Joel said it—
“I love you, Chloe.”
She felt good. Warm. Safe. He could always seem to make her feel safe.
She looped her arms around his neck. Pressed her wet body tightly to his and kissed him with a frantic abandon. His cock pushed against her belly. There was no mistaking his arousal. He wanted her. She was aching for him. When they came together, when their bodies were connected, she stopped being so alone.
Joel did that. He made her feel like she wasn’t detached from the rest of the world.
She pulled her mouth from his. Her breath heaved as she told him, “I’m on birth control. I do not have any sexually transmitted diseases.”
“I…neither do I.”
“Then make love to me. Right now.” She sounded desperate. She was. “Skin to skin. I want only you. Nothing between us.”
“You don’t have to ask twice.” He curled his hands around her waist. Lifted her up. Pushed her back against the cold, tiled shower wall.
His cock brushed at the entrance to her body. But he didn’t enter her yet. He probably thought she wasn’t ready. That she needed more foreplay. More time.
She only needed him. Chloe arched her hips against that thick length and took him all inside.
“Fuck me,” Joel groaned.
“That’s exactly what I’m doing.” Her nails dug into his shoulders.
Joel held her stare. She saw the gold blaze in his eyes even as she watched his control shatter.
The water pounded down on them. He pounded into her. Flesh to flesh. She could feel every single inch of him. She’d never gone without protection with a lover. Never told someone so much about her life. Never been so open. Never trusted anyone so completely.
“Joel!” Her body felt stretched tight. Too sensitive. Hyper aware. Every glide and retreat of his cock had her longing for more. So much more. She’d just come a little while ago, but she was desperate for him again.
The pleasure they gave each other was overwhelming. Shattering. Addictive.
She’d never found such a powerful release with anyone else. She knew she never would.
His hand eased between their bodies. He stroked in just the right spot, touching her in just the right way, as if they’d made love dozens of times, and the climax hit her. Stole her breath even as it blazed through her entire body.
He came right after her. She could feel the jerks of his release. The hot warmth. She clung to him even tighter.
Joel.
He’d been so much more than she’d expected. He’d changed her whole life. Did he realize that?
His breath was panting. Her heart was pounding. Racing so fast. Or maybe that was his. They were entwined so closely together that it was hard to tell.
She pressed a kiss to his shoulder. The water was still pouring on them.
Her mother had once told her that a good shower could wash away all the sins of the world.
Her mother had been such a liar.
***
“Look, man,” Reese straightened to his full height, but the bouncer hardly seemed intimidated. “What was your name, Benjamin? Bob—”
“Bobby,” he snapped.
“That’s what I was saying.” He sniffed. And waved a twenty at the fellow. “I saw Cinnamon’s car outside. I just want to go back and have a little dance with her.”
“Cinnamon’s not working tonight.”
“But her car is out—”
Bobby swiped the twenty. “Not working, dumbass. She must have left the car here last night and took a ride home with one of the other dancers.” A grimace or smile or something slid across his wide face. “But if you want to give me more money to hear me tell you the same thing over and over again, knock yourself out.”
Reese wanted his twenty back. “I don’t like you.”
Bobby shrugged.
Huffing out a breath, Reese stormed out of the strip club. The woman had most certainly not left her car there overnight. Before chatting it up with Bobby the bouncer, Reese had put his hand on the vehicle’s hood and it had still been warm.
He poked around a bit outside, then saw the alley. A trickle of unease slid over him because Chloe had told him that Donnie Adams had died in that alley.
He crept toward the entrance. Chloe is counting on me. “Listen!” Reese called out. “If there are any vengeful spirits or other dark shit waiting in here, I didn’t do anything to you! I’m just looking for a dancer!”
Something…moaned.
Reese swallowed. Chloe was the brave one. He was more the not brave one. But he inched forward. A small inch.
Another moan.
The sound seemed to come from