Page 164 of Beat of Love
She tightened her hold, wrapping her arm around his neck, clinging to him. Pushing his tongue past her lips, he groaned and tunneled his hand under her top, splaying his fingers—
His cellphone rang, the old-fashioned ringtone jarringly rude. He wanted to ignore it, but he was waiting for an update from Stas, and he reluctantly dragged his mouth away from hers. A quick glance at the device showed it was, indeed, the security team operator. “Sorry, Red. Need to get this.”
She nodded and dropped her arm.
Rafferty turned away and palmed his cellphone. “Find anything?”
“Know anyone who smokes cigarillos? Looking at two ends near the southeast edge of the parking lot.”
His stomach dropped as dread rolled in. “Kamila smoked Cavaliere.”
“I’ll bag them and get it to a lab pronto.”
“It’s her.” He knew it as certain as he knew he loved the woman watching him from the bed with wide concerned eyes. “She’s still in town.”
Fuck, fuck. Fuck.
“Connor and Sinead,” he rasped.
“We already had two operators keeping watch at the sheriff’s house. Ruby is on the line with them as we speak. I’ve spoken to Chief, and he’s sending additional personnel from our New York office. They’ll arrive overnight. We’ve got you covered.”
“Thanks, man. And can you contact SAC Hannigan? The more people searching for the fucking woman the better.”
“On it. And Lawson?”
“Yeah?”
“Make sure you look after your woman.”
His woman.Hot damn, that sounded so fucking right.
“With my life.”
“She’s still here?” Brandy-Lyn whispered when he ended the call.
“Seems so,” he hissed, tossing his cellphone aside. “You should walk away, Brandy-Lyn. Now. Being with me places you in danger.” He rubbed a hand over his head, touching the rose above his temple.
She lifted her chin. “Not going.”
“Red—”
“I’m too tired to argue with you tonight. There’s a competent security team keeping watch. Tonight, we’re safe. We both need sleep, Rafferty. And tomorrow, we grab those kids and hightail it back to Texas.”
*
Sleep was fitful, and despite his fretting, Rafferty woke sporting a hard-on of all hard-ons. It was still early, Brandy-Lyn fast asleep beside him, and he eased off the bed so as not to disturb her. A quick glance at his cellphone showed nothing new after last night’s call with Stas, and he made his way to the bathroom. After using the toilet, he stepped into the shower, figuring it awise idea to take the edge off his need to fuck the woman into oblivion.
Hot water cascaded over his body, and he took hold of his straining cock.He called up the vision of his Red lying back in the porcelain tub and moaning as he massaged her feet while the generous mounds of her breasts played peek-a-boo with the dissolving bubbles. With a few strokes and a low groan, a long rope spurted against the tiles. He watched it run off and disappear down the drain and pumped out the last few drops.
His pressing need was slaked, yet he felt dissatisfied.
Empty.
Annoyed, he let go of his limp dick.
With Brandy-Lyn so close, masturbating had lost its appeal. “Fuck. You’ve broken me, Red,” he muttered, reaching for the shower gel. He squirted a liberal amount on the washcloth and vigorously soaped down his body.
A few minutes later, towel slung low around his hips, Rafferty stepped back into the bedroom. The scent of fresh coffee reached him first. Then he saw her — standing in a pool of soft sunlight filtering through the sheer curtains, a mug cradled in her hands.
