Evidence of Desire: Hero Series 3 (14 page)

“Agent Williams,” She swallowed. “My name is Sonya Watson and I’m the curator in the African American Arts department at Queen Metropolitan Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina.”

“How may I assist you, Ms. Watson?”

“An artifact has been damaged.” Those words felt like acid on her tongue.

“You know you can just notify your insurance company and they would have contacted us with the investigation results for our records. Have a nic—”

“It is an international artifact and it was a forgery,” she rushed on before the agent could hang up on her.

“Give that to me one more time.”

Now she had his attention. Sitting back in her chair, Sonya filled him.

“I have a few calls of my own to make, Ms. Watson. However, I’m on my way. Once everything is set from this end, I’ll notify you with our ETA and I’ll need everyone in contact with the item at the museum when we arrive. So, if someone was planning a vacation, they need to cancel it. Do I make myself clear?” His deep southern voice was filled with a no nonsense rhythm.

“Yes, sir.” The last thing she wanted was to be in the hot seat with the FBI, she’d make sure everyone including the idiot delivery driver had arrived. A part of her mind brought up the fact that if it hadn’t been for the drivers bumbling actions it may have been days before they discovered it.

“One last thing. Here’s my email address,” he rattled it off to her. “Send me your contact in South Africa’s information. However
don’t
contact them about this. Well take care of that through the investigation. If I discover you have made contact, you’ll be held on charges of compromising and investigation.”

Gracious, did the FBI always have to instill such fear into people they deal with? She swallowed then responded affirmatively.

The call ended.

Staring in space, seeing nothing in particular, she thought about the weight of this burden on her shoulders. All she had wanted for years was to have an African exhibit displayed in her department, she’d gotten her wish, but it had been twisted. It grieved her heart, because she could see the exhibit possibility slipping away again. There was no telling what all would come about with this investigation or how delayed the opening would be. Hell, it was a significant possibility once Kravers heard about this that he’d close down the exhibit indefinitely.

The Smithsonian seemed like a good option at the moment.

Sighing, she rose and went to see Mr. Kravers.

~ML~

“Are you serious? How could you let something like this happen?” Mr. Kravers stood behind his desk with his hands planted in the center staring at her with hard, piercing eyes. “Why was I not notified first?”

Sonya knew he’d be upset. Something like this, if it got out, could ruin the museum. However his level of anger directed at her was shocking. She uncrossed her legs, just encase she needed to run. Not that her boss was the striking type, but the vein sticking out in the center of his forehead said differently. “Sir, that’s why I’m here.”

“Issuing an invitation late to the party. Damn.” He shoved away from the desk.

“Protocol dictate—”

“Screw protocol. Do you think yours is the first in the twenty-two years I’ve run this museum, to have an object damaged.”

She followed the tracks he was making along the side of his desk, back and forth. “No, I don’t. However, this was forged and it was international.”

He stopped and waved his hands wide. “Everything is international.” Kravers aimed a thick finger at her. “We handle and research in house first. That way, once I have to call it in, we have answers for them. It’s less time they have to sniff around one section after another.”

“That wasn’t my intention.” She didn’t want to apologize, but Kravers had a way of saying things that made her feel the things she’d done were wrong. This was her boss, however. It had taken her so long to get the African exhibit approved she didn’t want have other things she went after blocked. Curling her hands, she dug her nails deep into her palm. “I’-m sorry. I hope I’m never in this situation again, but if I am I’ll bring it to you first.”

Saying those words put a bad taste in her mouth. She felt that places had guidance and rules for a reason. With her department being in the hot seat, this was not the time to point out that fact.

Kraver’s released a heavy sigh as he returned to his seat. “When did they say they’d be here?”

“When I was on my way here, someone called and stated the agents would arrive at seven tomorrow morning. Anyone having dealings with the artifact in my department no matter where they work in the museum need—”

“Present I know. You’re dismissed.” He waved his hand toward the door. “I need to contact the museum board.” Kravers was already reaching for his phone.

His dismissal left nothing for her to say or do but stand and exit the office.  Outside of his door in the empty corridor without Kravers heated gaze on her a chill ran through her body and she could feel moisture on the back of her neck. Sweat. She’d felt like a bad kid in there who had been called to the principal’s office for cheating. As if she’d done something wrong.

