When the Storm Breaks (28 page)

His eyes slitted open and he groaned as he watched her take him into her mouth, laving every inch of him with her tongue and making his world spin with the suction of her mouth. He took her head in his hands and taught her the motion that gave him the most pleasure, and she soon had him spread before her with a vulnerability that belied his physical strength.

After a few minutes of sublime agony, he grabbed for the box of condoms and pried her mouth gently away from him.

“No more,” he panted. “I need you too much.”

She looked up at him with her wild black eyes, flushed cheeks, and wet red lips. He groaned and almost came right then and there.

She smiled as if she knew, then moved to help him with the condom. She climbed up into his lap again, then took his flesh and guided it home to her body. They both closed their eyes and sighed as she lowered herself until he filled her completely.

After pausing a moment to savor the sensation and catch her breath, she raised herself up until he almost slipped from her body. Then, acting on instinct, she lowered herself only partway down. She clenched her sheath around him, then raised and lowered herself again, never taking him completely into her.

As she repeated the motion again and again, Sean lost control of his senses. He panted and arched and dug his fingers into her hips until they left faint bruises as he tried to bury himself in her. But Claire’s leg muscles were strong, and she resisted his attempts to complete their union. Shushing his groaned protests with her lips, Claire
felt her own body shudder and wondered how much longer she would be able to resist plunging herself down and ending the delicious torture.

“Witch,” Sean grated. “Stop teasing and let me love you.”

Claire kissed him again. “A wise man once told me teasing is half the fun.”

She lowered herself a little more, then clenched the muscles in her lower body as she raised up again. They both groaned at the sensation. Things continued at her slow pace until his hand slipped between their bodies and his fingers found the flesh that held the key to her pleasure. She paused in midstroke, shocked into arching and crying out as he worked his magic with the gentle tip of his thumb.

She arched again to take him all the way into her body, then held herself against him, shaking with need. “You win,” she said breathlessly.

“I think this is a win-win situation,” he said, and buried himself in her as they both began to climax.

Washington, D.C.

Sunday morning

T
he man stepped out of his apartment to pick up the Sunday paper, eager to read about the latest murder in the city. He sat at the table where his breakfast waited, shook out the paper, and began scanning the headlines. He impatiently read about the discovery of a body in a house in Georgetown. The details were sketchy, as the paper had gone to press before the police were willing to release much information. So far there was no information about the connection of this murder to the others he’d committed.

His good mood began to dissolve.

He read on, looking for more information on the killing, but there was none. He flipped past the front page, feeling disappointment and anger build in equal amounts. His thumbnail clicked more quickly against his teeth as he fumed about stupid cops who couldn’t recognize a serial murderer when he dumped bodies right in front of them.

He was so distracted that he almost missed the story that had been pushed to page three. Apparently some reporter
had made following the murder cases her ticket to journalistic fame. He could feel excitement begin to flow through his body as he read her attempts to put the pieces of the story together. He stopped to read again the woman’s blistering analysis of the police investigation to date. He closed his eyes and let the arousal build as he thought of the game he was playing with the police, and how he was clearly in the lead.

His hard-on shriveled pitifully when he read the last paragraph of the story, about the eyewitness and the appointment with Camelot Dating Service. A hollow feeling replaced his excitement as he realized this was one thing that could possibly lead back to him. He’d had no idea Camelot was located in that office building off Dupont Circle—the company must have moved from its previous location.

His mind raced as he considered how to deal with this new twist. At least now he knew why Marie Claire and the police were spending so much time at the office building near Dupont Circle—she’d been a member of the dating service. Now that the reporter had blown Marie Claire’s cover, though, he doubted that she’d be going back to Camelot.

The man felt a flutter of concern. He might not be able to follow Marie Claire so easily without her predictable schedule between the office building near Dupont Circle and the house in Georgetown. Of course, he now had the information on the police officer who’d been practically glued to Marie Claire for the past few weeks. He comforted himself with the knowledge that he would still be able to keep tabs on her through Detective Sean Richter. It would be risky working so close to the cops, as he’d discovered
to his chagrin last night, yet he’d been able to get away easily. He planned on doing it all again very soon.

But first he needed to find out where his sweet prey was hiding.

Washington, D.C.

Early Sunday afternoon

C
laire woke to a bright, sunny room and the unfamiliar weight of Sean’s arm around her waist. He lay on his stomach with his eyes closed, so she decided to let him sleep. After last night, he’d certainly earned it.

