her sandals, he slid his hands up her thighs and hooked his fingers over her panties, and eased them down. His mouth kissed its way up her inner thigh as he lifted her skirt, and he bent her spread legs and scooted her closer.
When his hot mouth came down on her, she knew what heaven felt like. She dug her fingers into her thighs as he swiftly brought her to orgasm. So ready, so hungry. She released a breathy gasp, shuddering in pleasure. All around, crickets sang out in joyous harmony. She laughed at the idea.
“What’s so funny, darlin’?”
“Crick-crickets,” she managed, as he licked and sucked her to a second orgasm. “Crickets singing, orgasm.” Damn, she couldn’t say it right.
He chuckled. “If you say so.”
“I do.” She let out a long, soft breath. “I do.”
He ducked away for a moment, and she heard the telltale crinkle of the condom package. Before she could even catch her breath to tell him she wanted to pleasure him, too, he pulled her to the edge of the car and drove into her.
No, this was heaven. Intimately connected to Raleigh. He gripped her hips to achieve the deepest penetration, sucking her breath away. Thrusting hard and smoothly as she moved with him. And, once again, she spun completely out of control.
Yet safely in Raleigh’s arms. Reckless and safe. Crazy and sane.
He followed, and she felt him pulsing deep inside her core. He looked amazing, his head thrown back, his muscles taut as his body shuddered. When his sawing breath softened, he leaned down and kissed the valley between her breasts.
“God, you feel so good,” he whispered, making his way up her neck.
She pulled him closer. “Mmm, you, too. I’m not sure I can get enough of you, Raleigh.”
He was leaning over her, his nose touching hers. “I know I can’t get enough of you. What am I going to do when you leave?”
Minneapolis seemed so far away. Hell, it might as well be across the globe. The thought of not having Raleigh so close caved her in. “Come with me. I’m renting an apartment. You could stay for a bit, then come back here to check on Cody and Rose.”
“I wish I could. I have to finish up all the work we have on the schedule. I told Peter to accept the offer, though. We’ll see how much time we have.”
She stroked her fingers through his hair. “I want to make this work.”
“Me, too. But—”
She put her finger over his lips. “Let’s just leave it at that. We can figure out all the other stuff.”
He kissed her. “All right.”
They would make it work. She could not lose him again.
—
Raleigh’s ringtone lured him from sweet dreams. He stirred, blinking up into the early-morning sky. Who was calling at this hour? Was he late for work?
Mia woke, too, squinting. “Who’s that?”
“Dunno.” He gently disentangled himself from her and dug in his pants pocket for his phone. Pax’s name appeared on the screen. “Hey, bud. What’s up?”
“Where are you?”
“At Nancy’s cottage.”
“Stay put. I’m on my way.”
Raleigh stared at the phone. “Weird. Pax is coming over. Now.”
Mia pulled on her shirt, her face knitted in worry. “Something happened. Someone’s hurt.”
“Let’s not go there.” He pulled on his pants and helped her to her feet. “I’ll make some coffee.”
They went inside, changed into their clothes, and sipped coffee until someone knocked on the door. The back door. Pax stood, his arm poised to knock again.
“Come on in,” Raleigh said, eyeing the deck. “Sneaking in the back way?”
“Yeah.” Pax stepped inside, oblivious of the joking tone.
“Coffee?”
Pax shook his head, the waves of his hair sticking up. His uniform was rumpled, as though he were at the end of his shift. “I’m here unofficially.” He gave Mia a nod, then turned back to Raleigh. “They ID’d that skeleton, Raleigh. It’s your dad.”
Pax might as well have tossed a rock at his chest. Raleigh stepped back from the impact. “What?”
Mia’s hand went around his arm. “But he left town.”
“He left, all right. Dental records confirmed it. I shouldn’t be out here, but I wanted to warn you. My father, he’s gunning for you. Your dad, with whom you had a rocky relationship, found dead near your property. Remote property to boot, a good place to murder someone—and hide the body. Get a lawyer. Grace Parnell was the one who helped my brother with the rape charges. She’s good at defending innocent people.”
“Why?” Mia asked. “Why is he gunning for Raleigh?”
“ ’Cause my mama