Blood Kiss (Savage Security Series Book 1) (9 page)

“I found some good things last night. I want to talk about them.” Mike stood and held his hand out to her.

Alisha nodded and placed her hand in his. He easily pulled her up, and they walked into the house.

Mike led her to the sofa and wedged himself in the corner. He pulled her down between his legs so her back rested on his chest. He wanted to smell her, feel her. Having her close comforted him. She was his redemption. The one he could save.

She relaxed into him and rested her head on his shoulder. His arms encircled her waist. She sat there, enjoying his warmth, and listened to the peaceful quiet of their breaths as the moments ticked by. She liked being with him. He’d made her feel safe last night, and now, being held by him, she felt hopeful. Perhaps everything would work out.

After several minutes, when he noticed her body relax, Mike said, “Last night I scavenged through the woods behind your house. I figured that was probably one spot he used to watch you.”

Alisha stared at his hand in her lap. She slipped her fingers between his.

“I found a Tic Tac,” he continued. “It’s not much, but it’s a start. I also found a shoe print in the mud. That will give us insight into his body build.”

Two pieces of information. Would they make a difference?
“That’s a start.” She leaned forward and turned to face him. He was doing his best to help her, and she loved him for that. She licked her lips and stared at a thin scar that split his lip and traveled down his chin. She pressed her fingertip to it and traced its path.

Mike looked at her as she studied his face. There was no judgment or detest in her eyes, just admiration. He cradled her cheek in his palm and leaned forward. His lips brushed hers, and he traced her lips with his tongue.

She relaxed into the kiss, into him. Alisha’s lips parted and he slipped inside. Their tongues gently stroked each other, teasing and caressing with each touch.

Her chest rose and fell as her breathing quickened. She wiggled into a better position, trying to get more comfortable.

He sensed her need and pressed his hand against the back of her head and slowly eased her down on the sofa without breaking the kiss. He supported his weight on his arms and lay gently over her.

She hadn’t been with a man like this in a long time. The sensations in her body swirled and desire built within her. She ran her fingers down his arm, letting her nails gently scrape against his skin and enjoying the way his muscles tensed under her touch.

Mike’s body instantly reacted to her touch. He grew hard and adjusted his position over her. He strengthened the kiss, pulling her lip into his mouth and gently sucking on her. She moaned, reveling in the sweet tension that he created inside her.

Mike wanted to lose himself in her. Rid himself of his painful memories and revel in the pleasure she could give him. As her fingers traveled up his back and into his hair, she let out a moan that called to his primal desires. When her nails lightly scraped his scalp, he felt the touch deep within his soul. He wanted to give her pleasure, take her mind off of the negativity that filled her life.

She wiggled again, letting her legs fall farther apart. He nestled himself in the space between. His hand traveled down her arm and to her waist as he kissed a trail from her mouth to her ear. She moaned, letting him know that was a good spot. When he sucked her lobe into his mouth and nipped it gently, she pushed herself into him, feeling his hard length against her center.

Her stomach sizzled as his fingers slid under her shirt and grazed her ribs. He nipped at her neck, gently sucking on her skin, as he pushed aside her bra and freed her nipple. He rolled the hard nub between his fingers, and she pressed her hips into him, wrapping her legs around him.

Alisha was drowning in desire. Lust flooded her body and shut down her thinking. All she could focus on at that moment was him. His touch. His taste. The sweet weight of him covering her body.

She slid her fingers under his shirt, and his muscles tightened as she grazed up his chest.

He pulled away from their kiss for a moment and grabbed the hem of his shirt. If she wanted under his shirt, he was happy to comply. He pulled the shirt over his head and tossed it to the floor. He looked down at her. Her flushed face and the desire that filled her eyes heated his passion even more.

She laid her hand on his bare chest and teased the dusting of hair on his pecs. The hardness and cut of his muscles surprised her. She’d never been with a man whose body was so chiseled.

He stared into her eyes as his hand slowly slid up her shirt and found her nipple again. She smiled and closed her eyes as pleasure washed through her. The warmth of his breath swept over her stomach as he pressed a kiss to her flesh.

A buzz sounded. His cell vibrated on the coffee table beside them. He exhaled in regret and gazed into her face as his hands cupped her breasts.

She cradled his head in her hands and smiled. “You should get that,” Alisha murmured, conflicted about what they were doing. She’d never gone from zero to sixty with a guy like that before. They hadn’t even been on a real date yet. She had a system. Certain things happened on certain dates and at certain times. And her nipples in his hands were way too early for this stage of their relationship.

