"Cream puff."
"That too." Our gazes held, and with that came the need to kiss her. I needed her strength. I needed to seep myself in it, as if it would make me strong too.
"Did you really want to kiss me on New Year's Eve?"
"Desperately."
"Why didn't you?"
"Because I knew I'd want more than that and I knew you didn't want it."
"It's not that I don't want it… it's just…" She inhaled a breath.
"Just what?"
She shrugged. I wasn't sure whether she couldn't find the words or couldn't define what she was feeling.
"I want to kiss you now. God, Veronica." I leaned my forehead against hers. "I need you so fucking badly right now."
"I'm here." When her lips touched mine, for a moment, I hesitated, not sure what her intentions were. "I'm here, Duncan. Take what you need."
17
Veronica
Ihadn’t come to Duncan’s room to have sex with him. I came to check on him. He was brave and stoic for Aiden, but I saw in his pale blue eyes what a toll this was taking on him. Any other foster parent would have likely returned Aiden, not wanting to deal with the danger. Not Duncan. He was Aiden’s father as surely as if the boy had been born to him.
I’d spent all afternoon and this evening searching, investigating, calling, and praying I’d find something that would help me close this case and save Aiden. I contacted Detective Riker, letting him know about the incident at school and Aiden indicating the man was at the murders of Donovan and Patrick.
“Creighton?”
“No. I think Wally was there too, but he hasn’t said that. Just this other guy. I want to get photos of the Crew and see if Aiden will identify the man.”
“I can send you what I have, but I imagine you have access to them too through the FBI.”
“The more, the merrier.”
I talked with Agent Pinsky, giving him the details and making arrangements to have agents around twenty-four, seven to protect Duncan and Aiden.
Mostly, I felt like I was going in circles. I wasn’t any closer to putting these guys away. I thought about Liam Quinlan. How he’d come to me for help and I'd failed him. I’d nearly failed Oliver and his daughter. I couldn’t fail now.
When I knew I couldn’t do anymore tonight, I headed down to check on Duncan, finding a man who would crawl on broken glass naked if it meant keeping Aiden safe. Duncan was a handsome, sexy man, but this part of him, the fiercely devoted father, was what attracted me the most, I think. That and his openness to exposing his feelings, his fears. As he confessed his wish to kiss me, telling me he needed comfort, all I could think about was giving it to him, wanting to soothe his battered soul.
His large hand pressed against my cheek. His pale blue eyes searched mine as if needing confirmation. I gave it by leaning into him, my lips gently touching his.
He let out a groan and his mouth took mine in a flame of heat. “Tell me this won’t end with your being pissed at me.”
“It depends.” I was joking, mostly. Sometimes, Duncan and I ended up at odds inadvertently.
“I’ll risk it.” He pushed me back on the bed, his hands groping at the buttons on my shirt. Together, we disrobed until he was naked. I hadn’t seen all of him since the sauna. I’d forgotten just how smooth and defined his chest was. I ran my tongue around his nipple and then flicked it.
“Fuck…” he groaned again. With a light push, he rolled back, relinquishing control to me. I took it, exploring every inch of him, taking my time as I made my way lower and lower until I reached that magnificent dick of his.
I wrapped my hand around it, stroking once. “You’re impressive.”
“Me or my dick?”
“Both.” I leaned over, licking the precum off the tip.