Zero to sixty… faster, faster…
The man had one wicked tongue.
When he lifted his head, she wasn’t surprised to hear the ragged sound of her own moan.
“Thought it’d be like that,” he said.
Unfortunately, so had she and that didn’t help her.
“But where we go next, if we go anywhere, that’s going to be your call, sweetheart.” His fingers curled around hers and pulled her hands from behind his head where she’d been clinging oh-so-tightly.
Because he was right about her. She did like to run red-hot. Passion. Lust. Lora was well-acquainted with the fiery need.
As acquainted as she was with the loneliness.
“Where do we go?” he asked softly.
I don’t know.
“We work the case.” He took a deep breath and yeah, his voice broke a bit around the edges as he said, “I keep my hands off you.”
But those strong hands felt good on her flesh. And for just a few minutes there, with him, she’d forgotten…
Fire. Screams. Death.
And remembered pleasure.
She’d always loved her pleasure.
“Or we take option two.”
Lora waited.
“We work the case each day, and we see just how hot we can make the nights.”
When she licked her lips, she tasted him. Spicy. Wild.
“I’ll make you scream,” he promised. “I’ll make damn sure you’re satisfied, every time.”
“Don’t doubt it.” She hesitated. “But I—”
His eyes hardened. “Is there someone else?”
Did a dead man count? Guilt stirred now, squeezing her heart, but Lora shook her head. “No.”
“You’re the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.” His voice rumbled. “Damn, Lora, I swear, your mouth was made for sin.”
He still held her hands. She wanted his mouth back on hers. And because she wanted him right now, that wanting scared her as much as it aroused her, so she said, “I can’t.” Not then. Too fast. She needed to think. To make absolutely sure this—he—was what she wanted.
I won’t make another mistake.
A muscle flexed in his jaw. He eased away from her, sliding back into his seat. “Clear.” Clipped. “We’ll work the case. I won’t—”
“Give me some time,” the words tumbled out. She hadn’t meant to say them, but the need twisting in her gut had other plans. “Because you know I want you.” Just not yet. Not then. The lust was too raw. Her hands shook, and the past kept teasing her. “Give me some time,” she said again.
They wouldn’t have long. Kenton would only be in town long enough to catch the arsonist. Then the case would end.
He’d leave.
And she’d move on. Like she always did.
Take the pleasure. There’s no pain with him. No risk to your heart.
He wouldn’t be there long enough to hurt her. But maybe, just maybe, he could make her nights better, for a while.
Take the pleasure. Yeah, that sly voice was sure whispering to her.
Pleasure, but no pain.
Her interior light flashed on when Kenton shoved open her door. “See you soon, sweetheart.”
And her special agent was gone. Walking into the dawn.
Her fingers curled around the steering wheel. That last sweetheart, it hadn’t been the sarcastic drawl he’d used before. It had been slower. Deeper.
A lover’s caress.
Pleasure.
She knew he could give it to her.
Now, the question was… could she take it?
The light from the rising sun shot across the sky just as Kenton climbed out of his rented SUV and hurried toward the hotel at the edge of the highway.
Ah, hotels. Sometimes, it seemed as if he spent all his nights in run-down hotels.
And usually alone.
Damn but the woman tasted good. Not sweet. Not her. Hell, no. Rich. Tangy.
He wanted more.
But he’d get a cold shower. Shit.
Room 106 waited just a few feet away. And so did that very, very icy—
The door to room 107 opened, and Kenton tensed, his hand automatically going for the weapon at his hip.
“Late night, Special Agent?”
“Hyde?”
His boss flashed his shark’s smile. “Got your message.” He stepped forward, the shadows sliding off his dark skin. “Figured I’d come and take a look at Charlottesville myself.”
Kenton shook his head. “We’ve got a problem here, sir.” He unlocked his door, driving the keycard in with a quick punch of his fingers. “My gut tells me the crimes are linked—”
“And what does Lora Spade tell you?”
Kenton crossed the threshold but glanced back at Hyde. “The same thing I’m betting she said when she talked to you.”
Hyde’s expression never altered. He walked inside the hotel room, slowly. The door closed behind with a click.
Kenton’s fingers curled around his gun, and he brought out the weapon.
“Ah, so you already know about that bit of business, hmm?” The one chair in the room creaked as Hyde made himself comfortable.
Kenton placed his gun on the bedside table before he faced Hyde again. His brows rose as he said, “I don’t think Lora was too impressed with me at first.”
“That’s because she had to pull your ass out of a burning building.” The shark’s smile was gone, and the words fell heavy in the room.
Well, hell. The woman really had called his boss and ratted him out. Huh.
“I heard a man calling for help; I went in.” Because dammit, it was his job to save lives. “Jerome was in that building, sir.”
“I know—I already read your report.”
Figured. Hyde was always fast—one of the reasons the guy was the boss.
“Interesting, don’t you think, that the man who called to make a deal with some arson tips wound up in a fire like that?” Kenton asked.
Hyde eased back against the chair cushions and steepled his fingers under his chin. “I’d call that very interesting.”
“There was another fire tonight.” Glancing down, he saw the line of ash on his white shirt. Another one. Dry cleaning would be a bitch. “The vic was handcuffed to a radiator. He didn’t make it out.”
“Back-to-back fires?” Hyde’s brows shot up. “If we’re talking the same perp, that’s some serious escalation.”
“I know.” Kenton rolled his shoulders. Christ, he hurt. Tension knotted between his shoulder blades and right then he sure could have used a massage.