Burning Seduction (29 page)

They hadn’t made love because Trent didn’t think she was ready. In hindsight, he was probably right, as every time she closed her eyes the horrid image of that man appeared. After a few days passed, her memory grew dimmer, and Charlotte felt it was time to celebrate them as a couple.

At the grocery store, Charlotte suggested they pick up something simple to make, because she wanted to get him into bed as quickly as possible.

They debated options and finally ended up with some pre-made fried chicken. She offered to steam some vegetables and heat up some rolls in the oven for sides. Easy peazy.

As had been Trent’s practice since moving in, she was allowed to step into the entrance of her apartment and then had to wait for him to check each room.

“All clear,” he said coming out of her bedroom.

Given how small her place was, she doubted anyone could have hidden, except in the bathroom behind the shower curtain.

As if they’d already established a routine, they began preparing the meal. Trent handled the rolls while she fixed the vegetables.

“How was the viewing?” She had thought about going, in part to support Mrs. Goddard, but Trent had talked her out of it. Given he was in the middle of an investigation, she went along with it. Most likely her father would’ve nixed it anyway.

“Nothing out of the ordinary, except I noticed that Elaine Goddard didn’t seem all that fond of Frank Hamilton.” Trent dropped the rolls on the cookie sheet and placed the tin in the oven.

“Maybe Mr. Goddard and Mr. Hamilton never really got along, and the wife picked up on those feelings of resentment. I have no proof, of course, and Mrs. Goddard never mentioned it. Then again, perhaps she wanted a bigger piece of the company and Mr. Hamilton said no.”

“Could be,” he said.

There was probably more to the story, but she knew not to push. A few minutes later both the rolls and veggies were done. In relative silence, they chowed down. While she started a few conversations, Trent seemed preoccupied. Many women might have become concerned, but not her. She couldn’t blame him for being frustrated. He hadn’t come right out and said he suspected Mr. Samuels of offing Bill Goddard, but she had the sense that he’d thought it. He had to be wondering who was next on the list. She hoped no harm would come to his brother, since he, too, had worked at that firm.

Charlotte tried to figure out how to broach the topic of making love again, but she couldn’t think of a subtle way to bring it up. She missed the comfort and the closeness it brought. While she might have periodic visions of seeing the dead body, she was ready to move on.

After they finished eating, she asked Trent to make them some coffee while she cleaned up the dinner dishes. This time he didn’t complain and just complied. She wanted to shake the man, but that might only make him withdraw even more.

When she was done, she stepped over to the sofa where he was sitting. Instead of dropping down next to him, she lifted the steaming cup from his fingers, set it on the table, and then straddled him.

“Charlotte?”

She cupped his face. “I’ve missed you, Trent. I know you’ve been keeping your distance because you believed I was fragile and that I needed some time to process all that has happened, but I’m good now. I love you all the more for being so concerned for my well-being, but now it’s time for us to be a couple again.”

He ran his hands from her shoulders down to her wrists, gently lifted her palms from his cheeks, and brought her fingertips to his lips. “I don’t deserve you, Charlotte. I’m off in my own world too much of the time, and here you’re hurting because of my actions. I wish I weren’t so selfish.”

Aw. “It’s not being selfish. It’s called ambition and a desire to find a killer. I know you think he’ll come after me, and that you have to protect me. For that I’ll always love you. I’m not even going to tell you that nothing could happen to me, because I know it could. I just want you to talk to me.”

As if he’d reconnected with her, a small sparkle came to his eyes. “I thought we had been talking. A lot. I’ve liked it, by the way.”

“So have I, but I want us to continue to communicate. If you’re worried about the case, I want you to tell me. I understand you might not be able to give me any details, and that’s fine, but you can express your frustration. If you need time to yourself to concentrate on the clues, tell me. I want to make this work between us.”

He ran his palms up to her shoulders and then cupped her breasts. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

C
harlotte must have
said the magic words, because Trent stood with her on his lap. She lowered her legs and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Are you thinking of getting me naked?”
Please say yes.

“Do you want me to?”

She loved when he teased her. “Only if you can be fast.”

Before he had the chance to finish unbuttoning her blouse, she ditched her shoes and had his jeans undone.

“Is someone in a hurry?” His brows rose and one side of his kissable mouth turned up.

He was such a funny man. “I’m not sure yet. Perhaps if I see you naked…and hard… and desperate, I might consider making love with you. Slowly.”

He smiled, something she hadn’t seen in quite a while, and her heart soared.

“I guess I’ll have to test that theory, won’t I?”

Faster than she could draw two straight lines, he stripped her naked then removed his clothes. Without a word, he dropped to his knees, nudged open her legs, and threaded two fingers straight up into her pussy. A strong primal need shot up her body. She clasped his head and hung on tight as his tongue lashed back and forth over her bundle of nerves. The terror of the last few days receded and he made her forget everything but being with him.

Trent raised a hand and nabbed her nipple between his thumb and forefinger then twisted the tip back and forth, gently ratcheting her desire to a fevered pitch. Not having made love to him for days had made her even more desperate than usual.

She wanted to touch him with her fingers, with her tongue, and with her pussy. “Kiss me.”

