Page 22 of Lust
“He’s also removing internal organs. Eighty percent of homicides involve sexually related motivations. And then there’s the trafficking component. Not all are sex related. I’m afraid you’re going to have to deal with it. You’re in law enforcement. Sex-related crimes are unavoidable.”
“B-but…” Liza’s wide eyes shot to Joe. “I have cases.”
“Miss Lazarus,” Morais said. “You’re our best closer in sex crimes and Special Agent Luciano asked for the best. That’s all there is to it. You can hand your cases over to Houlahan. Now, unless there is a valid reason you want to go against orders?”
She pressed her lips together and shook her head.
The captain turned to Joe. “If you need any more resources, please let me know.”
“That’s generous.”
“I just want your director off my ass.” Morais strode out of the room.
Most of the crowd went with him until it was just Geoff, Joe, Briggs, and Liza. The latter of which gave Joe daggers sharpened with suspicion.
Joe clicked his fingers at Geoff. “Pin those pictures to the board. Briggs, you can help. Liza, a word.”
He walked out of the briefing room and down the hall to his office. The scent of berries stayed with him, so he assumed she followed. He stood inside the door and waited for Liza to enter, shut the door behind her, and closed the venetian blinds on the window. Once satisfied they had privacy, he faced her.
Their eyes clashed and electricity zipped up his spine, in the air, in the world. Every time they were in the same room, his body sang with awareness. It almost hurt to look away. How could this be one-sided? How had she spent their entire friendship ignoring this charge between them?
She put her hands on her hips and flared her nostrils. Each time she inhaled, her chest inflated, and the press of white lace pushed against her blouse. An indignant eyebrow raised. That’s all she did and, yet, he felt like she’d razed him to the ground. He’d intended to have a quiet word with her, to insist that their collaboration would remain professional, but words came out from a dark, hungry place.
“Did you enjoy watching me last night?” His voice was thick, rough.
Rosy lips parted, surprised. Joe caught a tantalizing glimpse of wet, pink tongue as it darted out to moisten. Then her lips mashed together.
She scowled. “Did you enjoymewatchingyou?”
“Yes.”
It was the honest answer neither of them expected.
He stepped closer. The pulse point in her neck rabbited. Her berry scent turned heady and drunk, doused with champagne. Desire clouded his mind. This was inappropriate. But...
She inched closer.
“Tanya?” she murmured.
He took a step. “Broke up.”
“Her loss.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Joe,” she whispered.Pleaded.
Her body heat licked his skin. Painful pleasure sensations. He was a moth. She was the flame. She would consume him. He knew it was bad. But it didn’t stop him from claiming the final inch between them. His mouth hovered near hers.
Both froze. Neither willing to make the final concession.
She exhaled. He inhaled. Their breaths mingled, heated, and buzzed with anticipation.
Will she?
Will he?
This wasn’t normal. He was losing himself. Without Liza, Joe was a man who crossed his t’s and dotted his i’s. With her, he couldn’t recite the alphabet.