This was her department. Didn’t Kravers think she was just as upset that something like this had happened?
And on my watch.

Headed back to her office she weaved her way through the crowds of children at the museum on an educational trip. When her cell phone vibrated, she removed it from her pocket then glanced at the name of the caller. She smiled and stepped into a side hall with less traffic.

“Hi, Parker. Sorry about lunch.”

“I understand things come up. Are you alright?”

Damn, his voice sounded so good. How could just speaking to him over the phone make it seem as if a warm blanket had been draped around her? But that’s what effect Parker had on her.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Just a lot going on right now. I don’t even have this moment that I’m taking.” Just the thought of everything happening made her temples throb to the point she closed her eyes.

“You want me to come to you? Maybe I can lend a hand.” That deep soothing balm of his caressed her through the line.

She chuckled. “I wish you could. But, I will probably be busy for the next few days.”

“What’s going on?” Concern was now evident.

“I can’t get into it now. I’ll try and call you tonight and fill you in. Trust me, you’ll know about it soon enough.” The whole museum would. She’d never been in this situation before, but she’d seen others go through something similar and watched as colleagues looked upon them with understanding and others with shame. Sonya was unsure which she would get more of.

“Well, when you can talk I’m here.”

“Thanks.” She moved back into the main hallway. “I need to go.”

As they ended the call she tried to get her mind together to talk to her staff. The next few days were not something she was looking forward to at all. In the end she just hoped this didn’t cost her a job.

~ML~

“Hey, Randy!” Parker knocked against the doorjamb to get his friends attention.

Closing the lid to a wolf spider tank, Randy glanced over at him. “What’s up, man?”

“I’m heading out a little early tonight, there’s something I need to see about. You good here?” Parker knew that asking an entomologist if they were alright in lab filled with arachnids was like asking a dolphin if they were okay in the water.

“Sure am. I was already planning to work late tonight because I have an appointment in the morning if you don’t mind me being a little late, boss?”

“I can take care of the early shift.” He gave him a two finger wave then walked out. He had a single destination in mind as he headed out of the lab, get across the museum and check on Sonya. They hadn’t eaten lunch together today, but that wasn’t what disturbed him. Things sometime come up. However, it was her voice.

Sonya wasn’t doing well. He didn’t know in what way, but the strain in her voice and the heavy sighs between sentences was not her. Since he’d been swamped today and hadn’t been able to get outside of the lab or his office, this was the first opportunity he could seek her out.

“Hi, Doctor Hayden.”

He stepped out of the secured door and stopped in his tracks. The museum clerk stood before him, leaning against the wall.

“Um, Stacey…right?” He hadn’t made it a point to recall her name, be often when he was walking his corridors of the building she appeared, asking questions about the spiders.

“Yes.” A beaming smile took over her face. She straightened up and moved toward him. “I was hoping to catch you.”

From her close proximity it provided an advantage to see her cleavage on displace from more than a few button she had undone. Not wanting anything the ebony-haired flirt seemed to be offering, he kept his gaze locked on her face.

“I’m actually on my way out.” He started to side-step her.

She stepped with him, almost causing a collision on their bodies had he not reacted quickly and stopped.

“So, was I. I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with me tonight or maybe catch a movie. Your job is so fascinating and I’d love to hear more about it. One on one.” She waved her hand around. “You know without all the distractions.” Her voice was low as she leaned into him.

Her perfume wafted up to him, something way to sweet and pungent.

He needed to cut this off before it got started. “Look, Stacey—”

“You may think I’m crazy…” she giggled softly as she lowered her blue-eyed gaze down his body and back to his face. “But, I’ve always had a thing since school for brainy guys.”

Easy pickings, he was sure was the reason. All through school he and his friends were considered the nerds and geeks. Any of them would have jumped at the chance to bed a hot girl, even if she was just using them. However, his masculinity had finally piqued when he was in college, but by then he’d chosen science over sex until he met Sonya and his world changed.

Now, he had an opportunity to get their relationship on the right path again. No way was he going to risk that for an easy lay.

“Stacey. I’m going to be very clear with you. Nothing between us is going to happen. You’re an attractive woman. However, I’m not interested. If you seek me out, I need it to be about museum related issues. That’s all.”

Her pretty face twisted into a sour, pursed-lip expression. Evidently, she understood him and didn’t care for his words.

