Confer, Lorelei - Deadly Revenge (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (14 page)

She giggled and lifted the covers for him and he crawled in beside her. She felt his staff ready for her. Slow and sensually he caressed her arms, her neck and shoulders, her velvety skin all over. He kissed her eyes, her nose, her cheeks, then caressed her lips. He licked her lips then opened her mouth to touch her tongue. He plundered her mouth as he caressed her breasts, then moved his mouth lower to suckle her breasts, bringing her nipples hard and erect, making her ache for more. Then he moved his mouth lower to her flat stomach, her belly button, and her tangle of hair at the apex between her thighs.

He smoothed his hand through her curls and slid a finger into her, then two fingers.

She bungled the covers in her fisted hands while breathing heavy. “Oooooooooh, I can’t stand it. I need you now.”

He eased onto her and gently entered her.

She exhaled loudly. “It feels so good.”

This time his movements were teasingly slow, as if savoring every stroke. He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips, and then he took her tongue into his mouth. He increased his thrusts, and they exploded into ecstasy simultaneously.

Both breathing heavily, they collapsed side by side.

“Why is it that sex with you is always like my first time?” Tory asked after catching her breath.

“I don’t know. I feel like a school kid with my first big crush.” He rubbed his hands up and down her arms.

They lay together in each other’s arms until Tory looked at the time. “I have to get to work.” She kissed him again. “What are you doing today?”

“Not sure just yet, but I’ll find something to get into,” he answered.

She jumped off the bed and rushed to the shower saying, “I’m going to be so late for work.”

* * * *

Dave lay in bed with a myriad of thoughts bombarding his head. Sex with Tory was the best he’d ever had. He felt childish and overwhelmed with emotions he’d never had before.

She meant so much to him in such a short period of time. He couldn’t imagine his life without her, but could he jeopardize his career?

He needed to get her out of his system to concentrate seriously on his job.

Chapter 20

The next morning Tory awoke to an empty bed along with the smell of coffee.

“You must be an early riser. I never even heard you get out of bed this morning.”

“I do get up early and most of the time it’s a good thing. But this morning it was a really hard decision to make,” Dave said as he pulled her close and clasped his hands behind her back.

“And why is that?” Tory asked with a smile on her face and a glimmer in her eye.

“Because I was so comfortable with you lying beside me. Your warmth and one-of-a-kind scent made me want to stay there wrapped in your arms forever.” He kissed her on the mouth while she reached her arms up and around his neck, wanting more.
He hadn’t left me because he wanted to.
She ran her fingers through his thick hair while the kiss grew deeper, senses heightened.

Finally Tory remembered she needed to get to work
now
or she would be late. They pulled apart quickly.

“I have to get to work, Dave. What are your plans today?”

“Oh, a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Nothing in particular.”

“I’m going to stop and visit with my mother after work and find out how everything is going with the B&B. Want to come along?” Tory asked without asking for a dinner date.

“No, I promised Mom I’d be home for dinner tonight. She’s making her favorite meatloaf and I don’t want to miss it. Why don’t you call me tonight when you get home from your mother’s?”

“Okay, that’s a good idea. I’ll talk to you then. Can you lock up here? I really need to get going.”

“Wait, I’ll go with you.”

Chapter 21

The Mountain View Bed & Breakfast was ready to officially open its doors. Anne had her first guests scheduled for the following week, thanks to the website Tory had created to help advertise the grand opening to Hickoryville and friends and family out of town.

In the early evening, Tory stopped by her mother’s house after work for a visit. She had just sat down with her mother and a cup of tea on the long front porch when her cell phone rang.

“Hi, Trevor!”

“Hi, Tory. I hate to ask you to do this but can you stop by the Mountainside Building and pick up the rent check from Mark Montgomery? He moved in last week and we haven’t been able to get together. I promised I would come by and pick up the check but never got around to it. I just spoke with him. He’s working late tonight and it should be on your way home from your mother’s. It’ll save me another trip into town. Would you mind?”

“Of course not. I’ll be glad to do it for you. I was planning on leaving my mother’s soon anyway.”

“Thanks so much. I really appreciate it.”

Tory finished her tea, put her cup in the sink, and decided to cut her visit short with her mother so she could run her errand for Trevor. She would still be able to get home before dark. Tory left her mother’s house and arrived at the office building in a matter of minutes.

* * * *

Tory parked in front of the tall, wooden office structure. It had been named The Mountainside Building because it was built on the side of the mountain. She parked the car, got out, and walked up the sidewalk along the nicely manicured landscape and façade of the office building.

Her hair bristled on the back of her neck, goose bumps appeared on her arms and legs as if she’d taken a chill as she walked up to the front door. She felt like someone was watching her. She stopped and looked around. Seeing no one, she knocked on the door of Mark Montgomery’s unit. The door opened on its own.

Tory just stood there, staring into the first room, a receptionist’s office, while a cold knot of fear and icy dread settled in her chest. It still smelled of fresh paint, new carpet, and another unfamiliar smell.