Mike stayed where he was, snuggled between her legs. If he got up from this position he knew the moment would be over, and he
really
didn’t want the moment to be over. The phone buzzed again. He grabbed it and looked at the caller ID.

It was Tyson. He had to get it.

Mike accepted the call and unfolded himself from Alisha’s embrace. “Hey,” he said, trying to cover his racing heart by sounding casual.

Alisha sat up and adjusted her clothes. As good as that felt, now that her brain was receiving oxygen again, she was glad the call came when it did. She wasn’t ready for a quickie on the sofa. She had a good feeling about Mike. He didn’t seem like a player to her. A player would have high-tailed it away from her and her stalker issue, but instead Mike was genuinely concerned for her. She could see him in her life even when the stalker issue was taken care of. She wanted their first time to be more memorable than a quick bang on the sofa.

She rubbed her hand across her forehead and grabbed her soda off the table, trying not to stare at the obvious bulge in his pants or his awesome chest as she listened in on his conversation.

“Thanks man,” Mike said. “I appreciate you looking into it on the weekend. I’ll check my mail.” He paused, turned his back to her and adjusted himself so that he was a little more comfortable in his jeans. “Talk to you later,” he said and disconnected the call.

He turned and looked at her. She was beautiful, and he’d been enjoying what they’d been doing, but Tyson’s call refocused him. She wasn’t just some cute girl he picked up and wanted a casual thing with. She was someone who desperately needed his help, especially if she didn’t grasp how dangerous her situation was. Her safety was now his first priority, and he needed to get his head in the game.

Mike picked up his shirt and pulled it over his head. “Tyson narrowed down the shoe brand and has a guestimate for the stalker’s height and weight. He sent me the details in an email.” He opened his mail and clicked on Tyson’s email.

Mike read it carefully, locking the important pieces of information in his head. The perp was most likely between 5’8 and 6’1 and between 160 to 200 pounds. He knew these numbers were guestimates. The picture couldn’t show the depth of the footprint into the mud, which made it harder to determine the weight applied as the perp walked. Plus there were other factors that affect a conclusion concerning weight and height. This information, as inconclusive as it was, could help weed through the suspects.

Alisha read the email, not sure how any of that information was beneficial. The ranges between the height and weight were too broad. “How is any of this helpful?” she said, her voice full of frustration.

Mike saw the concern on her face. “It tells us that he’s not unusually short or unusually tall. We can guess that he’s not obese and definitely not morbidly obese.” He tapped the screen. “This helps me more than you realize.”

“So we’re looking for an average male,” she stated with irritation.

He gently held her chin between his fingers. “Hey, it’s more than we knew last night. And as we add to our knowledge, the easier it will be to spot him.”

She slid her fingers through his hand that held her chin, wanting the security of his touch. She gave a little nod. “I trust you. If you say this helps, then I believe you.”

“We also know he likes Tic Tacs. You don’t know anyone whose always chomping on them, do you?”

She shook her head. “No. At least his breath won’t stink when he tries to kill me,” she joked morbidly.

“That’s not even a little bit funny.”

“You’re right. Sorry.”

Pacey hated Sundays. He always struggled with the prolonged absence of Alisha. When too much time had passed since he’d seen her, he felt jittery and out of control. Paranoia swept over him like a dark cloud before a heinous thunderstorm.
What if she was with another man? What if another man was lusting after her, violating her?

He needed the control that seeing her gave him. He lusted for a chance to run his eyes over her curves and imagine his hands on her body, her silky skin pebbling in pleasure under his touch. She’d be great in bed. She had the curves of a harem girl and the innocent face of a cherub. Those two features combined sky-rocketed the lust in every man.

Daydreaming helped pass the time as he did his chores around the house. When he tossed the pillows on the bed, he envisioned her naked body sprawled out on the sheets. He could imagine her giggling and shyly hiding her most intimate parts with the sheet. But he knew that would be a ruse. She’d have no shame because her body was perfect. She’d only tease him a little to heighten his pleasure.

As he folded clothes, his pulse raced and he had to stop. Seeing his underwear triggered his memory. He wanted to see, touch, and smell her most intimate apparel. He marched to the closet and opened the door.

He didn’t have many clothes. He was practical that way. He owned about eight short sleeve shirts for warm weather and six long-sleeved shirts for cooler weather. Three pair of khaki pants and one black pair hung in his closet too. His few jeans and t-shirts were in the dresser. But what he prized most was safely tucked away, hidden in the back of the closet on the top shelf.

Pacey stored a few plastic boxes on the top shelf. Those boxes contained his few mementoes from childhood and college. He pushed them to the side and stretched, reaching as far back on the shelf as he could. A wave of lust rolled through him when he felt the shoebox. He pulled down the box and let his fingertips reverently graze the lid as he licked his lips. He could wait no longer.

