Whatever It Takes (30 page)

For the first time since the conversation had started, Kathleen saw a sparkle of hope in Eli’s expression.

“It’s something, Eli. A thread we didn’t have before.” Not giving any thought to how it would appear to Kennedy and Nick, or what she was conveying to Eli, Kathleen reached for his hand and squeezed it. “Let’s explore this for a few days before you set yourself up as a target.”

She saw the doubt in his eyes and pressed forward, not feeling the least bit guilty for using his feelings for her. She’d do anything to keep him safe. “Please. For me?”

A cynical light entered his eyes, and he pulled his hand from hers. Kathleen felt the loss of his touch like a slap. He had seen her plea as the manipulation it had been. Still, she was happy to hear him say, “Fine. Let’s dig up what we can about some crimes that happened half a century ago. See if there’s anything to it. Then we’ll go from there.”

Without looking at her again, he walked out of the room.

Kathleen stood at the doorway leading out onto the balcony of the second-floor parlor. Eli sat in a chair at the corner, staring into the dark. She could literally feel his exhaustion and frustration, his sadness. Three additional days of digging were yielding results, and they all believed they were finally on the right track. There had been plenty of people to look at. Mathias had betrayed, screwed, and manipulated people long before he became a business tycoon. Narrowing it down to one event had felt impossible, but there was light, though only a dim pinprick, at the end of the tunnel.

Earlier today they’d been optimistic, if not exactly jubilant. There was still so much to unearth, but heading in the right direction after so many wrong turns was such a refreshing change, they’d all been more upbeat. That had changed an hour ago. Eli had received a phone call that had practically sent him over the top. Violet had tripped over her new toy truck and had broken her arm. It was a clean break, and Eli had talked to the doctor himself, who had assured him it would heal fine. But that hadn’t stopped Eli from being worried or desolate that he wasn’t there to hold her and comfort her. Even Violet, with her new purple cast, had reassured him she was fine, but Kathleen had seen not only the worry but also the resolve in his eyes. He wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer. If something didn’t break within the next twenty-four hours, she was certain he would be putting plans in place to trap a killer.

If he did that, and something went wrong? If the killer finally finished his job? No. She could not accept that.

She watched him shift his shoulders in a weary shrug. And, suddenly, she knew the answer. Reassuring him with platitudes and smiles wasn’t what he needed. He needed her.

Even though her knees were knocking as she approached him, she had never been surer that she was doing the right thing.

She touched his arm, felt the hard muscle and, beneath that, the tension. Since she had no words to make him feel better, she did what he had done for her so many times in the past. She simply took his hand and held it in hers.

He squeezed it gently, and then, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, he pulled her down into his arms. She put her head on his chest and closed her eyes to prevent the tears from escaping. He hadn’t touched her like this since their argument. Even as she told herself the distance was best, she had been afraid he would never touch her again.

They stayed like that for several long moments, taking comfort from each other until it wasn’t enough. She raised her head and gave him the words they both needed her to say. “I want you, Eli.”

His eyes searched hers, and what he saw in them must have been what he needed.

With a sexy, low growl, his mouth covered hers in a devouring kiss and melted any remaining doubts away. This gentle, kind, infuriating, gorgeous man needed her. And despite all her fears for the future, she knew without a doubt she needed him. 

Eli didn’t know what had changed, didn’t care right now. All he knew was she had finally come to him. This woman he felt like he’d waited a lifetime for was once again in his arms. She tasted better than he remembered, felt delicate and beautiful. He wanted to cherish her and at the same time take her hard, fast.

“Come to bed with me.” 

At her soft sigh of acceptance, Eli stood with her in his arms and headed for his room.

She laughed softly. “In a hurry?”

“You have no idea.” Need surging like a tidal wave, he was surprised he could even speak, much less walk.

“Oh, I don’t know about that. I’m feeling decidedly needy.”

He glanced down at her, surprised at the sultriness in her voice. Amazing eyes glittering with desire, full lips glistening from their kiss, Kathleen Callahan was the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen. And tonight, she was all his.

