Page 31 of Dark Terror
“Tied at six in the bottom of the thirteenth.” It was the first time she’d seen him without his glasses, and although he was just as delicious, there was something about him with his glasses on that was sexy hot.
He put his bare feet on the coffee table and turned his attention to the game. Her eyes kept straying to those feet. Was there anything about him that wasn’t sexy?
“Yeah,” he said, pumping a fist in the air.
She tore her gaze away from admiring his feet to see the Rockies’ batter had hit a home run, winning the game. “We win!” She jumped up, doing her ritual winning happy dance. Excited about this new game, Cricket ran circles around her, barking his little head off. Cara was halfway around in a twirl when she caught Gabe watching her with a grin on his face. She stopped, almost stumbling over Cricket.
“Ah, sorry. I get excited.”
“Don’t apologize. I like your enthusiasm.”
“Just wait until you hear me screaming at them if they’re losing.” She plopped back down on the sofa.
“Sounds intriguing.”
She laughed. “You won’t be saying that after I burst your eardrums.”
“I’ll risk it.” His expression turned serious. “As long as we’re up, we need to talk.”
“Okay.” He was going to tell her she’d have to find someplace else to stay.
“The text you received today came from a burner phone. You know what that is, right?”
“Yeah. Untraceable.”
“Not necessarily. If after sending that text, he removed the battery and destroyed the phone, scattering the pieces, then yes, it’s untraceable. Most people don’t know to do that. They think a burner phone means it can’t be traced and will use it again. Our lab is on it. Whether they can pinpoint the location from where the text was made remains to be seen. If we can do that, we can start looking at security camera footage around that area.”
“And if he sent it from his home or even mine?” Chills raced up her spine thinking of the man being in her house and what could have happened if she’d been there.
“We’ll still look at footage in both areas. Maybe someone will catch our interest.”
“So I can’t go home until he’s caught?” Suddenly it was too much and tears filled her eyes. Wasn’t it enough that she’d lost her parents and brother? That she was alone in the world? That she’d seen a woman murdered? Did she have to lose her home, too?
“Cara,” he softly said. “Come here.”
He held out his hand, an offer she couldn’t refuse. After she slid across the sofa, he put his arm around her, tucking her into his side. “I’m sorry. I’m not a crier, but I’m feeling a little overwhelmed right now.”
“You have good reason.”
“I guess.” He stroked his fingers through her hair, and she almost moaned but managed to hold it in. Barely. Then his hand was on her neck, and he feathered his fingers over her skin.
She closed her eyes against the sensations he was making her feel, tried to ignore the tingling pleasure making its way down her back to her belly and lower. He was conflicted. She got that because so was she. Their attraction was inconvenient and not what either wanted, but there it was, a simmering fire about to erupt into uncontrollable sky-high flames.
I give up, she thought. It was a fire impossible to fight, and she was tired of trying.
“Gabe,” she whispered. She lifted her face, and their gazes caught and held. Turbulence mixed with desire swirled in his eyes. There was only one thing to do. Take the decision away from him. She slid her hand around the back of his neck and pulled him toward her. He could have resisted, but he didn’t.
His lips were soft and warm, and for a moment he let her have control. She moved her hand to cup his cheek, feeling the bristle of his scruff against her palm as she brushed her lips over his. She’d never been this bold with a man before, but with him it felt right, as if they were meant to be together like this.
He groaned, pulled her onto his lap so that she was straddling him, and took back the control he’d let her have. Pure pleasure raced through her when their tongues met and tangled. He dropped his hands to her thighs as his kiss became more passionate, more demanding. At hearing her whimper, he pulled away and stared into her eyes.
“We can’t do—”
“Shh.” She put her finger over his lips. “We can.” Yes, she was his only witness, and she’d do her part in seeing that justice was done for Sheri Carstad. Nothing she did here tonight with Gabe would change that, nor did she have any intention of causing him trouble. No one needed to know what happened between them.
“Damn,” he said, then fused his mouth with hers again.
She could feel his arousal against her sex, and no longer able to think straight, she rocked over him. His growl sent a shiver through her, and she trembled with anticipation, almost certain this man could teach her things she’d only read about in romance books. The quickening of his breath matched her own, and she knew—could feel it deep in her heart—that he wanted this as much as she did.