Feeling smug, she crept out of bed and slipped into the shower, letting the hot water pummel her and massage away some of the aches in her body. She finished quickly and was just stepping out and wrapping a towel around herself when Sean appeared in the doorway.

“I missed the best part,” he said, eyeing her towel. “You should have gotten me up.”

She ran her eyes over his gorgeous, naked body. His eyes were a little puffy with sleep, his hair was standing on end in back, and he’d never looked better to her. She smiled at him, undid the knot on her towel, and stepped back into the shower. After she turned the water on, she looked over her shoulder, silently beckoning Sean to join her.

They washed each other more times than was necessary,
reluctant to give up the pleasure of soapy hands on slick, wet skin. Sean insisted on washing her hair, marveling at its length when wet.

“I never would have guessed how long it is,” he said, stroking his fingers down to the middle of her back to lather her hair.

“It’s the damn curls. One day I swear I’m going to get them straightened.”

“Over my dead body. I love these curls. They remind me of how wild you are.”

Claire looked into his hungry blue eyes and shivered, thinking of how they had spent the night. “Enough of that talk, or I’m going to starve to death right in front of you.”

His eyelids half lowered as he looked at her from dripping hair to wet feet. “I don’t want you to lose an ounce. I’ll call room service.” He stepped out of the shower, wrapped himself in a towel, and left to place the call.

When Claire walked into the living room several minutes later, Sean was on the balcony, sprawled on an oversize chaise. He looked up and told her room service would be about half an hour, then held out a hand for her to join him on the lounge.

Claire nestled against his side and thought how little she knew about him. “So how did you decide to be a detective?” she asked, curious about the man who had become the center of her life.

“After ten years in the special forces, it wasn’t exactly like I had a lot of career choices,” he said. “I couldn’t see myself selling life insurance or something. I was interested in police work, so I went to the academy and got my degree, then took an open position with Aidan’s department. We both just gravitated to the Cold Cases Division
because the work was challenging. We also get more freedom in how we handle cases. After pretty much being my own boss my whole life, that was appealing.”

“You’re very good at what you do.”

He shrugged. “So many cases never get solved, and some of them haunt you.”

She thought of her own case and wondered if it would be one of those that would haunt him.

“Yours isn’t going to be like that,” he promised, stroking his hand down her damp hair.

She leaned her head against his shoulder again, then noticed his cell phone sitting on the balcony table.

“I’m surprised Aidan hasn’t called you yet,” she said.

Sean looked away from her. “I’m not. I turned the phone off last night.”

“Why? Don’t you want to know what’s happening with the investigation?”

“Sure.” He looked at the phone like it was a snake. “But if I turn it on, then I’d get a call from my boss chewing out my ass for taking a witness into protective custody without authorization. Not to mention getting involved with her in the process.”

“It’s not like I’m going to turn you in for harassing me.” She sat up with a frown. “I don’t plan on saying anything. What happens between us is our business, no one else’s.”

“You won’t need to say a word. It’s written all over your expressive face.” He smiled faintly and stroked a finger down her soft cheek. “Besides, there were plenty of officers around yesterday who saw how things are between us. The word is bound to have gotten back to my boss by now.”

“Oh, God, I didn’t even think of that. I never wanted you to get in trouble. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…”

“Shouldn’t have what? Shouldn’t have been irresistible to me? Don’t be ridiculous. I knew exactly what I was doing, and I have no regrets. Now it’s time to see what the damages are.”

Claire got up to pace while Sean turned on the phone and called Aidan.

“Where the hell are you? Is everything okay?” Aidan demanded without even bothering to say hello.

“We’re in a safe place, and we’re fine.”

“As long as you’re not at your place. Remember how I was supposed to have your truck brought over from the station?”

“Yeah,” Sean said.

“I asked Teresa to bring it at the end of her shift. She stopped at the market on the way, and when she was going back to the truck there was a guy standing at the passenger side. She called out to him and he ran away, but when she got to the truck she saw that he’d broken in and gone through the glove box.”

“And?” Sean knew there was more.

“Your registration is gone.”

“Beautiful. Just fucking beautiful,” Sean said, rubbing his neck.

The vehicle registration had his name, home address, and vehicle license plate printed on them. With that information, anyone would be able to easily track his movements.

“There’s more,” Aidan continued. “Teresa said she had a feeling she was being followed by a white car after this incident, so she took the long way to Afton’s place to be sure. She figured she’d lead the guy right to all the cops parked at the crime scene, but the tail pulled off as she turned onto P Street—like he knew where she was going.”

“He’s after Claire again,” Sean whispered harshly, not wanting her to overhear.