Being waylaid by her long enough, he made a determined step around her. “Have a good day.”

“I have some
museum
information
about Ms. Watson I bet would interest you.” Her words had a spiteful ring to them.

Dealing with bitter, angry women wasn’t his thing, but she’d mentioned Sonya and for that reason alone he entertained her a few more moments. It wasn’t a shock to him that Stacey or anyone in the museum suspected something between him and Sonya. Even though they had not flaunted their interest in each other, they had not kept their daily late lunches a secret either. He faced Stacey again. “What information?”

She folded her arms beneath her breasts, making the pale pillows rise between the gap of her shirt.

This better not be a ploy just to get more of my attention.
“I’m waiting.” He injected a heavy resonance into his words to let her know he meant business and wasn’t about playing games.

“Something went down over there and Kravers is in a fit. I heard from one of the security guys that the authorities will be snooping around that department tomorrow. I don’t mean the Charlotte Police either.” She tilted her chin up and allowed a small, sly smile to curl the corners of her mouth—gloat.

He took a step toward her, but clenched his hands to keep from grabbing and shaking her. “What else do you know?”

Stacey shrugged. “That’s it. But, when something like this happens in a department someone gets the ax. Your girl probably should be dusting off her resume.” With that she pivoted on her tall heels and flounced away.

It was a good thing, because he’d had enough of her jealousy laced information.

Moving with more urgency than he had started out with, he took all the shortcuts that were available to him to reach the African American Art quad. When he finally arrived, nothing seemed amiss. Patrons meandered from one painting and case to another in the same flow as all the other areas of the museum. He continued passed the exhibits until he got to the hall where her office was located. Making a sharp left, he arrived before her office. The door was shut, the blinds drawn but he could hear the hum of several voices inside, occasionally the high volume of Kravers came through.

It was beneath him to press his ear to the door to listen, neither did he want anyone to spot him loitering outside the office. Since it didn’t appear that the meeting was wrapping up anytime soon, Parker figured it was best to wait for Sonya to come to him. Before leaving he took one moment to pull his cell phone out and sent a text message.

When you want to talk. I’m here.

With that done, he left.

In her car, Sonya stared at the text message. She wasn’t sure at what point it had come in. With one meeting after another with Kravers and a virtual meeting with the board of directors she’d placed her phone on silence. Her office phone was blowing up enough to make her want to snatch it out of the wall. She let her staff go a few hours ago. They would all have to return at six-thirty in the morning to speak with ACT agents and she wanted them to have a little free time with their families. There was no telling what tomorrow was going to bring or how long the investigation would go, so they might as well take the relief where they could get it.

It was late now. Almost eleven at night. She’d printed out and gone through every email and correspondence she’d made with any of her South African colleagues. Tomorrow she didn’t want it to be a single question the agents asked her that she didn’t have fresh knowledge about. If this situation came to her losing her job, even the Smithsonian wouldn’t take her. She’d find herself teaching elementary school kids art basics.

Taking a deep breath she pushed thoughts like that away. Tonight she was supposed to be at the first of three final rehearsals for her modern dance recital. But, she’d had to call Angela the director and head choreographer and tell her there was an emergency she had to take care of. She probably should have told her to cancel her part of the show or find another to do it. Letting people down was not her thing. She’d figure out a way to keep her word to the community company.

Hell, she wished she had gone dancing tonight. It had been her solace over the years, what she used to beat back all the pain and demons of her past. Now when she needed that outlet the most, she couldn’t get to it.

The best option before her was to head home, take a bath and try and close her eyes.

She tapped the button on her phone. The backlight from the display illuminated the interior of her car again.

When you want to talk…I’m here.

The last thing she wanted to do after today was ever talk again. However, if she couldn’t dance her troubles away, there was something else she could do.

Starting her car, she pulled out of her parking slot and left the museum.

~ML~

“I’ve been worried about you.”

He looked good. Even dressed in a white, V-neck undershirt and sweat pants, Parker was sexy. The desire to lean against the broad chest, more evident in the undershirt than the dress shirts he normally wore. The fact that her mind played images of what he looked like under his clothing when they were married incited both her emotional and physical need.

“I know it’s late. I didn’t want to go home.”

“You’re welcome at any time, Sonya.” He pushed away from the door and stepped back. “Come in.”