Trent slid his fingers out of her wet slit and looked up at her. “Have I turned you on yet?”

He knew the answer to that question. “Stand up and I’ll show you just how much.”

“I always have liked a woman who knew what she wanted.”

There was no doubt what she desired—Trent Lawson. Once he rose to his feet, she wrapped her arms around his back and then clawed her way up to his shoulders. Her breasts pressed against his rock hard chest and she opened her mouth to receive him.

“I want you, Charlotte. Bad.”

“Then take me.”

As he captured her mouth, she jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist. His hands supported her butt and as he squeezed each cheek, his tongue delved into her mouth. He tasted spicy and rich, and oh so sexy.

Electric tingles consumed her, and as she jockeyed for position, she forgot everything but him. Because he was supporting her, she slid her feet to his thighs and pressed upward, rubbing her wetness against his cock. The pressure on her clit was like a bolt of lightning straight to her heart. She needed him. She wanted him, and she damned sure was going to do whatever it took to have him.

Trent walked her backward until she hit the wall separating the living room and the hallway. She leaned against it for support, reached between them, and grabbed his dick.

Trent broke the kiss and closed his eyes. “I want you. Now.”

Keeping a firm grasp of his cock, she slipped his hard shaft between her folds and sank down partway until his size made it nearly impossible to engulf all of him.

He moaned. “Jesus, Charlotte, you feel so fucking good.”

He should be her.
Trent eased out of her and then edged right back in again. The friction and the stretching heightened every sense to the point that tremors vibrated up her entire body. He dipped his head and captured her nipple, sucking and pulling the tip until shards of bliss exploded inside her.

She dug her nails into his shoulders, dropped her head back, and held on for the ride of her life. Trent plowed into her, nearly pushing her off her climactic edge, but she didn’t want this joyous ride to end too soon. Being in his arms and touching him gave her immense pleasure.

He switched his attention to her other breast and she had to hold her breath to keep from coming. Each time he drove into her, the excitement grew, gaining speed until the joy blossomed.

“I don’t think I can last much longer,” she panted.

Trent clasped her waist and raised his head enough to lightly kiss her throat with such tenderness that she nearly cracked with desire. “I need you,” he whispered.

Before she had the chance to respond, he thrust into her, holding her tightly. When the tip of his cock banged into her back wall, she clamped down on his hard dick. Just as her orgasm swept through her, his cock detonated, pushing her already racing heart into the red zone, where the glory and thrill consumed her.

She pressed her chest against his and held him, never wanting to let him go. This was where she needed to be.

*     *     *

The next morning
at work, Trent was in a good mood, despite not being any closer to finding the killer. Charlotte had this amazing effect on him, though he still had a hard time believing she was willing to accept him for who he was, and be okay with him abiding by his rules of silence when he was working a case.

He leaned back in his office seat and thought about the delicious woman, and how she’d seduced him. Again. Charlotte had the uncanny ability to distract him and tempt him like no other. Every time he was around her, he had the urge to grab her thick, wavy hair and tug. Even fantasizing about her made his cock take notice.

His cell rang, jerking him out of his fantasy. He nabbed it and swiped a finger across the phone, the smile on his face quickly disappearing. “Lawson.”

“It’s Cade. Get over to Mrs. Goddard’s house ASAP. Something’s going down with Frank Hamilton.”

Before Trent could ask any questions, his partner disconnected. He could only hope this was something that would lead them to the killer. Shoving his weapon into his holster and plucking his jacket from the back of his chair, he raced out of the precinct. Fortunately, he’d found a spot in front this morning and was on the road in less than one minute.

Sirens blaring, he raced through town toward Mrs. Goddard’s home. He tried contacting Cade again, but his partner didn’t answer. From the urgency in Cade’s voice, whatever was happening, wasn’t good.

When the traffic thinned, Trent cut the sirens, not wanting to give away his approach, though he didn’t reduce his speed one bit. He spotted Cade’s personal car a few blocks from Mrs. Goddard’s house, pulled behind it, and parked.

Keeping a tight watch for any unusual activity in the neighborhood, he eased his way toward her home. Cade waved, motioning him to the other side of the big picture window. He wanted to ask what was happening, but he feared their voices would travel. He had to trust Cade.

From his angle, he could see a portion of the living room and some of the kitchen. Frank Hamilton was speaking with someone, probably Elaine, in the kitchen. Trent caught a face flash across the house through the opposite window.

Who’s back there?
he mouthed to Cade, hoping it was one of the other men.

Devon
.

Before Trent could ask anything else, shouts sounded from inside of the house, and adrenaline flooded his veins. Because the front door was ajar, they both changed positions and stood next to the opening. What Trent wouldn’t give for an amplifying mic right now.

They could enter the house, but barging in would prevent them from learning anything more.

“What did you see in Samuels anyway?” This bitter shout came from Frank.

Elaine’s words were too soft to hear. Damn.

As long as Frank remained where he was, they would do nothing. It was only if they believed her to be in danger, would they enter.

“I’ve always wanted you,” he said. “Bill messed around on you all the time, yet you stayed with him. Why?”