“I’m sure of it. When I left with Olivia in your truck late last night, I picked up a tail about four blocks from Afton’s place. I played with him for a while, then pulled down an alley. I got out to confront the guy, but he took off in a white Taurus with no license plates. He was wearing a ball cap and sunglasses.”

Sean sat pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers, trying to think of a way to deal with this dangerous twist. He’d been worried last night that the killer was following Olivia to get to Claire, but now he realized he could have been the one endangering her all along. He’d used his truck several times to drive Claire to or from Camelot, or to follow her on a date. Clearly the killer had picked up on that.

“You thinking what I’m thinking?” Sean asked bitterly.

“Don’t beat yourself up, cousin. We both missed it. We underestimated this guy.”

“What about Michaels?” Sean asked.

“He admits he hadn’t considered this angle, either. But he still wants your ass for taking off with Claire last night. Brace yourself—he’ll probably yank you off the lead investigator role, though he’s too good a cop to pull you from the case completely. He knows you’re our best chance.”

“He’d be right to fire me, and I know it. I knew it last night and I didn’t care. I still don’t care, if you want to know the truth.”

“Yeah, well, that’s not the approach I’d take with him if I were you. You might want to try for a little more groveling and contrition.”

Sean grimaced and paced on the balcony, but it was too
small. He walked into the bedroom and did more circuits while Aidan talked.

“There’s a press conference at five this afternoon,” Aidan said. “Captain Michaels wants you here for it. I think he’s going to throw you to the wolves as part of your punishment.”

Sean looked at his watch. Only a few hours before he would be separated from Claire. He wasn’t ready for that. But after Captain Michaels got through ripping him a new asshole, that was exactly what would happen.

“I’ll be there for the conference.”

“I’ll have Olivia with me at the station,” Aidan said. “We’ll take good care of Claire for you.”

Sean disconnected, sat on the bed, and stared into space.

He felt Claire sit next to him on the bed. She ran a hand down the soft cloth of the hotel robe he wore, trying to offer comfort without understanding why he was upset.

“Can you talk about it?” she asked.

“The shit is hitting the fan as we speak. We need to get you to the station and then Aidan will—” Sean broke off and dragged her into his arms, holding her against him and wondering how to explain that they had to be separated in order to keep her safe.

“It’s all right, love.” She returned his fierce hug and stroked her hands down his back. “Whatever it is, it’s all right.”

Sean pulled away and sat on an oversized chair between the bed and the window. He rested his elbows on his knees and hung his head down, rubbing his hands tiredly over his eyes. “It’s not all right. I’ve really messed up, and you’re in more danger because of it.”

She came over to him. “I don’t believe that. Whatever has happened, we’ll deal with it together.”

Sean lifted his head and looked at her, seeing the absolute trust in her eyes.

“We should leave,” he said, “but I don’t want to let go yet. I have a really bad feeling that if I do—” He broke off and shook his head, not wanting to frighten her further.

She didn’t know what to say, so she offered comfort with her lips and her hands, bending to kiss Sean and stroke the sides of his face. He kissed her back tenderly, then with growing hunger. He pulled her down to him and held her close. His kisses grew more purposeful, and he all but tore her robe off in his sudden desperation to get closer. He undid his own robe, pressing their bodies together from knee to mouth, urgently trying to push aside his fears by loving her one more time.

She sensed his turmoil and kissed him harder as he leaned back in the chair and reached for the condoms on the bedside table. A moment later she shifted and took him deep into her body, arching her back at the feeling of his sheathed flesh sliding into her once again. She stopped in that position and he rested his forehead against her chin. When she tried to rock against him, his hands on her hips stilled the movement. She looked into his eyes and shivered at the blue fire she saw there.

“Let me move,” she said softly.

“No. It would be over too soon. I want to stay like this.” He pressed his forehead to hers and watched her wild black eyes.

They stayed that way, intimately joined, while their heart rates and breathing accelerated and their muscles trembled with the strain of holding still. She could feel the pulse of him inside her, and the muscles of her sheath reacted
involuntarily. When they rippled around him, he groaned softly and grew harder still inside her.

She gasped and pulsed around him again, holding him tightly and invisibly straining to press her body even closer to his. The tension grew and grew, but they remained locked together, motionless, their only movements hidden away deep inside Claire’s body.

They held on to each other as the sensations built and then overflowed, causing them to shudder and cry out. They rode the storm together, and eventually the sound of labored breathing and gasping moans was replaced by quiet sighs and soft kisses.

Then he held her, just held her, trying not to believe that he’d led a killer straight to the woman he would die to protect.