Page 44 of Deadly Designs

He stopped the video. “Look. She’s pointing you outto him.”

The man took a circuitous route to grab Aja Blue.They watched in silence as the rest of the video played. They’dalready seen this much from the recording Aja Blue had trackeddown. It was harder to see the nurse inject the man from this view.When she stood and announced he’d died, they watched as she backedinto the crowd and then slid into her vehicle and drove away. Hetried to get a view of her license plate, but she had a shield overit that made it impossible to read. Not a coincidence.

“Interesting that they arrived together,” Aja Bluemurmured once he hit the stop button.

“It is. She killed him to keep him quiet.”

“Are you going to send this to DetectiveHerbert?”

He shook his head. “It wasn’t obtained legally. Ifthe local authorities are any good, they’ve already requestedcopies. If not, I’ll suggest to the detective that they do.”

He’d planned on scanning the victim’s fingerprints,but he hadn’t had a chance before the rogue cop arrived andarrested him. Detective Herbert would be able to get anidentification soon.

Christian closed the lid on his laptop. “We shouldhave more information about the guy who vandalized your shoptomorrow. There’s nothing else we can do today. What?” he askedwhen she kept staring at him.

“Your poor face. Your chin is bruised, your cheek isscraped, and your eyes are still bloodshot.”

Damn, he must resemble a ghoul. It was probably likepassing an accident where you didn’t want to look but couldn’t turnaway.

He flinched when she reached out to trail a fingerclose to his injuries.

“Does it hurt?”

“Nah. Looks worse than it is.”

“Good.” Then she leaned over and kissed him.

All rational thought fled at the feel of her lips. Hedeepened the contact, drinking her in. Her taste was like ambrosia,and he couldn’t get enough. Christian surged up and scooped her inhis arms, absorbing her gasp of surprise.

He could pretend all he wanted that this wasn’t goingto happen. He’d known from the moment they’d met—when she’d kissedhim much like this—that they would end up in bed. Christian washelpless to resist.

Aja Blue wrapped her arms around his neck and held onas he carried her up the steps. He didn’t know about her mattress,but his was comfortable. However, her room was closer, so hedetoured in there and kicked the door closed. Letting her go wasn’tat the top of the list of things he wanted to do, but they neededto be naked for what he had planned.

Christian released her legs and let her slide downhis already-aroused body. She purred her satisfaction as sheencountered the part of him dying to be inside her. Light filteredthrough the window, allowing him to see her beautiful face. He heldher gaze as he removed her top, leaving her bare, and he greedilydrank her in. Her pants were next, and he took her underwear downat the same time, leaving her blissfully naked.

Lord have mercy.She was exquisite. He wouldnot last long.

“Not fair,” she whispered. “You’re fullyclothed.”

“Don’t care,” he retorted, capturing her lips againas his hands molded her breasts. She moaned into his mouth, and hebacked her up until her knees hit the bed. He followed her down,covering her body with his.

She felt perfect beneath him. He knew that as soon ashe removed his clothes, it would be over too soon. There wasnothing he could do to stop the freight train that was onlygathering speed. It’d be crashing off the rails soon.

“Need these off you,” she panted, tugging at hisshirt. He reared up and yanked it over his head, tossing it overhis shoulder.

“These too,” she said, working the button and zipperon his pants.

He had to stop her before she injured him. He wasaroused to the point of bursting. His only option was to slide offthe bed, and she whimpered, reaching for him.

Christian made slow work of dragging the cargo pantsdown his hips, reveling in her reaction to his massive erection.She made him feel ten feet tall.

He dove for her when she reached for him, knowing itwould be all over if she touched him. Their lips melded as theirlimbs tangled. Christian rolled so that she was on top. Amiscalculation on his part. She sat up and filtered her handsthrough her mahogany hair, letting it fall across her shoulders ina silken curtain. She looked like a sea nymph, tempting him withher beauty. Her pert breasts drew him like a magnet, and he tweakedher nipples, eliciting a gasp.

He wanted to go slow and worship her magnificentbody, but he was too close to the edge. Surging up, he wrapped hisarms around her and twisted until she was beneath him.

“Now, Christian,” she urged.

One brain cell functioned, and he grabbed a condomfrom his discarded pants, making quick work of rolling it on. Thenhe was back, gathering her legs in his arms and spreading her wide.When he surged forward, her back arched, and she let out a silentgasp.

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