken my biggest insecurity and turned it into something I like about myself. I felt Alcina’s magic. It should’ve killed us both, but these scars are proof that you fought her curse for me. They’re proof I’m alive.”

“They remind me you survived as well.”

“Plus, Dr. Victors did an excellent job. They’re thin and pink and kind of cute… at least that’s what I’m choosing to believe.”

“Griffin was right. This vacation is good for you.” Eamon swung his feet to the ground and sat sideways on his chair to stare down at her, his eyes lingering on her bare skin for a second too long. “It’s nice to hear you talk like this about yourself, because there’s nothing sexier than a confident woman.” His hand reached out of its own accord and traced an abstract design on her belly. “And they are cute. All of you is.”

“It’s probably the sun and the alcohol making me talk like this… and those short shorts of yours.” She pinched his kneeplayfully. “I’ve always been athletic, but after Able took me, I swore I’d never be easy prey again. I’ve put on muscle since then, and I like it. It suits me.”

“Oh, it suits you,” Eamon said. “Probably a little too much. I’m fighting for my life over here.”

“Maybe I should change out of this bikini then.” Bel shifted until she was knee to knee with him.

“No, don’t worry about me,” he protested until he saw the mischief in her eyes. He cocked his head in question, but when she didn’t back down, he lunged for her. She shrieked as he threw her over his shoulder and stormed away from the busy pool deck. The vacationers gawked at them, but Bel couldn’t bring herself to feel embarrassed. She’d been getting looks since she got here, and while the judgments about her appearance or social status annoyed her, she didn’t mind the stares regarding her relationship. Deep down, the gawking women were jealous she had a man so in love that he ignored decorum, and most expressions were of surprise except for Anne’s. Anne Blaubart stared daggers at them. Bel opened her mouth to ask Eamon why the woman was so angry with her, but before she could speak, he barged into their bungalow and locked the door behind them.

His lips were on hers before her feet even hit the ground, and he tugged her into the bedroom without breaking their kiss. His movements were full of hunger and desperation, and he collapsed onto the mattress, dragging her with him. Bel reached for the ties of her bikini as she straddled his lap, but he shoved her hands away and pulled her back to his mouth.

“Don’t,” he growled as he pushed her suit bottoms aside. “I need you now.”

“You have me,” she moaned as he claimed her, body and soul and mind and breath. He breathed in her moans and exhaled his love, and when she finally collapsed on top of his sweaty chest,spent and deliciously happy, he wrapped his arms around her and held on with a grip that was almost too tight.

“I love you,” he whispered into her hair, his embrace so strong that she imagined he was trying to pull her body inside his, to keep her safe and against his heart for as long as he lived. The intensity of his hug, of the way he’d claimed her, kept her complaints about not being able to breathe to herself. He needed this moment with her, with their bodies still entwined. She wondered if the judgment she’d received was bothering him more than he’d let on, and he clung to her as if he was insecure, as if he needed her heartbeat against his bare chest. So she let him hold her until their breathing calmed.

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