Page 51 of The Billionaire's Temptation

Officer Milton was looking back and forth between the two women, not sure what was going on. He noticed the expensive clothing and shoes on Blaire, as well as the flashy car. Then he compared that to Clarissa’s outfit. Clarissa tensed, waiting for the man to order her into Blaire’s vehicle.

Instead, the officer shocked her by stepping forward, putting his hand on his weapon. “I think it’s time for you to move on, Ms. Stevens. I’ll watch out for Ms. Donata. We’ll keep her away from the prying eyes of the press, if they show up.”

His tone was firm, and he glared at Blaire, daring her to disobey him. When Blaire didn’t move, only stood there on her ridiculously high heels while chewing nervously on her lower lip, Officer Milton took a step closer. “Ms. Stevens, you’ve been asked to leave the premises. If you continue to disobey me, I’ll be forced to arrest you for trespassing.”

Now that was the Voice of Authority! Clarissa’s heart soared as she clutched the lapels of the overcoat closed.

Blaire huffed, as if she were seriously disgusted by both Clarissa and Officer Milton. It took a great deal of concentration not to smile with satisfaction at Blaire’s obvious frustration.

But at that moment, a loud sound came from the house. Everyone turned, staring. But nothing happened.

Officer Milton tilted his head so that he could speak into his radio. “Status update!” he demanded. In the distance, additional sirens could be heard.

“Suspect down,” the first officer announced, her voice bristling through the police radio. “Coming out. Suspect is contained.”

“Copy that,” Officer Milton replied, then turned, ready to face Blaire again. But both Clarissa and the officer watched, stunned, as the taillights of Blaire’s red Mercedes sped off down the street.

Officer Milton grunted, then said into the radio, “Responding officers, be advised of a red Mercedes departing the premises at high speed.”

Flashing blue lights quickly appeared at the end of the street, heading to Clarissa’s house. None of them turned to follow Blaire and Clarissa sighed, then turned her focus back to her house.

In that moment, the female officer pushed a handcuffed suspect out through the front door. The man was dressed all in black, his hair mussed, and a black ski mask dangling from the officer’s hands. She tucked the mask into her utility belt so that she had a hand free to open the cruiser door, guiding the suspect to the back of the vehicle.

“Who is that?” Clarissa whispered.

“We’ll find out,” Officer Milton replied, stepping closer to her, shielding her as the black-clad man turned to glare at Clarissa.

The sirens, flashing lights and malevolent glare of the man who had invaded her house all conspired to push Blaire’s odd behavior out of her mind. The trembling had subsided for a moment while Clarissa dealt with Blaire, but as she watched the other officers come out of her house, then Lance, Clarissa felt renewed panic bubbling up inside of her. Where was Levi? Why wasn’t he coming out? Was he hurt? That loud sound…had that been Levi getting shot? Or falling? Or…?

Finally, Levi’s tall, gorgeous self stepped through the doors, frantically searching the area. Clarissa didn’t pause to consider her reaction. Nor did she wait for Officer Milton to give her the all clear. She simply ran, her relief that Levi wasn’t harmed, at least not visibly, was so intense, she couldn’t think. She merely reacted.

Levi looked around, fury building within him. Clarissa hadn’t been in that bedroom where she’d told him she was sleeping. She hadn’t been anywhere in the house! Damn it, where was she? Had the guy gotten to her before they’d stopped him? Had she…?

A blur racing up the driveway caught his attention. Suddenly, he recognized Clarissa as she ran towards him, a shadow in an oversized coat and…he wasn’t sure what she was wearing underneath, but he caught her in his arms and buried his face against her neck.

“You’re okay!” he sighed, relief an intense, burning sensation in his chest. “Damn it, Clarissa, why weren’t you in your bedroom?” He lifted his face away from her neck, setting her back down on her feet. He hadn’t even realized that he’d lifted her up, too intent on holding her as close as he possibly could.

“I’m fine!” she whispered, pressing against him and he tightened his arms, needing to feel her, to reassure himself that she was safe. “Are you okay?” she demanded, running her hands over his body, looking for wounds.

“I’m fine,” he assured her. “Why weren’t you in your room?” he demanded, his voice still harsh, but now that he could feel her, knew that she was unharmed, his panic was subsiding.

“Because I heard the police coming.” She pulled back slightly, tilting her head in order to look up at him. “You’d said the security system’s wires were cut, so I knew that the driveway gates wouldn’t open. I had to manually open the gates.”

He groaned, but nodded. “Good thinking.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked, sliding her hands up and down his ribs.

He laughed, enjoying the way she touched him, but even more, he loved the fact that she genuinely cared if he was hurt or safe. She cared!

“I’m fine,” he told her, then groaned when she lifted his shirt, peering under the material as if searching for bullet holes. Levi laughed. He actually laughed! But he pulled her hands away. “If you keep touching me like that, Clarissa, I’m not going to be able to walk, but for a completely different reason.”

She paused, her head tilting back again, but this time with confusion. “What do you…?”

He pulled her against him again and that’s when she felt it. His erection was throbbing against her stomach and she gasped, her gaze turning interested.

“Oh!” she gasped.

“Exactly.”

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