Fulfilling Promises (Red Starr, Book Five) (20 page)

Devyn struggled to swallow around the lump in her throat and forced herself to push back against him. The intense explosion of stimulation was invigorating and it was something that grounded her. She used it and continued to try and move in order to get Trigger to do the same. She needed something tangible. She wanted to be taken to those heights only he could take her to and let her soar.

Trigger pressed his lips against her shoulder blade while wrapping her ponytail around one hand and pulling her head back. It not only caused him to sink deeper inside of her, but she lost her breath when he lightly bit the side of her neck. He stayed that way while thrusting in and out of her at the slowest rate possible, prolonging their agonizing journey to the precipice.

“More,” Devyn managed to get out, her clitoris throbbing in time with her heartbeat. Trigger rested his palm on her hip, using her as leverage. He never stopped the rhythm he’d paced out for them and she purposefully widened her stance in hopes it would give her relief. It did the opposite, as it only managed to allow him more access…if that were even possible. “John, please…faster.”

Trigger had her in a position where she couldn’t really move and was at the mercy of his actions. It was thrilling. What was even more tantalizing was the fact that he still took his time, regardless that she’d asked for something else. Her nipples were burning for his touch, her clit continued to swell in arousal, and the deep ache within her persistently grew. He had her exactly where he wanted her, because she was climbing at a faster rate than he was. She was about to tumble, and yet her climax was just out of reach. It was the purest sense of pleasure.

“Do you feel it?” Trigger asked, his fingers gripping her hip tighter as he fought his own release. Devyn no longer cared about the challenge they often teased each other about. This was far beyond that. His cock was sliding over that sweet spot, but not with enough force to give her what she wanted. “It’s building inside of you. I can feel the soft walls of your pussy contracting around my cock. It’s incredible.”

Trigger was right—her sheath was enjoying the waves of pleasure he was prompting and yet she’d not even reached the point of no return. Devyn tried to even out her breathing and relax her body in order to achieve her relief, but he was somehow rendering her incapable of that elusive orgasm. That was…until his fingers released her hips and slid forward enough to touch her overly sensitive clit. Bright lights flashed in front of her as her nerves exploded to the point of a pleasured pain too irresistible to give in to.

Devyn could barely hear her name fall from Trigger’s lips over the roaring of blood rushing through her eardrums. The tidal wave of gratification was devastating while simultaneously awe-inspiring. How was it that this man could create such a splendid response of decadence? She wasn’t sure how long either of them took to regain their composure, but she was still struggling for air when he broke the silence with one word.

“Shower.”

Devyn slowly moved and finally lifted herself off of the table, turning in his arms. They were both covered in perspiration and a shower was definitely in order. She leaned against him anyway, seeking the security she found only in his arms. Reality was trying to push its way back in and she wasn’t ready for it.

“A shower sounds wonderful,” Devyn replied, lifting her lips to his. Trigger kissed her as sweet as he had the first time and she savored it, knowing he could be gone tomorrow. “And then I have to make a call out to Gathright’s Air & Heating.”

“Your security system is being installed at zero ten hundred,” Trigger said, most likely because she was in a good enough mood not to chastise him for taking over simple tasks that were her responsibility. He flashed her a smile before shuffling their clothes out of the way with his foot and leading her through the apartment. “How does an early breakfast sound at the diner?”

Devyn narrowed her eyes in contemplation as they both walked into the bathroom. What was he up to? She started the shower, making sure it was cool but not too cold. Trigger cleaned up and tossed his used condom in the small trashcan between the toilet seat and the bathroom sink. He was watching her closely in the mirror for an answer and she got the sense that he was making sure she wasn’t regretting what had just happened.

“An early breakfast sounds good,” Devyn replied, walking up behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist. She lifted up on her tiptoes and peered over his shoulder as she pressed her lips against his hot skin. His brown eyes were burning even hotter and she had a feeling the shower wasn’t going to cool them off as much as she’d thought it. “Getting back to normal sounds even better.”

*

At zero eight
hundred on the nose, Trigger escorted Devyn into the busy diner. The conversations were flowing, dishes were clanking, grease was sizzling, and the smell of bacon permeated the air. Ella Knox’s blueberry pancakes were notorious in this town and usually brought everyone out on Saturday and Sunday mornings. This was only Friday, but the majority of the retirees and those whose shift didn’t start until zero nine hundred had already claimed their usual tables.

“There’s a booth being cleaned,” Devyn said, motioning toward the back against one of the side windows. She led the way, nodding to a few people here and there. Pam and Gil Crouse were smiling and holding hands at one of the tables, obviously having made up from the other night. Justin Yeatman appeared to be conducting business with a man Trigger had never seen before. Cody had taken a seat at the counter with a couple of the older men from town, whose loud conversation gave way to the fact that they were discussing Micah Kilgore and Dalton Linney. “I see the scuttlebutt rose with the sun today.”

“Does that sun ever set?” Trigger said wryly, placing a hand on her arm when she went to slide into the booth facing the patrons. He was never comfortable with his back to the door and she didn’t argue when he’d motioned for her to take the other. Neither had time to even reach for their menus when Rose came over to take their drink orders. He wished he’d been able to bring Diesel, but Ella would have had a fit. Instead, they’d dropped Diesel off with his mom. “Coffee for both of us please, along with two breakfast specials—one of those with hash browns and the other with white toast.”

“Coming right up,” Rose chirped, slipping the pencil back behind her ear when she finished scribbling on her pad. She paused before walking away, giving Devyn a sorrowful look. “I haven’t had a chance to stop in at The Laughing Griffin, but I wanted you to know how sorry I was to hear about Joey. I heard Grace was so upset that she went to visit her mom in Memphis.”