He pushed opened the door to his bedroom and strode to the middle of the room. Lowering her to her feet, Eli forced himself to slow down. The last time had been all about heat and the need to quench a massive thirst. And though that thirst was still there, he wanted to cherish her…love her the way she should be loved. He undressed her slowly, carefully, savoring the moment. She was wearing a light blue blouse, and with each button he undid, he glimpsed an inch more of creamy skin. When at last the blouse was undone, he slipped it off her shoulders and went dry-mouthed at the loveliness he’d uncovered.

“You’re beautiful.”

“No one has ever made me feel this way, Eli. No one.”

Lifting his gaze to her face, he saw the truth in her words. All the tumultuous emotions and raging desire he felt for this woman was reflected in her eyes.

He had vowed to go slow, to relish every second, but when her fingers began to unbutton his shirt, he forgot that promise. Swooping down, he took her mouth in a ravaging kiss. Drowning in desire, in heat and need, he raised his head moments later to realize his hands had a mind of their own and they had been busy. 

She stood before him, nude, beautiful, and delicate, almost fragile. Her skin gleamed beneath the dim glow of the chandelier, glowing as if she had an inner light. His eyes roamed over creamy shoulders, slender arms, then traveled to her small, firm breasts with rose-pink nipples. He remembered that the other day, after his mouth had ravaged them, they had turned a ripe raspberry color. He wanted to see that color again. He lowered his head and licked at one, delighted that it tightened against his lips. Opening his mouth, he captured her nipple and suckled, gently and then harder. Beneath the roaring in his ears, he heard a gasp and then a whispered, “Yes.” 

It was all the encouragement he needed.

Pushing her gently onto the bed, he followed her down and devoured every sweet spot. First with his hands, then he kissed, nibbled, licked, and lapped. Ravished. Cherished.

Kathleen was drowning in a pool of whirling desire, her body heating from the inside out, throbbing with need, aching. Eli’s hands and mouth were everywhere at once, but she wanted more of him. Needed to taste him, take him as he was taking her.

“Clothes,” she gasped out.

“Hmm? What?”

She laughed, glorying in the happiness, rightness of this delicious moment. “You were incredibly efficient in getting my clothes off, but you need to work on yours.”

He lifted his head. “Damn. I’m still dressed?”

“Much to my disappointment, yes.”

“Let me just take care of that. One.” A kiss on her mouth. “More.” A suckle at her breast. “Moment.” A long, gentle lick in the crease of her thigh. 

She lay gasping as he rose to his feet, sure she’d never breathe right again. And then her breath stopped altogether when he stripped. The hard, sleek muscle of him was a delight. How could she have forgotten in just a few short days how very beautiful this man was? 

Her eyes drifted below his hard, flat stomach and settled on the evidence of how much he wanted her. Unable to resist, she sat up and wrapped her hand around the steel-hard shaft with its silky covering. At his groan, she looked up into his eyes and saw the glittering heat, the monumental need. Keeping her gaze on his, she leaned forward and licked the opening at the head, savoring the salty, musky, masculine taste of his desire. Before she could go further, take him in her mouth and give them both the pleasure they craved, Eli pushed her until she fell back onto the bed. 

He was over her in an instant, his mouth everywhere, kissing, licking, sucking. Taking everything she had to give, asking for more than she ever believed she had to offer. Their gasps and moans mingled into the music of rapturous sounds. When at last he settled between her legs and slid inside her, Kathleen almost cried at the incredible, indescribable moment. After that one sleek glide, he allowed her a second of acceptance of the hard length inside her, and then he began to hammer into her. Laughing with joy at the glorious taking, she joined in the rhythm, meeting every hard thrust with as much force as she could, delighting in the elemental power of their bodies. This was heat, need, absolute surrender. This was love.

They reached their climaxes together. Need had wrapped her up as tight as a rubber band, and in letting go, she was flung up to the stars, where she was suspended in complete ecstasy before she peacefully floated back to earth.

Gasping as though he’d just run a marathon in record-breaking time, Eli caught himself before collapsing on top of the beautiful woman beneath him. He’d just battered her body like a jackhammer. Damned if he was about to crush her, too. Rolling onto his side, he gathered her close, relishing the aftermath of the incredible experience. Her body, glowing with perspiration, snuggled into him, and Eli closed his eyes, at peace at last.

