Page 42 of A Match Made in Coven
Sarah grabbed her chin. “It would explain why the cameras were off and there were no signs of infraction. Elijah could’ve let MacGregor in and turned off the security system himself, not wanting to record the councilman coming in if he was extorting him. The dates of the previous payoffs to Silas were toward the end of the month. It adds up.”
“Was it premeditated?”
“No. Poison is deliberate. Grabbing a random object from a desk and killing someone is not.”
“Then what changed?”
“Maybe Elijah started asking for more money as he lost more and more to Silas. So, MacGregor nipped the problem in the bud… or in the back of the head.”
Lorcan winced at that, and Sarah Michelle’s heart clenched with guilt at her casual mention of Elijah’s brutal murder. This might be only a case for her, but Elijah had been his best friend.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful.”
Lorcan’s gaze met hers, the tightness in his jaw softening.
To ease the tension, Sarah Michelle offered a small smile. “Andromeda would be proud of that little fit of coding you pulled off to search the financial records.”
Lorcan stood up, his eyes never leaving hers. “And what about you, detective?”
A prickle of awareness spider-walked down her spine as she became acutely aware that they were alone in his house in the dead of night. She got up herself. Her intention had been to scoot away, but somehow, she ended up rooted to the spot, closer than before. Her gaze dropped to his lips before she whispered, “I have to admit, I am impressed, too.”
Lorcan’s lips curved into a teasing smirk. “Just impressed? I was hoping for ‘awestruck’ at least.”
She couldn’t tear her eyes away from his as she replied, “Don’t push your luck, Black.”
“Really? From the way you keep looking at my mouth, a wizard might think he might get lucky.”
Sarah Michelle’s cheeks flushed, but she didn’t back down. “A wizard might think that, but a detective knows better than to jump to conclusions without proof.”
He moved closer until only a sliver of air separated them. “You want proof? How about this?” One of his hands cupped her head from behind, his fingers sinking into her hair. His other hand came to rest on her hip. He lowered his forehead toward her until their noses were almost touching, his mouth hovering over hers, but not making contact.
“What are you trying to prove exactly?” Sarah Michelle asked on a ragged breath.
Lorcan smiled, slow and cruel. “That you’re dying to kiss me, detective.”
“That’s circumstantial evidence at best. Wouldn’t hold up in court.”
“Is it? Then allow me to present Exhibit A. You’re not pulling back.” She should, but she didn’t move, and he continued, “Exhibit B, you’re letting me touch you.” As if to emphasize his words, he traced lazy circles on her hip with his thumb while the fingers of his other hand kept sifting through her hair.
He smirked again as he asked, “Permission to treat the witness as hostile?”
Sarah Michelle was so wound up she could only nod. In response, Lorcan pulled her body flush against his hard one, closing the last inch separating them. The contact was brain-frying.
“Do you want to kiss me, Sarah Michelle?” he whispered a breath away from her lips.
Hearing him say her name for the first time was the last straw. Sarah Michelle lost her self-control. She pulled his face to hers, closing the final millimeter between them, and kissed him.
Chapter Twenty-four
Passion and Poltergeists
SARAH MICHELLE
Their lips met in a searing kiss, igniting a spark that had been smoldering between them since the day she hadn’t arrested him. Sarah Michelle’s fingers tangled in Lorcan’s hair, pulling him closer as his arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her off her feet to place her on the desk, where he settled between her legs.
Lorcan’s scent overtook her senses, a heady mix that made her head spin. His lips were soft yet demanding, coaxing sighs from her throat as he expertly angled his head to deepen the kiss further. Sarah Michelle’s heart raced, her pulse thundering in her ears as she lost herself in the sensation of his mouth on hers.
Time stood still as they kissed, the day’s worries fading into nothing. Sarah Michelle’s world narrowed to feeling Lorcan’s powerful arms around her, the warmth of his body pressed against hers, and the intoxicating taste of his lips. She snuck her hands under the hoodie, greedy for more skin, eliciting a low groan from him that vibrated through her entire being.