“I called Grace this morning,” Devyn replied in reluctance, reaching for the wrapped silverware. She unraveled the white napkin and went about smoothing it across her lap. Her admittance surprised Trigger, who hadn’t been aware she’d made any calls. He must have been in the shower. “She’s doing better.”

“That’s good to hear,” Rose responded while looking over her shoulder when the bell rang above the door. The two men who were the general topic of most folks’ conversation lately had just walked in and the discussions became less than a murmur. Micah and Dalton appeared to be glued at the hip, and who could really blame them? “I’ll put in your order.”

Rose walked away and everyone started to talk at once upon realizing that Micah and Dalton were both carrying sidearms. Trigger tried not to pull a face at their choice of weapons, his preference being a Kimber Pro Compact Carry Model Master Carry Ultra, a 1911 based platform. To each his own, though. Either way, these two men had targets on their backs.

“This is why you wanted to come here this morning,” Devyn surmised, interrupting Trigger’s assessment of the other patrons. He gave a cursory glance outside, catching sight of a state police vehicle as it drove by. Detective Chaisson still had a police presence in Amberton, regardless that Sheriff Harpole’s deputies were keeping an eye on the two men. “How did you know that Micah and Dalton would be here?”

“Because they’re going to be more comfortable out in public with each other than at home by themselves with a bullseye attached to their backs.” Trigger leaned back in his seat when Rose returned with their coffee. She hustled away when Ella rang the bell indicating another meal was ready to be delivered. “They might be reckless, but they aren’t plain stupid.”

Devyn picked up her coffee cup and tentatively took a sip, not wanting to burn her tongue. He couldn’t resist glancing down and remembering where those rosy lips had been at zero three hundred. They’d had to take a second shower, not that he was complaining.

“You agree with Detective Chaisson, don’t you?” Devyn asked, searching his gaze. He continued to survey those around them, especially Cody at the counter. He was always into everyone else’s business. How likely was it that he knew who was behind the murders? “You think someone we know killed Joey and the others. John, look around us. We grew up with every single one of these people in this room. Do you really think one of our locals are capable of murdering their friends in cold blood?”

“I think despairing or mentally sick people do desperate things,” Trigger replied, finally settling back now that Micah and Dalton had taken a table that Rose had cleaned off for them. He finally looked her in the eye, noticing she was getting a little restless. That wasn’t his intention, but she did need to be aware of her surroundings, so he spoke the truth. “Yes, I believe someone we know is responsible—someone we’ve known all our lives. It’s only a matter of time before he makes another mistake like he did by trying to run me off the road yesterday.”

“Why do you think he attempted to do that in the first place?” Devyn asked, after taking another sip of coffee. She glanced over her shoulder and Trigger figured she could see that Cody was now paying his bill. “Why come after you? You weren’t part of the
Famous Five
and—”

“Because I’m the one who ruined his plan,” Trigger surmised, having put the pieces together last night as he was locking up. “Think about it. Ken Feragon’s murder was made to look like a bungled robbery. Joey’s was staged to appear as if you had something to do with it…a domestic dispute gone bad. This scumbag was purposefully steering the police away by setting up the crime scenes and even going so far as to call Detective Chaisson professing to be me. I think that’s why Luke was killed in the manner he was. It wasn’t staged like the others because the police had already started to look elsewhere besides some young hooligans and you—the convenient suspects.”

“Do you think—”

“Don’t go there,” Trigger warned Devyn with a shake of his head. Did she really think he didn’t know she thought he was going to leave without her when this was over? It wasn’t a discussion he was about to get into now, but he would set the record straight about what she was about to propose. “I’m not leaving town because someone tried to take me out. Whoever is responsible is starting to panic and he’ll make a mistake sooner rather than later. Joey deserves justice, Devyn. You and I will see this through so that we can have that celebratory drink in his honor.”

Devyn’s eyes became more reflective because of the unshed tears that appeared, causing her green eyes to sparkle with determination. She nodded and gave him a small smile in agreement.

“So as we try to keep this breakfast looking somewhat normal, I’ll talk about mundane things. I called Brian Gathright about the air conditioning. He’ll be out to the bar before noon,” Devyn shared, setting her cup back down on the table. He could see she thought of something else when her lips pursed. “It’s Friday. The Laughing Griffin is going to be busy tonight and most likely Micah and Dalton will be there packing heat. Even if the killer doesn’t try anything, it’s going to be dangerous. Do you think the killer is going to try something? Isaac brought in his own Remington 870 to store underneath the bar, but I’m worried that we won’t even know something is about to happen before it’s too late.”

“I’ll be there with you and Isaac watching every move made,” Trigger assured, understanding her fear. “I’m also sure Chaisson will have a few cars around the area seeing as it’s been one week to the day since Joey’s death and another one has occurred recently.”

Devyn surprised him by smiling, even though it was tinged with sadness. She waved a hand at the patrons before explaining why.

“Joey would have loved this,” Devyn clarified with a small laugh. “Think about it. He’d taken up a hobby where he was in everyone’s business, making personal notes so he wouldn’t forget. He needed excitement and that was the way he got it. Can you imagine his reaction to what’s happening? He’d be all over the moon about it.”

“Yes, he would,” Trigger agreed tenderly, raising his coffee cup in a salute to his best friend. The bell rang above the door once more and he almost choked in surprise on the bitter brew he’d just swallowed. Everyone in the place was suddenly aware that two large predators had arrived in their small town. The focused look from the men was hard to miss. Even the way they moved made the gentle folks around them pull back as they stalked through the crowded diner. Two of the Red Starr HRT team members just made their presence known to the residents of Amberton. Trigger flashed a confident smile Devyn’s way. “I’m not the only one who’ll be watching the town closely tonight. Reinforcements have just arrived.”