She hesitated for a moment.
What am I doing here?
She’d asked herself that question in different ways as she’d driven to his apartment. It had been a bit of a mystery in recalling where he lived, however not as difficult as she would have assumed. If she had been in her office when she decided to take this detour, the employee directory would have given her Parker’s address. The lunches they had been having over the past couples weeks, she recalled him telling her how much he enjoyed the landscape and creek that ran through the center of his apartment complex, by name. At another time, he’d joked that he was haunted by her birthday, month and day, every time he went home.

Google helped her find the address of the apartments and she drove around until she located the number. Now here she was, about to take a step she wasn’t completely convinced she should.

“You coming in or you want me to come out?” He started forward.

At that moment, Sonya heard the steps creak, from the weight of someone coming down them from the next floor. Acting quickly, she whipped by him as she entered his apartment.

He chuckled and shut the door. “I don’t believe anyone we know lives out here just encase you were worried about being seen.”

Was she? No. “I was being silly for a moment there.” She made a flicking movement with her wrist. “Don’t mind me. Just been one of those days.”

She glanced around his apartment. It wasn’t tiny per se but cozy, which added to the warmth seeping into her skin where the night winter air had chilled her. His furniture was deep green and heather gray. There wasn’t much in the living room besides a couch, coffee table and the large television mounted to the wall across from it. Turning her head the other direction, she could see his kitchen and the four-seat dinette table. Nothing was out of order, but it still appeared lived in with the scientific journals scattered over the top of the table beside a glass of what looked like a glass of melting ice tea beside them.

“This is nice.”

“It will do.” He simply responded as he moved closer to her aligning his body to the back of hers, not touching, but close. “I’d offer you a tour of the place, but you just took it.”

Turning, she faced him. The words she wanted to say were on her tongue, as she gazed up into his well-defined masculine features—square jawline, deep-set eyes and wide nose over perfectly sculpted lips.

“Do you want to tell me about your rough day?”

Shaking her head, she said, “No.”

Because the last thing she wanted to do right now is dwell on everything that was going wrong in her world. She was all talked out and there were no answers that anyone right now could give her about how she ended up with an artifact that wasn’t an artifact. There were just as many unknowns about what the future was between her and Parker, but it didn’t matter. She was here.

A single brow arched high, but he didn’t say anything, just waited.

She plunged in. “You told me that I’d have to come to you when I was ready for something more.”

His brow lowered a millimeter every second as his intense gaze held hers.

“Well…I’m here and I want you.” She lifted her palm, as she declared, “Nothing more right now, just your body against mine for a couple of hours. Is that okay?”

He grasped her raised hand and placed kiss in the center of her palm, then he turned her hand over and trailed his lips up to the sensitive area of her wrist.

She wasn’t sure if his touch or the hot gaze that was locked on hers started the drumming desire in her body. But it was there.

Parker kept his eye connected with hers as he began making light circles on her wrist, directly about the sleeve of her coat, with his tongue.

A shiver journeyed along her spine.

After a nip to her skin, he released her hand. “How about we get you out of this coat?”

“Sure…” One dorky little word was the only thing she could come up with.

When she started toward the buttons of her coat, he pushed her hands away. Undoing the tie, he allowed the belt to fall before he began on the first button.

He wasn’t touching her, only the outer garment, but her nipples responded as if he was palming her breasts. They were distended to the point of pain and pulsed with every heartbeat.

The fireworks she was experiencing in her body were stronger than before when they were younger. It was so intense, it scared her. A part of her mind urged her to stop this here and just go home. However there was another part, a bigger part that refused to move. This had been building between them since the kiss in the planetarium. She was going to ride this wave, this tsunami all the way to shore.

Once her buttons were undone, he slipped it from her shoulders then tossed it to the back of the couch. He took hold of her hips and pulled her in close.

“Oh…god.” The words slipped from her mouth as she felt his heart beating hard meeting her own as it knocked against her chest.

He cupped her face, stroking along the corners of her mouth gently. “I’m not sure if I’m going to survive this night.”

“Me either.” His touch felt wonderful…gentle and teasing. His smell drew her closer as she became hypnotized by his gaze.  “But what a way to expire…huh?”

“Yes.” He kissed her. Taking her mouth with fierce passion that rivaled no other time their lips had met before.

