almost chaste, with their naked skin pressed together, every part of her felt so incredibly sensitive.
She let out a small gasp of pleasure when he slid his finger inside her and she felt his heart kick up and his erection give an answering jolt. Sensation unraveled within, waves of pleasure that licked at her spine, through her core, and down the backs of her legs as he stroked her slowly. “Oh,” she moaned. “I like that.”
“Good,” he said, his voice strained. “I like that too.”
He brought his mouth to hers and they kissed and touched, Liza learning his body as well, glorying in the slow exploration. He was lean but muscled, athletic, his skin both rough and velvety. A wonder. She took over, his finger slipping from her as she turned her attention to him and he watched her explore and taste, his expression both drunk and pained, fingers flexing beside him as if he was barely containing his need to touch her.
After several long minutes, he let out a raw growl, turning her suddenly. She laughed as her back hit the mattress and he hovered over her, his lips tipping sweetly, though his eyes were hooded with desire. He reached for a condom and she recognized the brand. It was one of the ones she’d left behind that night that now seemed a million miles away. She watched as he slid it on and then he hooked his hand beneath her thigh, the muscle of his bicep curving as her leg slid up his hip and she cradled him between her thighs. He pushed slowly inside her, their gazes locked. Liza didn’t even blink.
His head fell forward slightly as if it was suddenly too heavy for his neck. “Oh God, Liza,” he breathed, moving inside her, his lips parting and his eyes drooping with pleasure. She felt alive with joy—every nerve ending humming—watching with awe the pure bliss on his face. She’d always turned her face away because she didn’t want to be seen, but in doing so, she’d never watched. She’d never enjoyed the way a man looked in the throes of ecstasy.
It was beautiful. He was beautiful.
She raised her hand and brought it to his face, her thumb stroking over his cheekbone, along one dark eyebrow, over his half-parted lips. He took her thumb between his teeth, sucking on it, his eyes locked on hers as his rhythm increased. A sound escaped her, half gasp, half groan—a noise of encouragement—as a jolt of hot arousal shot straight to her core.
When they came, they came together, their eyes wide open, hearts beating in sync. As they both drifted back to earth, Reed laid his forehead on hers. “Did you hear that big boom?” he asked breathlessly, his mouth close to hers.
Liza blinked up at him, smiling in dazed confusion.
“The sound of another one biting the dust.” He kissed her once, softly, quickly. “Me,” he whispered.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Reed pushed open the door to the small shop, a bell ringing overhead, the scent of dust and old paper meeting his nose. He looked around at the cases of comic books that created rows in the center of the large room, shelves along the walls overstuffed with plastic-sleeved titles, and a counter near the back where a young man stood, bent over something in front of him. The guy glanced over his shoulder at Reed, laying down whatever was in his hands that he’d been working on and pushing his glasses up on his nose.
“Detective Davies?”
“Yeah. That obvious, huh?”
“Let’s just say you don’t look like my average customer.” He pointed to the firearm obscured by Reed’s coat. “Plus, there’s that. My name’s Kaiden.”
Reed stepped up to the waist-high counter. “Nice to meet you.”
“I pulled those Tribulation titles you asked about.” He reached around behind him and plucked a short pile of comics off a table against the wall. A strange stillness settled inside Reed, even while his heart kicked up. The cover featured three men walking in a triangular formation wearing business suits and holding briefcases, their expressions lax and zombie-like, their eyes black holes with tar-like streaks rolling out of the empty sockets. Hollowed-out sockets. Off to the side a woman was begging for their help as a man dragged her by her hair, tears pouring down her cheeks, and in the corner a group of children were screaming as fire lapped at their feet.
“Jesus,” Reed breathed. “I’ll take them,” he said and his voice sounded distant.