An hour ago, he had been as close to detonation as he’d ever been. Violet, his precious little girl, had broken her arm, and he couldn’t be with her. Couldn’t hold her, reassure her…hell, reassure himself. When he’d seen Violet’s eyes gleaming from recently shed tears, saw her little chin wobble before she bravely set it to firm, he had wanted to reach through the screen and grab her. 

This maniac…this freak was keeping him from his daughters. If he hadn’t already been infuriated at the situation, today’s incident had topped it off. He could wait no longer.

“I can hear you thinking.”

He squeezed the woman in his arms, marveling at both the delicacy and strength in her body. “That another superpower you have? Hearing people think?”

She shifted in his arms to look up at him. “What other superpower do I have?”

“Making me want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone in my life.”

“Wow. That’s quite a superpower.”

“The question is, will you use your superpowers for good or evil?”

“What do you think?”

Trailing his fingers down her body, his hand stopped on her mound, and then his fingers touched the still-swollen nub at the top of her sex. At her gasping groan, he whispered, “I think for the good. Don’t you?”

She arched her back as he slid one finger, then two inside her. “Oh yes…good,” she whispered. “I’ll only use them for good. I promise.”

Eli chuckled softly. “That’s my girl.”

He wanted to see her come again. Before, he had been focused on giving and taking pleasure. Now, he wanted to concentrate on her reaction, witness the spiraling need blossom within her. Watch her take her pleasure, relish that he could give it to her and she would take it from him. As his fingers plunged, retreated, and plunged again, he watched her go from the beginnings of arousal to full-fledged bliss. Eyes wide, lush mouth opened and rounded, gasping for air, graceful body arched in surrender and pleasure, she groaned loudly and then softly, sweetly screamed her release.

“Beautiful,” Eli whispered. “Perfect.”

Supremely happy and relaxed, Kathleen snuggled back into Eli’s embrace. She had never felt so safe, so cared for in her life. In Eli’s arms, she was the most desirable woman in the world, all because that was the way he treated her. The pleasure he gave her, the care he took with her.

“I wish it could be like this forever.” She hadn’t meant to say those words out loud. She didn’t want to spoil what had just happened, or the happiness she felt.

“When all of this is behind us, when we uncover the truth, we’ll go away together, the four of us, forget about what we’ve been through.”

Could she do this? Could she actually give in and allow herself to love, totally and forever? She had lost so much. What if she lost Eli? What if something happened to Sophia or Violet? How could she bear that?

“Now I can hear you thinking, Kat.”

She tried for a laugh, knew it sounded strangled, fake. “So we share the same superpower, Mr. Slater?”

He rolled them over so that she was on her back. “Don’t borrow trouble, sweetheart. You can’t predict the future, what’s going to happen. There’s nothing wrong with being happy in the moment.”

Even though fear still gnawed like a roaring beast, she determinedly pushed it away. This time with Eli was too special to spoil with her insane fears about the future.

“I am happy, here with you. And I would love for all of us to go away together.”

He smiled, pressed a warm kiss to her mouth, and then gathered her in his arms again. And even though she knew he was comforting her, to reassure her, she saw the fear in his eyes as well. What if the threats never stopped? What if the path they’d headed down was the wrong one?

What if they never knew when death would come?

Chapter Thirty-seven

Teresa Longview considered herself one of the most fortunate people in the world. She was healthy, had a job she loved, and lived in a castle with a family she adored. Sophia and Violet were precious and a delight to care for, and Eli Slater was the most generous and kind employer she’d ever had. 

Having lost her husband years ago and never being interested in being married again, caring for Eli’s family was her idea of the perfect life.

And now Miss Kathleen was with him. Even though their journey to love hadn’t been easy—what with the threats made against Mr. Eli’s family—Teresa delighted in seeing their feelings grow for each other. She was a romantic at heart, and watching them fall in love was just about the sweetest thing she could imagine. When their troubles had passed, she was sure they would stay together. The girls would return home, and the family would be complete.