“Hellooo! Anybody here? Mr. Montgomery? Mr. Montgomery, are you here?” she called out. No one answered. She looked around. Nothing seemed out of place. All the usual and necessary front office equipment appeared intact. Maybe he had to run to get something to eat and left the door open and unlocked, she thought.

She was about to leave when she decided to take pictures of the office space for future reference in case there was an insurance claim. She took out her camera as she moved to the middle of the room. Then she heard water running. She looked around the corner, down the hall toward the bathroom all the while taking pictures.
Was the toilet acting up?
The bathroom door was open. Was someone in there?

“Helloooo? Anybody here?” she shouted louder again. She looked inside the bathroom through the lens of her camera to snap a couple pictures for insurance purposes. Her finger pushed the button before she realized what she saw. A young man in a dress suit lay slumped in the inside corner of the small bathroom, his legs doubled back under him. Blood and bits of gray matter were splattered all over two of the newly painted walls. He held a small caliber weapon in his left hand.

Her body began to tremble and her hands shook. Her camera fell to her chest, held only by the strap around her neck. Her legs became weak and she trembled all over as she stared at the floor. She heard screaming and more screaming before she recognized her own voice. She covered her mouth. The new, unfamiliar, coppery smell of blood permeated her senses. She got out her cell phone and called 911.

“Nine-one-one,” the operator said. “What is the nature of your emergency?”

“I found a body. I think he’s dead.”

“What is the address, ma’am?”

It took a moment for her to recall the address of the office. She stammered it out.

“Is there anyone there with you?” the operator asked.

“No,” she said. “Oh, I mean I don’t think there’s anyone else here.” Panic rose through her, riveting her in place.

“Stay on the line with me and go outside, okay?” the operator asked.

“Yes, yes, I’ll do that.” Glad to get away from the smell of death, she dashed back to the sidewalk.

“Emergency vehicles are on the way and should be there soon.”

“Okay.”

“They’re just around the corner. Are you there?”

“Yes. Yes. I’m outside,” Tory said. Soon sirens and flashing lights eased her terror. “I see a police car!”

“Good. You’re doing fine. Stay calm and tell the officer what you found. Can you do that?”

“Yes. Thank you. Thank you for your help.”

* * * *

Tory stood outside while officers rushed into the building. She ran to her car to enclose herself safely away from the smell of death.

Her cell phone rang and she answered it.

“Hello? Hello?” she said with trembling lips, her legs and hands still shaking. Images of the victim appeared when she closed her eyes.

“You sound funny. Are you okay?” Dave asked.

“No, I’m not okay. I just found a dead body and I’m scared out of my wits.”

“Did you call the police?”

“They’re here.”

“Where are you?”

She gave Dave the address and directions to get there.

“I’ll be right there.”

The police secured the area inside and outside with yellow crime scene tape. The outside area became active, uniformed men and women were scattered throughout the yard and the office. Chief Carr got there shortly after the first team. No one was allowed in or out until a forensics team, of sorts, arrived. Then the local mortician arrived on the scene from the only funeral home in town and pronounced the victim dead and got ready to remove the body. One of the local patrol officers located Chief Carr and revealed the identity of the victim. His name was Mark Montgomery.

* * * *

Dave arrived and found Tory in her car. She reached for him as soon as he reached her
.
She clung to him like he was a life raft in the ocean.

“Everything’s going to be all right. As soon as the police are through with you, I’ll take you home,” Dave said with strong reassurance as if there was no other way to do it.

And then the questioning began.

“Hi, Michael. I’m so glad to see you. This is horrible, just horrible,” Tory said as Chief Carr approached her.

“I know you’re upset right now, Victoria, but I need to ask you some questions and then get a statement from you. Okay?”

“I’ll do the best I can.” She took a deep breath.

“Did you know the victim?”

“No, I didn’t recognize him. He was a new tenant. Trevor just asked me to stop by and pick up the rent check.”

“Why didn’t Trevor pick it up himself?”

“He called and asked me to do it on my way home from my mother’s to save him a trip into town.”

“Did you touch anything?”

“I knocked on the front door, but it opened on its own. I thought Mr. Montgomery left it open for me.”

“Were you the only one here?”

“Yes.”

“How long ago did you get here?”

“Probably close to fifteen to twenty minutes by now.”

“Did you hear or see anything out of the ordinary when you arrived?”

“No. Nothing specific but I did feel like someone was watching me as I walked toward the building, but I’ve been having that sensation ever since I arrived in town. But didn’t see anyone.”

“Have you reported this to the police?”

“I’ve never seen anyone and there’s really no reason anyone would want to follow me. It’s foolish to bother with it.”

“Do you remember anything else out of the ordinary?”

“No.”

“That’s it for now, Victoria. I only ask that you stick around town for a while in case we have any other questions.”

“I was only planning to stay a few months. Will that be long enough, Michael?”