He tossed the lid aside and lifted out the silky, pink panties. He pressed them to his nose and slid down the wall. He was instantly hard at her scent. He rubbed himself as he nuzzled her silky panties. Gratitude at his own bravery filled him. He’d never broken into a house before. He’d shimmied through a window while she was on a walk with Forrest. He’d taken the panties from her dirty clothes basket. There were clean ones on the bed, waiting to be put away, but he wanted her scent. He wanted to touch the fabric that stroked her soft folds as she went through the day.

But now, for some reason, she’d started arming her alarm system, even when she went on short walks with Forrest. Pacey felt like he was being locked out, but he knew his precious Alisha would never do that to him. He didn’t know why she felt the need to suddenly take steps to protect herself, but he’d help her feel safe when he was finally able to declare his love.

As he came down from his high, the phone rang. He fingered her panties and looked at his watch. Time for his weekly chat with Mother.

He groaned inwardly. He loved Mother, but she was a little overbearing. She judged him for his choices in life and always had to let him know when he’d failed her. She wanted to be consulted in every decision he made, which undercut his manhood.

The shrill ring of the phone clawed at his ears. He cursed, angry that Mother didn’t understand that he was man. He needed to get
that
situation under control. He pressed Alisha’s undies to his nose again and took one last, long breath. He’d be sated for a while, but he didn’t think he could wait until Monday to see her. He would have to figure something out.

Mike walked around the family room
. Had the stalker managed to get bugs or cameras into her house?
He’d need to do a sweep. If he did find anything, as disturbing as it would be, it would also give him valuable information. What level of professionalism did the stalker have? What level of technology did he have? As much as he didn’t want to find anything, Mike knew it would be a goldmine of information. 

Alisha sat in the reclining chair, afraid to sit on the sofa again. If he joined her, she didn’t think she’d have the fortitude to pull away. Everything about him turned her on. She loved the way his t-shirt molded to his body. She hadn’t seen muscles like his in real life, ever. The ripped men in magazines were obviously photo-shopped. But Mike was the real deal. She loved the way he smelled, clean and manly with a hint of musk. His green eyes captivated her. He’d seen sorrow and pain, but it was obvious that deep within him lay an enormous strength that overflowed into every aspect of his life. And although he was certainly easy on the eyes, what turned her on most was his genuine concern for her.

Mike smiled at Alisha, noting that she chose the recliner to sit in. He stepped up to the built-in bookcase. This would be a great place to plant bugs or cameras. Knick-knacks lined the shelves, along with books and pictures.

A copy paper box was out of place on the shelf. He peered into it, and realized he’d just hit the jackpot. Lifting the box, he said, “Is this what I think it is?” He walked to the sofa and placed the box on the coffee table.

Alisha leaned forward and looked into the box. She shook her head in affirmation. “I held onto that stuff for evidence. I figured if he killed me, then maybe this box of crazy would at least point the police in the right direction,” she said cynically.

“No one’s going to find your dead body,” Mike replied. He’d make damn sure of it.

“Is that because I’ll be too well hidden, or because you’ll kill him first?”  

He looked at her, his lips a tight, straight line. “No one is getting their hands on you.”

She sat back in the reclining chair and smiled. She set her elbow on the armrest and rested her head against her hand.

He felt the heat from her stare as her eyes scanned his body.

“It’s funny that you said that,” she started. “One of the first things I thought about you as you sat on that stool in Young Guns was that you looked like someone who knew how to hide a body.” She chuckled and waited for his response.

He gave her a wicked smile. “Apparently you’re beautiful
and
perceptive.”

Her shoulders shook as she laughed. “I’m glad you’re on my side.”

I’ll be on your side and inside of you whenever you want
. “Hmm,” Mike grunted and shook his head as he directed his focus back onto the box. He needed to focus. Thinking about being intimate with her would not solve the very serious problem that she had.

He picked up a note and brought it to his nose. “Ugh,” he groaned. “This thing reeks.” He scrunched up his face and extended his hand in order to distance himself from the note.

“I know. I think he doused it in his cologne.” She leaned forward and smelled the note “If that was meant to woo me, then he’s out of his mind.” She snorted. “My bad, it’s already obvious that he’s out of his mind.”

“Do you recognize the scent?”

She shook her head. “No. I don’t go around smelling men.” Although she did like the smell of Mike.

“Good to know.” He tossed the note back into the box. “What about work? How many men do you work with?”

