Reaching for the carafe, she took a deep slow breath. “Nothing to be sorry about.”
“Bullshit. I can’t take it out on you when it’s my own damn self I can’t seem to control. We’re on fire for each other. Keeping that in check is going to take work and some concessions. I hate putting clothes on when my skin’s damp, but I’ll get over it.”
“Okay.”
His teeth bit lightly into the muscle between her shoulder and neck, a primal possessive gesture that sent an unwanted thrill of awareness through her. “I love the way you look at me, Darcy. Like you want to eat me alive. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just inconvenient.”
She slid the full mug to the side. “I’ll work on looking elsewhere. Here you go.”
Jared didn’t move for a minute, then he released her with a muttered curse. He left the kitchen, and she took the breather to give herself a mental kick in the ass. She straightened when he returned, moving away and toward the living room as he passed her on his way toward the coffee she’d poured him.
They needed some distance from each other. They hadn’t had any since they’d met and that was a mistake.
“Don’t you dare walk out of this room,” he said in a voice too even to be anything but dangerous.
“It’s my house.”
“And if I’ve worn out my welcome, you’ll look me in the eye and say so.”
Pausing by the dining table, Darcy faced him, feeling grateful that she wore her uniform, which gave her the look of having her shit together even if she didn’t. Jared had put his shirt on. He was now leaning with his hip against the counter and his legs crossed at the ankle. The leisurely pose didn’t fool her for a minute. He was coiled tight. Watchful. Ready.
She hit him with something certain to give him pause. “I’m feeling fragile this morning.”
One arm crossed his chest; the other lifted his mug to his lips. He swallowed and nodded. “I’m a bit raw myself.”
His confession made her feel better and she managed a smile. “I was thinking maybe it would be a good idea for you to work with Jim today. I’ll see what I can do to help your partner and Miller. We can sleep off some of the hormones…pheromones…whatever, separately, and see how things look tomorrow.”
There was a long stretch of silence, then, “I’ll agree to the break, but it would be best for everyone if I didn’t see Ralston again.”
“He’s damn good at his job. He trained me.”
“He could be the best damn fire inspector in the country; that won’t stop me from laying him out cold if he tries that territorial bullshit again.”
“He had no way of knowing we’d made arrangements to hook up,” she argued. “He was just trying to be a good friend, which is all he’s been for the last couple of years.”
Jared took another sip, his gaze locked with hers over the lip of the mug. “I’m a trained observer, Darcy. So is he. We both got the measure of each other from the first. He knew I was stepping in, and he pushed a little to try and put me in my place. He pushes again and I’m pounding him back.”
Her anger spiked. “I don’t need this right now. I don’t have anything to give you. I’m all tapped out. You were just supposed to be a vibrator that didn’t need batteries.”
His eyes were as hard and beautiful as sapphires. “And you were just supposed to be a hot piece of ass. Instead, this is getting messy. Deal with it. I want you and I can’t turn it off. And when I’m touching you, I don’t want to turn it off, and you don’t want me to, either. If you’re hoping to shut us down with some distance, I’ll roll with it just to prove you wrong, but we’ll be back at each other in no time.”
“It won’t work out.”
“I’m not taking your word for it. I’ll see for myself.” He finished his coffee and refilled his mug. “I need to change into fresh clothes and grab some things from the motel. Then I want to head out to the other two scenes. I’d prefer it if you’d take me, but if you’re opposed to that, I’ll work something else out.”
“Opposed,” she repeated, laughing without humor. “If only.”
“We’re in the same boat. If it sinks, we go together.”
She stood and mentally dusted herself off. “Do you need to eat?”
“Not yet.”
“Okay, then. I’m ready to go when you are.”
Chapter seven
Trish was just leaving the motel when Darcy pulled her BMW into a spot in front of Jared’s ground-floor room. He climbed out and met his partner at the curb.