Murder_ A Sinful Secrets Romance - Ella James Page 0,97

don’t feel it.” I realize who I’m talking to and feel self-conscious.

“I was at that meeting.”

My muscles stiffen, and as much as I want to turn and see his face—I also don’t. “The commission meeting?”

“Yeah.”

I sit up straighter, pulling slightly away from him. I rub my face with my wet hand. “Mmm, let’s maybe just pretend you weren’t.”

I feel his hand spread out against my back. “It made me want to know you.”

“Really?”

“I didn’t plan on it. But yeah.” His finger traces an indention on my back where I think I have a draining tube scar. I let out a long breath.

“You were brave,” he says softly.

I shake my head. “I looked pathetic.”

“You were trying.”

“Without you, I would have told those people all about myself for nothing.” I draw a knee up to my chest and rest my forehead on it, hiding, I guess. I sink my arm into the water, watch it lap around my elbow. “I don’t like to share my details.”

He drags his fingers down my back, making me shiver. I feel cold and hot. Restless.

“We have that in common, I think,” he says.

Then his mouth touches my spine. I flinch, then shiver. His lips drag up toward my neck.

“Barrett…”

I gasp as his mouth finds the curve between my neck and shoulder. I can feel his teeth, maybe. What he’s doing hurts—and makes me moan.

“I tried,” he breathes in puffs. His mouth moves down my collarbone. He grabs me by my arms and turns me toward him, licking at the side of my throat. “Please believe—” he trails under my chin— “I tried…” He bites my jaw. He’s hungry, frenzied, reckless.

By the time his lips find mine, I’m crying out for him. I grab his head, his hair. Our tongues surge: gliding, reaching. We pull each other closer, kissing hard. Between the kisses, panting. I can feel his cock against my leg. I grab for it. His hands find my hips. He lifts me to him.

His eyes burn mine. “Tell me.”

“Yes!”

He lifts his hips, groaning. I feel his head against me, thick and prodding.

“Oh God. Fuck.” I spread myself. He pushes in. That’s how we do it: rough, in water; splashing, moaning, screaming. My fingers dig into his neck and pull his hair. His hands hurt my hips and ribs. He slams into me, sending plumes of water through over my clit.

It doesn’t take me long. It doesn’t take me long enough. He moans as his cock thumps inside me. I can hear him panting as his muscles twitch and quiver. My eyes open and his eyes are shut tight. His face looks pained. I have never seen a thing more beautiful.

As his blue eyes open, I kiss his mouth softly. He’s still in me, eyelids drifting shut.

Dear God, his tongue is soft, his lips are tender; careful now. When whoever pulls away, he brings my head down on his shoulder.

I can barely hear him say, “I needed you.”

As he kisses my cheeks and picks me up, his face is bare; his face is tired or relaxed. I can’t decide if he looks lost or found.

We get into the bed together, shivering and wet. He pulls the covers over us. The next thing I’m aware of is a sharp, gold light.

FIFTEEN

BARRETT

I wait until she’s breathing evenly, then I quietly dress, grab my .338, and go downstairs, where dawn is streaming sheets of amber through the windows by the door.

I put the gun in its case early last night, after I first put Gwenna in my bed. I set the case on the kitchen counter and pull it out. I take my time looking over it, and when I’m finished, I step away from the counter and just stand there for a minute. It feels important somehow, though I can’t say why.

I leave the gun in the kitchen, but I can’t stop myself from going through the motions of clearing the house. When I’m finished, I carry the gun case over to the coat rack, where I get my Lakers cap and fold it into my back pocket. I get my helmet from a nearby cabinet and realize I haven’t left a note.

‘Going into town. Be back soon,’ I text Gwen. I’d like to add, ‘Make yourself at home,’ but how would she do that? I don’t even have real food here.

I look down at the gun case, waiting on the hardwood floor in front of the door. I could take it with me. Truthfully, I want to.