She smiled at him. “I’m a teacher. I’m in a female dominated career environment. There are three males,” she furrowed her brow. “No, make that four that work at my school. And I can’t imagine any of them being capable of this.” She motioned towards the big box of crazy on her coffee table.

Mike leaned back against the sofa and rested his hands on his knees. “Tell me about the men.”

Alisha raised her eyebrows and leaned back in the recliner. “Well my principal is Mr. Brown. He’s a nice guy.” She shrugged. “But he has a wife and kids.”

“Does he stop by your room and talk with you? Does he seem overly interested in your class?”

“No. One of the reasons I like him is that he’s a “hands-off” principal.

“Hands-off? Explain.”

“He doesn’t try to control what goes on in all the classrooms. He respects our decisions for how best to teach our students, and he backs us when the parents get a little too uppity.”

“Uppity parents?” Mike’s mouth curved into a smile as he shook his head in disbelief. “Didn’t realize you worked in a high-threat environment.”

“You’d be surprised.” She chuckled back. She pushed off with the tips of her toes to rock the recliner. “Helicopter parents are the worst.”

“One day you’ll probably be just like them,” he teased. He could tell she’d be passionate about parenting. Family obviously meant a lot to her.

“Next man.” Mike crossed his arms and studied her face. He looked for subtle signs in her body language that betrayed her subconscious insights.

“Mr. Carter,” she chuckled. “I’m not his type.”

“His type? Why not?”

“Let’s just say you better watch out if you ever meet him. He’d fall head over heels for you.” She raised her eyebrows and blatantly scanned his body one more time.

“Thanks for the heads-up,” Mike said with a smirk. “Who’s next?”

“Mr. Parker. He’s the Academically and Intellectually Gifted teacher. He works with a lot of teachers. He’s a little odd, but he’s harmless.”

“Define odd,” Mike said. Odd was always interesting.

“He struggles with interpersonal skills. I think he’s uber smart, but he fidgets and makes jokes that are just lame.”

“Your classic nerd?” Mike asked.

“Yeah, but he’s married, so I don’t think it’s him. Plus he’s never flirted with me or done anything inappropriate. He’s just a,” she shrugged, ‘a nerd’.

“Hmm,” Mike grunted. “Who’s the fourth?”

“Mr. Alvarez, the custodian.”

“Do you see him every day?”

Alisha scrunched up her face as she thought about it. “Probably.” She bobbed her head in affirmation. “He’s always in the halls. There’s always something going on in the school. Kids throwing up, desks or chairs that need to be fixed, trash that has to be hauled away.” She shrugged. “He’s always friendly, but I’ve never gotten the weirdo vibe from him.”

Mike would make sure he met these men on Monday. He could tell a lot about a person by their eyes. As he sat there looking at Alisha, he saw compassion and love. She was going to change his life, and he wouldn’t let her go easily when all of this was over.

He leaned forward again and looked into the box of crazy. He pulled out the Beanie Boo husky. “This is what you found in your car?”

Damn that stalker for taking something cute and fun and turning it into an item of oppression.
“Yes, that’s it.” If it had been given to her from a friend, she would have thought it was cute, but now she’d never look at stuffed animals the same way.

He dug through the box and noticed the chocolates from the candy store. He pulled out the box and lifted the lid. It looked full. “You didn’t eat any of these, did you?”

She scoffed. “No. Those things could be laced with poison or some sort of sleeping agent.” She shivered. Sometimes paranoia was a good thing. “Who knows what he did with those things. No,” she said adamantly. “I did
not
eat any of them.”

Mike tossed the chocolate caramels back into the box of crazy and rested his elbows on his knees. “This is good stuff,” he tilted his head towards the box. “I bet the notes are covered with fingerprints. We can run them and see if we can end this.”

Alisha quickly sat forward, and the recliner rocked with her movement. “You can do that? Run fingerprints?”

Mike nodded. “Sure. That’s what we do.”

Alisha almost felt giddy. If her stalker had a record, then they’d know who he was and could stop him. She’d felt empowered when she walked out of Young Guns, but now she felt optimistic. She popped up from the recliner. “Let’s get to it. What are we waiting for?”

“Do you have some baggies?” Mike asked. He stood and picked up the box. “We should bag these so no one else’s prints get on them and to keep his prints from getting smeared.”

“Yeah, over here.” Alisha walked into the kitchen and opened a drawer. She pulled out a box of gallon and pint sized baggies. “Will these work?”

“Perfect.” Mike set the box on the kitchen counter and placed each item in its own bag. He felt good about this situation. They were filling in the blanks and working the puzzle. Before long, he’d know who was bothering her and would put an end to it.

Like she said, he knew how to make a body disappear.