The SEAL's Surprise Son (The Admiral's Seals, #1) - Leslie North Page 0,37

me, Zach. I need you tonight.”

He kissed her then, slow and deep until her body relaxed under him and her arms wrapped around him. Taking his time, he trailed kisses down her neck and shoulder, working his way to her breasts. She sighed when he flicked his tongue over a nipple and gasped when he took it in his mouth.

“That’s so good.” Her voice was a soft purr. “More.”

He moved to her other breast, giving it attention until she moaned his name. Still kissing her soft skin, he made his way to the apex of her thighs and teased them open. He knew her body so well, her scent, the feel of her, what made her come. With that knowledge, he feathered his tongue over her moist clit, garnering more moans as the tension built in her.

“Inside me,” she murmured. “I want to feel you, all of you.”

He did as commanded and entered her heat. Resting on his elbows, he moved inside her, pushing her to climax. When her muscles tightened around him and she sobbed his name, he kissed her, pouring his love for her into every movement of his body, every pleasure he could bring her until his own orgasm ripped through him.

He rested his head against her shoulder to catch his breath. Then, rolling onto his back, he pulled her close to him and stroked her back until her body softened with sleep. He didn’t know how long she’d rest, but he’d be there for her when she woke.

14

Carolyn picked her way around the wreckage in All That Sparkles the morning following the fire. Ceiling tiles lay on the floor along with the remains of display cases. All the money she’d spent on the remodel had literally gone up in smoke.

“Any idea about the cause?” she asked the fire inspector after he’d spent two hours poking through the rubble.

“It’ll be in my report, Ms. Evert.”

“Give me a hint, please.” She’d watched the man record notes and photograph the store. He must have an idea of what happened. “My sister said she heard a crash and an explosion. That doesn’t seem accidental to me.”

The inspector pointed to the right front window. “Something came through that window, hit the floor here,” he said, indicating an area near his boots, “and sprayed an accelerant, which I’m currently trying to identify. This was no accident.”

She’d known in her heart the fire had been intentional, but hearing it confirmed in such crisp, no-nonsense language sent the message home. This was meant to damage the business beyond repair—and might have taken a life if anyone had been in the showroom. She’d talked to Charlotte earlier. Her usually pragmatic sister still felt shaky and had no desire to enter the store. Carolyn couldn’t blame her.

“What happens next, then?”

“I turn over my findings to the fire chief and copy the police and prosecutor’s office on all of it. An investigation will be opened, as it becomes a criminal case. Arson is a felony offense, punishable by several years in prison.”

“What’s the conviction rate?” Charging her saboteur with arson was one way of getting him.

The inspector clicked his pen and put it in his shirt pocket before answering. “About one percent.”

“One percent?” She was shocked. “So most arsonists get away with it?”

“Afraid so. You have cameras in here.” He gestured to one. “We’ll pull the footage from them, and it might help.”

She shook her head. “I spoke with my security company already. There’s nothing.”

“I’d still like to see the film,” the inspector insisted.

“No,” she said, her sense of exasperation growing, “I mean the cameras weren’t operating at the time.”

“Is that normal?” The inspector gave her a perplexed look. “The store had just closed, correct?”

“It is not normal,” she confirmed. “The cameras are supposed to film twenty-four hours a day.” Her IT company and security company worked together on that system. Someone had dropped the ball, or it was another strike against the IT company. Had the cameras been intentionally disabled at just the right time? Her computer forensics expert might be able to answer that question, given time.

“I’ll notify the police department of my findings today so they can begin their investigation. They will canvass the street to see if anyone saw something, but the chances are slim. My official report will be ready in a few days. You’ll need it for your insurance company.” He handed her a business card. “Call me if you have questions.”

“Thank you.” She watched him walk out, ducking under the