Page 11 of Stripped Bare

When she couldn’t hold back any longer her eyes grew unfocused.Though they remained open by sheer force of will, she saw nothing but the colors that seemed to explode all around her, through her.No sound fell from her lips.It was as if the intensity of the pleasure her body encountered had blocked her vocal chords.

Shep had no such problem, giving a harsh grunt as he slammed deep once more and held there giving little flexes of his hips as he filled the condom separating them.She’d never before hated a condom, but she admitted to herself that she wanted to feel his release inside her body, with nothing between them.

Slowly, he kissed her feet, easing them back and under his arms until she could straighten her legs and drop them back down to the bed beside his knees.It had been too long since she’d engaged in such acrobatic sex, and she knew she would feel it in the morning.He eased her clenched hands from his shoulders then grasped the base of his cock to hold the condom in place as he pulled from her body.

Tiny tremors ran through her as he withdrew, and her pussy pulsed, quivering in its suddenly empty state.She watched as he moved from the bed toward the bathroom not bothering to shut the door.Watchedas he discarded the condom and turned the water on in the sink.Watchedhim shift his hips forward and wash his cock with a soapy hand and then rinse it under the running water.And she realized she had it bad when she found even that sensual.

She let her eyes drift closed and was startled when she felt the swipe of a cloth between her legs.She blinked open andwatchedas Shep cleaned her up before returning to the bathroom, rinsing the cloth before hanging it to dry over the shower rod.He came to stand beside the bed and looked down at her.

“You mind if I sleep here tonight?”he asked.

Her heart gave a slow stutter before starting to beat fast again.With that one question, she acknowledged this was perhaps the only man she’d met who had the potential to mean something to her, something important.It said a lot that he didn’t assume that since they’d had sex, he could sleep with her.He took the time to ask.And he touched her deep inside, lodging in her heart and mind.

“I’d like that,” she whispered and rolled so he could pull the covers back on one side.She noticed he waited until she’d rolled back over and slid under before he joined her there.He slipped one arm under her head and reclined back.He didn’t pull her to him, didn’t grab and move her.So, she found herself shifting closer until her head rested on his chest.

They lay in silence for a long while, and she thought maybe he’d fallen asleep when he spoke.

“You’d already checked her computer,” he said, and she nodded against his chest though it wasn’t a question.“You knew I wouldn’t find anything.”

“I didn’t think you would,” she agreed.“But I had to let you try, to see if maybe there was one tiny thing I might have overlooked.”

“You’ve already been to the tavern and knew what the crowd would be like, and you’ve probably already spoken with Nicole,” he continued.

“Yes,” she said.

“Do you think Chloe is still alive?”he whispered.

She held her breath, even as tears escaped her control.He’d figured it out.That was why she’d gone for help, that was why she’d heeded her friend’s advice and called Gil to see if she could get help from his friends.

“No,” she breathed and knew he felt her tears as they trailed down her cheeks to his chest.

He didn’t say anything, didn’t confirm or deny, just held her, his hand stroking gently through her hair.

Her sister had been missing for four weeks.Four weeks.The police believed they were looking at a body recovery at this point.From the tape they knew her sister had been drugged.They didn’t know what she’d been given.No body, no evidence.But Stace had been around long enough to know that some women never woke up from the drug that knocked them out.She also knew better than most the chances of finding someone decreased grew the longer they were missing.

She snuggled closer to Shep and let her fear pour out of her in a wash of silent tears.

Chapter Six

Stace awoke alone in the bed, the spot where Shep had been cool to her touch.She was a little disappointed.She’d wanted to wake to a warm man in her bed and maybe take advantage of the thick morning wood most sported upon rising.Shep had already proven to be a fantastic lover, and her body ached in great ways this morning.

A smile curved her lips, even as guilt ate at her.Here she was thinking of a man, lusting after him.She liked him, really liked him.While her sister was still missing.The guilt poured over her.Guilt for so many things.It seemed as if there was a multitude of things she’d done wrong when it came to her sister.

She’d gone back to the Marine Corp when their parents died and left Chloe to be taken care of by others.When she’d returned, Chloe had moved in with her, but even then, Stace had gone off on “business trips” for extended periods of time.The longest recovery had lasted six weeks.So even when she was here, she wasn’t.

How ironic was it that her sister was missing?She recovered things for a living, people, documents, objects, and she was damn good at it.A lot of people had begged her not to retire, but she’d reached a point where she wanted more out of life.She wanted to settle down and stay home, get to know her sister and hopefully become close friends.Too late.Too damn late.

She rolled out of bed and padded to the bathroom.She needed a shower, needed to clear her head.She really cared about very little in her life—the one close friend who was retiring at the same time as she was and her sister.She started the water on with a hard turn.She was angry now.This was her fucking job, so why couldn’t she find her sister?

There wasn’t a single clue left behind to point her in the right direction, in any direction.If she’d been here when it had happened maybe, but there’d been nothing left to look at when she’d finally returned.She knew the cops had done everything they could.Yet, she felt that, if she’d been here, they wouldn’t still be looking.The first twenty-four hours were the most critical when it came to finding a missing or kidnapped person.Chloe’s first twenty-four hours?Stace had been in another country working on finding someone else.

She stepped into the shower and let the water run over her.It was a little hotter than she usually liked, but she didn’t care.It was what she needed.She stood under the spray, letting the water cascade over her head, wanting it to wash away the remorse she couldn’t make peace with.She heard the slide of the door, and cool air licked over her skin, sending shivers along her flesh.Then there was heat as Shep stepped close, his chest brushing along her spine as he joined her.

“Why didn’t you wake me?”

“You think I can’t see how exhausted you are?”he asked her.

“I’ve never slept this late in my life,” she muttered.

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