She clutched at his shirt, not sure if she was holding him against her aching body or holding on for dear life. The dominance of his lips was that explosive.

Standing in his living room, they fed off each other. As he gave, she took. When she pressed her tongue into his mouth he suckled it, played with it and made her give him more.

He gripped her bun at the back of her head, keeping her in place as he dived in. Because of his hold and his height her head was force backward, but she didn’t care. She was happy to take what he gave her, like a pail waiting on each drop of molasses she took it gladly.

With a harsh growl he pulled away from her mouth.

They were panting, wildly.

“Ah!” She squeaked, shocked when he scooped her up then moved with long purposeful strides toward one of two doors in the apartment.

She barely gave his large one bedroom more than a glance before she found herself placed in the center of the king-sized bed.

“Sorry, my patience seems to be running on the thin side tonight.” He stood at the side of the bed and yanked his t-shirt over his head.

“I understand—” Words failed her as she gazed at the size of his broad, round shoulders and sculpted chest. Where had her nerd gone? Parker had always been well-built, just not so well-defined. He’d definitely gone from college boy to man.

She licked her lips then swallowed. “Um...”

His thumbs were hooked in the waistband of his sweats. The impressive definition of his hard shaft was outline clearly. “Second thoughts?” He cocked and eyebrow at her.

Second. Third and fourth. Unlike him, who had become a physical god, she had put on a little weight since they’d last seen each other…been together. Her stomach was still relatively flat, but her hips and thighs had a lot more curve and substance to them.

“No…um…it just that…” She sat up and allowed her gaze to move along his sexy body as she tugged at the edge of her uniform skirt. She didn’t want to disappoint him.

“You are beautiful.” He strutted two steps that took him back to the bed. One of his knees dipped into the side as he leaned into her. “Even more so, since we were in college. There’s a womanly maturity about you that has been driving me insane since I saw you walking into the museum that first night.”

“Really?” She wasn’t insecure and normally didn’t fish for compliments but there was just something about the way he spoke to her…about her.

Reaching for her, he began undoing one button after the other. “Without a doubt I would have peeled that African garb from your body right there in the planetarium had you not stopped me after that kiss.”

Her heart was racing.

With the buttons apart, he gave her a gentle push until she was reclining against the pillows once again.

Pulling the tails from her skirt he laid her bare.

Shivers raced along her skin as she witnessed the heat in his eyes as he scanned her torso, collarbone to navel.

“You’re damn beautiful, girl.” His strong warm hand rested on her stomach. “I want you. Want to love you tonight and make you scream.”

“I want that too.” No more doubts, she was all in. Cupping the back of his head, she drew his lips to hers. She showed him her urgency and need in that kiss.

The heat of his body was a welcomed heat as he aligned himself with her. Moving from her mouth to her chin, he grazed his teeth along the curve as he went further.

She sighed and tipped her head back, giving him more access.

He claimed it. Parker licked and nipped along the side of her neck.

A moan slipped from her lips as she turned her face away enjoying the sensation. When he swirled his tongue right at the spot where the base curved into her shoulder, heat spiraled down into her core. She squeezed her thighs together feeling the throb at her center.

“That was always your spot,” he whispered. “This is like finding treasure that I buried years ago.” He chuckled.

She glanced at him. “I recall yours as well.” She dragged her nails along his ribs at the side.

His response was quick, as he gasped, arching toward her and held her tight against him.

“Oh, Soni-love…I don’t want to just travel down memory lane, but build new ones.” He took hold of her straps and dragged them down her until her breasts popped out. “Breathtaking.”

Even if she’d wanted to response, she would have had no chance. Her mind went blank as soon as he captured the first taut tip in his mouth.

“Ah,” she called out as he suckled and licked.

He took his time, moving from one breast to the other playing with the sensitive tips and sending her desire higher and higher.

Trapped. She was at his disposal. The sleeves of her shirt and her bra strap were both resting at her elbows and limited her range of motion. She gripped his side as she arched up against him and brought the neediest part of her, her sex, in contact with him. The hard length imprisoned inside his pants.

“Parker…I need you.” She used her words as she entwined her legs with his and thrust her hips. Her skirt wouldn’t allow her much maneuvering room. He’s the only man who had the ability to send her body soaring to heights of pleasure from a mire kiss or touch.